annotate man/lispref/eval.texi @ 5840:93a18dbcfd8c

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author Marcus Crestani <marcus@crestani.de>
date Sat, 13 Dec 2014 14:20:17 +0100
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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
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2 @c This is part of the XEmacs Lisp Reference Manual.
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3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4 @c See the file lispref.texi for copying conditions.
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5 @setfilename ../../info/eval.info
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6 @node Evaluation, Control Structures, Symbols, Top
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7 @chapter Evaluation
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8 @cindex evaluation
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9 @cindex interpreter
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10 @cindex interpreter
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11 @cindex value of expression
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12
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13 The @dfn{evaluation} of expressions in XEmacs Lisp is performed by the
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14 @dfn{Lisp interpreter}---a program that receives a Lisp object as input
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15 and computes its @dfn{value as an expression}. How it does this depends
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16 on the data type of the object, according to rules described in this
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17 chapter. The interpreter runs automatically to evaluate portions of
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18 your program, but can also be called explicitly via the Lisp primitive
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19 function @code{eval}.
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20
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21 @ifinfo
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22 @menu
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23 * Intro Eval:: Evaluation in the scheme of things.
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24 * Eval:: How to invoke the Lisp interpreter explicitly.
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25 * Forms:: How various sorts of objects are evaluated.
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26 * Quoting:: Avoiding evaluation (to put constants in the program).
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27 * Multiple values:: Functions may return more than one result.
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28 @end menu
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29
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30 @node Intro Eval, Eval, Evaluation, Evaluation
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31 @section Introduction to Evaluation
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32
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33 The Lisp interpreter, or evaluator, is the program that computes
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34 the value of an expression that is given to it. When a function
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35 written in Lisp is called, the evaluator computes the value of the
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36 function by evaluating the expressions in the function body. Thus,
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37 running any Lisp program really means running the Lisp interpreter.
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38
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39 How the evaluator handles an object depends primarily on the data
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40 type of the object.
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41 @end ifinfo
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42
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43 @cindex forms
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44 @cindex expression
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45 A Lisp object that is intended for evaluation is called an
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46 @dfn{expression} or a @dfn{form}. The fact that expressions are data
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47 objects and not merely text is one of the fundamental differences
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48 between Lisp-like languages and typical programming languages. Any
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49 object can be evaluated, but in practice only numbers, symbols, lists
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50 and strings are evaluated very often.
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51
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52 It is very common to read a Lisp expression and then evaluate the
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53 expression, but reading and evaluation are separate activities, and
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54 either can be performed alone. Reading per se does not evaluate
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55 anything; it converts the printed representation of a Lisp object to the
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56 object itself. It is up to the caller of @code{read} whether this
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57 object is a form to be evaluated, or serves some entirely different
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58 purpose. @xref{Input Functions}.
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59
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60 Do not confuse evaluation with command key interpretation. The
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61 editor command loop translates keyboard input into a command (an
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62 interactively callable function) using the active keymaps, and then
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63 uses @code{call-interactively} to invoke the command. The execution of
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64 the command itself involves evaluation if the command is written in
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65 Lisp, but that is not a part of command key interpretation itself.
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66 @xref{Command Loop}.
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67
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68 @cindex recursive evaluation
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69 Evaluation is a recursive process. That is, evaluation of a form may
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70 call @code{eval} to evaluate parts of the form. For example, evaluation
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71 of a function call first evaluates each argument of the function call,
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72 and then evaluates each form in the function body. Consider evaluation
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73 of the form @code{(car x)}: the subform @code{x} must first be evaluated
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74 recursively, so that its value can be passed as an argument to the
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75 function @code{car}.
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76
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77 Evaluation of a function call ultimately calls the function specified
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78 in it. @xref{Functions and Commands}. The execution of the function may itself work
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79 by evaluating the function definition; or the function may be a Lisp
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80 primitive implemented in C, or it may be a byte-compiled function
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81 (@pxref{Byte Compilation}).
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82
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83 @cindex environment
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84 The evaluation of forms takes place in a context called the
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85 @dfn{environment}, which consists of the current values and bindings of
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86 all Lisp variables.@footnote{This definition of ``environment'' is
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87 specifically not intended to include all the data that can affect the
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88 result of a program.} Whenever the form refers to a variable without
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89 creating a new binding for it, the value of the binding in the current
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90 environment is used. @xref{Variables}.
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91
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92 @cindex side effect
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93 Evaluation of a form may create new environments for recursive
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94 evaluation by binding variables (@pxref{Local Variables}). These
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95 environments are temporary and vanish by the time evaluation of the form
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96 is complete. The form may also make changes that persist; these changes
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97 are called @dfn{side effects}. An example of a form that produces side
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98 effects is @code{(setq foo 1)}.
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99
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100 The details of what evaluation means for each kind of form are
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101 described below (@pxref{Forms}).
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102
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103 @node Eval, Forms, Intro Eval, Evaluation
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104 @section Eval
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105 @c ??? Perhaps this should be the last section in the chapter.
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106
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107 Most often, forms are evaluated automatically, by virtue of their
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108 occurrence in a program being run. On rare occasions, you may need to
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109 write code that evaluates a form that is computed at run time, such as
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110 after reading a form from text being edited or getting one from a
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111 property list. On these occasions, use the @code{eval} function.
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112
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113 @strong{Please note:} it is generally cleaner and more flexible to call
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114 functions that are stored in data structures, rather than to evaluate
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115 expressions stored in data structures. Using functions provides the
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116 ability to pass information to them as arguments.
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117
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118 The functions and variables described in this section evaluate forms,
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119 specify limits to the evaluation process, or record recently returned
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120 values. Loading a file also does evaluation (@pxref{Loading}).
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121
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122 @defun eval form
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123 This is the basic function for performing evaluation. It evaluates
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124 @var{form} in the current environment and returns the result. How the
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125 evaluation proceeds depends on the type of the object (@pxref{Forms}).
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126
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127 Since @code{eval} is a function, the argument expression that appears
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128 in a call to @code{eval} is evaluated twice: once as preparation before
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129 @code{eval} is called, and again by the @code{eval} function itself.
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130 Here is an example:
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131
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132 @example
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133 @group
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134 (setq foo 'bar)
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135 @result{} bar
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136 @end group
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137 @group
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138 (setq bar 'baz)
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139 @result{} baz
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140 ;; @r{@code{eval} receives argument @code{bar}, which is the value of @code{foo}}
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141 (eval foo)
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142 @result{} baz
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143 (eval 'foo)
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144 @result{} bar
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145 @end group
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146 @end example
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147
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148 The number of currently active calls to @code{eval} is limited to
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149 @code{max-lisp-eval-depth} (see below).
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150 @end defun
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151
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152 @deffn Command eval-region start end &optional stream
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153 This function evaluates the forms in the current buffer in the region
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154 defined by the positions @var{start} and @var{end}. It reads forms from
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155 the region and calls @code{eval} on them until the end of the region is
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156 reached, or until an error is signaled and not handled.
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157
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158 If @var{stream} is supplied, @code{standard-output} is bound to it
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159 during the evaluation.
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160
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161 You can use the variable @code{load-read-function} to specify a function
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162 for @code{eval-region} to use instead of @code{read} for reading
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163 expressions. @xref{How Programs Do Loading}.
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164
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165 @code{eval-region} always returns @code{nil}.
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166 @end deffn
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167
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168 @cindex evaluation of buffer contents
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169 @deffn Command eval-buffer buffer &optional stream
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170 This is like @code{eval-region} except that it operates on the whole
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171 contents of @var{buffer}.
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172 @end deffn
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173
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174 @defvar max-lisp-eval-depth
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175 This variable defines the maximum depth allowed in calls to @code{eval},
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176 @code{apply}, and @code{funcall} before an error is signaled (with error
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177 message @code{"Lisp nesting exceeds max-lisp-eval-depth"}). This counts
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178 internal uses of those functions, such as for calling the functions
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179 mentioned in Lisp expressions, and recursive evaluation of function call
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180 arguments and function body forms.
