Re: Scoping constructs Block, Module, ModuleBlock violate
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg111156] Re: Scoping constructs Block, Module, ModuleBlock violate
- From: John Fultz <jfultz at wolfram.com>
- Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:42:29 -0400 (EDT)
On Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:11:41 -0400 (EDT), Michael wrote:
> On 7/20/2010 2:40 AM, Patrick Scheibe wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> even *in* a DynamicModule you have to use Dynamic to *mark* the that
>> should be
>> updated dynamically
>>
> On 7/20/2010 4:55 AM, Istv==E1n Zachar wrote:
>> I think the answer for your DynamicModule-related question is:
>> DynamicModule *does not* wrap its local variables in Dynamic. It is
>> never stated in the Documentation.
>>
> Ah of course... silly mistake.
>
> I originally was trying to use the Block[] approach, because I don't
> really want the full functionality of DynamicModule[] - for instance the
> persistance between sessions, as this code is eventually going in a
> pop-up window, and the inability to easily share the variable outside
> the scope of the dynamic module. But I guess I can make it work this
> way... :)
>
> I suppose the surprise of Block variables disappearing inside Dynamic
> really threw me for a curve, and I am still puzzled as to what is going
> on. In my opinion if these two don't work together it really should be
> documented under both Dynamic and Block under the "Possible Issues"
> section.
>
>
> Thank you both for your help.
>
> Michael
DynamicModule has an option called UnsavedVariables which you can use for what
you want.
I didn't look at your original code, but I think I probably know why your use of
Block and Dynamic together failed. The principal point is that Block introduces
an environment where variables can be temporarily redefined, but that
environment evaporates the moment Block is finished evaluating. The contents of
a Dynamic never even begin evaluating until well after the Shift-Enter
evaluation is over. So, if your code were like this:
Block[{x == 5}, Dynamic[x]]
then it's kind of like expecting this to return 5:
Block[{x == 5}, 0];
x
because the evaluation of the contents of Dynamic is so out-of-band, it might as
well be like a completely different evaluation. And, in this case, the syntax
coloring is a huge indicator that something probably unwanted is going to
happen.
Sincerely,
John Fultz
jfultz at wolfram.com
User Interface Group
Wolfram Research, Inc.