changeset 84026:93f0e57ed710

Move to ../doc/lispref

--- a/lispref/streams.texi	Thu Sep 06 04:14:13 2007 +0000
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,837 +0,0 @@
-@c -*-texinfo-*-
-@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002,
-@c   2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
-@setfilename ../info/streams
-@node Read and Print, Minibuffers, Debugging, Top
-@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
-@chapter Reading and Printing Lisp Objects
-
-  @dfn{Printing} and @dfn{reading} are the operations of converting Lisp
-objects to textual form and vice versa.  They use the printed
-representations and read syntax described in @ref{Lisp Data Types}.
-
-  This chapter describes the Lisp functions for reading and printing.
-It also describes @dfn{streams}, which specify where to get the text (if
-reading) or where to put it (if printing).
-
-@menu
-* Streams Intro::     Overview of streams, reading and printing.
-* Input Streams::     Various data types that can be used as input streams.
-* Input Functions::   Functions to read Lisp objects from text.
-* Output Streams::    Various data types that can be used as output streams.
-* Output Functions::  Functions to print Lisp objects as text.
-* Output Variables::  Variables that control what the printing functions do.
-@end menu
-
-@node Streams Intro
-@section Introduction to Reading and Printing
-@cindex Lisp reader
-@cindex printing
-@cindex reading
-
-  @dfn{Reading} a Lisp object means parsing a Lisp expression in textual
-form and producing a corresponding Lisp object.  This is how Lisp
-programs get into Lisp from files of Lisp code.  We call the text the
-@dfn{read syntax} of the object.  For example, the text @samp{(a .@: 5)}
-is the read syntax for a cons cell whose @sc{car} is @code{a} and whose
-@sc{cdr} is the number 5.
-
-  @dfn{Printing} a Lisp object means producing text that represents that
-object---converting the object to its @dfn{printed representation}
-(@pxref{Printed Representation}).  Printing the cons cell described
-above produces the text @samp{(a .@: 5)}.
-
-  Reading and printing are more or less inverse operations: printing the
-object that results from reading a given piece of text often produces
-the same text, and reading the text that results from printing an object
-usually produces a similar-looking object.  For example, printing the
-symbol @code{foo} produces the text @samp{foo}, and reading that text
-returns the symbol @code{foo}.  Printing a list whose elements are
-@code{a} and @code{b} produces the text @samp{(a b)}, and reading that
-text produces a list (but not the same list) with elements @code{a}
-and @code{b}.
-
-  However, these two operations are not precisely inverse to each other.
-There are three kinds of exceptions:
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-Printing can produce text that cannot be read.  For example, buffers,
-windows, frames, subprocesses and markers print as text that starts
-with @samp{#}; if you try to read this text, you get an error.  There is
-no way to read those data types.
-
-@item
-One object can have multiple textual representations.  For example,
-@samp{1} and @samp{01} represent the same integer, and @samp{(a b)} and
-@samp{(a .@: (b))} represent the same list.  Reading will accept any of
-the alternatives, but printing must choose one of them.
-
-@item
-Comments can appear at certain points in the middle of an object's
-read sequence without affecting the result of reading it.
-@end itemize
-
-@node Input Streams
-@section Input Streams
-@cindex stream (for reading)
-@cindex input stream
-
-  Most of the Lisp functions for reading text take an @dfn{input stream}
-as an argument.  The input stream specifies where or how to get the
-characters of the text to be read.  Here are the possible types of input
-stream:
-
-@table @asis
-@item @var{buffer}
-@cindex buffer input stream
-The input characters are read from @var{buffer}, starting with the
-character directly after point.  Point advances as characters are read.
-
-@item @var{marker}
-@cindex marker input stream
-The input characters are read from the buffer that @var{marker} is in,
-starting with the character directly after the marker.  The marker
-position advances as characters are read.  The value of point in the
-buffer has no effect when the stream is a marker.
-
-@item @var{string}
-@cindex string input stream
-The input characters are taken from @var{string}, starting at the first
-character in the string and using as many characters as required.