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181
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182 This limit, with the associated error when it is exceeded, is one way
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183 that Lisp avoids infinite recursion on an ill-defined function.
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184 @cindex Lisp nesting error
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185
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186 The default value of this variable is 1000. If you set it to a value
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187 less than 100, Lisp will reset it to 100 if the given value is reached.
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188
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189 @code{max-specpdl-size} provides another limit on nesting.
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190 @xref{Local Variables}.
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191 @end defvar
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192
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193 @defvar values
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194 The value of this variable is a list of the values returned by all the
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195 expressions that were read from buffers (including the minibuffer),
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196 evaluated, and printed. The elements are ordered most recent first.
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197
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198 @example
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199 @group
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200 (setq x 1)
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201 @result{} 1
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202 @end group
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203 @group
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204 (list 'A (1+ 2) auto-save-default)
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205 @result{} (A 3 t)
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206 @end group
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207 @group
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208 values
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209 @result{} ((A 3 t) 1 @dots{})
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210 @end group
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211 @end example
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212
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213 This variable is useful for referring back to values of forms recently
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214 evaluated. It is generally a bad idea to print the value of
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215 @code{values} itself, since this may be very long. Instead, examine
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216 particular elements, like this:
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217
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218 @example
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219 @group
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220 ;; @r{Refer to the most recent evaluation result.}
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221 (nth 0 values)
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222 @result{} (A 3 t)
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223 @end group
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224 @group
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225 ;; @r{That put a new element on,}
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226 ;; @r{so all elements move back one.}
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227 (nth 1 values)
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228 @result{} (A 3 t)
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229 @end group
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230 @group
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231 ;; @r{This gets the element that was next-to-most-recent}
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232 ;; @r{before this example.}
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233 (nth 3 values)
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234 @result{} 1
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235 @end group
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236 @end example
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237 @end defvar
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238
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239 @node Forms, Quoting, Eval, Evaluation
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240 @section Kinds of Forms
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241
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242 A Lisp object that is intended to be evaluated is called a @dfn{form}.
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243 How XEmacs evaluates a form depends on its data type. XEmacs has three
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244 different kinds of form that are evaluated differently: symbols, lists,
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245 and ``all other types''. This section describes all three kinds,
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246 starting with ``all other types'' which are self-evaluating forms.
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247
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248 @menu
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249 * Self-Evaluating Forms:: Forms that evaluate to themselves.
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250 * Symbol Forms:: Symbols evaluate as variables.
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251 * Classifying Lists:: How to distinguish various sorts of list forms.
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252 * Function Indirection:: When a symbol appears as the car of a list,
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253 we find the real function via the symbol.
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254 * Function Forms:: Forms that call functions.
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255 * Macro Forms:: Forms that call macros.
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256 * Special Operators:: ``Special operators'' are idiosyncratic primitives,
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257 most of them extremely important.
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258 Also known as special forms.
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259 * Autoloading:: Functions set up to load files
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260 containing their real definitions.
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261 @end menu
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262
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263 @node Self-Evaluating Forms, Symbol Forms, Forms, Forms
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264 @subsection Self-Evaluating Forms
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265 @cindex vector evaluation
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266 @cindex literal evaluation
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267 @cindex self-evaluating form
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268
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269 A @dfn{self-evaluating form} is any form that is not a list or symbol.
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270 Self-evaluating forms evaluate to themselves: the result of evaluation
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271 is the same object that was evaluated. Thus, the number 25 evaluates to
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272 25, and the string @code{"foo"} evaluates to the string @code{"foo"}.
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273 Likewise, evaluation of a vector does not cause evaluation of the
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274 elements of the vector---it returns the same vector with its contents
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275 unchanged.
