unary operations in linux

hi when i enter the following line into linux it says unary operation can be used

#<flange>= x2  y.5

i think i understand that its telling me i can use a single command, but which one?

I'm not sure what you are trying to do there but parameters can only be floating point values.

The only value type supported by parameters is floating-point; there are no string, boolean or integer types in G-code like in other programming languages. However, logic expressions can be formulated with boolean operators ( AND, OR, XOR, and the comparison operators EQ,NE,GT,GE,LT,LE), and the MOD, ROUND, FUP and FIX operators support integer arithmetic.

linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode/overview.html#_parameters

The message you are getting about unary operation is just an error message from the interpreter when it encounters an unexpected line of gcode.

ok makes sense

what would be the best way to move 2 directions (but not simultaneously) with a single command

as a 'single command'  you can call a subroutine

and place the subroutine with toolpath at the top of mainprogram.

another exampl

 

honestly i.m very new to cnc programing and whatever you have written up top is probably over my head, but can you elaborate just a little bit about excactly what those commands will do
thanks

Maybe have a look at the O code documentation:
linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode/o-code.html

Technically, it is not possible to make two separate moves with a single command.

What MaHa suggests is to create a small sub program that contains the 2 separate moves you are requesting, then you could use a single command to call that subprogram. The subprogram uses two variables for the distance of the separate X and Y moves that you have to specify the value of when you call the subprogram.

(or you can simply write the two separate moves explicitly in your g-code.)