From: Adam Warner
Subject: syntax type of a character
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 04:29:53 +0000
Message-ID: <pan.2004.01.17.04.29.50.62440@consulting.net.nz>

Hello all,

From the ANSI Common Lisp Glossary:

   syntax type n. (of a character) one of several classifications,
   enumerated in Figure 2-6, that are used for dispatch during parsing by
   the Lisp reader. See Section 2.1.4 (Character Syntax Types).

Is there any portable way for a custom Lisp reader to determine the syntax
type of a character that has been redefined? For example say #\! has been
redefined as a non-terminating macro character. Can the custom reader
discover this in a portable way instead of treating #\! as a constituent
character?

Thanks,
Adam

• Re: syntax type of a character Barry Margolin
  • Re: syntax type of a character Adam Warner

From: Barry Margolin
Subject: Re: syntax type of a character
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 05:03:45 +0000
Message-ID: <barmar-A3301E.00034517012004@netnews.comcast.net>

In article <·····························@consulting.net.nz>,
 Adam Warner <······@consulting.net.nz> wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> From the ANSI Common Lisp Glossary:
> 
>    syntax type n. (of a character) one of several classifications,
>    enumerated in Figure 2-6, that are used for dispatch during parsing by
>    the Lisp reader. See Section 2.1.4 (Character Syntax Types).
> 
> Is there any portable way for a custom Lisp reader to determine the syntax
> type of a character that has been redefined? For example say #\! has been
> redefined as a non-terminating macro character. Can the custom reader
> discover this in a portable way instead of treating #\! as a constituent
> character?

No, there's no standard way to get the syntax of a character.  If it's a 
macro you can get the macro function, but that's it.  The only other 
thing you can do is copy the syntax of one character to another.

-- 
Barry Margolin, ······@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA

From: Adam Warner
Subject: Re: syntax type of a character
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 06:24:09 +0000
Message-ID: <pan.2004.01.17.06.24.07.304129@consulting.net.nz>

Hi Barry Margolin,

> No, there's no standard way to get the syntax of a character.  If it's a
> macro you can get the macro function, but that's it.  The only other
> thing you can do is copy the syntax of one character to another.

Thanks Barry. While I hoped I'd overlooked something this is as I
expected.

Regards,
Adam