annotate doc/interpreter/basics.txi @ 15618:9aa8dcf1e93d

doc: cross-reference Octave:matlab-incompatible to --braindead and --traditional * basics.txi (braindead, traditional): mention Octave:matlab-incompatible * warning_ids (Octave:matlab-incompatible): Mention braindead and traditional
author Jordi Gutiérrez Hermoso <jordigh@octave.org>
date Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:32:35 -0500
parents 0272bb60408a
children 9bbc96a6ef94
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72c96de7a403 maint: update copyright notices for 2012
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1 @c Copyright (C) 1996-2012 John W. Eaton
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2 @c
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3 @c This file is part of Octave.
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4 @c
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5 @c Octave is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
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6 @c under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
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7 @c Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
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8 @c your option) any later version.
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9 @c
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10 @c Octave is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
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11 @c ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
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12 @c FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
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13 @c for more details.
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14 @c
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15 @c You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
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16 @c along with Octave; see the file COPYING. If not, see
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17 @c <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
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18
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19 @node Getting Started
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20 @chapter Getting Started
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21
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22 This chapter explains some of Octave's basic features, including how to
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23 start an Octave session, get help at the command prompt, edit the
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24 command line, and write Octave programs that can be executed as commands
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25 from your shell.
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26
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27 @menu
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28 * Invoking Octave from the Command Line::
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29 * Quitting Octave::
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30 * Getting Help::
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31 * Command Line Editing::
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32 * Errors::
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33 * Executable Octave Programs::
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34 * Comments::
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35 @end menu
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36
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37 @node Invoking Octave from the Command Line
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38 @section Invoking Octave from the Command Line
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39
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40 Normally, Octave is used interactively by running the program
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41 @samp{octave} without any arguments. Once started, Octave reads
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42 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
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43
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44 You can also specify the name of a file on the command line, and Octave
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45 will read and execute the commands from the named file and then exit
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46 when it is finished.
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47
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48 You can further control how Octave starts by using the command-line
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49 options described in the next section, and Octave itself can remind you
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50 of the options available. Type @samp{octave --help} to display all
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51 available options and briefly describe their use (@samp{octave -h} is a
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52 shorter equivalent).
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53
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54 @menu
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55 * Command Line Options::
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56 * Startup Files::
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57 @end menu
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58
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59 @node Command Line Options
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60 @subsection Command Line Options
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61 @cindex Octave command options
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62 @cindex command options
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63 @cindex options, Octave command
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64
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65 Here is a complete list of the command line options that Octave
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66 accepts.
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67
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68
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69 @table @code
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70 @item --debug
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71 @itemx -d
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72 @cindex @code{--debug}
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73 @cindex @code{-d}
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74 Enter parser debugging mode. Using this option will cause Octave's
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75 parser to print a lot of information about the commands it reads, and is
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76 probably only useful if you are actually trying to debug the parser.
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77
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78 @item --doc-cache-file @var{filename}
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79 @cindex @code{--doc-cache-file @var{filename}}
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80 Specify the name of the doc cache file to use. The value of @var{filename}
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81 specified on the command line will override any value of
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82 @w{@env{OCTAVE_DOC_CACHE_FILE}} found in the environment, but not any commands
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83 in the system or user startup files that use the @code{doc_cache_file}
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84 function.
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85
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86 @item --echo-commands
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87 @itemx -x
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88 @cindex @code{--echo-commands}
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89 @cindex @code{-x}
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90 Echo commands as they are executed.
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91
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92 @item --eval @var{code}
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93 Evaluate @var{code} and exit when finished unless @option{--persist} is also
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94 specified.
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95
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96 @item --exec-path @var{path}
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97 @cindex @code{--exec-path @var{path}}
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98 Specify the path to search for programs to run. The value of @var{path}
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99 specified on the command line will override any value of
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100 @w{@env{OCTAVE_EXEC_PATH}} found in the environment, but not any commands
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101 in the system or user startup files that set the built-in variable
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102 @w{@env{EXEC_PATH}}.
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103
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104 @item --force-gui
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105 @cindex @code{--force-gui}
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106 Force the graphical user interface (GUI) to start.
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107
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108 @item --help
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109 @itemx -h
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110 @itemx -?
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111 @cindex @code{--help}
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112 @cindex @code{-h}
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113 @cindex @code{-?}
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114 Print short help message and exit.
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115
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116 @item --image-path @var{path}
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117 @cindex @code{--image-path @var{path}}
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118 Add path to the head of the search path for images. The value of
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119 @var{path} specified on the command line will override any value of
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120 @w{@env{OCTAVE_IMAGE_PATH}} found in the environment, but not any commands
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121 in the system or user startup files that set the built-in variable
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122 @w{@env{IMAGE_PATH}}.
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123
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124 @item --info-file @var{filename}
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125 @cindex @code{--info-file @var{filename}}
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126 Specify the name of the info file to use. The value of @var{filename}
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127 specified on the command line will override any value of
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128 @w{@env{OCTAVE_INFO_FILE}} found in the environment, but not any commands
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129 in the system or user startup files that use the @code{info_file}
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130 function.
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131
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132 @item --info-program @var{program}
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133 @cindex @code{--info-program @var{program}}
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134 Specify the name of the info program to use. The value of @var{program}
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135 specified on the command line will override any value of
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136 @w{@env{OCTAVE_INFO_PROGRAM}} found in the environment, but not any
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137 commands in the system or user startup files that use the
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138 @code{info_program} function.
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139
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140 @item --interactive
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141 @itemx -i
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142 @cindex @code{--interactive}
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143 @cindex @code{-i}
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144 Force interactive behavior. This can be useful for running Octave via a
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145 remote shell command or inside an Emacs shell buffer. For another way
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146 to run Octave within Emacs, see @ref{Emacs Octave Support}.
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147
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148 @item --jit-debug
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149 @cindex @code{--jit-debug}
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150 Enable JIT compiler debugging and tracing.
