# $Id: langRef.xotcl,v 1.1 2004/05/23 22:50:39 neumann Exp $
package provide XOTcl-langRef 1.2
package require Tcl
@ @File {
description {
XOTcl language reference. Describes predefined objects and classes.
}
"predefined primitives" {
XOTcl contains three predefined primitives:
<@p>
<@tt>self<@/tt> computes callstack related information.
It can be used in the following ways:
<@UL>
<@LI><@TT>self - returns the name
of the object, which is currently in execution. If it is
called from outside of a proc, it returns the
error message ``<@TT>Can't find self''.
<@LI><@TT>self class - the self
command with a given argument <@TT>class returns the name of the
class, which holds the currently executing instproc. Note, that this
may be different to the class of the current object. If it is called
from a proc it returns an empty string.
<@LI><@TT>self proc - the self command with a given argument
<@TT>proc returns the name of the currently executing proc or
instproc.
<@li><@TT>self callingclass: Returns class name of the
class that has called the executing method.
<@li><@TT>self callingobject: Returns object name of
the object that has called the executing method.
<@li><@TT>self callingproc: Returns proc name of
the method that has called the executing method.
<@li><@TT>self calledclass: Returns class name of the
class that holds the target proc (in mixins and filters).
<@li><@TT>self calledproc: Returns method
name of the target proc (only applicable
in a filter).
<@li><@TT>self next: Return the
"next" method on the path as a string.
<@li><@TT>self filterreg: In a filter: returns the name
of the object/class on which the filter is registered. Returns either
'objName filter filterName' or 'className instfilter filterName'.
<@li><@TT>self callinglevel: Returns the calling level, from where
the actual proc was called from. Intermediary next calls are ignored
in this computation. The level is returned in a form
it can be used as first argument in <@TT>uplevel or <@TT>upvar.
<@li><@TT>self activelevel: Returns the level, from where
the actual proc was invoked from. This might be the calling level or a next
call, whatsever is higher in the stack. The level is returned in a form
it can be used as first argument in <@TT>uplevel or <@TT>upvar.
<@/UL>
<@/p><@p>
<@tt>my someMethod<@/tt> is a short form for <@tt>[self] someMethod and can only be
called in a context of an instproc or an method specific proc. It allows certain
optimizations and shorter to write.
<@/p><@p>
<@tt> next <@/tt> executes the "next" method on the precedence
order and return with the result.
<@/p>
}
date { $Date: 2004/05/23 22:50:39 $ }
}
##
## Object methods
##
@ Class Object {
description {
This class holds the pre-defined methods available for all XOTcl
objects. All these methods are also available on classes.
}
}
@ Object instproc abstract {
methtype "instproc or proc"
methname "name of abstract method"
arglist "arguments"
} {
Description {
Specify an abstract method for class/object with arguments.
An abstract method specifies an interface and
returns an error, if it is invoked directly.
Sub-classes or mixins have to override it.
}
return "error"
}
@ Object instproc append {
varName "name of variable"
args "arguments to append"
} {
Description {
Append all of the value arguments to the current value of variable
varName. Wrapper to the same named Tcl command
(see documentation of Tcl command with the same name for details).
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc array {
opt "array option"
array "array name"
?args? "args of the option"
} {
Description {
This method performs one of several operations on the variable
given by arrayName. It is a wrapper to the same named Tcl command
(see documentation of Tcl command with the same name for details).
}
return "diverse results"
}
@ Object instproc autoname {
?<-instance>|<-reset>? "Optional modifiers: <@br>
'-instance' makes the autoname start with a small letter.<@br>
'-reset' resets the autoname index to 0."
name "base name of the autoname"} {
Description {
autoname creates an automatically assigned name. It is
constructed from the base name plus an index, that is
incremented for each usage. E.g.:
<@pre>$obj autoname a
produces a0, a1, a2, ...
Autonames may have format strings
as in the Tcl 'format' command.
E.g.:
<@pre>$obj autoname a%06d
produces a000000, a000001, a000002, ...
}
return "newly constructed autoname value"
}
@ Object instproc check {
options "none, one or more of: (?all? ?pre? ?post? ?invar? ?instinvar?)"
