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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!alberta!sask!zaphod!flory
From: flory@zaphod.UUCP (Trevor Flory)
Newsgroups: net.unix
Subject: Help! Csh is eating my brain....
Message-ID: <366@zaphod.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Oct-85 14:54:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: zaphod.366
Posted: Wed Oct 16 14:54:25 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Oct-85 04:58:05 EDT
Reply-To: flory@zaphod.UUCP (Trevor Flory)
Organization: Develcon Electronics Ltd.
Lines: 25

Hello All;
	I'm trying to debug a csh script written by someone who
	knew what he was doing I'm sure.  Below is a fragment of
	the script which I find rather difficult to understand:
		...
		alias readandset 'echo -n \!:1 ; set \!:2 = $< ' 
		...
		readandset "Choice? " chvar
		...
		if("$chvar" == "quit") ....

	In particular I'd like to know what \!:1 or \!:2 means/does.

	Please note that I know the basics of csh but I'm no whiz so
	a full, step-by-step parse of how the above fragment is
	interpreted would not be out of order.  Thanks very much for
	your help.  Post or e-mail as you see fit.

-- 
Trevor K. Flory           UUCP: ...!ihnp4{!alberta}!sask!zaphod!flory
Develcon Electronics Ltd.             Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CANADA

"... the play is the tragedy, `Man',
	And its hero the Conqueror Worm."
			Poe, c.1838