84099
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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
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2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
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3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002,
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4 @c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
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84116
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6 @setfilename ../../info/streams
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84099
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7 @node Read and Print, Minibuffers, Debugging, Top
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8 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
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9 @chapter Reading and Printing Lisp Objects
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10
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11 @dfn{Printing} and @dfn{reading} are the operations of converting Lisp
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12 objects to textual form and vice versa. They use the printed
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13 representations and read syntax described in @ref{Lisp Data Types}.
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14
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15 This chapter describes the Lisp functions for reading and printing.
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16 It also describes @dfn{streams}, which specify where to get the text (if
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17 reading) or where to put it (if printing).
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18
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19 @menu
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20 * Streams Intro:: Overview of streams, reading and printing.
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21 * Input Streams:: Various data types that can be used as input streams.
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22 * Input Functions:: Functions to read Lisp objects from text.
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23 * Output Streams:: Various data types that can be used as output streams.
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24 * Output Functions:: Functions to print Lisp objects as text.
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25 * Output Variables:: Variables that control what the printing functions do.
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26 @end menu
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27
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28 @node Streams Intro
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29 @section Introduction to Reading and Printing
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30 @cindex Lisp reader
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31 @cindex printing
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32 @cindex reading
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33
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34 @dfn{Reading} a Lisp object means parsing a Lisp expression in textual
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35 form and producing a corresponding Lisp object. This is how Lisp
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36 programs get into Lisp from files of Lisp code. We call the text the
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37 @dfn{read syntax} of the object. For example, the text @samp{(a .@: 5)}
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38 is the read syntax for a cons cell whose @sc{car} is @code{a} and whose
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39 @sc{cdr} is the number 5.
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40
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41 @dfn{Printing} a Lisp object means producing text that represents that
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42 object---converting the object to its @dfn{printed representation}
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43 (@pxref{Printed Representation}). Printing the cons cell described
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44 above produces the text @samp{(a .@: 5)}.
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45
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46 Reading and printing are more or less inverse operations: printing the
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47 object that results from reading a given piece of text often produces
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48 the same text, and reading the text that results from printing an object
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49 usually produces a similar-looking object. For example, printing the
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50 symbol @code{foo} produces the text @samp{foo}, and reading that text
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51 returns the symbol @code{foo}. Printing a list whose elements are
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52 @code{a} and @code{b} produces the text @samp{(a b)}, and reading that
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53 text produces a list (but not the same list) with elements @code{a}
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54 and @code{b}.
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55
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56 However, these two operations are not precisely inverse to each other.
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57 There are three kinds of exceptions:
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58
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59 @itemize @bullet
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60 @item
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61 Printing can produce text that cannot be read. For example, buffers,
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62 windows, frames, subprocesses and markers print as text that starts
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63 with @samp{#}; if you try to read this text, you get an error. There is
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64 no way to read those data types.
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65
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66 @item
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67 One object can have multiple textual representations. For example,
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68 @samp{1} and @samp{01} represent the same integer, and @samp{(a b)} and
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69 @samp{(a .@: (b))} represent the same list. Reading will accept any of
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70 the alternatives, but printing must choose one of them.
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71
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72 @item
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73 Comments can appear at certain points in the middle of an object's
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74 read sequence without affecting the result of reading it.
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75 @end itemize
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76
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77 @node Input Streams
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78 @section Input Streams
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79 @cindex stream (for reading)
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80 @cindex input stream
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81
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82 Most of the Lisp functions for reading text take an @dfn{input stream}
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83 as an argument. The input stream specifies where or how to get the
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84 characters of the text to be read. Here are the possible types of input
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85 stream:
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86
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87 @table @asis
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88 @item @var{buffer}
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89 @cindex buffer input stream
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90 The input characters are read from @var{buffer}, starting with the
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91 character directly after point. Point advances as characters are read.
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92
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93 @item @var{marker}
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94 @cindex marker input stream
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95 The input characters are read from the buffer that @var{marker} is in,
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96 starting with the character directly after the marker. The marker
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97 position advances as characters are read. The value of point in the
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98 buffer has no effect when the stream is a marker.
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99
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100 @item @var{string}
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101 @cindex string input stream
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102 The input characters are taken from @var{string}, starting at the first
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103 character in the string and using as many characters as required.
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104
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105 @item @var{function}
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106 @cindex function input stream
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107 The input characters are generated by @var{function}, which must support
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108 two kinds of calls:
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109
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110 @itemize @bullet
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111 @item
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112 When it is called with no arguments, it should return the next character.
