[comp.unix.questions] problem with eval `tset -s ?$TERM`

acarlson@math.umass.edu (Adam Carlson) (10/23/90)

Hi folks,

First of all, I would like to appologize to all the people who asked me
for a summary of the responses to queries I made re: Tiff & Pict file
formats, and VT100 emulators for Sunview.  The former I'm still waiting
for some more info, and the latter I will post real soon now (really,
I've been sick :-).

Now, on to the heart of the matter, I have my .login file set to do an
eval `tset -s \?$TERM` when not logged in at the console.
Unfortunately, whenever I log in remotely, I am prompted appropriately
(i.e. TERM = (network)), but when I respond with my terminal type, I
get a setenv: Too many arguments.  Then, a printenv will show that my
TERM is set to the right value, but I have no TERMCAP variable.  If I
manually enter eval `tset -s`, it doesn't give an error message, and
sets TERMCAP correctly.  Now, the wierd part (if that wasn't wierd
enough).  If I type, eval `tset -s` (with or without the \?$TERM for
prompting), I will alternately get the above error message or have it
succeed.  If I type it in and it works, then when I type it in again,
it won't, and vice versa.

What don't I know about tset (answer- lot's :-) that would cause this
behavior?

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I'm running SunOS 4.1 on a Sun 3/80

Please respond directly to me.

Thanks
Adam Carlson
acarlson@math.umass.edu