"syntax error near unexpected token `('" error with process substitution

Question

I get a problem when executing this command:

sudo /usr/bin/comm -13 < (sort test.tsv) < (sort test_2.tsv)

Error: d_t.sh: line 4: syntax error near unexpected token `('
d_t.sh: line 4: `sudo /usr/bin/comm -13 < (sort test.tsv) < (sort test_2.tsv)'

Retagged: This is specific to [tag:bash] and has nothing specifically with [tag:centos] to do. — tripleee, Dec 20 '17 at 06:54
It shouldn't be tagged bash at all if the OP is using `sh` to run the script (as their self-answer implies). — Charles Duffy, Jan 08 '18 at 19:24

John Moon · Answer 1 · 2018-01-09T18:35:08.160

3

Proper process substitution syntax would be:

sudo /usr/bin/comm -13 <(sort test.tsv) <(sort test_2.tsv)

There is no space between the the "<" or ">" and the parentheses.

See the bash hackers wiki page on process substitution.

Also note that process substitution is not supported by POSIX sh.

edited Jan 09 '18 at 18:35

answered Dec 18 '17 at 17:30

John Moon

1

We generally hesitate to link to the ABS because it is, ahem, variable quality. But the answer is good. – tripleee Dec 20 '17 at 06:53
Could I suggest that you modify the link to use a better-reputed reference? http://wiki.bash-hackers.org/syntax/expansion/proc_subst, f/e – Charles Duffy Jan 08 '18 at 19:22

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 04 '18 at 08:14

2

Try using sudo:

edited Jul 04 '18 at 08:14

Zoe

answered Jul 04 '18 at 08:11

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 28 '18 at 08:20

1

You can use one by one command

sort test.tsv > text1.tsv sort test2.tsv > text2.tsv comm -13 text1.tsv text2.tsv

answered Jun 28 '18 at 08:20

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 03 '18 at 14:56

0

You can try to use one by one command

sort test.tsv > text1.tsv 
sort test2.tsv > text2.tsv
comm -13 text1.tsv text2.tsv

answered Jul 03 '18 at 14:56

4 Answers4