Re: Can $1 be set in a script?

larryalk <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Fri, 31 Mar 2006 01:35:57 -0500, Bill Marcum <bmarcum@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

something=${1:-"default string"}

Excellent point.

Bill I ran across this exact same construction before in connection
with an ~/.xinitrc script.

Would you please tell me what the syntax means of:
(1:-"default string")

It does exactly the same thing that the several lines of my code
did.

I _guess_ it represents a variable.
What does the colon and minus sign signify?

Why guess... you should read the man page for bash...

Start by reading the section titled "Parameter Expansion".

--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@xxxxxxxxxx
.

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