Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Is there a way for an interactive function to allow multiple inputs?

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor <help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org> [2024-12-09 21:42]:
> 
> 
> Is there a way for an interactive function to allow multiple inputs?

(defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
  "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
  (interactive
   (list
    (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
    (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
    (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
  (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))

;; To use the function, execute it with M-x my-multi-input-function

Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
is.

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 8:43 AM, Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:

> * Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org [2024-12-09 21:42]:
> 
> > Is there a way for an interactive function to allow multiple inputs?
> 
> 
> (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
> "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> (interactive
> (list
> (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
> (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
> (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
> (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
> 
> ;; To use the function, execute it with M-x my-multi-input-function
> 
> Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> is. - Jean Louis

But then you would not be able to use it in elisp code because it would 
ask for the values.

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 8:48 AM, Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor <help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
> 
> 
> On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 8:43 AM, Jean Louis bugs@gnu.support wrote:
> 
> > * Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org [2024-12-09 21:42]:
> > 
> > > Is there a way for an interactive function to allow multiple inputs?
> > 
> > (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
> > "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> > (interactive
> > (list
> > (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
> > (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
> > (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
> > (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
> > 
> > ;; To use the function, execute it with M-x my-multi-input-function
> > 
> > Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> > what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> > is. - Jean Louis
> 
> 
> But then you would not be able to use it in elisp code because it would
> ask for the values.

Have found completing-read-multiple.  But need some help understanding 
the exact format.  I want to set company-backends.  How would one pass
the multiple arguments in elisp code?  

Should I use

   (defun cbackends (&rest actm-seqr)

or keep it as is?

(defun cbackends (actm-seqr)

  (interactive
    (let* ( (cseq '("company-dabbrev"
                    "company-dabbrev-code"
                    "company-keywords"
                    "company-capf"
                    "company-yasnippet"
                    "company-files"))

            (backends-seltr
                (completing-read-multiple
                  "Backends Multi-Seltr (comma-separated): "
                  cseq nil t)))

      (list (mapcar #'intern backends-seltr))))

    (setq company-backends actm-seqr))

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Heime <heimeborgia@protonmail.com> [2024-12-10 00:02]:
> Have found completing-read-multiple.  But need some help understanding 
> the exact format.  I want to set company-backends.  How would one pass
> the multiple arguments in elisp code?  

It is not easy to understand how you mean it.

- you could simply define function with multiple arguments

- you can pass single argument which has many items, like you could pass list, plist or alist or hash

(setq my-hash (make-hash-table :test 'equal))
(puthash "Name" "Heime" my-hash)
(puthash "Age" 37 my-hash)
(puthash "Skills" '(Programmer Scientist) my-hash)

(defun my-fun (hash)
  (let ((name (gethash "Name" hash))
	(age (gethash "Age" hash))
	(skills (gethash "Skills" hash)))
    (format "Your name is %s, your age %s and your skills are: %s" name age skills)))

(my-fun my-hash) ➜ "Your name is Heime, your age 37 and your skills are: (Programmer Scientist)"

That way you are passing `hash' as single argument which may have unlimited other arguments indirectly..

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Heime <heimeborgia@protonmail.com> [2024-12-09 23:48]:
> > (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
> > "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> > (interactive
> > (list
> > (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
> > (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
> > (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
> > (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
> > 
> > ;; To use the function, execute it with M-x my-multi-input-function
> > 
> > Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> > what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> > is. - Jean Louis
> 
> But then you would not be able to use it in elisp code because it would 
> ask for the values.

Isn't that Emacs Lisp code?

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 9:06 AM, Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:

> * Heime heimeborgia@protonmail.com [2024-12-09 23:48]:
> 
> > > (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
> > > "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> > > (interactive
> > > (list
> > > (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
> > > (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
> > > (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
> > > (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
> > > 
> > > ;; To use the function, execute it with M-x my-multi-input-function
> > > 
> > > Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> > > what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> > > is. - Jean Louis
> > 
> > But then you would not be able to use it in elisp code because it would
> > ask for the values.
> 
> 
> Isn't that Emacs Lisp code? - Jean Louis

Yes, but the values are not set automatically as one can do with a call
with arguments.  The code will force on you an interaction as though you
are in interactive mode.

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Heime <heimeborgia@protonmail.com> [2024-12-10 00:14]:
> Yes, but the values are not set automatically as one can do with a call
> with arguments.  The code will force on you an interaction as though you
> are in interactive mode.

That is why I do like this:

(defun my-multi-input-function (&optional input1 input2 input3)
  "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
  (interactive)
  (let ((input1 (or input1 (read-string "Enter the first input: ")))
	(input2 (or input2 (read-string "Enter the second input: ")))
	(input3 (or input3 (read-string "Enter the third input: "))))
    (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3)))

Then you can call function:

(my-multi-input-function input1 input2 input3)

or if those are nil, it will ask you.

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 9:20 AM, Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:

> * Heime heimeborgia@protonmail.com [2024-12-10 00:14]:
> 
> > Yes, but the values are not set automatically as one can do with a call
> > with arguments. The code will force on you an interaction as though you
> > are in interactive mode.
> 
> 
> That is why I do like this:
> 
> (defun my-multi-input-function (&optional input1 input2 input3)
> "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> (interactive)
> (let ((input1 (or input1 (read-string "Enter the first input: ")))
> (input2 (or input2 (read-string "Enter the second input: ")))
> (input3 (or input3 (read-string "Enter the third input: "))))
> (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3)))
> 
> Then you can call function:
> 
> (my-multi-input-function input1 input2 input3)
> 
> or if those are nil, it will ask you. - Jean Louis

Right.  If passed a value, the read-string is skipped.
I prefer the interactive declaration myself.

