letrec -> internal definitions in format.scm
authorAndy Wingo <wingo@pobox.com>
Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:44:57 +0000 (11:44 +0100)
committerAndy Wingo <wingo@pobox.com>
Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:44:57 +0000 (11:44 +0100)
* module/ice-9/format.scm (format): Change from letrec to internal
  definitions, and use the define (foo ...) .. shorthand. No semantic
  change.

module/ice-9/format.scm

dissimilarity index 93%
index e0ed478..43efcf7 100644 (file)
-;;;; "format.scm" Common LISP text output formatter for SLIB
-;;;    Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-;;;
-;;; This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
-;;; modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
-;;; License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
-;;; version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
-;;; 
-;;; This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-;;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-;;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
-;;; Lesser General Public License for more details.
-;;; 
-;;; You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
-;;; License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
-;;; Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA
-;;;
-
-;;; This code was orignally in the public domain.
-;;;
-;;; Written 1992-1994 by Dirk Lutzebaeck (lutzeb@cs.tu-berlin.de).
-;;;
-;;; Authors of the version from SLIB (< 1.4) were Ken Dickey and Aubrey
-;;; Jaffer.
-;;;
-;;; Assimilated into Guile May 1999.
-;;;
-;;; Please don't bother the original authors with bug reports, though;
-;;; send them to bug-guile@gnu.org.
-;;;
-
-(define-module (ice-9 format)
-  #:use-module (ice-9 and-let-star)
-  #:autoload (ice-9 pretty-print) (pretty-print truncated-print)
-  #:replace (format))
-
-;;; Configuration ------------------------------------------------------------
-
-(define format:ascii-non-printable-charnames
-  '#("nul" "soh" "stx" "etx" "eot" "enq" "ack" "bel"
-     "bs"  "ht"  "nl"  "vt"  "np"  "cr"  "so"  "si"
-     "dle" "dc1" "dc2" "dc3" "dc4" "nak" "syn" "etb"
-     "can" "em"  "sub" "esc" "fs"  "gs"  "rs"  "us" "space"))
-
-;;; End of configuration ----------------------------------------------------
-
-(define (format . args)
-  (letrec
-      ((format:version "3.0")
-       (format:port #f)                        ; curr. format output port
-       (format:output-col 0)           ; curr. format output tty column
-       (format:flush-output #f)                ; flush output at end of formatting
-       (format:case-conversion #f)
-       (format:args #f)
-       (format:pos 0)                  ; curr. format string parsing position
-       (format:arg-pos 0)              ; curr. format argument position
-                                       ; this is global for error presentation
-       
-       ;; format string and char output routines on format:port
-
-       (format:out-str
-       (lambda (str)
-         (if format:case-conversion
-             (display (format:case-conversion str) format:port)
-             (display str format:port))
-         (set! format:output-col
-               (+ format:output-col (string-length str)))))
-
-       (format:out-char
-       (lambda (ch)
-         (if format:case-conversion
-             (display (format:case-conversion (string ch))
-                      format:port)
-             (write-char ch format:port))
-         (set! format:output-col
-               (if (char=? ch #\newline)
-                   0
-                   (+ format:output-col 1)))))
-       
-       ;;(define (format:out-substr str i n)  ; this allocates a new string
-       ;;  (display (substring str i n) format:port)
-       ;;  (set! format:output-col (+ format:output-col n)))
-
-       (format:out-substr
-       (lambda (str i n)
-         (do ((k i (+ k 1)))
-             ((= k n))
-           (write-char (string-ref str k) format:port))
-         (set! format:output-col (+ format:output-col (- n i)))))
-
-       ;;(define (format:out-fill n ch)       ; this allocates a new string
-       ;;  (format:out-str (make-string n ch)))
-
-       (format:out-fill
-       (lambda (n ch)
-         (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
-             ((= i n))
-           (write-char ch format:port))
-         (set! format:output-col (+ format:output-col n))))
-
-       ;; format's user error handler
-
-       (format:error
-       (lambda args            ; never returns!
-         (let ((format-args format:args)
-               (port (current-error-port)))
-           (set! format:error format:intern-error)
-           (if (and (>= (length format:args) 2)
-                    (string? (cadr format:args)))
-               (let ((format-string (cadr format-args)))
-                 (if (not (zero? format:arg-pos))
-                     (set! format:arg-pos (- format:arg-pos 1)))
-                 (format port
-                         "~%FORMAT: error with call: (format ~a \"~a<===~a\" ~
-                                  ~{~a ~}===>~{~a ~})~%        "
-                         (car format:args)
-                         (substring format-string 0 format:pos)
-                         (substring format-string format:pos
-                                    (string-length format-string))
-                         (list-head (cddr format:args) format:arg-pos)
-                         (list-tail (cddr format:args) format:arg-pos)))
-               (format port 
-                       "~%FORMAT: error with call: (format~{ ~a~})~%        "
-                       format:args))
-           (apply format port args)
-           (newline port)
-           (set! format:error format:error-save)
-           (format:abort))))
-
-       (format:intern-error
-       (lambda args
-         ;;if something goes wrong in format:error
-         (display "FORMAT: INTERNAL ERROR IN FORMAT:ERROR!") (newline)
-         (display "        format args: ") (write format:args) (newline)
-         (display "        error args:  ") (write args) (newline)
-         (set! format:error format:error-save)
-         (format:abort)))
-             
-       (format:error-save #f)
-
-       (format:format
-       (lambda args            ; the formatter entry
-         (set! format:args args)
-         (set! format:arg-pos 0)
-         (set! format:pos 0)
-         (if (< (length args) 1)
-             (format:error "not enough arguments"))
-
-         ;; If the first argument is a string, then that's the format string.
-         ;; (Scheme->C)
-         ;; In this case, put the argument list in canonical form.
-         (let ((args (if (string? (car args))
-                         (cons #f args)
-                         args)))
-           ;; Use this canonicalized version when reporting errors.
-           (set! format:args args)
-
-           (let ((destination (car args))
-                 (arglist (cdr args)))
-             (cond
-              ((or (and (boolean? destination) ; port output
-                        destination)
-                   (output-port? destination))
-               (format:out (cond
-                            ((boolean? destination) (current-output-port))
-                            ((output-port? destination) destination)
-                            ((number? destination) (current-error-port)))
-                           (car arglist) (cdr arglist)))
-              ((number? destination)
-                (issue-deprecation-warning
-                 "Passing a number to format as the destination is deprecated."
-                 "Pass (current-error-port) instead.")
-               (format:out (current-error-port) (car arglist) (cdr arglist)))
-              ((and (boolean? destination)     ; string output
-                    (not destination))
-               (call-with-output-string
-                (lambda (port) (format:out port (car arglist) (cdr arglist)))))
-              (else
-               (format:error "illegal destination `~a'" destination)))))))
-
-       (format:out                              ; the output handler for a port
-       (lambda (port fmt args) 
-         (set! format:port port)               ; global port for
-                                       ; output routines
-         (set! format:case-conversion #f)      ; modifier case
-                                       ; conversion procedure
-         (set! format:flush-output #f)         ; ~! reset
-         (and-let* ((col (port-column port)))  ; get current column from port
-                   (set! format:output-col col))
-         (let ((arg-pos (format:format-work fmt args))
-               (arg-len (length args)))
-           (cond
-            ((> arg-pos arg-len)
-             (set! format:arg-pos (+ arg-len 1))
-             (display format:arg-pos)
-             (format:error "~a missing argument~:p" (- arg-pos arg-len)))
-            (else
-             (if format:flush-output (force-output port))
-             #t)))))
-
-       (format:parameter-characters
-       '(#\0 #\1 #\2 #\3 #\4 #\5 #\6 #\7 #\8 #\9 #\- #\+ #\v #\# #\'))
-
-       (format:format-work ; does the formatting work
-       (lambda (format-string arglist)
-         (letrec
-             ((format-string-len (string-length format-string))
-              (arg-pos 0)                      ; argument position in arglist
-              (arg-len (length arglist))       ; number of arguments
-              (modifier #f)                    ; 'colon | 'at | 'colon-at | #f
-              (params '())                     ; directive parameter list
-              (param-value-found #f)           ; a directive
-                                       ; parameter value
-                                       ; found
-              (conditional-nest 0)             ; conditional nesting level
-              (clause-pos 0)                   ; last cond. clause
-                                       ; beginning char pos
-              (clause-default #f)              ; conditional default
-                                       ; clause string
-              (clauses '())                    ; conditional clause
-                                       ; string list
-              (conditional-type #f)            ; reflects the
-                                       ; contional modifiers
-              (conditional-arg #f)             ; argument to apply the conditional
-              (iteration-nest 0)               ; iteration nesting level
-              (iteration-pos 0)                ; iteration string
-                                       ; beginning char pos
-              (iteration-type #f)              ; reflects the
-                                       ; iteration modifiers
-              (max-iterations #f)              ; maximum number of
-                                       ; iterations
-              (recursive-pos-save format:pos)
-              
-              (next-char                       ; gets the next char
-                                       ; from format-string
-               (lambda ()
-                 (let ((ch (peek-next-char)))
-                   (set! format:pos (+ 1 format:pos))
-                   ch)))
-              
-              (peek-next-char
-               (lambda ()
-                 (if (>= format:pos format-string-len)
-                     (format:error "illegal format string")
-                     (string-ref format-string format:pos))))
-              
-              (one-positive-integer?
