Re: implemention right() function with procmail (efficiency)

OK, I got it wrong.  Let's try again:

    N=2 # fill in number of characters to drop from the right

    :0
    * 1^1 VAR ?? .
    * $ -$N^0
    {
     NEWLENGTH = $=
     DOTSTRING = .
     INCLUDERC = .builddotstringrc

# after all calls to .builddotstringrc are done and DOTSTRING is redefined,
# we are back in the main rcfile:

     :0
     * $ VAR ?? ^^\/$DOTSTRING
     { ret = $MATCH }
    }
    :0E
    { LOG="\$VAR is too short to drop $N characters.
"   }

# and here is .builddotstringrc as likewise fixed

   # Add periods to $DOTSTRING until is it $NEWLENGTH characters long.
   :0
   * $ $NEWLENGTH^0
   * -1^1 DOTSTRING ?? .
   {
    DOTSTRING = .$DOTSTRING
    INCLUDERC = $_
   }

| Yecch.

That hasn't changed.  Again, this code is ugly in any case and inoperative
if the variable to truncate contains any embedded newlines.