Services & ResourcesWolfram ForumsMathGroup Archive

[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Problem with using Symbol[] in a loop

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg111793] Problem with using Symbol[] in a loop
• From: Bob F <deepyogurt at gmail.com>
• Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:57:17 -0400 (EDT)

Can anyone tell me why this works as expected:

      dirnames = Names["$*Directory*"];
      For[i = 0, i < Length[dirnames], i++; Print[dirnames[[i]]]]

and gives the following results:

    $AddOnsDirectory

    $BaseDirectory

    $HomeDirectory

    $InitialDirectory

    $InstallationDirectory

    $LaunchDirectory

    $PreferencesDirectory

    $RootDirectory

    $TemporaryDirectory

    $TopDirectory

    $UserAddOnsDirectory

    $UserBaseDirectory

    $UserBasePacletsDirectory

    $UserDocumentsDirectory

But that the following doesn't give any results:

    dirnames = Names["$*Directory*"];
    For[i = 0, i < Length[dirnames], i++; Symbol[dirnames[[i]]]]

but if I go thru the dirnames array elements manually it works as I
would expect, e.g.

    In[161]:= Symbol[dirnames[[1]]]

    Out[161]= "/Library/Mathematica"

Why does the Print[dirnames[[i]]] work OK but the
Symbol[dirnames[[i]]] fail to give anything?

Thanks...

-Bob