At 3:02 PM -0700 9/23/04, Jose Cuthberto wrote:
>jose@Aumara.zzn.com (Jose Cuthberto) wrote in message 
>news:<cf2523f3.0409221705.73716a7d@posting.google.com>...
>>  An example would clarify the problem:
>>
>>  Suppose you want to paste a single killed line (in kill buffer 
>>using two C-k's)
>>  you can trivially do it like this:
>>
>>  C-u 2 C-y
>>

This does not do the same thing as typing "C-y" twice, which is what 
you imply it does.

>  > In this case you had to enter the numbers.
>>
>>  I have a file like this:
>>
>>  5
>>  line1
>>  6
>>  line2
>>
>>  Now I must convert it to a file with 5 line1's and 6 line2's and so on.
>>  It is a long file.
>>
>>  How do I pick 5 and put it into C-u so that it is done 5 times.
>>

You can't.

>  > I can write macros. and I can also write single line lisp functions.
>>  Unfortunately there is no yank cammand that can take the argument 5.
>>  nor do i know the lisp function that can take the count and pass it to
>>  lisp function yank. I would want to avoid writing a loops, and vars etc.
>>

Too bad.

>  > Thanks to the star who can help!!!
>>
>>  jose
>
>still waiting for a solution

You should seriously consider learning how to do a bit more than just 
write macros and "single line lisp functions."  You would get a lot 
more help if you at least made a good-faith effort to write your own 
function, presented the best you could come up with to the forum, and 
asked for tips on making it better.

Here's a fish.  Study it and try to learn something.  Execute it 
using M-x or bind it to a keystroke.

(defun expand-file (from-file to-file &optional replace)
   "Expand alternating count and text lines from FROM-FILE to TO-FILE.
Interactively prompts for file names.
If REPLACE (command prefix), replaces previous contents of TO-FILE,
otherwise appends to its end.
If FROM-FILE is already in a buffer when command is invoked, expansion
starts from the current position of point.  Otherwise it starts from
the top of the file.
When done, selects TO-FILE for the current window but does not
automatically save it."
   (interactive "fExpand from file: \nFto file: \nP")
   (let (from-buf to_buf count line)
     (setq from-buf (find-file-noselect from-file)
           to-buf (find-file-noselect to-file) )
     (set-buffer to-buf)
     (if replace
         (erase-buffer)
       (end-of-buffer) )
     (set-buffer from-buf)
     (while (looking-at "[0-9]+$")
       (setq count (read (current-buffer)))
       (forward-line 1)
       (setq line (buffer-substring-no-properties
                   (point) (1+ (line-end-position))))
       (forward-line 1)
       (set-buffer to-buf)
       (while (> count 0)
         (insert line)
         (setq count (1- count)) )
       (set-buffer from-buf) )
     (find-file to-file)
     (set-buffer from-buf)
     (save-excursion
       (skip-chars-forward " \t\n")
       (if (not (eobp))
           (progn
             (message "Warning: non-integer line count in %s. Expansion stops."
                      from-file)
             (switch-to-buffer-other-window from-buf) ) ) ) ))

--Greg