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Re: Scoping and named patterns

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg18173] Re: Scoping and named patterns
• From: Dr Dan <drdanw at my-deja.com>
• Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 23:54:32 -0400
• Organization: Deja.com - Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
• References: <7kcjrn$lql@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

In article <7kcjrn$lql at smc.vnet.net>,
  Dr Dan <drdanw at my-deja.com> wrote:
> 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?

Just after posting the above message, I discovered that the Block
solution doesn't always work.  My original intent was to store a
complicated rule for use elsewhere in the notebook:

In[1]:= n = 2; x = 3;
In[2]:= r = Block[{x, n},  f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]];
        f[a^b] /. r
Out[3]= p[3, 2]

Oops.  Now my replacement is outside the block.  Then I stumbled upon
the correct solution (without knowing why it worked), using RuleDelayed:

In[4]:= r = f[x : _^n_] :> p[x, n];
        f[a^b] /. r
Out[5]= p[a^b, b]

This seems to be a robust solution.  Read the other postings in this
thread for a much better explanation than I can give.  Thank you for
the help.


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• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Re: Scoping and named patterns
    • From: "Wolf, Hartmut" <hwolf@debis.com>