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113
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114 @item
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115 When it is called with one argument (always a character), @var{function}
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116 should save the argument and arrange to return it on the next call.
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117 This is called @dfn{unreading} the character; it happens when the Lisp
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118 reader reads one character too many and wants to ``put it back where it
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119 came from.'' In this case, it makes no difference what value
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120 @var{function} returns.
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121 @end itemize
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122
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123 @item @code{t}
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124 @cindex @code{t} input stream
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125 @code{t} used as a stream means that the input is read from the
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126 minibuffer. In fact, the minibuffer is invoked once and the text
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127 given by the user is made into a string that is then used as the
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128 input stream. If Emacs is running in batch mode, standard input is used
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129 instead of the minibuffer. For example,
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130 @example
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131 (message "%s" (read t))
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132 @end example
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133 will read a Lisp expression from standard input and print the result
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134 to standard output.
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135
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136 @item @code{nil}
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137 @cindex @code{nil} input stream
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138 @code{nil} supplied as an input stream means to use the value of
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139 @code{standard-input} instead; that value is the @dfn{default input
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140 stream}, and must be a non-@code{nil} input stream.
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141
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142 @item @var{symbol}
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143 A symbol as input stream is equivalent to the symbol's function
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144 definition (if any).
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145 @end table
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146
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147 Here is an example of reading from a stream that is a buffer, showing
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148 where point is located before and after:
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149
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150 @example
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151 @group
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152 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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153 This@point{} is the contents of foo.
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154 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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155 @end group
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156
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157 @group
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158 (read (get-buffer "foo"))
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159 @result{} is
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160 @end group
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161 @group
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162 (read (get-buffer "foo"))
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163 @result{} the
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164 @end group
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165
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166 @group
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167 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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168 This is the@point{} contents of foo.
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169 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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170 @end group
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171 @end example
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172
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173 @noindent
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174 Note that the first read skips a space. Reading skips any amount of
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175 whitespace preceding the significant text.
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176
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177 Here is an example of reading from a stream that is a marker,
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178 initially positioned at the beginning of the buffer shown. The value
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179 read is the symbol @code{This}.
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180
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181 @example
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182 @group
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183
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184 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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185 This is the contents of foo.
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186 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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187 @end group
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188
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189 @group
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190 (setq m (set-marker (make-marker) 1 (get-buffer "foo")))
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191 @result{} #<marker at 1 in foo>
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192 @end group
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193 @group
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194 (read m)
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195 @result{} This
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196 @end group
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197 @group
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198 m
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199 @result{} #<marker at 5 in foo> ;; @r{Before the first space.}
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200 @end group
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201 @end example
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202
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203 Here we read from the contents of a string:
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204
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205 @example
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206 @group
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207 (read "(When in) the course")
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208 @result{} (When in)
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209 @end group
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210 @end example
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211
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212 The following example reads from the minibuffer. The
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213 prompt is: @w{@samp{Lisp expression: }}. (That is always the prompt
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214 used when you read from the stream @code{t}.) The user's input is shown
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215 following the prompt.
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216
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217 @example
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218 @group
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219 (read t)
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220 @result{} 23
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221 ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ----------
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222 Lisp expression: @kbd{23 @key{RET}}
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223 ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ----------
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224 @end group
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225 @end example
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226
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227 Finally, here is an example of a stream that is a function, named
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228 @code{useless-stream}. Before we use the stream, we initialize the
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229 variable @code{useless-list} to a list of characters. Then each call to
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230 the function @code{useless-stream} obtains the next character in the list
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231 or unreads a character by adding it to the front of the list.
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232
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233 @example
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234 @group
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235 (setq useless-list (append "XY()" nil))
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236 @result{} (88 89 40 41)
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237 @end group
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238
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239 @group
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240 (defun useless-stream (&optional unread)
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241 (if unread
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242 (setq useless-list (cons unread useless-list))
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243 (prog1 (car useless-list)
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244 (setq useless-list (cdr useless-list)))))
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245 @result{} useless-stream
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246 @end group
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247 @end example
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248
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249 @noindent
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250 Now we read using the stream thus constructed:
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251
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252 @example
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253 @group
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254 (read 'useless-stream)
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255 @result{} XY
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256 @end group
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257
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258 @group
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259 useless-list
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260 @result{} (40 41)
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261 @end group
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262 @end example
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263
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264 @noindent
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265 Note that the open and close parentheses remain in the list. The Lisp
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266 reader encountered the open parenthesis, decided that it ended the
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267 input, and unread it. Another attempt to read from the stream at this
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268 point would read @samp{()} and return @code{nil}.
