sh feature: redirection of flow control bug

[Dave Burton]

This is an ancient (but still present) bug,
so apologies if I'm reviving a dead subject.

I just had occasion to use a feature of the Bourne/Korn shells,
I/O redirection of the flow control statements. The following
script demonstrates a bug present in sh and absent in ksh:

#!/bin/sh # replace with $WHEREEVER/bin/ksh
if [ ! -d "$1" ]
then echo "'$1' not a dir"
exit 1
fi >&2
cd $1
echo "hello from `pwd`"
exit 0

This fails with sh and works with ksh.
Output from the sh version:

Script started on Sat Jan 23 11:12:34 1988
laidbak:1% x .
hello from /u3/daveb
laidbak:2% x x
'x' not a dir
x: x: bad directory
laidbak:3% exit
script done on Sat Jan 23 11:12:52 1988

Output from the ksh version:
Script started on Sat Jan 23 11:14:23 1988
laidbak:1% x .
hello from /u3/daveb
laidbak:2% x x
'x' not a dir
laidbak:3% exit
script done on Sat Jan 23 11:14:58 1988

I haven't tested, but I'm sure {for,while}do/done and
case/esac exhibit the same behavior as the if/fi.

The workaround is easy (if inelegant): redirect output
of each individual command; or set a flag and test it
upon completion of the if/fi.

Is there a better/preferred workaround?
The encapsulated command list is small in this
example; adding more command to the list makes
individual redirection tiresome.

Hacking the shell is out - several of the systems
this code will execute on have no source available.
And please, no sh/csh/ksh flames/merit discussions.
--
--------------------"Well, it looked good when I wrote it"---------------------
Verbal: Dave Burton Net: ...!ihnp4!laidbak!daveb
V-MAIL: (312) 505-9100 x325 USSnail: 1901 N. Naper Blvd.
#include <disclaimer.h> Naperville, IL 60540

[Barton E. Schaefer]

A working version of the script in question:

#! /bin/sh

if [ ! -d "$1" ]
then echo "'$1' not a dir"
exit 1

else exit 0
fi >&2 || exit 1

cd $1
echo "hello from `pwd`"
exit 0

--
Bart Schaefer CSNET: scha...@cse.ogc.edu
UUCP: ...{tektronix,verdix}!ogcvax!schaefer
"You can lead a yak to water, but you can't teach an old dog to make a silk
purse out of a pig in a poke." -- Opus