Bash scripting 101: Chapter 9: are you one of the SELECT few?

select: select NAME [in WORDS ... ;] do COMMANDS; done
    The WORDS are expanded, generating a list of words.  The
    set of expanded words is printed on the standard error, each
    preceded by a number.  If `in WORDS' is not present, `in "$@"'
    is assumed.  The PS3 prompt is then displayed and a line read
    from the standard input.  If the line consists of the number
    corresponding to one of the displayed words, then NAME is set
    to that word.  If the line is empty, WORDS and the prompt are
    redisplayed.  If EOF is read, the command completes.  Any other
    value read causes NAME to be set to null.  The line read is saved
    in the variable REPLY.  COMMANDS are executed after each selection
    until a break or return command is executed.

that's "help select", heh, dunno bout you people, it doesn't "help" me much at all

What the above so "eloquently" tries to inform you of is that select is very handy to make numbered menu's and so forth (basically).

#!/bin/bash
#uses select to make a menu (remember to set PS3 to something)
PS3="Make a Selection? "
LIST="test me now rocksteady quit"

select NONO in $LIST
   do
   echo -e "from\n $LIST\n you picked $NONO"
   if test "$NONO" = "quit"
      then
      return 0
   fi
   done

1. line from script
   explanation of line

2. 
   

w0nderer