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269
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270 @defun get-file-char
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271 This function is used internally as an input stream to read from the
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272 input file opened by the function @code{load}. Don't use this function
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273 yourself.
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274 @end defun
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275
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276 @node Input Functions
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277 @section Input Functions
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278
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279 This section describes the Lisp functions and variables that pertain
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280 to reading.
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281
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282 In the functions below, @var{stream} stands for an input stream (see
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283 the previous section). If @var{stream} is @code{nil} or omitted, it
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284 defaults to the value of @code{standard-input}.
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285
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286 @kindex end-of-file
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287 An @code{end-of-file} error is signaled if reading encounters an
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288 unterminated list, vector, or string.
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289
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290 @defun read &optional stream
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291 This function reads one textual Lisp expression from @var{stream},
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292 returning it as a Lisp object. This is the basic Lisp input function.
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293 @end defun
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294
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295 @defun read-from-string string &optional start end
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296 @cindex string to object
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297 This function reads the first textual Lisp expression from the text in
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298 @var{string}. It returns a cons cell whose @sc{car} is that expression,
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299 and whose @sc{cdr} is an integer giving the position of the next
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300 remaining character in the string (i.e., the first one not read).
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301
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302 If @var{start} is supplied, then reading begins at index @var{start} in
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303 the string (where the first character is at index 0). If you specify
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304 @var{end}, then reading is forced to stop just before that index, as if
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305 the rest of the string were not there.
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306
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307 For example:
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308
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309 @example
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310 @group
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311 (read-from-string "(setq x 55) (setq y 5)")
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312 @result{} ((setq x 55) . 11)
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313 @end group
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314 @group
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315 (read-from-string "\"A short string\"")
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316 @result{} ("A short string" . 16)
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317 @end group
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318
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319 @group
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320 ;; @r{Read starting at the first character.}
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321 (read-from-string "(list 112)" 0)
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322 @result{} ((list 112) . 10)
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323 @end group
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324 @group
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325 ;; @r{Read starting at the second character.}
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326 (read-from-string "(list 112)" 1)
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327 @result{} (list . 5)
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328 @end group
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329 @group
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330 ;; @r{Read starting at the seventh character,}
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331 ;; @r{and stopping at the ninth.}
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332 (read-from-string "(list 112)" 6 8)
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333 @result{} (11 . 8)
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334 @end group
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335 @end example
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336 @end defun
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337
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338 @defvar standard-input
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339 This variable holds the default input stream---the stream that
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340 @code{read} uses when the @var{stream} argument is @code{nil}.
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341 The default is @code{t}, meaning use the minibuffer.
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342 @end defvar
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343
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344 @node Output Streams
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345 @section Output Streams
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346 @cindex stream (for printing)
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347 @cindex output stream
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348
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349 An output stream specifies what to do with the characters produced
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350 by printing. Most print functions accept an output stream as an
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351 optional argument. Here are the possible types of output stream:
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352
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353 @table @asis
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354 @item @var{buffer}
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355 @cindex buffer output stream
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356 The output characters are inserted into @var{buffer} at point.
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357 Point advances as characters are inserted.
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358
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359 @item @var{marker}
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360 @cindex marker output stream
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361 The output characters are inserted into the buffer that @var{marker}
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362 points into, at the marker position. The marker position advances as
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363 characters are inserted. The value of point in the buffer has no effect
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364 on printing when the stream is a marker, and this kind of printing
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365 does not move point (except that if the marker points at or before the
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366 position of point, point advances with the surrounding text, as
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367 usual).
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368
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369 @item @var{function}
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370 @cindex function output stream
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371 The output characters are passed to @var{function}, which is responsible
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372 for storing them away. It is called with a single character as
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373 argument, as many times as there are characters to be output, and
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374 is responsible for storing the characters wherever you want to put them.
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375
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376 @item @code{t}
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377 @cindex @code{t} output stream
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378 The output characters are displayed in the echo area.
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379
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380 @item @code{nil}
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381 @cindex @code{nil} output stream
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382 @code{nil} specified as an output stream means to use the value of
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383 @code{standard-output} instead; that value is the @dfn{default output
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384 stream}, and must not be @code{nil}.
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385
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386 @item @var{symbol}
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387 A symbol as output stream is equivalent to the symbol's function
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388 definition (if any).
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389 @end table
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390
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391 Many of the valid output streams are also valid as input streams. The
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392 difference between input and output streams is therefore more a matter
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393 of how you use a Lisp object, than of different types of object.
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394
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395 Here is an example of a buffer used as an output stream. Point is
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396 initially located as shown immediately before the @samp{h} in
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397 @samp{the}. At the end, point is located directly before that same
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398 @samp{h}.
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399
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400 @cindex print example
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401 @example
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402 @group
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403 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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404 This is t@point{}he contents of foo.
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405 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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406 @end group
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407
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408 (print "This is the output" (get-buffer "foo"))
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409 @result{} "This is the output"
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410
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411 @group
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412 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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413 This is t
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414 "This is the output"
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415 @point{}he contents of foo.
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416 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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417 @end group
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418 @end example
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419
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420 Now we show a use of a marker as an output stream. Initially, the
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421 marker is in buffer @code{foo}, between the @samp{t} and the @samp{h} in
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422 the word @samp{the}. At the end, the marker has advanced over the
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423 inserted text so that it remains positioned before the same @samp{h}.
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424 Note that the location of point, shown in the usual fashion, has no
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425 effect.
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426
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427 @example
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428 @group
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429 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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430 This is the @point{}output
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431 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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432 @end group
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433
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434 @group
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435 (setq m (copy-marker 10))
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436 @result{} #<marker at 10 in foo>
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437 @end group
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438
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439 @group
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440 (print "More output for foo." m)
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441 @result{} "More output for foo."
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442 @end group
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443
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444 @group
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445 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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446 This is t
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447 "More output for foo."
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448 he @point{}output
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449 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
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450 @end group
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451
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452 @group
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453 m
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454 @result{} #<marker at 34 in foo>
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455 @end group
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456 @end example
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457
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458 The following example shows output to the echo area:
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459
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460 @example
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461 @group
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462 (print "Echo Area output" t)
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463 @result{} "Echo Area output"
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464 ---------- Echo Area ----------
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465 "Echo Area output"
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466 ---------- Echo Area ----------
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467 @end group
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468 @end example
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469
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470 Finally, we show the use of a function as an output stream. The
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471 function @code{eat-output} takes each character that it is given and
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472 conses it onto the front of the list @code{last-output} (@pxref{Building
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473 Lists}). At the end, the list contains all the characters output, but
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474 in reverse order.
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475
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476 @example
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477 @group
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478 (setq last-output nil)
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479 @result{} nil
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480 @end group
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481
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482 @group
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483 (defun eat-output (c)
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484 (setq last-output (cons c last-output)))
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485 @result{} eat-output
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486 @end group
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487
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488 @group
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489 (print "This is the output" 'eat-output)
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490 @result{} "This is the output"
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491 @end group
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492
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493 @group
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494 last-output
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495 @result{} (10 34 116 117 112 116 117 111 32 101 104
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496 116 32 115 105 32 115 105 104 84 34 10)
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|
497 @end group
|
|
498 @end example
|
|
499
|
|
500 @noindent
|
|
501 Now we can put the output in the proper order by reversing the list:
|
|
502
|
|
503 @example
|
|
504 @group
|
|
505 (concat (nreverse last-output))
|
|
506 @result{} "
|
|
507 \"This is the output\"
|
|
508 "
|
|
509 @end group
|
|
510 @end example
|
|
511
|
|
512 @noindent
|
|
513 Calling @code{concat} converts the list to a string so you can see its
|
|
514 contents more clearly.
|
|
515
|
|
516 @node Output Functions
|
|
517 @section Output Functions
|
|
518
|
|
519 This section describes the Lisp functions for printing Lisp
|
|
520 objects---converting objects into their printed representation.
|
|
521
|
|
522 @cindex @samp{"} in printing
|
|
523 @cindex @samp{\} in printing
|
|
524 @cindex quoting characters in printing
|
|
525 @cindex escape characters in printing
|
|
526 Some of the Emacs printing functions add quoting characters to the
|
|
527 output when necessary so that it can be read properly. The quoting
|
|
528 characters used are @samp{"} and @samp{\}; they distinguish strings from
|
|
529 symbols, and prevent punctuation characters in strings and symbols from
|
|
530 being taken as delimiters when reading. @xref{Printed Representation},
|
|
531 for full details. You specify quoting or no quoting by the choice of
|
|
532 printing function.
