title: Variable Syntax Error with Bash Script (Homework)
body: <p>I'm currently working on homework for a Unix course and I've got everything else done but I just can't figure out what I've done wrong here. I've done this exact same script in csh (but we need to do it in bash as well.) I've already fixed a few errors but now the one I'm getting is "Variable Syntax" when I try to run it.</p>
  
  <p>I've tried using double brackets for the while and ifs
  I've also tried declaring the variables for the inputs before I try to read to them
  I've also tried bugging several people in my class but most of them are pretty clueless and just copy off others.</p>
  
  <pre><code>#/!bin/bash
  #
  #Menunix - Bash
  #
  #Usage: menunixb
  input = "$(1)" 
  while [ $input != 5 ]
  do
      echo Please choose an option
      echo 1: List Files 
      echo 2: Display today's date and time
      echo 3: Check whether a file is a directory or not
      echo 4: Create a file backup
      echo 5: Quit
      read input
      case $input in
          1) 
              ls
              ;;
          2)
              echo -n Time:
              date +"%T"
              echo Date:
              date +"%D"
              ;;
          3)
              echo What file do you wish to check
              read finput
              if [ -d $finput ] ; then
                  echo $finput is a Directory
              elif [ -f $finput ] ; then
              echo $finput is a File
              else
                  echo $finput does not exist
                  ;;
              4)
                  echo Please enter filename to backup
                  read binput
                  cp $binput{,.bak}
                  ;;
              5)
                  exit 1
              *)
                  echo Please choose a valid input
                  exit 1
              esac
          done
  #EOF
  </code></pre>