-
-@item @var{function}
-@cindex function input stream
-The input characters are generated by @var{function}, which must support
-two kinds of calls:
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-When it is called with no arguments, it should return the next character.
-
-@item
-When it is called with one argument (always a character), @var{function}
-should save the argument and arrange to return it on the next call.
-This is called @dfn{unreading} the character; it happens when the Lisp
-reader reads one character too many and wants to ``put it back where it
-came from.''  In this case, it makes no difference what value
-@var{function} returns.
-@end itemize
-
-@item @code{t}
-@cindex @code{t} input stream
-@code{t} used as a stream means that the input is read from the
-minibuffer.  In fact, the minibuffer is invoked once and the text
-given by the user is made into a string that is then used as the
-input stream.  If Emacs is running in batch mode, standard input is used
-instead of the minibuffer.  For example,
-@example
-(message "%s" (read t))
-@end example
-will read a Lisp expression from standard input and print the result
-to standard output.
-
-@item @code{nil}
-@cindex @code{nil} input stream
-@code{nil} supplied as an input stream means to use the value of
-@code{standard-input} instead; that value is the @dfn{default input
-stream}, and must be a non-@code{nil} input stream.
-
-@item @var{symbol}
-A symbol as input stream is equivalent to the symbol's function
-definition (if any).
-@end table
-
-  Here is an example of reading from a stream that is a buffer, showing
-where point is located before and after:
-
-@example
-@group
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This@point{} is the contents of foo.
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-
-@group
-(read (get-buffer "foo"))
-     @result{} is
-@end group
-@group
-(read (get-buffer "foo"))
-     @result{} the
-@end group
-
-@group
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This is the@point{} contents of foo.
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-Note that the first read skips a space.  Reading skips any amount of
-whitespace preceding the significant text.
-
-  Here is an example of reading from a stream that is a marker,
-initially positioned at the beginning of the buffer shown.  The value
-read is the symbol @code{This}.
-
-@example
-@group
-
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This is the contents of foo.
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-
-@group
-(setq m (set-marker (make-marker) 1 (get-buffer "foo")))
-     @result{} #<marker at 1 in foo>
-@end group
-@group
-(read m)
-     @result{} This
-@end group
-@group
-m
-     @result{} #<marker at 5 in foo>   ;; @r{Before the first space.}
-@end group
-@end example
-
-  Here we read from the contents of a string:
-
-@example
-@group
-(read "(When in) the course")
-     @result{} (When in)
-@end group
-@end example
-
-  The following example reads from the minibuffer.  The
-prompt is: @w{@samp{Lisp expression: }}.  (That is always the prompt
-used when you read from the stream @code{t}.)  The user's input is shown
-following the prompt.
-
-@example
-@group
-(read t)
-     @result{} 23
----------- Buffer: Minibuffer ----------
-Lisp expression: @kbd{23 @key{RET}}
----------- Buffer: Minibuffer ----------
-@end group
-@end example
-
-  Finally, here is an example of a stream that is a function, named
-@code{useless-stream}.  Before we use the stream, we initialize the
-variable @code{useless-list} to a list of characters.  Then each call to
-the function @code{useless-stream} obtains the next character in the list
-or unreads a character by adding it to the front of the list.
-
-@example
-@group
-(setq useless-list (append "XY()" nil))
-     @result{} (88 89 40 41)
-@end group
-
-@group
-(defun useless-stream (&optional unread)
-  (if unread
-      (setq useless-list (cons unread useless-list))
-    (prog1 (car useless-list)
-           (setq useless-list (cdr useless-list)))))
-     @result{} useless-stream
-@end group
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-Now we read using the stream thus constructed:
-
-@example
-@group
-(read 'useless-stream)
-     @result{} XY
-@end group
-
-@group
-useless-list
-     @result{} (40 41)
-@end group
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-Note that the open and close parentheses remain in the list.  The Lisp
-reader encountered the open parenthesis, decided that it ended the
-input, and unread it.  Another attempt to read from the stream at this
-point would read @samp{()} and return @code{nil}.
