Problems Using A Bash Script ??

[spunge]

Im having problems using a bash script i can get the script to start up and run but im not sure what the commands are from looking at the source of the code its somthing really silly and to do with [local period dest message]

#!/bin/sh

# A name for the script
NAME="[msg]"

. ./common.sh

msg () {
    local period dest message

    echo "Period (in seconds) ?" 1>&2
    read period
    echo "Destination (nick or channel) ?" 1>&2
    read dest
    echo "Enter your message (one line) :" 1>&2
    read message

    init
    while true
      do
      echo "privmsg $dest :$message"
      xsleep $period
    done
}

msg | telnet $HOST $DEST

does any one know what [local period dest message] means and how would it be used in term of command many thanks.

**MOD_EDIT: added 'code' tags

[lordnothing]

When posting source, scripts, error messages, config files, etc., please use the 'code' tags to make it more easily readable and distinguishable from the surrounding text.

Thank You.

[dearvoid]

local is used to declare variables local to self-defined functions