files.
@menu
-* Define:: User-defined commands
-* Hooks:: User-defined command hooks
-* Command Files:: Command files
-* Output:: Commands for controlled output
+* Define:: How to define your own commands
+* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
+* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
+* Output:: Commands for controlled output
@end menu
@node Define
@section User-defined commands
@cindex user-defined command
+@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
functions calls.
+@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
+@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
-@kindex if
-@kindex else
-@item if
-@itemx else
-Takes a single argument, which is an expression to evaluate.
-It is followed by a series of commands that are executed
-only if the expression is true (nonzero).
-There can then optionally be a line @code{else}, followed
-by a series of commands that are only executed if the expression
-was false. The end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
-
-@kindex while
-@item while
-The syntax is similar to @code{if}: the command takes a single argument,
-which is an expression to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to
-execute, one per line, terminated by an @code{end}.
-The commands are executed repeatedly as long as the expression
-evaluates to true.
-
@kindex document
@item document @var{commandname}
Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
definitions for all user-defined commands.
-@cindex infinite recusrion in user-defined commands
+@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
@kindex show max-user-call-depth
@kindex set max-user-call-depth
@item show max-user-call-depth
The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
levels are allowed in user-defined commands before GDB suspects an
infinite recursion and aborts the command.
-
@end table
+In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
+use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
+
When user-defined commands are executed, the
commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
stops execution of the user-defined command.
@section Command files
@cindex command files
+@cindex scripting commands
A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
Execute the command file @var{filename}.
@end table
-The lines in a command file are executed sequentially. They are not
+The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
+unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
+@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
would be directed to @file{log}.
+Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
+commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
+complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
+variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
+built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
+deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
+complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
+conditionally, etc.
+
+@table @code
+@kindex if
+@kindex else
+@item if
+@itemx else
+This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
+commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
+expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
+are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
+There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
+of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
+end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
+
+@kindex while
+@item while
+This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
+@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
+to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
+line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
+@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
+executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
+
+@kindex loop_break
+@item loop_break
+This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
+Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
+line.
+
+@kindex loop_continue
+@item loop_continue
+This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
+in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
+branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
+the controlling expression.
+@end table
+
+
@node Output
@section Commands for controlled output
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