[Python-Dev] Pascaloid print substitute (Replacement for print in Python 3.0)

[Greg Ewing]

Here's a non-statement print substitute that provides
space insertion and newline suppression, and as a bonus
it allows Pascal-style numeric formatting.

Usage examples:

   Print["The answer is", 42]
   Print["Tons of spam:", n:6]
   Print[x:5:2, "squared is", x*x:10:4]
   Print["One", "Two", ...]
   Print["Buckle my shoe"]

#----------------------------------------------------

import sys

class PasFormat(object):

   def __init__(self, f):
     self.f = f

   def __getitem__(self, arg):
     #print "PasFormat.__getitem__:", arg
     if isinstance(arg, tuple):
       space = ""
       for item in arg:
         self.f.write(space)
         if item is Ellipsis:
           break
         self._do(item)
         space = " "
       else:
         self.f.write("\n")
     else:
       self._do(arg)
       self.f.write("\n")

   def _do(self, item):
     if isinstance(item, slice):
       value = item.start
       width = item.stop or 0
       decimals = item.step
     else:
       value = item
       width = 0
       decimals = None
     if decimals is not None:
       chars = "%*.*f" % (width, decimals, value)
     else:
       chars = "%*s" % (width, value)
     self.f.write(chars)

Print = PasFormat(sys.stdout)


if __name__ == "__main__":
   n = 666
   x = 3.1415

   Print["The answer is", 42]
   Print["Tons of spam:", n:6]
   Print[x:5:2, "squared is", x*x:10:4]
   Print["One", "Two", ...]
   Print["Buckle my shoe"]

#----------------------------------------------------

-- 
Greg Ewing, Computer Science Dept, +--------------------------------------+
University of Canterbury,	   | A citizen of NewZealandCorp, a	  |
Christchurch, New Zealand	   | wholly-owned subsidiary of USA Inc.  |
greg.ewing at canterbury.ac.nz	   +--------------------------------------+