If you must initialize $input, then set it to "".  Then test if $input has
a value after you get it from the user.  If $input has a value then
continue with your wc, etc.  If your assignment was to accept no more than
two words, then you'll need to save the wc -w output in another variable
and test if it equals two.  If not, then tell the user to enter new data. 
Also, there's no reason to cat the crap.  ;-)  Just give it as input to wc
like this:
wc -w crap
~M



Juland Re Perales, R said:
> Hey all, I'm a UNIX newb.
>
> I've been trying to get this script to work for a class and there's no
> competent being in this campus to help me out.
>
> Here it is:
>
>>A SCRIPT<
>
> ### Display a 2-line prompt for input until no input s received.
>
> input="a"
> nullvar=""
> echo "Word and Character Counter..."
>
>
>     ###To prompt user to type words
>
> while [ $input -ne $nullvar ]
>   do
>    echo "Type one or two words, then press <Enter>"
>    echo "To end, just press <Enter>"
>    read input                             ###To exit program or display
> count output
> echo $input > crap                  ###Stores the read var into file
> 'crap'
>    if [ "$input" = "$nullvar" ]       ###if empty then you will exit
>     then
>      echo Exiting Program...
>     else
>      echo You typed `cat crap | wc -w` words and `cat crap | wc -c`
> characters
> echo    ###to insert blank line
> fi
> done
>
>>A SCRIPT<
>
> Basically, I'm trying to get input from keyboard, and that input has to be
> either 1 or 2 words.  If there is no input, the program exits.  If there
> is
> input, then the program counts the # of chars and # of words.
>
> I would really appreciate the help...  :)
>
>
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