error (1) --- output error message, return error code 03/20/80 _U_s_a_g_e error [ - ] { } _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n 'Error' is used in shell programs to announce the presence of an error condition and return an error code. The option argument specifies the error code returned; the default is 1000 (identical to the value returned by the subprogram 'error'). The arguments specified are written to ERROUT, separated by spaces and terminated by a NEWLINE. _E_x_a_m_p_l_e_s error File not found. error -1 "Attention: your program has just been destroyed" _B_u_g_s Probably should understand escape sequences, like 'echo'. _S_e_e _A_l_s_o echo (1), error (2), seterr (2) error (1) - 1 - error (1)