[IPython-user] customized magic function limitation

[belinda thom]

Hi,

Is there a way to write a customized magic function that takes  
multiple arguments?

I've tried various things, as enumerated below.

I'd like to create a 2 arg function that can do "import ... as ..."  
for me.

As always, thanks,

--b

Using only one argument, everything's great:

In [9]: %t1??
Type:           Magic function
[snip]
Definition:     %t1(self, arg)
Source:
def dotest1(self, arg):
     """
     tests taking in one arg
     """
     self.api.ex("print %s" % arg)
In [10]: %t1 'hi'
hi

But w/two, things fall apart:

In [3]: %t2??
Type:           Magic function
[snip]
Definition:     %t2(self, arg1, arg2)
Source:
def dotest2(self, arg1, arg2):
     """
     tests two args
     """
     self.api.ex("print %s, %s" % (arg1,arg2))

In [4]: %t2 'boo' 'hoo'
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
---
exceptions.TypeError                                 Traceback (most  
recent call last)
[snip]
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.4/lib/python2.4/site- 
packages/IPython/iplib.py in ipmagic(self, arg_s)
     933         else:
     934             magic_args = self.var_expand(magic_args,1)
--> 935             return fn(magic_args)
     936
     937     def ipalias(self,arg_s):
TypeError: dotest2() takes exactly 3 arguments (2 given)

In [6]: %t2 'boo','hoo'
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
---
[snip]
TypeError: dotest2() takes exactly 3 arguments (2 given)

In [7]: %t3??
Type:           Magic function
[snip]
def dotest3(self, pair):
     """
     tests taking tuple arg
     """
     self.api.ex("print %s, %s" % pair)

In [8]: %t3 ('boo','hoo')
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
---
exceptions.TypeError                                 Traceback (most  
recent call last)
[snip]
TypeError: not enough arguments for format string