1 files changed, 21 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/doc/gawk.texi b/doc/gawk.texi
index 8c70f6c5..6927704d 100644
--- a/doc/gawk.texi
+++ b/doc/gawk.texi
@@ -34593,17 +34593,31 @@ properly:
 # Please set INPLACE_SUFFIX to make a backup copy.  For example, you may
 # want to set INPLACE_SUFFIX to .bak on the command line or in a BEGIN rule.
 
+# By default, each filename on the command line will be edited inplace.
+# But you can selectively disable this by adding an inplace=0 argument
+# prior to files that you do not want to process this way.  You can then
+# reenable it later on the commandline by putting inplace=1 before files
+# that you wish to be subject to inplace editing.
+
 # N.B. We call inplace_end() in the BEGINFILE and END rules so that any
 # actions in an ENDFILE rule will be redirected as expected.
 
+BEGIN @{
+    inplace = 1		# enabled by default
+@}
+
 BEGINFILE @{
     if (_inplace_filename != "")
         inplace_end(_inplace_filename, INPLACE_SUFFIX)
-    inplace_begin(_inplace_filename = FILENAME, INPLACE_SUFFIX)
+    if (inplace)
+        inplace_begin(_inplace_filename = FILENAME, INPLACE_SUFFIX)
+    else
+        _inplace_filename = ""
 @}
 
 END @{
-    inplace_end(FILENAME, INPLACE_SUFFIX)
+    if (_inplace_filename != "")
+        inplace_end(_inplace_filename, INPLACE_SUFFIX)
 @}
 @end group
 @c endfile
@@ -34617,6 +34631,11 @@ If @code{INPLACE_SUFFIX} is not an empty string, the original file is
 linked to a backup @value{FN} created by appending that suffix.  Finally,
 the temporary file is renamed to the original @value{FN}.
 
+Note that the use of this feature can be controlled by placing @samp{inplace=0}
+on the command-line prior to listing files that should not be processed this
+way.  You can reenable inplace editing by adding an @samp{inplace=1} argument
+prior to files that should be subject to inplace editing.
+
 The @code{_inplace_filename} variable serves to keep track of the
 current filename so as to not invoke @code{inplace_end()} before
 processing the first file.