-
-@defun get-file-char
-This function is used internally as an input stream to read from the
-input file opened by the function @code{load}.  Don't use this function
-yourself.
-@end defun
-
-@node Input Functions
-@section Input Functions
-
-  This section describes the Lisp functions and variables that pertain
-to reading.
-
-  In the functions below, @var{stream} stands for an input stream (see
-the previous section).  If @var{stream} is @code{nil} or omitted, it
-defaults to the value of @code{standard-input}.
-
-@kindex end-of-file
-  An @code{end-of-file} error is signaled if reading encounters an
-unterminated list, vector, or string.
-
-@defun read &optional stream
-This function reads one textual Lisp expression from @var{stream},
-returning it as a Lisp object.  This is the basic Lisp input function.
-@end defun
-
-@defun read-from-string string &optional start end
-@cindex string to object
-This function reads the first textual Lisp expression from the text in
-@var{string}.  It returns a cons cell whose @sc{car} is that expression,
-and whose @sc{cdr} is an integer giving the position of the next
-remaining character in the string (i.e., the first one not read).
-
-If @var{start} is supplied, then reading begins at index @var{start} in
-the string (where the first character is at index 0).  If you specify
-@var{end}, then reading is forced to stop just before that index, as if
-the rest of the string were not there.
-
-For example:
-
-@example
-@group
-(read-from-string "(setq x 55) (setq y 5)")
-     @result{} ((setq x 55) . 11)
-@end group
-@group
-(read-from-string "\"A short string\"")
-     @result{} ("A short string" . 16)
-@end group
-
-@group
-;; @r{Read starting at the first character.}
-(read-from-string "(list 112)" 0)
-     @result{} ((list 112) . 10)
-@end group
-@group
-;; @r{Read starting at the second character.}
-(read-from-string "(list 112)" 1)
-     @result{} (list . 5)
-@end group
-@group
-;; @r{Read starting at the seventh character,}
-;;   @r{and stopping at the ninth.}
-(read-from-string "(list 112)" 6 8)
-     @result{} (11 . 8)
-@end group
-@end example
-@end defun
-
-@defvar standard-input
-This variable holds the default input stream---the stream that
-@code{read} uses when the @var{stream} argument is @code{nil}.
-The default is @code{t}, meaning use the minibuffer.
-@end defvar
-
-@node Output Streams
-@section Output Streams
-@cindex stream (for printing)
-@cindex output stream
-
-  An output stream specifies what to do with the characters produced
-by printing.  Most print functions accept an output stream as an
-optional argument.  Here are the possible types of output stream:
-
-@table @asis
-@item @var{buffer}
-@cindex buffer output stream
-The output characters are inserted into @var{buffer} at point.
-Point advances as characters are inserted.
-
-@item @var{marker}
-@cindex marker output stream
-The output characters are inserted into the buffer that @var{marker}
-points into, at the marker position.  The marker position advances as
-characters are inserted.  The value of point in the buffer has no effect
-on printing when the stream is a marker, and this kind of printing
-does not move point (except that if the marker points at or before the
-position of point, point advances with the surrounding text, as
-usual).
-
-@item @var{function}
-@cindex function output stream
-The output characters are passed to @var{function}, which is responsible
-for storing them away.  It is called with a single character as
-argument, as many times as there are characters to be output, and
-is responsible for storing the characters wherever you want to put them.
-
-@item @code{t}
-@cindex @code{t} output stream
-The output characters are displayed in the echo area.
-
-@item @code{nil}
-@cindex @code{nil} output stream
-@code{nil} specified as an output stream means to use the value of
-@code{standard-output} instead; that value is the @dfn{default output
-stream}, and must not be @code{nil}.
-
-@item @var{symbol}
-A symbol as output stream is equivalent to the symbol's function
-definition (if any).
-@end table
-
-  Many of the valid output streams are also valid as input streams.  The
-difference between input and output streams is therefore more a matter
-of how you use a Lisp object, than of different types of object.
-
-  Here is an example of a buffer used as an output stream.  Point is
-initially located as shown immediately before the @samp{h} in
-@samp{the}.  At the end, point is located directly before that same
-@samp{h}.
