# this is a comment; comments are ignored and so are empty lines 1 not a multiline string 2 first multiline \ string 3 second multiline \ string \ with more lines 4 several lines .. \ next line is empty: \ \ next has only a space:\ \ next line has 3 spaces:\ \ END 5 it is fine to sp\ it words, or really \ c\ h\ o\ p\ them up! \ 6 start with backslash , fine with me but why? # if there is a trailing char after the backslash that does not count as # a multiline string 7 have a trailing space after backslash \ 8 not part of the string no. 7 # keep this one last 99 will not get to this line 'cause input file line has no newline