WAD Blank line in multi-line alias in file changes internal variables

[TimButterfield]

In the example below, notice how the blank line inside the multi-line alias of test_bad.dat changes the value of the internal _cmdspec variable.

[C:\temp]ver

TCC  35.00.21 x64   Windows 11 [Version 10.0.22631.5624]

[C:\temp]alias
TCC: No aliases defined

[C:\temp]echo %_cmdspec
C:\JPSoft\TCMD35\TCC.EXE

[C:\temp]type test_good.dat

  test=` & ^
        echo "Test" & ^
        `
[C:\temp]alias /r test_good.dat

[C:\temp]echo %_cmdspec
C:\JPSoft\TCMD35\TCC.EXE

[C:\temp]unalias *

[C:\temp]type test_bad.dat

  test=` & ^

        echo "Test" & ^
        `
[C:\temp]alias /r test_bad.dat

[C:\temp]echo %_cmdspec
TCC: No closing quote

 

[vefatica]

I don't see a blank line (in the file?). If there were one, it'd need a continuation. What are all the ampersands for? Multiline aliases, per se, seem ok.

v:\> type fooalias.txt
foo=`^
^
echo ^
^
foo`

v:\> alias /r fooalias.txt

v:\> alias foo
echo foo

v:\> foo
foo

v:\> unalias foo

v:\> alias foo
TCC: Not an alias "foo"

v:\> echo %_cmdspec
D:\tc35\TCC.EXE

 

[vefatica]

OK, I see it now. I think it needs a continuation. This is OK (the blank line is line 3). Still wondering about the ampersands.

v:\> echo %_cmdspec
D:\tc35\TCC.EXE

v:\> type /l fooalias.txt
   1 :
   2 :   test=` & ^
   3 :   ^
   4 :         echo "Test" & ^
   5 :         `
   6 :

v:\> alias /r fooalias.txt

v:\> echo %_cmdspec
D:\tc35\TCC.EXE

 

[TimButterfield]

See capture for actual file contents.

I'm not sure it should be okay for any external file, alias or otherwise, to change the value of an internal variable like _cmdspec.

 

[TimButterfield]

In my original, I was using the ampersands for command separation of a more complex alias with iff blocks, etc.

 

[vefatica]

I don't know how it carries over to %_cmdspec, but without the continuation on the blank line, this is what you get.

v:\> type /l fooalias.txt
   1 :
   2 :   test=` & ^
   3 :
   4 :         echo "Test" & ^
   5 :         `
   6 :

v:\> alias /r fooalias.txt

v:\> alias | tail /n 2
TCC: No closing quote
TCC: D:\tc35\TCSTART.BTM [1]  No closing quote
test= &
echo="Test" & `

 

[vefatica]

I see now. You get an alias for ECHO (with a lone `). So it's not the variable, it's the new echo!

 

[TimButterfield]

You're correct. I see that now also. So, not a bug after all. Thanks.