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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!whuxl!qtest
From: qtest@whuxl.UUCP (QTEST)
Newsgroups: net.sources.bugs
Subject: Possible bug in less
Message-ID: <781@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Nov-85 16:26:36 EST
Article-I.D.: whuxl.781
Posted: Wed Nov  6 16:26:36 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 06:23:02 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
Lines: 20

I think I've found a bug in less.

I think it stems from the difference in the way the following two commands
are called, One with a pipe and one without, e.g.

	1) 	cat filename | less	
	2)	less filename

Both of the above commands will list the first page (assuming 'filename'
is longer than one page) and give the ":" prompt. If at this prompt
the command "!sh" is entered, command type 1) will wait for a few seconds
and then return "!done (press RETURN)". Command type 2) will correctly
spawn the shell and repond with the usual PS1 prompt.

My question is; why does the first command, i.e. the one using the pipe
NOT spawn a shell, but simply return to less?
Are the above differences a result of the pipe?
By the way my version of less was compiled on SVR2 if that helps.

			qtest  {ihnp4}whuxl!qtest