-               (lambda (params)
-                 (cond
-                  ((null? params) #f)
-                  ((and (integer? (car params))
-                        (>= (car params) 0)
-                        (= (length params) 1)) #t)
-                  (else
-                   (format:error
-                    "one positive integer parameter expected")))))
-              
-              (next-arg
-               (lambda ()
-                 (if (>= arg-pos arg-len)
-                     (begin
-                       (set! format:arg-pos (+ arg-len 1))
-                       (format:error "missing argument(s)")))
-                 (add-arg-pos 1)
-                 (list-ref arglist (- arg-pos 1))))
-              
-              (prev-arg
-               (lambda ()
-                 (add-arg-pos -1)
-                 (if (negative? arg-pos)
-                     (format:error "missing backward argument(s)"))
-                 (list-ref arglist arg-pos)))
-              
-              (rest-args
-               (lambda ()
-                 (let loop ((l arglist) (k arg-pos)) ; list-tail definition
-                   (if (= k 0) l (loop (cdr l) (- k 1))))))
-              
-              (add-arg-pos
-               (lambda (n) 
-                 (set! arg-pos (+ n arg-pos))
-                 (set! format:arg-pos arg-pos)))
-              
-              (anychar-dispatch                ; dispatches the format-string
-               (lambda ()
-                 (if (>= format:pos format-string-len)
-                     arg-pos                   ; used for ~? continuance
-                     (let ((char (next-char)))
-                       (cond
-                        ((char=? char #\~)
-                         (set! modifier #f)
-                         (set! params '())
-                         (set! param-value-found #f)
-                         (tilde-dispatch))
-                        (else
-                         (if (and (zero? conditional-nest)
-                                  (zero? iteration-nest))
-                             (format:out-char char))
-                         (anychar-dispatch)))))))
-              
-              (tilde-dispatch
-               (lambda ()
-                 (cond
-                  ((>= format:pos format-string-len)
-                   (format:out-str "~")        ; tilde at end of
-                                       ; string is just
-                                       ; output
-                   arg-pos)                    ; used for ~?
-                                       ; continuance
-                  ((and (or (zero? conditional-nest)
-                            (memv (peek-next-char) ; find conditional
-                                       ; directives
-                                  (append '(#\[ #\] #\; #\: #\@ #\^)
-                                          format:parameter-characters)))
-                        (or (zero? iteration-nest)
-                            (memv (peek-next-char) ; find iteration
-                                       ; directives
-                                  (append '(#\{ #\} #\: #\@ #\^)
-                                          format:parameter-characters))))
-                   (case (char-upcase (next-char))
-                     
-                     ;; format directives
-                     
-                     ((#\A)                    ; Any -- for humans
-                      (set! format:read-proof
-                            (memq modifier '(colon colon-at)))
-                      (format:out-obj-padded (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                                             (next-arg) #f params)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\S)                    ; Slashified -- for parsers
-                      (set! format:read-proof
-                            (memq modifier '(colon colon-at)))
-                      (format:out-obj-padded (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                                             (next-arg) #t params)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\D)                    ; Decimal
-                      (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 10)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\X)                    ; Hexadecimal
-                      (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 16)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\O)                    ; Octal
-                      (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 8)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\B)                    ; Binary
-                      (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 2)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\R)
-                      (if (null? params)
-                          (format:out-obj-padded ; Roman, cardinal,
-                                       ; ordinal numerals
-                           #f
-                           ((case modifier
-                              ((at) format:num->roman)
-                              ((colon-at) format:num->old-roman)
-                              ((colon) format:num->ordinal)
-                              (else format:num->cardinal))
-                            (next-arg))
-                           #f params)
-                          (format:out-num-padded ; any Radix
-                           modifier (next-arg) (cdr params) (car params)))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\F)            ; Fixed-format floating-point
-                      (format:out-fixed modifier (next-arg) params)
-                       (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\E)            ; Exponential floating-point
-                      (format:out-expon modifier (next-arg) params)
-                       (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\G)            ; General floating-point
-                      (format:out-general modifier (next-arg) params)
-                       (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\$)            ; Dollars floating-point
-                      (format:out-dollar modifier (next-arg) params)
-                       (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\I)                    ; Complex numbers
-                      (let ((z (next-arg)))
-                        (if (not (complex? z))
-                            (format:error "argument not a complex number"))
-                        (format:out-fixed modifier (real-part z) params)
-                        (format:out-fixed 'at (imag-part z) params)
-                        (format:out-char #\i))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\C)                    ; Character
-                      (let ((ch (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                                    (integer->char (car params))
-                                    (next-arg))))
-                        (if (not (char? ch))
-                            (format:error "~~c expects a character"))
-                        (case modifier
-                          ((at)
-                           (format:out-str (format:char->str ch)))
-                          ((colon)
-                           (let ((c (char->integer ch)))
-                             (if (< c 0)
-                                 (set! c (+ c 256))) ; compensate
-                                       ; complement
-                                       ; impl.
-                             (cond
-                              ((< c #x20)      ; assumes that control
-                                       ; chars are < #x20
-                               (format:out-char #\^)
-                               (format:out-char
-                                (integer->char (+ c #x40))))
-                              ((>= c #x7f)
-                               (format:out-str "#\\")
-                               (format:out-str
-                                (number->string c 8)))
-                              (else
-                               (format:out-char ch)))))
-                          (else (format:out-char ch))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\P)                    ; Plural
-                      (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
-                          (prev-arg))
-                      (let ((arg (next-arg)))
-                        (if (not (number? arg))
-                            (format:error "~~p expects a number argument"))
-                        (if (= arg 1)
-                            (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                                (format:out-char #\y))
-                            (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                                (format:out-str "ies")
-                                (format:out-char #\s))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\~)                    ; Tilde
-                      (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                          (format:out-fill (car params) #\~)
-                          (format:out-char #\~))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\%)                    ; Newline
-                      (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                          (format:out-fill (car params) #\newline)
-                          (format:out-char #\newline))
-                      (set! format:output-col 0)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\&)                    ; Fresh line
-                      (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                          (begin
-                            (if (> (car params) 0)
-                                (format:out-fill (- (car params)
-                                                    (if (>
-                                                         format:output-col
-                                                         0) 0 1))
-                                                 #\newline))
-                            (set! format:output-col 0))
-                          (if (> format:output-col 0)
-                              (format:out-char #\newline)))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\_)                    ; Space character
-                      (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                          (format:out-fill (car params) #\space)
-                          (format:out-char #\space))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\/)                    ; Tabulator character
-                      (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                          (format:out-fill (car params) #\tab)
-                          (format:out-char #\tab))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\|)                    ; Page seperator
-                      (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                          (format:out-fill (car params) #\page)
-                          (format:out-char #\page))
-                      (set! format:output-col 0)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\T)                    ; Tabulate
-                      (format:tabulate modifier params)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\Y)                    ; Structured print
-                       (let ((width (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                                        (car params)
-                                        79)))
-                         (case modifier
-                           ((at)
-                            (format:out-str
-                             (with-output-to-string 
-                               (lambda ()
-                                 (truncated-print (next-arg)
-                                                  #:width width)))))
-                           ((colon-at)
-                            (format:out-str
-                             (with-output-to-string 
-                               (lambda ()
-                                 (truncated-print (next-arg)
-                                                  #:width
-                                                  (max (- width
-                                                          format:output-col)
-                                                       1))))))
-                           ((colon)
-                            (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~?"))
-                           (else
-                            (pretty-print (next-arg) format:port
-                                          #:width width)
-                            (set! format:output-col 0))))
-                       (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\? #\K)                ; Indirection (is "~K" in T-Scheme)
-                      (cond
-                       ((memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
-                        (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~?"))
