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(slib.info)Format Interface

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Format Interface
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 - Function: format destination format-string . arguments
     An almost complete implementation of Common LISP format description
     according to the CL reference book `Common LISP' from Guy L.
     Steele, Digital Press.  Backward compatible to most of the
     available Scheme format implementations.

     Returns `#t', `#f' or a string; has side effect of printing
     according to FORMAT-STRING.  If DESTINATION is `#t', the output is
     to the current output port and `#t' is returned.  If DESTINATION
     is `#f', a formatted string is returned as the result of the call.
     NEW: If DESTINATION is a string, DESTINATION is regarded as the
     format string; FORMAT-STRING is then the first argument and the
     output is returned as a string. If DESTINATION is a number, the
     output is to the current error port if available by the
     implementation. Otherwise DESTINATION must be an output port and
     `#t' is returned.

     FORMAT-STRING must be a string.  In case of a formatting error
     format returns `#f' and prints a message on the current output or
     error port.  Characters are output as if the string were output by
     the `display' function with the exception of those prefixed by a
     tilde (~).  For a detailed description of the FORMAT-STRING syntax
     please consult a Common LISP format reference manual.  For a test
     suite to verify this format implementation load `formatst.scm'.
     Please send bug reports to `lutzeb@cs.tu-berlin.de'.

     Note: `format' is not reentrant, i.e. only one `format'-call may
     be executed at a time.