m4 macros

[Neo]

I need to define a few macros. These macros may have the text pattern that is same as the macro name inside them.
For e.g.

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define(`Fn1',`
Fn1: First line
Fn1: Second line
Fn1: Third Line
')

define(`Fn2',`
Fn2: First Line
Fn1: Second line
Fn1: Third Line
')

and when I call it like this

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Fn1
Fn2 

I get a screen that goes on printing blanks.
How do I do get this to work properly?

[mystran]

You need to prevent expansion. The m4 manual tells you that you can do this by quoting. Basicly, add some dummy `' around or inside the token you don't want to match as a macro name. Something like:

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define(`fn1',`
`fn1': First line
')

(oh, and I don't know any M4, just reading the manual here )

[Neo]

I did read that too. But used the wrong damn quotes.
Anyway there is a sort of problem. If I have many macros defined there and one of them has the text pattern that is the name of another macro, then I get into a nice jam.

Anyone has some idea for a workaround for this?

[erikgreenwald]

Hrm, I must be misunderstanding the current issue with his, because when I do

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define(Fn1,`
`Fn1': Plop
`Fn1': Splort
')
define(Fn2,`
`Fn2': Pop
`Fn1': Boom
`Fn1': Blammo
')
Fn1
Fn2

I get this out of m4...

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Fn1: Plop
Fn1: Splort


Fn2: Pop
Fn1: Boom
Fn1: Blammo

which seems to be what you're asking for?

-Erik

[Neo]

Which is perfectly correct.
Did you expect something else?

[erikgreenwald]

Actually, it was completely expected... I was (and still am) trying to figure out exactly what you're looking for a workaround to?

-Erik

[Neo]

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define(`Fn1',`
Fn1: First line
Fn1: Second line
Fn1: Third Line
')
.....

I did not use quotes correctly. It is working fine now.