Convert the tla-generated versioning info to git-generated

[sxemacs] / info / lispref / tooltalk.texi

@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the SXEmacs Lisp Reference Manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c Copyright (C) 2005 Sebastian Freundt <hroptatyr@sxemacs.org>
@c See the file lispref.texi for copying conditions.
@setfilename ../../info/tooltalk.info

@node ToolTalk Support, LDAP Support, X-Windows, top
@chapter ToolTalk Support
@cindex ToolTalk

@menu
* SXEmacs ToolTalk API Summary::
* Sending Messages::
* Receiving Messages::
@end menu


@node SXEmacs ToolTalk API Summary
@section SXEmacs ToolTalk API Summary

The SXEmacs Lisp interface to ToolTalk is similar, at least in spirit,
to the standard C ToolTalk API.  Only the message and pattern parts
of the API are supported at present; more of the API could be added
if needed.  The Lisp interface departs from the C API in a few ways:

@itemize @bullet
@item
ToolTalk is initialized automatically at SXEmacs startup-time.  Messages
can only be sent other ToolTalk applications connected to the same X11
server that SXEmacs is running on.

@item
There are fewer entry points; polymorphic functions with keyword
arguments are used instead.

@item
The callback interface is simpler and marginally less functional.
A single callback may be associated with a message or a pattern;
the callback is specified with a Lisp symbol (the symbol should
have a function binding).

@item
The session attribute for messages and patterns is always
initialized to the default session.

@item
Anywhere a ToolTalk enum constant, e.g. @samp{TT_SESSION}, is valid, one
can substitute the corresponding symbol, e.g. @code{'TT_SESSION}.  This
simplifies building lists that represent messages and patterns.
@end itemize


@node Sending Messages
@section Sending Messages
@cindex sending ToolTalk messages
@cindex ToolTalk message

@menu
* Example of Sending Messages::
* Elisp Interface for Sending Messages::
@end menu


@node Example of Sending Messages
@subsection Example of Sending Messages

Here's a simple example that sends a query to another application
and then displays its reply.  Both the query and the reply are
stored in the first argument of the message.

@example
(defun tooltalk-random-query-handler (msg)
  (let ((state (get-tooltalk-message-attribute msg 'state)))
    (cond
      ((eq state 'TT_HANDLED)
       (message (get-tooltalk-message-attribute msg arg_val 0)))
      ((memq state '(TT_FAILED TT_REJECTED))
       (message "Random query turns up nothing")))))

(defvar random-query-message
  '(   class TT_REQUEST
       scope TT_SESSION
     address TT_PROCEDURE
          op "random-query"
        args '((TT_INOUT "?" "string"))
    callback tooltalk-random-query-handler))

(let ((m (make-tooltalk-message random-query-message)))
  (send-tooltalk-message m))
@end example

@node Elisp Interface for Sending Messages
@subsection Elisp Interface for Sending Messages

@defun make-tooltalk-message attributes
Create a ToolTalk message and initialize its attributes.
The value of @var{attributes} must be a list of alternating keyword/values,
where keywords are symbols that name valid message attributes.
For example:

@example
  (make-tooltalk-message
    '(class TT_NOTICE
      scope TT_SESSION
      address TT_PROCEDURE
      op "do-something"
      args ("arg1" 12345 (TT_INOUT "arg3" "string"))))
@end example

Values must always be strings, integers, or symbols that represent
ToolTalk constants.  Attribute names are the same as those supported by
@code{set-tooltalk-message-attribute}, plus @code{args}.

The value of @code{args} should be a list of message arguments where
each message argument has the following form:

@quotation
   @samp{(mode [value [type]])} or just @samp{value}
@end quotation

Where @var{mode} is one of @code{TT_IN}, @code{TT_OUT}, or
@code{TT_INOUT} and @var{type} is a string.  If @var{type} isn't
specified then @code{int} is used if @var{value} is a number; otherwise
@code{string} is used.  If @var{type} is @code{string} then @var{value}
is converted to a string (if it isn't a string already) with
@code{prin1-to-string}.  If only a value is specified then @var{mode}
defaults to @code{TT_IN}.  If @var{mode} is @code{TT_OUT} then
@var{value} and @var{type} don't need to be specified.  You can find out
more about the semantics and uses of ToolTalk message arguments in
chapter 4 of the @cite{ToolTalk Programmer's Guide}.
@refill
@end defun

@defun send-tooltalk-message msg
Send the message on its way.  Once the message has been sent it's almost
always a good idea to get rid of it with
@code{destroy-tooltalk-message}.
@refill
@end defun

