test1.sh

#!/bin/bash

mstring=$*

set -- $mstring

if [[ -z $mstring ]]; then
  echo NULL
else
  for a in $*; do
    echo "$#: " $a
  done
fi

echo "--------------------------"

echo $2

test2.sh

#!/bin/bash

echo "Using \"\$*\":"
for a in "$*"; do
    echo $a;
done

echo -e "\nUsing \$*:"
for a in $*; do
    echo $a;
done

echo -e "\nUsing \"\$@\":"
for a in "$@"; do
    echo $a;
done

echo -e "\nUsing \$@:"
for a in $@; do
    echo $a;
done

test3.sh

#!/bin/bash

files=$(ls /home/john/)

echo $files

echo "============================="

set -- $files

echo $1