[R & Unix ..] system("test",...) gives funny results...

Thu, Dec 10, 1998 7:35 AM
Peter Dalgaard provided the solution:

1) system(.) always uses /bin/sh  -- not regarding $SHELL or anything

2) On Solaris 2.5.1,  the /bin/sh builtin 'test'  doesn't work as expected
   as expected with  "test -e  file" :

    sophie{maechler}654> uname -a
    SunOS sophie 5.5.1 Generic_103640-08 sun4u sparc SUNW,Ultra-1

    sophie{maechler}655> /bin/sh

    $ test -e /tmp
    test: argument expected
    $ touch /tmp/q
    $ test -e /tmp/q
    test: argument expected
    $ test -d /tmp; echo $?
    0
    $ test -d /Tmp; echo $?
    1

[still interested to hear about the potential of an R builtin 'test',
 relying on GNU sh-utils].

--
Martin
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