-                       ((eq? modifier 'at)
-                        (let* ((frmt (next-arg))
-                               (args (rest-args)))
-                          (add-arg-pos (format:format-work frmt args))))
-                       (else
-                        (let* ((frmt (next-arg))
-                               (args (next-arg)))
-                          (format:format-work frmt args))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\!)                    ; Flush output
-                      (set! format:flush-output #t)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\newline)              ; Continuation lines
-                      (if (eq? modifier 'at)
-                          (format:out-char #\newline))
-                      (if (< format:pos format-string-len)
-                          (do ((ch (peek-next-char) (peek-next-char)))
-                              ((or (not (char-whitespace? ch))
-                                   (= format:pos (- format-string-len 1))))
-                            (if (eq? modifier 'colon)
-                                (format:out-char (next-char))
-                                (next-char))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\*)                    ; Argument jumping
-                      (case modifier
-                        ((colon)               ; jump backwards
-                         (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                             (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
-                                 ((= i (car params)))
-                               (prev-arg))
-                             (prev-arg)))
-                        ((at)                  ; jump absolute
-                         (set! arg-pos (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                                           (car params) 0)))
-                        ((colon-at)
-                         (format:error "illegal modifier `:@' in ~~* directive"))
-                        (else                  ; jump forward
-                         (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                             (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
-                                 ((= i (car params)))
-                               (next-arg))
-                             (next-arg))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\()                    ; Case conversion begin
-                      (set! format:case-conversion
-                            (case modifier
-                              ((at) string-capitalize-first)
-                              ((colon) string-capitalize)
-                              ((colon-at) string-upcase)
-                              (else string-downcase)))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\))                    ; Case conversion end
-                      (if (not format:case-conversion)
-                          (format:error "missing ~~("))
-                      (set! format:case-conversion #f)
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\[)                    ; Conditional begin
-                      (set! conditional-nest (+ conditional-nest 1))
-                      (cond
-                       ((= conditional-nest 1)
-                        (set! clause-pos format:pos)
-                        (set! clause-default #f)
-                        (set! clauses '())
-                        (set! conditional-type
-                              (case modifier
-                                ((at) 'if-then)
-                                ((colon) 'if-else-then)
-                                ((colon-at) (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~["))
-                                (else 'num-case)))
-                        (set! conditional-arg
-                              (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                                  (car params)
-                                  (next-arg)))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\;)                    ; Conditional separator
-                      (if (zero? conditional-nest)
-                          (format:error "~~; not in ~~[~~] conditional"))
-                      (if (not (null? params))
-                          (format:error "no parameter allowed in ~~;"))
-                      (if (= conditional-nest 1)
-                          (let ((clause-str
-                                 (cond
-                                  ((eq? modifier 'colon)
-                                   (set! clause-default #t)
-                                   (substring format-string clause-pos 
-                                              (- format:pos 3)))
-                                  ((memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                                   (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~;"))
-                                  (else
-                                   (substring format-string clause-pos
-                                              (- format:pos 2))))))
-                            (set! clauses (append clauses (list clause-str)))
-                            (set! clause-pos format:pos)))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\])                    ; Conditional end
-                      (if (zero? conditional-nest) (format:error "missing ~~["))
-                      (set! conditional-nest (- conditional-nest 1))
-                      (if modifier
-                          (format:error "no modifier allowed in ~~]"))
-                      (if (not (null? params))
-                          (format:error "no parameter allowed in ~~]"))
-                      (cond
-                       ((zero? conditional-nest)
-                        (let ((clause-str (substring format-string clause-pos
-                                                     (- format:pos 2))))
-                          (if clause-default
-                              (set! clause-default clause-str)
-                              (set! clauses (append clauses (list clause-str)))))
-                        (case conditional-type
-                          ((if-then)
-                           (if conditional-arg
-                               (format:format-work (car clauses)
-                                                   (list conditional-arg))))
-                          ((if-else-then)
-                           (add-arg-pos
-                            (format:format-work (if conditional-arg
-                                                    (cadr clauses)
-                                                    (car clauses))
-                                                (rest-args))))
-                          ((num-case)
-                           (if (or (not (integer? conditional-arg))
-                                   (< conditional-arg 0))
-                               (format:error "argument not a positive integer"))
-                           (if (not (and (>= conditional-arg (length clauses))
-                                         (not clause-default)))
-                               (add-arg-pos
-                                (format:format-work
-                                 (if (>= conditional-arg (length clauses))
-                                     clause-default
-                                     (list-ref clauses conditional-arg))
-                                 (rest-args))))))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\{)                    ; Iteration begin
-                      (set! iteration-nest (+ iteration-nest 1))
-                      (cond
-                       ((= iteration-nest 1)
-                        (set! iteration-pos format:pos)
-                        (set! iteration-type
-                              (case modifier
-                                ((at) 'rest-args)
-                                ((colon) 'sublists)
-                                ((colon-at) 'rest-sublists)
-                                (else 'list)))
-                        (set! max-iterations (if (one-positive-integer? params)
-                                                 (car params) #f))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\})                    ; Iteration end
-                      (if (zero? iteration-nest) (format:error "missing ~~{"))
-                      (set! iteration-nest (- iteration-nest 1))
-                      (case modifier
-                        ((colon)
-                         (if (not max-iterations) (set! max-iterations 1)))
-                        ((colon-at at) (format:error "illegal modifier")))
-                      (if (not (null? params))
-                          (format:error "no parameters allowed in ~~}"))
-                      (if (zero? iteration-nest)
-                          (let ((iteration-str
-                                 (substring format-string iteration-pos
-                                            (- format:pos (if modifier 3 2)))))
-                            (if (string=? iteration-str "")
-                                (set! iteration-str (next-arg)))
-                            (case iteration-type
-                              ((list)
-                               (let ((args (next-arg))
-                                     (args-len 0))
-                                 (if (not (list? args))
-                                     (format:error "expected a list argument"))
-                                 (set! args-len (length args))
-                                 (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos
-                                                    (format:format-work
-                                                     iteration-str
-                                                     (list-tail args arg-pos))))
-                                      (i 0 (+ i 1)))
-                                     ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
-                                          (and max-iterations
-                                               (>= i max-iterations)))))))
-                              ((sublists)
-                               (let ((args (next-arg))
-                                     (args-len 0))
-                                 (if (not (list? args))
-                                     (format:error "expected a list argument"))
-                                 (set! args-len (length args))
-                                 (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos 1)))
-                                     ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
-                                          (and max-iterations
-                                               (>= arg-pos max-iterations))))
-                                   (let ((sublist (list-ref args arg-pos)))
-                                     (if (not (list? sublist))
-                                         (format:error
-                                          "expected a list of lists argument"))
-                                     (format:format-work iteration-str sublist)))))
-                              ((rest-args)
-                               (let* ((args (rest-args))
-                                      (args-len (length args))
-                                      (usedup-args
-                                       (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos
-                                                          (format:format-work
-                                                           iteration-str
-                                                           (list-tail
-                                                            args arg-pos))))
-                                            (i 0 (+ i 1)))
-                                           ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
-                                                (and max-iterations
-                                                     (>= i max-iterations)))
-                                            arg-pos))))
-                                 (add-arg-pos usedup-args)))
-                              ((rest-sublists)
-                               (let* ((args (rest-args))
-                                      (args-len (length args))
-                                      (usedup-args
-                                       (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos 1)))
-                                           ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
-                                                (and max-iterations
-                                                     (>= arg-pos max-iterations)))
-                                            arg-pos)
-                                         (let ((sublist (list-ref args arg-pos)))
-                                           (if (not (list? sublist))
-                                               (format:error "expected list arguments"))
-                                           (format:format-work iteration-str sublist)))))
-                                 (add-arg-pos usedup-args)))
-                              (else (format:error "internal error in ~~}")))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     ((#\^)                    ; Up and out
-                      (let* ((continue
-                              (cond
-                               ((not (null? params))
-                                (not
-                                 (case (length params)
-                                   ((1) (zero? (car params)))
-                                   ((2) (= (list-ref params 0) (list-ref params 1)))
-                                   ((3) (<= (list-ref params 0)
-                                            (list-ref params 1)
-                                            (list-ref params 2)))
-                                   (else (format:error "too much parameters")))))
-                               (format:case-conversion ; if conversion stop conversion
-                                (set! format:case-conversion string-copy) #t)
-                               ((= iteration-nest 1) #t)
-                               ((= conditional-nest 1) #t)
-                               ((>= arg-pos arg-len)
-                                (set! format:pos format-string-len) #f)
-                               (else #t))))
-                        (if continue
-                            (anychar-dispatch))))
-
-                     ;; format directive modifiers and parameters
-
-                     ((#\@)                    ; `@' modifier
-                      (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                          (format:error "double `@' modifier"))
-                      (set! modifier (if (eq? modifier 'colon) 'colon-at 'at))
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\:)                    ; `:' modifier
-                      (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
-                          (format:error "double `:' modifier"))
-                      (set! modifier (if (eq? modifier 'at) 'colon-at 'colon))
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\')                    ; Character parameter
-                      (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
-                      (set! params (append params (list (char->integer (next-char)))))
-                      (set! param-value-found #t)
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\0 #\1 #\2 #\3 #\4 #\5 #\6 #\7 #\8 #\9 #\- #\+) ; num. paramtr
-                      (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
-                      (let ((num-str-beg (- format:pos 1))
-                            (num-str-end format:pos))
-                        (do ((ch (peek-next-char) (peek-next-char)))
-                            ((not (char-numeric? ch)))
-                          (next-char)
-                          (set! num-str-end (+ 1 num-str-end)))
-                        (set! params
-                              (append params
-                                      (list (string->number
-                                             (substring format-string
-                                                        num-str-beg
-                                                        num-str-end))))))
-                      (set! param-value-found #t)
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\V)                    ; Variable parameter from next argum.
