Ok so here is my problem and what I have so far.


Rewrite the journal script of Chapter 8 (question 5, page 335) by adding commands to verify that the user has write permission for a file named journal-file in the user's home directory, if such a file exists. The script should take appropriate actions if journal-file exists and the user does not have write permission to the file. Verify that the modified script works.

Here is the script on page 335
$ cat journal

# journal: add journal entries to the file

# $HOME/journal-file



file=$HOME/journal-file

date >> $file

echo -n "Enter name of person or group: "

read name

echo "$name" >> $file

echo >> $file

cat >> $file

echo "----------------------------------------------------" >> $file

echo >> $file

Answer:
# journal: add journal enteries to the file
# ~/journal-file
file=~/journal-file
date >> $file
echo -n "Enter name of person or group: "
read name
echo "$name" >> $file
echo >> $file
cat >> $file
echo "-----------------------------------------" >> $file
echo >> $file




The other problem is
Write a short script that tells you whether the permissions for two files, whose names are given as arguments to the script, are identical. If the permissions for the two files are identical, output the common permission field. Otherwise, output each filename followed by its permission field. (Hint: Try using the cut utility.)

Answer:
#!
# sh comparefiles 1 2
file1_p=$(ls -l $1 | cut -c2-10)
file2_p=$(ls -l $2 | cut -c2-10)

if [ "$file1_p" = "$file2_p" ]; then
echo "match."
echo $file1_p
else
echo "don't match."
echo $1 $file1_p
echo $2 $file2_p
fi


These problems I can't get it to run right... Any help. I think theres something wrong with the else if in the second problem

What does "I can't get it to run right" mean?
What error message do you get?
The 2nd script seems OK