|
|
533
|
|
534 If the text is to be read back into Lisp, then you should print with
|
|
535 quoting characters to avoid ambiguity. Likewise, if the purpose is to
|
|
536 describe a Lisp object clearly for a Lisp programmer. However, if the
|
|
537 purpose of the output is to look nice for humans, then it is usually
|
|
538 better to print without quoting.
|
|
539
|
|
540 Lisp objects can refer to themselves. Printing a self-referential
|
|
541 object in the normal way would require an infinite amount of text, and
|
|
542 the attempt could cause infinite recursion. Emacs detects such
|
|
543 recursion and prints @samp{#@var{level}} instead of recursively printing
|
|
544 an object already being printed. For example, here @samp{#0} indicates
|
|
545 a recursive reference to the object at level 0 of the current print
|
|
546 operation:
|
|
547
|
|
548 @example
|
|
549 (setq foo (list nil))
|
|
550 @result{} (nil)
|
|
551 (setcar foo foo)
|
|
552 @result{} (#0)
|
|
553 @end example
|
|
554
|
|
555 In the functions below, @var{stream} stands for an output stream.
|
|
556 (See the previous section for a description of output streams.) If
|
|
557 @var{stream} is @code{nil} or omitted, it defaults to the value of
|
|
558 @code{standard-output}.
|
|
559
|
|
560 @defun print object &optional stream
|
|
561 @cindex Lisp printer
|
|
562 The @code{print} function is a convenient way of printing. It outputs
|
|
563 the printed representation of @var{object} to @var{stream}, printing in
|
|
564 addition one newline before @var{object} and another after it. Quoting
|
|
565 characters are used. @code{print} returns @var{object}. For example:
|
|
566
|
|
567 @example
|
|
568 @group
|
|
569 (progn (print 'The\ cat\ in)
|
|
570 (print "the hat")
|
|
571 (print " came back"))
|
|
572 @print{}
|
|
573 @print{} The\ cat\ in
|
|
574 @print{}
|
|
575 @print{} "the hat"
|
|
576 @print{}
|
|
577 @print{} " came back"
|
|
578 @result{} " came back"
|
|
579 @end group
|
|
580 @end example
|
|
581 @end defun
|
|
582
|
|
583 @defun prin1 object &optional stream
|
|
584 This function outputs the printed representation of @var{object} to
|
|
585 @var{stream}. It does not print newlines to separate output as
|
|
586 @code{print} does, but it does use quoting characters just like
|
|
587 @code{print}. It returns @var{object}.
|
|
588
|
|
589 @example
|
|
590 @group
|
|
591 (progn (prin1 'The\ cat\ in)
|
|
592 (prin1 "the hat")
|
|
593 (prin1 " came back"))
|
|
594 @print{} The\ cat\ in"the hat"" came back"
|
|
595 @result{} " came back"
|
|
596 @end group
|
|
597 @end example
|
|
598 @end defun
|
|
599
|
|
600 @defun princ object &optional stream
|
|
601 This function outputs the printed representation of @var{object} to
|
|
602 @var{stream}. It returns @var{object}.
|
|
603
|
|
604 This function is intended to produce output that is readable by people,
|
|
605 not by @code{read}, so it doesn't insert quoting characters and doesn't
|
|
606 put double-quotes around the contents of strings. It does not add any
|
|
607 spacing between calls.
|
|
608
|
|
609 @example
|
|
610 @group
|
|
611 (progn
|
|
612 (princ 'The\ cat)
|
|
613 (princ " in the \"hat\""))
|
|
614 @print{} The cat in the "hat"
|
|
615 @result{} " in the \"hat\""
|
|
616 @end group
|
|
617 @end example
|
|
618 @end defun
|
|
619
|
|
620 @defun terpri &optional stream
|
|
621 @cindex newline in print
|
|
622 This function outputs a newline to @var{stream}. The name stands
|
|
623 for ``terminate print.''
|
|
624 @end defun
|
|
625
|
|
626 @defun write-char character &optional stream
|
|
627 This function outputs @var{character} to @var{stream}. It returns
|
|
628 @var{character}.
|
|
629 @end defun
|
|
630
|
|
631 @defun prin1-to-string object &optional noescape
|
|
632 @cindex object to string
|
|
633 This function returns a string containing the text that @code{prin1}
|
|
634 would have printed for the same argument.
