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<texcode>=== Module Parameters ===\setvariables* [namespace[Module Parameters][key=value]\getvariable{namespace}{key}</texcode>: Passing parameters to modules.
Some commands have special characters in their names, that TeX normally does not consider to be letters: <tt>@</tt>, <tt>!</tt> and <tt>?</tt>. Before and after the use or definition of such protected commands in your input files, the catcode of these characters has to be changed. This is done by <cmd>unprotect</cmd> and <cmd>protect</cmd>:=== Debugging ===
The newly defined command <tt>\!test</tt> can of course only be called upon when we are in the <cmd>unprotect</cmd>ed state, otherwise TeX reads the command <tt>\!</tt>, followed by the word <tt>test</tt> (and probably complains loudly about not being in math mode). These protection/unprotection commands can be nested. When the nesting becomes deeper than one level, the system reports the current protection level. It is a good habit to always start your macro files with <cmd>unprotect</cmd> and end them with <cmd>protect</cmd>.== Using variables ==
'''See also''':There are several ways to handle variables in ConTeXt.The recommended and easiest method is to use the[[Commands with KeyVal arguments|Commands with Key=Value arguments]], <tt>\setvariables</tt> and <tt>\getvariable</tt> macros.[[Commands Doing it this way you also avoid to get in conflict with optional arguments]]>already defined stuff (as variables use their own namespace).
== Processing lists of values ==To store variables, you can use the <tt>\setvariables</tt>=== Processing a comma-separated list of values ===macro.
Suppose you defined a command like this one somewhere in your document:
So calling
<texcode>
\IHaveTo{tidy up}{Monday}
</texcode>
This will print out:
But sometimes you have to repeat some task more than once. In this case you can define a new command:
\def\MyMumOrderedMeTo[#1]#2%gets value of the variable namespace:key {\processcommalist[#1]getvariable{\IHaveTonamespace}{#2}}key}
Calling
<texcode>
\MyMumOrderedMeTo[Monday,Wednesday,Saturday]{tidy up}
</texcode>
will spare you some typing <i>(but not some tidying up!)</i>:
<context>To avoid problems, also pay attention to the following: \def\IHaveTo#1#2{I have to #1 on #2You can set several variables (same namespace) at the same time.\par}So the command <tt>\def\MyMumOrderedMeTo[#1]#2%setvariables</tt> logically uses the '''plural''' form {\processcommalist[#1]{\IHaveTo{#2}}}and works with '''square brackets'''.\MyMumOrderedMeTo[MondayOn the other hand you can only process one variable at the same time,Wednesday,Saturday]{tidy up}so<tt>\getvariable</contexttt>uses the '''singular''' form and works with '''braces'''.
In case a command <tt>\IHaveTo</tt> is already defined in a slightly different way:
ThisBy using variables in your macros, againyou can separate the layout definition, produces:so that your macros get much more flexible.Just ensure, that all variables are set, before you use them!
<context>In this example we want to have a blank line in front of the opening, and\def\IHaveTo[#1]#2{I have to #2 on #1two blank lines right after it.\par}The value for the second key contains\def\MyMumOrderedMeTo[#1]#2% {\begingroup \def\processitem##1{\IHaveTo[##1]{#2}}% \processcommalist[#1]\processitem \endgroup}\MyMumOrderedMeTo[Mondaysquare brackets,Wednesday,Saturday]{tidy up}</context>so it must be enclosed in braces.
=== Processing a dash-separated list of values ===
Sometimes you have more work to do than just that borring stuff at home. And as it is quite important as well, you don't want to loose your time enumerating all of the tasks. Being able to do something like
may sound like a good idea.
Suppose you already defined:You can now save this style setup (among others) in a separate file andinclude it at the start of your document (before <texcodett>\def\IHaveToDoTheTask[#1]#2{The task #1 has to be done #2.\par}Opening</texcodett>isdefined or at least used).
You have to define some macros first (thanks to Taco!)And don't forget:<texcode>% a few auxiliary core macros '''Ensure that all variables are needed to uncompress the list.%% \uncompresslist is the twin of the already existing \compresslist% which works in the other direction (syst-new)%\unprotectset before you use them!'''
% I guess this function is already available but couldnt find it...
