Limitation of numeric test using "if"

wrcastro_ph · #1 (**permalink**) 04-05-04, 00:31

Hi, I'm creating a script in KSH and if I use this command it gives an output that's crazy. Actually, I doing a test on the account number ranges.

if [ 10402000000002 -le 10103000000001 ];then
echo " LESS THAN OR EQUAL"
else
echo " GREATER THAN"
fi

RESULT : LESS THAN or EQUAL

But the RESULT should be GREATER THAN.

I did another test and if I lesser the numbers ... say up to 10 digits only, it goes well.

Question :

1. Is there a limition in the number of digits in this "if" command?
2. How test this large value?

Thanks for your advise.

aigles · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-04, 03:31

I have no problem on my AIX system with your values, but the problem appears with greater values.
Try to use bc to make your test, you can do something like this :

Code:

function LessOrEqual {
   [ -n "$(echo "if ($1 <= $2) 1" | bc)" ]
}

if LessOrEqual 104020000000000000 101030000000010000 
   then echo "LESS THAN OR EQUAL"
   else echo "GREATER THAN "
fi

aigles · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-04, 04:19

The following commands whill give you the Minimum and Maximum value for an integer :

Code:

getconf INT_MIN
getconf INT_MAX

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