I have tried this workaround (even if I see it as a defiance :-) ).
but another problem arised: i want to keep the control in the main script of the variable to be passed so I would like to pass them to the script.
this is the "inner" script:
#!/bin/sh
# loop through a set of numbers
# echo $pt
echo nome$1
echo pt$2
echo eta$3
for i in 1 2 ;
do ../herlib/hwuser<<stop ;
$1
$2 $3
$i
stop

done
when I do
$ ./forloop a b c
it works but when it is called by another script it fails to recognize the variables.
for example: I call the previous script (forloop) through
name=tt_25_5_0jet
pt=20
eta=0.6
./forloop<<stop
$name
$pt
$eta
stop
but don't work... any idea?
THANKS in advance Michele