setenv in bg

[Burkhard Burow]

Why can't I do:

prompt>( setenv a some_word ) &

Doing:

prompt>echo $a

says a is undefined.
Of course the utility of this is questionable until you do things like

prompt>( setenv a "`command_taking_time_with_little_output`" ) &

Which lets you send out many commands in parallel, so that after waiting
only for the most time-consuming command, all of them have executed 
with their output placed into their respective variables.

e_mail please and I'll post or forward if desired

burk