Re: [PATCH] Startup option to separate macros arguments with an alternative string

[Nicolas Goaziou]

Hello,

Juan Manuel Macías <maciaschain@posteo.net> writes:

> I would like to propose this (possible) patch.
>
> With `#+STARTUP: macro-arg-sep-other' the macros arguments can be
> separated by a string other than comma, whose value is defined in
> `org-macro-arg-sep-other' (by default it is "'@").

Even though Org syntax partly is, I don't think parameterizable syntax
is a way to go. I'd rather have less variables controlling it. (I'm
looking at you `org-list-allow-alphabetical', and
`org-plain-list-ordered-item-terminator'.)

That being said, we can discuss syntax that is not depending upon some
variable. For example macro names are written with a limited set of
characters (alphanumeric, dash, underscore). We might allow the optional
argument separator to be located right before the opening parenthesis,
e.g.,

  {{{macroname@(latin@Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ...)}}}
  {{{macroname|(latin|Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ...)}}}

But see below.

> Rationale for this patch: There are many contexts where the comma character 
> can be
> inappropriate as an argument separator, since it has to be escaped
> many times.

That's true. But I wonder if you're hitting a limit of replacement
macros use case. IMO, macros are good for short text. For bigger ones,
you may want to use some Babel code, in the language of your choice.

WDYT?

Regards,
-- 
Nicolas Goaziou