getGlobalSymbol -- create a global symbol in a global dictionary

Synopsis

• Usage:

  getGlobalSymbol(dict,nam)

  getGlobalSymbol nam

• Inputs:
  • dict, an instance of the type GlobalDictionary
  • nam, a string
• Outputs:
  • a global symbol in the dictionary dict whose name is the string nam, which will be created, if necessary
• Consequences:

  • if a new symbol is created, it is stored under the name nam in the dictionary dict

Description

If dict is omitted, then the first symbol found in the dictionaries listed in dictionaryPath will be returned. If none is found, one will be created in the first dictionary listed in dictionaryPath, unless it is not mutable, in which case an error will be signalled; perhaps that behavior should be changed.

i1 : d = new Dictionary

o1 = d

o1 : GlobalDictionary

i2 : sym = getGlobalSymbol(d,"foo")

o2 = foo

o2 : Symbol

i3 : d

o3 = d

o3 : GlobalDictionary

i4 : peek d

o4 = GlobalDictionary{"foo" => foo}

i5 : d#"foo" === sym

o5 = true

i6 : d#"asfd" = sym

o6 = foo

o6 : Symbol

i7 : peek d

o7 = GlobalDictionary{"asfd" => foo}
                      "foo" => foo