How to evaluate lengthy expressions by overiding precedance of operators using 'expr' command in shell scripting?
eg. x=12
$x + 1 \* 2 --> Gives 14
but we want it to be 26 i.e
($x + 1) * 2

Hi:

You need to escape the parenthesis:

i=$(expr \( $x + 1 \) \* 2 )
echo $i

But if you are running Solaris, you have ksh so why don't you use the ksh arithmetic:

#!/bin/ksh

x=12

r2=$(( $((x+1)) * 2))
echo "r2=$r2"

Hi Nails,

Thanks,

One more request.
Could you suggest any perticular site belongs to shell script which makes me competent in shell programming. I am asking this question as I got confused with lots of site which I get if I search through google.

Thanks in advance.
Vastare

I can't really recommend anything for "learning" shell programming, but here are two sites that have good examples:

http://www.shelldorado.com

Check out the links. They are excellent.

Also, the Tower shell script link is quite good:

http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/info/shell/

Thanks,

These two links is awesome ! thanks once again.