> echo 'enter date in format yy-mm-dd \c $dt' > read dt > echo $dt awk '$5 >= '"$dt"... ######### > awk '$5 >= $dt ' .suspfile >xout > > awk seems to ignore the terminal entered data. Is there any way to get > awk to recognize this kind of variable? Enclose it in quotes that don't over-ride variable substitution.