ocaml/stdlib/scanf.mli

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OCaml

(***********************************************************************)
(* *)
(* Objective Caml *)
(* *)
(* Pierre Weis, projet Cristal, INRIA Rocquencourt *)
(* *)
(* Copyright 2002 Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et *)
(* en Automatique. All rights reserved. This file is distributed *)
(* under the terms of the GNU Library General Public License, with *)
(* the special exception on linking described in file ../LICENSE. *)
(* *)
(***********************************************************************)
(* $Id$ *)
(** Formatted input functions. *)
(** {6 Functional input with format strings.} *)
(** The formatted input functions provided by module [Scanf] are functionals
that apply the values they read in the input to their function argument.
The specification of the values to read is simply given by a format string
(the same format strings as those used to print material using module
{!Printf} or module {!Format}).
As an example, consider the formatted input function [scanf] that reads
from standard input; a typical call to [scanf] is simply [scanf fmt f],
meaning that [f] should be applied to the arguments read according to the
format string [fmt]. For instance, if [f] is defined as [let f x = x + 1], then
[scanf "%d" f] will read a decimal integer [i] from [stdin] and return
[f i]; thus, if we enter [41] at the keyboard, [scanf "%d" f] evaluates to [42].
This module provides general formatted input functions that reads from any
kind of input, including strings, files, or anything that can return
characters.
Hence, a typical call to a formatted input function [bscan] is
[bscan ib fmt f], meaning that [f] should be applied to the arguments
read from input [ib], according to the format string [fmt].
The Caml scanning facility is reminiscent of the corresponding C feature.
However, it is also largely different, simpler, and yet more powerful: the
formatted input functions are higher-order functionals and the parameter
passing mechanism is simply the regular function application not the
variable assigment based mechanism which is typical of formatted input in
imperative languages; the format strings also feature useful additions to
easily define complex tokens; as expected of a functional programming
language feature, the formatted input functions support polymorphism, in
particular arbitrary interaction with polymorphic user-defined scanners.
Furthermore, the Caml formatted input facility is fully type-checked at
compile time. *)
(** {6 Scanning buffers} *)
module Scanning : sig
type scanbuf;;
(** The type of scanning buffers. A scanning buffer is the source from which a
formatted input function gets characters. The scanning buffer holds the current
state of the scan, plus a function to get the next char from the input, and
a token buffer to store the string matched so far.
Note: a scan may often require to examine one character in advance;
when this ``lookahead'' character does not belong to the token read,
it is stored back in the scanning buffer and becomes the next
character read. *)
val stdib : scanbuf;;
(** The scanning buffer reading from [stdin].
[stdib] is equivalent to [Scanning.from_channel stdin].
Note: when input is read interactively from [stdin], the carriage return
that triggers the evaluation is incorporated in the input; thus, scanning
specifications must properly skip this character (simply add a ['\n']
as the last character of the format string). *)
val from_string : string -> scanbuf;;
(** [Scanning.from_string s] returns a scanning buffer which reads from the
given string.
Reading starts from the first character in the string.
The end-of-input condition is set when the end of the string is reached. *)
val from_file : string -> scanbuf;;
(** Bufferized file reading in text mode. The efficient and usual
way to scan text mode files (in effect, [from_file] returns a
scanning buffer that reads characters in large chunks, rather than one
character at a time as buffers returned by [from_channel] do).
[Scanning.from_file fname] returns a scanning buffer which reads
from the given file [fname] in text mode. *)
val from_file_bin : string -> scanbuf;;
(** Bufferized file reading in binary mode. *)
val from_function : (unit -> char) -> scanbuf;;
(** [Scanning.from_function f] returns a scanning buffer with the given
function as its reading method.
When scanning needs one more character, the given function is called.
When the function has no more character to provide, it must signal an
end-of-input condition by raising the exception [End_of_file]. *)
val from_channel : in_channel -> scanbuf;;
(** [Scanning.from_channel ic] returns a scanning buffer which reads
one character at a time from the input channel [ic], starting at the
current reading position. *)
val end_of_input : scanbuf -> bool;;
(** [Scanning.end_of_input ib] tests the end-of-input condition of the given
scanning buffer. *)
val beginning_of_input : scanbuf -> bool;;
(** [Scanning.beginning_of_input ib] tests the beginning of input condition of
the given scanning buffer. *)
val name_of_input : scanbuf -> string;;
(** [Scanning.file_name_of_input ib] returns the name of the character source
for the scanning buffer [ib]. *)
end;;
exception Scan_failure of string;;
(** The exception that formatted input functions raise when the input cannot be
read according to the given format. *)
type ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner =
('a, Scanning.scanbuf, 'b, 'c, 'a -> 'd, 'd) format6 -> 'c;;
(** The type of formatted input functions: [('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner] is the
type of a formatted input function that reads from some scanning buffer
according to some format string; more precisely, if [scan] is some
formatted input function, then [scan fmt f] applies [f] to the arguments
specified by the format string [fmt], when [scan] has read those arguments
from some scanning buffer.
