Syntax:

write-to-string object &key array base case circle escape gensym length level lines miser-width pprint-dispatch pretty radix readably right-margin

=> string

prin1-to-string object => string

princ-to-string object => string

Arguments and Values:

object---an object.

array---a generalized boolean.

base---a radix.

case---a symbol of type (member :upcase :downcase :capitalize).

circle---a generalized boolean.

escape---a generalized boolean.

gensym---a generalized boolean.

length---a non-negative integer, or nil.

level---a non-negative integer, or nil.

lines---a non-negative integer, or nil.

miser-width---a non-negative integer, or nil.

pprint-dispatch---a pprint dispatch table.

pretty---a generalized boolean.

radix---a generalized boolean.

readably---a generalized boolean.

right-margin---a non-negative integer, or nil.

string---a string.

Description:

write-to-string, prin1-to-string, and princ-to-string are used to create a string consisting of the printed representation of object. Object is effectively printed as if by write, prin1, or princ, respectively, and the characters that would be output are made into a string.

write-to-string is the general output function. It has the ability to specify all the parameters applicable to the printing of object.

prin1-to-string acts like write-to-string with :escape t, that is, escape characters are written where appropriate.

princ-to-string acts like write-to-string with :escape nil :readably nil. Thus no escape characters are written.

All other keywords that would be specified to write-to-string are default values when prin1-to-string or princ-to-string is invoked.

The meanings and defaults for the keyword arguments to write-to-string are the same as those for write.

Examples:

 (prin1-to-string "abc") =>  "\"abc\""
 (princ-to-string "abc") =>  "abc"

Side Effects: None.

Affected By:

*print-escape*, *print-radix*, *print-base*, *print-circle*, *print-pretty*, *print-level*, *print-length*, *print-case*, *print-gensym*, *print-array*, *read-default-float-format*.

Exceptional Situations: None.

See Also:

write

Notes:

 (write-to-string object {key argument}*)
==  (with-output-to-string (#1=#:string-stream) 
     (write object :stream #1# {key argument}*))

 (princ-to-string object)
==  (with-output-to-string (string-stream)
     (princ object string-stream))

 (prin1-to-string object)
==  (with-output-to-string (string-stream)
     (prin1 object string-stream))

• PRINC-READABLY:X3J13-DEC-91