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(autocf21.info.gz) Quoting

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 7.3 Quoting
 ===========
 
 Macros that are called by other macros are evaluated by `m4' several
 times; each evaluation might require another layer of quotes to prevent
 unwanted expansions of macros or `m4' builtins, such as `define' and
 `$1'.  Quotes are also required around macro arguments that contain
 commas, since commas separate the arguments from each other.  It's a
 good idea to quote any macro arguments that contain newlines or calls
 to other macros, as well.
 
    Autoconf changes the `m4' quote characters from the default ``' and
 `'' to `[' and `]', because many of the macros use ``' and `'',
 mismatched.  However, in a few places the macros need to use brackets
 (usually in C program text or regular expressions).  In those places,
 they use the `m4' builtin command `changequote' to temporarily change
 the quote characters to `<<' and `>>'.  (Sometimes, if they don't need
 to quote anything, they disable quoting entirely instead by setting the
 quote characters to empty strings.)  Here is an example:
 
      AC_TRY_LINK(
      changequote(<<, >>)dnl
      <<#include <time.h>
      #ifndef tzname /* For SGI.  */
      extern char *tzname[]; /* RS6000 and others reject char **tzname.  */
      #endif>>,
      changequote([, ])dnl
      [atoi(*tzname);], ac_cv_var_tzname=yes, ac_cv_var_tzname=no)
 
    When you create a `configure' script using newly written macros,
 examine it carefully to check whether you need to add more quotes in
 your macros.  If one or more words have disappeared in the `m4' output,
 you need more quotes.  When in doubt, quote.
 
    However, it's also possible to put on too many layers of quotes.  If
 this happens, the resulting `configure' script will contain unexpanded
 macros.  The `autoconf' program checks for this problem by doing `grep
 AC_ configure'.
 
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