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what does this mean?

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# 1  
Old 02-04-2011
Error what does this unix command mean?
when a C program is run from a unix server using this:

* myprog [-d dictionary] string

where myprog is the name of the program. What do the arguments mean? and the * at the beginning?
Last edited by omega666; 02-04-2011 at 12:18 PM..
# 2  
Old 02-04-2011
The asterisk has no place there - it's wrong, and dangerous.
Code:
$ echo rm > rm && chmod 700 rm
$ touch x y
$ ls
rm	x	y
$ *
$ ls
rm

Options in square brackets generally mean that the option is, well, optional.

And there's nothing special, or different, about how C programs are run, compared to any other program.
# 3  
Old 02-04-2011
i get the string argument is just passing a string, but what does -d dictionary mean, what does that argument do?
# 4  
Old 02-04-2011
I presume it is for (optionally) specifying a dictionary name that myprog can use.

If not, you should ask whoever wrote myprog what it is used for.
Last edited by Scott; 02-04-2011 at 12:39 PM.. Reason: Misread: Replaced "directory" with "dictionary"
# 5  
Old 02-04-2011
do you mean it is targeting a file in the same directory?
# 6  
Old 02-04-2011
I didn't write myprog so I would have no idea.

(sorry, I misread the first time as "directory", but it's "dictionary".)

Who's program is this? Is there documentation or a man page - or a man - that you could consult?
# 7  
Old 02-04-2011
what would i type in man, dictionary? or assuming that dictionary is a file in the same directory, what does the -d mean?
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