newbee question

[G]

what does the * do in this routine?
(if (not *last_num*)(setq *last_num* 1))

[Adesu]

what does the * do in this routine?
(if (not *last_num*)(setq *last_num* 1))

Hi G,I think that do you mean,is variable and not meaning anything,look at code,then for other function ,if user only hit enter variable "*last_num* " would be set to 1.

(setq *last_num* (getreal "\nEnter new value<1>: "))
(if
  (not *last_num*)
  (setq *last_num* 1)
  )

[mguzik@nospamlawson-fishe]

It is coding convention to identify these as global variables. Could
have just as easily have been (setq glob_last_num last_num).

Nothing special, just a way to identify type of variable when reading
code.

After running the above line once, you can assess to value of
*last_num* by typing !*last_num*. Often used to return the previous
value last set when the routine was run in the current session.

MJG