Re: XPL: Things executing instead of displaying/printing

[Harry Binswanger hb@xxxxxxxx]

A lot of food for thought here. It's not only the
string-_expression_ distinction (which is really the use-mention
distinction), but also the GT/PV distinction. What is the back story on
that? What's GT really doing, since it can execute a subroutine and yet
can't deal with a S/G based on an _expression_? It's an
idiot-savant.


--Harry


Harry:


So, not to
worry?


Not if you observe the string-_expression_ distinction in your code. 


"1/2" (string) is NOT interchangeable with 1/2 (_expression_).
This is 

not unique to XPL!


If you want an XPL rule of thumb: You can PV a string at the cursor 


position (CMline or text), but you can't GT an evaluated numeric 


_expression_ (Ascii-1 is appended to the result) unless you first 


convert it into a string (>).


Here are more examples:


GT ;*; Puts "1+2"

GT ;*; Puts "1+2"

GT ;*; Puts
"1+2"

GT ;*; Puts
"1+2"

GT ;*; Puts "3"

GT ;*; Puts "3{Ascii-1}"
(garbage)

GT >;*;
Puts "3"


--

Carl Distefano

cld@xxxxxxxx






Harry Binswanger
hb@xxxxxxxx