|
|
635
|
|
636 @example
|
|
637 @group
|
|
638 (prin1-to-string 'foo)
|
|
639 @result{} "foo"
|
|
640 @end group
|
|
641 @group
|
|
642 (prin1-to-string (mark-marker))
|
|
643 @result{} "#<marker at 2773 in strings.texi>"
|
|
644 @end group
|
|
645 @end example
|
|
646
|
|
647 If @var{noescape} is non-@code{nil}, that inhibits use of quoting
|
|
648 characters in the output. (This argument is supported in Emacs versions
|
|
649 19 and later.)
|
|
650
|
|
651 @example
|
|
652 @group
|
|
653 (prin1-to-string "foo")
|
|
654 @result{} "\"foo\""
|
|
655 @end group
|
|
656 @group
|
|
657 (prin1-to-string "foo" t)
|
|
658 @result{} "foo"
|
|
659 @end group
|
|
660 @end example
|
|
661
|
|
662 See @code{format}, in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for other ways to obtain
|
|
663 the printed representation of a Lisp object as a string.
|
|
664 @end defun
|
|
665
|
|
666 @defmac with-output-to-string body@dots{}
|
|
667 This macro executes the @var{body} forms with @code{standard-output} set
|
|
668 up to feed output into a string. Then it returns that string.
|
|
669
|
|
670 For example, if the current buffer name is @samp{foo},
|
|
671
|
|
672 @example
|
|
673 (with-output-to-string
|
|
674 (princ "The buffer is ")
|
|
675 (princ (buffer-name)))
|
|
676 @end example
|
|
677
|
|
678 @noindent
|
|
679 returns @code{"The buffer is foo"}.
|
|
680 @end defmac
|
|
681
|
|
682 @node Output Variables
|
|
683 @section Variables Affecting Output
|
|
684 @cindex output-controlling variables
|
|
685
|
|
686 @defvar standard-output
|
|
687 The value of this variable is the default output stream---the stream
|
|
688 that print functions use when the @var{stream} argument is @code{nil}.
|
|
689 The default is @code{t}, meaning display in the echo area.
|
|
690 @end defvar
|
|
691
|
|
692 @defvar print-quoted
|
|
693 If this is non-@code{nil}, that means to print quoted forms using
|
|
694 abbreviated reader syntax. @code{(quote foo)} prints as @code{'foo},
|
|
695 @code{(function foo)} as @code{#'foo}, and backquoted forms print
|
|
696 using modern backquote syntax.
|
|
697 @end defvar
|
|
698
|
|
699 @defvar print-escape-newlines
|
|
700 @cindex @samp{\n} in print
|
|
701 @cindex escape characters
|
|
702 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then newline characters in strings
|
|
703 are printed as @samp{\n} and formfeeds are printed as @samp{\f}.
|
|
704 Normally these characters are printed as actual newlines and formfeeds.
|
|
705
|
|
706 This variable affects the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print}
|
|
707 that print with quoting. It does not affect @code{princ}. Here is an
|
|
708 example using @code{prin1}:
|
|
709
|
|
710 @example
|
|
711 @group
|
|
712 (prin1 "a\nb")
|
|
713 @print{} "a
|
|
714 @print{} b"
|
|
715 @result{} "a
|
|
716 b"
|
|
717 @end group
|
|
718
|
|
719 @group
|
|
720 (let ((print-escape-newlines t))
|
|
721 (prin1 "a\nb"))
|
|
722 @print{} "a\nb"
|
|
723 @result{} "a
|
|
724 b"
|
|
725 @end group
|
|
726 @end example
|
|
727
|
|
728 @noindent
|
|
729 In the second expression, the local binding of
|
|
730 @code{print-escape-newlines} is in effect during the call to
|
|
731 @code{prin1}, but not during the printing of the result.
|
|
732 @end defvar
|
|
733
|
|
734 @defvar print-escape-nonascii
|
|
735 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then unibyte non-@acronym{ASCII}
|
|
736 characters in strings are unconditionally printed as backslash sequences
|
|
737 by the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print} that print with
|
|
738 quoting.
|
|
739
|
|
740 Those functions also use backslash sequences for unibyte non-@acronym{ASCII}
|
|
741 characters, regardless of the value of this variable, when the output
|
|
742 stream is a multibyte buffer or a marker pointing into one.
