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Re: Length of actual parameters in a function call.

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg47124] Re: Length of actual parameters in a function call.
• From: Paul Abbott <paul at physics.uwa.edu.au>
• Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 03:56:33 -0500 (EST)
• Organization: The University of Western Australia
• References: <c3udpe$9om$1@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

In article <c3udpe$9om$1 at smc.vnet.net>,
 "E. Martin-Serrano" <eMartinSerrano at houston.rr.com> wrote:

> A few weeks ago, reviewing some tutorials on pattern matching and error
> handling, I came across an undocumented function to monitor the number of
> parameters submitted to a function in a call; but somehow I lost its track
> later. I guess that it must be something well-known by our specialists. Any
> help about where to locate it?
> 
> The undocumented feature helps in tracking situations as when we define
> "MyFunction[a_,b_,c_]:= something" and then it is called as "myFunction[a]"
> leaving the function unevaluated.

  MyFunction[a_, b_, c_] := something

  MyFunction[args___] := Null /; Length[{args}] != 3 && 
    Message[MyFunction::argx, MyFunction, Length[{args}]]

  MyFunction[a]

Cheers,
Paul

-- 
Paul Abbott                                   Phone: +61 8 9380 2734
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• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Re: Length of actual parameters in a function call.
    • From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz@mimuw.edu.pl>