FullForm , Echo , PrettyForm , EvalFormula , TeXForm , CForm , IsCFormable , Write , WriteString , Space , NewLine , FromFile , FromString , ToFile , ToString , Read , ToStdout , ReadCmdLineString , LispRead, LispReadListed , ReadToken , Load , Use , DefLoad , FindFile , PatchLoad , Nl , V, Verbose , Plot2D , Plot3DS , XmlExplodeTag , DefaultTokenizer, XmlTokenizer, CTokenizer , OMForm, OMRead .

# Input/output and plotting

This chapter contains commands to use for input and output and plotting. All output commands write to the same destination stream, called the "current output". This is initially the screen, but may be redirected by some commands. Similarly, most input commands read from the "current input" stream, which can also be redirected. The exception to this rule are the commands for reading script files, which simply read a specified file.

FullForm | print an expression in LISP-format
Echo | high-level printing routine
PrettyForm | print an expression nicely with ASCII art
EvalFormula | print an evaluation nicely with ASCII art
TeXForm | export expressions to LaTeX
CForm | export expression to C++ code
IsCFormable | check possibility to export expression to C++ code
Write | low-level printing routine
WriteString | low-level printing routine for strings
Space | print one or more spaces
NewLine | print one or more newline characters
FromFile | connect current input to a file
FromString | connect current input to a string
ToFile | connect current output to a file
ToString | connect current output to a string
Read | read an expression from current input
ToStdout | select initial output stream for output
ReadCmdLineString | read an expression from command line and return in string
LispRead, LispReadListed | read expressions in LISP syntax
ReadToken | read a token from current input
Load | evaluate all expressions in a file
Use | load a file, but not twice
DefLoad | load a `.def` file
FindFile | find a file in the current path
PatchLoad | execute commands between `<?` and `?>` in file
Nl | the newline character
V, Verbose | set verbose output mode
Plot2D | adaptive two-dimensional plotting
Plot3DS | three-dimensional (surface) plotting
XmlExplodeTag | convert XML strings to tag objects
DefaultTokenizer, XmlTokenizer, CTokenizer | select a syntax for parsing the input
OMForm, OMRead | convert expressions to and from OpenMath

###

FullForm -- print an expression in LISP-format

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    FullForm(expr)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- expression to be printed in LISP-format

##### Description:

Evaluates "expr", and prints it in LISP-format on the current output. It is followed by a newline. The evaluated expression is also returned.

This can be useful if you want to study the internal representation of a certain expression.

##### Examples:

    In> FullForm(a+b+c);
    (+ (+ a b )c )
    Out> a+b+c;
    In> FullForm(2*I*b^2);
    (* (Complex 0 2 )(^ b 2 ))
    Out> Complex(0,2)*b^2;

The first example shows how the expression `a+b+c` is internally represented. In the second example, `2*I` is first evaluated to `Complex(0,2)` before the expression is printed.

##### See also:

LispRead , Listify , Unlist .

###

Echo -- high-level printing routine

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    Echo(item)
    Echo(list)
    Echo(item,item,item,...)

##### Parameters:

`item` -- the item to be printed

`list` -- a list of items to be printed

##### Description:

If passed a single item, `Echo` will evaluate it and print it to the current output, followed by a newline. If `item` is a string, it is printed without quotation marks.

If there is one argument, and it is a list, `Echo` will print all the entries in the list subsequently to the current output, followed by a newline. Any strings in the list are printed without quotation marks. All other entries are followed by a space.

`Echo` can be called with a variable number of arguments, they will all be printed, followed by a newline.

`Echo` always returns `True`.

##### Examples:

    In> Echo(5+3);
     8
    Out> True;
    In> Echo({"The square of two is ", 2*2});
    The square of two is 4
    Out> True;
    In> Echo("The square of two is ", 2*2);
    The square of two is 4
    Out> True;

Note that one must use the second calling format if one wishes to print a list:

    In> Echo({a,b,c});
    a b c
    Out> True;
    In> Echo({{a,b,c}});
    {a,b,c}
    Out> True;

##### See also:

PrettyForm , Write , WriteString , RuleBaseListed .

###

PrettyForm -- print an expression nicely with ASCII art

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    PrettyForm(expr)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- an expression

##### Description:

`PrettyForm` renders an expression in a nicer way, using ascii art. This is generally useful when the result of a calculation is more complex than a simple number.

##### Examples:

    In> Taylor(x,0,9)Sin(x)
    Out> x-x^3/6+x^5/120-x^7/5040+x^9/362880;
    In> PrettyForm(%)

         3    5      7       9
        x    x      x       x
    x - -- + --- - ---- + ------
        6    120   5040   362880

    Out> True;

##### See also:

EvalFormula , PrettyPrinter .

###

EvalFormula -- print an evaluation nicely with ASCII art

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    EvalFormula(expr)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- an expression

##### Description:

Show an evaluation in a nice way, using PrettyPrinter to show 'input = output'.

##### Examples:

    In> EvalFormula(Taylor(x,0,7)Sin(x))

                                          3    5
                                         x    x
    Taylor( x , 0 , 5 , Sin( x ) ) = x - -- + ---
                                         6    120

##### See also:

PrettyForm .

###

TeXForm -- export expressions to LaTeX

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    TeXForm(expr)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- an expression to be exported

##### Description:

`TeXForm` returns a string containing a LaTeX representation of the Yacas expression `expr`. Currently the exporter handles most expression types but not all.

##### Example:

    In> TeXForm(Sin(a1)+2*Cos(b1))
    Out> "$\sin a_{1} + 2 \cos b_{1}$";

##### See also:

PrettyForm , CForm , ShowPS .

###

CForm -- export expression to C++ code

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    CForm(expr)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- expression to be exported

##### Description:

`CForm` returns a string containing C++ code that attempts to implement the Yacas expression `expr`. Currently the exporter handles most expression types but not all.

##### Example:

    In> CForm(Sin(a1)+2*Cos(b1));
    Out> "sin(a1) + 2 * cos(b1)";

##### See also:

PrettyForm , TeXForm , IsCFormable .

###

IsCFormable -- check possibility to export expression to C++ code

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    IsCFormable(expr)
    IsCFormable(expr, funclist)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- expression to be exported (this argument is not evaluated)

`funclist` -- list of "allowed" function atoms

##### Description:

`IsCFormable` returns `True` if the Yacas expression `expr` can be exported into C++ code. This is a check whether the C++ exporter `CForm` can be safely used on the expression.

A Yacas expression is considered exportable if it contains only functions that can be translated into C++ (e.g. `UnList` cannot be exported). All variables and constants are considered exportable.

The verbose option prints names of functions that are not exportable.

The second calling format of `IsCFormable` can be used to "allow" certain function names that will be available in the C++ code.

##### Examples:

    In> IsCFormable(Sin(a1)+2*Cos(b1))
    Out> True;
    In> V(IsCFormable(1+func123(b1)))
    IsCFormable: Info: unexportable function(s):
      func123
    Out> False;

This returned `False` because the function `func123` is not available in C++. We can explicitly allow this function and then the expression will be considered exportable:

    In> IsCFormable(1+func123(b1), {func123})
    Out> True;

##### See also:

CForm , V .

###

Write -- low-level printing routine

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    Write(expr, ...)

##### Parameters:

`expr` -- expression to be printed

##### Description:

The expression "expr" is evaluated and written to the current output. Note that Write accept an arbitrary number of arguments, all of which are written to the current output (see second example). `Write` always returns `True`.

##### Examples:

    In> Write(1);
    1Out> True;
    In> Write(1,2);
     1 2Out> True;

Write does not write a newline, so the `Out>` prompt immediately follows the output of `Write`.

##### See also:

Echo , WriteString .

###

WriteString -- low-level printing routine for strings

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    WriteString(string)

##### Parameters:

`string` -- the string to be printed

##### Description:

The expression "string" is evaluated and written to the current output without quotation marks. The argument should be a string. WriteString always returns True.

##### Examples:

    In> Write("Hello, world!");
    "Hello, world!"Out> True;
    In> WriteString("Hello, world!");
    Hello, world!Out> True;

This example clearly shows the difference between Write and WriteString. Note that Write and WriteString do not write a newline, so the `Out>` prompt immediately follows the output.

##### See also:

Echo , Write .

###

Space -- print one or more spaces

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    Space()
    Space(nr)

##### Parameters:

`nr` -- the number of spaces to print

##### Description:

The command `Space()` prints one space on the current output. The second form prints `nr` spaces on the current output. The result is always True.

##### Examples:

    In> Space(5);
         Out> True;

##### See also:

Echo , Write , NewLine .

###

NewLine -- print one or more newline characters

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    NewLine()
    NewLine(nr)

##### Parameters:

`nr` -- the number of newline characters to print

##### Description:

The command `NewLine()` prints one newline character on the current output. The second form prints "nr" newlines on the current output. The result is always True.

##### Examples:

    In> NewLine();

    Out> True;

##### See also:

Echo , Write , Space .

###

FromFile -- connect current input to a file

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    FromFile(name) body

##### Parameters:

`name` - string, the name of the file to read

`body` - expression to be evaluated

##### Description:

The current input is connected to the file "name". Then the expression "body" is evaluated. If some functions in "body" try to read from current input, they will now read from the file "name". Finally, the file is closed and the result of evaluating "body" is returned.

##### Examples:

Suppose that the file `foo` contains

    2 + 5;

Then we can have the following dialogue:

    In> FromFile("foo") res := Read();
    Out> 2+5;
    In> FromFile("foo") res := ReadToken();
    Out> 2;

##### See also:

ToFile , FromString , Read , ReadToken .

###

FromString -- connect current input to a string

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    FromString(str) body;

##### Parameters:

`str` -- a string containing the text to parse

`body` -- expression to be evaluated

##### Description:

The commands in "body" are executed, but everything that is read from the current input is now read from the string "str". The result of "body" is returned.

##### Examples:

    In> FromString("2+5; this is never read") \
      res := Read();
    Out> 2+5;
    In> FromString("2+5; this is never read") \
      res := Eval(Read());
    Out> 7;

##### See also:

ToString , FromFile , Read , ReadToken .

###

ToFile -- connect current output to a file

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    ToFile(name) body

##### Parameters:

`name` -- string, the name of the file to write the result to

`body` -- expression to be evaluated

##### Description:

The current output is connected to the file "name". Then the expression "body" is evaluated. Everything that the commands in "body" print to the current output, ends up in the file "name". Finally, the file is closed and the result of evaluating "body" is returned.

If the file is opened again, the old contents will be overwritten. This is a limitation of `ToFile`: one cannot append to a file that has already been created.

##### Examples:

Here is how one can create a file with C code to evaluate an expression:

    In> ToFile("expr1.c") WriteString(
      CForm(Sqrt(x-y)*Sin(x)) );
    Out> True;

The file `expr1.c` was created in the current working directory and it contains the line

    sqrt(x-y)*sin(x)

As another example, take a look at the following command:

    In> [ Echo("Result:");  \
      PrettyForm(Taylor(x,0,9) Sin(x)); ];
    Result:

         3    5      7       9
        x    x      x       x
    x - -- + --- - ---- + ------
        6    120   5040   362880

    Out> True;

Now suppose one wants to send the output of this command to a file. This can be achieved as follows:

    In> ToFile("out") [ Echo("Result:");  \
      PrettyForm(Taylor(x,0,9) Sin(x)); ];
    Out> True;

After this command the file `out` contains:

    Result:

         3    5      7       9
        x    x      x       x
    x - -- + --- - ---- + ------
        6    120   5040   362880

##### See also:

FromFile , ToString , Echo , Write , WriteString , PrettyForm , Taylor .

###

ToString -- connect current output to a string

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    ToString() body

##### Parameters:

`body` -- expression to be evaluated

##### Description:

The commands in "body" are executed. Everything that is printed on the current output, by `Echo` for instance, is collected in a string and this string is returned.

##### Examples:

    In> str := ToString() [ WriteString(  \
      "The square of 8 is "); Write(8^2); ];
    Out> "The square of 8 is  64";

##### See also:

FromFile , ToString , Echo , Write , WriteString .

###

Read -- read an expression from current input

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    Read()

##### Description:

Read an expression from the current input, and return it unevaluated. When the end of an input file is encountered, the token atom `EndOfFile` is returned.

##### Examples:

    In> FromString("2+5;") Read();
    Out> 2+5;
    In> FromString("") Read();
    Out> EndOfFile;

##### See also:

FromFile , FromString , LispRead , ReadToken , Write .

###

ToStdout -- select initial output stream for output

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    ToStdout() body

##### Parameters:

`body` -- expression to be evaluated

##### Description:

When using `ToString` or `ToFile`, it might happen that something needs to be written to the standard default initial output (typically the screen). `ToStdout` can be used to select this stream.

##### Example:

    In> ToString()[Echo("aaaa");ToStdout()Echo("bbbb");];
    bbbb
    Out> "aaaa
    "

##### See also:

ToString , ToFile .

###

ReadCmdLineString -- read an expression from command line and return in string

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    ReadCmdLineString(prompt)

##### Parameters:

`prompt` -- string representing the prompt shown on screen

##### Description:

This function allows for interactive input similar to the command line. When using this function, the history from the command line is also available.

The result is returned in a string, so it still needs to be parsed.

This function will typically be used in situations where one wants a custom read-eval-print loop.

##### Examples:

The following defines a function that when invoked keeps asking for an expression (the read step), and then takes the derivative of it (the eval step) and then uses PrettyForm to display the result (the print step).

