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Re: notebooks default context

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg112344] Re: notebooks default context
  • From: David Reiss <dbreiss at gmail.com>
  • Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:48:40 -0400 (EDT)
  • References: <i64kfg$39a$1@smc.vnet.net> <i652tt$9sb$1@smc.vnet.net> <i6a5e4$kj0$1@smc.vnet.net>

On Sep 9, 4:21 am, magma <mader... at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 7, 12:07 pm, Albert Retey <a... at gmx-topmail.de> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi,
>
> > > Firstly a problem, my packages (.m)  keep having their context reset
> > > to global every time I open them to edit rather than "unique to each
> > > cell"  to which I have previously set them to.
>
> > > THIS IS THE QUESTION (rest waffle)
> > > I would like to set a notebooks default context to "Unique to each
> > > cell" in a notebook initialisation cell. Usually I use "Unique to this
> > > notebook" from the menu (which is fine and persists), however on
> > > occasion I would like to tighten things up.
>
> > > ------------
> > > WAFFLE
> > > ------------
> > > I think I don't clearly understand the use of the Package` context
> > > instructions. My basic package setup is as follows (which works):
>
> > > BeginPackage[ "Package`"]
> > >   Begin[ "Public`"]
> > >      preProcess`outNB[nb_] = "something";
> > >   End[];
> > >   Begin[ "Private`"]
> > >   End[]
> > > End[]
>
> > > so this is could be one source  of the problem.
>
> > > This is part of a general question on good programming technique in
> > > mathematica. My instinct is that for non-trivial notebooks and
> > > packages "unique to cell" is the best method and the results should
> > > then be put into a context for the notebook to make them available to
> > > other cells.
>
> > I think as long as your work is all in one notebook, you usually don't
> > really need to take too much care about namespaces (Contexts) at all.
> > The use of Contexts only makes sense if your code gets complex enough so
> > that the use of different namespaces for different encapsulated parts of
> > your code is necessary to keep it maintainable. In these cases I think
> > the "best practice" is to create a single file for each of these parts,
> > and create a package file (*.m) which contains the BeginPackage/Begin
> > stuff that controls in which Context the various symbols will be created.
>
> > You would then use Needs or Get in the notebook(s) that make use of the
> > packages. The use of the settings for default contexts is actually a
> > relatively new feature that seems to be used mainly in the documentation
> > notebooks. It could probably be used also when developing and debugging
> > packages or when creating graphical user interfaces, but I don't think
> > that there are many people actually using it, and it is not really
> > necessary and certainly an advanced feature. I would suggest that you
> > don't care about it until you really are sure you know how to use
> > contexts and packages in a more standard way.
>
> > Concerning your package structure: you are using a Begin["Public`"]
> > which is very unusual, do you have a good reason to do so? The usual
> > setup is:
>
> > BeginPackage["MyPackage`"]
> >    publicfunction::usage = "publicfunction...";
> >    Begin["`Private`"]
> >       publicfunction[x_,y_]:=privatefunction[x]+y;
> >       privatefunction[x_]:=x^2;
> >    End[]
> > End[]
>
> > Every symbol that is mentioned between the BeginPackage and Begin will
> > be public, everything else will be private. When you load such a
> > package, you will usually not need to explicitly use the package context
> > anywhere in your code, since the package context will be on
> > $ContextPath, so all public symbols of the package can be addressed
> > without explicit context prefixes.
>
> > Also note that only with a leading ` the "`Private`" context will be
> > "MyPackage`Private`", otherwise the private symbols of all your packages
> > will live in the same context, "Private`", which is usually exactly what
> > you try to avoid by using contexts.
>
> > > Regarding a previous post on fonts I now use:
>
> > >    SetOptions[$FrontEnd, FontFamily->"Arial"];
> > >    SetOptions[$FrontEnd, FontSize->10];
>
> > > as soon as you ask the question, the solution suddenly becomes clear!
>
> > If this works for you, I don't know an important reason to not do so,
> > but I think the usual way to control the appearance of fonts is to
> > create or change stylesheets. You usually would create your own style
> > sheet, probably inherting from one that is close to what you want, and
> > then, if you want it to be used as a default, set the
> > DefaultStyleDefinitions option in the option inspector to use that
> > stylesheet.
>
> > hth,
>
> > albert
>
> apjs64,
> Albert preceded me in replying to you, but here is my 2 cents advise
> anyway.
>
> FORGET about notebook contexts or cell contexts!
> These are things used by WRI developers or by people writing complex
> documentation which needs to be kept somehow separated from a normal
> Mathematica session.
> Common mortals, including common developers, FORGET IT.
>
> What is left? Normal packages and contexts. Do you understand them
> completely? I think not yet, judging by the example Package you wrote.
> Albert gave you a template package. Stick to it. Even if you do not
> fully understand why it is written this way. Stick to it.
> But even better, try to understand why it works.
> I suggest you read Maeder's "Programming in Mathematica" (3rd ed., but
> the 2nd is good enough. I use the second). It covers Mathematica 3.x or
> earlier versions, but that is NOT important.
> It explains the Package/Context thing "frame by frame", so to speak.
> So you understand exactly what happens when Mathematica reads a Package.
> Other more recent programming Mathematica books may explain the process too,
> but Maeder's book is the definitive resource for me.
> So to go back to your example package, you seem to attach a semantic
> (that is: a meaning) to the context name. You thing a context is
> public if it is called Public and private if it is called Private.
> That is NOT so! You might call them Bingo and Bongo and they still
> would be private. Both of them.
>
> So again, stick to Albert's example package format and try to get
> Maeder's book.

I'd like to point out that I completely agree with this post.... It is
the wisest of advice...


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