| @node Argp, Suboptions, Getopt, Parsing Program Arguments |
| @need 5000 |
| @section Parsing Program Options with Argp |
| @cindex argp (program argument parser) |
| @cindex argument parsing with argp |
| @cindex option parsing with argp |
| |
| @dfn{Argp} is an interface for parsing unix-style argument vectors. |
| @xref{Program Arguments}. |
| |
| Argp provides features unavailable in the more commonly used |
| @code{getopt} interface. These features include automatically producing |
| output in response to the @samp{--help} and @samp{--version} options, as |
| described in the GNU coding standards. Using argp makes it less likely |
| that programmers will neglect to implement these additional options or |
| keep them up to date. |
| |
| Argp also provides the ability to merge several independently defined |
| option parsers into one, mediating conflicts between them and making the |
| result appear seamless. A library can export an argp option parser that |
| user programs might employ in conjunction with their own option parsers, |
| resulting in less work for the user programs. Some programs may use only |
| argument parsers exported by libraries, thereby achieving consistent and |
| efficient option-parsing for abstractions implemented by the libraries. |
| |
| @pindex argp.h |
| The header file @file{<argp.h>} should be included to use argp. |
| |
| @subsection The @code{argp_parse} Function |
| |
| The main interface to argp is the @code{argp_parse} function. In many |
| cases, calling @code{argp_parse} is the only argument-parsing code |
| needed in @code{main}. |
| @xref{Program Arguments}. |
| |
| @deftypefun {error_t} argp_parse (const struct argp *@var{argp}, int @var{argc}, char **@var{argv}, unsigned @var{flags}, int *@var{arg_index}, void *@var{input}) |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @safety{@prelim{}@mtunsafe{@mtasurace{:argpbuf} @mtslocale{} @mtsenv{}}@asunsafe{@ascuheap{} @ascuintl{} @asulock{} @asucorrupt{}}@acunsafe{@acsmem{} @aculock{} @acucorrupt{}}} |
| @c Optionally alloca()tes standard help options, initializes the parser, |
| @c then parses individual args in a loop, and then finalizes. |
| @c parser_init |
| @c calc_sizes ok |
| @c option_is_end ok |
| @c malloc @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c parser_convert @mtslocale |
| @c convert_options @mtslocale |
| @c option_is_end ok |
| @c option_is_short ok |
| @c isprint, but locale may change within the loop |
| @c find_long_option ok |
| @c group_parse |
| @c group->parser (from argp->parser) |
| @c parser_parse_next |
| @c getopt_long(_only)_r many issues, same as non_r minus @mtasurace |
| @c parser_parse_arg |
| @c group_parse dup |
| @c parser_parse_opt |
| @c group_parse dup |
| @c argp_error dup @mtasurace:argpbuf @mtsenv @mtslocale @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c dgettext (bad key error) dup @mtsenv @asucorrupt @ascuheap @asulock @ascudlopen @acucorrupt @aculock @acsfd @acsmem |
| @c parser_finalize |
| @c group_parse |
| @c fprintf dup @mtslocale @asucorrupt @aculock @acucorrupt [no @ascuheap @acsmem] |
| @c dgettext dup @mtsenv @asucorrupt @ascuheap @asulock @ascudlopen @acucorrupt @aculock @acsfd @acsmem |
| @c arg_state_help |
| @c free dup @ascuhelp @acsmem |
| The @code{argp_parse} function parses the arguments in @var{argv}, of |
| length @var{argc}, using the argp parser @var{argp}. @xref{Argp |
| Parsers}. Passing a null pointer for @var{argp} is the same as using |
| a @code{struct argp} containing all zeros. |
| |
| @var{flags} is a set of flag bits that modify the parsing behavior. |
| @xref{Argp Flags}. @var{input} is passed through to the argp parser |
| @var{argp}, and has meaning defined by @var{argp}. A typical usage is |
| to pass a pointer to a structure which is used for specifying |
| parameters to the parser and passing back the results. |
| |
| Unless the @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT} or @code{ARGP_NO_HELP} flags are included |
| in @var{flags}, calling @code{argp_parse} may result in the program |
| exiting. This behavior is true if an error is detected, or when an |
| unknown option is encountered. @xref{Program Termination}. |
| |
| If @var{arg_index} is non-null, the index of the first unparsed option |
| in @var{argv} is returned as a value. |
| |
| The return value is zero for successful parsing, or an error code |
| (@pxref{Error Codes}) if an error is detected. Different argp parsers |
| may return arbitrary error codes, but the standard error codes are: |
| @code{ENOMEM} if a memory allocation error occurred, or @code{EINVAL} if |
| an unknown option or option argument is encountered. |
| @end deftypefun |
| |
| @menu |
| * Globals: Argp Global Variables. Global argp parameters. |
| * Parsers: Argp Parsers. Defining parsers for use with @code{argp_parse}. |
| * Flags: Argp Flags. Flags that modify the behavior of @code{argp_parse}. |
| * Help: Argp Help. Printing help messages when not parsing. |
| * Examples: Argp Examples. Simple examples of programs using argp. |
| * Customization: Argp User Customization. |
| Users may control the @samp{--help} output format. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Global Variables, Argp Parsers, , Argp |
| @subsection Argp Global Variables |
| |
| These variables make it easy for user programs to implement the |
| @samp{--version} option and provide a bug-reporting address in the |
| @samp{--help} output. These are implemented in argp by default. |
| |
| @deftypevar {const char *} argp_program_version |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| If defined or set by the user program to a non-zero value, then a |
| @samp{--version} option is added when parsing with @code{argp_parse}, |
| which will print the @samp{--version} string followed by a newline and |
| exit. The exception to this is if the @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT} flag is used. |
| @end deftypevar |
| |
| @deftypevar {const char *} argp_program_bug_address |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| If defined or set by the user program to a non-zero value, |
| @code{argp_program_bug_address} should point to a string that will be |
| printed at the end of the standard output for the @samp{--help} option, |
| embedded in a sentence that says @samp{Report bugs to @var{address}.}. |
| @end deftypevar |
| |
| @need 1500 |
| @defvar argp_program_version_hook |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| If defined or set by the user program to a non-zero value, a |
| @samp{--version} option is added when parsing with @code{arg_parse}, |
| which prints the program version and exits with a status of zero. This |
| is not the case if the @code{ARGP_NO_HELP} flag is used. If the |
| @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT} flag is set, the exit behavior of the program is |
| suppressed or modified, as when the argp parser is going to be used by |
| other programs. |
| |
| It should point to a function with this type of signature: |
| |
| @smallexample |
| void @var{print-version} (FILE *@var{stream}, struct argp_state *@var{state}) |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @noindent |
| @xref{Argp Parsing State}, for an explanation of @var{state}. |
| |
| This variable takes precedence over @code{argp_program_version}, and is |
| useful if a program has version information not easily expressed in a |
| simple string. |
| @end defvar |
| |
| @deftypevar error_t argp_err_exit_status |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This is the exit status used when argp exits due to a parsing error. If |
| not defined or set by the user program, this defaults to: |
| @code{EX_USAGE} from @file{<sysexits.h>}. |
| @end deftypevar |
| |
| @node Argp Parsers, Argp Flags, Argp Global Variables, Argp |
| @subsection Specifying Argp Parsers |
| |
| The first argument to the @code{argp_parse} function is a pointer to a |
| @code{struct argp}, which is known as an @dfn{argp parser}: |
| |
| @deftp {Data Type} {struct argp} |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This structure specifies how to parse a given set of options and |
| arguments, perhaps in conjunction with other argp parsers. It has the |
| following fields: |
| |
| @table @code |
| @item const struct argp_option *options |
| A pointer to a vector of @code{argp_option} structures specifying which |
| options this argp parser understands; it may be zero if there are no |
| options at all. @xref{Argp Option Vectors}. |
| |
| @item argp_parser_t parser |
| A pointer to a function that defines actions for this parser; it is |
| called for each option parsed, and at other well-defined points in the |
| parsing process. A value of zero is the same as a pointer to a function |
| that always returns @code{ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN}. @xref{Argp Parser |
| Functions}. |
| |
| @item const char *args_doc |
| If non-zero, a string describing what non-option arguments are called by |
| this parser. This is only used to print the @samp{Usage:} message. If |
| it contains newlines, the strings separated by them are considered |
| alternative usage patterns and printed on separate lines. Lines after |
| the first are prefixed by @samp{ or: } instead of @samp{Usage:}. |
| |
| @item const char *doc |
| If non-zero, a string containing extra text to be printed before and |
| after the options in a long help message, with the two sections |
| separated by a vertical tab (@code{'\v'}, @code{'\013'}) character. By |
| convention, the documentation before the options is just a short string |
| explaining what the program does. Documentation printed after the |
| options describe behavior in more detail. |
| |
| @item const struct argp_child *children |
| A pointer to a vector of @code{argp_child} structures. This pointer |
| specifies which additional argp parsers should be combined with this |
| one. @xref{Argp Children}. |
| |
| @item char *(*help_filter)(int @var{key}, const char *@var{text}, void *@var{input}) |
| If non-zero, a pointer to a function that filters the output of help |
| messages. @xref{Argp Help Filtering}. |
| |
| @item const char *argp_domain |
| If non-zero, the strings used in the argp library are translated using |
| the domain described by this string. If zero, the current default domain |
| is used. |
| |
| @end table |
| @end deftp |
| |
| Of the above group, @code{options}, @code{parser}, @code{args_doc}, and |
| the @code{doc} fields are usually all that are needed. If an argp |
| parser is defined as an initialized C variable, only the fields used |
| need be specified in the initializer. The rest will default to zero due |
| to the way C structure initialization works. This design is exploited in |
| most argp structures; the most-used fields are grouped near the |
| beginning, the unused fields left unspecified. |
| |
| @menu |
| * Options: Argp Option Vectors. Specifying options in an argp parser. |
| * Argp Parser Functions:: Defining actions for an argp parser. |
| * Children: Argp Children. Combining multiple argp parsers. |
| * Help Filtering: Argp Help Filtering. Customizing help output for an argp parser. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Option Vectors, Argp Parser Functions, Argp Parsers, Argp Parsers |
| @subsection Specifying Options in an Argp Parser |
| |
| The @code{options} field in a @code{struct argp} points to a vector of |
| @code{struct argp_option} structures, each of which specifies an option |
| that the argp parser supports. Multiple entries may be used for a single |
| option provided it has multiple names. This should be terminated by an |
| entry with zero in all fields. Note that when using an initialized C |
| array for options, writing @code{@{ 0 @}} is enough to achieve this. |
| |
| @deftp {Data Type} {struct argp_option} |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This structure specifies a single option that an argp parser |
| understands, as well as how to parse and document that option. It has |
| the following fields: |
| |
| @table @code |
| @item const char *name |
| The long name for this option, corresponding to the long option |
| @samp{--@var{name}}; this field may be zero if this option @emph{only} |
| has a short name. To specify multiple names for an option, additional |
| entries may follow this one, with the @code{OPTION_ALIAS} flag |
| set. @xref{Argp Option Flags}. |
| |
| @item int key |
| The integer key provided by the current option to the option parser. If |
| @var{key} has a value that is a printable @sc{ascii} character (i.e., |
| @code{isascii (@var{key})} is true), it @emph{also} specifies a short |
| option @samp{-@var{char}}, where @var{char} is the @sc{ascii} character |
| with the code @var{key}. |
| |
| @item const char *arg |
| If non-zero, this is the name of an argument associated with this |
| option, which must be provided (e.g., with the |
| @samp{--@var{name}=@var{value}} or @samp{-@var{char} @var{value}} |
| syntaxes), unless the @code{OPTION_ARG_OPTIONAL} flag (@pxref{Argp |
| Option Flags}) is set, in which case it @emph{may} be provided. |
| |
| @item int flags |
| Flags associated with this option, some of which are referred to above. |
| @xref{Argp Option Flags}. |
| |
| @item const char *doc |
| A documentation string for this option, for printing in help messages. |
| |
| If both the @code{name} and @code{key} fields are zero, this string |
| will be printed tabbed left from the normal option column, making it |
| useful as a group header. This will be the first thing printed in its |
| group. In this usage, it's conventional to end the string with a |
| @samp{:} character. |
| |
| @item int group |
| Group identity for this option. |
| |
| In a long help message, options are sorted alphabetically within each |
| group, and the groups presented in the order 0, 1, 2, @dots{}, @var{n}, |
| @minus{}@var{m}, @dots{}, @minus{}2, @minus{}1. |
| |
| Every entry in an options array with this field 0 will inherit the group |
| number of the previous entry, or zero if it's the first one. If it's a |
| group header with @code{name} and @code{key} fields both zero, the |
| previous entry + 1 is the default. Automagic options such as |
| @samp{--help} are put into group @minus{}1. |
| |
| Note that because of C structure initialization rules, this field often |
| need not be specified, because 0 is the correct value. |
| @end table |
| @end deftp |
| |
| |
| @menu |
| * Flags: Argp Option Flags. Flags for options. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Option Flags, , , Argp Option Vectors |
| @subsubsection Flags for Argp Options |
| |
| The following flags may be or'd together in the @code{flags} field of a |
| @code{struct argp_option}. These flags control various aspects of how |
| that option is parsed or displayed in help messages: |
| |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item OPTION_ARG_OPTIONAL |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The argument associated with this option is optional. |
| |
| @item OPTION_HIDDEN |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This option isn't displayed in any help messages. |
| |
| @item OPTION_ALIAS |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This option is an alias for the closest previous non-alias option. This |
| means that it will be displayed in the same help entry, and will inherit |
| fields other than @code{name} and @code{key} from the option being |
| aliased. |
| |
| |
| @item OPTION_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This option isn't actually an option and should be ignored by the actual |
| option parser. It is an arbitrary section of documentation that should |
| be displayed in much the same manner as the options. This is known as a |
| @dfn{documentation option}. |
| |
| If this flag is set, then the option @code{name} field is displayed |
| unmodified (e.g., no @samp{--} prefix is added) at the left-margin where |
| a @emph{short} option would normally be displayed, and this |
| documentation string is left in its usual place. For purposes of |
| sorting, any leading whitespace and punctuation is ignored, unless the |
| first non-whitespace character is @samp{-}. This entry is displayed |
| after all options, after @code{OPTION_DOC} entries with a leading |
| @samp{-}, in the same group. |
| |
| @item OPTION_NO_USAGE |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This option shouldn't be included in `long' usage messages, but should |
| still be included in other help messages. This is intended for options |
| that are completely documented in an argp's @code{args_doc} |
| field. @xref{Argp Parsers}. Including this option in the generic usage |
| list would be redundant, and should be avoided. |
| |
| For instance, if @code{args_doc} is @code{"FOO BAR\n-x BLAH"}, and the |
| @samp{-x} option's purpose is to distinguish these two cases, @samp{-x} |
| should probably be marked @code{OPTION_NO_USAGE}. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| @node Argp Parser Functions, Argp Children, Argp Option Vectors, Argp Parsers |
| @subsection Argp Parser Functions |
| |
| The function pointed to by the @code{parser} field in a @code{struct |
| argp} (@pxref{Argp Parsers}) defines what actions take place in response |
| to each option or argument parsed. It is also used as a hook, allowing a |
| parser to perform tasks at certain other points during parsing. |
| |
| @need 2000 |
| Argp parser functions have the following type signature: |
| |
| @cindex argp parser functions |
| @smallexample |
| error_t @var{parser} (int @var{key}, char *@var{arg}, struct argp_state *@var{state}) |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @noindent |
| where the arguments are as follows: |
| |
| @table @var |
| @item key |
| For each option that is parsed, @var{parser} is called with a value of |
| @var{key} from that option's @code{key} field in the option |
| vector. @xref{Argp Option Vectors}. @var{parser} is also called at |
| other times with special reserved keys, such as @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG} for |
| non-option arguments. @xref{Argp Special Keys}. |
| |
| @item arg |
| If @var{key} is an option, @var{arg} is its given value. This defaults |
| to zero if no value is specified. Only options that have a non-zero |
| @code{arg} field can ever have a value. These must @emph{always} have a |
| value unless the @code{OPTION_ARG_OPTIONAL} flag is specified. If the |
| input being parsed specifies a value for an option that doesn't allow |
| one, an error results before @var{parser} ever gets called. |
| |
| If @var{key} is @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG}, @var{arg} is a non-option |
| argument. Other special keys always have a zero @var{arg}. |
| |
| @item state |
| @var{state} points to a @code{struct argp_state}, containing useful |
| information about the current parsing state for use by |
| @var{parser}. @xref{Argp Parsing State}. |
| @end table |
| |
| When @var{parser} is called, it should perform whatever action is |
| appropriate for @var{key}, and return @code{0} for success, |
| @code{ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN} if the value of @var{key} is not handled by this |
| parser function, or a unix error code if a real error |
| occurred. @xref{Error Codes}. |
| |
| @deftypevr Macro int ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Argp parser functions should return @code{ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN} for any |
| @var{key} value they do not recognize, or for non-option arguments |
| (@code{@var{key} == ARGP_KEY_ARG}) that they are not equipped to handle. |
| @end deftypevr |
| |
| @need 3000 |
| A typical parser function uses a switch statement on @var{key}: |
| |
| @smallexample |
| error_t |
| parse_opt (int key, char *arg, struct argp_state *state) |
| @{ |
| switch (key) |
| @{ |
| case @var{option_key}: |
| @var{action} |
| break; |
| @dots{} |
| default: |
| return ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN; |
| @} |
| return 0; |
| @} |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @menu |
| * Keys: Argp Special Keys. Special values for the @var{key} argument. |
| * State: Argp Parsing State. What the @var{state} argument refers to. |
| * Functions: Argp Helper Functions. Functions to help during argp parsing. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Special Keys, Argp Parsing State, , Argp Parser Functions |
| @subsubsection Special Keys for Argp Parser Functions |
| |
| In addition to key values corresponding to user options, the @var{key} |
| argument to argp parser functions may have a number of other special |
| values. In the following example @var{arg} and @var{state} refer to |
| parser function arguments. @xref{Argp Parser Functions}. |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item ARGP_KEY_ARG |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This is not an option at all, but rather a command line argument, whose |
| value is pointed to by @var{arg}. |
| |
| When there are multiple parser functions in play due to argp parsers |
| being combined, it's impossible to know which one will handle a specific |
| argument. Each is called until one returns 0 or an error other than |
| @code{ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN}; if an argument is not handled, |
| @code{argp_parse} immediately returns success, without parsing any more |
| arguments. |
| |
| Once a parser function returns success for this key, that fact is |
| recorded, and the @code{ARGP_KEY_NO_ARGS} case won't be |
| used. @emph{However}, if while processing the argument a parser function |
| decrements the @code{next} field of its @var{state} argument, the option |
| won't be considered processed; this is to allow you to actually modify |
| the argument, perhaps into an option, and have it processed again. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_ARGS |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| If a parser function returns @code{ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN} for |
| @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG}, it is immediately called again with the key |
| @code{ARGP_KEY_ARGS}, which has a similar meaning, but is slightly more |
| convenient for consuming all remaining arguments. @var{arg} is 0, and |
| the tail of the argument vector may be found at @code{@var{state}->argv |
| + @var{state}->next}. If success is returned for this key, and |
| @code{@var{state}->next} is unchanged, all remaining arguments are |
| considered to have been consumed. Otherwise, the amount by which |
| @code{@var{state}->next} has been adjusted indicates how many were used. |
| Here's an example that uses both, for different args: |
| |
| |
| @smallexample |
| @dots{} |
| case ARGP_KEY_ARG: |
| if (@var{state}->arg_num == 0) |
| /* First argument */ |
| first_arg = @var{arg}; |
| else |
| /* Let the next case parse it. */ |
| return ARGP_KEY_UNKNOWN; |
| break; |
| case ARGP_KEY_ARGS: |
| remaining_args = @var{state}->argv + @var{state}->next; |
| num_remaining_args = @var{state}->argc - @var{state}->next; |
| break; |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_END |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This indicates that there are no more command line arguments. Parser |
| functions are called in a different order, children first. This allows |
| each parser to clean up its state for the parent. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_NO_ARGS |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Because it's common to do some special processing if there aren't any |
| non-option args, parser functions are called with this key if they |
| didn't successfully process any non-option arguments. This is called |
| just before @code{ARGP_KEY_END}, where more general validity checks on |
| previously parsed arguments take place. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_INIT |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This is passed in before any parsing is done. Afterwards, the values of |
| each element of the @code{child_input} field of @var{state}, if any, are |
| copied to each child's state to be the initial value of the @code{input} |
| when @emph{their} parsers are called. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_SUCCESS |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Passed in when parsing has successfully been completed, even if |
| arguments remain. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_ERROR |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Passed in if an error has occurred and parsing is terminated. In this |
| case a call with a key of @code{ARGP_KEY_SUCCESS} is never made. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_FINI |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The final key ever seen by any parser, even after |
| @code{ARGP_KEY_SUCCESS} and @code{ARGP_KEY_ERROR}. Any resources |
| allocated by @code{ARGP_KEY_INIT} may be freed here. At times, certain |
| resources allocated are to be returned to the caller after a successful |
| parse. In that case, those particular resources can be freed in the |
| @code{ARGP_KEY_ERROR} case. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| In all cases, @code{ARGP_KEY_INIT} is the first key seen by parser |
| functions, and @code{ARGP_KEY_FINI} the last, unless an error was |
| returned by the parser for @code{ARGP_KEY_INIT}. Other keys can occur |
| in one the following orders. @var{opt} refers to an arbitrary option |
| key: |
| |
| @table @asis |
| @item @var{opt}@dots{} @code{ARGP_KEY_NO_ARGS} @code{ARGP_KEY_END} @code{ARGP_KEY_SUCCESS} |
| The arguments being parsed did not contain any non-option arguments. |
| |
| @item ( @var{opt} | @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG} )@dots{} @code{ARGP_KEY_END} @code{ARGP_KEY_SUCCESS} |
| All non-option arguments were successfully handled by a parser |
| function. There may be multiple parser functions if multiple argp |
| parsers were combined. |
| |
| @item ( @var{opt} | @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG} )@dots{} @code{ARGP_KEY_SUCCESS} |
| Some non-option argument went unrecognized. |
| |
| This occurs when every parser function returns @code{ARGP_KEY_UNKNOWN} |
| for an argument, in which case parsing stops at that argument if |
| @var{arg_index} is a null pointer. Otherwise an error occurs. |
| @end table |
| |
| In all cases, if a non-null value for @var{arg_index} gets passed to |
| @code{argp_parse}, the index of the first unparsed command-line argument |
| is passed back in that value. |
| |
| If an error occurs and is either detected by argp or because a parser |
| function returned an error value, each parser is called with |
| @code{ARGP_KEY_ERROR}. No further calls are made, except the final call |
| with @code{ARGP_KEY_FINI}. |
| |
| @node Argp Parsing State, Argp Helper Functions, Argp Special Keys, Argp Parser Functions |
| @subsubsection Argp Parsing State |
| |
| The third argument to argp parser functions (@pxref{Argp Parser |
| Functions}) is a pointer to a @code{struct argp_state}, which contains |
| information about the state of the option parsing. |
| |
| @deftp {Data Type} {struct argp_state} |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This structure has the following fields, which may be modified as noted: |
| |
| @table @code |
| @item const struct argp *const root_argp |
| The top level argp parser being parsed. Note that this is often |
| @emph{not} the same @code{struct argp} passed into @code{argp_parse} by |
| the invoking program. @xref{Argp}. It is an internal argp parser that |
| contains options implemented by @code{argp_parse} itself, such as |
| @samp{--help}. |
| |
| @item int argc |
| @itemx char **argv |
| The argument vector being parsed. This may be modified. |
| |
| @item int next |
| The index in @code{argv} of the next argument to be parsed. This may be |
| modified. |
| |
| One way to consume all remaining arguments in the input is to set |
| @code{@var{state}->next = @var{state}->argc}, perhaps after recording |
| the value of the @code{next} field to find the consumed arguments. The |
| current option can be re-parsed immediately by decrementing this field, |
| then modifying @code{@var{state}->argv[@var{state}->next]} to reflect |
| the option that should be reexamined. |
| |
| @item unsigned flags |
| The flags supplied to @code{argp_parse}. These may be modified, although |
| some flags may only take effect when @code{argp_parse} is first |
| invoked. @xref{Argp Flags}. |
| |
| @item unsigned arg_num |
| While calling a parsing function with the @var{key} argument |
| @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG}, this represents the number of the current arg, |
| starting at 0. It is incremented after each @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG} call |
| returns. At all other times, this is the number of @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG} |
| arguments that have been processed. |
| |
| @item int quoted |
| If non-zero, the index in @code{argv} of the first argument following a |
| special @samp{--} argument. This prevents anything that follows from |
| being interpreted as an option. It is only set after argument parsing |
| has proceeded past this point. |
| |
| @item void *input |
| An arbitrary pointer passed in from the caller of @code{argp_parse}, in |
| the @var{input} argument. |
| |
| @item void **child_inputs |
| These are values that will be passed to child parsers. This vector will |
| be the same length as the number of children in the current parser. Each |
| child parser will be given the value of |
| @code{@var{state}->child_inputs[@var{i}]} as @emph{its} |
| @code{@var{state}->input} field, where @var{i} is the index of the child |
| in the this parser's @code{children} field. @xref{Argp Children}. |
| |
| @item void *hook |
| For the parser function's use. Initialized to 0, but otherwise ignored |
| by argp. |
| |
| @item char *name |
| The name used when printing messages. This is initialized to |
| @code{argv[0]}, or @code{program_invocation_name} if @code{argv[0]} is |
| unavailable. |
| |
| @item FILE *err_stream |
| @itemx FILE *out_stream |
| The stdio streams used when argp prints. Error messages are printed to |
| @code{err_stream}, all other output, such as @samp{--help} output) to |
| @code{out_stream}. These are initialized to @code{stderr} and |
| @code{stdout} respectively. @xref{Standard Streams}. |
| |
| @item void *pstate |
| Private, for use by the argp implementation. |
| @end table |
| @end deftp |
| |
| @node Argp Helper Functions, , Argp Parsing State, Argp Parser Functions |
| @subsubsection Functions For Use in Argp Parsers |
| |
| Argp provides a number of functions available to the user of argp |
| (@pxref{Argp Parser Functions}), mostly for producing error messages. |
| These take as their first argument the @var{state} argument to the |
