Re: How to change the argument of a function?
- To: mathgroup@smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg10970] Re: How to change the argument of a function?
- From: Allan Hayes <hay@haystack.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 02:10:36 -0500
- References: <199802050558.AAA14348@smc.vnet.net.> <6brkhm$lqs$3@dragonfly.wolfram.com> <6bups6$lgg@smc.vnet.net>
Stonewall Ballard wrote: > > In article <6brkhm$lqs$3@dragonfly.wolfram.com>, > seanross@worldnet.att.net wrote: > > > Vilis Nams wrote: > > > > > > I want to define a function that in the course of doing something, also > > > changes the value of its argument, for example: f[x_]:=Module[{}, > > > x=2*x; > > > x > > > ] > > > When I run the function, I get the error: "Set::setraw : Cannot assign > > > to raw object ...." Can this be done in some way? > > > > > > -------------------- > > > Vilis O. Nams > > > Dept of Biology, NSAC > > > Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada > > > vnams @ nsac.ns.ca > > > ------------------- > > > > > > If I have an argument I want to change in the course of a functional > > evaluation, I make a "working" copy at the beginning of the function: > > > > f[x_]:=Module[{y}, > > y=x; > > > y=2*y; > > > y > > > ] > > > > I don't think you can change the value of the actual argument inside a > > function, or if you could that it would be a good idea. If you made > > global changes inside a local function, it might make for some > > interesting bugs that would be very hard to track down. -- > > Remove the _nospam_ in the return address to respond. > > This is a classic programming problem, solved by using "reference" args > or "call by name". The example used in most cases is swap[x, y], which > swaps the values of the arguments. > > In Mathematica it can be done like: > > swap[x_, y_] := Module[{t = x}, x = y; y = t;] > > SetAttributes[swap, HoldAll] > > then try: > > foo = 1 > 1 > bar = 5 > 5 > swap[foo, bar] > > foo > 5 > bar > 1 > > - Stoney > > -- > Stonewall Ballard StoneSoft, Inc. > sb.nospam@stonesoft.com http://www.stonesoft.com/ Or In[1]:= $Line=0; In[1]:= SetAttributes[swap, HoldAll] swap[x_, y_] := ({x,y} = {y,x};) In[3]:= {foo, bar} = {1,5} Out[3]= {1, 5} In[4]:= swap[foo,bar] In[5]:= {foo,bar} Out[5]= {5, 1} -- Allan Hayes Training and Consulting Leicester, UK hay@haystack.demon.co.uk http://www.haystack.demon.co.uk voice: +44 (0)116 271 4198 fax: +44 (0)116 271 8642
- References:
- How to change the argument of a function?
- From: Vilis Nams <vnams@nsac.ns.ca>
- How to change the argument of a function?