cpython/Doc/lib/libcmd.tex

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\section{\module{cmd} ---
Build line-oriented command interpreters.}
\declaremodule{standard}{cmd}
\sectionauthor{Eric S. Raymond}{esr@snark.thyrsus.com}
\modulesynopsis{Build line-oriented command interpreters; this is used
by module \module{pdb}.}
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The \class{Cmd} class provides a simple framework for writing
line-oriented command interpreters. These are often useful for
test harnesses, administrative tools, and prototypes that will
later be wrapped in a more sophisticated interface.
\begin{classdesc}{Cmd}{}
A \class{Cmd} instance or subclass instance is a line-oriented
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interpreter framework. There is no good reason to instantiate
\class{Cmd} itself; rather, it's useful as a superclass of an
interpreter class you define yourself in order to inherit
\class{Cmd}'s methods and encapsulate action methods.
\end{classdesc}
\subsection{Cmd Objects}
\label{Cmd-objects}
A \class{Cmd} instance has the following methods:
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\begin{methoddesc}{cmdloop}{\optional{intro}}
Repeatedly issue a prompt, accept input, parse an initial prefix off
the received input, and dispatch to action methods, passing them the
remainder of the line as argument.
The optional argument is a banner or intro string to be issued before the
first prompt (this overrides the \member{intro} class member).
If the \module{readline} module is loaded, input will automatically
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inherit \program{bash}-like history-list editing (e.g. \kbd{Ctrl-P}
scrolls back to the last command, \kbd{Ctrl-N} forward to the next
one, \kbd{Ctrl-F} moves the cursor to the right non-destructively,
\kbd{Ctrl-B} moves the cursor to the left non-destructively, etc.).
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An end-of-file on input is passed back as the string \code{'EOF'}.
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An interpreter instance will recognize a command name \samp{foo} if
and only if it has a method \method{do_foo()}. As a special case,
a line containing only the character \character{?} is dispatched to
the method \method{do_help()}. As another special case, a line
containing only the character \character{!} is dispatched to the
method \method{do_shell} (if such a method is defined).
All subclasses of \class{Cmd} inherit a predefined \method{do_help}.
This method, called with an argument \code{bar}, invokes the
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corresponding method \method{help_bar()}. With no argument,
\method{do_help()} lists all available help topics (that is, all
commands with corresponding \method{help_*()} methods), and also lists
any undocumented commands.
\end{methoddesc}
\begin{methoddesc}{onecmd}{str}
Interpret the argument as though it had been typed in in
response to the prompt.
\end{methoddesc}
\begin{methoddesc}{emptyline}{}
Method called when an empty line is entered in response to the prompt.
If this method is not overridden, it repeats the last nonempty command
entered.
\end{methoddesc}
\begin{methoddesc}{default}{line}
Method called on an input line when the command prefix is not
recognized. If this method is not overridden, it prints an
error message and returns.
\end{methoddesc}
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\begin{methoddesc}{precmd}{}
Hook method executed just before the input prompt is issued. This
method is a stub in \class{Cmd}; it exists to be overridden by
subclasses.
\end{methoddesc}
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\begin{methoddesc}{postcmd}{}
Hook method executed just after a command dispatch is finished. This
method is a stub in \class{Cmd}; it exists to be overridden by
subclasses.
\end{methoddesc}
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\begin{methoddesc}{preloop}{}
Hook method executed once when \method{cmdloop()} is called. This
method is a stub in \class{Cmd}; it exists to be overridden by
subclasses.
\end{methoddesc}
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\begin{methoddesc}{postloop}{}
Hook method executed once when \method{cmdloop()} is about to return.
This method is a stub in \class{Cmd}; it exists to be overridden by
subclasses.
\end{methoddesc}
Instances of \class{Cmd} subclasses have some public instance variables:
\begin{memberdesc}{prompt}
The prompt issued to solicit input.
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{identchars}
The string of characters accepted for the command prefix.
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{lastcmd}
The last nonempty command prefix seen.
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{intro}
A string to issue as an intro or banner. May be overridden by giving
the \method{cmdloop()} method an argument.
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{doc_header}
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The header to issue if the help output has a section for documented
commands.
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{misc_header}
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The header to issue if the help output has a section for miscellaneous
help topics (that is, there are \method{help_*()} methods without
corresponding \method{do_*()} methods).
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{undoc_header}
The header to issue if the help output has a section for undocumented
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commands (that is, there are \method{do_*()} methods without
corresponding \method{help_*()} methods).
\end{memberdesc}
\begin{memberdesc}{ruler}
The character used to draw separator lines under the help-message
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headers. If empty, no ruler line is drawn. It defaults to
\character{=}.
\end{memberdesc}