maple

What do the operator and arrow opetions mean when used together in Maple procedures?


Let's say I have the following procedure definition in Maple:

CaesarCryptAnalysis :=
proc(ciphertext)
options operator, arrow
table([seq(Decode(ciperthext, encoding = alpharot[k]), k = 0 .. 25)])
end proc

I do not exactly get what the operator and arrow options are supposed to do.

Based on poking around, when I deleted the options operator, arrow row, the output changed to:

output without options

from

output with options

I would guess thus, that this is only a cosmetic change?

If someone could link the official documentation explaining this, it would be great, I did not manage to find it.

Thanks for the answers in advance!


Solution

  • Mostly it is a cosmetic thing.

    Those options are explained on the Help page for procedure options.

    In particular, it states,

    Option operator declares to the Maple system that the procedure was entered and is to be printed and otherwise manipulated as an operator. Thus,

    f := x -> x^2-1;
    

    is equivalent to

    f := proc(x) option operator, arrow; x^2-1 end proc;
    

    Option arrow, in conjunction with option operator, indicates that the operator was initially entered using the -> notation. The use of option arrow also disables Maple simplification rules that add any non-local names in the operator expression to the parameter list.