-                      (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
-                      (set! params (append params (list (next-arg))))
-                      (set! param-value-found #t)
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\#)                    ; Parameter is number of remaining args
-                      (if param-value-found (format:error "misplaced '#'"))
-                      (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
-                      (set! params (append params (list (length (rest-args)))))
-                      (set! param-value-found #t)
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\,)                    ; Parameter separators
-                      (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
-                      (if (not param-value-found)
-                          (set! params (append params '(#f)))) ; append empty paramtr
-                      (set! param-value-found #f)
-                      (tilde-dispatch))
-                     ((#\Q)                    ; Inquiry messages
-                      (if (eq? modifier 'colon)
-                          (format:out-str format:version)
-                          (let ((nl (string #\newline)))
-                            (format:out-str
-                             (string-append
-                              "SLIB Common LISP format version " format:version nl
-                              "  (C) copyright 1992-1994 by Dirk Lutzebaeck" nl
-                              "  please send bug reports to `lutzeb@cs.tu-berlin.de'"
-                              nl))))
-                      (anychar-dispatch))
-                     (else                     ; Unknown tilde directive
-                      (format:error "unknown control character `~c'"
-                                    (string-ref format-string (- format:pos 1))))))
-                  (else (anychar-dispatch)))))) ; in case of conditional
-
-           (set! format:pos 0)
-           (set! format:arg-pos 0)
-           (anychar-dispatch)                  ; start the formatting
-           (set! format:pos recursive-pos-save)
-           arg-pos)))                          ; return the position in the arg. list
-
-       ;; when format:read-proof is true, format:obj->str will wrap
-       ;; result strings starting with "#<" in an extra pair of double
-       ;; quotes.
-       
-       (format:read-proof #f)
-
-       ;; format:obj->str returns a R4RS representation as a string of
-       ;; an arbitrary scheme object.
-
-       (format:obj->str
-       (lambda (obj slashify)
-         (let ((res (if slashify
-                        (object->string obj)
-                        (with-output-to-string (lambda () (display obj))))))
-           (if (and format:read-proof (string-prefix? "#<" res))
-               (object->string res)
-               res))))
-
-       ;; format:char->str converts a character into a slashified string as
-       ;; done by `write'. The procedure is dependent on the integer
-       ;; representation of characters and assumes a character number according to
-       ;; the ASCII character set.
-
-       (format:char->str
-       (lambda (ch)
-         (let ((int-rep (char->integer ch)))
-           (if (< int-rep 0)                   ; if chars are [-128...+127]
-               (set! int-rep (+ int-rep 256)))
-           (string-append
-            "#\\"
-            (cond
-             ((char=? ch #\newline) "newline")
-             ((and (>= int-rep 0) (<= int-rep 32))
-              (vector-ref format:ascii-non-printable-charnames int-rep))
-             ((= int-rep 127) "del")
-             ((>= int-rep 128)         ; octal representation
-              (number->string int-rep 8))
-             (else (string ch)))))))
-
-       (format:space-ch (char->integer #\space))
-       (format:zero-ch (char->integer #\0))
-
-       (format:par
-       (lambda (pars length index default name)
-         (if (> length index)
-             (let ((par (list-ref pars index)))
-               (if par
-                   (if name
-                       (if (< par 0)
-                           (format:error 
-                            "~s parameter must be a positive integer" name)
-                           par)
-                       par)
-                   default))
-             default)))
-
-       (format:out-obj-padded
-       (lambda (pad-left obj slashify pars)
-              (if (null? pars)
-                  (format:out-str (format:obj->str obj slashify))
-                  (let ((l (length pars)))
-                    (let ((mincol (format:par pars l 0 0 "mincol"))
-                          (colinc (format:par pars l 1 1 "colinc"))
-                          (minpad (format:par pars l 2 0 "minpad"))
-                          (padchar (integer->char
-                                    (format:par pars l 3 format:space-ch #f)))
-                          (objstr (format:obj->str obj slashify)))
-                      (if (not pad-left)
-                          (format:out-str objstr))
-                      (do ((objstr-len (string-length objstr))
-                           (i minpad (+ i colinc)))
-                          ((>= (+ objstr-len i) mincol)
-                           (format:out-fill i padchar)))
-                      (if pad-left
-                          (format:out-str objstr)))))))
-
-       (format:out-num-padded
-       (lambda (modifier number pars radix)
-         (if (not (integer? number)) (format:error "argument not an integer"))
-         (let ((numstr (number->string number radix)))
-           (if (and (null? pars) (not modifier))
-               (format:out-str numstr)
-               (let ((l (length pars))
-                     (numstr-len (string-length numstr)))
-                 (let ((mincol (format:par pars l 0 #f "mincol"))
-                       (padchar (integer->char
-                                 (format:par pars l 1 format:space-ch #f)))
-                       (commachar (integer->char
-                                   (format:par pars l 2 (char->integer #\,) #f)))
-                       (commawidth (format:par pars l 3 3 "commawidth")))
-                   (if mincol
-                       (let ((numlen numstr-len)) ; calc. the output len of number
-                         (if (and (memq modifier '(at colon-at)) (>= number 0))
-                             (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                         (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
-                             (set! numlen (+ (quotient (- numstr-len 
-                                                          (if (< number 0) 2 1))
-                                                       commawidth)
-                                             numlen)))
-                         (if (> mincol numlen)
-                             (format:out-fill (- mincol numlen) padchar))))
-                   (if (and (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
-                            (>= number 0))
-                       (format:out-char #\+))
-                   (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at)) ; insert comma character
-                       (let ((start (remainder numstr-len commawidth))
-                             (ns (if (< number 0) 1 0)))
-                         (format:out-substr numstr 0 start)
-                         (do ((i start (+ i commawidth)))
-                             ((>= i numstr-len))
-                           (if (> i ns)
-                               (format:out-char commachar))
-                           (format:out-substr numstr i (+ i commawidth))))
-                       (format:out-str numstr))))))))
-
-       (format:tabulate
-       (lambda (modifier pars)
-         (let ((l (length pars)))
-           (let ((colnum (format:par pars l 0 1 "colnum"))
-                 (colinc (format:par pars l 1 1 "colinc"))
-                 (padch (integer->char (format:par pars l 2 format:space-ch #f))))
-             (case modifier
-               ((colon colon-at)
-                (format:error "unsupported modifier for ~~t"))
-               ((at)                           ; relative tabulation
-                (format:out-fill
-                 (if (= colinc 0)
-                     colnum                    ; colnum = colrel
-                     (do ((c 0 (+ c colinc))
-                          (col (+ format:output-col colnum)))
-                         ((>= c col)
-                          (- c format:output-col))))
-                 padch))
-               (else                           ; absolute tabulation
-                (format:out-fill
-                 (cond
-                  ((< format:output-col colnum)
-                   (- colnum format:output-col))
-                  ((= colinc 0)
-                   0)
-                  (else
-                   (do ((c colnum (+ c colinc)))
-                       ((>= c format:output-col)
-                        (- c format:output-col)))))
-                 padch)))))))
-
-
-       ;; roman numerals (from dorai@cs.rice.edu).