%
\def\apptomac#1#2%
{\ifx#1\empty\def#1{#2}\else \@EA\def\@EA#1\@EA{#1,#2}\fi}
% the next macro does this:%% \itemwithdash<<9-11>>- => \dorecurse {<<1+11-9>>}% {\apptomac\uncompressedlist<<9-1+\recurselevel>>}%% (the 1+ and -1 are needed to solve a counter offset.)\def\itemwithdash#1-#2-% {\@EA\dorecurse\@EA {\the\numexpr 1+#2-#1\relax}% {\@EA\apptomac\@EA\uncompressedlist\@EA {\the\numexpr #1-1+\recurselevel\relax}}}%= Defining new commands ==
% top level. The result will be === Special characters in \uncompressedlist\def\uncompresslist[#1]% {\def\uncompressedlist{}% \def\processitem##1% {\doifinstringelse{-}{##1} {\itemwithdash##1-} {\apptomac\uncompressedlist{##1}}}% \processcommalist[#1]\processitem }command names ===
\Some commands have special characters in their names, that TeX normally does not consider to be letters: <tt>@</tt>, <tt>!</tt> and <tt>?</tt>. Before and after the use or definition of such protected commands in your input files, the catcode of these characters has to be changed. This is done by <cmd>unprotect</cmd> and <cmd>protect</texcodecmd>:
And then you're ready to define
Guess whatThe newly defined command <tt>\! Your test</tt> can of course only be called upon when we are in the <cmd>unprotect</cmd>ed state, otherwise TeX reads the command <tt>\IHaveToDoTheTasks[1-4!</tt>,7,9-11]{until tomorrow}followed by the word <tt>test</tt> resulted (and probably complains loudly about not being in: The task 1 has to be done until tomorrowmath mode). The task 2 has to These protection/unprotection commands can be done until tomorrownested. The task 3 has to be done until tomorrowWhen the nesting becomes deeper than one level, the system reports the current protection level. The task 4 has It is a good habit to be done until tomorrow. The task 7 has to be done until tomorrow. The task 9 has to be done until tomorrow. The task 10 has to be done until tomorrow. The task 11 has to be done until tomorrowalways start your macro files with <cmd>unprotect</cmd> and end them with <cmd>protect</cmd>.
So - what are you still waiting for? Go back to work and do them right away!
=== Comments ===
Resulted from thread [http://archive.contextgarden.net/thread/20050704.151237.f815d89d.html] and will be used in some modules such as [[RawSteps]]. It would be nice if processing dash-separated lists of values would make it into the ConTeXt core.
== Passing (For passing text to LuaTex verbatim text as macro parameter ==, see the [[Programming_in_LuaTeX#Manipulating_verbatim_text_for_dummies|Programming in LuaTeX]] article on this wiki.)
typo correction
< [[Main Page]]>
== Using Programming Topics == === ConTeXt Features ===* [[Modes]]: Conditional processing of text* [[Setups]]: An alternative to macros for storing chunks of code === Commands and Arguments ===* [[System Macros]] (''Recommended reading''. Topics: temporary variables , expansion control, argument grabbing and handling, definitions and assignments, branches and decisions, cases, comma separated lists, assignments and parameters, user interaction.)* [[Programming in LuaTeX]] (Topic: alleviating the more cumbersome sides of TeX programming.)* [[Commands with KeyVal arguments|Commands with Key=Value arguments]]: (Topic: things like <code>\command[thiskey=thatvalue]</code>.) * [[Commands with optional arguments]]: (Topic: one or more optional arguments within brackets.)
== Defining new commands =Programming Techniques ===* [[Processing Lists]]: Processing lists of values'''Special characters * [[Counters]]: Manipulating counters in command names'''context* [[Expressions]]: Evaluating expressions of type number, dimen, glue or muglue* [[executesystemcommand]]: process contents of an environment by another program* Loops and expansion [http://randomdeterminism.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/tex-programming-the-past-the-present-and-the-future/ (blog post)]
* [[Console Mode]]: Using ConTeXt on keyboard input directly, rather than loading a <texcodett>\unprotect\def\!test{alfa} \protect .tex</texcodett>file.
<texcode>
% stores value in variable namespace:key\defsetvariables[namespace][key=value]% stores the expanded value\IHaveTo#1#2{I have to #1 on #2.setevariables[namespace][key=value]% global\par}setgvariables[namespace][key=value]% global and expanded value\setxvariables[namespace][key=value]
</texcode>
Use <contexttt>\def\IHaveTo#1#2{I have getvariable</tt> to #1 on #2process a variable.\par}Reading an undefinedvariable results in the <tt>\IHaveTo{tidy up}{Monday}empty</contexttt>token. This is not a serious problem,as long as you expect text only.But be warned: the compilation process breaks, if you expect a dimensionor number. So better take care, that you define your variables, before you use them.
<texcode>
</texcode>
OK, here comes a simple example. Let's say, that we want to have variable
space before and after a letter macro called <tt>\Opening</tt>.
<texcode>
\long\def\IHaveTo[Opening#1]#2{I have to #2 on #1.\par}%</texcode>you can define <tt> \MyMumOrderedMeTo</tt> asgetvariable{Letter:opening}{before}<texcode> \defnoindent{\MyMumOrderedMeTo[begstrut#1]#2%\endstrut} {\begingroup \def\processitem##1getvariable{\IHaveTo[##1]Letter:opening}{#2}after}% \processcommalist[#1]\processitem \endgroup}
</texcode>
<texcode>
\IHaveToDoTheTaskssetvariables[1-4Letter:opening] [before=\blank,7 after={\blank[2*big]},9-11 ]{until tomorrow}
</texcode>
<texcode>
\def\IHaveToDoTheTasks[#1]#2%unprotect {\begingroup def\uncompresslist[#1]% <= Yeah! \def\processitem##1test{\IHaveToDoTheTask[##1]{#2}alfa}% \processcommacommand[\uncompressedlist]\processitem \endgroup}protect
</texcode>
== Passing verbatim text as macro parameter ==
In case you want to write macros that should handle verbatim text,
\TextWithSpaces{A gap from here to there!}
</context>
[[Category:Inside ConTeXt]]
[[Category:ConTeXt programming]]