For instance, the [scanf] function below has type [('a, 'b, 'c, 'd)
scanner], since it is a formatted input function that reads from [stdib]:
[scanf fmt f] applies [f] to the arguments specified by [fmt], reading
those arguments from [stdin] as expected. *)
(** {6 Formatted input functions} *)
val bscanf : Scanning.scanbuf -> ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner;;
(** [bscanf ib fmt r1 ... rN f] reads arguments for the function [f] from the
scanning buffer [ib] according to the format string [fmt], and applies [f]
to these values.
This application of [f] is the result of the whole construct.
For instance, if [f] is the function [fun s i -> i + 1], then
[Scanf.sscanf "x = 1" "%s = %i" f] returns [2].
Arguments [r1] to [rN] are user-defined scanners that are applied to the
scanning buffer [ib] to read the argument of a [%r] conversion.
The format is a character string which contains three types of
objects:
- plain characters, which are simply matched with the characters of the
input,
- conversion specifications, each of which causes reading and conversion of
one argument for [f],
- scanning indications to specify boundaries of tokens.
Among plain characters the space character (ASCII code 32) has a
special meaning: it matches ``whitespace'', that is any number of tab,
space, newline and carriage return characters. Hence, a space in the format
matches any amount of whitespace in the input.
Conversion specifications consist in the [%] character, followed by
an optional flag, an optional field width, and followed by one or
two conversion characters. The conversion characters and their
meanings are:
- [d]: reads an optionally signed decimal integer.
- [i]: reads an optionally signed integer
(usual input formats for hexadecimal ([0x[d]+] and [0X[d]+]),
octal ([0o[d]+]), and binary [0b[d]+] notations are understood).
- [u]: reads an unsigned decimal integer.
- [x] or [X]: reads an unsigned hexadecimal integer.
- [o]: reads an unsigned octal integer.
- [s]: reads a string argument that spreads as much as possible,
until the next white space, the next scanning indication, or the
end-of-input is reached. Hence, this conversion always succeeds:
it returns an empty string if the bounding condition holds
when the scan begins.
- [S]: reads a delimited string argument (delimiters and special
escaped characters follow the lexical conventions of Caml).
- [c]: reads a single character. To test the current input character
without reading it, specify a null field width, i.e. use
specification [%0c]. Raise [Invalid_argument], if the field width
specification is greater than 1.
- [C]: reads a single delimited character (delimiters and special
escaped characters follow the lexical conventions of Caml).
- [f], [e], [E], [g], [G]: reads an optionally signed
floating-point number in decimal notation, in the style [dddd.ddd
e/E+-dd].
- [F]: reads a floating point number according to the lexical
conventions of Caml (hence the decimal point is mandatory if the
exponent part is not mentioned).
- [B]: reads a boolean argument ([true] or [false]).
- [b]: reads a boolean argument (for backward compatibility; do not use
in new programs).
- [ld], [li], [lu], [lx], [lX], [lo]: reads an [int32] argument to
the format specified by the second letter (decimal, hexadecimal, etc).
- [nd], [ni], [nu], [nx], [nX], [no]: reads a [nativeint] argument to
the format specified by the second letter.
- [Ld], [Li], [Lu], [Lx], [LX], [Lo]: reads an [int64] argument to
the format specified by the second letter.
- [\[ range \]]: reads characters that matches one of the characters
mentioned in the range of characters [range] (or not mentioned in
it, if the range starts with [^]). Reads a [string] that can be
empty, if no character in the input matches the range. The set of
characters from [c1] to [c2] (inclusively) is denoted by [c1-c2].
Hence, [%\[0-9\]] returns a string representing a decimal number
or an empty string if no decimal digit is found; similarly,
[%\[\\048-\\057\\065-\\070\]] returns a string of hexadecimal digits.
If a closing bracket appears in a range, it must occur as the
first character of the range (or just after the [^] in case of
range negation); hence [\[\]\]] matches a [\]] character and
[\[^\]\]] matches any character that is not [\]].
- [r]: user-defined reader. Takes the next [ri] scanner argument and applies
it to the scanning buffer [ib] to read the next argument for [f]. Scanner
argument [ri] must therefore have type [Scanning.scanbuf -> 'a] and the
argument read has type ['a].
- [\{ fmt %\}]: reads a format string argument to the format
specified by the internal format [fmt]. The format string to be
read must have the same type as the internal format [fmt].
For instance, "%\{%i%\}" reads any format string that can read a value of
type [int]; hence [Scanf.sscanf "fmt:\\\"number is %u\\\"" "fmt:%\{%i%\}"]
succeeds and returns the format string ["number is %u"].
- [\( fmt %\)]: scanning format substitution.
Reads a format string to replace [fmt]. The format string read
must have the same type as [fmt].
- [l]: returns the number of lines read so far.
- [n]: returns the number of characters read so far.
- [N] or [L]: returns the number of tokens read so far.
- [!]: matches the end of input condition.
- [%]: matches one [%] character in the input.
Following the [%] character introducing a conversion, there may be
the special flag [_]: the conversion that follows occurs as usual,
but the resulting value is discarded.
For instance, if [f] is the function [fun i -> i + 1], then
[Scanf.sscanf "x = 1" "%_s = %i" f] returns [2].
The field widths are composed of an optional integer literal
indicating the maximal width of the token to read.
For instance, [%6d] reads an integer, having at most 6 decimal digits;
[%4f] reads a float with at most 4 characters; and [%8\[\\000-\\255\]]
returns the next 8 characters (or all the characters still available,
if less than 8 characters are available in the input).
Scanning indications appear just after the string conversions [%s]
and [%\[ range \]] to delimit the end of the token. A scanning
indication is introduced by a [@] character, followed by some
constant character [c]. It means that the string token should end
just before the next matching [c] (which is skipped). If no [c]
character is encountered, the string token spreads as much as
possible. For instance, ["%s@\t"] reads a string up to the next
tabulation character or to the end of input. If a scanning
indication [\@c] does not follow a string conversion, it is treated
as a plain [c] character.
Raise [Scanf.Scan_failure] if the input does not match the format.
Raise [Failure] if a conversion to a number is not possible.
Raise [End_of_file] if the end of input is encountered while some more
characters are needed to read the current conversion specification.
As a consequence, scanning a [%s] conversion never raises exception
[End_of_file]: if the end of input is reached the conversion succeeds and
simply returns the characters read so far, or [""] if none were read.
Raise [Invalid_argument] if the format string is invalid.
Notes:
- the scanning indications introduce slight differences in the
syntax of [Scanf] format strings compared to those used by the
[Printf] module. However, scanning indications are similar to those
of the [Format] module; hence, when producing formatted text to be
scanned by [!Scanf.bscanf], it is wise to use printing functions
from [Format] (or, if you need to use functions from [Printf],
banish or carefully double check the format strings that contain
['\@'] characters).
- in addition to relevant digits, ['_'] characters may appear
inside numbers (this is reminiscent to the usual Caml lexical
conventions). If stricter scanning is desired, use the range
conversion facility instead of the number conversions.
- the [scanf] facility is not intended for heavy duty lexical
analysis and parsing. If it appears not expressive enough for your
needs, several alternative exists: regular expressions (module
[Str]), stream parsers, [ocamllex]-generated lexers,
[ocamlyacc]-generated parsers.
*)
val fscanf : in_channel -> ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner;;
(** Same as {!Scanf.bscanf}, but reads from the given channel.
Warning: since all formatted input functions operate from a scanning
buffer, be aware that each [fscanf] invocation must allocate a new
fresh scanning buffer (unless careful use of partial evaluation in
the program). Hence, there are chances that some characters seem
to be skipped (in fact they are pending in the previously used
scanning buffer). This happens in particular when calling [fscanf] again
after a scan involving a format that necessitated some look ahead
(such as a format that ends by skipping whitespace in the input).
To avoid confusion, consider using [bscanf] with an explicitly
created scanning buffer. Use for instance [Scanning.from_file f]
to allocate the scanning buffer reading from file [f].
This method is not only clearer it is also faster, since scanning
buffers to files are optimized for fast bufferized reading. *)
val sscanf : string -> ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner;;
(** Same as {!Scanf.bscanf}, but reads from the given string. *)
val scanf : ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner;;
(** Same as {!Scanf.bscanf}, but reads from the predefined scanning
buffer {!Scanf.Scanning.stdib} that is connected to [stdin]. *)
val kscanf :
Scanning.scanbuf -> (Scanning.scanbuf -> exn -> 'd) ->
('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner;;
(** Same as {!Scanf.bscanf}, but takes an additional function argument
[ef] that is called in case of error: if the scanning process or
some conversion fails, the scanning function aborts and applies the
error handling function [ef] to the scanning buffer and the
exception that aborted the scanning process. *)
val bscanf_format :
Scanning.scanbuf -> ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, 'f) format6 ->
(('a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, 'f) format6 -> 'g) -> 'g;;
(** [bscanf_format ib fmt f] reads a format string token from the scannning
buffer [ib], according to the given format string [fmt], and applies [f] to
the resulting format string value.
Raises [Scan_failure] if the format string value read has not the same type
as [fmt]. *)
val sscanf_format :
string -> ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, 'f) format6 ->
(('a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, 'f) format6 -> 'g) -> 'g;;
(** Same as {!Scanf.bscanf_format}, but reads from the given string. *)
val format_from_string :
string ->
('a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, 'f) format6 -> ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd, 'e, 'f) format6;;
(** [format_from_string s fmt] converts a string argument to a format string,
according to the given format string [fmt].
Raises [Scan_failure] if [s], considered as a format string, has not the same
type as [fmt]. *)