| parser function. @xref{Argp Parsing State}. |
| |
| |
| @cindex usage messages, in argp |
| @deftypefun void argp_usage (const struct argp_state *@var{state}) |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @safety{@prelim{}@mtunsafe{@mtasurace{:argpbuf} @mtsenv{} @mtslocale{}}@asunsafe{@ascuheap{} @ascuintl{} @asucorrupt{}}@acunsafe{@acsmem{} @acucorrupt{} @aculock{}}} |
| @c Just calls argp_state_help with stderr and ARGP_HELP_STD_USAGE. |
| Outputs the standard usage message for the argp parser referred to by |
| @var{state} to @code{@var{state}->err_stream} and terminates the program |
| with @code{exit (argp_err_exit_status)}. @xref{Argp Global Variables}. |
| @end deftypefun |
| |
| @cindex syntax error messages, in argp |
| @deftypefun void argp_error (const struct argp_state *@var{state}, const char *@var{fmt}, @dots{}) |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @safety{@prelim{}@mtunsafe{@mtasurace{:argpbuf} @mtsenv{} @mtslocale{}}@asunsafe{@ascuheap{} @ascuintl{} @asucorrupt{}}@acunsafe{@acsmem{} @acucorrupt{} @aculock{}}} |
| @c Lock stream, vasprintf the formatted message into a buffer, print the |
| @c buffer prefixed by the short program name (in libc, |
| @c argp_short_program_name is a macro that expands to |
| @c program_invocation_short_name), releases the buffer, then call |
| @c argp_state_help with stream and ARGP_HELP_STD_ERR, unlocking the |
| @c stream at the end. |
| Prints the printf format string @var{fmt} and following args, preceded |
| by the program name and @samp{:}, and followed by a @w{@samp{Try @dots{} |
| --help}} message, and terminates the program with an exit status of |
| @code{argp_err_exit_status}. @xref{Argp Global Variables}. |
| @end deftypefun |
| |
| @cindex error messages, in argp |
| @deftypefun void argp_failure (const struct argp_state *@var{state}, int @var{status}, int @var{errnum}, const char *@var{fmt}, @dots{}) |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @safety{@prelim{}@mtsafe{}@asunsafe{@asucorrupt{} @ascuheap{}}@acunsafe{@aculock{} @acucorrupt{} @acsmem{}}} |
| @c Lock stream, write out the short program name, vasprintf the optional |
| @c formatted message to a buffer, print the buffer prefixed by colon and |
| @c blank, release the buffer, call strerror_r with an automatic buffer, |
| @c print it out after colon and blank, put[w]c a line break, unlock the |
| @c stream, then exit unless ARGP_NO_EXIT. |
| Similar to the standard GNU error-reporting function @code{error}, this |
| prints the program name and @samp{:}, the printf format string |
| @var{fmt}, and the appropriate following args. If it is non-zero, the |
| standard unix error text for @var{errnum} is printed. If @var{status} is |
| non-zero, it terminates the program with that value as its exit status. |
| |
| The difference between @code{argp_failure} and @code{argp_error} is that |
| @code{argp_error} is for @emph{parsing errors}, whereas |
| @code{argp_failure} is for other problems that occur during parsing but |
| don't reflect a syntactic problem with the input, such as illegal values |
| for options, bad phase of the moon, etc. |
| @end deftypefun |
| |
| @deftypefun void argp_state_help (const struct argp_state *@var{state}, FILE *@var{stream}, unsigned @var{flags}) |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @safety{@prelim{}@mtunsafe{@mtasurace{:argpbuf} @mtsenv{} @mtslocale{}}@asunsafe{@ascuheap{} @ascuintl{} @asucorrupt{}}@acunsafe{@acsmem{} @acucorrupt{} @aculock{}}} |
| @c Just calls _help with the short program name and optionally exit. |
| @c The main problems in _help, besides the usual issues with stream I/O |
| @c and translation, are the use of a static buffer (uparams, thus |
| @c @mtasurace:argpbuf) that makes the whole thing thread-unsafe, reading |
| @c from the environment for ARGP_HELP_FMT, accessing the locale object |
| @c multiple times. |
| |
| @c _help @mtsenv @mtasurace:argpbuf @mtslocale @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c dgettext @ascuintl |
| @c flockfile @aculock |
| @c funlockfile @aculock |
| @c fill_in_uparams @mtsenv @mtasurace:argpbuf @mtslocale @asucorrupt @ascuheap @aculock @acucorrupt @acsmem |
| @c argp_failure dup (status = errnum = 0) |
| @c atoi dup @mtslocale |
| @c argp_hol @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c make_hol @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c hol_add_cluster @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c hol_append @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c hol_set_group ok |
| @c hol_find_entry ok |
| @c hol_sort @mtslocale @acucorrupt |
| @c qsort dup @acucorrupt |
| @c hol_entry_qcmp @mtslocale |
| @c hol_entry_cmp @mtslocale |
| @c group_cmp ok |
| @c hol_cluster_cmp ok |
| @c group_cmp ok |
| @c hol_entry_first_short @mtslocale |
| @c hol_entry_short_iterate [@mtslocale] |
| @c until_short ok |
| @c oshort ok |
| @c isprint ok |
| @c odoc ok |
| @c hol_entry_first_long ok |
| @c canon_doc_option @mtslocale |
| @c tolower dup |
| @c hol_usage @mtslocale @ascuintl @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c hol_entry_short_iterate ok |
| @c add_argless_short_opt ok |
| @c argp_fmtstream_printf dup |
| @c hol_entry_short_iterate @mtslocale @ascuintl @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c usage_argful_short_opt @mtslocale @ascuintl @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c dgettext dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_printf dup |
| @c hol_entry_long_iterate @mtslocale @ascuintl @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c usage_long_opt @mtslocale @ascuintl @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c dgettext dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_printf dup |
| @c hol_help @mtslocale @mtasurace:argpbuf @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c hol_entry_help @mtslocale @mtasurace:argpbuf @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_lmargin dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_wmargin dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_wmargin dup |
| @c comma @mtslocale @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc dup |
| @c hol_cluster_is_child ok |
| @c argp_fmtstream_wmargin dup |
| @c print_header dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_wmargin dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_puts dup |
| @c indent_to dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc dup |
| @c arg @mtslocale @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c argp_fmtstream_printf dup |
| @c odoc dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_puts dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_printf dup |
| @c print_header @mtslocale @mtasurace:argpbuf @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c dgettext dup |
| @c filter_doc dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc dup |
| @c indent_to dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_lmargin dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_wmargin dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_puts dup |
| @c free dup |
| @c filter_doc dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_point dup |
| @c indent_to @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_point dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc dup |
| @c dgettext dup |
| @c filter_doc dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_puts dup |
| @c free dup |
| @c hol_free @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c free dup |
| @c argp_args_levels ok |
| @c argp_args_usage @mtslocale @ascuintl @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c dgettext dup |
| @c filter_doc ok |
| @c argp_input ok |
| @c argp->help_filter |
| @c space @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_point dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_rmargin @mtslocale @asucorrupt @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_update dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_write dup |
| @c free dup |
| @c argp_doc @mtslocale @ascuheap @ascuintl @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c dgettext @ascuintl |
| @c strndup @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c argp_input dup |
| @c argp->help_filter |
| @c argp_fmtstream_putc @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_ensure dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_write dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_puts dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_point @mtslocale @asucorrupt @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_update dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_lmargin dup |
| @c free dup |
| @c argp_make_fmtstream @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c argp_fmtstream_free @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_update @mtslocale @asucorrupt @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c put[w]c_unlocked dup |
| @c isblank in loop @mtslocale |
| @c fxprintf @aculock |
| @c fxprintf @aculock |
| @c free dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_wmargin @mtslocale @asucorrupt @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_update dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_printf @mtslocale @ascuheap @acsmem |
| @c argp_fmtstream_ensure dup |
| @c vsnprintf dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_set_lmargin @mtslocale @asucorrupt @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_update dup |
| @c argp_fmtstream_puts @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_write @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_ensure @mtslocale @ascuheap @asucorrupt @acsmem @acucorrupt @aculock |
| @c argp_fmtstream_update dup |
| @c fxprintf @aculock |
| @c realloc @ascuheap @acsmem |
| Outputs a help message for the argp parser referred to by @var{state}, |
| to @var{stream}. The @var{flags} argument determines what sort of help |
| message is produced. @xref{Argp Help Flags}. |
| @end deftypefun |
| |
| Error output is sent to @code{@var{state}->err_stream}, and the program |
| name printed is @code{@var{state}->name}. |
| |
| The output or program termination behavior of these functions may be |
| suppressed if the @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT} or @code{ARGP_NO_ERRS} flags are |
| passed to @code{argp_parse}. @xref{Argp Flags}. |
| |
| This behavior is useful if an argp parser is exported for use by other |
| programs (e.g., by a library), and may be used in a context where it is |
| not desirable to terminate the program in response to parsing errors. In |
| argp parsers intended for such general use, and for the case where the |
| program @emph{doesn't} terminate, calls to any of these functions should |
| be followed by code that returns the appropriate error code: |
| |
| @smallexample |
| if (@var{bad argument syntax}) |
| @{ |
| argp_usage (@var{state}); |
| return EINVAL; |
| @} |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @noindent |
| If a parser function will @emph{only} be used when @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT} |
| is not set, the return may be omitted. |
| |
| @node Argp Children, Argp Help Filtering, Argp Parser Functions, Argp Parsers |
| @subsection Combining Multiple Argp Parsers |
| |
| The @code{children} field in a @code{struct argp} enables other argp |
| parsers to be combined with the referencing one for the parsing of a |
| single set of arguments. This field should point to a vector of |
| @code{struct argp_child}, which is terminated by an entry having a value |
| of zero in the @code{argp} field. |
| |
| Where conflicts between combined parsers arise, as when two specify an |
| option with the same name, the parser conflicts are resolved in favor of |
| the parent argp parser(s), or the earlier of the argp parsers in the |
| list of children. |
| |
| @deftp {Data Type} {struct argp_child} |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| An entry in the list of subsidiary argp parsers pointed to by the |
| @code{children} field in a @code{struct argp}. The fields are as |
| follows: |
| |
| @table @code |
| @item const struct argp *argp |
| The child argp parser, or zero to end of the list. |
| |
| @item int flags |
| Flags for this child. |
| |
| @item const char *header |
| If non-zero, this is an optional header to be printed within help output |
| before the child options. As a side-effect, a non-zero value forces the |
| child options to be grouped together. To achieve this effect without |
| actually printing a header string, use a value of @code{""}. As with |
| header strings specified in an option entry, the conventional value of |
| the last character is @samp{:}. @xref{Argp Option Vectors}. |
| |
| @item int group |
| This is where the child options are grouped relative to the other |
| `consolidated' options in the parent argp parser. The values are the |
| same as the @code{group} field in @code{struct argp_option}. @xref{Argp |
| Option Vectors}. All child-groupings follow parent options at a |
| particular group level. If both this field and @code{header} are zero, |
| then the child's options aren't grouped together, they are merged with |
| parent options at the parent option group level. |
| |
| @end table |
| @end deftp |
| |
| @node Argp Flags, Argp Help, Argp Parsers, Argp |
| @subsection Flags for @code{argp_parse} |
| |
| The default behavior of @code{argp_parse} is designed to be convenient |
| for the most common case of parsing program command line argument. To |
| modify these defaults, the following flags may be or'd together in the |
| @var{flags} argument to @code{argp_parse}: |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item ARGP_PARSE_ARGV0 |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Don't ignore the first element of the @var{argv} argument to |
| @code{argp_parse}. Unless @code{ARGP_NO_ERRS} is set, the first element |
| of the argument vector is skipped for option parsing purposes, as it |
| corresponds to the program name in a command line. |
| |
| @item ARGP_NO_ERRS |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Don't print error messages for unknown options to @code{stderr}; unless |
| this flag is set, @code{ARGP_PARSE_ARGV0} is ignored, as @code{argv[0]} |
| is used as the program name in the error messages. This flag implies |
| @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT}. This is based on the assumption that silent exiting |
| upon errors is bad behavior. |
| |
| @item ARGP_NO_ARGS |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Don't parse any non-option args. Normally these are parsed by calling |
| the parse functions with a key of @code{ARGP_KEY_ARG}, the actual |
| argument being the value. This flag needn't normally be set, as the |
| default behavior is to stop parsing as soon as an argument fails to be |
| parsed. @xref{Argp Parser Functions}. |
| |
| @item ARGP_IN_ORDER |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Parse options and arguments in the same order they occur on the command |
| line. Normally they're rearranged so that all options come first. |
| |
| @item ARGP_NO_HELP |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Don't provide the standard long option @samp{--help}, which ordinarily |
| causes usage and option help information to be output to @code{stdout} |
| and @code{exit (0)}. |
| |
| @item ARGP_NO_EXIT |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Don't exit on errors, although they may still result in error messages. |
