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From: Slawek Zak <zaks@prioris.mini.pw.edu.pl>
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Subject: Re: String -> register conversion
Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 16:07:05 +0100
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On Wed, 06 Feb 2002, Hans Hagen verbalised:
> [bounced mail, use address know to list]

Fixed, thanks.

>>How can I make the following work in Tex? :
>>
>>\def\mac{10}
>>\newcount\cnt
>>\cnt=\mac
>>\the\mac
>>\bye
>>
>> The idea is simple. I want TeX to expand \mac and make an assignment to
>> register \cnt. I tried \expandafter\cnt=\mac, but it doesn't work. Perhaps
>> because of the = after \cnt.
> 
> first of all, \the\mac is wrong, since \mac is no register, so that one should
> be \the\cnt

Sure. My fault. I meant \the\cnt of course.

> but then, again you get not what you want, because tex keeps on reading until
> no numbers are found, so you need to stop reading by saying \cnt=\mac\relax
> (or \cnt\mac\space)

Ouch. \relax, I should've thought of it. Thanks.

> if you want a neutral way to get a number, use \number\cnt or \number\mac
> since \number is less strict in what it expects

Yep. That reminds me to put The TeXbook lecture on my to-read list again ;)

> PS. Of course a google search does not work, since mac will always lead you to
> big macs i suppose -)

Apple would come up as the first search result on Google, actually ;)

/S
-- 
hundred-and-one symptoms of being an internet addict:
234. You started college as a chemistry major, and walk out four years
     later as an Internet provider.
* Suavek Zak / PGP: finger://zaks@prioris.mini.pw.edu.pl