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151
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152 @item --line-editing
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153 @cindex @code{--line-editing}
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154 Force readline use for command-line editing.
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155
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156 @item --no-gui
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157 @cindex @code{--no-gui}
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158 Disable the graphical user interface (GUI) and use the command line
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159 interface (CLI) instead.
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160
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161 @item --no-history
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162 @itemx -H
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163 @cindex @code{--no-history}
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164 @cindex @code{-H}
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165 Disable recording of command-line history.
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166
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167 @item --no-init-file
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168 @cindex @code{--no-init-file}
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169 Don't read the initialization files @file{~/.octaverc} and @file{.octaverc}.
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170
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171 @item --no-init-path
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172 @cindex @code{--no-init-path}
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173 Don't initialize the search path for function files to include default
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174 locations.
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175
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176 @item --no-jit-compiler
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177 @cindex @code{--no-jit-compiler}
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178 Disable the JIT compiler used for accelerating loops.
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179
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180 @item --no-line-editing
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181 @cindex @code{--no-line-editing}
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182 Disable command-line editing.
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183
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184 @item --no-site-file
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185 @cindex @code{--no-site-file}
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186 Don't read the site-wide @file{octaverc} initialization files.
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187
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188 @item --no-window-system
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189 @cindex @code{--no-window-system}
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190 Disable use of a windowing system including graphics. This forces a
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191 strictly terminal-only environment.
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192
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193 @item --norc
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194 @itemx -f
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195 @cindex @code{--norc}
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196 @cindex @code{-f}
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197 Don't read any of the system or user initialization files at startup.
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198 This is equivalent to using both of the options @option{--no-init-file}
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199 and @option{--no-site-file}.
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200
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201 @item --path @var{path}
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202 @itemx -p @var{path}
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203 @cindex @code{--path @var{path}}
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204 @cindex @code{-p @var{path}}
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205 Add path to the head of the search path for function files. The
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206 value of @var{path} specified on the command line will override any value
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207 of @w{@env{OCTAVE_PATH}} found in the environment, but not any commands in the
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208 system or user startup files that set the internal load path through one
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209 of the path functions.
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210
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211 @item --persist
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212 @cindex @code{--persist}
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213 Go to interactive mode after @option{--eval} or reading from a file
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214 named on the command line.
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215
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216 @item --silent
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217 @itemx --quiet
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218 @itemx -q
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219 @cindex @code{--silent}
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220 @cindex @code{--quiet}
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221 @cindex @code{-q}
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222 Don't print the usual greeting and version message at startup.
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223
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224 @item --texi-macros-file @var{filename}
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225 @cindex @code{--texi-macros-file @var{filename}}
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226 Specify the name of the file containing Texinfo macros for use by makeinfo.
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227
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228 @item --traditional
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229 @itemx --braindead
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230 @cindex @code{--traditional}
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231 @cindex @code{--braindead}
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232 For compatibility with @sc{matlab}, set initial values for
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233 user preferences to the following values
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234
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235 @example
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236 @group
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237 PS1 = ">> "
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238 PS2 = ""
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239 allow_noninteger_range_as_index = true
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240 beep_on_error = true
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241 confirm_recursive_rmdir = false
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242 crash_dumps_octave_core = false
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243 default_save_options = "-mat-binary"
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244 do_braindead_shortcircuit_evaluation = true
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245 fixed_point_format = true
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246 history_timestamp_format_string = "%%-- %D %I:%M %p --%%"
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247 page_screen_output = false
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248 print_empty_dimensions = false
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249 @end group
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250 @end example
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251
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252 @noindent
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253 and disable the following warnings
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254
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255 @example
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256 @group
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257 Octave:abbreviated-property-match
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258 Octave:fopen-file-in-path
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259 Octave:function-name-clash
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260 Octave:load-file-in-path
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261 @end group
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262 @end example
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263
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264 @noindent
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265 Note that this does not enable the @code{Octave:matlab-incompatible}
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266 warning, which you might want if you want to be told about writing code
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267 that works in Octave but not Matlab; @xref{doc-warning} and
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268 @xref{doc-warning_ids}.
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269
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270 @item --verbose
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271 @itemx -V
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272 @cindex @code{--verbose}
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273 @cindex @code{-V}
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274 Turn on verbose output.
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275
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276 @item --version
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277 @itemx -v
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278 @cindex @code{--version}
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279 @cindex @code{-v}
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280 Print the program version number and exit.
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281
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282 @item @var{file}
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283 Execute commands from @var{file}. Exit when done unless
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284 @option{--persist} is also specified.
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285 @end table
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286
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287 Octave also includes several functions which return information
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288 about the command line, including the number of arguments and all of the
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289 options.
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290
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291 @DOCSTRING(argv)
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292
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293 @DOCSTRING(program_name)
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294
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295 @DOCSTRING(program_invocation_name)
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296
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297 Here is an example of using these functions to reproduce the command
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298 line which invoked Octave.
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299
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300 @example
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301 @group
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302 printf ("%s", program_name ());
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303 arg_list = argv ();
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304 for i = 1:nargin
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305 printf (" %s", arg_list@{i@});
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306 endfor
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307 printf ("\n");
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308 @end group
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309 @end example
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310
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311 @noindent
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312 @xref{Indexing Cell Arrays}, for an explanation of how to retrieve objects
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313 from cell arrays, and @ref{Defining Functions}, for information about the
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314 variable @code{nargin}.
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315
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316 @node Startup Files
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317 @subsection Startup Files
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318 @cindex initialization
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319 @cindex startup
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320
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321 When Octave starts, it looks for commands to execute from the files in
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322 the following list. These files may contain any valid Octave commands,
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323 including function definitions.
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324
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325 @cindex startup files
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326
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327 @table @code
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328 @item @var{octave-home}/share/octave/site/m/startup/octaverc
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329 @cindex site startup file
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330 where @var{octave-home} is the directory in which Octave is installed
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331 (the default is @file{/usr/local}).