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276
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277 @example
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278 @group
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279 '123 ; @r{An object, shown without evaluation.}
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280 @result{} 123
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281 @end group
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282 @group
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283 123 ; @r{Evaluated as usual---result is the same.}
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284 @result{} 123
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285 @end group
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286 @group
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287 (eval '123) ; @r{Evaluated ``by hand''---result is the same.}
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288 @result{} 123
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289 @end group
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290 @group
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291 (eval (eval '123)) ; @r{Evaluating twice changes nothing.}
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292 @result{} 123
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293 @end group
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294 @end example
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295
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296 It is common to write numbers, characters, strings, and even vectors
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297 in Lisp code, taking advantage of the fact that they self-evaluate.
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298 However, it is quite unusual to do this for types that lack a read
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299 syntax, because there's no way to write them textually. It is possible
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300 to construct Lisp expressions containing these types by means of a Lisp
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301 program. Here is an example:
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302
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303 @example
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304 @group
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305 ;; @r{Build an expression containing a buffer object.}
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306 (setq buffer (list 'print (current-buffer)))
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307 @result{} (print #<buffer eval.texi>)
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308 @end group
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309 @group
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310 ;; @r{Evaluate it.}
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311 (eval buffer)
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312 @print{} #<buffer eval.texi>
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313 @result{} #<buffer eval.texi>
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314 @end group
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315 @end example
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316
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317 @node Symbol Forms, Classifying Lists, Self-Evaluating Forms, Forms
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318 @subsection Symbol Forms
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319 @cindex symbol evaluation
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320
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321 When a symbol is evaluated, it is treated as a variable. The result
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322 is the variable's value, if it has one. If it has none (if its value
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323 cell is void), an error is signaled. For more information on the use of
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324 variables, see @ref{Variables}.
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325
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326 In the following example, we set the value of a symbol with
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327 @code{setq}. Then we evaluate the symbol, and get back the value that
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328 @code{setq} stored.
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329
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330 @example
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331 @group
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332 (setq a 123)
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333 @result{} 123
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334 @end group
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335 @group
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336 (eval 'a)
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337 @result{} 123
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338 @end group
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339 @group
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340 a
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341 @result{} 123
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342 @end group
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343 @end example
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344
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345 The symbols @code{nil} and @code{t} are treated specially, so that the
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346 value of @code{nil} is always @code{nil}, and the value of @code{t} is
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347 always @code{t}; you cannot set or bind them to any other values. Thus,
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348 these two symbols act like self-evaluating forms, even though
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349 @code{eval} treats them like any other symbol.
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350
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351 @node Classifying Lists, Function Indirection, Symbol Forms, Forms
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352 @subsection Classification of List Forms
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353 @cindex list form evaluation
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354
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355 A form that is a nonempty list is either a function call, a macro
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356 call, or a special form, according to its first element. These three
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357 kinds of forms are evaluated in different ways, described below. The
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358 remaining list elements constitute the @dfn{arguments} for the function,
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359 macro, or special operator.
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360
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361 The first step in evaluating a nonempty list is to examine its first
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362 element. This element alone determines what kind of form the list is
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363 and how the rest of the list is to be processed. The first element is
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364 @emph{not} evaluated, as it would be in some Lisp dialects such as
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365 Scheme.
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366
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367 @node Function Indirection, Function Forms, Classifying Lists, Forms
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368 @subsection Symbol Function Indirection
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369 @cindex symbol function indirection
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370 @cindex indirection
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371 @cindex void function
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372
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373 If the first element of the list is a symbol then evaluation examines
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374 the symbol's function cell, and uses its contents instead of the
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375 original symbol. If the contents are another symbol, this process,
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376 called @dfn{symbol function indirection}, is repeated until it obtains a
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377 non-symbol. @xref{Function Names}, for more information about using a
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378 symbol as a name for a function stored in the function cell of the
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379 symbol.
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380
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381 One possible consequence of this process is an infinite loop, in the
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382 event that a symbol's function cell refers to the same symbol. Or a
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383 symbol may have a void function cell, in which case the subroutine
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384 @code{symbol-function} signals a @code{void-function} error. But if
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385 neither of these things happens, we eventually obtain a non-symbol,
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386 which ought to be a function or other suitable object.
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387
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388 @kindex invalid-function
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389 @cindex invalid function
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390 More precisely, we should now have a Lisp function (a lambda
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391 expression), a byte-code function, a primitive function, a Lisp macro, a
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392 special operator, or an autoload object. Each of these types is a case
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393 described in one of the following sections. If the object is not one of
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394 these types, the error @code{invalid-function} is signaled.
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395
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396 The following example illustrates the symbol indirection process. We
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397 use @code{fset} to set the function cell of a symbol and
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398 @code{symbol-function} to get the function cell contents
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399 (@pxref{Function Cells}). Specifically, we store the symbol @code{car}
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400 into the function cell of @code{first}, and the symbol @code{first} into
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401 the function cell of @code{erste}.
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402
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403 @smallexample
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404 @group
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405 ;; @r{Build this function cell linkage:}
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406 ;; ------------- ----- ------- -------
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407 ;; | #<subr car> | <-- | car | <-- | first | <-- | erste |
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408 ;; ------------- ----- ------- -------
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409 @end group
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410 @end smallexample
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411
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412 @smallexample
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413 @group
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414 (symbol-function 'car)
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415 @result{} #<subr car>
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416 @end group
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417 @group
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418 (fset 'first 'car)
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419 @result{} car
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420 @end group
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421 @group
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422 (fset 'erste 'first)
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423 @result{} first
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424 @end group
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425 @group
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426 (erste '(1 2 3)) ; @r{Call the function referenced by @code{erste}.}
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427 @result{} 1
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428 @end group
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429 @end smallexample
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430
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431 By contrast, the following example calls a function without any symbol
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432 function indirection, because the first element is an anonymous Lisp
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433 function, not a symbol.
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434
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435 @smallexample
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436 @group
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437 ((lambda (arg) (erste arg))
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438 '(1 2 3))
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439 @result{} 1
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440 @end group
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441 @end smallexample
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442
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443 @noindent
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444 Executing the function itself evaluates its body; this does involve
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445 symbol function indirection when calling @code{erste}.
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446
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447 The built-in function @code{indirect-function} provides an easy way to
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448 perform symbol function indirection explicitly.
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449
444
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450 @defun indirect-function object
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451 This function returns the meaning of @var{object} as a function. If
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452 @var{object} is a symbol, then it finds @var{object}'s function
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453 definition and starts over with that value. If @var{object} is not a
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454 symbol, then it returns @var{object} itself.
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455
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456 Here is how you could define @code{indirect-function} in Lisp:
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457
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458 @smallexample
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459 (defun indirect-function (function)
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460 (if (symbolp function)
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461 (indirect-function (symbol-function function))
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462 function))
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463 @end smallexample
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464 @end defun
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465
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466 @node Function Forms, Macro Forms, Function Indirection, Forms
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467 @subsection Evaluation of Function Forms
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468 @cindex function form evaluation
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469 @cindex function call
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470
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471 If the first element of a list being evaluated is a Lisp function
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472 object, byte-code object or primitive function object, then that list is
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473 a @dfn{function call}. For example, here is a call to the function
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474 @code{+}:
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475
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476 @example
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477 (+ 1 x)
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478 @end example
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479
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480 The first step in evaluating a function call is to evaluate the
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481 remaining elements of the list from left to right. The results are the
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482 actual argument values, one value for each list element. The next step
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483 is to call the function with this list of arguments, effectively using
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484 the function @code{apply} (@pxref{Calling Functions}). If the function
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485 is written in Lisp, the arguments are used to bind the argument
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486 variables of the function (@pxref{Lambda Expressions}); then the forms
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487 in the function body are evaluated in order, and the value of the last
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488 body form becomes the value of the function call.
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489
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490 @node Macro Forms, Special Operators, Function Forms, Forms
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491 @subsection Lisp Macro Evaluation
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492 @cindex macro call evaluation
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493
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494 If the first element of a list being evaluated is a macro object, then
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495 the list is a @dfn{macro call}. When a macro call is evaluated, the
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496 elements of the rest of the list are @emph{not} initially evaluated.
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497 Instead, these elements themselves are used as the arguments of the
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498 macro. The macro definition computes a replacement form, called the
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499 @dfn{expansion} of the macro, to be evaluated in place of the original
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500 form. The expansion may be any sort of form: a self-evaluating
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501 constant, a symbol, or a list. If the expansion is itself a macro call,
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502 this process of expansion repeats until some other sort of form results.
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503
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504 Ordinary evaluation of a macro call finishes by evaluating the
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505 expansion. However, the macro expansion is not necessarily evaluated
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506 right away, or at all, because other programs also expand macro calls,
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507 and they may or may not evaluate the expansions.
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508
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509 Normally, the argument expressions are not evaluated as part of
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510 computing the macro expansion, but instead appear as part of the
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511 expansion, so they are computed when the expansion is computed.
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512
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513 For example, given a macro defined as follows:
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514
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515 @example
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516 @group
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517 (defmacro cadr (x)
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518 (list 'car (list 'cdr x)))
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519 @end group
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520 @end example
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521
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522 @noindent
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523 an expression such as @code{(cadr (assq 'handler list))} is a macro
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524 call, and its expansion is:
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525
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526 @example
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527 (car (cdr (assq 'handler list)))
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528 @end example
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529
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530 @noindent
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diff changeset
531 Note that the argument @code{(assq 'handler list)} appears in the
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532 expansion.
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533
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534 @xref{Macros}, for a complete description of XEmacs Lisp macros.
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535
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536 @node Special Operators, Autoloading, Macro Forms, Forms
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537 @subsection Special Operators
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538 @cindex special operator evaluation
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539 @cindex special form
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540
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541 A @dfn{special operator} (historically, and less logically, a
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542 @dfn{special form}) is a primitive function specially marked so that
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543 its arguments are not all evaluated. Most special operators define control
428
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544 structures or perform variable bindings---things which functions cannot
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545 do.
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546
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547 Each special operator has its own rules for which arguments are evaluated
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548 and which are used without evaluation. Whether a particular argument is
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549 evaluated may depend on the results of evaluating other arguments.
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550
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551 Here is a list, in alphabetical order, of all of the special operators in
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552 XEmacs Lisp with a reference to where each is described.
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553
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554 @table @code
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555 @item and
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556 @pxref{Combining Conditions}
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557
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558 @item catch
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559 @pxref{Catch and Throw}
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560
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561 @item cond
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562 @pxref{Conditionals}
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563
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564 @item condition-case
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565 @pxref{Handling Errors}
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566
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567 @item defconst
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568 @pxref{Defining Variables}
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569
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570 @item defmacro
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571 @pxref{Defining Macros}
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572
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573 @item defun
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574 @pxref{Defining Functions}
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575
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576 @item defvar
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577 @pxref{Defining Variables}
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578
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579 @item function
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580 @pxref{Anonymous Functions}
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581
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582 @item if
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583 @pxref{Conditionals}
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584
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585 @item interactive
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586 @pxref{Interactive Call}
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587
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588 @item let
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589 @itemx let*
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590 @pxref{Local Variables}
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591
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592 @item or
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593 @pxref{Combining Conditions}
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594
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595 @item prog1
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596 @itemx prog2
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597 @itemx progn
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598 @pxref{Sequencing}
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599
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600 @item quote
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601 @pxref{Quoting}
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602
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603 @item save-current-buffer
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604 @pxref{Excursions}
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605
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606 @item save-excursion
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607 @pxref{Excursions}
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608
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609 @item save-restriction
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610 @pxref{Narrowing}
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611
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612 @item save-selected-window
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613 @pxref{Excursions}
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614
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615 @item save-window-excursion
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616 @pxref{Window Configurations}
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617
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618 @item setq
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619 @pxref{Setting Variables}
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620
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621 @item setq-default
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622 @pxref{Creating Buffer-Local}
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623
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624 @item unwind-protect
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625 @pxref{Nonlocal Exits}
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626
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627 @item while
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628 @pxref{Iteration}
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629
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630 @item with-output-to-temp-buffer
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631 @pxref{Temporary Displays}
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632 @end table
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633
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634 @cindex CL note---special operators compared
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635 @quotation
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636 @b{Common Lisp note:} here are some comparisons of special operators in
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637 XEmacs Lisp and Common Lisp. @code{setq}, @code{if}, and
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638 @code{catch} are special operators in both XEmacs Lisp and Common Lisp.
