Starting up

Double-click on the file XLWIN32.EXE. (Older machines may need to use XLISPWIN.EXE instead.)

Quitting

Use the function (exit).

Loading a file

If your file is named, for example, test.lsp, you can do any of the following:

• Choose File -> Open/load... from the menus and select the file to load.
• Enter (load 'test) at the Lisp prompt.
• Enter (load 'test.lsp) at the Lisp prompt.
• Enter (load "test") at the Lisp prompt.
• Enter (load "test.lsp") at the Lisp prompt.
• On lab computers, you need to use a complete path, such as (load "e:/test.lsp"). Don't forget that UNIX uses forward slashes (/) rather than backslashes (\), and file names are case-sensitive.

Reloading a file

1. Use any convenient editor to modify your file, and save it.
2. Make sure your file still has the .lsp extension. (If it doesn't, consider finding a better editor.)
3. Return to Lisp and just load the file again.

Creating a transcript

Under XLisp, the dribble command only copies Lisp's output to a file, not your commands. So it's pretty useless. I'm still trying to find a good solution--check back!

Recovering from errors

Hit ctrl-c to return to the top level.

Starting up

1. Start up Telnet Eniac from the desktop. (On Linux, ssh gradient.cis.upenn.edu)
2. Log in.
3. Navigate to the folder containing your Lisp file.
4. Enter lisp at the prompt.

Quitting

1. Use the function (quit).
2. Type exit at the prompt to close the telnet session.
3. Close the telnet window.

Loading a file

If your file is named, for example, test.lsp, enter (load "test.lsp") at the Lisp prompt.

You will get an error message such as Warning: File "test.lsp" does not begin with IN-PACKAGE. You can safely ignore this message; we aren't going to explore Lisp's use of packages.

Reloading a file

1. Hit ctrl-Z to temporarily leave Lisp.
2. Use any convenient editor to modify your file, and save it.
3. Return to Lisp by typing fg (stands for "foreground") at the UNIX prompt, and just load the file again.

Creating a transcript

To create a transcript named, say, "transcript", enter the command (dribble "transcript") at the Lisp prompt. Unlike XLisp, this copies all subsequent activity to the named file, giving you a complete transcript.

Recovering from errors

Lisp gives you a list of options, such as:

:C  0: Try evaluating BAR again
:A  1: Return to level 2.
    2: Try evaluating FOO again
    3: Return to level 1.

Find the line that says Return to Level 1. and type just the number (in this case, 3) at the Lisp prompt.

Fixing abbreviated output

Lisp on the Suns is set to abbreviate output:

• It shows you no more than three levels of a list.
  • To make Lisp show you all levels of a list, execute: (setq *print-level* nil)
• It shows you no more than ten items in a level.
  • To make Lisp show you all elements of a list, execute: (setq *print-length* nil)

In these, NIL means "no limit." Once you execute these commands, they will remain in effect until you exit Lisp, or until you set *print-level* and/or *print-length* to some positive integer.