Error capture of perl script in shell

Question

I am trying to captuer the actual error of the perl script if it fails. And its not stopping and the next script is getting triggered.

UPDATED Python scripts are running fine only having problem with the perl script

if ! perl test.pl arg2 arg1 ;   
        then
        echo "Error running test.pl in Preparing data for algorithm; rest of process stopped." >&2 >>$LOG_PATH/Perl_RUN_$TRACK_TIME

    elif ! python themes.py;
        then
        echo "Error running themes.py rest of process stopped." >&2 >>$LOG_PATH/Python_RUN_$feed_name'_'$TRACK_TIME 

    elif ! python $SCRIPT_PATH/pre_survey_dt.py;
        then
        echo "Error running pre_survey_dt.py rest of process stopped." >&2 >>$LOG_PATH/Python_RUN_$TRACK_TIME
fi

Please advice what I am missing here.

Answer 1

if ! perl test.pl arg2 arg1; then
    echo "test.pl failed with error code $?" >&2
    exit 1
fi

Use return instead of exit :

• to return from a shell function.
• to exit from a shell script that has been sourced.