    In> ReEvPr() := \
    In>   While(True) [ \
    In>     PrettyForm(Deriv(x) \
    In>      FromString(ReadCmdLineString("Deriv> "):";")Read()); \
    In> ];
    Out> True;

Then one can invoke the command, from which the following interaction might follow:

    In> ReEvPr()
    Deriv> Sin(a^2*x/b)

       /  2     \
       | a  * x |    2
    Cos| ------ | * a  * b
       \   b    /
    ----------------------
               2
              b

    Deriv> Sin(x)

    Cos( x )

    Deriv>

##### See also:

Read , LispRead , LispReadListed .

###

LispRead, LispReadListed -- read expressions in LISP syntax

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    LispRead()
    LispReadListed()

##### Description:

The function `LispRead` reads an expression in the LISP syntax from the current input, and returns it unevaluated. When the end of an input file is encountered, the special token atom `EndOfFile` is returned.

The Yacas expression `a+b` is written in the LISP syntax as `(+ a b)`. The advantage of this syntax is that it is less ambiguous than the infix operator grammar that Yacas uses by default.

The function `LispReadListed` reads a LISP expression and returns it in a list, instead of the form usual to Yacas (expressions). The result can be thought of as applying `Listify` to `LispRead`. The function `LispReadListed` is more useful for reading arbitrary LISP expressions, because the first object in a list can be itself a list (this is never the case for Yacas expressions where the first object in a list is always a function atom).

##### Examples:

    In> FromString("(+ a b)") LispRead();
    Out> a+b;
    In> FromString("(List (Sin x) (- (Cos x)))") \
      LispRead();
    Out> {Sin(x),-Cos(x)};
    In> FromString("(+ a b)")LispRead()
    Out> a+b;
    In> FromString("(+ a b)")LispReadListed()
    Out> {+,a,b};

##### See also:

FromFile , FromString , Read , ReadToken , FullForm .

###

ReadToken -- read a token from current input

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    ReadToken()

##### Description:

Read a token from the current input, and return it unevaluated. The returned object is a Yacas atom (not a string). When the end of an input file is encountered, the token atom `EndOfFile` is returned.

A token is for computer languages what a word is for human languages: it is the smallest unit in which a command can be divided, so that the semantics (that is the meaning) of the command is in some sense a combination of the semantics of the tokens. Hence `a := foo` consists of three tokens, namely `a`, `:=`, and `foo`.

The parsing of the string depends on the syntax of the language. The part of the kernel that does the parsing is the "tokenizer". Yacas can parse its own syntax (the default tokenizer) or it can be instructed to parse XML or C++ syntax using the directives `DefaultTokenizer`, `XmlTokenizer`, or `CTokenizer`. Setting a tokenizer is a global action that affects all `ReadToken` calls.

##### Examples:

    In> FromString("a := Sin(x)") While \
      ((tok := ReadToken()) != EndOfFile) \
      Echo(tok);
    a
    :=
    Sin
    (
    x
    )
    Out> True;

We can read some junk too:

    In> FromString("-$3")ReadToken();
    Out> -$;

The result is an atom with the string representation `-$`. Yacas assumes that `-$` is an operator symbol yet to be defined. The "`3`" will be in the next token. (The results will be different if a non-default tokenizer is selected.)

##### See also:

FromFile , FromString , Read , LispRead , DefaultTokenizer .

###

Load -- evaluate all expressions in a file

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    Load(name)

##### Parameters:

`name` -- string, name of the file to load

##### Description:

The file "name" is opened. All expressions in the file are read and evaluated. `Load` always returns `true`.

##### See also:

Use , DefLoad , DefaultDirectory , FindFile .

###

Use -- load a file, but not twice

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    Use(name)

##### Parameters:

`name` -- string, name of the file to load

##### Description:

If the file "name" has been loaded before, either by an earlier call to `Use` or via the `DefLoad` mechanism, nothing happens. Otherwise all expressions in the file are read and evaluated. `Use` always returns `true`.

The purpose of this function is to make sure that the file will at least have been loaded, but is not loaded twice.

##### See also:

Load , DefLoad , DefaultDirectory .

###

DefLoad -- load a `.def` file

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    DefLoad(name)

##### Parameters:

`name` -- string, name of the file (without `.def` suffix)

##### Description:

The suffix `.def` is appended to "name" and the file with this name is loaded. It should contain a list of functions, terminated by a closing brace \} (the end-of-list delimiter). This tells the system to load the file "name" as soon as the user calls one of the functions named in the file (if not done so already). This allows for faster startup times, since not all of the rules databases need to be loaded, just the descriptions on which files to load for which functions.

##### See also:

Load , Use , DefaultDirectory .