-
-@cindex print example
-@example
-@group
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This is t@point{}he contents of foo.
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-
-(print "This is the output" (get-buffer "foo"))
-     @result{} "This is the output"
-
-@group
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This is t
-"This is the output"
-@point{}he contents of foo.
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-@end example
-
-  Now we show a use of a marker as an output stream.  Initially, the
-marker is in buffer @code{foo}, between the @samp{t} and the @samp{h} in
-the word @samp{the}.  At the end, the marker has advanced over the
-inserted text so that it remains positioned before the same @samp{h}.
-Note that the location of point, shown in the usual fashion, has no
-effect.
-
-@example
-@group
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This is the @point{}output
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-
-@group
-(setq m (copy-marker 10))
-     @result{} #<marker at 10 in foo>
-@end group
-
-@group
-(print "More output for foo." m)
-     @result{} "More output for foo."
-@end group
-
-@group
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-This is t
-"More output for foo."
-he @point{}output
----------- Buffer: foo ----------
-@end group
-
-@group
-m
-     @result{} #<marker at 34 in foo>
-@end group
-@end example
-
-  The following example shows output to the echo area:
-
-@example
-@group
-(print "Echo Area output" t)
-     @result{} "Echo Area output"
----------- Echo Area ----------
-"Echo Area output"
----------- Echo Area ----------
-@end group
-@end example
-
-  Finally, we show the use of a function as an output stream.  The
-function @code{eat-output} takes each character that it is given and
-conses it onto the front of the list @code{last-output} (@pxref{Building
-Lists}).  At the end, the list contains all the characters output, but
-in reverse order.
-
-@example
-@group
-(setq last-output nil)
-     @result{} nil
-@end group
-
-@group
-(defun eat-output (c)
-  (setq last-output (cons c last-output)))
-     @result{} eat-output
-@end group
-
-@group
-(print "This is the output" 'eat-output)
-     @result{} "This is the output"
-@end group
-
-@group
-last-output
-     @result{} (10 34 116 117 112 116 117 111 32 101 104
-    116 32 115 105 32 115 105 104 84 34 10)
-@end group
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-Now we can put the output in the proper order by reversing the list:
-
-@example
-@group
-(concat (nreverse last-output))
-     @result{} "
-\"This is the output\"
-"
-@end group
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-Calling @code{concat} converts the list to a string so you can see its
-contents more clearly.
-
-@node Output Functions
-@section Output Functions
-
-  This section describes the Lisp functions for printing Lisp
-objects---converting objects into their printed representation.
-
-@cindex @samp{"} in printing
-@cindex @samp{\} in printing
-@cindex quoting characters in printing
-@cindex escape characters in printing
-  Some of the Emacs printing functions add quoting characters to the
-output when necessary so that it can be read properly.  The quoting
-characters used are @samp{"} and @samp{\}; they distinguish strings from
-symbols, and prevent punctuation characters in strings and symbols from
-being taken as delimiters when reading.  @xref{Printed Representation},
-for full details.  You specify quoting or no quoting by the choice of
-printing function.
-
-  If the text is to be read back into Lisp, then you should print with
-quoting characters to avoid ambiguity.  Likewise, if the purpose is to
-describe a Lisp object clearly for a Lisp programmer.  However, if the
-purpose of the output is to look nice for humans, then it is usually
-better to print without quoting.
-
-  Lisp objects can refer to themselves.  Printing a self-referential
-object in the normal way would require an infinite amount of text, and
-the attempt could cause infinite recursion.  Emacs detects such
-recursion and prints @samp{#@var{level}} instead of recursively printing
-an object already being printed.  For example, here @samp{#0} indicates
-a recursive reference to the object at level 0 of the current print
-operation:
-
-@example
-(setq foo (list nil))
-     @result{} (nil)
-(setcar foo foo)
-     @result{} (#0)
-@end example
-
-  In the functions below, @var{stream} stands for an output stream.
-(See the previous section for a description of output streams.)  If
-@var{stream} is @code{nil} or omitted, it defaults to the value of
-@code{standard-output}.