} {
Description {
Turn on/off assertion checking. Options argument is the list
of assertions, that should be checked on the object automatically.
Per default assertion checking is turned
off. Examples:
<@pre>
o check {}; # turn off assertion checking on object o
o check all; # turn on all assertion checks on object o
o check {pre post}; # only check pre/post assertions
<@a href="#Object-info">info check introspects check options.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc class {
newClass "new class name"
} {
Description {
Changes the class of an object dynamically to <@tt>newClass.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc cleanup {
?args? "Arbitrary arguments passed to cleanup"
} {
Description {
Resets an object or class into an initial state, as after construction.
Called during recreation process by the method 'recreate'
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc configure {
?args? "'-' method calls"
} {
Description {
Calls the '-' methods. I.e. evaluates arguments and calls
everything starting with '-' (and not having a digit a
second char) as a method. Every list element until the next '-'
is interpreted as a method argument. configure is called
before the constructor during initialization and recreation.
E.g.\
<@pre>Object o -set x 4
here:
<@pre>o configure -set x 4
is executed.
}
return "number of the skipped first arguments"
}
@ Object instproc copy {
newName "destination of copy operation"
} {
Description {
Perform a deep copy of the object/class (with all information, like
class, parameter, filter, ...)
to "newName".
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc destroy {
?args? "Arbitrary arguments passed to the destructor"
} {
Description {
Standard destructor.
Can be overloaded for customized destruction process. Actual destruction
is done by instdestroy. "destroy" in principal does:
<@pre>
Object instproc destroy args {
[my info class] instdestroy [self]
}
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc eval {
args "cmds to eval"
} {
Description {
Eval args in the scope of the object. That is local variables
are directly accessible as Tcl vars.
}
return "result of cmds evaled"
}
@ Object instproc extractConfigureArg {
al "Argument List Name"
name "Name of the Configure Argument to be extracted (should start with '-')"
?cutTheArg? "if cutTheArg not 0, it cut from upvar argsList, default is 0"
} {
Description {
Check an argument list separated with '-' args, as for instance
configure
arguments, and extract the argument's values. Optionally, cut the
whole argument.
}
return "value list of the argument"
}
@ Object instproc exists {
var "variable name"
} {
Description {
Check for existence of the named instance variable on the object.
}
return "1 if variable exists, 0 if not"
}
@ Object instproc filter {
filterList "list of methods that should be registered as filters"
} {
Description {
Specifies the list of filters registered for the class.
<@tt>filter overwrites all previous setting.
Filters must be available on the class or its heritage
order. Filters may also reside on the meta-class of the class.
Filter list may contain filter guards. Then the
filter is composed of two list elements: {filtername filterguard}.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc filterappend {
filterList "name of the new filter"
} {
description {
Convenience method that appends a filter to the existing filters of the object.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc filterguard {
filtername "filter name of a registered filter"
guard "set of conditions to execute the filter"
} {
description {
Add conditions to guard a filter registration point. The filter
is only executed, if the guards are true. Otherwise we ignore the
filter. If no guards are given, we always execute the filter.
}
return "an empty string"
}
@ Object instproc filtersearch {
methodName "filter method name"
} {
description {
Search a full qualified method name that
is currently registered as a filter. Return a list of the
proc qualifier format:
'objName|classname proc|instproc methodName'.
}
return "full qualified name, if filter is found, otherwise an empty string"
}
@ Object instproc hasclass {
?className? "name of a class to be tested"
} {
Description {
Test whether the argument is either
a mixin or instmixin of the object or
if it is on the class hierarchy of the object.
This method combines the functionalities of
istype and ismixin.
}
return "1 or 0"
}
@ Object instproc incr {
varName "variable name"
?increment? "value to increment"
} {
Description {
Increments the value stored in the variable whose name is varName.
The new value is stored as a decimal string in variable varName and also
returned as result. Wrapper to the same named Tcl command
(see documentation of Tcl command with the same name for details).
}
return "new value of varName"
}
@ Object instproc info {
args "info options"
} {
Description {
Introspection of objects. The following options can be specified:
<@ul>
<@li><@TT>objName info args method:
Returns the arguments of the specified method.
<@li><@TT>objName info body method:
Returns the body of the specified method.
<@li><@TT>objName info class ?classname?:
Returns the name of the class of the current object, if classname was
not specified, otherwise it returns 1 if classname matches the
object's class and 0 if not.
<@li><@TT>objName info children ?pattern?: Returns the list of aggregated
objects with fully qualified names if <@TT>pattern was not specified,
otherwise it returns all children where the object name matches the pattern.
<@li><@TT>objName info commands ?pattern: Returns all commands
defined for the object if <@TT>pattern was not specified, otherwise
it returns all commands that match the pattern.
<@li><@TT>objName info default method arg var: Returns 1 if the
argument <@TT>arg of the method <@TT>method has a default
value, otherwise 0. If it exists the default value is stored in <@TT>var.
<@li><@TT>objName info filter: Returns a list of filters.
With -guard modifier all filterguards are integrated
(<@TT> objName info filter -guards). With <@TT>-order
modifier the order of filters (whole hierarchy) is printed.
<@li><@TT>objName info filterguard name: Returns the guards
for filter identified by name.
<@li><@TT>objName info hasNamespace: From XOTcl version 0.9 on,
namespaces
of objects are allocated on demand. hasNamespace returns 1, if the
object currently has a namespace, otherwise 0. The method
<@TT>requireNamespace can
be used to ensure that the object has a namespace.
<@li><@TT>objName info info: Returns a list of all available info
options on the object.
<@li><@TT>objName info invar: Returns object invariants.
<@li><@TT>objName info metadata ?pattern?:
Returns available metadata options.
<@li><@TT>objName info methods: Returns the list of all method
currently reachable for objName. Includes procs, instprocs, cmds,
instcommands on object, class hierarchy and mixins.
Modifier <@TT>-noprocs only returns instcommands,
<@TT>-nocmds only returns procs.
Modifier <@TT>-nomixins excludes search on mixins.
<@li><@TT>objName info mixin: Returns the list of mixins
of the object. With <@TT>-order modifier the order of mixins
(whole hierarchy) is printed.
<@li><@TT>objName info parent:
Returns parent object name (or "::" for no parent),
in fully qualified form.
<@li><@TT>objName info post methodName:
Returns post assertions of methodName.
<@li><@TT>objName info pre methodName:
Returns pre assertions of methodName.
<@li><@TT>objName info procs ?pattern?: Returns all procs defined
for the object if <@TT>pattern was not specified,
otherwise it returns all procs that match the pattern.
<@li><@TT>objName info vars ?pattern?: Returns all variables defined
for the object if <@TT>pattern was not specified, otherwise it
returns all variables that match the pattern.
<@/ul>
}
return "Value of introspected option as a string."
}
@ Object instproc instvar {
v1 "instvar variable"
"?v2...vn?" "optional other instvar variables"
} {
Description {
Binds an variable of the object to the current method's scope.
Example:
<@pre>
kitchen proc enter {name} {
my instvar persons
set persons($name) [clock seconds]
}
Now persons can be accessed as a local variable of the method.<@br>
A special syntax is: <@tt> {varName aliasName} .
This gives the variable with the name
<@TT>varName the alias <@TT>aliasName.
This way the variables can be linked to the methods scope,
even if a variable with that name already exists in the scope.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc invar {
invariantList "Body of invariants for the object"
} {
Description {
Specify invariants for the objects. All assertions are a list
of ordinary Tcl conditions.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc isclass {
?className? "name of a class to be tested"
} {
Description {
Test whether the argument (or the Object, if no argument is specified)
is an existing class or not.
}
return "1 or 0"
}
@ Object instproc ismetaclass {
?metaClassName? "name of a metaclass to be tested"
} {
Description {
Test whether the argument (or the Object, if no argument is specified)
is an existing metaclass or not.
}
return "1 or 0"
}
@ Object instproc ismixin {
?className? "name of a class to be tested"
} {
Description {
Test whether the argument is a mixin or instmixin of the object.
