The select statement (Pages 912)

• Creating interactive text menus is much simplified by using the select loop and the PS3 prompt.

select variable in wordlist; do ... done

• Each item in wordlist (use quotes if an item includes blanks) is sent to stderr (not stdout) with a sequential number to its left, after a PS3 prompt.

• The number selected by the user is stored in the REPLY variable (like read) and the corresponding word is placed in variable.

• Use a case or an if-elif to check the menu input.

• Because select is a loop control, the break command must used to exit from it (or exit to end the script). There is no ending condition as there is in for, while, and until.

• Choose your prompt and set PS3 before your select.