awk '$1 ~ /^F/ {print $0 }' /tmp/frhtest/ADDC.bak > /tmp/frhtest/ADDC.$date #### $call = `awk '$1 ~ /^F/ {print $0 }' /tmp/frhtest/ADDC.bak > /tmp/frhtest/ADDC.$date`; system("$call"); #### syntax error The source line is 1. The error context is >>> ~ <<< awk: Quitting The source line is 1.