-
-       (format:roman-alist
-       '((1000 #\M) (500 #\D) (100 #\C) (50 #\L)
-         (10 #\X) (5 #\V) (1 #\I)))
-
-       (format:roman-boundary-values
-       '(100 100 10 10 1 1 #f))
-
-       (format:num->old-roman
-       (lambda (n)
-         (if (and (integer? n) (>= n 1))
-             (let loop ((n n)
-                        (romans format:roman-alist)
-                        (s '()))
-               (if (null? romans) (list->string (reverse s))
-                   (let ((roman-val (caar romans))
-                         (roman-dgt (cadar romans)))
-                     (do ((q (quotient n roman-val) (- q 1))
-                          (s s (cons roman-dgt s)))
-                         ((= q 0)
-                          (loop (remainder n roman-val)
-                                (cdr romans) s))))))
-             (format:error "only positive integers can be romanized"))))
-
-       (format:num->roman
-       (lambda (n)
-         (if (and (integer? n) (> n 0))
-             (let loop ((n n)
-                        (romans format:roman-alist)
-                        (boundaries format:roman-boundary-values)
-                        (s '()))
-               (if (null? romans)
-                   (list->string (reverse s))
-                   (let ((roman-val (caar romans))
-                         (roman-dgt (cadar romans))
-                         (bdry (car boundaries)))
-                     (let loop2 ((q (quotient n roman-val))
-                                 (r (remainder n roman-val))
-                                 (s s))
-                       (if (= q 0)
-                           (if (and bdry (>= r (- roman-val bdry)))
-                               (loop (remainder r bdry) (cdr romans)
-                                     (cdr boundaries)
-                                     (cons roman-dgt
-                                           (append
-                                            (cdr (assv bdry romans))
-                                            s)))
-                               (loop r (cdr romans) (cdr boundaries) s))
-                           (loop2 (- q 1) r (cons roman-dgt s)))))))
-             (format:error "only positive integers can be romanized"))))
-
-       ;; cardinals & ordinals (from dorai@cs.rice.edu)
-
-       (format:cardinal-ones-list
-       '(#f "one" "two" "three" "four" "five"
-            "six" "seven" "eight" "nine" "ten" "eleven" "twelve" "thirteen"
-            "fourteen" "fifteen" "sixteen" "seventeen" "eighteen"
-            "nineteen"))
-
-       (format:cardinal-tens-list
-       '(#f #f "twenty" "thirty" "forty" "fifty" "sixty" "seventy" "eighty"
-            "ninety"))
-
-       (format:num->cardinal999
-       (lambda (n)
-                                       ;this procedure is inspired by the Bruno Haible's CLisp
-                                       ;function format-small-cardinal, which converts numbers
-                                       ;in the range 1 to 999, and is used for converting each
-                                       ;thousand-block in a larger number
-         (let* ((hundreds (quotient n 100))
-                (tens+ones (remainder n 100))
-                (tens (quotient tens+ones 10))
-                (ones (remainder tens+ones 10)))
-           (append
-            (if (> hundreds 0)
-                (append
-                 (string->list
-                  (list-ref format:cardinal-ones-list hundreds))
-                 (string->list" hundred")
-                 (if (> tens+ones 0) '(#\space) '()))
-                '())
-            (if (< tens+ones 20)
-                (if (> tens+ones 0)
-                    (string->list
-                     (list-ref format:cardinal-ones-list tens+ones))
-                    '())
-                (append
-                 (string->list
-                  (list-ref format:cardinal-tens-list tens))
-                 (if (> ones 0)
-                     (cons #\-
-                           (string->list
-                            (list-ref format:cardinal-ones-list ones)))
-                     '())))))))
-
-       (format:cardinal-thousand-block-list
-       '("" " thousand" " million" " billion" " trillion" " quadrillion"
-         " quintillion" " sextillion" " septillion" " octillion" " nonillion"
-         " decillion" " undecillion" " duodecillion" " tredecillion"
-         " quattuordecillion" " quindecillion" " sexdecillion" " septendecillion"
-         " octodecillion" " novemdecillion" " vigintillion"))
-
-       (format:num->cardinal
-       (lambda (n)
-         (cond ((not (integer? n))
-                (format:error
-                 "only integers can be converted to English cardinals"))
-               ((= n 0) "zero")
-               ((< n 0) (string-append "minus " (format:num->cardinal (- n))))
-               (else
-                (let ((power3-word-limit
-                       (length format:cardinal-thousand-block-list)))
-                  (let loop ((n n)
-                             (power3 0)
-                             (s '()))
-                    (if (= n 0)
-                        (list->string s)
-                        (let ((n-before-block (quotient n 1000))
-                              (n-after-block (remainder n 1000)))
-                          (loop n-before-block
-                                (+ power3 1)
-                                (if (> n-after-block 0)
-                                    (append
-                                     (if (> n-before-block 0)
-                                         (string->list ", ") '())
-                                     (format:num->cardinal999 n-after-block)
-                                     (if (< power3 power3-word-limit)
-                                         (string->list
-                                          (list-ref
-                                           format:cardinal-thousand-block-list
-                                           power3))
-                                         (append
-                                          (string->list " times ten to the ")
-                                          (string->list
-                                           (format:num->ordinal
-                                            (* power3 3)))
-                                          (string->list " power")))
-                                     s)
-                                    s))))))))))
-
-       (format:ordinal-ones-list
-       '(#f "first" "second" "third" "fourth" "fifth"
-            "sixth" "seventh" "eighth" "ninth" "tenth" "eleventh" "twelfth"
-            "thirteenth" "fourteenth" "fifteenth" "sixteenth" "seventeenth"
-            "eighteenth" "nineteenth"))
-
-       (format:ordinal-tens-list
-       '(#f #f "twentieth" "thirtieth" "fortieth" "fiftieth" "sixtieth"
-            "seventieth" "eightieth" "ninetieth"))
-
-       (format:num->ordinal
-       (lambda (n)
-         (cond ((not (integer? n))
-                (format:error
-                 "only integers can be converted to English ordinals"))
-               ((= n 0) "zeroth")
-               ((< n 0) (string-append "minus " (format:num->ordinal (- n))))
-               (else
-                (let ((hundreds (quotient n 100))
-                      (tens+ones (remainder n 100)))
-                  (string-append
-                   (if (> hundreds 0)
-                       (string-append
-                        (format:num->cardinal (* hundreds 100))
-                        (if (= tens+ones 0) "th" " "))
-                       "")
-                   (if (= tens+ones 0) ""
-                       (if (< tens+ones 20)
-                           (list-ref format:ordinal-ones-list tens+ones)
-                           (let ((tens (quotient tens+ones 10))
-                                 (ones (remainder tens+ones 10)))
-                             (if (= ones 0)
-                                 (list-ref format:ordinal-tens-list tens)
-                                 (string-append
-                                  (list-ref format:cardinal-tens-list tens)
-                                  "-"
-                                  (list-ref format:ordinal-ones-list ones))))
-                           ))))))))
-
-       ;; format inf and nan.
-
-       (format:out-inf-nan
-       (lambda (number width digits edigits overch padch)
-         ;; inf and nan are always printed exactly as "+inf.0", "-inf.0" or
-         ;; "+nan.0", suitably justified in their field.  We insist on
-         ;; printing this exact form so that the numbers can be read back in.
-
-         (let* ((str (number->string number))
-                (len (string-length str))
-                (dot (string-index str #\.))
