Thanks to all the people who sent me mail about this feature. Rob Gordon, from Instruction Set, gave me another solution to handle the 'no-argument' case: ${@+"$@"} That works fine too. Chris -- Chris Bertin | -- CETIA -- 150, Av Marcelin Berthelot, Z.I. Toulon-Est +33(94)212005 | 83088 Toulon Cedex, France | inria!cetia!chris