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332 This file is provided so that changes to the default Octave environment
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333 can be made globally for all users at your site for all versions of Octave
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334 you have installed. Care should be taken when making changes to this file
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335 since all users of Octave at your site will be affected. The default file
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336 may be overridden by the environment variable @w{@env{OCTAVE_SITE_INITFILE}}.
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337
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338 @item @var{octave-home}/share/octave/@var{version}/m/startup/octaverc
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339 @cindex version startup file
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340 where @var{octave-home} is the directory in which Octave is
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341 installed (the default is @file{/usr/local}), and @var{version}
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342 is the version number of Octave. This file is provided so that changes
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343 to the default Octave environment can be made globally for all users of
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344 a particular version of Octave. Care should be taken when making
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345 changes to this file since all users of Octave at your site will be
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346 affected. The default file may be overridden by the environment variable
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347 @w{@env{OCTAVE_VERSION_INITFILE}}.
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348
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349 @item ~/.octaverc
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350 @cindex personal startup file
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351 @cindex @code{~/.octaverc}
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352 This file is used to make personal changes to the default
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353 Octave environment.
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354
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355 @item .octaverc
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356 @cindex project startup file
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357 @cindex @code{.octaverc}
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358 This file can be used to make changes to the default Octave environment
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359 for a particular project. Octave searches for this file in the current
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360 directory after it reads @file{~/.octaverc}. Any use of the @code{cd}
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361 command in the @file{~/.octaverc} file will affect the directory where
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362 Octave searches for @file{.octaverc}.
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363
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364 If you start Octave in your home directory, commands from the file
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365 @file{~/.octaverc} will only be executed once.
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366 @end table
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367
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368 A message will be displayed as each of the startup files is read if you
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369 invoke Octave with the @option{--verbose} option but without the
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370 @option{--silent} option.
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371
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372 The @code{dump_prefs} function is useful for determining what customizations
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373 to Octave are possible and which are in effect.
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374
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375 @DOCSTRING(dump_prefs)
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376
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377 @node Quitting Octave
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378 @section Quitting Octave
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379 @cindex exiting octave
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380 @cindex quitting octave
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381
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382 @DOCSTRING(quit)
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383
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384 @DOCSTRING(atexit)
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385
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386 @node Getting Help
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387 @section Commands for Getting Help
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388 @cindex online help
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389 @cindex help, online
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390
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391 The entire text of this manual is available from the Octave prompt
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392 via the command @kbd{doc}. In addition, the documentation for
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393 individual user-written functions and variables is also available via
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394 the @kbd{help} command. This section describes the commands used for
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395 reading the manual and the documentation strings for user-supplied
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396 functions and variables. @xref{Function Files}, for more information
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397 about how to document the functions you write.
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398
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399 @DOCSTRING(help)
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400
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401 @DOCSTRING(doc)
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402
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403 @DOCSTRING(lookfor)
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404
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405 To see what is new in the current release of Octave, use the @code{news}
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406 function.
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407
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408 @DOCSTRING(news)
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409
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410 @DOCSTRING(info)
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411
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412 @DOCSTRING(warranty)
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413
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414 The following functions can be used to change which programs are used
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415 for displaying the documentation, and where the documentation can be
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416 found.
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417
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418 @DOCSTRING(info_file)
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419
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420 @DOCSTRING(info_program)
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421
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422 @DOCSTRING(makeinfo_program)
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423
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424 @DOCSTRING(texi_macros_file)
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425
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426 @DOCSTRING(doc_cache_file)
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427
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428 @DOCSTRING(suppress_verbose_help_message)
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429
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430 The following functions are principally used internally by Octave for
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431 generating the documentation. They are documented here for completeness
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432 and because they may occasionally be useful for users.
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433
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434 @DOCSTRING(gen_doc_cache)
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435
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436 @DOCSTRING(get_help_text)
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437
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438 @DOCSTRING(get_help_text_from_file)
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439
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440 @DOCSTRING(get_first_help_sentence)
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441
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442 @node Command Line Editing
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443 @section Command Line Editing
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444 @cindex command-line editing
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445 @cindex editing the command line
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446
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447 Octave uses the GNU Readline library to provide an extensive set of
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448 command-line editing and history features. Only the most common
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449 features are described in this manual. In addition, all of the editing
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450 functions can be bound to different key strokes at the user's discretion.
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451 This manual assumes no changes from the default Emacs bindings. See the GNU
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452 Readline Library manual for more information on customizing Readline and
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453 for a complete feature list.
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454
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455 To insert printing characters (letters, digits, symbols, etc.), simply
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456 type the character. Octave will insert the character at the cursor and
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457 advance the cursor forward.
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458
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459 Many of the command-line editing functions operate using control
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460 characters. For example, the character @kbd{Control-a} moves the cursor
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461 to the beginning of the line. To type @kbd{C-a}, hold down @key{CTRL}
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462 and then press @key{a}. In the following sections, control characters
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463 such as @kbd{Control-a} are written as @kbd{C-a}.
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464
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465 Another set of command-line editing functions use Meta characters. To
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466 type @kbd{M-u}, hold down the @key{META} key and press @key{u}. Depending
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467 on the keyboard, the @key{META} key may be labeled @key{ALT} or
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468 even @key{WINDOWS}. If your terminal does not have a @key{META} key, you
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469 can still type Meta characters using two-character sequences starting
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470 with @kbd{ESC}. Thus, to enter @kbd{M-u}, you would type
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471 @key{ESC} @key{u}. The @kbd{ESC} character sequences are also allowed on
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472 terminals with real Meta keys. In the following sections, Meta
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473 characters such as @kbd{Meta-u} are written as @kbd{M-u}.
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474
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475
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476 @menu
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477 * Cursor Motion::
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478 * Killing and Yanking::
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479 * Commands For Text::
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480 * Commands For Completion::
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481 * Commands For History::
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482 * Customizing readline::
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483 * Customizing the Prompt::
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484 * Diary and Echo Commands::
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485 @end menu
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486
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487 @node Cursor Motion
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488 @subsection Cursor Motion
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489
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490 The following commands allow you to position the cursor.
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491
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492 @table @kbd
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493 @item C-b
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494 Move back one character.
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495
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496 @item C-f
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497 Move forward one character.
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498
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499 @item @key{BACKSPACE}
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500 Delete the character to the left of the cursor.
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501
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502 @item @key{DEL}
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503 Delete the character underneath the cursor.
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504
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505 @item C-d
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506 Delete the character underneath the cursor.
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507
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508 @item M-f
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509 Move forward a word.
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510
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511 @item M-b
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512 Move backward a word.
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513
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514 @item C-a
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515 Move to the start of the line.
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516
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517 @item C-e
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518 Move to the end of the line.
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519
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520 @item C-l
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521 Clear the screen, reprinting the current line at the top.
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522
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523 @item C-_
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524 @itemx C-/
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525 Undo the last action. You can undo all the way back to an empty line.
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526
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527 @item M-r
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528 Undo all changes made to this line. This is like typing the `undo'
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529 command enough times to get back to the beginning.
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530 @end table
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531
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532 The above table describes the most basic possible keystrokes that you need
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533 in order to do editing of the input line. On most terminals, you can
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534 also use the left and right arrow keys in place of @kbd{C-f} and @kbd{C-b}
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535 to move forward and backward.
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536
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537 Notice how @kbd{C-f} moves forward a character, while @kbd{M-f} moves
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538 forward a word. It is a loose convention that control keystrokes
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539 operate on characters while meta keystrokes operate on words.
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540
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541 @cindex clearing the screen
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542
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543 The function @code{clc} will allow you to clear the screen from within
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544 Octave programs.
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545
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546 @DOCSTRING(clc)
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547
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548 @node Killing and Yanking
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549 @subsection Killing and Yanking
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550
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551 @dfn{Killing} text means to delete the text from the line, but to save
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552 it away for later use, usually by @dfn{yanking} it back into the line.
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553 If the description for a command says that it `kills' text, then you can
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554 be sure that you can get the text back in a different (or the same)
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555 place later.
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556
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557 Here is the list of commands for killing text.
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558
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559 @table @kbd
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560 @item C-k
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561 Kill the text from the current cursor position to the end of the line.
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562
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563 @item M-d
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564 Kill from the cursor to the end of the current word, or if between
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565 words, to the end of the next word.
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566
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567 @item M-@key{DEL}
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568 Kill from the cursor to the start of the previous word, or if between
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569 words, to the start of the previous word.
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570
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571 @item C-w
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572 Kill from the cursor to the previous whitespace. This is different than
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573 @kbd{M-@key{DEL}} because the word boundaries differ.
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574 @end table
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575
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576 And, here is how to @dfn{yank} the text back into the line. Yanking
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parents:
diff changeset
577 means to copy the most-recently-killed text from the kill buffer.
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578
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diff changeset
579 @table @kbd
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580 @item C-y
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581 Yank the most recently killed text back into the buffer at the cursor.
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diff changeset
582
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diff changeset
583 @item M-y
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584 Rotate the kill-ring, and yank the new top. You can only do this if
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diff changeset
585 the prior command is @kbd{C-y} or @kbd{M-y}.
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parents:
diff changeset
586 @end table
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587
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588 When you use a kill command, the text is saved in a @dfn{kill-ring}.
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diff changeset
589 Any number of consecutive kills save all of the killed text together, so
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diff changeset
590 that when you yank it back, you get it in one clean sweep. The kill
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diff changeset
591 ring is not line specific; the text that you killed on a previously
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diff changeset
592 typed line is available to be yanked back later, when you are typing
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diff changeset
593 another line.
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594
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595 @node Commands For Text
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596 @subsection Commands For Changing Text
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597
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598 The following commands can be used for entering characters that would
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599 otherwise have a special meaning (e.g., @key{TAB}, @kbd{C-q}, etc.), or
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diff changeset
600 for quickly correcting typing mistakes.
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diff changeset
601
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
602 @table @kbd
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
603 @item C-q
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parents:
diff changeset
604 @itemx C-v
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
605 Add the next character that you type to the line verbatim. This is
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
606 how to insert things like @kbd{C-q} for example.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
607
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
608 @item M-@key{TAB}
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
609 Insert a tab character.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
610
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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611 @item C-t
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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612 Drag the character before the cursor forward over the character at the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
613 cursor, also moving the cursor forward. If the cursor is at the end of
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
614 the line, then transpose the two characters before it.
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diff changeset
615
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parents:
diff changeset
616 @item M-t
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diff changeset
617 Drag the word behind the cursor past the word in front of the cursor
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618 moving the cursor over that word as well.
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619
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620 @item M-u
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diff changeset
621 Uppercase the characters following the cursor to the end of the current
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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622 (or following) word, moving the cursor to the end of the word.
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623
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624 @item M-l
6620
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625 Lowercase the characters following the cursor to the end of the current
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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626 (or following) word, moving the cursor to the end of the word.
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627
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628 @item M-c
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diff changeset
629 Uppercase the character following the cursor (or the beginning of the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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630 next word if the cursor is between words), moving the cursor to the end
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diff changeset
631 of the word.
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632 @end table
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633
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634 @node Commands For Completion
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635 @subsection Letting Readline Type For You
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636 @cindex command completion
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diff changeset
637
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638 The following commands allow Octave to complete command and variable
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diff changeset
639 names for you.
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diff changeset
640
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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641 @table @kbd
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diff changeset
642 @item @key{TAB}
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diff changeset
643 Attempt to do completion on the text before the cursor. Octave can
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diff changeset
644 complete the names of commands and variables.
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645
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diff changeset
646 @item M-?
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diff changeset
647 List the possible completions of the text before the cursor.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
648 @end table
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diff changeset
649
3332
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diff changeset
650 @DOCSTRING(completion_append_char)
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diff changeset
651
3332
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diff changeset
652 @DOCSTRING(completion_matches)
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653
4167
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654 @node Commands For History
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diff changeset
655 @subsection Commands For Manipulating The History
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parents:
diff changeset
656 @cindex command history
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diff changeset
657 @cindex input history
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diff changeset
658 @cindex history of commands
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diff changeset
659
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diff changeset
660 Octave normally keeps track of the commands you type so that you can
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diff changeset
661 recall previous commands to edit or execute them again. When you exit
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diff changeset
662 Octave, the most recent commands you have typed, up to the number
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diff changeset
663 specified by the variable @code{history_size}, are saved in a file.
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diff changeset
664 When Octave starts, it loads an initial list of commands from the file
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diff changeset
665 named by the variable @code{history_file}.
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diff changeset
666
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diff changeset
667 Here are the commands for simple browsing and searching the history
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
668 list.
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diff changeset
669
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
670 @table @kbd
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diff changeset
671 @item @key{LFD}
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diff changeset
672 @itemx @key{RET}
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673 Accept the current line regardless of where the cursor is. If the line is
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
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674 non-empty, add it to the history list. If the line was a history
3294
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diff changeset
675 line, then restore the history line to its original state.
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diff changeset
676
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
677 @item C-p
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parents:
diff changeset
678 Move `up' through the history list.
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parents:
diff changeset
679
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
680 @item C-n
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
681 Move `down' through the history list.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
682
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
683 @item M-<
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
684 Move to the first line in the history.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
685
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
686 @item M->
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
687 Move to the end of the input history, i.e., the line you are entering!
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
688
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
689 @item C-r
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
690 Search backward starting at the current line and moving `up' through
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
691 the history as necessary. This is an incremental search.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
692
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
693 @item C-s
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
694 Search forward starting at the current line and moving `down' through
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
695 the history as necessary.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
696 @end table
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parents:
diff changeset
697
9134
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
698 On most terminals, you can also use the up and down arrow keys in place
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
699 of @kbd{C-p} and @kbd{C-n} to move through the history list.
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
700
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
701 In addition to the keyboard commands for moving through the history
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
702 list, Octave provides three functions for viewing, editing, and
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
703 re-running chunks of commands from the history list.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
704
3332
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diff changeset
705 @DOCSTRING(history)
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
706
3332
7c03933635c6 [project @ 1999-11-02 06:57:12 by jwe]
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diff changeset
707 @DOCSTRING(edit_history)
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
708
3332
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diff changeset
709 @DOCSTRING(run_history)
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
710
9134
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
711 @noindent
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
712 Octave also allows you customize the details of when, where, and how history
6620
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6556
diff changeset
713 is saved.
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
714
9134
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
715 @DOCSTRING(saving_history)
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9133
diff changeset
716
11486
a1deab9a6e71 bash-like history control
Pascal Dupuis <Pascal.Dupuis@worldonline.be> and John W. Eaton <jwe@octave.org>
parents: 10846
diff changeset
717 @DOCSTRING(history_control)
a1deab9a6e71 bash-like history control
Pascal Dupuis <Pascal.Dupuis@worldonline.be> and John W. Eaton <jwe@octave.org>
parents: 10846
diff changeset
718
3332
7c03933635c6 [project @ 1999-11-02 06:57:12 by jwe]
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parents: 3294
diff changeset
719 @DOCSTRING(history_file)
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
720
3332
7c03933635c6 [project @ 1999-11-02 06:57:12 by jwe]
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diff changeset
721 @DOCSTRING(history_size)
3294
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diff changeset
722
6550
1b7a6061a05d [project @ 2007-04-20 07:40:26 by jwe]
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parents: 6549
diff changeset
723 @DOCSTRING(history_timestamp_format_string)
1b7a6061a05d [project @ 2007-04-20 07:40:26 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6549
diff changeset
724
6620
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
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parents: 6556
diff changeset
725 @DOCSTRING(EDITOR)
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6556
diff changeset
726
4167
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parents: 3974
diff changeset
727 @node Customizing readline
3428
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jwe
parents: 3402
diff changeset
728 @subsection Customizing @code{readline}
12175
2090995ca588 Correct en-dash,em-dash instances in docstrings.
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 11523
diff changeset
729 @cindex @code{~/.inputrc}
9134
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
730 @cindex customizing @code{readline}
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9133
diff changeset
731 @cindex @code{readline} customization
3428
5b77cf82393c [project @ 2000-01-14 02:54:53 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 3402
diff changeset
732
9134
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9133
diff changeset
733 Octave uses the GNU Readline library for command-line editing and
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9133
diff changeset
734 history features. Readline is very flexible and can be modified through
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
735 a configuration file of commands (See the GNU Readline library for the
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
736 exact command syntax). The default configuration file is normally
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9133
diff changeset
737 @file{~/.inputrc}.
6620
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
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parents: 6556
diff changeset
738
9134
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
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parents: 9133
diff changeset
739 Octave provides two commands for initializing Readline and thereby changing
a3739e27b017 Update section 2.4 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9133
diff changeset
740 the command line behavior.