-                (digits (+ (or digits 0)
-                           (if edigits (+ edigits 2) 0))))
-           (if (and width overch (< width len))
-               (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
-               (let* ((leftpad (if width
-                                   (max (- width (max len (+ dot 1 digits))) 0)
-                                   0))
-                      (rightpad (if width
-                                    (max (- width leftpad len) 0)
-                                    0))
-                      (padch (integer->char (or padch format:space-ch)))) 
-                 (format:out-fill leftpad padch)
-                 (format:out-str str)
-                 (format:out-fill rightpad padch))))))
-
-       ;; format fixed flonums (~F)
-
-       (format:out-fixed
-       (lambda (modifier number pars)
-         (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
-             (format:error "argument is not a number or a number string"))
-
-         (let ((l (length pars)))
-           (let ((width (format:par pars l 0 #f "width"))
-                 (digits (format:par pars l 1 #f "digits"))
-                 (scale (format:par pars l 2 0 #f))
-                 (overch (format:par pars l 3 #f #f))
-                 (padch (format:par pars l 4 format:space-ch #f)))
-
-             (cond
-              ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
-               (format:out-inf-nan number width digits #f overch padch))
-
-              (digits
-               (format:parse-float number #t scale)
-               (if (<= (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot) digits)
-                   (format:fn-zfill #f (- digits (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
-                   (format:fn-round digits))
-               (if width
-                   (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 1)))
-                     (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
-                         (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                     (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (> width (+ digits 1)))
-                         (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                     (if (< numlen width)
-                         (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
-                     (if (and overch (> numlen width))
-                         (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
-                         (format:fn-out modifier (> width (+ digits 1)))))
-                   (format:fn-out modifier #t)))
-
-              (else
-               (format:parse-float number #t scale)
-               (format:fn-strip)
-               (if width
-                   (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 1)))
-                     (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
-                         (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                     (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
-                         (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                     (if (< numlen width)
-                         (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
-                     (if (> numlen width)      ; adjust precision if possible
-                         (let ((dot-index (- numlen
-                                             (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot))))
-                           (if (> dot-index width)
-                               (if overch      ; numstr too big for required width
-                                   (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
-                                   (format:fn-out modifier #t))
-                               (begin
-                                 (format:fn-round (- width dot-index))
-                                 (format:fn-out modifier #t))))
-                         (format:fn-out modifier #t)))
-                   (format:fn-out modifier #t))))))))
-
-       ;; format exponential flonums (~E)
-
-       (format:out-expon
-       (lambda (modifier number pars)
-         (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
-             (format:error "argument is not a number"))
-
-         (let ((l (length pars)))
-           (let ((width (format:par pars l 0 #f "width"))
-                 (digits (format:par pars l 1 #f "digits"))
-                 (edigits (format:par pars l 2 #f "exponent digits"))
-                 (scale (format:par pars l 3 1 #f))
-                 (overch (format:par pars l 4 #f #f))
-                 (padch (format:par pars l 5 format:space-ch #f))
-                 (expch (format:par pars l 6 #f #f)))
-             
-             (cond
-              ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
-               (format:out-inf-nan number width digits edigits overch padch))
-
-              (digits                          ; fixed precision
-
-               (let ((digits (if (> scale 0)
-                                 (if (< scale (+ digits 2))
-                                     (+ (- digits scale) 1)
-                                     0)
-                                 digits)))
-                 (format:parse-float number #f scale)
-                 (if (<= (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot) digits)
-                     (format:fn-zfill #f (- digits (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
-                     (format:fn-round digits))
-                 (if width
-                     (if (and edigits overch (> format:en-len edigits))
-                         (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
-                         (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 3))) ; .E+
-                           (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
-                               (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                           (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (> width (+ digits 1)))
-                               (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))     
-                           (set! numlen
-                                 (+ numlen 
-                                    (if (and edigits (>= edigits format:en-len))
-                                        edigits 
-                                        format:en-len)))
-                           (if (< numlen width)
-                               (format:out-fill (- width numlen)
-                                                (integer->char padch)))
-                           (if (and overch (> numlen width))
-                               (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
-                               (begin
-                                 (format:fn-out modifier (> width (- numlen 1)))
-                                 (format:en-out edigits expch)))))
-                     (begin
-                       (format:fn-out modifier #t)
-                       (format:en-out edigits expch)))))
-
-              (else
-               (format:parse-float number #f scale)
-               (format:fn-strip)
-               (if width
-                   (if (and edigits overch (> format:en-len edigits))
-                       (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
-                       (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 3))) ; .E+
-                         (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
-                             (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                         (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
-                             (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                         (set! numlen
-                               (+ numlen
-                                  (if (and edigits (>= edigits format:en-len))
-                                      edigits 
-                                      format:en-len)))
-                         (if (< numlen width)
-                             (format:out-fill (- width numlen)
-                                              (integer->char padch)))
-                         (if (> numlen width) ; adjust precision if possible
-                             (let ((f (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot))) ; fract len
-                               (if (> (- numlen f) width)
-                                   (if overch ; numstr too big for required width
-                                       (format:out-fill width 
-                                                        (integer->char overch))
-                                       (begin
-                                         (format:fn-out modifier #t)
-                                         (format:en-out edigits expch)))
-                                   (begin
-                                     (format:fn-round (+ (- f numlen) width))
-                                     (format:fn-out modifier #t)
-                                     (format:en-out edigits expch))))
-                             (begin
-                               (format:fn-out modifier #t)
-                               (format:en-out edigits expch)))))
-                   (begin
-                     (format:fn-out modifier #t)
-                     (format:en-out edigits expch)))))))))
-       
-       ;; format general flonums (~G)
-
-       (format:out-general
-       (lambda (modifier number pars)
-         (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
-             (format:error "argument is not a number or a number string"))
-
-         (let ((l (length pars)))
-           (let ((width (if (> l 0) (list-ref pars 0) #f))
-                 (digits (if (> l 1) (list-ref pars 1) #f))
-                 (edigits (if (> l 2) (list-ref pars 2) #f))
-                 (overch (if (> l 4) (list-ref pars 4) #f))
-                 (padch (if (> l 5) (list-ref pars 5) #f)))
-             (cond
-              ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
-               ;; FIXME: this isn't right.
-               (format:out-inf-nan number width digits edigits overch padch))
-              (else
-               (format:parse-float number #t 0)
-               (format:fn-strip)
-               (let* ((ee (if edigits (+ edigits 2) 4)) ; for the following algorithm
-                      (ww (if width (- width ee) #f))   ; see Steele's CL book p.395
-                      (n (if (= format:fn-dot 0)       ; number less than (abs 1.0) ?
-                             (- (format:fn-zlead))
-                             format:fn-dot))
-                      (d (if digits
-                             digits
-                             (max format:fn-len (min n 7)))) ; q = format:fn-len
-                      (dd (- d n)))
-                 (if (<= 0 dd d)
-                     (begin
-                       (format:out-fixed modifier number (list ww dd #f overch padch))
-                       (format:out-fill ee #\space)) ;~@T not implemented yet
-                     (format:out-expon modifier number pars)))))))))
-
-       ;; format dollar flonums (~$)
-
-       (format:out-dollar
-       (lambda (modifier number pars)
-         (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
-             (format:error "argument is not a number or a number string"))
-
-         (let ((l (length pars)))
-           (let ((digits (format:par pars l 0 2 "digits"))
-                 (mindig (format:par pars l 1 1 "mindig"))
-                 (width (format:par pars l 2 0 "width"))
-                 (padch (format:par pars l 3 format:space-ch #f)))
-
-             (cond
-              ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
-               (format:out-inf-nan number width digits #f #f padch))
-
-              (else
-               (format:parse-float number #t 0)
-               (if (<= (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot) digits)
-                   (format:fn-zfill #f (- digits (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
-                   (format:fn-round digits))
-               (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 1)))
-                 (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (memq modifier '(at colon-at)))
-                     (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                 (if (and mindig (> mindig format:fn-dot))
-                     (set! numlen (+ numlen (- mindig format:fn-dot))))
-                 (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (not mindig))
-                     (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
-                 (if (< numlen width)
-                     (case modifier
-                       ((colon)
-                        (if (not format:fn-pos?)
-                            (format:out-char #\-))
-                        (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
-                       ((at)
-                        (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch))
-                        (format:out-char (if format:fn-pos? #\+ #\-)))
-                       ((colon-at)
-                        (format:out-char (if format:fn-pos? #\+ #\-))
-                        (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
-                       (else
-                        (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch))
-                        (if (not format:fn-pos?)
-                            (format:out-char #\-))))
-                     (if format:fn-pos?
-                         (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at)) (format:out-char #\+))
-                         (format:out-char #\-))))
-               (if (and mindig (> mindig format:fn-dot))
-                   (format:out-fill (- mindig format:fn-dot) #\0))
-               (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (not mindig))
-                   (format:out-char #\0))
-               (format:out-substr format:fn-str 0 format:fn-dot)
-               (format:out-char #\.)
-               (format:out-substr format:fn-str format:fn-dot format:fn-len)))))))
-
-                                       ; the flonum buffers
-
-       (format:fn-max 400)             ; max. number of number digits
-       (format:fn-str #f) ; number buffer
-       (format:fn-len 0)               ; digit length of number
-       (format:fn-dot #f)              ; dot position of number
-       (format:fn-pos? #t)             ; number positive?
-       (format:en-max 10)              ; max. number of exponent digits
-       (format:en-str #f) ; exponent buffer
-       (format:en-len 0)               ; digit length of exponent
-       (format:en-pos? #t)             ; exponent positive?
-
-       (format:parse-float
-       (lambda (num fixed? scale)
-          (let ((num-str (if (string? num)
-                             num
-                             (number->string (exact->inexact num)))))
-            (set! format:fn-pos? #t)
-            (set! format:fn-len 0)
-            (set! format:fn-dot #f)
-            (set! format:en-pos? #t)
-            (set! format:en-len 0)
-            (do ((i 0 (+ i 1))
-                 (left-zeros 0)
-                 (mantissa? #t)
-                 (all-zeros? #t)
-                 (num-len (string-length num-str))
-                 (c #f))                ; current exam. character in num-str
-                ((= i num-len)
-                 (if (not format:fn-dot)
-                     (set! format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
-
-                 (if all-zeros?
-                     (begin
-                       (set! left-zeros 0)
-                       (set! format:fn-dot 0)
-                       (set! format:fn-len 1)))
-
-                 ;; now format the parsed values according to format's need
-
-                 (if fixed?