}
return "1 or 0"
}
@ Object instproc isobject {
objName "string that should be tested, whether it is a name of an object or not"
} {
Description {
Test whether the argument is an existing object or not. Every XOTcl object
has the capability to check the object system.
}
return "1 or 0"
}
@ Object instproc istype {
className "type name"
} {
Description {
Test whether the argument is a type of the object. I.e., 1 is returned
if className is either the class of the object or one of its
superclasses.
}
return "1 or 0"
}
@ Object instproc lappend {
varName "name of variable"
args "elements to append"
} {
Description {
Append all the specified arguments to the list specified
by varName as separated elements (typically separated by blanks).
If varName doesn't exist, it creates a list with the specified
values
(see documentation of Tcl command with the same name for details).
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc mixin {
mixinList "list of classes that should be registered as mixins"
} {
Description {
Specifies the list of mixins registered for the object.
The method <@tt>mixin overwrites all previous settings.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc mixinappend {
mixinList "name of the new mixin"
} {
description {
Convenience method that appends a mixin to the existing mixins of the object.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc move {
newName "destination of move operation"
} {
Description {
Perform a deep move of the object/class (with all information, like
class, parameter, filter, ...)
to "newName".
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc parametercmd {
name "variable to be provided with getter/setter method"
} {
description {
Add a getter/setter for an instance variable with the
specified name as a command for the obj.
Example: <@br>
<@tt>Object o<@br>
<@tt>o parametercmd x<@br>
<@tt>o x 100<@br>
<@tt>puts [o x]<@br>
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc noinit {
} {
description {
flag that constructor (method <@tt>init) should
not be called.
Example: <@br>
<@tt>Class C<@br>
<@tt>C instproc init {} {puts hu}<@br>
<@tt>C c1 -noinit<@br>
The object <@tt>c1 will be created without calling
the constructor. This can be used to draw a snapshot of
an existing object (using the serializer) and to recreate
it in some other context in its last state.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc proc {
name "method name"
args "method arguments"
body "method body"
"?preAssertion?" "optional assertions that must hold before the proc executes"
"?postAssertion?" "optional assertions that must hold after the proc executes"
} {
Description {
Specify a method in the same style as Tcl specifies procs.
Optionally assertions may be given. The number of args is either
3 or 5.
Therefore, to specify only post-assertions an empty pre-assertion
list must be given. All assertions are a list
of ordinary Tcl conditions.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc procsearch {
procname "simple proc name"
} {
Description {
Search for a proc or instproc on an object and return the fully
qualified name of the method as a list in
proc qualifier format:
'objName|classname proc|instproc methodName'. E.g.,
<@pre> o procsearch set
returns <@pre>::xotcl::Object instproc set.
}
return "fully qualified name of the searched method or empty string if not found"
}
@ Object instproc requireNamespace {
} {
Description {
The method <@TT>requireNamespace can
be used to ensure that the object has a namespace.
Namespaces are created automatically by XOTcl, when e.g. an object has
child objects (aggregated objects) or procs. The namespace
will be used to keep instance variables, procs and child objects.
To check, whether an object currently has a namespace,
<@TT>info hasNamespace can be used.
Hint: In versions prior to XOTcl 0.9 all XOTcl objects
had their own namespaces; it was made on demand to save memory when
e.g. huge numbers of objects are created.
<@TT>requireNamespace is often needed when e.g. using Tk widgets
when variables are to be referenced via the namespace
(with <@TT>... -variable [self]::varname ...).
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc set {
varname "name of the instance variable"
?value? "optional new value"
} {
Description {
Set an instance variable in the same style as Tcl sets a variable.
With one argument, we retrieve the current value,
with two arguments, we set the instance variable to the new value.
}
return "Value of the instance variable"
}
@ Object instproc trace {
varName "name of variable"
} {
Description {
Trace an object variable
(see documentation of Tcl command with the same name for details).
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc unset {
v1 "Variable to unset"
"?v2...vn?" "Optional more vars to unset"
} {
Description {
The unset operation deletes one or optionally a set of variables from an object.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Object instproc uplevel {
?level? "Level"
command ?args? "command and arguments to be called"
} {
Description {
When this method is used without the optional level, it is a short form
of the Tcl command
<@TT>upevel [self callinglevel] command ?args?<@/TT>.
When it is called with the level, it is compatible with the original tcl command.
}
return "result of the command"
}
@ Object instproc upvar {
?level? "Level"
othervar localvar "referenced variable and variale in the local scope"
?othervar localvar? "optional pairs of referenced and local variable names"
} {
Description {
When this method is used without the optional level, it is a short form
of the Tcl command
<@TT>upvar [self callinglevel] othervar localvar ?...?<@/TT>.
When it is called with the level, it is compatible with the original tcl command.
}
return "result of the command"
}
@ Object instproc vwait {
varName "name of variable"
} {
Description {
Enter event loop until the specified variable is set
(see documentation of Tcl command with the same name for details).
}
return "empty string"
}
# procs of Object
@ Object proc getExitHandler {} {
Description "Retrieve the current exit handler procedure body as a string."
return "exit handler proc body"
}
@ Object proc setExitHandler {body "procedure body"} {
Description {
Set body for the exit handler procedure. The exit handler
is executed when XOTcl is existed or aborted. Can be used to call
cleanups that are not associated with objects (otherwise use
destructor).
On exit the object destructors are called after the
user-defined exit-handler.
}
return "exit handler proc body"
}
# class
@ Class Class -superclass Object {
description {
This meta-class holds the pre-defined methods available for all XOTcl
classes.
}
}
@ Class instproc alloc {
obj "new obj/class name"
?args? "arguments passed to the new class after creation"
} {
description {
Allocate memory for a new XOTcl object or class. <@tt>create<@/tt> uses
<@tt>alloc to allocate memory. But <@tt>create<@/tt> also
calls init and evaluates '-' arguments as method calls.
In seldom cases the programmer may want to suppress the
<@tt>create<@/tt>
mechanism and just allocate memory. Then <@tt>alloc can
be used.
}
return "new class name"
}
@ Class instproc create {
objName "name of a new class or object"
?args? "arguments passed to the constructor"
} {
description {
Create user-defined classes or objects. If the class is a meta-class,
a class is created, otherwise an object.
Create firstly calls <@tt>alloc in order to allocate memory for the
new object. Then default values for parameters are searched on
superclasses (an set if found). Then <@tt>args is searched for args
starting with '-' followed by an alpha character. These arguments
are called as methods. '-' followed by a numerical is interpreted
as a negative number (and not as a method). If a value of a method
called this way starts with a "a", the call can be placed safely
into a list (e.g. "Class c [-strangearg -a-] -simplearg 2").
Finally the constructor <@tt>init is called on the object
with all arguments up to the first '-' arg.<@p>
The <@tt>create method is called implicitly through the
<@tt>unknown
mechanism when a class (meta-class) is called with an unknown
method. E.g. the following two commands are equivalent
<@pre> Car herby -color red
Car create herby -color red <@/pre>
When a users may want to call the constructor <@tt>init
before other '-' methods, one can specify '-init'
explicitly in the left to
right order of the '-' method. Init is called always only once.
e.g.: <@pre> Class Car -init -superclass Vehicle <@/pre>
}
return "name of the created instance (result of alloc)"
}
@ Class instproc info {
args "info options"
} {
Description {
Introspection of classes. All options available for objects
(see <@a href="#Object-info">info object) is also available
for classes.
The following options can be specified:
<@ul>
<@li><@TT>ClassName info classchildren ?pattern?:
Returns the list of nested classes with fully qualified names
if <@TT>pattern was not specified,
otherwise it returns all class children where the class name
matches the pattern.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info classparent:
Returns the class ClassName is nesting to.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instdefault method arg var:
Returns 1 if the argument <@TT>arg of the instance method
<@TT>method has a default value, otherwise 0. If it exists
the default value is stored in <@TT>var.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instfilter:
Returns the list of registered filters. With -guard modifier
all instfilterguards are integrated
(<@TT> ClassName info instfilter -guards).
<@li><@TT>objName info instfilterguard name: Returns the guards
for instfilter identified by name.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info heritage ?pattern?:
Returns a list of all classes in the precedence order
of the class hierarchy.
