From nobody@FreeBSD.org  Thu Apr  5 10:11:07 2007
Return-Path: <nobody@FreeBSD.org>
Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7B26D16A402
	for <freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org>; Thu,  5 Apr 2007 10:11:07 +0000 (UTC)
	(envelope-from nobody@FreeBSD.org)
Received: from www.freebsd.org (www.freebsd.org [69.147.83.33])
	by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6AF2813C44B
	for <freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org>; Thu,  5 Apr 2007 10:11:07 +0000 (UTC)
	(envelope-from nobody@FreeBSD.org)
Received: from www.freebsd.org (localhost [127.0.0.1])
	by www.freebsd.org (8.13.1/8.13.1) with ESMTP id l35AB67Z025229
	for <freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org>; Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:11:06 GMT
	(envelope-from nobody@www.freebsd.org)
Received: (from nobody@localhost)
	by www.freebsd.org (8.13.1/8.13.1/Submit) id l35A64xd024398;
	Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:06:04 GMT
	(envelope-from nobody)
Message-Id: <200704051006.l35A64xd024398@www.freebsd.org>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 10:06:04 GMT
From: Victor Engmark<victor.engmark@gmail.com>
To: freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org
Subject: Clarify how to set common shell variables
X-Send-Pr-Version: www-3.0

>Number:         111265
>Category:       docs
>Synopsis:       [request] Clarify how to set common shell variables
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       low
>Responsible:    freebsd-doc
>State:          open
>Quarter:        
>Keywords:       handbook
>Date-Required:  
>Class:          change-request
>Submitter-Id:   current-users
>Arrival-Date:   Thu Apr 05 10:20:03 GMT 2007
>Closed-Date:    
>Last-Modified:  Tue Aug 31 22:20:26 UTC 2010
>Originator:     Victor Engmark
>Release:        
>Organization:
>Environment:
>Description:
Until reading section 3.9.1, it looks like section 3.9 advocates setting
all shell variables using setenv / export. Since this is not the case for
at least $SHELL and $TERM (and, I presume, $OSTYPE and $MACHTYPE), new
users might get unexpected results when trying to change variables.

Assuming that the handbook is used as a reference, maybe the information
should be re-organized to avoid misunderstandings.
>How-To-Repeat:

>Fix:
The explanations of the individual shell variables in section 3.9 could
be moved into the sections discussing their use (such as 3.10, "Editors",
for $EDITOR and 3.9.1, "Changing Your Shell", for $SHELL).

Another option would be to add a warning that some variables should not
be set using setenv / export, or explicitly point out which commands
should be used / link to the relevant documentation.
>Release-Note:
>Audit-Trail:
>Unformatted:
