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annotate lispref/streams.texi @ 8951:b628561b185b
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author | Karl Heuer <kwzh@gnu.org> |
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date | Tue, 20 Sep 1994 05:51:50 +0000 |
parents | 61202823bbb9 |
children | a6eb5f12b0f3 |
rev | line source |
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6381 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. | |
5 @setfilename ../info/streams | |
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6 @node Read and Print, Minibuffers, Debugging, Top |
6381 | 7 @comment node-name, next, previous, up |
8 @chapter Reading and Printing Lisp Objects | |
9 | |
10 @dfn{Printing} and @dfn{reading} are the operations of converting Lisp | |
11 objects to textual form and vice versa. They use the printed | |
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12 representations and read syntax described in @ref{Lisp Data Types}. |
6381 | 13 |
14 This chapter describes the Lisp functions for reading and printing. | |
15 It also describes @dfn{streams}, which specify where to get the text (if | |
16 reading) or where to put it (if printing). | |
17 | |
18 @menu | |
19 * Streams Intro:: Overview of streams, reading and printing. | |
20 * Input Streams:: Various data types that can be used as input streams. | |
21 * Input Functions:: Functions to read Lisp objects from text. | |
22 * Output Streams:: Various data types that can be used as output streams. | |
23 * Output Functions:: Functions to print Lisp objects as text. | |
24 * Output Variables:: Variables that control what the printing functions do. | |
25 @end menu | |
26 | |
27 @node Streams Intro | |
28 @section Introduction to Reading and Printing | |
29 @cindex Lisp reader | |
30 @cindex printing | |
31 @cindex reading | |
32 | |
33 @dfn{Reading} a Lisp object means parsing a Lisp expression in textual | |
34 form and producing a corresponding Lisp object. This is how Lisp | |
35 programs get into Lisp from files of Lisp code. We call the text the | |
36 @dfn{read syntax} of the object. For example, the text @samp{(a .@: 5)} | |
37 is the read syntax for a cons cell whose @sc{car} is @code{a} and whose | |
38 @sc{cdr} is the number 5. | |
39 | |
40 @dfn{Printing} a Lisp object means producing text that represents that | |
41 object---converting the object to its printed representation. Printing | |
42 the cons cell described above produces the text @samp{(a .@: 5)}. | |
43 | |
44 Reading and printing are more or less inverse operations: printing the | |
45 object that results from reading a given piece of text often produces | |
46 the same text, and reading the text that results from printing an object | |
47 usually produces a similar-looking object. For example, printing the | |
48 symbol @code{foo} produces the text @samp{foo}, and reading that text | |
49 returns the symbol @code{foo}. Printing a list whose elements are | |
50 @code{a} and @code{b} produces the text @samp{(a b)}, and reading that | |
7219 | 51 text produces a list (but not the same list) with elements @code{a} |
6381 | 52 and @code{b}. |
53 | |
54 However, these two operations are not precisely inverses. There are | |
55 two kinds of exceptions: | |
56 | |
57 @itemize @bullet | |
58 @item | |
59 Printing can produce text that cannot be read. For example, buffers, | |
60 windows, frames, subprocesses and markers print into text that starts | |
61 with @samp{#}; if you try to read this text, you get an error. There is | |
62 no way to read those data types. | |
63 | |
64 @item | |
65 One object can have multiple textual representations. For example, | |
66 @samp{1} and @samp{01} represent the same integer, and @samp{(a b)} and | |
67 @samp{(a .@: (b))} represent the same list. Reading will accept any of | |
68 the alternatives, but printing must choose one of them. | |
69 @end itemize | |
70 | |
71 @node Input Streams | |
72 @section Input Streams | |
73 @cindex stream (for reading) | |
74 @cindex input stream | |
75 | |
76 Most of the Lisp functions for reading text take an @dfn{input stream} | |
77 as an argument. The input stream specifies where or how to get the | |
78 characters of the text to be read. Here are the possible types of input | |
79 stream: | |
80 | |
81 @table @asis | |
82 @item @var{buffer} | |
83 @cindex buffer input stream | |
84 The input characters are read from @var{buffer}, starting with the | |
85 character directly after point. Point advances as characters are read. | |
86 | |
87 @item @var{marker} | |
88 @cindex marker input stream | |
89 The input characters are read from the buffer that @var{marker} is in, | |
90 starting with the character directly after the marker. The marker | |
91 position advances as characters are read. The value of point in the | |
92 buffer has no effect when the stream is a marker. | |
93 | |
94 @item @var{string} | |
95 @cindex string input stream | |
96 The input characters are taken from @var{string}, starting at the first | |
97 character in the string and using as many characters as required. | |
98 | |
99 @item @var{function} | |
100 @cindex function input stream | |
101 The input characters are generated by @var{function}, one character per | |
102 call. Normally @var{function} is called with no arguments, and should | |
103 return a character. | |
104 | |
105 @cindex unreading | |
106 Occasionally @var{function} is called with one argument (always a | |
107 character). When that happens, @var{function} should save the argument | |
108 and arrange to return it on the next call. This is called | |
109 @dfn{unreading} the character; it happens when the Lisp reader reads one | |
110 character too many and wants to ``put it back where it came from''. | |
111 | |
112 @item @code{t} | |
113 @cindex @code{t} input stream | |
114 @code{t} used as a stream means that the input is read from the | |
115 minibuffer. In fact, the minibuffer is invoked once and the text | |
116 given by the user is made into a string that is then used as the | |
117 input stream. | |
118 | |
119 @item @code{nil} | |
120 @cindex @code{nil} input stream | |
121 @code{nil} supplied as an input stream means to use the value of | |
122 @code{standard-input} instead; that value is the @dfn{default input | |
123 stream}, and must be a non-@code{nil} input stream. | |
124 | |
125 @item @var{symbol} | |
126 A symbol as input stream is equivalent to the symbol's function | |
127 definition (if any). | |
128 @end table | |
129 | |
7219 | 130 Here is an example of reading from a stream that is a buffer, showing |
6381 | 131 where point is located before and after: |
132 | |
133 @example | |
134 @group | |
135 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
136 This@point{} is the contents of foo. | |
137 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
138 @end group | |
139 | |
140 @group | |
141 (read (get-buffer "foo")) | |
142 @result{} is | |
143 @end group | |
144 @group | |
145 (read (get-buffer "foo")) | |
146 @result{} the | |
147 @end group | |
148 | |
149 @group | |
150 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
151 This is the@point{} contents of foo. | |
152 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
153 @end group | |
154 @end example | |
155 | |
156 @noindent | |
7219 | 157 Note that the first read skips a space. Reading skips any amount of |
158 whitespace preceding the significant text. | |
6381 | 159 |
160 In Emacs 18, reading a symbol discarded the delimiter terminating the | |
161 symbol. Thus, point would end up at the beginning of @samp{contents} | |
162 rather than after @samp{the}. The Emacs 19 behavior is superior because | |
163 it correctly handles input such as @samp{bar(foo)}, where the delimiter | |
164 that ends one object is needed as the beginning of another object. | |
165 | |
166 Here is an example of reading from a stream that is a marker, | |
7219 | 167 initially positioned at the beginning of the buffer shown. The value |
6381 | 168 read is the symbol @code{This}. |
169 | |
170 @example | |
171 @group | |
172 | |
173 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
174 This is the contents of foo. | |
175 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
176 @end group | |
177 | |
178 @group | |
179 (setq m (set-marker (make-marker) 1 (get-buffer "foo"))) | |
180 @result{} #<marker at 1 in foo> | |
181 @end group | |
182 @group | |
183 (read m) | |
184 @result{} This | |
185 @end group | |
186 @group | |
187 m | |
7219 | 188 @result{} #<marker at 5 in foo> ;; @r{Before the first space.} |
6381 | 189 @end group |
190 @end example | |
191 | |
192 Here we read from the contents of a string: | |
193 | |
194 @example | |
195 @group | |
196 (read "(When in) the course") | |
197 @result{} (When in) | |
198 @end group | |
199 @end example | |
200 | |
201 The following example reads from the minibuffer. The | |
202 prompt is: @w{@samp{Lisp expression: }}. (That is always the prompt | |
203 used when you read from the stream @code{t}.) The user's input is shown | |
204 following the prompt. | |
205 | |
206 @example | |
207 @group | |
208 (read t) | |
209 @result{} 23 | |
210 ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ---------- | |
211 Lisp expression: @kbd{23 @key{RET}} | |
212 ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ---------- | |
213 @end group | |
214 @end example | |
215 | |
216 Finally, here is an example of a stream that is a function, named | |
217 @code{useless-stream}. Before we use the stream, we initialize the | |
218 variable @code{useless-list} to a list of characters. Then each call to | |
7219 | 219 the function @code{useless-stream} obtains the next character in the list |
6381 | 220 or unreads a character by adding it to the front of the list. |
221 | |
222 @example | |
223 @group | |
224 (setq useless-list (append "XY()" nil)) | |
225 @result{} (88 89 40 41) | |
226 @end group | |
227 | |
228 @group | |
229 (defun useless-stream (&optional unread) | |
230 (if unread | |
231 (setq useless-list (cons unread useless-list)) | |
232 (prog1 (car useless-list) | |
233 (setq useless-list (cdr useless-list))))) | |
234 @result{} useless-stream | |
235 @end group | |
236 @end example | |
237 | |
238 @noindent | |
239 Now we read using the stream thus constructed: | |
240 | |
241 @example | |
242 @group | |
243 (read 'useless-stream) | |
244 @result{} XY | |
245 @end group | |
246 | |
247 @group | |
248 useless-list | |
7219 | 249 @result{} (40 41) |
6381 | 250 @end group |
251 @end example | |
252 | |
253 @noindent | |
7219 | 254 Note that the open and close parentheses remains in the list. The Lisp |
255 reader encountered the open parenthesis, decided that it ended the | |
256 input, and unread it. Another attempt to read from the stream at this | |
257 point would read @samp{()} and return @code{nil}. | |
6381 | 258 |
259 @defun get-file-char | |
260 This function is used internally as an input stream to read from the | |
261 input file opened by the function @code{load}. Don't use this function | |
262 yourself. | |
263 @end defun | |
264 | |
265 @node Input Functions | |
266 @section Input Functions | |
267 | |
268 This section describes the Lisp functions and variables that pertain | |
269 to reading. | |
270 | |
271 In the functions below, @var{stream} stands for an input stream (see | |
272 the previous section). If @var{stream} is @code{nil} or omitted, it | |
273 defaults to the value of @code{standard-input}. | |
274 | |
275 @kindex end-of-file | |
276 An @code{end-of-file} error is signaled if reading encounters an | |
7219 | 277 unterminated list, vector, or string. |
6381 | 278 |
279 @defun read &optional stream | |
280 This function reads one textual Lisp expression from @var{stream}, | |
281 returning it as a Lisp object. This is the basic Lisp input function. | |
282 @end defun | |
283 | |
284 @defun read-from-string string &optional start end | |
285 @cindex string to object | |
286 This function reads the first textual Lisp expression from the text in | |
287 @var{string}. It returns a cons cell whose @sc{car} is that expression, | |
288 and whose @sc{cdr} is an integer giving the position of the next | |
289 remaining character in the string (i.e., the first one not read). | |
290 | |
7219 | 291 If @var{start} is supplied, then reading begins at index @var{start} in |
292 the string (where the first character is at index 0). If @var{end} is | |
293 also supplied, then reading stops just before that index, as if the rest | |
294 of the string were not there. | |
6381 | 295 |
296 For example: | |
297 | |
298 @example | |
299 @group | |
300 (read-from-string "(setq x 55) (setq y 5)") | |
301 @result{} ((setq x 55) . 11) | |
302 @end group | |
303 @group | |
304 (read-from-string "\"A short string\"") | |
305 @result{} ("A short string" . 16) | |
306 @end group | |
307 | |
308 @group | |
309 ;; @r{Read starting at the first character.} | |
310 (read-from-string "(list 112)" 0) | |
311 @result{} ((list 112) . 10) | |
312 @end group | |
313 @group | |
314 ;; @r{Read starting at the second character.} | |
315 (read-from-string "(list 112)" 1) | |
7219 | 316 @result{} (list . 5) |
6381 | 317 @end group |
318 @group | |
319 ;; @r{Read starting at the seventh character,} | |
320 ;; @r{and stopping at the ninth.} | |
321 (read-from-string "(list 112)" 6 8) | |
322 @result{} (11 . 8) | |
323 @end group | |
324 @end example | |
325 @end defun | |
326 | |
327 @defvar standard-input | |
328 This variable holds the default input stream---the stream that | |
329 @code{read} uses when the @var{stream} argument is @code{nil}. | |
330 @end defvar | |
331 | |
332 @node Output Streams | |
333 @section Output Streams | |
334 @cindex stream (for printing) | |
335 @cindex output stream | |
336 | |
337 An output stream specifies what to do with the characters produced | |
338 by printing. Most print functions accept an output stream as an | |
339 optional argument. Here are the possible types of output stream: | |
340 | |
341 @table @asis | |
342 @item @var{buffer} | |
343 @cindex buffer output stream | |
344 The output characters are inserted into @var{buffer} at point. | |
345 Point advances as characters are inserted. | |
346 | |
347 @item @var{marker} | |
348 @cindex marker output stream | |
349 The output characters are inserted into the buffer that @var{marker} | |
7219 | 350 points into, at the marker position. The marker position advances as |
6381 | 351 characters are inserted. The value of point in the buffer has no effect |
352 on printing when the stream is a marker. | |
353 | |
354 @item @var{function} | |
355 @cindex function output stream | |
356 The output characters are passed to @var{function}, which is responsible | |
357 for storing them away. It is called with a single character as | |
358 argument, as many times as there are characters to be output, and is | |
359 free to do anything at all with the characters it receives. | |
360 | |
361 @item @code{t} | |
362 @cindex @code{t} output stream | |
363 The output characters are displayed in the echo area. | |
364 | |
365 @item @code{nil} | |
366 @cindex @code{nil} output stream | |
367 @code{nil} specified as an output stream means to the value of | |
368 @code{standard-output} instead; that value is the @dfn{default output | |
369 stream}, and must be a non-@code{nil} output stream. | |
370 | |
371 @item @var{symbol} | |
372 A symbol as output stream is equivalent to the symbol's function | |
373 definition (if any). | |
374 @end table | |
375 | |
7219 | 376 Many of the valid output streams are also valid as input streams. The |
377 difference between input and output streams is therefore mostly one of | |
378 how you use a Lisp object, not a distinction of types of object. | |
379 | |
6381 | 380 Here is an example of a buffer used as an output stream. Point is |
381 initially located as shown immediately before the @samp{h} in | |
382 @samp{the}. At the end, point is located directly before that same | |
383 @samp{h}. | |
384 | |
385 @cindex print example | |
386 @example | |
387 @group | |
388 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
389 This is t@point{}he contents of foo. | |
390 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
391 @end group | |
392 | |
393 (print "This is the output" (get-buffer "foo")) | |
394 @result{} "This is the output" | |
395 | |
396 @group | |
397 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
398 This is t | |
399 "This is the output" | |
400 @point{}he contents of foo. | |
401 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
402 @end group | |
403 @end example | |
404 | |
405 Now we show a use of a marker as an output stream. Initially, the | |
7219 | 406 marker is in buffer @code{foo}, between the @samp{t} and the @samp{h} in |
407 the word @samp{the}. At the end, the marker has advanced over the | |
408 inserted text so that it remains positioned before the same @samp{h}. | |
409 Note that the location of point, shown in the usual fashion, has no | |
410 effect. | |
6381 | 411 |
412 @example | |
413 @group | |
414 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
415 "This is the @point{}output" | |
416 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
417 @end group | |
418 | |
419 @group | |
420 m | |
421 @result{} #<marker at 11 in foo> | |
422 @end group | |
423 | |
424 @group | |
425 (print "More output for foo." m) | |
426 @result{} "More output for foo." | |
427 @end group | |
428 | |
429 @group | |
430 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
431 "This is t | |
432 "More output for foo." | |
433 he @point{}output" | |
434 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
435 @end group | |
436 | |
437 @group | |
438 m | |
439 @result{} #<marker at 35 in foo> | |
440 @end group | |
441 @end example | |
442 | |
443 The following example shows output to the echo area: | |
444 | |
445 @example | |
446 @group | |
447 (print "Echo Area output" t) | |
448 @result{} "Echo Area output" | |
449 ---------- Echo Area ---------- | |
450 "Echo Area output" | |
451 ---------- Echo Area ---------- | |
452 @end group | |
453 @end example | |
454 | |
455 Finally, we show the use of a function as an output stream. The | |
456 function @code{eat-output} takes each character that it is given and | |
457 conses it onto the front of the list @code{last-output} (@pxref{Building | |
