Re: Interesting handling of command line arguments

|--==> "SJT" == Stephen J Turnbull <stephen(a)xemacs.org&gt; writes: SJT> Note: I just realized that the "--" syntax is not helpful on the SJT> XEmacs command line, as you cannot do the following any more: SJT> xemacs -something -f turn--something-into-something-more-useful SJT> as both SJT> xemacs -- -something -f turn--something-into-something-more-useful SJT> xemacs -f turn--something-into-something-more-useful -- -something SJT> are obviously incorrect. ;-) SJT> We really need an "escape-once" flag, something like --file=-something, SJT> here. How about '\' to be used in front of a filename that starts with '-'. To extend on that, if a command line arg: o Starts with a dash, it's an option. If it isn't a legal option, XEmacs should quit with an unknown command error and display some terse usage. o Starts with anything else, it's a filename unless it is preceded by a legal option that in itself takes an argument o Starts with a dash _and_ is supposed to be a filename, escape it with '\' So Steve's example could be: xemacs \-something -f turn-something-into-something-more-useful and... xemacs -something -f turn-something-into-something-more-useful should result in an unknown option error: '-something' (+ appropriate usage help, perhaps with a tip about escaping filenames). -- |---<Steve Youngs>---------------<GnuPG KeyID: 10D5C9C5>---| | XEmacs - It's not just an editor. | | It's a way of life. | |------------------------------------&lt;youngs(a)xemacs.org&gt;---|