Using variables in variables names

[Dirk H. Schulz]

Hi folks,

I am sure this has been asked quite some times, but I did not find 
anything inspiring or helpful - in fact not too much at all.

For accelerating a script I need the possibility to set up an unknown 
number of arrays and to name them (at least partly) with values of a 
variable. It is like defining arrays with names that contain an 
increasing number: array$x.

While poking around I found out: This does not work at all, even with 
simple variables it does not.

> dings=bums
> echo $dings
> bums
> ac=12  dings$ac=wasannersder
> -bash: dings12=wasannersder: command not found


I looked very deeply into man bash and any manual and howto I found, but 
did not find out any reason why this does not work. It must be one of 
the basic principles of expansion and assignment, but I would like to 
understand it.

And then the question of multi-dimensional arrays (see above). The 
"Advanced Bash Scripting Guide" mentions that it is possible to have 
them using indirect referencing - but I did not understand how this 
could be done.

Any idea, hint or help? It would be a great relief after two days of 
search and research.

Dirk