- if [[ ! $x || ! -w $x || $(stat -c "%u" "$x") != $EUID ]]; then
- echo "error in hl: history file $x no good"
+ [[ -e $x ]] || { touch "$x" && echo "notice from hl(): creating $x"; }
+ if [[ ! $x || ! -e $x || ! -w $x || $(stat -c "%u" "$x") != $EUID ]]; then
+ echo "error in hl: history file \$x:$x no good"