###

FindFile -- find a file in the current path

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    FindFile(name)

##### Parameters:

`name` -- string, name of the file or directory to find

##### Description:

The result of this command is the full path to the file that would be opened when the command `Load(name)` would be invoked. This means that the input directories are subsequently searched for a file called "name". If such a file is not found, `FindFile` returns an empty string.

`FindFile("")` returns the name of the default directory (the first one on the search path).

##### See also:

Load , DefaultDirectory .

###

PatchLoad -- execute commands between `<?` and `?>` in file

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    PatchLoad(name)

##### Parameters:

`name` -- string, name of the file to "patch"

##### Description:

`PatchLoad` loads in a file and outputs the contents to the current output. The file can contain blocks delimited by `<?` and `?>` (meaning "Yacas Begin" and "Yacas End"). The piece of text between such delimiters is treated as a separate file with Yacas instructions, which is then loaded and executed. All output of write statements in that block will be written to the same current output.

This is similar to the way PHP works. You can have a static text file with dynamic content generated by Yacas.

##### See also:

PatchString , Load .

###

Nl -- the newline character

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    Nl()

##### Description:

This function returns a string with one element in it, namely a newline character. This may be useful for building strings to send to some output in the end.

Note that the second letter in the name of this command is a lower case `L` (from "line").

##### Examples:

    In> WriteString("First line" : Nl() : "Second line" : Nl());
    First line
    Second line
    Out> True;

##### See also:

NewLine .

###

V, Verbose -- set verbose output mode

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    V(expression)

##### Parameters:

`expression` -- expression to be evaluated in verbose mode

##### Description:

The function `V(expression)` will evaluate the expression in verbose mode. Various parts of Yacas can show extra information about the work done while doing a calculation when using `V`.

The function is currently implemented using a global variable `Verbose` which can be set to `True` or `False`.

##### Examples:

    In> OldSolve({x+2==0},{x})
    Out> {{-2}};
    In> V(OldSolve({x+2==0},{x}))
    Entering OldSolve
    From  x+2==0  it follows that  x  = -2
       x+2==0  simplifies to  True
    Leaving OldSolve
    Out> {{-2}};

##### See also:

Echo , N , OldSolve .

###

Plot2D -- adaptive two-dimensional plotting

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    Plot2D(f(x))
    Plot2D(f(x), a:b)
    Plot2D(f(x), a:b, option=value)
    Plot2D(f(x), a:b, option=value, ...)
    Plot2D(list, ...)

##### Parameters:

`f(x)` -- unevaluated expression containing one variables (function to be plotted)

`list` -- list of functions to plot

`a`, `b` -- numbers, plotting range in the x coordinate

`option` -- atom, option name

`value` -- atom, number or string (value of option)

##### Description:

The routine `Plot2D` performs adaptive plotting of one or several functions of one variable in the specified range. The result is presented as a line given by the equation y=f(x). Several functions can be plotted at once. Various plotting options can be specified. Output can be directed to a plotting program (the default is to use `gnuplot`), to a data file, or to a list of values.

The function parameter `f(x)` must evaluate to a Yacas expression containing at most one variable. (The variable does not have to be called `x`.) Also, `N(f(x))` must evaluate to a real (not complex) numerical value when given a numerical value of the argument `x`. If the function `f(x)` does not satisfy these requirements, an error is raised.

Several functions may be specified as a list and they do not have to depend on the same variable, for example, `{f(x), g(y)}`. The functions will be plotted on the same graph using the same coordinate ranges.

If you have defined a function which accepts a number but does not accept an undefined variable, `Plot2D` will fail to plot it. Use `NFunction` to overcome this difficulty.

Data files are created in a temporary directory `/tmp/plot.tmp/` unless otherwise requested. File names and other information is printed if the `Verbose` option is switched on using `V()`.

The current algorithm uses Newton-Cotes quadratures and some heuristics for error estimation (see The Yacas book of algorithms, Chapter 3, Section 1 ). The initial grid of `points+1` points is refined between any grid points a, b if the integral Integrate(x,a,b)f(x) is not approximated to the given precision by the existing grid.

Default plotting range is `-5:5`. Range can also be specified as `x= -5:5` (note the mandatory space separating "`=`" and "`-`"); currently the variable name `x` is ignored in this case.

Options are of the form `option=value`. Currently supported option names are: "points", "precision", "depth", "output", "filename", "yrange". Option values are either numbers or special unevaluated atoms such as `data`. If you need to use the names of these atoms in your script, strings can be used (e.g. `output="gnuplot"`). Several option/value pairs may be specified (the function `Plot2D` has a variable number of arguments).

- `yrange`: the range of ordinates to use for plotting, e.g. `yrange=0:20`. If no range is specified, the default is usually to leave the choice to the plotting backend. `gnuplot` and `plotutils` will choose the range automatically based on actual values (which may give visually inadequate plots if the function has a singularity).
- `points`: initial number of points (default 23) -- at least that many points will be plotted. The initial grid of this many points will be adaptively refined.
- `precision`: graphing precision (default 10^(-6)). This is interpreted as the relative precision of computing the integral of f(x)-Min(f(x)) using the grid points. For a smooth, non-oscillating function this value should be roughly 1/(number of screen pixels in the plot).
- `depth`: max. refinement depth, logarithmic (default 5) -- means there will be at most 2^depth extra points per initial grid point.
- `output`: name of the plotting backend. Supported names: `gnuplot` (default), `plotutils`, `gmt`, `datafile`, `data`. The `gnuplot`, `gmt` and `plotutils` backends will display the plot on the screen (this requires either the `gnuplot` program or the GNU `plotutils` suite or the `gmt` suite). The support of `gmt` ("Generic Mapping Tools") is currently Unix-only. The `datafile` backend will write the numerical data to a text file with specified name. The `data` backend will return the data as a list of pairs such as `{{x1,y1}, {x2,y2}, ...}`.
- `filename`: specify name of the created data file. For example: `filename="data1.txt"`. The default is the name `"output.data"`. Note that if several functions are plotted, the data files will have a number appended to the given name, for example `data.txt1`, `data.txt2`.

Other options may be supported in the future.

The current implementation can deal with a singularity within the plotting range only if the function `f(x)` returns `Infinity`, `-Infinity` or `Undefined` at the singularity. If the function `f(x)` generates a numerical error and fails at a singularity, `Plot2D` will fail if one of the grid points falls on the singularity. (All grid points are generated by bisection so in principle the endpoints and the `points` parameter could be chosen to avoid numerical singularities.)

*WIN32

On the Wind*ws platforms, there are some limitations:

- The `gnuplot` program must be installed on the path, or in the same directory as Yacas is started. The executable must be called `wgnupl32.exe` and the file `wgnuplot.mnu` must be there as well.
- The `plotutils` backend is not yet supported.
- The `gmt` backend is not yet supported.
- Some extra messages are printed to the console.
- All files are created in the subdirectory `plot.tmp` under the current directory; also the system cannot determine whether the current directory is writable and whether the `plot.tmp` subdirectory has been successfully created.

##### Examples:

    In> Plot2D({(2+x)/(2-x),Exp(y)},-1.8:1.5)
    Out> True;
    In> V(Plot2D(Sin(1/x),0:1, depth=4, \
    In>   precision=0.001, output=plotutils))
    Plot2D: using 65 points for function Sin(1/x)
    Plot2D'datafile: created file '/tmp/plot.tmp/data1'
    Out> True;

If a function takes a long time to evaluate, one can use `MakeFunctionPlugin` (a Unix-specific tool) to compile the function and plot it faster:

    In> f(x) := Cos( (Abs(Pi/x))^1.5 )
    Out> True;
    In> Time( Plot2D(f(x),0:1) )
    94.93 seconds taken
    Out> True;
    In> MakeFunctionPlugin("f1", f(x))
    Function f1(x) loaded from plugins.tmp/
      libf1_plugin_cc.so
    Out> True;
    In> Time( Plot2D(f1(x),0:1) )
    6.97 seconds taken
    Out> True;

##### See also:

V , NFunction , MakeFunctionPlugin , Plot3DS .

###

Plot3DS -- three-dimensional (surface) plotting

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    Plot3DS(f(x,y))
    Plot3DS(f(x,y), a:b, c:d)
    Plot3DS(f(x,y), a:b, c:d, option=value)
    Plot3DS(f(x,y), a:b, c:d, option=value, ...)
    Plot3DS(list, ...)

##### Parameters:

`f(x,y)` -- unevaluated expression containing two variables (function to be plotted)

`list` -- list of functions to plot

`a`, `b`, `c`, `d` -- numbers, plotting ranges in the x and y coordinates

`option` -- atom, option name

`value` -- atom, number or string (value of option)

##### Description:

The routine `Plot3DS` performs adaptive plotting of a function of two variables in the specified ranges. The result is presented as a surface given by the equation z=f(x,y). Several functions can be plotted at once, by giving a list of functions. Various plotting options can be specified. Output can be directed to a plotting program (the default is to use `gnuplot`), to a data file, or to a list of values.

The function parameter `f(x,y)` must evaluate to a Yacas expression containing at most two variables. (The variables do not have to be called `x` and `y`.) Also, `N(f(x,y))` must evaluate to a real (not complex) numerical value when given numerical values of the arguments `x`, `y`. If the function `f(x,y)` does not satisfy these requirements, an error is raised.

Several functions may be specified as a list but they have to depend on the same symbolic variables, for example, `{f(x,y), g(y,x)}`, but not `{f(x,y), g(a,b)}`. The functions will be plotted on the same graph using the same coordinate ranges.

If you have defined a function which accepts a number but does not accept an undefined variable, `Plot3DS` will fail to plot it. Use `NFunction` to overcome this difficulty.

Data files are created in a temporary directory `/tmp/plot.tmp/` unless otherwise requested. File names and other information is printed if the `Verbose` option is switched on using `V()`.

The current algorithm uses Newton-Cotes cubatures and some heuristics for error estimation (see The Yacas book of algorithms, Chapter 3, Section 1 ). The initial rectangular grid of `xpoints+1`*`ypoints+1` points is refined within any rectangle where the integral of f(x,y) is not approximated to the given precision by the existing grid.

Default plotting range is `-5:5` in both coordinates. A range can also be specified with a variable name, e.g. `x= -5:5` (note the mandatory space separating "`=`" and "`-`"). The variable name `x` should be the same as that used in the function `f(x,y)`. If ranges are not given with variable names, the first variable encountered in the function `f(x,y)` is associated with the first of the two ranges.

Options are of the form `option=value`. Currently supported option names are "points", "xpoints", "ypoints", "precision", "depth", "output", "filename", "xrange", "yrange", "zrange". Option values are either numbers or special unevaluated atoms such as `data`. If you need to use the names of these atoms in your script, strings can be used (e.g. `output="gnuplot"`). Several option/value pairs may be specified (the function `Plot3DS` has a variable number of arguments).

- `xrange`, `yrange`: optionally override coordinate ranges. Note that `xrange` is always the first variable and `yrange` the second variable, regardless of the actual variable names.
- `zrange`: the range of the z axis to use for plotting, e.g. `zrange=0:20`. If no range is specified, the default is usually to leave the choice to the plotting backend. Automatic choice based on actual values may give visually inadequate plots if the function has a singularity.
- `points`, `xpoints`, `ypoints`: initial number of points (default 10 each) -- at least that many points will be plotted in each coordinate. The initial grid of this many points will be adaptively refined. If `points` is specified, it serves as a default for both `xpoints` and `ypoints`; this value may be overridden by `xpoints` and `ypoints` values.
- `precision`: graphing precision (default 0.01). This is interpreted as the relative precision of computing the integral of f(x,y)-Min(f(x,y)) using the grid points. For a smooth, non-oscillating function this value should be roughly 1/(number of screen pixels in the plot).
- `depth`: max. refinement depth, logarithmic (default 3) -- means there will be at most 2^depth extra points per initial grid point (in each coordinate).
- `output`: name of the plotting backend. Supported names: `gnuplot` (default), `gmt`, `datafile`, `data`. The `gnuplot` and `gmt` backends will display the plot on the screen (this requires the `gnuplot` or `gmt` suite). The support of `gmt` ("Generic Mapping Tools") is currently Unix-only. The `datafile` backend will write the numerical data to a text file with specified name. The `data` backend will return the data as a list of triples such as `{{x1, y1, z1}, {x2, y2, z2}, ...}`.
- `hidden`: boolean value, whether to use the hidden-line visualization. Default is `True`. Currently used only for `gnuplot` backend.
- `filename`: specify name of the created data file. For example: `filename="data1.txt"`. The default is the name `"output.data"`. Note that if several functions are plotted, the data files will have a number appended to the given name, for example `data.txt1`, `data.txt2`.

Other options may be supported in the future.

The current implementation can deal with a singularity within the plotting range only if the function `f(x,y)` returns `Infinity`, `-Infinity` or `Undefined` at the singularity. If the function `f(x,y)` generates a numerical error and fails at a singularity, `Plot3DS` will fail only if one of the grid points falls on the singularity. (All grid points are generated by bisection so in principle the endpoints and the `xpoints`, `ypoints` parameters could be chosen to avoid numerical singularities.)

The `filename` option is optional if using graphical backends, but can be used to specify the location of the created data file.

*WIN32

Same limitations as `Plot2D`.

##### Examples:

    In> Plot3DS(a*b^2)
    Out> True;
    In> V(Plot3DS(Sin(x)*Cos(y),x=0:20, y=0:20,depth=3))
    CachedConstant: Info: constant Pi is being
      recalculated at precision 10
    CachedConstant: Info: constant Pi is being
      recalculated at precision 11
    Plot3DS: using 1699  points for function Sin(x)*Cos(y)
    Plot3DS: max. used 8 subdivisions for Sin(x)*Cos(y)
    Plot3DS'datafile: created file '/tmp/plot.tmp/data1'
    Out> True;

##### See also:

V , NFunction , MakeFunctionPlugin , Plot2D .

