What would you suggest I mold into a habit?
Using a context prefix:
(context 'MYCONTEXT)
(define (myfunc , )
(println MAIN:a)
)
(context 'MAIN)
(setq a 10)
(MYCONTEXT:myfunc)
or passing the value of a symbol when calling a function from another context:
(context 'MYCONTEXT)
(define (myfunc value , )
(println myfunc)
)
(context 'MAIN)
(setq a 10)
(MYCONTEXT:myfunc a)
Is there anything I should keep in mind when using them?
Your second method is definitely the way to do it, and I think you had a little typo: 'myfunc' instead of 'value':
(context 'MYCONTEXT)
(define (myfunc value)
(println value)
)
(context 'MAIN)
(setq a 10)
(MYCONTEXT:myfunc a)
You tell MYCONTEXT:myfunc explicitly what to print, in your first version this is hidden inside MYCONTEXT and MYCONTEXT:myfunc is accessing a variable in MAIN behind the curtain.
In your second version you deliver the argument to print as a parameter of MYCONTEXT:myfunc whih is the correct way to do it.
Your first way would be correct if MAIN:a is some kind of global setting, which does not change frequently, i.e.:
(context 'MYCONTEXT)
(define (report value)
(print-using MAIN:printer value))
(context MAIN)
(setq printer "HP_DESKJET")
(MYCONTEXT:report value)
In this last example it makes sense for MYCONTEXT:report to access MAIN:printer as a global configuration variable, and not pass it as a parameter.
Lutz
Yes, you were correct in assuming a typo. Thanks for the help, that clarifies a lot for me.