Hi Bart,
This set me off wandering down the road to Obfuscatory ...
s=${${s##-(s|-max-chars(=|))}:-$(((s=$({command getconf ARG_MAX ||
    command sysctl -n kern.argmax || echo 0} 2>/dev/null))?
    (s-=${#$(builtin typeset +x)}+2048):20480))}
I don't mind which way is used.
+ else + s=-20480 + fi
Opps, sorry. Thanks! -- Motoi Washida