[comp.unix.questions] "too many file names" in vi

lvw@rama.UUCP (Lyndon VanWagner) (04/11/91)

I'm experiencing a problem with vi in my environment.
Lately, I've been getting the following message when trying to
edit or read a file, using the tilde character (~) to reference
files keyed off a home directory:
	Too many file names

Does any one have a suggestion as to what may be causeing this?
No one else here at work seem to be experiencing the same problem,
so its not with the global environment.  And I can't seem to find
the message documented anywhere.
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Lyndon C. VanWagner		Internet:lvw@rama.sc.harris.com
Software Engineer		-or-	rama!lvw@uu.psi.com
Framework Development Group	UUCP:	...!{uupsi,tropix}!rama!lvw
Harris Corporation		PHONE:	(716) 924-9303 ext. 226
Scientific Calculations Division, Fishers, NY 14453
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Cornfield's Law (paraphrased):
	Before anything can change, everyone must agree.
	By the time that happens its a different problem.
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eggert@twinsun.com (Paul Eggert) (04/13/91)

lvw@rama.UUCP (Lyndon VanWagner) writes:

>Lately, I've been getting the following message when trying to
>edit or read a file, using the tilde character (~) ...
>	Too many file names

Your ~/.cshrc outputs something.  Make it stop.

lvw@rama.UUCP (Lyndon VanWagner) (04/15/91)

Just wanted to thank Raymond Chen for his assistance in my vi/environment
problem.  Turns out that I had placed an "echo" in my .cshrc, and this
stopped vi and ex from reading/editing other files using the C-shell
tilde (~) reference.

+ 
+ When vi sees a tilde or a * or anything else strange, it calls
+ your shell to perform the expansion; typically, it just does a
+ 
+ /bin/csh -c echo whatever-you-typed
+ 
+ (more or less) and then captures the output.
+ 
+ But if your .cshrc produces output, then vi gets confused when
+ it sees other gunk mixed in with the expanded filename.
+ 
+ Moral of the story:
+ 
+ Put the line
+ 
+     if ($?prompt == 0) exit
+ 
+ at the top of your .cshrc so that nothing is done if a noninteractive csh
+ is being run.
+ 

Thanks again.

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyndon C. VanWagner		Internet:lvw@rama.sc.harris.com
Software Engineer		-or-	rama!lvw@uu.psi.com
Framework Development Group	UUCP:	...!{uupsi,tropix}!rama!lvw
Harris Corporation		PHONE:	(716) 924-9303 ext. 226
Scientific Calculations Division, Fishers, NY 14453
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cornfield's Law (paraphrased):
	Before anything can change, everyone must agree.
	By the time that happens its a different problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------