| |
| @item ARGP_LONG_ONLY |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Use the GNU getopt `long-only' rules for parsing arguments. This allows |
| long-options to be recognized with only a single @samp{-} |
| (i.e., @samp{-help}). This results in a less useful interface, and its |
| use is discouraged as it conflicts with the way most GNU programs work |
| as well as the GNU coding standards. |
| |
| @item ARGP_SILENT |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Turns off any message-printing/exiting options, specifically |
| @code{ARGP_NO_EXIT}, @code{ARGP_NO_ERRS}, and @code{ARGP_NO_HELP}. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| @node Argp Help Filtering, , Argp Children, Argp Parsers |
| @need 2000 |
| @subsection Customizing Argp Help Output |
| |
| The @code{help_filter} field in a @code{struct argp} is a pointer to a |
| function that filters the text of help messages before displaying |
| them. They have a function signature like: |
| |
| @smallexample |
| char *@var{help-filter} (int @var{key}, const char *@var{text}, void *@var{input}) |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| |
| @noindent |
| Where @var{key} is either a key from an option, in which case @var{text} |
| is that option's help text. @xref{Argp Option Vectors}. Alternately, one |
| of the special keys with names beginning with @samp{ARGP_KEY_HELP_} |
| might be used, describing which other help text @var{text} will contain. |
| @xref{Argp Help Filter Keys}. |
| |
| The function should return either @var{text} if it remains as-is, or a |
| replacement string allocated using @code{malloc}. This will be either be |
| freed by argp or zero, which prints nothing. The value of @var{text} is |
| supplied @emph{after} any translation has been done, so if any of the |
| replacement text needs translation, it will be done by the filter |
| function. @var{input} is either the input supplied to @code{argp_parse} |
| or it is zero, if @code{argp_help} was called directly by the user. |
| |
| @menu |
| * Keys: Argp Help Filter Keys. Special @var{key} values for help filter functions. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Help Filter Keys, , , Argp Help Filtering |
| @subsubsection Special Keys for Argp Help Filter Functions |
| |
| The following special values may be passed to an argp help filter |
| function as the first argument in addition to key values for user |
| options. They specify which help text the @var{text} argument contains: |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item ARGP_KEY_HELP_PRE_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The help text preceding options. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_HELP_POST_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The help text following options. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_HELP_HEADER |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The option header string. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_HELP_EXTRA |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This is used after all other documentation; @var{text} is zero for this key. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_HELP_DUP_ARGS_NOTE |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The explanatory note printed when duplicate option arguments have been suppressed. |
| |
| @item ARGP_KEY_HELP_ARGS_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The argument doc string; formally the @code{args_doc} field from the argp parser. @xref{Argp Parsers}. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| @node Argp Help, Argp Examples, Argp Flags, Argp |
| @subsection The @code{argp_help} Function |
| |
| Normally programs using argp need not be written with particular |
| printing argument-usage-type help messages in mind as the standard |
| @samp{--help} option is handled automatically by argp. Typical error |
| cases can be handled using @code{argp_usage} and |
| @code{argp_error}. @xref{Argp Helper Functions}. However, if it's |
| desirable to print a help message in some context other than parsing the |
| program options, argp offers the @code{argp_help} interface. |
| |
| @deftypefun void argp_help (const struct argp *@var{argp}, FILE *@var{stream}, unsigned @var{flags}, char *@var{name}) |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @safety{@prelim{}@mtunsafe{@mtasurace{:argpbuf} @mtsenv{} @mtslocale{}}@asunsafe{@ascuheap{} @ascuintl{} @asucorrupt{}}@acunsafe{@acsmem{} @acucorrupt{} @aculock{}}} |
| @c Just calls _help. |
| This outputs a help message for the argp parser @var{argp} to |
| @var{stream}. The type of messages printed will be determined by |
| @var{flags}. |
| |
| Any options such as @samp{--help} that are implemented automatically by |
| argp itself will @emph{not} be present in the help output; for this |
| reason it is best to use @code{argp_state_help} if calling from within |
| an argp parser function. @xref{Argp Helper Functions}. |
| @end deftypefun |
| |
| @menu |
| * Flags: Argp Help Flags. Specifying what sort of help message to print. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Help Flags, , , Argp Help |
| @subsection Flags for the @code{argp_help} Function |
| |
| When calling @code{argp_help} (@pxref{Argp Help}) or |
| @code{argp_state_help} (@pxref{Argp Helper Functions}) the exact output |
| is determined by the @var{flags} argument. This should consist of any of |
| the following flags, or'd together: |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item ARGP_HELP_USAGE |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| A unix @samp{Usage:} message that explicitly lists all options. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_SHORT_USAGE |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| A unix @samp{Usage:} message that displays an appropriate placeholder to |
| indicate where the options go; useful for showing the non-option |
| argument syntax. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_SEE |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| A @samp{Try @dots{} for more help} message; @samp{@dots{}} contains the |
| program name and @samp{--help}. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_LONG |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| A verbose option help message that gives each option available along |
| with its documentation string. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_PRE_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The part of the argp parser doc string preceding the verbose option help. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_POST_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| The part of the argp parser doc string that following the verbose option help. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_DOC |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| @code{(ARGP_HELP_PRE_DOC | ARGP_HELP_POST_DOC)} |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_BUG_ADDR |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| A message that prints where to report bugs for this program, if the |
| @code{argp_program_bug_address} variable contains this information. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_LONG_ONLY |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This will modify any output to reflect the @code{ARGP_LONG_ONLY} mode. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| The following flags are only understood when used with |
| @code{argp_state_help}. They control whether the function returns after |
