Hi Robin,
The command:

Code:

break N

should break out of the innermost N (1 if N is not specified) enclosing for, while, until, and (in shells that implement select loops) select loops. You get varying behavior if you try to break out of more loops than you are currently in OR if you try to break out of a loop invoking a function using a break command inside that function's defining text, but if you're writing portable code you just shouldn't attempt to do either of those things.

Is there some other issue with break that has caused you problems?

Note that you can also exit a select loop by it hitting EOF on the file from which it is reading. So, if you are reading from a keyboard, you can add a choice to the selection list that is something like Enter ctl-D to exit when done if you want to avoid using break in a select statement. (But, it would usually be a good idea to add a break associated with that label in case the user enters the number associated with that selection instead of following directions and hitting ctl-D. ) Or, you can set PS3 with something like:

Code:

PS3='Enter selection number (or ctl-D to exit): '

and avoid that possible confusion.