@defun return-tooltalk-message msg &optional mode
Send a reply to this message.  The second argument can be @code{reply},
@code{reject} or @code{fail}; the default is @code{reply}.  Before
sending a reply, all message arguments whose mode is @code{TT_INOUT} or
@code{TT_OUT} should have been filled in---see
@code{set-tooltalk-message-attribute}.
@refill
@end defun

@defun get-tooltalk-message-attribute msg attribute &optional argn
Returns the indicated ToolTalk message attribute.  Attributes are
identified by symbols with the same name (underscores and all) as the
suffix of the ToolTalk @samp{tt_message_<attribute>} function that
extracts the value.  String attribute values are copied and enumerated
type values (except disposition) are converted to symbols;
e.g. @samp{TT_HANDLER} is @code{'TT_HANDLER}, @samp{uid} and @samp{gid}
are represented by fixnums (small integers), @samp{opnum} is converted
to a string, and @samp{disposition} is converted to a fixnum.  We
convert @samp{opnum} (a C int) to a string (e.g. @code{123} @result{}
@code{"123"}) because there's no guarantee that opnums will fit within
the range of SXEmacs Lisp integers.
@refill

[TBD] Use the @code{plist} attribute instead of C API @code{user}
attribute for user-defined message data.  To retrieve the value of a
message property, specify the indicator for @var{argn}.  For example, to
get the value of a property called @code{rflag}, use

@example
   (get-tooltalk-message-attribute msg 'plist 'rflag)
@end example

To get the value of a message argument use one of the @code{arg_val}
(strings), @code{arg_ival} (integers), or @code{arg_bval} (strings with
embedded nulls), attributes.  For example, to get the integer value of
the third argument:

@example
   (get-tooltalk-message-attribute msg 'arg_ival 2)
@end example

As you can see, argument numbers are zero-based.  The type of each
arguments can be retrieved with the @code{arg_type} attribute; however
ToolTalk doesn't define any semantics for the string value of
@code{arg_type}.  Conventionally @code{string} is used for strings and
@code{int} for 32 bit integers.

Note: SXEmacs Lisp stores the lengths of strings explicitly (unlike C)
so treating the value returned by @code{arg_bval} like a string is fine.
@refill
@end defun

@defun set-tooltalk-message-attribute value msg attribute &optional argn
Initialize one ToolTalk message attribute.

Attribute names and values are the same as for
@code{get-tooltalk-message-attribute}.  A property list is provided for
user data (instead of the @code{user} message attribute); see
@code{get-tooltalk-message-attribute}.
@refill

Callbacks are handled slightly differently than in the C ToolTalk API.
The value of @var{callback} should be the name of a function of one
argument.  It will be called each time the state of the message changes.
This is usually used to notice when the message's state has changed to
@code{TT_HANDLED} (or @code{TT_FAILED}), so that reply argument values
can be used.
@refill

If one of the argument attributes is specified as @code{arg_val},
@code{arg_ival}, or @code{arg_bval}, then @var{argn} must be the
number of an already created argument.  Arguments can be added to a
message with @code{add-tooltalk-message-arg}.
@refill
@end defun

@defun add-tooltalk-message-arg msg mode type &optional value
Append one new argument to the message.  @var{mode} must be one of
@code{TT_IN}, @code{TT_INOUT}, or @code{TT_OUT}, @var{type} must be a
string, and @var{value} can be a string or an integer.  ToolTalk doesn't
define any semantics for @var{type}, so only the participants in the
protocol you're using need to agree what types mean (if anything).
Conventionally @code{string} is used for strings and @code{int} for 32
bit integers.

Arguments can initialized by providing a value or with
@code{set-tooltalk-message-attribute}; the latter is necessary if you
want to initialize the argument with a string that can contain embedded
nulls (use @code{arg_bval}).
@refill
@end defun

@defun create-tooltalk-message &optional no-callback
Create a new ToolTalk message.  The message's session attribute is
initialized to the default session.  Other attributes can be initialized
with @code{set-tooltalk-message-attribute}.
@code{make-tooltalk-message} is the preferred way to create and
initialize a message.

Optional arg @var{no-callback} says don't add a C-level callback at all.
Normally don't do that; just don't specify the Lisp callback when
calling @code{make-tooltalk-message}.
@refill
@end defun

@defun destroy-tooltalk-message msg
Apply @samp{tt_message_destroy} to the message.  It's not necessary to
destroy messages after they've been processed by a message or pattern
callback, the Lisp/ToolTalk callback machinery does this for you.
@end defun


@node Receiving Messages
@section Receiving Messages
@cindex ToolTalk pattern
@cindex receiving ToolTalk messages

@menu
* Example of Receiving Messages::
* Elisp Interface for Receiving Messages::
@end menu


@node Example of Receiving Messages
@subsection Example of Receiving Messages

Here's a simple example of a handler for a message that tells XEmacs to
display a string in the mini-buffer area.  The message operation is
called @samp{emacs-display-string}.  Its first (0th) argument is the
string to display.

@example
(defun tooltalk-display-string-handler (msg)
  (message (get-tooltalk-message-attribute msg 'arg_val 0)))

(defvar display-string-pattern
  '(category TT_HANDLE
       scope TT_SESSION
          op "emacs-display-string"
    callback tooltalk-display-string-handler))

(let ((p (make-tooltalk-pattern display-string-pattern)))
  (register-tooltalk-pattern p))
@end example


@node Elisp Interface for Receiving Messages
@subsection Elisp Interface for Receiving Messages

@defun make-tooltalk-pattern attributes
Create a ToolTalk pattern and initialize its attributes.
The value of attributes must be a list of alternating keyword/values,
where keywords are symbols that name valid pattern attributes
or lists of valid attributes.  For example:

@example
  (make-tooltalk-pattern
    '(category TT_OBSERVE
         scope TT_SESSION
            op ("operation1" "operation2")
          args ("arg1" 12345 (TT_INOUT "arg3" "string"))))
@end example

Attribute names are the same as those supported by
@code{add-tooltalk-pattern-attribute}, plus @code{'args}.

Values must always be strings, integers, or symbols that represent
ToolTalk constants or lists of same.  When a list of values is provided
all of the list elements are added to the attribute.  In the example
above, messages whose @samp{op} attribute is @samp{"operation1"} or
@samp{"operation2"} would match the pattern.

The value of @var{args} should be a list of pattern arguments where each
pattern argument has the following form:

@quotation
   @samp{(mode [value [type]])} or just @samp{value}
@end quotation

Where @var{mode} is one of @code{TT_IN}, @code{TT_OUT}, or
@code{TT_INOUT} and @var{type} is a string.  If @var{type} isn't
specified then @code{int} is used if @var{value} is a number; otherwise
@code{string} is used.  If @var{type} is @code{string} then @var{value}
is converted to a string (if it isn't a string already) with
@code{prin1-to-string}.  If only a value is specified then @var{mode}
defaults to @code{TT_IN}.  If @var{mode} is @code{TT_OUT} then
@var{value} and @var{type} don't need to be specified.  You can find out
more about the semantics and uses of ToolTalk pattern arguments in
chapter 3 of the @cite{ToolTalk Programmer's Guide}.
@refill
@end defun

@defun register-tooltalk-pattern pattern
SXEmacs will begin receiving messages that match this pattern.
@end defun

@defun unregister-tooltalk-pattern pattern
SXEmacs will stop receiving messages that match this pattern.
@end defun

@defun add-tooltalk-pattern-attribute value pattern indicator
Add one value to the indicated pattern attribute. The names of
attributes are the same as the ToolTalk accessors used to set them less
the @samp{tooltalk_pattern_} prefix and the @samp{_add} suffix.  For
example, the name of the attribute for the
@samp{tt_pattern_disposition_add} attribute is @code{disposition}.  The
@code{category} attribute is handled specially, since a pattern can only
be a member of one category (@code{TT_OBSERVE} or @code{TT_HANDLE}).
@refill

Callbacks are handled slightly differently than in the C ToolTalk API.
The value of @var{callback} should be the name of a function of one
argument.  It will be called each time the pattern matches an incoming
message.
@end defun

@defun add-tooltalk-pattern-arg pattern mode vtype &optional value
Add one fully-specified argument to a ToolTalk pattern.  @var{mode} must
be one of @code{TT_IN}, @code{TT_INOUT}, or @code{TT_OUT}.  @var{vtype}
must be a string.  @var{value} can be an integer, string or @code{nil}.
If @var{value} is an integer then an integer argument
(@samp{tt_pattern_iarg_add}) is added; otherwise a string argument is
added.  At present there's no way to add a binary data argument.
@refill
@end defun

@defun create-tooltalk-pattern
Create a new ToolTalk pattern and initialize its session attribute to
be the default session.
@end defun

@defun destroy-tooltalk-pattern pattern
Apply @samp{tt_pattern_destroy} to the pattern.  This effectively
unregisters the pattern.
@end defun

@defun describe-tooltalk-message msg &optional stream
Print the message's attributes and arguments to @var{stream}.  This is
often useful for debugging.
@end defun