Shell error: redirection unexpected in using bc

Question

Error is in stroke:

printf "%15s\t%5d\t%5.2f%%\n" bc <<< "scale=2; 100 * $mac / $totals" > result

i cant understand it. Before bc and after $totals" is sign `

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 15 '13 at 19:58

1

printf "%15s\t%5d\t%5.2f%%\n" $(bc <<< "scale=2; 100 * $mac / $totals") > result
                              ^^                                      ^

answered Oct 15 '13 at 19:58

John Kugelman

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 15 '13 at 19:59

You aren't calling bc. The string bc is simply the first of 3 expected arguments to printf. When your shell recognizes <<< as a redirection operator where the 2nd argument to printf should be, it throws an error.

I suspect you want $(bc <<< "scale=2; 100 * $mac / $totals"), but it's not clear which argument to printf that should be (although, it looks like it should be the third, for the %5.2f placeholder), or what the other two arguments should be.

Shell error: redirection unexpected in using bc

2 Answers2