-
-                     (begin             ; fixed format m.nnn or .nnn
-                       (if (and (> left-zeros 0) (> format:fn-dot 0))
-                           (if (> format:fn-dot left-zeros) 
-                               (begin   ; norm 0{0}nn.mm to nn.mm
-                                 (format:fn-shiftleft left-zeros)
-                                 (set! format:fn-dot (- format:fn-dot left-zeros))
-                                 (set! left-zeros 0))
-                               (begin   ; normalize 0{0}.nnn to .nnn
-                                 (format:fn-shiftleft format:fn-dot)
-                                 (set! left-zeros (- left-zeros format:fn-dot))
-                                 (set! format:fn-dot 0))))
-                       (if (or (not (= scale 0)) (> format:en-len 0))
-                           (let ((shift (+ scale (format:en-int))))
-                             (cond
-                              (all-zeros? #t)
-                              ((> (+ format:fn-dot shift) format:fn-len)
-                               (format:fn-zfill
-                                #f (- shift (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
-                               (set! format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
-                              ((< (+ format:fn-dot shift) 0)
-                               (format:fn-zfill #t (- (- shift) format:fn-dot))
-                               (set! format:fn-dot 0))
-                              (else
-                               (if (> left-zeros 0)
-                                   (if (<= left-zeros shift) ; shift always > 0 here
-                                       (format:fn-shiftleft shift) ; shift out 0s
-                                       (begin
-                                         (format:fn-shiftleft left-zeros)
-                                         (set! format:fn-dot (- shift left-zeros))))
-                                   (set! format:fn-dot (+ format:fn-dot shift))))))))
-
-                     (let ((negexp      ; expon format m.nnnEee
-                            (if (> left-zeros 0)
-                                (- left-zeros format:fn-dot -1)
-                                (if (= format:fn-dot 0) 1 0))))
-                       (if (> left-zeros 0)
-                           (begin       ; normalize 0{0}.nnn to n.nn
-                             (format:fn-shiftleft left-zeros)
-                             (set! format:fn-dot 1))
-                           (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
-                               (set! format:fn-dot 1)))
-                       (format:en-set (- (+ (- format:fn-dot scale) (format:en-int))
-                                         negexp))
-                       (cond 
-                        (all-zeros?
-                         (format:en-set 0)
-                         (set! format:fn-dot 1))
-                        ((< scale 0)    ; leading zero
-                         (format:fn-zfill #t (- scale))
-                         (set! format:fn-dot 0))
-                        ((> scale format:fn-dot)
-                         (format:fn-zfill #f (- scale format:fn-dot))
-                         (set! format:fn-dot scale))
-                        (else
-                         (set! format:fn-dot scale)))))
-                 #t)
-
-              ;; do body      
-              (set! c (string-ref num-str i)) ; parse the output of number->string
-              (cond                           ; which can be any valid number
-               ((char-numeric? c)             ; representation of R4RS except 
-                (if mantissa?                 ; complex numbers
-                    (begin
-                      (if (char=? c #\0)
-                          (if all-zeros?
-                              (set! left-zeros (+ left-zeros 1)))
-                          (begin
-                            (set! all-zeros? #f)))
-                      (string-set! format:fn-str format:fn-len c)
-                      (set! format:fn-len (+ format:fn-len 1)))
-                    (begin
-                      (string-set! format:en-str format:en-len c)
-                      (set! format:en-len (+ format:en-len 1)))))
-               ((or (char=? c #\-) (char=? c #\+))
-                (if mantissa?
-                    (set! format:fn-pos? (char=? c #\+))
-                    (set! format:en-pos? (char=? c #\+))))
-               ((char=? c #\.)
-                (set! format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
-               ((char=? c #\e)
-                (set! mantissa? #f))
-               ((char=? c #\E)
-                (set! mantissa? #f))
-               ((char-whitespace? c) #t)
-               ((char=? c #\d) #t)      ; decimal radix prefix
-               ((char=? c #\#) #t)
-               (else
-                (format:error "illegal character `~c' in number->string" c)))))))
-
-       (format:en-int
-       (lambda ()                      ; convert exponent string to integer
-         (if (= format:en-len 0)
-             0
-             (do ((i 0 (+ i 1))
-                  (n 0))
-                 ((= i format:en-len) 
-                  (if format:en-pos?
-                      n
-                      (- n)))
-               (set! n (+ (* n 10) (- (char->integer (string-ref format:en-str i))
-                                      format:zero-ch)))))))
-
-       (format:en-set          ; set exponent string number
-       (lambda (en)            
-         (set! format:en-len 0)
-         (set! format:en-pos? (>= en 0))
-         (let ((en-str (number->string en)))
-           (do ((i 0 (+ i 1))
-                (en-len (string-length en-str))
-                (c #f))
-               ((= i en-len))
-             (set! c (string-ref en-str i))
-             (if (char-numeric? c)
-                 (begin
-                   (string-set! format:en-str format:en-len c)
-                   (set! format:en-len (+ format:en-len 1))))))))
-
-       (format:fn-zfill        ; fill current number string with 0s
-       (lambda (left? n)
-         (if (> (+ n format:fn-len) format:fn-max) ; from the left or right
-             (format:error "number is too long to format (enlarge format:fn-max)"))
-         (set! format:fn-len (+ format:fn-len n))
-         (if left?
-             (do ((i format:fn-len (- i 1)))   ; fill n 0s to left
-                 ((< i 0))
-               (string-set! format:fn-str i
-                            (if (< i n)
-                                #\0
-                                (string-ref format:fn-str (- i n)))))
-             (do ((i (- format:fn-len n) (+ i 1))) ; fill n 0s to the right
-                 ((= i format:fn-len))
-               (string-set! format:fn-str i #\0)))))
-
-       (format:fn-shiftleft            ; shift left current number n positions
-       (lambda (n)
-         (if (> n format:fn-len)
-             (format:error "internal error in format:fn-shiftleft (~d,~d)"
-                           n format:fn-len))
-         (do ((i n (+ i 1)))
-             ((= i format:fn-len)
-              (set! format:fn-len (- format:fn-len n)))
-           (string-set! format:fn-str (- i n) (string-ref format:fn-str i)))))
-
-       (format:fn-round        ; round format:fn-str
-       (lambda (digits)
-         (set! digits (+ digits format:fn-dot))
-         (do ((i digits (- i 1))               ; "099",2 -> "10"
-              (c 5))                           ; "023",2 -> "02"
-             ((or (= c 0) (< i 0))             ; "999",2 -> "100"
-              (if (= c 1)                      ; "005",2 -> "01"
-                  (begin                       ; carry overflow
-                    (set! format:fn-len digits)
-                    (format:fn-zfill #t 1)     ; add a 1 before fn-str
-                    (string-set! format:fn-str 0 #\1)
-                    (set! format:fn-dot (+ format:fn-dot 1)))
-                  (set! format:fn-len digits)))
-           (set! c (+ (- (char->integer (string-ref format:fn-str i))
-                         format:zero-ch) c))
-           (string-set! format:fn-str i (integer->char
-                                         (if (< c 10) 
-                                             (+ c format:zero-ch)
-                                             (+ (- c 10) format:zero-ch))))
-           (set! c (if (< c 10) 0 1)))))
-
-       (format:fn-out
-       (lambda (modifier add-leading-zero?)
-         (if format:fn-pos?
-             (if (eq? modifier 'at) 
-                 (format:out-char #\+))
-             (format:out-char #\-))
-         (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
-             (if add-leading-zero?
-                 (format:out-char #\0))
-             (format:out-substr format:fn-str 0 format:fn-dot))
-         (format:out-char #\.)
-         (format:out-substr format:fn-str format:fn-dot format:fn-len)))
-
-       (format:en-out
-       (lambda (edigits expch)
-         (format:out-char (if expch (integer->char expch) #\E))
-         (format:out-char (if format:en-pos? #\+ #\-))
-         (if edigits 
-             (if (< format:en-len edigits)
-                 (format:out-fill (- edigits format:en-len) #\0)))
-         (format:out-substr format:en-str 0 format:en-len)))
-
-       (format:fn-strip                ; strip trailing zeros but one
-       (lambda ()
-         (string-set! format:fn-str format:fn-len #\0)
-         (do ((i format:fn-len (- i 1)))
-             ((or (not (char=? (string-ref format:fn-str i) #\0))
-                  (<= i format:fn-dot))
-              (set! format:fn-len (+ i 1))))))
-
-       (format:fn-zlead                ; count leading zeros
-       (lambda ()
-         (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
-             ((or (= i format:fn-len)
-                  (not (char=? (string-ref format:fn-str i) #\0)))
-              (if (= i format:fn-len)          ; found a real zero
-                  0
-                  i)))))
-
-
-;;; some global functions not found in SLIB
-
-       (string-capitalize-first        ; "hello" -> "Hello"
-       (lambda (str)
-         (let ((cap-str (string-copy str))     ; "hELLO" -> "Hello"
-               (non-first-alpha #f)            ; "*hello" -> "*Hello"
-               (str-len (string-length str)))  ; "hello you" -> "Hello you"
-           (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
-               ((= i str-len) cap-str)
-             (let ((c (string-ref str i)))
-               (if (char-alphabetic? c)
-                   (if non-first-alpha
-                       (string-set! cap-str i (char-downcase c))
-                       (begin
-                         (set! non-first-alpha #t)
-                         (string-set! cap-str i (char-upcase c))))))))))
-
-       ;; Aborts the program when a formatting error occures. This is a null
-       ;; argument closure to jump to the interpreters toplevel continuation.
