Very Computer

I have to propagate a value from a command to a
environment variable.
Here is a sketch of how to do this, but I think
there is one problem. (I found this neat idea in
this newsgroup)

I run a series of commands in a script.
I implement the commands I need myself, so
I can do what I will in them.

In the command (mycommand) I write a value (fcode) to
a file.
Then I send some signal, say 8 to PPID (the script)

In the shell I have made this:
trap "read file & set env. variable fcode" 8

Then the idea is to use fcode like this:

#! /usr/bin/ksh

..
..
mycommand params1
case $fcode in
  123)
..
..
  124)
..
..
mycommand params2
case $fcode in
  12)
..
  13)

Can one be sure that the signal has been caught and
dealt whith when one comes to case $fcode.
If not, is there some way to achive this (preferrably
in such a way that you dont have to do some stuff
between mycommand and case) ????

Pelle

FCODE=`mycommand params1`
if [ $? -eq 0 ]
then
        case $FCODE in
.....

Only if the two methods above don't work would I do something different,
and then I wouldn't use signals.  Just go get the code out of the file
after mycommand completes with the appropriate exit value.
--
Allen Kirby                     AT&T ITS Production Services

Pelle