3428
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jwe
parents: 3402
diff changeset
741
3439
3234a698073a [project @ 2000-01-14 09:51:14 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 3428
diff changeset
742 @DOCSTRING(read_readline_init_file)
3428
5b77cf82393c [project @ 2000-01-14 02:54:53 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 3402
diff changeset
743
8817
03b7f618ab3d include docstrings for new functions in the manual
John W. Eaton <jwe@octave.org>
parents: 8347
diff changeset
744 @DOCSTRING(re_read_readline_init_file)
03b7f618ab3d include docstrings for new functions in the manual
John W. Eaton <jwe@octave.org>
parents: 8347
diff changeset
745
4167
aae05d51353c [project @ 2002-11-12 02:52:50 by jwe]
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parents: 3974
diff changeset
746 @node Customizing the Prompt
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
747 @subsection Customizing the Prompt
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
748 @cindex prompt customization
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
749 @cindex customizing the prompt
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
750
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
751 The following variables are available for customizing the appearance of
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
752 the command-line prompts. Octave allows the prompt to be customized by
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
753 inserting a number of backslash-escaped special characters that are
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
754 decoded as follows:
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
755
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
756 @table @samp
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
757 @item \t
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
758 The time.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
759
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
760 @item \d
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
761 The date.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
762
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
763 @item \n
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
764 Begins a new line by printing the equivalent of a carriage return
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
765 followed by a line feed.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
766
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
767 @item \s
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
768 The name of the program (usually just @samp{octave}).
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
769
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
770 @item \w
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
771 The current working directory.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
772
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
773 @item \W
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
774 The basename of the current working directory.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
775
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
776 @item \u
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
777 The username of the current user.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
778
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
779 @item \h
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parents:
diff changeset
780 The hostname, up to the first `.'.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
781
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
782 @item \H
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
783 The hostname.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
784
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
785 @item \#
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
786 The command number of this command, counting from when Octave starts.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
787
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
788 @item \!
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
789 The history number of this command. This differs from @samp{\#} by the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
790 number of commands in the history list when Octave starts.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
791
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
792 @item \$
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
793 If the effective UID is 0, a @samp{#}, otherwise a @samp{$}.
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parents:
diff changeset
794
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
795 @item \nnn
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parents:
diff changeset
796 The character whose character code in octal is @var{nnn}.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
797
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
798 @item \\
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parents:
diff changeset
799 A backslash.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
800 @end table
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diff changeset
801
3332
7c03933635c6 [project @ 1999-11-02 06:57:12 by jwe]
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diff changeset
802 @DOCSTRING(PS1)
3294
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diff changeset
803
3332
7c03933635c6 [project @ 1999-11-02 06:57:12 by jwe]
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diff changeset
804 @DOCSTRING(PS2)
3294
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diff changeset
805
3332
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diff changeset
806 @DOCSTRING(PS4)
3294
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diff changeset
807
4167
aae05d51353c [project @ 2002-11-12 02:52:50 by jwe]
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diff changeset
808 @node Diary and Echo Commands
3294
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diff changeset
809 @subsection Diary and Echo Commands
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diff changeset
810 @cindex diary of commands and output
6939
46d1ad37d943 [project @ 2007-10-01 16:12:20 by jwe]
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parents: 6778
diff changeset
811 @cindex command and output logs
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
812 @cindex logging commands and output
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
813 @cindex echoing executing commands
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
814 @cindex command echoing
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
815
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
816 Octave's diary feature allows you to keep a log of all or part of an
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
817 interactive session by recording the input you type and the output that
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
818 Octave produces in a separate file.
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diff changeset
819
3332
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diff changeset
820 @DOCSTRING(diary)
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
821
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parents:
diff changeset
822 Sometimes it is useful to see the commands in a function or script as
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
823 they are being evaluated. This can be especially helpful for debugging
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
824 some kinds of problems.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
825
3332
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diff changeset
826 @DOCSTRING(echo)
3294
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diff changeset
827
3332
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diff changeset
828 @DOCSTRING(echo_executing_commands)
3294
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diff changeset
829
4167
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diff changeset
830 @node Errors
3294
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parents:
diff changeset
831 @section How Octave Reports Errors
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
832 @cindex error messages
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
833 @cindex messages, error
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
834
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
835 Octave reports two kinds of errors for invalid programs.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
836
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
837 A @dfn{parse error} occurs if Octave cannot understand something you
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
838 have typed. For example, if you misspell a keyword,
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
839
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
840 @example
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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diff changeset
841 octave:13> function y = f (x) y = x***2; endfunction
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
842 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
843
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
844 @noindent
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
845 Octave will respond immediately with a message like this:
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
846
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
847 @example
9132
eb1747dbd360 Update help strings for command line options
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parents: 9051
diff changeset
848 @group
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
849 parse error:
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
850
8015
30629059b72d Update the manual to reflect the changes in error output
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parents: 7031
diff changeset
851 syntax error
30629059b72d Update the manual to reflect the changes in error output
sh@sh-laptop
parents: 7031
diff changeset
852
9135
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
853 >>> function y = f (x) y = x***2; endfunction
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diff changeset
854 ^
9132
eb1747dbd360 Update help strings for command line options
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parents: 9051
diff changeset
855 @end group
3294
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diff changeset
856 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
857
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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diff changeset
858 @noindent
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
859 For most parse errors, Octave uses a caret (@samp{^}) to mark the point
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
860 on the line where it was unable to make sense of your input. In this
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
861 case, Octave generated an error message because the keyword for
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
862 exponentiation (@code{**}) was misspelled. It marked the error at the
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
863 third @samp{*} because the code leading up to this was correct but the final
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
864 @samp{*} was not understood.