|
|
743 @end defvar
|
|
744
|
|
745 @defvar print-escape-multibyte
|
|
746 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then multibyte non-@acronym{ASCII}
|
|
747 characters in strings are unconditionally printed as backslash sequences
|
|
748 by the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print} that print with
|
|
749 quoting.
|
|
750
|
|
751 Those functions also use backslash sequences for multibyte
|
|
752 non-@acronym{ASCII} characters, regardless of the value of this variable,
|
|
753 when the output stream is a unibyte buffer or a marker pointing into
|
|
754 one.
|
|
755 @end defvar
|
|
756
|
|
757 @defvar print-length
|
|
758 @cindex printing limits
|
|
759 The value of this variable is the maximum number of elements to print in
|
|
760 any list, vector or bool-vector. If an object being printed has more
|
|
761 than this many elements, it is abbreviated with an ellipsis.
|
|
762
|
|
763 If the value is @code{nil} (the default), then there is no limit.
|
|
764
|
|
765 @example
|
|
766 @group
|
|
767 (setq print-length 2)
|
|
768 @result{} 2
|
|
769 @end group
|
|
770 @group
|
|
771 (print '(1 2 3 4 5))
|
|
772 @print{} (1 2 ...)
|
|
773 @result{} (1 2 ...)
|
|
774 @end group
|
|
775 @end example
|
|
776 @end defvar
|
|
777
|
|
778 @defvar print-level
|
|
779 The value of this variable is the maximum depth of nesting of
|
|
780 parentheses and brackets when printed. Any list or vector at a depth
|
|
781 exceeding this limit is abbreviated with an ellipsis. A value of
|
|
782 @code{nil} (which is the default) means no limit.
|
|
783 @end defvar
|
|
784
|
|
785 @defopt eval-expression-print-length
|
|
786 @defoptx eval-expression-print-level
|
|
787 These are the values for @code{print-length} and @code{print-level}
|
|
788 used by @code{eval-expression}, and thus, indirectly, by many
|
|
789 interactive evaluation commands (@pxref{Lisp Eval,, Evaluating
|
|
790 Emacs-Lisp Expressions, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
|
|
791 @end defopt
|
|
792
|
|
793 These variables are used for detecting and reporting circular
|
|
794 and shared structure:
|
|
795
|
|
796 @defvar print-circle
|
|
797 If non-@code{nil}, this variable enables detection of circular
|
|
798 and shared structure in printing.
|
|
799 @end defvar
|
|
800
|
|
801 @defvar print-gensym
|
|
802 If non-@code{nil}, this variable enables detection of uninterned symbols
|
|
803 (@pxref{Creating Symbols}) in printing. When this is enabled,
|
|
804 uninterned symbols print with the prefix @samp{#:}, which tells the Lisp
|
|
805 reader to produce an uninterned symbol.
|
|
806 @end defvar
|
|
807
|
|
808 @defvar print-continuous-numbering
|
|
809 If non-@code{nil}, that means number continuously across print calls.
|
|
810 This affects the numbers printed for @samp{#@var{n}=} labels and
|
|
811 @samp{#@var{m}#} references.
|
|
812
|
|
813 Don't set this variable with @code{setq}; you should only bind it
|
|
814 temporarily to @code{t} with @code{let}. When you do that, you should
|
|
815 also bind @code{print-number-table} to @code{nil}.
|
|
816 @end defvar
|
|
817
|
|
818 @defvar print-number-table
|
|
819 This variable holds a vector used internally by printing to implement
|
|
820 the @code{print-circle} feature. You should not use it except
|
|
821 to bind it to @code{nil} when you bind @code{print-continuous-numbering}.
|
|
822 @end defvar
|
|
823
|
|
824 @defvar float-output-format
|
|
825 This variable specifies how to print floating point numbers. Its
|
|
826 default value is @code{nil}, meaning use the shortest output
|
|
827 that represents the number without losing information.
|
|
828
|
|
829 To control output format more precisely, you can put a string in this
|
|
830 variable. The string should hold a @samp{%}-specification to be used
|
|
831 in the C function @code{sprintf}. For further restrictions on what
|
|
832 you can use, see the variable's documentation string.
|
|
833 @end defvar
|
|
834
|
|
835 @ignore
|
|
836 arch-tag: 07636b8c-c4e3-4735-9e06-2e864320b434
|
|
837 @end ignore
|