Re: input redirection fails on loop commands when positioned before command invocation

[Chet Ramey]

> Machine Type: i686-pc-cygwin
> 
> Bash Version: 2.05b
> Patch Level: 0
> Release Status: release
> 
> Description:
>         [Detailed description of the problem, suggestion, or complaint.] =
> 
> An input redirection placed before the loop construct fails, while the =
> same redirection placed behind succeeds. Same happens on Sun Solaris 8 =
> (sun4u) with bash 2.03.0(1)-release (sparc-sun-solaris) and even with =
> the original bourne shell.
> 
> Repeat-By:
>         [Describe the sequence of events that causes the problem to =
> occur.]
> < /etc/motd while read a b;do echo $a $b;done
> bash: syntax error near unexpected token `do'

Please read the bash FAQ, question F5.

-- 
``The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.'' - Chaucer
( ``Discere est Dolere'' -- chet )
                                                Live...Laugh...Love
Chet Ramey, ITS, CWRU    chet@po.cwru.edu    http://tiswww.tis.cwru.edu/~chet/