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 9:42 AM, Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor <help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
> 
> 
> On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 9:20 AM, Jean Louis bugs@gnu.support wrote:
> 
> > * Heime heimeborgia@protonmail.com [2024-12-10 00:14]:
> > 
> > > Yes, but the values are not set automatically as one can do with a call
> > > with arguments. The code will force on you an interaction as though you
> > > are in interactive mode.
> > 
> > That is why I do like this:
> > 
> > (defun my-multi-input-function (&optional input1 input2 input3)
> > "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> > (interactive)
> > (let ((input1 (or input1 (read-string "Enter the first input: ")))
> > (input2 (or input2 (read-string "Enter the second input: ")))
> > (input3 (or input3 (read-string "Enter the third input: "))))
> > (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3)))
> > 
> > Then you can call function:
> > 
> > (my-multi-input-function input1 input2 input3)
> > 
> > or if those are nil, it will ask you. - Jean Louis
> 
> 
> Right. If passed a value, the read-string is skipped.
> I prefer the interactive declaration myself.

Could you assist me with completing-read-multiple for use with company-backends?  

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Heime <heimeborgia@protonmail.com> [2024-12-10 00:46]:
> Could you assist me with completing-read-multiple for use with company-backends?  

(setq my-table '("one" "two"))
(completing-read-multiple "Choose: " my-table)

one,two

That is all I know. I use it to find elementary objects by multiple tags. 

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 11:05 AM, Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:

> * Heime heimeborgia@protonmail.com [2024-12-10 00:46]:
> 
> > Could you assist me with completing-read-multiple for use with company-backends?
> 
> 
> (setq my-table '("one" "two"))
> (completing-read-multiple "Choose: " my-table)
> 
> one,two
> 
> That is all I know. I use it to find elementary objects by multiple tags. - Jean Louis

Consider the following.  The value of company-backends should
be a list.   Would (list (mapcar #'intern backends-seltr))
give a list to the function argument?

(defun cbackends (actm-seqr)
  "Set value for `company-backends' for `company-mode'.
Allowing multiple selectors using comma-separated."

  (interactive
    (let* ( (cseq '("company-dabbrev" "company-dabbrev-code" "company-keywords"
                    "company-capf" "company-yasnippet" "company-files"))

            (backends-seltr
                (completing-read-multiple
                  "Backends Multi-Seltr (comma-separated): "
                  cseq nil t)))

      (list (mapcar #'intern backends-seltr))))

    ;; Convert selected backends to symbols and set them
    (setq company-backends actm-seqr) )

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Heime <heimeborgia@protonmail.com> [2024-12-10 02:48]:
> Consider the following.  The value of company-backends should
> be a list.   Would (list (mapcar #'intern backends-seltr))
> give a list to the function argument?

(defun cbackends (actm-seqr)
  "Set value for `company-backends' for `company-mode'.
Allowing multiple selectors using comma-separated."
  (interactive
    (let* ( (cseq '("company-dabbrev" "company-dabbrev-code" "company-keywords"
                    "company-capf" "company-yasnippet" "company-files"))

            (backends-seltr
                (completing-read-multiple
                  "Backends Multi-Seltr (comma-separated): "
                  cseq nil t)))

      (list (mapcar #'intern backends-seltr))))

    ;; Convert selected backends to symbols and set them
    (setq company-backends actm-seqr) )

Well done!

So far I see the above function works well and sets `company-backends'. But I do not use `company', so I do not know if it was set correctly.

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Stefan Monnier via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

> (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
>   "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
>   (interactive
>    (list
>     (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
>     (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
>     (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
>   (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
[...]
> Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> is.

The difference between the two is that the above code provides both
a command and a function, whereas if you move the `read-string`s outside
of the `interactive` form, then it can't really be used as a function
any more.

Whether it matters or not depends on the specifics.


        Stefan

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Jean Louis]

* Stefan Monnier via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor <help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org> [2024-12-10 00:24]:
> > (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
> >   "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> >   (interactive
> >    (list
> >     (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
> >     (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
> >     (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
> >   (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
> [...]
> > Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> > what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> > is.
> 
> The difference between the two is that the above code provides both
> a command and a function, whereas if you move the `read-string`s outside
> of the `interactive` form, then it can't really be used as a function
> any more.

But I replace it with:

(defun my-multi-input-function (&optional input1 input2 input3)

and then it can be used as function again in the context how I think
or guess that you mean it.

Only if arguments are removed then it cannot be used as function.  

Am I right?

-- 
Jean Louis

Re: Iinteractive function allowing multiple inputs

[Heime via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor]

Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at 11:08 AM, Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> wrote:

> * Stefan Monnier via Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org [2024-12-10 00:24]:
> 
> > > (defun my-multi-input-function (input1 input2 input3)
> > > "An example function that takes three inputs and displays them."
> > > (interactive
> > > (list
> > > (read-string "Enter the first input: ")
> > > (read-string "Enter the second input: ")
> > > (read-string "Enter the third input: ")))
> > > (message "You entered: %s, %s, %s" input1 input2 input3))
> > > [...]
> > > Me personally, I don't like that style, I like using `let' and reading
> > > what I need to read within function, while leaving (interactive) as it
> > > is.
> > 
> > The difference between the two is that the above code provides both
> > a command and a function, whereas if you move the `read-string`s outside
> > of the `interactive` form, then it can't really be used as a function
> > any more.
> 
> 
> But I replace it with:
> 
> (defun my-multi-input-function (&optional input1 input2 input3)
> 
> and then it can be used as function again in the context how I think
> or guess that you mean it.
> 
> Only if arguments are removed then it cannot be used as function.
> 
> Am I right? - Jean Louis

Right.