If pattern is specified, only matching values are returned.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instances ?pattern?:
Returns a list of the instances of the class.
If pattern is specified, only matching values are returned.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instargs method:
Returns the arguments of the specified method.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instbody method:
Returns the body of the specified method.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instcommands ?pattern?:
Returns all commands defined for the class. If pattern
is specified it returns all commands that match the pattern.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instinvar:
Returns class invariants.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instmixin:
Returns the list of instmixins of this class.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instpost methodName:
Returns post assertions of methodName.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instpre methodName:
Returns pre assertions of methodName.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info instprocs ?pattern?:
Returns all instprocs defined for the class. If pattern
is specified it returns all instprocs that match the pattern.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info parameter:
Returns parameter list.
<@li><@TT>ClassName info subclass ?subclassname?:
Returns a list of all subclasses of the class, if subclassname
was not specified, otherwise it returns 1 if subclassname is a
subclass and 0 if not.
<@li><@TT> ClassName info superclass ?superclassname?:
Returns a list of all super-classes of the class,
if superclassname was not specified, otherwise it returns
1 if superclassname is a superclass and 0 if not.
<@/ul>
}
return "Value of introspected option as a string."
}
@ Class instproc instdestroy {
obj "obj/class name"
?args? "arguments passed to the destructor"
} {
Description {
Standard destructor. Destroys XOTcl object physically from the memory.
Can be overloaded for customized destruction process.
<@p>
In XOTcl objects are not directly destroyed, when a destroy is
encountered in a method. Beforehand, the interpreter looks up whether
the object is still referenced on the method callstack or not. If not,
the object is directly destroyed. Otherwise every occurrence of the
object on the callstack is marked as destroyed. During popping of the
callstack, for each object marked as destroyed, the reference count is
decremented by one. When no more references to the object are on the
callstack the object is physically destroyed. This way we can assure
that objects are not accessed with [self] in running methods after
they are physically destroyed.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instfilter {
filterList "list of methods that should be registered as filters"
} {
Description {
Specifies the list of filters registered for the class.
<@tt>instfilter overwrites all previous setting.
Filters must be available on the class or its heritage
order. Filters may also reside on the meta-class of the class.
Filter list may contain filter guards. Then the
filter is composed of two list elements: {filtername filterguard}.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instfilterappend {
filterList "name of the new instfilter"
} {
description {
Convenience method that appends an instfilter to the existing filters of the class.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instfilterguard {
filtername "filter name of a registered filter"
guard "set of conditions to execute the filter"
} {
description {
Add conditions to guard a filter registration point. The filter
is only executed, if the guards are true. Otherwise we ignore the
filter. If no guards are given, we always execute the filter.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instinvar {
invariantList "Body of invariants for the class"
} {
Description {
Specify invariants for the class. These are inherited by
sub-classes. The invariants must hold for all instances.
All assertions are a list of ordinary Tcl conditions.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instmixin {
instmixinList "list of classes that should be registered as instmixins"
} {
Description {
Specifies the list of instmixins (per-class mixins) for the class.
Note that the registration of a per-mixin-class does not invoke
automatically the constructors of the registered class.
The method <@tt>instmixin overwrites any previous settings.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instmixinappend {
mixinList "name of the new instmixin"
} {
description {
Convenience method that appends an instmixin to the existing mixins of the class.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instparametercmd {
name "variable to be provided with getter/setter method"
} {
description {
Add a getter/setter command for an instance variable with the
specified name. This method is used for example by the
<@A href="#Class-parameter">parameter method.
Example: <@br>
<@tt>Class C<@br>
<@tt>C instparametercmd x<@br>
<@tt>C c1 -x 100<@br>
<@tt>puts [c1 x]<@br>
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc instproc {
name "instance method name"
args "instance method arguments"
body "instance method body"
"?preAssertion?" "optional assertions that must hold before the proc executes"
"?postAssertion?" "optional assertions that must hold after the proc executes"
} {
Description {
Specify an instance method in the same style as Tcl specifies procs.
Optionally assertions may be given. The number of args is either 3 or 5.
