toExternalString -- convert to a readable string

Synopsis

Usage:
toExternalString x
Inputs:
- x, any Macaulay 2 object
Outputs:
- a string, a string representation of x, which can be used, in conjunction with value, to read the object back into the program later

See also toString which simply converts x to a string which can be displayed meaningfully.

i1 : toString {1,4,a,f,212312,2.123243242}

o1 = {1, 4, a, f, 212312, 2.12324}

i2 : R = QQ[x_1..x_5];

i3 : toExternalString R

o3 = QQ [x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4, x_5]

Matrices and ring elements are linearized

i4 : x_1^3-3/4*x_5*x_3

      3   3
o4 = x  - -*x x
      1   4  3 5

o4 : R

i5 : toExternalString oo

o5 = x_1^3-3/4*x_3*x_5

i6 : value oo

      3   3
o6 = x  - -*x x
      1   4  3 5

o6 : R

Not everything can be converted to a string in such a way that it can be read back into the program later.