Topic       : The ATARI Compendium
Author      : Scott Sanders / JAY Software
Version     : 1.25 (20/6/2003)
Subject     : Documentation
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Index Size  : 32614
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Compiled on : Atari
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                           The Environment String


One AES environment string exists in the system. This environment string
is the one initially allocated for the AES by GEMDOS. The AES environment
string should not be confused with GEMDOS environment strings. Each GEMDOS
process receives its own environment string when launched. This string may
have been purposely altered (or omitted) by its parent.

The AES environment string is a collection of variables which the AES
(and other processes) may use as global system variables. Environment data
may be set by a CPX designed to configure the environment, in the user's
GEM.CNF file, or by an application.

In actuality, the environment string is actually one or many string
entries separated by NULL bytes with the full list being terminated by
a double NULL byte. Examples of environment string entries include:

PATH=C:\;D:\;E:\BIN\
TEMP=C:\
AE_SREDRAW=0

The environment variable name is followed by an equal sign which is
followed by the variable data. Multiple arguments (such as path names) may
be separated by semicolons or commas∙The AES only began recognizing
commas as a valid argument separators
(for the PATH environment variable)
as of AES version 1.4.
.

The AES call shel_envrn() may be used to search for an environment
variable and new modes of shel_write() (after AES version 4.0) may be used
to alter environment variables or copy the entire environment string.

Most versions of the AES contain a bug which causes the 'PATH'
environment variable to be set incorrectly upon bootup to
'PATH=[nul]A:\[nul][nul]'. If an environment string like this is found it
may be safely reset or simply ignored.