## ******************************************************** 
 ##
 ## Name: expandOpts 
 ##
 ## Description:
 ## Expands procedure options.  See example and test cases
 ## below.
 ##
 ## Comments:
 ## Ambiguous options throw exception.

 proc expandOpts { { opts "opts" } } {
     set options {}
     set matches {}
     set inputs [ uplevel set args ]
     regsub -all -- {\n\s+} $inputs { } inputs
     regexp {^\{(.+)\}$} $inputs -> inputs
     ;## get defaults
     set defaults [ uplevel subst \$$opts ]
     regsub -all -- {\n\s+} $defaults { } defaults
     
     foreach { opt def } $defaults {
        set opt [ string trim $opt ]
        set def [ string trim $def ] 
        
        set matched 0

        foreach { name val } $inputs {
           set name [ string trim $name ]
           regsub -- {[-]+} $name "-" name
           set val  [ string trim $val  ]
           
           if { [ regexp -nocase -- $name $opt ] } {
              ;## next test fails if ambiguous item is last
              ;## option on command line...
              if { [ lsearch -exact $matches $name ] > -1 } {
                 return -code error "ambiguous option: $name"
              }
              
              lappend matches $name
              set options [ concat $options [ list $opt $val ] ]
              set matched 1
              break
           }
        }
        if { $matched == 0 } {
           set options [ concat $options [ list $opt $def ] ]
        }
     }   
     return $options
 }
 ## ******************************************************** 

 ## ******************************************************** 
 ##
 ## Usage example and test function

 proc test { args } {
     
     set opts {
         -this "$something"
         -that "hostname: $::env(HOST)"
         -those { 0.1 2.0 -1.2 12-43 }
         -them  {}
         -these "foo*!{}icky-blat xx -1"
         -the-others .......
     }
     set something foo!
     array set foo [ expandOpts ]
     puts [ array get foo ]
 }
 ## ******************************************************** 

 test -that "whaaaa?? {} foo x-m" -them "1 2 -3" -the-o {}
 test -them "1 2 -3" -that "whaaaa?? {} foo x-m" -the oops! -the-o {}

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[Category Command]