Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!bu.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!gatech!uflorida!ufqtp!beck
From: beck@qtp.ufl.edu (Sullivan Beck)
Newsgroups: comp.emacs
Subject: Problem with macros
Message-ID: <1183@red15.qtp.ufl.edu>
Date: 13 Nov 90 21:51:07 GMT
Reply-To: beck@qtp.ufl.edu (Sullivan Beck)
Organization: University of Florida Quantum Theory Project
Lines: 52

I am trying to learn how to use macros but am having some problems
with the 'quote' command, mainly with trying to pass arguments to
the macro.  For example, here's a simple function which will insert
a character in a buffer:

(defun test (char)
  (save-excursion
    (set-buffer (get-buffer tmp-buffer))
    (save-excursion
      (goto-char 1)
      (forward-line 2)
      (forward-char 3)
      (delete-char 1)
      (insert char))))

which works as expected.  I can switch it to a macro using the list
command repeatedly:

(defmacro test (char)
  (list 'save-excursion
        (list 'set-buffer (list 'get-buffer 'tmp-buffer))
        (list 'save-excursion
              (list 'goto-char 1)
              (list 'forward-line 2)
              (list 'forward-char 3)
              (list 'delete-char 1)
              (list 'insert char))))

but I cannot get the quote (which I'd greatly prefer of course) to work.
Here's what I've got:

(defmacro test (char)
  (` (save-excursion
       (set-buffer (get-buffer tmp-buffer))
       (save-excursion
         (goto-char 1)
         (forward-line 2)
         (forward-char 3)
         (delete-char 1)
         (insert char)))))

But this doesn't work.  If I have the following lines in a program:

  (setq char "*")
  (test "!")

the first two will insert the "!" but the third will insert a "*".  Could
someone explain what I am doing wrong (other than I don't really understand
how to use the quote).  Thanks in advance.

S. Beck
beck@qtp.ufl.edu