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#32064
26; doc string of `eval-last-sexp'
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Your bug report
#32064: 26; doc string of `eval-last-sexp'
which was filed against the emacs package, has been closed.
The explanation is attached below, along with your original report.
If you require more details, please reply to 32064 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.
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32064: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=32064
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> Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2018 14:56:48 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
>
> Looking at `eval-expression-get-print-arguments' and the doc string for `eval-expression', things are a bit clearer. At least please incorporate something like what is said for `eval-expression' in the doc of `eval-last-sexp'.
I preferred to fix eval-last-sexp in a somewhat different way.
> But even the `eval-expression' doc is not very good for the description of CHAR-PRINT-LIMIT. It's not true that "unless given a positive prefix argument" a number value is printed in several... Try a prefix arg of -9, for instance.
Right, fixed.
> The doc of `eval-expression-get-print-arguments' says that it determines the prefix-arg behavior for `eval-last-sexp'. Is that true?
Yes, AFAICT.
> The doc of `eval-expression-get-print-arguments' needs to specify the logic of what it does, and that info needs to be included in the doc of `eval-expression' and (if appropriate) the doc of `eval-last-sexp'. Or at least their doc needs to point to such info.
I see no reason to point to eval-expression-get-print-arguments in the
doc string of eval-last-sexp. If someone reads the code of
eval-last-sexp, they will see the call, and will look up the function.
> The doc string for `eval-expression-print-format' is not great either. It says only what the result will "typically" look like. It needs to specify what formats it outputs, under what conditions.
I don't see the need, as the code is quite self-describing.
> And the various doc strings seem to suggest that the handling of the last arg, CHAR-PRINT-LIMIT by `eval-exprresion' is different from its handling by `eval-last-sexp'. But is that true?
No, it is not true. Fixed.
I'm closing the bug, thanks for pointing out these blunders.
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The doc string was messed up a bit in Emacs 26, apparently for the fix
of bug #4118.
From this, which makes sense:
Normally, this function truncates long output according to the value
of the variables `eval-expression-print-length' and
`eval-expression-print-level'. With a prefix argument of zero,
however, there is no such truncation. Such a prefix argument
also causes integers to be printed in several additional formats
(octal, hexadecimal, and character).
The text was changed to this, which does not make sense at all:
Normally, this function truncates long output according to the
value of the variables 'eval-expression-print-length' and
'eval-expression-print-level'. With a prefix argument of zero,
however, there is no such truncation. Such a prefix argument
also causes integers to be printed in several additional formats
(octal, hexadecimal, and character when the prefix argument is
-1 or the integer is 'eval-expression-print-maximum-character' or
less).
Both old and new say that with a prefix arg of ZERO ("such a prefix
argument") the behavior is to do both of these things:
1. Do not truncate.
2. Print in additional formats.
That's fine. But the Emacs 26+ version also says that with a ZERO prefix
arg ("such a prefix argument"), if the prefix arg is ALSO -1
(impossible) or if "the integer" (what integer?) is less than or equal
to the value of `eval-expression-print-maximum-character', the
additional formats include "character".
A character is not a format, so it's unclear what printing in format
"character" means.
But the main problem with this is that it makes us try to understand a
prefix arg that is BOTH zero and -1, and it leaves us wondering what
"the integer" is that is tested against
`eval-expression-print-maximum-character' when the prefix arg is zero.
If "the integer" is just the numeric prefix arg then the <=
`eval-expression-print-maximum-character' could be clear - but there
should be no connection with the value being zero ("such a prefix arg").
Just say: If zero then no truncation. If <= `eval...' then ___
(whatever is meant by "character format" printing).
In GNU Emacs 26.1 (build 1, x86_64-w64-mingw32)
of 2018-05-30
Repository revision: 07f8f9bc5a51f5aa94eb099f3e15fbe0c20ea1ea
Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 6.1.7601
Configured using:
`configure --without-dbus --host=x86_64-w64-mingw32
--without-compress-install 'CFLAGS=-O2 -static -g3''
This bug report was last modified 7 years and 6 days ago.
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