In some lisps, perhaps GCL? It is possible to invoke a command that opens
up a "Select File" window, that is used in every other program where a file
name must be found.
If you have only a specific environment (e.g. Windows), maybe you can do
this.
RJF
> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Jussi Eloranta
> Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 9:01 AM
> To: Robert Dodier
> Cc: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: Re: [Maxima] more problems with readline ...
>
> Hi
>
> Robert Dodier wrote:
> > On 5/23/07, Jussi Eloranta <Jussi.Eloranta at csun.edu> wrote:
> >> Any other ways to do this?
> >
> > There is a Maxima function read to read and evaluate an expression
> > from the console (and readonly to read it and not evaluate it).
>
> OK, this is already useful (thanks to Andrej too for suggesting
> readonly). The only remaining problem is that the line must be
> terminated by ;
> Well, this is kind of minor issue and I can instruct our students to
> enter strings that way but still...
> And, also this seems to be kind of basic service that should be
> available. BTW, now that I just tried, entering
> special characters kills readonly even though it is not supposed to
> evaluate anything.
> >
> > There are low-level Lisp functions DBM-READ and SCAN-ONE-TOKEN-G
> > (not sure about the names). I forget how these differ.
> >
>
> Unfortunately, I am lisp illiterate... (only C and Fortran)
>
> >
> > At this point I think we need to back up. Maybe you can remind us
> > what your larger goal is here.
>
> I am in process of rewriting a number of Mathematica scripts to work
> under maxima. These scripts interact with users
> asking all sorts of data. Some data is numerical and other is
> strings,
> which might have special characters in them.
> A simple example is asking for a filename. Since my students just use
> these scripts for analyzing their laboratory experiments,
> they are not familiar at all with Maxima and have no idea about the
> significance of ; My goal is to be able to provide them
> an environment that they can use at home and analyze
> experimental data
> (btw physical chemistry). For most of them, installing
> the program is already a major issue.
>
> Jussi Eloranta
> Cal State Northridge
>
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