458 Lists}). At the end, the list contains all the characters output, but | |
459 in reverse order. | |
460 | |
461 @example | |
462 @group | |
463 (setq last-output nil) | |
464 @result{} nil | |
465 @end group | |
466 | |
467 @group | |
468 (defun eat-output (c) | |
469 (setq last-output (cons c last-output))) | |
470 @result{} eat-output | |
471 @end group | |
472 | |
473 @group | |
474 (print "This is the output" 'eat-output) | |
475 @result{} "This is the output" | |
476 @end group | |
477 | |
478 @group | |
479 last-output | |
480 @result{} (10 34 116 117 112 116 117 111 32 101 104 | |
481 116 32 115 105 32 115 105 104 84 34 10) | |
482 @end group | |
483 @end example | |
484 | |
485 @noindent | |
486 Now we can put the output in the proper order by reversing the list: | |
487 | |
488 @example | |
489 @group | |
490 (concat (nreverse last-output)) | |
491 @result{} " | |
492 \"This is the output\" | |
493 " | |
494 @end group | |
495 @end example | |
496 | |
7219 | 497 @noindent |
498 Calling @code{concat} converts the list to a string so you can see its | |
499 contents more clearly. | |
500 | |
6381 | 501 @node Output Functions |
502 @section Output Functions | |
503 | |
504 This section describes the Lisp functions for printing Lisp objects. | |
505 | |
506 @cindex @samp{"} in printing | |
507 @cindex @samp{\} in printing | |
508 @cindex quoting characters in printing | |
509 @cindex escape characters in printing | |
510 Some of the Emacs printing functions add quoting characters to the | |
511 output when necessary so that it can be read properly. The quoting | |
512 characters used are @samp{"} and @samp{\}; they distinguish strings from | |
513 symbols, and prevent punctuation characters in strings and symbols from | |
7219 | 514 being taken as delimiters when reading. @xref{Printed Representation}, |
515 for full details. You specify quoting or no quoting by the choice of | |
516 printing function. | |
6381 | 517 |
518 If the text is to be read back into Lisp, then it is best to print | |
519 with quoting characters to avoid ambiguity. Likewise, if the purpose is | |
520 to describe a Lisp object clearly for a Lisp programmer. However, if | |
521 the purpose of the output is to look nice for humans, then it is better | |
522 to print without quoting. | |
523 | |
524 Printing a self-referent Lisp object requires an infinite amount of | |
525 text. In certain cases, trying to produce this text leads to a stack | |
526 overflow. Emacs detects such recursion and prints @samp{#@var{level}} | |
527 instead of recursively printing an object already being printed. For | |
528 example, here @samp{#0} indicates a recursive reference to the object at | |
529 level 0 of the current print operation: | |
530 | |
531 @example | |
532 (setq foo (list nil)) | |
533 @result{} (nil) | |
534 (setcar foo foo) | |
535 @result{} (#0) | |
536 @end example | |
537 | |
538 In the functions below, @var{stream} stands for an output stream. | |
539 (See the previous section for a description of output streams.) If | |
540 @var{stream} is @code{nil} or omitted, it defaults to the value of | |
541 @code{standard-output}. | |
542 | |
543 @defun print object &optional stream | |
544 @cindex Lisp printer | |
545 The @code{print} function is a convenient way of printing. It outputs | |
546 the printed representation of @var{object} to @var{stream}, printing in | |
547 addition one newline before @var{object} and another after it. Quoting | |
548 characters are used. @code{print} returns @var{object}. For example: | |
549 | |
550 @example | |
551 @group | |
552 (progn (print 'The\ cat\ in) | |
553 (print "the hat") | |
554 (print " came back")) | |
555 @print{} | |
556 @print{} The\ cat\ in | |
557 @print{} | |
558 @print{} "the hat" | |
559 @print{} | |
560 @print{} " came back" | |
561 @print{} | |
562 @result{} " came back" | |
563 @end group | |
564 @end example | |
565 @end defun | |
566 | |
567 @defun prin1 object &optional stream | |
568 This function outputs the printed representation of @var{object} to | |
7219 | 569 @var{stream}. It does not print newlines to separate output as |
570 @code{print} does, but it does use quoting characters just like | |
571 @code{print}. It returns @var{object}. | |
6381 | 572 |
573 @example | |
574 @group | |
575 (progn (prin1 'The\ cat\ in) | |
576 (prin1 "the hat") | |
577 (prin1 " came back")) | |
578 @print{} The\ cat\ in"the hat"" came back" | |
579 @result{} " came back" | |
580 @end group | |
581 @end example | |
582 @end defun | |
583 | |
584 @defun princ object &optional stream | |
