

Note
This corresponds to "serialization/deserialization" in Java and other languages.
You CAN but shouldn't use this for reading input typed in by the user.
Example:
?- TermOut = a(b,c,[1,2,3],var(ZZ)), with_output_to( string(Buf), write_term(TermOut,[])), % serialize "TermOut" out to "Buf" read_term_from_atom(Buf, TermIn, []). % unserialize "TermIn" from "Buf"
Result:
TermOut = a(b,c,[1,2,3],var(ZZ)), Buf = "a(b,c,[1,2,3],var(_8700))", TermIn = a(b,c,[1,2,3],var(_9646)).
When asking the user
Use library(readutil)
for more freewheeling I/O like user querying, using read_line_to_string/2.
Example:
?- format("Answer me, Domon!!!!\n"), read_line_to_string(user_input,S1), string_lower(S1,S2), (member(S2,["yes","1","ok","y","ja","oui"]) -> format("OK!") ; (format("NOK"), fail)).
Then:
Answer me, Domon!!!! |: YES OK! S1 = "YES", S2 = "yes".
Here is example code for reading terms from a file
:- use_module(library(filesex)). % I'm using strings wherever there is supposed to be "text whose only meaning is itself" perform_catch(Terms,Encoding) :- catch(perform(Terms,Encoding),ExceptionTerm,(format(user_error,"~q",[ExceptionTerm]),fail)). perform(Terms,Encoding) :- WhereDir = "/home/user/", directory_file_path(WhereDir,"prepacked",PrepackedDir), directory_file_path(PrepackedDir,"onepointfour",D1), % directory_file_path has bugs so go step by step here directory_file_path(D1,"basics",D2), % directory_file_path has bugs so go step by step here directory_file_path(D2,"pack.pl",File), exists_file_or_throw(File), open_or_throw(File,Stream,Encoding), assertion(is_stream(Stream)), % Exceptions due to syntax problems are left to bubble "up". % If this happens in an interactive sessions, the tracer is triggered % (unless you did "set_prolog_flag(debug_on_error,false)") and stops % right before the cleanup goal setup_call_cleanup( true, slurp_terms(Stream,Terms), (format(user_error,"Closing ~q~n",[File]),close(Stream))), assertion(\+is_stream(Stream)). % --- slurp_terms(Stream,Terms) :- read_term(Stream,Term,[]), % will throw on syntax error; unifies Term with "end_of_file" at EOF slurp_terms_again(Term,Stream,Terms). % --- slurp_terms_again(end_of_file,_Stream,[]) :- !. slurp_terms_again(Term,Stream,[Term|Terms]) :- slurp_terms(Stream,Terms). % --- open_or_throw(File,Stream,Encoding) :- open(File,read,Stream,[encoding(Encoding)]), !. open_or_throw(File,_Stream,_Encoding) :- domain_error("Opening file for reading failed",File). % but how do I know WHY it failed? % --- exists_file_or_throw(File) :- exists_file(File),!. exists_file_or_throw(File) :- domain_error("No such file",File). % domain error is as good as any