Re: convert strings to symbol

[David Kastrup]

Andreas Röhler <andreas.roehler@online.de> writes:

> Am Montag, 16. Juni 2008 schrieb David Kastrup:
>> Andreas Röhler <andreas.roehler@online.de> writes:
>> 
>> > Am Montag, 16. Juni 2008 schrieb alruccaba@justmail.de:
>> >> Does someone have an idea how to convert a string object to a symbol?
>> >> One purpose would be some kind of variable substitution :
>> >> 
>> >> (setq y "z")
>> >> (setq x "y")
>> >> (print  ..? x ....) -> "z"
>> >> 
>> >> Thanks in advance.
>> >
>> > make-symbol (?)
>> >
>> > (setq a (make-symbol "eins"))
>> > a => eins
>> 
>> No, that is entirely useless since it creates a new symbol that has only
>> the print name "eins" but is not accessible via its name.
>> 
>> He wants something like
>> 
>>
>
> Don't work for me.

Works perfectly for me.

(setq y "z")
(setq x "y")
(print (symbol-value (intern x))) -> "z"

> Even not with
>
> (print (symbol-value (intern "x")))

That yields "y".  Obviously.

> So it works:
>
> (setq a (intern "x"))
>
> (print (symbol-value 'a))
>
> Probably you can explain the reasons.

Looks like you should reread what you were replying to.  What I posted
works _exactly_ like the poster wanted it to work.  You are doing
something completely different.  Which also works in that it does
something.  Just not what was required.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum