NAME

     usparg  - a utility program for building scripts  with  com-
     mand line arguments

SYNOPSIS

     `usparg [ -keyvalue ] [ default_value ] $* `

DESCRIPTION

     usparg is itself an executable that allows  users  to  build
     their  own  script  files that import command line arguments
     just like any other USP program.   Note  the  entire  usparg
     expression  must  be  included  in  single backquotes.  Both
     strings and integers are handled in the following way:

     To import a string using the command line key -N
          in csh:
               set NM = `usparg -N "junk" $*`
          in sh:
               NM=`usparg -N "junk" $*`

     where NM is the variable in the user's script to  which  the
     command  line  string  value  immediately  following  -N  is
     assigned and where junk is the value of the script  variable
     NM  if  no command line argument is present (default value).
     Inside the user's script $NM will be replaced by the  actual
     string itself.  If -N appears by itself on the command line,
     NM will have a null value in the script.

     To import an integer using the command line key -ol
          in csh:
               @ ol = `usparg -ol 0 $*`
          in sh:
               ol=`usparg -ol 0 $*`

     where ol is the variable in the user's script to  which  the
     command  line  integer  value  immediately  following -ol is
     assigned and where the default value (no  command  line  key
     present)  in  this case is zero.  As above inside the user's
     script the actual numerical value may be invoked by $ol.

NOTES

     The Bourne shell (sh) has no distinction between numeric and
     character variables. To perform math operations on variables
     in sh, the Unix program expr(1) may be used.

BUGS

     There are no provisions for performing arithmetic on  float-
     ing point  values in shell scripts.

SEE ALSO

     sh(1), csh(1)

AUTHOR

     Joe M. Wade
     (functionality originally developed by
     Terri Fischer & Bill May, TRC)

COPYRIGHT

     copyright 2001, Amoco Production Company
               All Rights Reserved
          an affiliate of BP America Inc.