CheckArguments
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CheckArguments[f[args],n]
gives True if args consists of exactly n positional arguments followed by valid options for f, and False otherwise.
CheckArguments[f[args],{min,max}]
requires the number of positional arguments to be between min and max.
CheckArguments[f[args],spec,assoc]
modifies the behavior based on the information in the association assoc.
Details
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- CheckArguments issues appropriate messages for f and returns False if f[…] has the wrong number of positional arguments, unknown options or invalid option specifications.
- The following keys can be used for the association assoc:
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"ExtraOptions" {} additional options to treat as known options for f "OptionsMode" "Longest" how to interpret the optional positional arguments of args - Additional options given to "ExtraOptions" can be specified as rules nameval or as symbols func, which is equivalent to Options[func].
- CheckArguments checks whether all options specified for f have valid names.
- The following values of "OptionsMode" can be used: »
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"Longest" treat all trailing elements of args matching OptionsPattern[] as options for f "Shortest" treat anything other than one or more known options as positional arguments None treat all elements as positional arguments - Even with "OptionsMode""Shortest", an unknown option past position max still generates a message. »
- CheckArguments has the attribute HoldFirst.
Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (1)
Scope (6)
Check the arguments for a function that takes between 1 and 3 positional arguments:
Require at least 2 positional arguments:
Calling f with 1 argument is invalid:
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Require exactly 3 positional arguments:
Allow "hidden" options that do not appear in Options[f]:
The option a0 is not a known option for f:
Allow the option named hidden as well as any option of Graphics to be set:
Treat unknown trailing options in positions min+1 though max as positional arguments rather than options for f:
The rule b2 is treated as a positional argument:
With the default "OptionsMode""Longest", a message is issued for unknown options:
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A known option is still treated as an option for f with "OptionsMode""Shortest":
Treat all elements as positional arguments rather than options for f:
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Applications (2)
Define a function that takes two arguments:
Issue a message for any other number of arguments and return unevaluated:
The following evaluates normally:
With an incorrect argument count, a message is issued:
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Define a function that calls a helper function if called with at most one argument:
When called with at most one argument, the helper function is called:
When called with more than one argument, f returns unevaluated and issues a message:
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Properties & Relations (8)
CheckArguments[f[…],…] issues a message for f and returns False for invalid input to f:
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If f does not accept options, all arguments are assumed to be positional:
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CheckArguments[…,{min,max}] will always treat the first min arguments as positional:
Here, even though b0 matches OptionsPattern[], it is treated as a positional argument:
If the rule b0 is given after the positional arguments, it is treated as an unknown option:
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Trailing rules matching OptionsPattern[] are treated as options if they are known options to f:
This is true even if "OptionsMode""Shortest" is given:
An option specification that contains both known and unknown options generates a message:
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In "OptionsMode""Shortest", a list with known and unknown options is treated as a positional argument if possible:
An unknown option past the maximum number of positional arguments still generates a message:
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Only rules matching OptionsPattern[] can be valid option specifications:
The rule 12 does not match OptionsPattern[]:
Thus it is treated as a positional argument:
If 12 is given after the positional arguments, it is treated as an invalid option specification:
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CheckArguments returns False when ArgumentsOptions returns Failure[…]:
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Possible Issues (2)
All arguments at or before the minimum argument count are considered positional arguments:
IgnoreCaseTrue is treated as an argument despite being an option to StringCases:
CheckArguments does not check whether the option values are correct:
Infinity is not a valid value for Heads:
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Text
Wolfram Research (2020), CheckArguments, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CheckArguments.html (updated 2024).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2020. "CheckArguments." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2024. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CheckArguments.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2020). CheckArguments. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/CheckArguments.html