how do I type a Q in a shell script to exit a status

q is the ObjectScript QUIT command, which exits the current context, but it is not the documented way to leave the ObjectScript shell itself. To exit the shell, enter HALT or H (case-insensitive). [1]

If your script is launching an InterSystems terminal session and waiting there, use HALT/H to return to the operating system prompt rather than q. [1]

If your goal is to have the shell script test a status afterward, one documented approach is to run the command through csession and then read the OS return code with $? in the shell. The example shown is:

csession $instance -U%SYS "##Class(Backup.General).ExternalFreeze()"
rc=$?

and then test rc in the shell script. [2]

That same discussion also shows that if you need to explicitly set an OS exit code from ObjectScript, you can use:

Do $System.Process.Terminate(,exitCode)

An older equivalent mentioned there is:

Do $zu(4,$job,exitCode)

[2]

So for your case, replacing the attempt to send q with an actual shell exit from ObjectScript (HALT/H for shell exit, or an explicit process termination with an exit code if needed) is the direction supported by the retrieved material. [1][2]

Sources: