Bash script parameters

Question

I need to write a bash script, and would like it to parse unordered parameters of the format:

scriptname --param1 <string> --param2 <string> --param3 <date>

Is there a simple way to accomplish this, or am I pretty much stuck with $1, $2, $3?

edit

(note - I don't need long parameter names - single letters would be fine too)

Answer 1

You should use getopt.