Use "eval" to get what you want. For example: $ jik_files="a.c b.c c.c" $ echo $USER jik $ for file in `eval echo '$'${USER}_files`; do echo $file; done a.c b.c c.c $ -- Jonathan Kamens USnail: MIT Project Athena 11 Ashford Terrace jik at Athena.MIT.EDU Allston, MA 02134 Office: 617-253-8085 Home: 617-782-0710