dot(1)                                                               dot(1)

NAME
     dot, . - execute shell scripts in current shell

SYNOPSIS
     . file

DESCRIPTION
     The shell built-in . (dot) executes the specified shell script in the
     current shell.

     If you define new shell variables in the shell script or modify the
     values of existing shell variables, these variables take effect in the
     current shell environment.

     If you unset shell options in the shell script with the shell built-in
     set, these options are set/unset in the current shell.

     When you call the shell script, you can pass keyword parameters to it,
     but you cannot redefine the positional parameters. However, within the
     shell script you can access the positional parameters of the current
     shell.

     If you use set to redefine the positional parameters within the shell
     script, the new values apply in the current shell.

ARGUMENTS
     file    Name of the shell script to be executed in the current shell.
             If file does not contain a slash, the shell searches for file
             in all directories whose path names have been assigned to the
             PATH variable.

             Read permission is required for the specified file, but the
             file searched for need not be executable.

EXIT STATUS
     Returns the value of the last command executed, or a zero exit status
     if no command is executed.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
     PATH    Search path of the shell

LOCALE
     The LCMESSAGES environment variable governs the language in which
     message texts are displayed.

     If LCMESSAGES is undefined or is defined as the null string, it
     defaults to the value of LANG. If LANG is likewise undefined or null,
     the system acts as if it were not internationalized.

     The LCALL environment variable governs the entire locale. LCALL
     takes precedence over all the other environment variables which affect
     internationalization.



Page 1                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98

dot(1)                                                               dot(1)

EXAMPLES
     Example 1:

     When you create or modify your $HOME/.profile file, the commands and
     assignments contained in it are normally not executed until you next
     log in (open a login shell).

     The dot command enables you to make these changes effective in the
     current shell itself, provided that the current directory is assigned
     to the PATH variable:

     $ . .profile

     Example 2:

     $ cat foobar
     foo=hello bar=world
     $ . foobar
     $ echo $foo $bar
     hello world

SEE ALSO
     ksh(1), set(1), sh(1).































Page 2                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98