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 Introduction} *)
(** {7 Functional input with format strings} *)
(** The module [Scanf] provides formatted input functions or {e scanners}.
The formatted input functions can read from any kind of input, including
strings, files, or anything that can return characters. The more general
source of characters is named a {e scanning buffer} and has type
{!Scanning.scanbuf}. The more general formatted input function reads from
any scanning buffer and is named [bscanf].
Generally speaking, the formatted input functions have 3 arguments:
- the first argument is a source of characters for the input,
- the second argument is a format string that specifies the values to
read,
- the third argument is a {e receiver function} that is applied to the
values read.
Hence, a typical call to the formatted input function {!Scanf.bscanf} is
[bscanf ib fmt f], where:
- [ib] is a source of characters (typically a {e
scanning buffer} with type {!Scanning.scanbuf}),
- [fmt] is a format string (the same format strings as those used to print
material with module {!Printf} or {!Format}),
- [f] is a function that has as many arguments as the number of values to
read in the input. *)
(** {7 A simple example} *)
(** As suggested above, the expression [bscanf ib "%d" f] reads a decimal
integer [n] from the source of characters [ib] and returns [f n].
For instance,
- if we use [stdib] as the source of characters ({!Scanning.stdib} is
the predefined input buffer that reads from standard input),
- if we define the receiver [f] as [let f x = x + 1],
then [bscanf stdib "%d" f] reads an integer [n] from the standard input
and returns [f n] (that is [n + 1]). Thus, if we evaluate [bscanf stdib
"%d" f], and then enter [41] at the keyboard, we get [42] as the final
result. *)
(** {7 Formatted input as a functional feature} *)
(** 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 just the regular function application not
the variable assigment based mechanism which is typical for formatted
input in imperative languages; the Caml format strings also feature
useful additions to easily define complex tokens; as expected within a
functional programming language, the formatted input functions also
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 input_channel;;
(* The notion of input channel for the [Scanf] module.
The type [scanbuf] is an alias for [input_channel]. *)
type scanbuf = input_channel;;
(** 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 stdin : scanbuf;;
(** The standard input notion for the module [Scanf].
[stdin] is equivalent to [Scanning.from_channel Pervasives.stdin].
Note: when input is read interactively from [stdin], the newline character
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 stdib : scanbuf;;
(** An alias for [Scanf.stdin], the scanning buffer reading from
[Pervasives.stdin]. *)
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 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;;
(** {6 Type of formatted input functions} *)
type ('a, 'b, 'c, 'd) scanner =
('a, Scanning.scanbuf, 'b, 'c, 'a -> 'd, 'd) format6 -> 'c;;
(** The type of formatted input scanners: [('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 ib fmt f] applies [f] to the arguments
specified by the format string [fmt], when [scan] has read those arguments
from the scanning input buffer [ib].
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.
If the format [fmt] has some [%r] indications, the corresponding input
functions must be provided before the receiver [f] argument. For
instance, if [read_elem] is an input function for values of type [t],
then [bscanf ib "%r;" read_elem f] reads a value [v] of type [t] followed
by a [';'] character, and returns [f v]. *)
exception Scan_failure of string;;
(** The exception that formatted input functions raise when the input cannot be
read according to the given format. *)
(** {6 The general formatted input function} *)
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.
The result of this call to [f] is returned as the result of the entire
[bscanf] call.
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 input functions that read the
argument corresponding to a [%r] conversion. *)
(** {6 Format string description} *)
(** 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 the function [f],
- scanning indications to specify boundaries of tokens. *)
(** {7 The space character in format strings} *)
(** As mentioned above, a plain character in the format string is just
matched with the characters of the input; however, one character is a
special exception to this simple rule: the space character (ASCII code
32) does not match a single space character, but any amount of
``whitespace'' in the input. More precisely, a space inside the format
string matches {e any number} of tab, space, line feed and carriage
return characters.
Matching {e any} amount of whitespace, a space in the format string
also matches no amount of whitespace at all; hence, the call [bscanf ib
"Price = %d $" (fun p -> p)] succeds and returns [1] when reading an
input with various whitespace in it, such as [Price = 1 $],
[Price = 1 $], or even [Price=1$]. *)
(** {7 Conversion specifications in format strings} *)
(** 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
following bounding condition holds: a whitespace has been found, a
scanning indication has been encountered, or the end-of-input has been
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 the next input character does not match 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] formatted input function and
applies it to the scanning buffer [ib] to read the next argument. The
input function [ri] must therefore have type [Scanning.scanbuf -> 'a] and
the argument read has type ['a].
- [\{ fmt %\}]: reads a format string argument.
The format string read must have the same type as the format string
specification [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 the format string
specification [fmt].
For instance, ["%\( %i% \)"] reads any format string that can read a value
of type [int]; hence [Scanf.sscanf "\\\"%4d\\\"1234.00" "%\(%i%\)"]
is equivalent to [Scanf.sscanf "1234.00" "%4d"].
- [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 that introduces 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 width is 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 fewer than 8 characters are available in the input).
Notes:
- as mentioned above, a [%s] convertion always succeeds, even if there is
nothing to read in the input: it simply returns [""].
- in addition to the 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. *)
(** {7 Scanning indications in format strings} *)
(** 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
tab 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.
Note:
- the scanning indications introduce slight differences in the syntax of
[Scanf] format strings, compared to those used for the [Printf]
module. However, the scanning indications are similar to those used in
the [Format] module; hence, when producing formatted text to be scanned
by [!Scanf.bscanf], it is wise to use printing functions from the
[Format] module (or, if you need to use functions from [Printf], banish
or carefully double check the format strings that contain ['\@']
characters). *)
(** {7 Exceptions during scanning} *)
(** Scanners may raise the following exceptions when the input cannot be read
according to the format string:
- 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.
- Raise [Invalid_argument] if the format string is invalid.
Note:
- 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 ever read. *)
(** {6 Specialized formatted input functions} *)
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 will operate with a
scanning buffer reading from the given channel. This extra level of
bufferization can lead to strange scanning behaviour if you use low level
primitives on the channel (reading characters, seeking the reading
position, and so on).
As a consequence, never mixt direct low level reading and high level
scanning from the same input channel. *)
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 calls the
error handling function [ef] with the scanning buffer and the
exception that aborted the scanning process as arguments. *)
(** {6 Reading format strings from input} *)
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.
Raise [Scan_failure] if the format string value read does not have 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].
Raise [Scan_failure] if [s], considered as a format string, does not
have the same type as [fmt]. *)