(*error* string)

Display an error message.

This function allows you to define an error within your LISP routine. Errors can be caused by the programmer, or by user input. You need to be able to either test for these errors, or "trap" them when they occur.

Trapping Errors

Trapping an error refers to the process of looking at the error message and attempting to give the user feedback on why the error occurred, and what it means. The *error* function allows you to trap the errors that have occurred, and gives you an opportunity to handle them, and exit your program gracefully.

You may have only one *error* function in your program. However, because one function can be assigned to another with the setq function, you can have as many error handling functions in your program as you desire. Then to activate the error function you want, you set the *error* function to your error trap routine. Because there is only one active *error* function, you need to be kind to other programs or global settings. Before changing the *error* function, you should save the current error trap function in a temporary variable so that you may re-assign that function when you are done processing.

Defining the *error* Function

The definition of the *error* function is very specific. The function must be called *error* (or be set to *error* with a setq), and it must have one argument passing variable. You can name this variable whatever you like.

Examples

The following is an example of a simple error handling function:

In the above example, when the error occurred, the error message is passed to the *error* function in the msg variable. The function then prints, "An error has occurred in the program:" followed by the error message.

Here is a more in-depth example of an error handling function in a real scenario. Notice that first we save the current *error* function in temperror before pointing it to our error handler routine. Then at the end of the myslope program, we return the *error* function to the previously saved function in temperror. It is important to notice that the last line of the myerror function also returns the *error* function to one we previously saved in temperror.

The error handler:

Tell me about...

(alert string)

(command cmd [arguments] ...)

(exit)

(quit)

(setq symbol1 statement1 [symbol2 statement2] ...)

(trace function . . .)

(untrace function ...)

LISP Compatibility

Programming Overview of LISP (LISt Processing) Language