-
-@defun print object &optional stream
-@cindex Lisp printer
-The @code{print} function is a convenient way of printing.  It outputs
-the printed representation of @var{object} to @var{stream}, printing in
-addition one newline before @var{object} and another after it.  Quoting
-characters are used.  @code{print} returns @var{object}.  For example:
-
-@example
-@group
-(progn (print 'The\ cat\ in)
-       (print "the hat")
-       (print " came back"))
-     @print{}
-     @print{} The\ cat\ in
-     @print{}
-     @print{} "the hat"
-     @print{}
-     @print{} " came back"
-     @result{} " came back"
-@end group
-@end example
-@end defun
-
-@defun prin1 object &optional stream
-This function outputs the printed representation of @var{object} to
-@var{stream}.  It does not print newlines to separate output as
-@code{print} does, but it does use quoting characters just like
-@code{print}.  It returns @var{object}.
-
-@example
-@group
-(progn (prin1 'The\ cat\ in)
-       (prin1 "the hat")
-       (prin1 " came back"))
-     @print{} The\ cat\ in"the hat"" came back"
-     @result{} " came back"
-@end group
-@end example
-@end defun
-
-@defun princ object &optional stream
-This function outputs the printed representation of @var{object} to
-@var{stream}.  It returns @var{object}.
-
-This function is intended to produce output that is readable by people,
-not by @code{read}, so it doesn't insert quoting characters and doesn't
-put double-quotes around the contents of strings.  It does not add any
-spacing between calls.
-
-@example
-@group
-(progn
-  (princ 'The\ cat)
-  (princ " in the \"hat\""))
-     @print{} The cat in the "hat"
-     @result{} " in the \"hat\""
-@end group
-@end example
-@end defun
-
-@defun terpri &optional stream
-@cindex newline in print
-This function outputs a newline to @var{stream}.  The name stands
-for ``terminate print.''
-@end defun
-
-@defun write-char character &optional stream
-This function outputs @var{character} to @var{stream}.  It returns
-@var{character}.
-@end defun
-
-@defun prin1-to-string object &optional noescape
-@cindex object to string
-This function returns a string containing the text that @code{prin1}
-would have printed for the same argument.
-
-@example
-@group
-(prin1-to-string 'foo)
-     @result{} "foo"
-@end group
-@group
-(prin1-to-string (mark-marker))
-     @result{} "#<marker at 2773 in strings.texi>"
-@end group
-@end example
-
-If @var{noescape} is non-@code{nil}, that inhibits use of quoting
-characters in the output.  (This argument is supported in Emacs versions
-19 and later.)
-
-@example
-@group
-(prin1-to-string "foo")
-     @result{} "\"foo\""
-@end group
-@group
-(prin1-to-string "foo" t)
-     @result{} "foo"
-@end group
-@end example
-
-See @code{format}, in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for other ways to obtain
-the printed representation of a Lisp object as a string.
-@end defun
-
-@defmac with-output-to-string body@dots{}
-This macro executes the @var{body} forms with @code{standard-output} set
-up to feed output into a string.  Then it returns that string.
-
-For example, if the current buffer name is @samp{foo},
-
-@example
-(with-output-to-string
-  (princ "The buffer is ")
-  (princ (buffer-name)))
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-returns @code{"The buffer is foo"}.
-@end defmac
-
-@node Output Variables
-@section Variables Affecting Output
-@cindex output-controlling variables
-
-@defvar standard-output
-The value of this variable is the default output stream---the stream
-that print functions use when the @var{stream} argument is @code{nil}.
-The default is @code{t}, meaning display in the echo area.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-quoted
-If this is non-@code{nil}, that means to print quoted forms using
-abbreviated reader syntax.  @code{(quote foo)} prints as @code{'foo},
-@code{(function foo)} as @code{#'foo}, and backquoted forms print
-using modern backquote syntax.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-escape-newlines
-@cindex @samp{\n} in print
-@cindex escape characters
-If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then newline characters in strings
-are printed as @samp{\n} and formfeeds are printed as @samp{\f}.
