20.3. Saying lists of values

| Chapter 20: Lists |

| 20.3. Saying lists of values

Any list L can be said:

> let L1 be {2, 3, 5, 7, 11};
> say L1;

produces the text "2, 3, 5, 7 and 11" - unless we have "Use serial comma." set, in which case a comma appears after the 7. We also have the option of using the more formal notation:

say "[list of values in brace notation]"

This text substitution produces the list in the form of "{", then a comma-separated list, and then "}", which looks less like an English sentence but more mathematical. Example: "[list of people in brace notation]" might produce "{ yourself, Mr Darcy, Flashman }".

If we say a list of lists, then the individual entry lists are always printed in brace notation: the ordinary sentence way would be incomprehensible.

Of course, the values in L1 are written out in number form because L1 is a list of numbers: we could alternatively try

> let L2 be {the piano, the music stand};
> say L2;

which produces "piano and music stand". Lists of objects can be said in two additional ways:

say "[list of objects with definite articles]"

This text substitution writes out the list in sentence form, adding the appropriate definite articles. Example: let L be {the piano, the music stand}; say "[L with definite articles]"; says "the piano and the music stand".

say "[list of objects with indefinite articles]"

This text substitution writes out the list in sentence form, adding the appropriate indefinite articles. Example: let L be {the piano, the music stand}; say "[L with definite articles]"; says "a piano and a music stand".

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| Example Oyster Wide Shut Replacing Inform's default printing of properties such as "(closed)", "(open and providing light)", etc., with our own, more flexible variation. |
RB

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