The file (1st) input for Import tells DX to read that file. If the file name is proceeded with a !, then DX executes that file (e.g., shell script, compiled program) whose output to stdout Import will interpret instead of the bytes in a file as either dx or general array import format. It's a powerful way of easily adding functionality to DX and integrating other software without writing modules. Of course, it won't be efficient if the amount of data being accessed is large.
Ted Sariyski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>@opendx.watson.ibm.com on 01/25/2001 04:28:15 PM Please respond to [email protected] Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "Peter D. Kirchner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected] cc: Subject: [opendx-users] how to pass arguments to a dx script Hi, Excuse my ignorance but what is "!" feature? I checked the books but didn't find anything. I need to pass arguments to a dx script like: dx -script myscript.dx arg1 arg2 I tried in myscript.dx Echo($1,$2) and Echo(!1,!2) but got errors. How can I pass arguments to a dx script? Thanks. Ted "Peter D. Kirchner" wrote: > > Any number of sensible ways to do this don't exist. > > You might be able to (shell dependent) > MYFILE=foo dx -edit General.net > Then in General.net have ImportSpreadsheet use the "!" feature to echo $MYFILE > (directly or through a shell script) and if necessary other junk to satisfy > ImportSpreadsheet, then use the column name or data value to get MYFILE's > setting into your net, to feed to the filename input of the desired Import. > You could hide this ugliness in a macro.
