Thanks Glenn,
So this is akin to MPE's
![expression]

???
j 'posix uninformed' ds

> It may help to understand what backtics do.
>
> Basically, `expression` says to execute the expression, then
> substitute
> the result.  Thus,
>
>    kill `head -n 1 /SENDMAIL/PUB/etc/sendmail.pid`
>
> says to read the first line (head -n 1, which normally I see
> as head -1)
> of /SENDMAIL/PUB/etc/sendmail.pid, and use the result (i.e., the first
> line of the file) as a parameter to kill.
>
> Obscure syntax, but handy functionality.
>
> --Glenn
>