Code Macros with arguments

[spuds]

I have hundreds of formulas defined in my application. In order to simplify the formulas I would like to define a code
macro to expand them before compiling. Here is one example of a formula:

formula := 'Eval(''' + IntToStr(Base + 5) + ''') * 2122.00';

I would like to  say in code

formula := @(Base + 5) * 2122.00

Then  have the macro substitute   'Eval(''' + IntToStr(Base + 5) + ''')   where ever  @(Base+5) appears in code

It would appear that I need to define a macro that takes arguments much like a #define in the C programming language. Is this doable in free pascal and if not are there alternative solutions.

[Thaddy]

https://www.freepascal.org/docs-html/prog/progse5.html

Note parameterized macro's are not (yet) supported so its use can not be fully compared to C macro's.
I do not think your case can be solved with the current macro support.

[valdir.marcos]

Maybe using an Expression Parser:
http://wiki.freepascal.org/How_To_Use_TFPExpressionParser
How to solve string formula?
http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php?topic=34321.0

Maybe using Variants (and macros) in FPC, or Symbolic QuickEvaluate, or any scripting language that can write to a console (Lua, PascalScript, PHP, JavaScript, etc):
New FreePascal Language feature
http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php?topic=35372.0

[Thaddy]

@valdir.marcos
Freepascal is not a scripting language.
C style macro's expand to native code.

But your suggestion is an option if speed is not important.

[spuds]

From doing further research I found that there is a macro processor called M4 that is open source and runs under all unix-like operating systems. It seems to have all the capabilities required to solve my needs. If anyone has a need for a macro pre-processor that supports parameters M4 can be used as an alternative to the lazarus macro pre-processor.

[Thaddy]

That's shell macro vs language macro. The former is already supported by Freepascal. No need for m4. The latter is simply scripting, not native code.

[valdir.marcos]

@valdir.marcos
Freepascal is not a scripting language.

Just curious. Where did I say the contrary?

C style macro's expand to native code.

I and all old programmers know that. Just curious. Where did I demonstrate that I don't know that?

But your suggestion is an option if speed is not important.

Yes, I was trying to suggest alternatives to @spuds.
First, the problem needs a solution, then you improve that to the fastest possible solution.