Csv-iteration

#!/bin/sh

# process a comma-separated list of values

ITEMLIST="apples,pears"
ITEMCOUNT=1

while true
do
  ARGCNT="$"
  ARGCNT=$ARGCNT$ITEMCOUNT

  ITEMNAME=`echo $ITEMLIST | awk -F \, "{print $ARGCNT}"`

  if test -z "$ITEMNAME"
  then
    ITEMCOUNT=$((ITEMCOUNT - 1))
    break
  else
    # item name found, do something with it
    echo "Item $ITEMCOUNT = $ITEMNAME"

  fi

  ITEMCOUNT=$((ITEMCOUNT + 1))

done