This is a simple example of writing to and reading from a text file:

f1: TextFile := open("/tmp/test", "output")

(1)

writeLine!(f1, "abcdefg")

(2)

close! f1

(3)

f2: TextFile := open("/tmp/test", "input")

(4)

l := readLine! f2

(5)

output l

   abcdefg

close! f2

(6)

Here is a system command. It display how many files there are in the default current directory where Axiom is run.

)set output algebra on

systemCommand("system ls | wc")

 134780  134793 4232179

Please do not try to list the complete contents of this directory! If you do, MathAction will appear to hang.

Here is a shorter list of files that works ok:

)set output algebra on

systemCommand("system ls .. > /tmp/test")

f2: TextFile := open("/tmp/test", "input")

   (10)  "/tmp/test"

(7)

while not endOfFile? f2 repeat
    s := readLine! f2
    output s

   Data.fs
   Data.fs.index
   Data.fs.lock
   Data.fs.old
   Data.fs.tmp
   graphviz.pdf.xml
   LatexWiki
   pts
   README.txt
   x.png
   Z2.lock
   Z2.pid
   zopectlsock

close! f2

   (12)  "/tmp/test"

(8)

Here is an example of how to call a polymake constructor. Notice that you must use the full path name.

)set output algebra on

systemCommand("system /usr/local/polymake/bin/cube /tmp/cube4.poly 4 2>/tmp/cube4.stderr >/tmp/cube4.stdout")

Here is the standard output of the command (if any):

systemCommand("system cat /tmp/cube4.stdout")

Here is the error output of the command (if any):

systemCommand("system cat /tmp/cube4.stderr")

/bin/sh: /usr/local/polymake/bin/cube: not found

Now display the contents of the file that was created:

f2: TextFile := open("/tmp/cube4.poly", "input")

   >> Error detected within library code:
   "File is not readable""/tmp/cube4.poly"

systemCommand("system /usr/local/polymake/bin/cross /tmp/c4.poly 4")

systemCommand("system cat /tmp/c4.poly")