Therefore, to specify only post-assertions an empty pre-assertion list
must be given. All assertions are a list
of ordinary Tcl conditions.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc insttclcmd {
name "cmd to be execute in obj scope"
} {
description {
Create a method 'name' that is evaluated as a tcl command in the
scope of the object. E.g. 'Object insttclcmd vwait' creates
an instproc vwait on Object that executes Tcl's vwait in the
scope of the object. That is local vars of the object are accessible
to that vwait. (Used to circumvent, for instance, the TCL_GLOBAL_ONLY
flag of vwait in Tcl.)
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc new {
"?-childof obj? ?args?" "args passed to create"
} {
description {
Convenience method to create an autonamed object. E.g.:
<@pre> Http new
creates ::xotcl::__#0, a subsequent call creates ::xotcl::__#1, ...<@br>
If <@tt>-childof obj is specified, the new object is
created as a child of the specified object.
}
return "new object name"
}
@ Class instproc parameter {
parameterList "list of parameter definitions"
} {
description {
Specify parameters automatically created for each instance.
Parameters denote instance variables which are available on each class instance
and that have a getter/setter method with their own name.
Parameters are specified in a parameter list of the form
{p1 p2 ... pn}.
p1 ... pn may either be parameter names or definitions of the form
{parameterName defaultValue}.
If a default value is given, that parameter
is created during creation process of the instance object, otherwise
only the getter/setter method is created (and the parameter does not
exist). The getter/setter method has the same name as the
parameter. It gets and returns the parameter, if no
argument is specified. With one argument, the parameter is set
to the argument value.
Example:
<@pre>
Class Car -parameter {{doors 4} color}
Car herby -doors 2 -color green
<@/pre>
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc parameterclass {
class "parameter class name"
} {
description {
Set the parameter class.
The parameter class specifies how parameters are stored and
maintained internally. Per default, a method "default" is called,
to set the parameter with a default value.
I.e.,
<@pre>
Class Car -parameter {
{doors 4}
}
<@/pre>
is a short form for
<@pre>
Class Car -parameter {
{doors -default 4}
}
<@/pre>
For specialized parameter classes other methods can be called, e.g.<@br>
<@pre>
{doors -default 3 -updateWidget car}
<@/pre>
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc recreate {
obj "obj to be recreated"
?args? "arbitrary arguments"
} {
description {
Hook called upon recreation of an object. Performs standard object
initialization, per default. May be overloaded/-written. It calls
another method cleanup which handles actual cleanup of the object
during next. That means, if you overload recreate, in the pre-part
the object still contains its old state, after next it is cleaned up.
}
return "obj name"
}
@ Class instproc superclass {
classList "list of classes"
} {
description {
Specify super-classes for a class. "superclass" changes the list
of superclasses dynamically to <@tt>classList.
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class instproc unknown {
?args? "arbitrary arguments"
} {
description {
Standard unknown mechanism. This mechanism is always triggered when
XOTcl does not know a method called on an object. Supposed that
there is no method with the called name, XOTcl looks up the method
"unknown" (which is found on the Class Object) and executes it.
The standard unknown-mechanism of XOTcl calls create with all
arguments stepping one step to the right; in the general case:
<@pre>ClassName create ClassName ?args?<@/pre>
Unknown can be overloaded in user-defined subclasses of class.
}
return "Standard unknown mechanism returns result of create"
}
@ Class instproc volatile {
"" ""
} {
description {
This method is used to specify that the object
should be deleted automatically, when the current
tcl-proc/object-proc/instproc is left. Example
<@tt>set x [Object new -volatile]
}
return "empty string"
}
@ Class proc __unknown {
"name" "name of class to be created"
} {
description {
This method is called, whenever XOTcl references a class,
which is not defined yet. In the following example:
<@tt>Class C -superclass D
D is not defined. Therefore <@tt>Class __unknown D
is called. This callback can be used to perform auto-loading
of classes. After this call, XOTcl tries again to
resolve D. If it succeeds, XOTcl will continue; otherwise,
an error is generated.
}
return "empty string"
}
#Class::Parameter instproc values {param args}
#proc xotcl_mkindex
#proc xotcl_load