Re: Scoping and named patterns
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg18179] Re: Scoping and named patterns
- From: "Allan Hayes" <hay at haystack.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 23:54:35 -0400
- References: <7kcjrn$lql@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Here is my reading of what is happening n = 2; x = 3; f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n] p[3, 2] Because p[x,a] evaluates before the scoping is implemented.. But n = 2; x = 3; f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] :> p[x, n] p[a^b, b] Module[{x, n}, f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]] p[3, 2] Because Module is Hold All the scoping is done with f[x:_^n_]->p[x,n] unevaluated, This means that its x an n are bound. They are therefore not replaced by x$k, n$k and the evaluation of f[a^b]/.f[x:_^n_]->p[x,n] is as above. The evaluation below comes to the same; since Clear[x,n] becomes Clear[x$k,n$k] Module[{x, n}, Clear[x, n]; f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]] Allan --------------------- Allan Hayes Mathematica Training and Consulting Leicester UK www.haystack.demon.co.uk hay at haystack.demon.co.uk Voice: +44 (0)116 271 4198 Fax: +44 (0)870 164 0565 p[3, 2] Dr Dan <drdanw at my-deja.com> wrote in message news:7kcjrn$lql at smc.vnet.net... > I am having trouble with name conflicts between global symbols and > named patterns. > > This example from The Book works fine: > > In[1]:= f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n] > Out[1]= p[a^b, b] > > But if the symbols used as pattern names have values: > > In[3]:= n = 2; x = 3; > f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n] > Out[3]= p[3, 2] > > My usual favorite scoping structure, Module, doesn't help: > > In[4]:= Module[{x, n}, f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]] > Out[4]= p[3, 2] > > This shows that the global symbol is used as the pattern name and not > the symbol local to the scoping construct: > > In[5]:= Module[{x, n}, Clear[x, n]; f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]] > Out[5]= p[3, 2] > > Since local symbols are ignored, it is necessary to use Block: > > In[6]:= Block[{x, n}, f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]] > Out[6]= p[a^b, b] > > This looks like a bug to me. If I use a symbol in a local context I > expect the local symbol and never the global. I am a little concerned > that the pattern itself doesn't scope its pattern names, that I can > make one seemingly small change in my notebook and my patterned > replacements begin crashing. > > Any comments, or a better workaround than Block? > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't. >