Re: Problem and solution: Patch for new "stats" command

[Philipp K. J. <ja...@ie...>]

On Tuesday 10 November 2009 06:22:17 pm Philipp K. Janert wrote:
> > > The quotes are your addition. We don't expect them,
> > > but we don't actively remove them. Maybe we should -
> > > I admit that there is a user expectation that "there should
> > > be quotes".
> >
> > Since 4.0 we support string variables. That means wherever a string
> > is required in the input command, it is acceptable to provide
> > a string constant, a string variable, or a string-valued function.

Although there is still a confusion: you write
	"where a string is required"

In this example, no string is required. A bareword
is required. It is your assumption that it should be
a string. (And it is now a discussion item whether 
it should be a string - in which case the string needs
to be handled properly, admittedly.)

> >
> > So
> >   A = "mydata"
> >   stats "file.dat" using 1 variable=A
> >
> > must expand A to find "mydata", not use it as an unmarked constant.
> > All strings should be parsed using the routine try_to_get_string(),
> > which handles the three cases.
> > Also, normal commands do not use = signs.
>
> Good point on the string variable issue - I did not
> think of that.
>
> There is a reason for the equality sign, though:
> it indicates that the next token is the prefix -
> because we have chosen to make the prefix
> optional. The equality sign is a way of telling
> gnuplot that the next token is a prefix, not the
> next keyword.
>
> (I admit that the equality sign is unusual and I did
> hesitate a little. But it does provide a simple solution
> to this particular problem.)
>
> I don't want to make the prefix mandatory. For
> convenience, it seems that in many cases it won't
> be needed.
>
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