From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Apr 5 10:20:04 2007 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-doc@hub.freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@hub.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8DFA716A403 for ; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:20:04 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (freefall.freebsd.org [69.147.83.40]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5245713C457 for ; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:20:04 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (gnats@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id l35AK4sT001553 for ; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:20:04 GMT (envelope-from gnats@freefall.freebsd.org) Received: (from gnats@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.13.4/8.13.4/Submit) id l35AK4IV001552; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:20:04 GMT (envelope-from gnats) Resent-Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:20:04 GMT Resent-Message-Id: <200704051020.l35AK4IV001552@freefall.freebsd.org> Resent-From: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org (GNATS Filer) Resent-To: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org Resent-Reply-To: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org, Victor Engmark Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7B26D16A402 for ; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:11:07 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from nobody@FreeBSD.org) Received: from www.freebsd.org (www.freebsd.org [69.147.83.33]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6AF2813C44B for ; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:11:07 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from nobody@FreeBSD.org) Received: from www.freebsd.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by www.freebsd.org (8.13.1/8.13.1) with ESMTP id l35AB67Z025229 for ; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:11:06 GMT (envelope-from nobody@www.freebsd.org) Received: (from nobody@localhost) by www.freebsd.org (8.13.1/8.13.1/Submit) id l35A64xd024398; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:06:04 GMT (envelope-from nobody) Message-Id: <200704051006.l35A64xd024398@www.freebsd.org> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:06:04 GMT From: Victor Engmark To: freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org X-Send-Pr-Version: www-3.0 Cc: Subject: docs/111265: Clarify how to set common shell variables X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:20:04 -0000 >Number: 111265 >Category: docs >Synopsis: Clarify how to set common shell variables >Confidential: no >Severity: non-critical >Priority: low >Responsible: freebsd-doc >State: open >Quarter: >Keywords: >Date-Required: >Class: change-request >Submitter-Id: current-users >Arrival-Date: Thu Apr 05 10:20:03 GMT 2007 >Closed-Date: >Last-Modified: >Originator: Victor Engmark >Release: >Organization: >Environment: >Description: Until reading section 3.9.1, it looks like section 3.9 advocates setting all shell variables using setenv / export. Since this is not the case for at least $SHELL and $TERM (and, I presume, $OSTYPE and $MACHTYPE), new users might get unexpected results when trying to change variables. Assuming that the handbook is used as a reference, maybe the information should be re-organized to avoid misunderstandings. >How-To-Repeat: >Fix: The explanations of the individual shell variables in section 3.9 could be moved into the sections discussing their use (such as 3.10, "Editors", for $EDITOR and 3.9.1, "Changing Your Shell", for $SHELL). Another option would be to add a warning that some variables should not be set using setenv / export, or explicitly point out which commands should be used / link to the relevant documentation. >Release-Note: >Audit-Trail: >Unformatted: