Stephane Bortzmeyer wrote:
> minilang = do
> char 'a'
> try (optional (do {comma ; char 'b'}))
> optional (do {comma ; char 'c'})
> eof
> return "OK"
>
> ********* CUT HERE *******************
>
> parse error at (line 1, column 2):
> unexpected "c"
> expecting "b"
>
> Apparently, "try" was used (do note that the column number indicates
> that there was backtracking) but the parser still fails for
> "a,c". Why?
Because 'try' can only help you if its argument fails. If the argument to
'try' succeeds, then it behaves as if it wasn't there. Now 'optional x'
always succeeds, so the 'try' is useless where you placed it. You need
to 'try' the argument to 'optional':
> minilang = do
> char 'a'
> optional (try (do {comma ; char 'b'}))
> optional (do {comma ; char 'c'})
> eof
> return "OK"
You could also factor your grammar or use ReadP, where backtracking is not
an issue.
Udo.
--
Ours is a world where people don't know what they want and are willing
to go through hell to get it. -- Don Marquis
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