MongoDB from bash Syntax Error Unexpected Token :

Question

I'm trying to launch a search from a bash shell like that.

root@mongo01:~# mongo mydb --quiet --shell --eval "printjson(db.userContests.find({linkId: {$ne: null}}, {linkId: 1}).pretty())"
type "help" for help
2015-02-23T14:45:09.256+0100 SyntaxError: Unexpected token :

As you can see, I get an error.

However, launching the same from mongo shell works.

root@axn-mongo01:~# mongo mydb
MongoDB shell version: 2.6.7
connecting to: mydb
> db.userContests.find({linkId: {$ne: null}}, {linkId: 1}).pretty()
{
    "linkId" : "_guid_F5BDEJFk2hvxyamKIVePEw==",
    "_id" : ObjectId("546dc5e47d479b1d0d8b45aa")
}
{
    "linkId" : "_guid_F5BDEJFk2hvxyamKIVePEw==",
    "_id" : ObjectId("546debdf7d479b686f8b458d")
}
{
    "linkId" : "_guid_EcWY0_RmDs8wA2T9LuVAGtiDfUHf8i-jLxTrhDXjzo8=",
    "_id" : ObjectId("546df6237d479b62698b45be")

Someone knows what's happening? Thanks.

Tiago Lopo · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-23 14:24:31Z

1

Dollar sign $ is getting interpolated by your shell, you can see what's going on using echo:

echo mongo mydb --quiet --shell --eval "printjson(db.userContests.find({linkId: {$ne: null}}, {linkId: 1}).pretty())"
mongo mydb --quiet --shell --eval printjson(db.userContests.find({linkId: {: null}}, {linkId: 1}).pretty())

As you can see your shell is parsing $ne, which is unset therefore generating invalid syntax.

To fix it use single quotes instead:

mongo mydb --quiet --shell --eval 'printjson(db.userContests.find({linkId: {$ne: null}}, {linkId: 1}).pretty())'

answered Feb 23, 2015 at 14:24

Tiago Lopo

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4 Comments

icalvete Over a year ago

You are right in part. but isn't enough. With single quotes ( or escaping dollar sign ) doesn't work.

icalvete Over a year ago

Not exactly. It's difficult to explain. You can get the same with,,, mongo admin --quiet --shell --eval 'printjson(db.admin.find())'

Tiago Lopo Over a year ago

try this: mongo mydb --quiet <<< 'db.userContests.find({linkId: {$ne: null}}, {linkId: 1})'

Tiago Lopo Over a year ago

I think the problem is --shell and --eval can't be sure. I am glad it helped you.

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