585 This function outputs the printed representation of @var{object} to | |
586 @var{stream}. It returns @var{object}. | |
587 | |
588 This function is intended to produce output that is readable by people, | |
589 not by @code{read}, so it doesn't insert quoting characters and doesn't | |
590 put double-quotes around the contents of strings. It does not add any | |
591 spacing between calls. | |
592 | |
593 @example | |
594 @group | |
595 (progn | |
596 (princ 'The\ cat) | |
597 (princ " in the \"hat\"")) | |
598 @print{} The cat in the "hat" | |
599 @result{} " in the \"hat\"" | |
600 @end group | |
601 @end example | |
602 @end defun | |
603 | |
604 @defun terpri &optional stream | |
605 @cindex newline in print | |
606 This function outputs a newline to @var{stream}. The name stands | |
607 for ``terminate print''. | |
608 @end defun | |
609 | |
610 @defun write-char character &optional stream | |
611 This function outputs @var{character} to @var{stream}. It returns | |
612 @var{character}. | |
613 @end defun | |
614 | |
615 @defun prin1-to-string object &optional noescape | |
616 @cindex object to string | |
617 This function returns a string containing the text that @code{prin1} | |
618 would have printed for the same argument. | |
619 | |
620 @example | |
621 @group | |
622 (prin1-to-string 'foo) | |
623 @result{} "foo" | |
624 @end group | |
625 @group | |
626 (prin1-to-string (mark-marker)) | |
627 @result{} "#<marker at 2773 in strings.texi>" | |
628 @end group | |
629 @end example | |
630 | |
631 If @var{noescape} is non-@code{nil}, that inhibits use of quoting | |
632 characters in the output. (This argument is supported in Emacs versions | |
633 19 and later.) | |
634 | |
635 @example | |
636 @group | |
637 (prin1-to-string "foo") | |
638 @result{} "\"foo\"" | |
639 @end group | |
640 @group | |
641 (prin1-to-string "foo" t) | |
642 @result{} "foo" | |
643 @end group | |
644 @end example | |
645 | |
646 See @code{format}, in @ref{String Conversion}, for other ways to obtain | |
647 the printed representation of a Lisp object as a string. | |
648 @end defun | |
649 | |
650 @node Output Variables | |
651 @section Variables Affecting Output | |
652 | |
653 @defvar standard-output | |
654 The value of this variable is the default output stream---the stream | |
655 that print functions use when the @var{stream} argument is @code{nil}. | |
656 @end defvar | |
657 | |
658 @defvar print-escape-newlines | |
659 @cindex @samp{\n} in print | |
660 @cindex escape characters | |
661 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then newline characters in strings | |
662 are printed as @samp{\n} and formfeeds are printed as @samp{\f}. | |
663 Normally these characters are printed as actual newlines and formfeeds. | |
664 | |
665 This variable affects the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print}, | |
666 as well as everything that uses them. It does not affect @code{princ}. | |
667 Here is an example using @code{prin1}: | |
668 | |
669 @example | |
670 @group | |
671 (prin1 "a\nb") | |
672 @print{} "a | |
673 @print{} b" | |
674 @result{} "a | |
675 b" | |
676 @end group | |
677 | |
678 @group | |
679 (let ((print-escape-newlines t)) | |
680 (prin1 "a\nb")) | |
681 @print{} "a\nb" | |
682 @result{} "a | |
683 b" | |
684 @end group | |
685 @end example | |
686 | |
687 @noindent | |
688 In the second expression, the local binding of | |
689 @code{print-escape-newlines} is in effect during the call to | |
690 @code{prin1}, but not during the printing of the result. | |
691 @end defvar | |
692 | |
693 @defvar print-length | |
694 @cindex printing limits | |
695 The value of this variable is the maximum number of elements of a list | |
696 that will be printed. If a list being printed has more than this many | |
7219 | 697 elements, it is abbreviated with an ellipsis. |
6381 | 698 |
699 If the value is @code{nil} (the default), then there is no limit. | |
700 | |
701 @example | |
702 @group | |
703 (setq print-length 2) | |
704 @result{} 2 | |
705 @end group | |
706 @group | |
707 (print '(1 2 3 4 5)) | |
708 @print{} (1 2 ...) | |
709 @result{} (1 2 ...) | |
710 @end group | |
711 @end example | |
712 @end defvar | |
713 | |
714 @defvar print-level | |
715 The value of this variable is the maximum depth of nesting of | |
7219 | 716 parentheses and brackets when printed. Any list or vector at a depth |
6381 | 717 exceeding this limit is abbreviated with an ellipsis. A value of |
718 @code{nil} (which is the default) means no limit. | |
719 | |
720 This variable exists in version 19 and later versions. | |
721 @end defvar |