| printing its output, or terminates the program: |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item ARGP_HELP_EXIT_ERR |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This will terminate the program with @code{exit (argp_err_exit_status)}. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_EXIT_OK |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This will terminate the program with @code{exit (0)}. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| The following flags are combinations of the basic flags for printing |
| standard messages: |
| |
| @vtable @code |
| @item ARGP_HELP_STD_ERR |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| Assuming that an error message for a parsing error has printed, this |
| prints a message on how to get help, and terminates the program with an |
| error. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_STD_USAGE |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This prints a standard usage message and terminates the program with an |
| error. This is used when no other specific error messages are |
| appropriate or available. |
| |
| @item ARGP_HELP_STD_HELP |
| @standards{GNU, argp.h} |
| This prints the standard response for a @samp{--help} option, and |
| terminates the program successfully. |
| @end vtable |
| |
| @node Argp Examples, Argp User Customization, Argp Help, Argp |
| @subsection Argp Examples |
| |
| These example programs demonstrate the basic usage of argp. |
| |
| @menu |
| * 1: Argp Example 1. A minimal program using argp. |
| * 2: Argp Example 2. A program using only default options. |
| * 3: Argp Example 3. A simple program with user options. |
| * 4: Argp Example 4. Combining multiple argp parsers. |
| @end menu |
| |
| @node Argp Example 1, Argp Example 2, , Argp Examples |
| @subsubsection A Minimal Program Using Argp |
| |
| This is perhaps the smallest program possible that uses argp. It won't |
| do much except give an error message and exit when there are any |
| arguments, and prints a rather pointless message for @samp{--help}. |
| |
| @smallexample |
| @include argp-ex1.c.texi |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @node Argp Example 2, Argp Example 3, Argp Example 1, Argp Examples |
| @subsubsection A Program Using Argp with Only Default Options |
| |
| This program doesn't use any options or arguments, it uses argp to be |
| compliant with the GNU standard command line format. |
| |
| In addition to giving no arguments and implementing a @samp{--help} |
| option, this example has a @samp{--version} option, which will put the |
| given documentation string and bug address in the @samp{--help} output, |
| as per GNU standards. |
| |
| The variable @code{argp} contains the argument parser |
| specification. Adding fields to this structure is the way most |
| parameters are passed to @code{argp_parse}. The first three fields are |
| normally used, but they are not in this small program. There are also |
| two global variables that argp can use defined here, |
| @code{argp_program_version} and @code{argp_program_bug_address}. They |
| are considered global variables because they will almost always be |
| constant for a given program, even if they use different argument |
| parsers for various tasks. |
| |
| @smallexample |
| @include argp-ex2.c.texi |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @node Argp Example 3, Argp Example 4, Argp Example 2, Argp Examples |
| @subsubsection A Program Using Argp with User Options |
| |
| This program uses the same features as example 2, adding user options |
| and arguments. |
| |
| We now use the first four fields in @code{argp} (@pxref{Argp Parsers}) |
| and specify @code{parse_opt} as the parser function. @xref{Argp Parser |
| Functions}. |
| |
| Note that in this example, @code{main} uses a structure to communicate |
| with the @code{parse_opt} function, a pointer to which it passes in the |
| @code{input} argument to @code{argp_parse}. @xref{Argp}. It is retrieved |
| by @code{parse_opt} through the @code{input} field in its @code{state} |
| argument. @xref{Argp Parsing State}. Of course, it's also possible to |
| use global variables instead, but using a structure like this is |
| somewhat more flexible and clean. |
| |
| @smallexample |
| @include argp-ex3.c.texi |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @node Argp Example 4, , Argp Example 3, Argp Examples |
| @subsubsection A Program Using Multiple Combined Argp Parsers |
| |
| This program uses the same features as example 3, but has more options, |
| and presents more structure in the @samp{--help} output. It also |
| illustrates how you can `steal' the remainder of the input arguments |
| past a certain point for programs that accept a list of items. It also |
| illustrates the @var{key} value @code{ARGP_KEY_NO_ARGS}, which is only |
| given if no non-option arguments were supplied to the |
| program. @xref{Argp Special Keys}. |
| |
| For structuring help output, two features are used: @emph{headers} and a |
| two part option string. The @emph{headers} are entries in the options |
| vector. @xref{Argp Option Vectors}. The first four fields are zero. The |
| two part documentation string are in the variable @code{doc}, which |
| allows documentation both before and after the options. @xref{Argp |
| Parsers}, the two parts of @code{doc} are separated by a vertical-tab |
| character (@code{'\v'}, or @code{'\013'}). By convention, the |
| documentation before the options is a short string stating what the |
| program does, and after any options it is longer, describing the |
| behavior in more detail. All documentation strings are automatically |
| filled for output, although newlines may be included to force a line |
| break at a particular point. In addition, documentation strings are |
| passed to the @code{gettext} function, for possible translation into the |
| current locale. |
| |
| @smallexample |
| @include argp-ex4.c.texi |
| @end smallexample |
| |
| @node Argp User Customization, , Argp Examples, Argp |
| @subsection Argp User Customization |
| |
| @cindex ARGP_HELP_FMT environment variable |
| The formatting of argp @samp{--help} output may be controlled to some |
| extent by a program's users, by setting the @code{ARGP_HELP_FMT} |
| environment variable to a comma-separated list of tokens. Whitespace is |
| ignored: |
| |
| @table @samp |
| @item dup-args |
| @itemx no-dup-args |
| These turn @dfn{duplicate-argument-mode} on or off. In duplicate |
| argument mode, if an option that accepts an argument has multiple names, |
| the argument is shown for each name. Otherwise, it is only shown for the |
| first long option. A note is subsequently printed so the user knows that |
| it applies to other names as well. The default is @samp{no-dup-args}, |
| which is less consistent, but prettier. |
| |
| @item dup-args-note |
| @item no-dup-args-note |
| These will enable or disable the note informing the user of suppressed |
| option argument duplication. The default is @samp{dup-args-note}. |
| |
| @item short-opt-col=@var{n} |
| This prints the first short option in column @var{n}. The default is 2. |
| |
| @item long-opt-col=@var{n} |
| This prints the first long option in column @var{n}. The default is 6. |
| |
| @item doc-opt-col=@var{n} |
| This prints `documentation options' (@pxref{Argp Option Flags}) in |
| column @var{n}. The default is 2. |
| |
| @item opt-doc-col=@var{n} |
| This prints the documentation for options starting in column |
| @var{n}. The default is 29. |
| |
| @item header-col=@var{n} |
| This will indent the group headers that document groups of options to |
| column @var{n}. The default is 1. |
| |
| @item usage-indent=@var{n} |
| This will indent continuation lines in @samp{Usage:} messages to column |
| @var{n}. The default is 12. |
| |
| @item rmargin=@var{n} |
| This will word wrap help output at or before column @var{n}. The default |
| is 79. |
| @end table |