read -p returns "read: no query process" using korn shell ksh

Question

created a simple shell file that contains this:

read -p ThePrompt TheSomthing
echo $TheSomething

Run it, and it returns

-ksh[1]: read: no query process

I've tried single quotes, double quotes around ThePrompt and the man page specifically says "-p" is to use a prompt but it is not working for me. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

Answer 1

In Ksh you can use this format:

echo "ThePrompt\c" read TheSomthing echo $TheSomething

Answer 2

From the googled man page:

The -un and -p options cause input to be read from file descriptor n or the current co-process (see Co-Processes above for comments on this), respectively. If the -s option is used, input is saved to the history file.

To use a prompt, write this instead:

read TheSomething?'ThePrompt'