I am executing a external command ( tar ) using backtick, while checking the return value it gives -1
Please show your code. What value do you expect backticks to return? Backticks return the output of the external command, which is different from the exit status of the command. See also system.
and the $! gives no child process error
Why are you checking $!? Maybe $? is more appropriate.

In reply to Re: External command execution - Strange Error - No child process by toolic
in thread External command execution - Strange Error - No child process by Anonymous Monk

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