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
865
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
866 Another class of error message occurs at evaluation time. These
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
867 errors are called @dfn{run-time errors}, or sometimes
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
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parents: 9032
diff changeset
868 @dfn{evaluation errors}, because they occur when your program is being
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
869 @dfn{run}, or @dfn{evaluated}. For example, if after correcting the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
870 mistake in the previous function definition, you type
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
871
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
872 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
873 octave:13> f ()
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
874 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
875
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
876 @noindent
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
877 Octave will respond with
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
878
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parents: 9135
diff changeset
879 @example
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
880 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
881 error: `x' undefined near line 1 column 24
8015
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parents: 7031
diff changeset
882 error: called from:
30629059b72d Update the manual to reflect the changes in error output
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parents: 7031
diff changeset
883 error: f at line 1, column 22
3294
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diff changeset
884 @end group
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diff changeset
885 @end example
3294
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diff changeset
886
6620
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
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diff changeset
887 @noindent
9135
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diff changeset
888 This error message has several parts, and gives quite a bit of
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
889 information to help you locate the source of the error. The messages
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
890 are generated from the point of the innermost error, and provide a
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
891 traceback of enclosing expressions and function calls.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
892
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
893 In the example above, the first line indicates that a variable named
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
894 @samp{x} was found to be undefined near line 1 and column 24 of some
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
895 function or expression. For errors occurring within functions, lines
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
896 are counted from the beginning of the file containing the function
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
897 definition. For errors occurring outside of an enclosing function,
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
898 the line number indicates the input line number, which is usually displayed
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
899 in the primary prompt string.
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
900
9135
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diff changeset
901 The second and third lines of the error message indicate that the error
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
902 occurred within the function @code{f}. If the function @code{f} had been
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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diff changeset
903 called from within another function, for example, @code{g}, the list of
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
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parents: 9134
diff changeset
904 errors would have ended with one more line:
3294
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diff changeset
905
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
906 @example
8015
30629059b72d Update the manual to reflect the changes in error output
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diff changeset
907 error: g at line 1, column 17
3294
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diff changeset
908 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
909
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
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parents: 9032
diff changeset
910 These lists of function calls make it fairly easy to trace the
3294
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diff changeset
911 path your program took before the error occurred, and to correct the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
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parents:
diff changeset
912 error before trying again.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
913
4167
aae05d51353c [project @ 2002-11-12 02:52:50 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 3974
diff changeset
914 @node Executable Octave Programs
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
915 @section Executable Octave Programs
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
916 @cindex executable scripts
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
917 @cindex scripts
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
918 @cindex batch processing
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
919 @cindex self contained programs
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
920 @cindex program, self contained
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
921 @cindex @samp{#!}
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
922
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
923 Once you have learned Octave, you may want to write self-contained
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
924 Octave scripts, using the @samp{#!} script mechanism. You can do this
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
925 on GNU systems and on many Unix systems @footnote{The @samp{#!}
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
926 mechanism works on Unix systems derived from Berkeley Unix, System V
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
927 Release 4, and some System V Release 3 systems.}.
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
928
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
929 Self-contained Octave scripts are useful when you want to write a
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
930 program which users can invoke without knowing that the program is
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
931 written in the Octave language. Octave scripts are also used for batch
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
932 processing of data files. Once an algorithm has been developed and tested
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
933 in the interactive portion of Octave, it can be committed to an executable
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
934 script and used again and again on new data files.
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
935
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
936 As a trivial example of an executable Octave script, you might create a
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
937 text file named @file{hello}, containing the following lines:
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
938
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
939 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
940 @group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
941 #! @var{octave-interpreter-name} -qf
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
942 # a sample Octave program
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
943 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
944 @end group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
945 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
946
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
947 @noindent
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
948 (where @var{octave-interpreter-name} should be replaced with the full
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
949 path and name of your Octave binary). Note that this will only work if
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
950 @samp{#!} appears at the very beginning of the file. After making the
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
951 file executable (with the @code{chmod} command on Unix systems), you can
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
952 simply type:
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
953
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
954 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
955 hello
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
956 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
957
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
958 @noindent
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
959 at the shell, and the system will arrange to run Octave as if you had
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
960 typed:
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
961
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
962 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
963 octave hello
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
964 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
965
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
966 The line beginning with @samp{#!} lists the full path and filename of an
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
967 interpreter to be run, and an optional initial command line argument to
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
968 pass to that interpreter. The operating system then runs the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
969 interpreter with the given argument and the full argument list of the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
970 executed program. The first argument in the list is the full file name
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
971 of the Octave executable. The rest of the argument list will either be
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
972 options to Octave, or data files, or both. The @samp{-qf} options are
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
973 usually specified in stand-alone Octave programs to prevent them from
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
974 printing the normal startup message, and to keep them from behaving
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
975 differently depending on the contents of a particular user's
6620
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6556
diff changeset
976 @file{~/.octaverc} file. @xref{Invoking Octave from the Command Line}.
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
977
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
978 Note that some operating systems may place a limit on the number of
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
979 characters that are recognized after @samp{#!}. Also, the arguments
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
980 appearing in a @samp{#!} line are parsed differently by various
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
981 shells/systems. The majority of them group all the arguments together in one
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
982 string and pass it to the interpreter as a single argument. In this case, the
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
983 following script:
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
984
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
985 @example
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
986 @group
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
987 #! @var{octave-interpreter-name} -q -f # comment
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
988 @end group
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
989 @end example
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
990
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
991 @noindent
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
992 is equivalent to typing at the command line:
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
993
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
994 @example
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
995 @group
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
996 octave "-q -f # comment"
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
997 @end group
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
998 @end example
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
999
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1000 @noindent
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1001 which will produce an error message. Unfortunately, it is
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1002 not possible for Octave to determine whether it has been called from the
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1003 command line or from a @samp{#!} script, so some care is needed when using the
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1004 @samp{#!} mechanism.
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1005
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1006 Note that when Octave is started from an executable script, the built-in
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1007 function @code{argv} returns a cell array containing the command line
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1008 arguments passed to the executable Octave script, not the arguments
6481
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1009 passed to the Octave interpreter on the @samp{#!} line of the script.
89ed13fec6fe [project @ 2007-04-03 19:39:11 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6479
diff changeset
1010 For example, the following program will reproduce the command line that
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1011 was used to execute the script, not @samp{-qf}.
