Syntax Error Messages (was: Beginner needs help (in more ways than one !))

[richmusk]

I have just started using perl and am writing my first program. The problem being (and I know there is going to be an obvious solution that'll make me feel silly), when I run it and it compiles I get the following.

syntax error at line 4 : ')' unexpected

Line 4 reads ...

open(CLI, "database_dump");

I have tried removing the brackets and it picks up the next set of brackets as an error. This next line reads ...

While(<CLI>)

Which must need brackets surely !

Do I have include something or alter my PATH or what ??? Getting v. frustrated !!!

Can anybody help ...

cheers Rich

2001-06-16 Edit by Corion : Changed title to be more descriptive

[davorg]

It looks like the error isn't on line 4 of your code, but compilers can sometimes get a bit confused about line numbers.

I'm willing to bet that there's something wrong a bit higher up in your program. Can you show us the first dozen or so lines.

--
<http://www.dave.org.uk>

Perl Training in the UK <http://www.iterative-software.com>

[richmusk]

Ok .. I have been requested to provide more info ... here is the first part of my program ...

#!/home/freetool/bin/perl5

open(CLI,"datablitz_dump") or die "datablitz_dump not found\n";

$iline = 0;

while(<CLI>)
  {
  if (/^Dn:/)
    {
    $iline++;
    #   ($dn1)= $_ =~ /^Dn: \w+ (\w+ = \d+)/;
    $trav=$_;
    $nbwd = ($trav =~ s/(\w+\s+=\s+\d+)//g);
    $trav=$_;
    $trav=~ s/Dn: //;
    $walknbwd[$iline][0] = $nbwd;
    for ($i=1;$i<=$nbwd;$i++)
      {
#      ($bid,$dns[$i-1]) = ($trav =~ /(\w+\s+(\w+\s+=\s+\d+),*\s*){$i}
+/);
      ($bid1,$bid2,$walkdns[$iline][$i-1],$walkdnval[$iline][$i-1]) = 
+($trav =~ /(\w+\s+((\w+)\s+=\s+(\d+)),*\s*){$i}/);
      }

I get the following syntax error during compliation

perlprog[3]: syntax error at line 3: '(' unexpected

If I replace line 3 with open CLI, "database_dump"; I get the following errors during compliation

perlprog[3]: open: not found
perlprog[5]: =: not found
perlprog[7]: syntax error at line 7: ')' unexpected

I know this works in theory but I can't seem to run it on my machine ... my machine is the problem I think but I don't know why ...
Ta
Rich

[davorg]

There must be something wrong with your shebang line as these are are the errors that you get when a perl script is run by the shell rather than by perl.

Is there actually a file at /home/freetool/bin/perl5? Is it a valid Perl interpreter? What do you get if you type

perl -v /home/freetool/bin/perl5

Also worth checking that there are no spurious invisible characters added to the end of the shebang line.

Oh, and when adding more info like this, you'd usually add it as a follow-up to the original node.

--
<http://www.dave.org.uk>

Perl Training in the UK <http://www.iterative-software.com>

[azatoth]

Ok, for starters, you should always post any updates in the original thread.

Secondly, we urged you to use strict and use warnings or the -w switch.

Also, try using the OO-type interface for setting up filehandles and see if this gives you any joy :

my $fh = FileHandle->new(">$file");


Update: Duh, once again I can't see the woods for the trees. Thanks davorg for pointing this out :)

Update #2 : As a pitiful attempt to save face, I would suggest using which perl command as opposed to perl -v, to ensure your shebang contains the correct path to your perl. (Maybe that will stop the downvotes :P)

Azatoth a.k.a Captain Whiplash

Make Your Die Messages Full of Wisdom!
Get YOUR PerlMonks Stagename here!
Want to speak like a Londoner?

[davorg]

All good advice in general, but none of it will help in this case as the problem is that the script isn't actually being run by perl.

--
<http://www.dave.org.uk>

Perl Training in the UK <http://www.iterative-software.com>

[tune]

Try to type your keywords in lowercase:

while (<CLI>) {
...
}

(not While)

--
tune