Re: bug

[Bart Schaefer <schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Dec 20,  6:08pm, Ray Andrews wrote:
}
} function z
} {
} var=$1
} echo "var:/${1:0:1}/${1:1:1}/${1:2:1}/"
} echo "var:/${var:0:1}/${var:1:1}/${var:2:1}/"
} 
} }
} 
} $ z abcde
} 
} var: /a/a/b/
} var: /a/b/c/
} 
} How can that be correct?

I'm still not sure it's correct, but this explains why it happens:

     For further compatibility with other shells there is a special case
     for array offset 0.  This usually accesses to the first element of
     the array.  However, if the substitution refers the positional
     parameter array, e.g. $@ or $*, then offset 0 instead refers to
     $0, offset 1 refers to $1, and so on.  In other words, the
     positional parameter array is effectively extended by prepending
     $0.  Hence ${*:0:1} substitutes $0 and ${*:1:1} substitutes $1.

So :0:1 is acting on the invisible $0 even though the reference is to
an individual positional parameter rather than to the positional array.