function _parseShortOption($arg, $short_options, &$opts, &$args, $skip_unknown)
    {
        for ($i = 0; $i < strlen($arg); $i++) {
            $opt     = $arg{$i};
            $opt_arg = null;

            /* Try to find the short option in the specifier string. */
            if (($spec = strstr($short_options, $opt)) === false || $arg{$i} == ':') {
                if ($skip_unknown === true) {
                    break;
                }

                $msg = "Console_Getopt: unrecognized option -- $opt";
                return PEAR::raiseError($msg);
            }

            if (strlen($spec) > 1 && $spec{1} == ':') {
                if (strlen($spec) > 2 && $spec{2} == ':') {
                    if ($i + 1 < strlen($arg)) {
                        /* Option takes an optional argument. Use the remainder of
                           the arg string if there is anything left. */
                        $opts[] = array($opt, substr($arg, $i + 1));
                        break;
                    }
                } else {
                    /* Option requires an argument. Use the remainder of the arg
                       string if there is anything left. */
                    if ($i + 1 < strlen($arg)) {
                        $opts[] = array($opt,  substr($arg, $i + 1));
                        break;
                    } else if (list(, $opt_arg) = each($args)) {
                        /* Else use the next argument. */;
                        if (Console_Getopt::_isShortOpt($opt_arg)
                            || Console_Getopt::_isLongOpt($opt_arg)) {
                            $msg = "option requires an argument --$opt";
                            return PEAR::raiseError("Console_Getopt:" . $msg);
                        }
                    } else {
                        $msg = "option requires an argument --$opt";
                        return PEAR::raiseError("Console_Getopt:" . $msg);
                    }
                }
            }

            $opts[] = array($opt, $opt_arg);
        }
    }