echo 1234567890 > File # Write string to "File".
exec 3<> File # Open "File" and assign fd 3 to it.
read -n 4 <&3 # Read only 4 characters.
echo -n . >&3 # Write a decimal point there.
exec 3>&- # Close fd 3.
cat File # ==> 1234.67890
#!/bin/bash
echo 'START'
# open a file with descriptor 100, do 'ls -l' and redirect its output to the file
exec 100< <(ls -l)
# accept input from that file (fd 100)
num=1
while read line; do
echo "LINE $num: $line"
num=$(($num + 1))
done <&100
exec 100>&- # close it
echo 'END'
http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/io-redirection.html
http://www.linuxtopia.org/online_books/advanced_bash_scripting_guide/x13082.html