509$ echo $VAL
/usr/local/home/esop/esop_dev/batch/apps
510$ echo $VAL  | perl -e '$_ = <STDIN>; $_ =~ s|/|\\|g; print "a $_";'
\usr\local\home\esop\esop_dev\batch\apps
511$ echo $VAL  | perl -e '$_ = <STDIN>; $_ =~ s|/|\\|g; print "$_";'
\usr\local\home\esop\esop_dev\batch\apps
512$