[Techtalk] metacharacters and other oddities

[David Sumbler]

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003, Carla Schroder wrote:

> Is there a printed or online reference somewhere that documents Linux
> metacharacters? Here is one example of what I'm looking for: in
> programs like Pan and Kmail, there are options for configuring external
> programs:
>
> gvim %f = Kmail external editor -- %f = file
> mozilla %s = Pan web browser --  %s = URL
> xterm -e vi %t = Pan external editor --  %t = file
>
> Even from this small example you can see the inconsistencies, and I
> haven't found anything that says 'the percent sign is used in variable
> substitution.'
> Now these here programmers must be learning this stuff somewhere!
> There's always these odd little option flags in applications, and
> sometimes it's difficult to find out what they mean, and what other
> options might be available. If it is permitted, this lowly luser wants
> to know the sekkrit options.

Carla, I know nobody responded on this list, but did you ever find the
answer to your query?  If you did, I for one would be very interested
to know it.

David

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