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From: dlnash@ut-ngp.UUCP (Donald L. Nash)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc,net.micro.ti
Subject: Re: Help with SWITCHAR
Message-ID: <2987@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 22-Feb-86 12:51:11 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.2987
Posted: Sat Feb 22 12:51:11 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Feb-86 20:23:41 EST
References: <2000@psuvax1.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: UTexas Computation Center, Austin, Texas
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Xref: linus net.micro.pc:6889 net.micro.ti:143


> I am using a 'more' program that was posted some time ago.  It allows you
> to enter the editor by typing 'e'.  It works fine but, when I add the line:
> 	switchar=-
> to my config.sys file, trying to enter the editor from more causes the error:
> 	Specified COMMAND search directory bad
> and doing a set shows that PATH is empty and COMPSPEC is the only other
> environment variable set.
>
> I've tried setting the SHELL in the config.sys file and changing the PATH
> to use '/' instead of '\' but, I've had no luck.
> Does anybody know what the problem might be?
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Fred Hollander
> Penn State
>

The problem is probably that the program does not check to see what the
what the SWITCHAR is before trying to run the editor.  If it runs the
editor by calling up command.com like this:

	command /c editor

then changing SWITCHAR will blow its mind.  I've had the same thing
happen to me when using Kermit.  I had changed the SWITCHAR to '-' and
then tried to get a directory listing from Kermit.  I had the same
results, since Kermit would try to do the following:

	command /c dir

The only solution is not to change the SWITCHAR, since most programs
don't check for it.  However, if you find using '/' very unsatisfactory,
then that is not much of a solution....

					Don Nash

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