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1012
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1013 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1014 @group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1015 #! /bin/octave -qf
6479
2ee8293554a3 [project @ 2007-04-03 15:30:58 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6477
diff changeset
1016 printf ("%s", program_name ());
6620
bf4bdc21dc8d [project @ 2007-05-14 17:35:46 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6556
diff changeset
1017 arg_list = argv ();
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1018 for i = 1:nargin
6479
2ee8293554a3 [project @ 2007-04-03 15:30:58 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 6477
diff changeset
1019 printf (" %s", arg_list@{i@});
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1020 endfor
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1021 printf ("\n");
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1022 @end group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1023 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1024
4167
aae05d51353c [project @ 2002-11-12 02:52:50 by jwe]
jwe
parents: 3974
diff changeset
1025 @node Comments
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1026 @section Comments in Octave Programs
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1027 @cindex comments
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1028 @cindex use of comments
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1029 @cindex documenting Octave programs
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1030
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1031 A @dfn{comment} is some text that is included in a program for the sake
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1032 of human readers, and which is NOT an executable part of the program.
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1033 Comments can explain what the program does, and how it works. Nearly all
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1034 programming languages have provisions for comments, because programs are
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1035 typically hard to understand without them.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1036
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1037 @menu
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1038 * Single Line Comments::
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1039 * Block Comments::
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1040 * Comments and the Help System::
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1041 @end menu
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1042
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1043 @node Single Line Comments
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1044 @subsection Single Line Comments
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1045 @cindex @samp{#}
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1046 @cindex @samp{%}
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1047
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1048 In the Octave language, a comment starts with either the sharp sign
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1049 character, @samp{#}, or the percent symbol @samp{%} and continues to the
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1050 end of the line. Any text following the sharp sign or percent symbol is
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1051 ignored by the Octave interpreter and not executed. The following example
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1052 shows whole line and partial line comments.
10828
322f43e0e170 Grammarcheck .txi documentation files.
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 10613
diff changeset
1053
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1054 @example
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1055 @group
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1056 function countdown
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1057 # Count down for main rocket engines
14856
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1058 disp (3);
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1059 disp (2);
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1060 disp (1);
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1061 disp ("Blast Off!"); # Rocket leaves pad
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1062 endfunction
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1063 @end group
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1064 @end example
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1065
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1066 @node Block Comments
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1067 @subsection Block Comments
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1068 @cindex block comments
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1069 @cindex multi-line comments
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1070 @cindex @samp{#@{}
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1071 @cindex @samp{%@{}
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1072
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1073 Entire blocks of code can be commented by enclosing the code between
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1074 matching @samp{#@{} and @samp{#@}} or @samp{%@{} and @samp{%@}} markers.
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1075 For example,
10828
322f43e0e170 Grammarcheck .txi documentation files.
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 10613
diff changeset
1076
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1077 @example
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1078 @group
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1079 function quick_countdown
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1080 # Count down for main rocket engines
14856
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1081 disp (3);
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1082 #@{
14856
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1083 disp (2);
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1084 disp (1);
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1085 #@}
14856
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1086 disp ("Blast Off!"); # Rocket leaves pad
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1087 endfunction
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1088 @end group
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1089 @end example
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1090
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1091 @noindent
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1092 will produce a very quick countdown from '3' to 'Blast Off' as the
14856
c3fd61c59e9c maint: Use Octave coding conventions for cuddling parentheses in doc directory
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 14618
diff changeset
1093 lines "@code{disp (2);}" and "@code{disp (1);}" won't be executed.
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1094
12680
1acead61c527 doc: Document that block comment markers must appear alone on a line (bug #33297)
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 12545
diff changeset
1095 The block comment markers must appear alone as the only characters on a line
14038
b0cdd60db5e5 doc: Grammarcheck documentation ahead of 3.6.0 release.
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 12691
diff changeset
1096 (excepting whitespace) in order to be parsed correctly.
12680
1acead61c527 doc: Document that block comment markers must appear alone on a line (bug #33297)
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 12545
diff changeset
1097
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1098 @node Comments and the Help System
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1099 @subsection Comments and the Help System
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1100 @cindex documenting functions
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1101 @cindex documenting user scripts
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1102 @cindex help, user-defined functions
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1103
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1104 The @code{help} command (@pxref{Getting Help}) is able to find the first
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1105 block of comments in a function and return those as a documentation
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1106 string. This means that the same commands used to get help
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1107 on built-in functions are available for properly formatted user-defined
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1108 functions. For example, after defining the function @code{f} below,
10828
322f43e0e170 Grammarcheck .txi documentation files.
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 10613
diff changeset
1109
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1110 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1111 @group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1112 function xdot = f (x, t)
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1113
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1114 # usage: f (x, t)
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1115 #
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1116 # This function defines the right-hand
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1117 # side functions for a set of nonlinear
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1118 # differential equations.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1119
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1120 r = 0.25;
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1121 @dots{}
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1122 endfunction
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1123 @end group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1124 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1125
10846
a4f482e66b65 Grammarcheck more of the documentation.
Rik <octave@nomad.inbox5.com>
parents: 10828
diff changeset
1126 @noindent
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1127 the command @kbd{help f} produces the output
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1128
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1129 @example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1130 @group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1131 usage: f (x, t)
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1132
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1133 This function defines the right-hand
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1134 side functions for a set of nonlinear
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1135 differential equations.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1136 @end group
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1137 @end example
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1138
9135
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1139 Although it is possible to put comment lines into keyboard-composed,
b04f95fabbf9 Update sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 of basics.txi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9134
diff changeset
1140 throw-away Octave programs, it usually isn't very useful because the
3294
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1141 purpose of a comment is to help you or another person understand the
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1142 program at a later time.
bfe1573bd2ae [project @ 1999-10-19 10:06:07 by jwe]
jwe
parents:
diff changeset
1143
9035
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1144 The @code{help} parser currently only recognizes single line comments
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1145 (@pxref{Single Line Comments}) and not block comments for the initial
57649dcecb55 Documentation cleanup of basics.texi
Rik <rdrider0-list@yahoo.com>
parents: 9032
diff changeset
1146 help text.