bash: syntax error

denneyd · 04-08-2010, 05:52 PM

Using SuSE 11.2, as root. The command rm <file> where file is VMware-Workstation-Full-7.0.1-227600.i386(2).bundle gives error message "bash: syntax error near unexpected token '(' ". I am unable to delete the <file>.

roreilly · 04-08-2010, 06:02 PM

the ( and ) are special characters, and treated differently by bash than regular alphanumerics.

try doing a mv to rename the file & take out the brackets, then rm.

or, escape the brackets by preceding each one with \ eg:

VMware-Workstation-Full-7.0.1-227600.i386\(2\).bundle

I hope this helps.

pixellany · 04-08-2010, 06:17 PM

Code:

[mherring@mystical play]$ touch filename(2)
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
[mherring@mystical play]$ touch "filename(2)"
[mherring@mystical play]$ ls
cmp1  cmp2  col  filename(2)  gr
[mherring@mystical play]$ rm fil*
[mherring@mystical play]$ ls
cmp1  cmp2  col  gr
[mherring@mystical play]$ touch "filename(2)"
[mherring@mystical play]$ rm filename(2)
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
[mherring@mystical play]$ rm "filename(2)"
[mherring@mystical play]$

So, it can be removed using a wildcard--or by quoting

ArfaSmif · 04-08-2010, 08:41 PM

The other useful thing in bash is "file name completion" accessed by using the TAB key in the shell.

For example:-

# rm VM(press TAB key here)

will expand any file starting with the letters VM. If there are multiple files staring with VM, pressing TAB again will give you a list of matching filenames.

The beauty of this is that bash will put in the escape characters (\) for you so you don't have to type them in yourself.