Re: bug#47885: [PATCH] org-table-import: Make it more smarter for interactive use

[Maxim Nikulin]

On 06/06/2021 00:50, Utkarsh Singh wrote:
> On 2021-06-05, 19:40 +0700, Maxim Nikulin wrote:
>
> > This line should be added to org-table.el, but notice "rx ‘not’ syntax
> > error: (or ". This logical operators have a bit different meaning for
> > regular expression.
>
> I just "tested" most of them by M-x eval-buffer on
> the patched file and then checked the output of `with-temp-buffer'.

I get "Eager macro-expansion failure: (error "rx ‘not’ syntax error: (or 
10 32)")" even in response to M-x eval-buffer.

> After reading FAQ about multiple lines in table field I don't think this
> PATCH makes much sense as my main driving force for this patch was to
> simplify regular expression in `org-table-convert-region' and somehow
> add newlines support.

You may check whether csv-mode have got support of newline inside cell 
already and try to sell your parser to them.

There are regular discussions how wonderful it would be to extend org 
table syntax. In my opinion org spreadsheet is overloaded already. On 
the other hand, newline in table cell sometimes is really useful. I have 
seen an idea to put some macro to single-line cell that expands to 
format-specific representation during export ({{{nl}}} => <br> in the 
case of HTML). Such macro does not require extension of syntax, so it 
may be viable at least in user configuration.

> > P.S. Have you read "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"
> I also tried Racket after reading:

SICP is dedicated to general concepts rather than to particular 
language, that is why I consider it as a "special case".