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639 @code{defun} is a special operator in XEmacs Lisp, but a macro in Common
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640 Lisp. @code{save-excursion} is a special operator in XEmacs Lisp, but
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641 doesn't exist in Common Lisp. @code{throw} is a special operator in
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642 both Common Lisp and XEmacs Lisp (because it must be able to throw
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643 multiple values).@refill
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644 @end quotation
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645
5791
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646 @node Autoloading, , Special Operators, Forms
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647 @subsection Autoloading
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648
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649 The @dfn{autoload} feature allows you to call a function or macro
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650 whose function definition has not yet been loaded into XEmacs. It
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651 specifies which file contains the definition. When an autoload object
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652 appears as a symbol's function definition, calling that symbol as a
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653 function automatically loads the specified file; then it calls the real
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654 definition loaded from that file. @xref{Autoload}.
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655
5791
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656 @node Quoting, Multiple values, Forms, Evaluation
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657 @section Quoting
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658 @cindex quoting
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659
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660 The special operator @code{quote} returns its single argument, as written,
428
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661 without evaluating it. This provides a way to include constant symbols
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662 and lists, which are not self-evaluating objects, in a program. (It is
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663 not necessary to quote self-evaluating objects such as numbers, strings,
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664 and vectors.)
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665
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666 @deffn {Special Operator} quote object
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667 This special operator returns @var{object}, without evaluating it.
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668 @end deffn
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669
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670 @cindex @samp{'} for quoting
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671 @cindex quoting using apostrophe
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672 @cindex apostrophe for quoting
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673 Because @code{quote} is used so often in programs, Lisp provides a
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674 convenient read syntax for it. An apostrophe character (@samp{'})
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675 followed by a Lisp object (in read syntax) expands to a list whose first
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676 element is @code{quote}, and whose second element is the object. Thus,
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677 the read syntax @code{'x} is an abbreviation for @code{(quote x)}.
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678
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679 Here are some examples of expressions that use @code{quote}:
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680
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681 @example
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682 @group
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683 (quote (+ 1 2))
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684 @result{} (+ 1 2)
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685 @end group
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686 @group
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687 (quote foo)
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688 @result{} foo
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689 @end group
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690 @group
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691 'foo
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692 @result{} foo
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693 @end group
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694 @group
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695 ''foo
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696 @result{} (quote foo)
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697 @end group
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698 @group
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699 '(quote foo)
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700 @result{} (quote foo)
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701 @end group
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702 @group
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703 ['foo]
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diff changeset
704 @result{} [(quote foo)]
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
705 @end group
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
706 @end example
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
707
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
708 Other quoting constructs include @code{function} (@pxref{Anonymous
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
709 Functions}), which causes an anonymous lambda expression written in Lisp
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
710 to be compiled, and @samp{`} (@pxref{Backquote}), which is used to quote
3ecd8885ac67 Import from CVS: tag r21-2-22
cvs
parents:
diff changeset
711 only part of a list, while computing and substituting other parts.
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
712
5791
9fae6227ede5 Silence texinfo 5.2 warnings, primarily by adding next, prev, and up
Jerry James <james@xemacs.org>
parents: 5547
diff changeset
713 @node Multiple values, , Quoting, Evaluation
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
714 @section Multiple values
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
715 @cindex multiple values
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
716
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
717 @noindent
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
718 Under XEmacs, expressions can return zero or more results, using the
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
719 @code{values} and @code{values-list} functions. Results other than the
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
720 first are typically discarded, but special operators are provided to
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
721 access them.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
722
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
723 @defun values arguments@dots{}
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
724 This function returns @var{arguments} as multiple values. Callers will
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
725 always receive the first element of @var{arguments}, but must use
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
726 various special operators, described below, to access other elements of
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
727 @var{arguments}.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
728
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
729 The idiom @code{(values (function-call argument))}, with one
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
730 argument, is the normal mechanism to avoid passing multiple values to
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
731 the calling form where that is not desired.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
732
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
733 XEmacs implements the Common Lisp specification when it comes to the
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
734 exact details of when to discard and when to preserve multiple values;
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
735 see Common Lisp the Language or the Common Lisp hyperspec for more
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
736 details. The most important thing to keep in mind is when multiple
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
737 values are passed as an argument to a function, all but the first are
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
738 discarded.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
739 @end defun
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
740
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
741 @defun values-list argument
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
742 This function returns the elements of the lst @var{argument} as multiple
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
743 values.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
744 @end defun
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
745
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
746 @defmac multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
747 This macro evaluates @var{values-form}, which may return
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
748 multiple values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
749 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
750 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
751 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
752 values, the excess values are ignored.