-Normally these characters are printed as actual newlines and formfeeds.
-
-This variable affects the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print}
-that print with quoting.  It does not affect @code{princ}.  Here is an
-example using @code{prin1}:
-
-@example
-@group
-(prin1 "a\nb")
-     @print{} "a
-     @print{} b"
-     @result{} "a
-b"
-@end group
-
-@group
-(let ((print-escape-newlines t))
-  (prin1 "a\nb"))
-     @print{} "a\nb"
-     @result{} "a
-b"
-@end group
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-In the second expression, the local binding of
-@code{print-escape-newlines} is in effect during the call to
-@code{prin1}, but not during the printing of the result.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-escape-nonascii
-If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then unibyte non-@acronym{ASCII}
-characters in strings are unconditionally printed as backslash sequences
-by the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print} that print with
-quoting.
-
-Those functions also use backslash sequences for unibyte non-@acronym{ASCII}
-characters, regardless of the value of this variable, when the output
-stream is a multibyte buffer or a marker pointing into one.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-escape-multibyte
-If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then multibyte non-@acronym{ASCII}
-characters in strings are unconditionally printed as backslash sequences
-by the print functions @code{prin1} and @code{print} that print with
-quoting.
-
-Those functions also use backslash sequences for multibyte
-non-@acronym{ASCII} characters, regardless of the value of this variable,
-when the output stream is a unibyte buffer or a marker pointing into
-one.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-length
-@cindex printing limits
-The value of this variable is the maximum number of elements to print in
-any list, vector or bool-vector.  If an object being printed has more
-than this many elements, it is abbreviated with an ellipsis.
-
-If the value is @code{nil} (the default), then there is no limit.
-
-@example
-@group
-(setq print-length 2)
-     @result{} 2
-@end group
-@group
-(print '(1 2 3 4 5))
-     @print{} (1 2 ...)
-     @result{} (1 2 ...)
-@end group
-@end example
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-level
-The value of this variable is the maximum depth of nesting of
-parentheses and brackets when printed.  Any list or vector at a depth
-exceeding this limit is abbreviated with an ellipsis.  A value of
-@code{nil} (which is the default) means no limit.
-@end defvar
-
-@defopt eval-expression-print-length
-@defoptx eval-expression-print-level
-These are the values for @code{print-length} and @code{print-level}
-used by @code{eval-expression}, and thus, indirectly, by many
-interactive evaluation commands (@pxref{Lisp Eval,, Evaluating
-Emacs-Lisp Expressions, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
-@end defopt
-
-  These variables are used for detecting and reporting circular
-and shared structure:
-
-@defvar print-circle
-If non-@code{nil}, this variable enables detection of circular
-and shared structure in printing.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-gensym
-If non-@code{nil}, this variable enables detection of uninterned symbols
-(@pxref{Creating Symbols}) in printing.  When this is enabled,
-uninterned symbols print with the prefix @samp{#:}, which tells the Lisp
-reader to produce an uninterned symbol.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-continuous-numbering
-If non-@code{nil}, that means number continuously across print calls.
-This affects the numbers printed for @samp{#@var{n}=} labels and
-@samp{#@var{m}#} references.
-
-Don't set this variable with @code{setq}; you should only bind it
-temporarily to @code{t} with @code{let}.  When you do that, you should
-also bind @code{print-number-table} to @code{nil}.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar print-number-table
-This variable holds a vector used internally by printing to implement
-the @code{print-circle} feature.  You should not use it except
-to bind it to @code{nil} when you bind @code{print-continuous-numbering}.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar float-output-format
-This variable specifies how to print floating point numbers.  Its
-default value is @code{nil}, meaning use the shortest output
-that represents the number without losing information.
-
-To control output format more precisely, you can put a string in this
-variable.  The string should hold a @samp{%}-specification to be used
-in the C function @code{sprintf}.  For further restrictions on what
-you can use, see the variable's documentation string.
-@end defvar
-
-@ignore
-   arch-tag: 07636b8c-c4e3-4735-9e06-2e864320b434
-@end ignore