set(1fmli)

set, unset -- set and unset local or global environment variables

Synopsis

   set [-l variable[=value]] . . . 
   set [-e variable[=value ] ] . . . 
   set [-ffile variable[=value ] ] . . . 
    
   unset -l variable . . . 
   unset -ffile variable . . .

Description

The set command sets variable in the environment, or adds variable=value to file. If variable is not equated it to a value, set expects the value to be on standard input. The unset command removes variable. Note that the FMLI predefined, read-only variables (such as ARG1), may not be set or unset.

FMLI inherits the UNIX environment when invoked:

-l: sets or unsets the specified variable in the local environment. Variables set with -l will not be inherited by processes invoked from FMLI.
-e: sets the specified variable in the UNIX environment. Variables set with -e will be inherited by any processes started from FMLI. Note that these variables cannot be unset.
-ffile: sets or unsets the specified variable in the global environment. The argument file is the name, or pathname, of a file containing lines of the form variable=value. file will be created if it does not already exist. Note that no space intervenes between -f and file.

Note that at least one of the above options must be used for each variable being set or unset. If you set a variable with the -ffilename option, you must thereafter include filename in references to that variable. For example, ${(file)VARIABLE}.

Examples

Storing a selection made in a menu:

   name=Selection 2 
   action=`set -l SELECTION=2`close

Notices

Variables set to be available to the UNIX environment (those set using the -e option) can only be set for the current fmli process and the processes it calls.

When using the -f option, unless file is unique to the process, other users of FMLI on the same machine will be able to expand these variables, depending on the read/write permissions on file.

A variable set in one frame may be referenced or unset in any other frame. This includes local variables.

When a variable is evaluated that does not specifically reference a file, the local environment and UNIX system environment are searched in that order. (When a set -l and a set -e is done for the same variable, the variable evaluates to the value used in the set -l command.)

References

env(1), sh(1)