SWITCH - multi-choice branch

SYNOPSIS

<SWITCH switchval>
  <CASE value1>
    ... statements if switchval = value1 ...
  <CASE op value2>
    ... statements if switchval op value2 is true ...
  ...
  <DEFAULT>
    ... statements if no <CASE> matches ...
</SWITCH>

DESCRIPTION
The SWITCH statement provides a multi-option branch based on a given value. The SWITCH value is compared against each CASE value, in the order they appear in the script, until one matches. The statements that follow, up to the next <CASE> tag or closing </SWITCH> tag, are executed. Only the first matching CASE, if any, is executed. If none of the CASEs match, then the statements after the <DEFAULT> tag, if present, are executed. If there is no <DEFAULT> tag, no statements are executed.

An optional operator can be given in a CASE to use in comparing its value to the SWITCH value, instead of the default eq. This can be useful in checking a range of values:

EXAMPLE

<SWITCH $temp>
  <CASE lte 32> Ice
  <CASE lt 60>  Cold water
  <CASE lt 100> Warm water
  <CASE lt 212> Hot water
  <DEFAULT>     Steam
</SWITCH>

CAVEATS
Similar to IF. Note that there is no </CASE> needed; execution doesn't fall through to the next CASE as in C. The DEFAULT clause, if present, must be last, since CASEs are checked in order of appearance.

SEE ALSO
IF