###

XmlExplodeTag -- convert XML strings to tag objects

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    XmlExplodeTag(xmltext)

##### Parameters:

`xmltext` -- string containing some XML tokens

##### Description:

`XmlExplodeTag` parses the first XML token in `xmltext` and returns a Yacas expression.

The following subset of XML syntax is supported currently:

- `<TAG [options]>` -- an opening tag
- `</TAG [options]>` -- a closing tag
- `<TAG [options] />` -- an open/close tag
- plain (non-tag) text

The tag options take the form `paramname="value"`.

If given an XML tag, `XmlExplodeTag` returns a structure of the form `XmlTag(name,params,type)`. In the returned object, `name` is the (capitalized) tag name, `params` is an assoc list with the options (key fields capitalized), and type can be either "Open", "Close" or "OpenClose".

If given a plain text string, the same string is returned.

##### Examples:

    In> XmlExplodeTag("some plain text")
    Out> "some plain text";
    In> XmlExplodeTag("<a name=\"blah blah\"
      align=\"left\">")
    Out> XmlTag("A",{{"ALIGN","left"},
      {"NAME","blah blah"}},"Open");
    In> XmlExplodeTag("</p>")
    Out> XmlTag("P",{},"Close");
    In> XmlExplodeTag("<br/>")
    Out> XmlTag("BR",{},"OpenClose");

##### See also:

XmlTokenizer .

###

DefaultTokenizer, XmlTokenizer, CTokenizer -- select a syntax for parsing the input

##### Internal function

##### Calling format:

    DefaultTokenizer()
    XmlTokenizer()
    CTokenizer()

##### Description:

A "tokenizer" is an internal routine in the kernel that parses the input into Yacas expressions. This affects all input typed in by a user at the prompt and also the input redirected from files or strings using `FromFile` and `FromString` and read using `Read` or `ReadToken`.

The Yacas environment currently supports some experimental tokenizers for various syntaxes. `DefaultTokenizer` switches to the tokenizer used for default Yacas syntax. `XmlTokenizer` switches to an XML syntax and `CTokenizer` to a C syntax. Note that setting the tokenizer is a global side effect. One typically needs to switch back to the default tokenizer when finished reading the special syntax.

Care needs to be taken when kernel errors are raised during a non-default tokenizer operation (as with any global change in the environment). Errors need to be caught with the `TrapError` function. The error handler code should re-instate the default tokenizer, or else the user will be unable to continue the session (everything a user types will be parsed using a non-default tokenizer).

When reading XML syntax, the supported formats are the same as those of `XmlExplodeTag`. The parser does not validate anything in the XML input. After an XML token has been read in, it can be converted into an Yacas expression with `XmlExplodeTag`. Note that when reading XML, any plain text between tags is returned as one token. Any malformed XML will be treated as plain text.

`CTokenizer` is an implementation of a C/C++ tokenizer. It is still work in progress.

##### Example:

    In> [XmlTokenizer(); q:=ReadToken(); \
      DefaultTokenizer();q;]
    <a>Out> <a>;

Note that:

- after switching to `XmlTokenizer` the `In>` prompt disappeared; the user typed `<a>` and the `Out>` prompt with the resulting expression appeared.
- The resulting expression is an atom with the string representation `<a>`; it is not a string.

##### See also:

OMRead , TrapError , XmlExplodeTag , ReadToken , FromFile , FromString .

###

OMForm, OMRead -- convert expressions to and from OpenMath

##### Standard library

##### Calling format:

    OMForm(expression)
    OMRead()

##### Parameters:

`expression` -- expression to convert

##### Description:

`OMForm` prints an OpenMath representation of the input parameter `expression` to standard output. `OMRead` reads a OpenMath expression from standard input and returns a normal Yacas expression that matches the input OpenMath expression.

##### Example:

    In> str:=ToString()OMForm(2+Sin(a*3))
    Out> "<OMOBJ>
      <OMA>
        <OMS cd="arith1" name="plus"/>
        <OMI>2</OMI>
        <OMA>
          <OMS cd="transc1" name="sin"/>
          <OMA>
            <OMS cd="arith1" name="times"/>
            <OMV name="a"/>
            <OMI>3</OMI>
          </OMA>
        </OMA>
      </OMA>
    </OMOBJ>
    ";
    In> FromString(str)OMRead()
    Out> 2+Sin(a*3);

##### See also:

XmlTokenizer , XmlExplodeTag .