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
753 @end defmac
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
754
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
755 @defmac multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
756 This macro evaluates @var{form}, which may return multiple
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
757 values. It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
758 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
759 in @code{multiple-value-bind}.
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
760 @end defmac
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
761
5361
62b9ef1ed4ac Change "special form" to "special operator" in the manuals, too
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5252
diff changeset
762 @deffn {Special Operator} multiple-value-call function forms@dots{}
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
763 This special operator evaluates function, discarding any multiple
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
764 values. It then evaluates @var{forms}, preserving any multiple values,
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
765 and calls @var{function} as a function with the results. Conceptually, this
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
766 function is a version of @code{apply'}that by-passes the multiple values
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
767 infrastructure, treating multiple values as intercalated lists.
5361
62b9ef1ed4ac Change "special form" to "special operator" in the manuals, too
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5252
diff changeset
768 @end deffn
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
769
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
770 @defmac multiple-value-list form
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
771 This macro evaluates @var{form} and returns a list of the
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
772 multiple values given by it.
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
773 @end defmac
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
774
5361
62b9ef1ed4ac Change "special form" to "special operator" in the manuals, too
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5252
diff changeset
775 @deffn {Special Operator} multiple-value-prog1 first body@dots{}
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
776 This special operator evaluates the form @var{first}, then the
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
777 forms @var{body}. It returns the value given by @var{first}, preserving
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
778 any multiple values. This is identical to @code{prog1}, except that
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
779 @code{prog1} always discards multiple values.
5361
62b9ef1ed4ac Change "special form" to "special operator" in the manuals, too
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5252
diff changeset
780 @end deffn
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
781
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
782 @defmac nth-value n form
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
783 This macro evaluates @var{form} and returns the @var{n}th
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
784 value it gave. @var{n} must be an integer of value zero or more.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
785 If @var{form} gave insufficient multiple values, @code{nth-value}
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
786 returns @code{nil}.
5547
a46c5c8d6564 Avoid calling various macros "special operators" in the manuals.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 5361
diff changeset
787 @end defmac
5252
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
788
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
789 @defvar multiple-values-limit
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
790 This constant describes the exclusive upper bound on the number of
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
791 multiple values that @code{values} accepts and that
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
792 @code{multiple-value-bind}, etc. will consume.
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
793 @end defvar
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
794
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
795 To take full advantage of multiple values, Emacs Lisp code must have
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
796 been compiled by XEmacs 21.5 or later, which is not yet true of the
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
797 XEmacs packages. Matched @code{values} and @code{multiple-value-bind}
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
798 calls will work in code included in the XEmacs packages when run on
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
799 21.5, though the following incantation may be necessary at the start of
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
800 your file, until appropriate code is included in XEmacs 21.4:
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
801
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
802 @example
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
803 (eval-when-compile (when (eq 'list (symbol-function 'values))
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
804 (define-compiler-macro values (&rest args)
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
805 (cons 'list args))
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
806 (define-compiler-macro values-list (list) list)))
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
807 @end example
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
808
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
809 Such code cannot, unfortunately, rely on XEmacs to discard multiple
378a34562cbe Fix style, documentation for rounding functions and multiple values.
Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
parents: 4905
diff changeset
810 values where that is appropriate.