-
-       (format:abort (lambda () (error "error in format"))))
-    
-    (set! format:error-save format:error)
-    (set! format:fn-str (make-string format:fn-max)) ; number buffer
-    (set! format:en-str (make-string format:en-max)) ; exponent buffer
-    (apply format:format args)))
-
-;; Thanks to Shuji Narazaki
-(module-set! the-root-module 'format format)
+;;;; "format.scm" Common LISP text output formatter for SLIB
+;;;    Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+;;;
+;;; This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+;;; modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+;;; License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+;;; version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+;;; 
+;;; This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+;;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+;;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+;;; Lesser General Public License for more details.
+;;; 
+;;; You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+;;; License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+;;; Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA
+;;;
+
+;;; This code was orignally in the public domain.
+;;;
+;;; Written 1992-1994 by Dirk Lutzebaeck (lutzeb@cs.tu-berlin.de).
+;;;
+;;; Authors of the version from SLIB (< 1.4) were Ken Dickey and Aubrey
+;;; Jaffer.
+;;;
+;;; Assimilated into Guile May 1999.
+;;;
+;;; Please don't bother the original authors with bug reports, though;
+;;; send them to bug-guile@gnu.org.
+;;;
+
+(define-module (ice-9 format)
+  #:use-module (ice-9 and-let-star)
+  #:autoload (ice-9 pretty-print) (pretty-print truncated-print)
+  #:replace (format))
+
+;;; Configuration ------------------------------------------------------------
+
+(define format:ascii-non-printable-charnames
+  '#("nul" "soh" "stx" "etx" "eot" "enq" "ack" "bel"
+     "bs"  "ht"  "nl"  "vt"  "np"  "cr"  "so"  "si"
+     "dle" "dc1" "dc2" "dc3" "dc4" "nak" "syn" "etb"
+     "can" "em"  "sub" "esc" "fs"  "gs"  "rs"  "us" "space"))
+
+;;; End of configuration ----------------------------------------------------
+
+(define (format . args)
+  (define format:version "3.0")
+  (define format:port #f)                   ; curr. format output port
+  (define format:output-col 0)              ; curr. format output tty column
+  (define format:flush-output #f)           ; flush output at end of formatting
+  (define format:case-conversion #f)
+  (define format:args #f)
+  (define format:pos 0)                 ; curr. format string parsing position
+  (define format:arg-pos 0)             ; curr. format argument position
+                                       ; this is global for error presentation
+       
+  ;; format string and char output routines on format:port
+
+  (define (format:out-str str)
+    (if format:case-conversion
+        (display (format:case-conversion str) format:port)
+        (display str format:port))
+    (set! format:output-col
+          (+ format:output-col (string-length str))))
+
+  (define (format:out-char ch)
+    (if format:case-conversion
+        (display (format:case-conversion (string ch))
+                 format:port)
+        (write-char ch format:port))
+    (set! format:output-col
+          (if (char=? ch #\newline)
+              0
+              (+ format:output-col 1))))
+       
+  ;;(define (format:out-substr str i n)  ; this allocates a new string
+  ;;  (display (substring str i n) format:port)
+  ;;  (set! format:output-col (+ format:output-col n)))
+
+  (define (format:out-substr str i n)
+    (do ((k i (+ k 1)))
+        ((= k n))
+      (write-char (string-ref str k) format:port))
+    (set! format:output-col (+ format:output-col (- n i))))
+
+  ;;(define (format:out-fill n ch)       ; this allocates a new string
+  ;;  (format:out-str (make-string n ch)))
+
+  (define (format:out-fill n ch)
+    (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
+        ((= i n))
+      (write-char ch format:port))
+    (set! format:output-col (+ format:output-col n)))
+
+  ;; format's user error handler
+
+  (define (format:error . args)         ; never returns!
+    (let ((format-args format:args)
+          (port (current-error-port)))
+      (set! format:error format:intern-error)
+      (if (and (>= (length format:args) 2)
+               (string? (cadr format:args)))
+          (let ((format-string (cadr format-args)))
+            (if (not (zero? format:arg-pos))
+                (set! format:arg-pos (- format:arg-pos 1)))
+            (format port
+                    "~%FORMAT: error with call: (format ~a \"~a<===~a\" ~
+                                  ~{~a ~}===>~{~a ~})~%        "
+                    (car format:args)
+                    (substring format-string 0 format:pos)
+                    (substring format-string format:pos
+                               (string-length format-string))
+                    (list-head (cddr format:args) format:arg-pos)
+                    (list-tail (cddr format:args) format:arg-pos)))
+          (format port 
+                  "~%FORMAT: error with call: (format~{ ~a~})~%        "
+                  format:args))
+      (apply format port args)
+      (newline port)
+      (set! format:error format:error-save)
+      (format:abort)))
+
+  (define (format:intern-error . args)
+    ;;if something goes wrong in format:error
+    (display "FORMAT: INTERNAL ERROR IN FORMAT:ERROR!") (newline)
+    (display "        format args: ") (write format:args) (newline)
+    (display "        error args:  ") (write args) (newline)
+    (set! format:error format:error-save)
+    (format:abort))
+             
+  (define format:error-save #f)
+
+  (define (format:format . args)        ; the formatter entry
+    (set! format:args args)
+    (set! format:arg-pos 0)
+    (set! format:pos 0)
+    (if (< (length args) 1)
+        (format:error "not enough arguments"))
+
+    ;; If the first argument is a string, then that's the format string.
+    ;; (Scheme->C)
+    ;; In this case, put the argument list in canonical form.
+    (let ((args (if (string? (car args))
+                    (cons #f args)
+                    args)))
+      ;; Use this canonicalized version when reporting errors.
+      (set! format:args args)
+
+      (let ((destination (car args))
+            (arglist (cdr args)))
+        (cond
+         ((or (and (boolean? destination) ; port output
+                   destination)
+              (output-port? destination))
+          (format:out (cond
+                       ((boolean? destination) (current-output-port))
+                       ((output-port? destination) destination)
+                       ((number? destination) (current-error-port)))
+                      (car arglist) (cdr arglist)))
+         ((number? destination)
+          (issue-deprecation-warning
+           "Passing a number to format as the destination is deprecated."
+           "Pass (current-error-port) instead.")
+          (format:out (current-error-port) (car arglist) (cdr arglist)))
+         ((and (boolean? destination)   ; string output
+               (not destination))
+          (call-with-output-string
+           (lambda (port) (format:out port (car arglist) (cdr arglist)))))
+         (else
+          (format:error "illegal destination `~a'" destination))))))
+
+  (define (format:out port fmt args)                   ; the output handler for a port
+    (set! format:port port)             ; global port for
+                                       ; output routines
+    (set! format:case-conversion #f)   ; modifier case
+                                       ; conversion procedure
+    (set! format:flush-output #f)       ; ~! reset
+    (and-let* ((col (port-column port))) ; get current column from port
+              (set! format:output-col col))
+    (let ((arg-pos (format:format-work fmt args))
+          (arg-len (length args)))
+      (cond
+       ((> arg-pos arg-len)
+        (set! format:arg-pos (+ arg-len 1))
+        (display format:arg-pos)
+        (format:error "~a missing argument~:p" (- arg-pos arg-len)))
+       (else
+        (if format:flush-output (force-output port))
+        #t))))
+
+  (define format:parameter-characters
+   '(#\0 #\1 #\2 #\3 #\4 #\5 #\6 #\7 #\8 #\9 #\- #\+ #\v #\# #\'))
+
+  (define (format:format-work format-string arglist)          ; does the formatting work
+    (letrec
+        ((format-string-len (string-length format-string))
+         (arg-pos 0)                 ; argument position in arglist
+         (arg-len (length arglist))  ; number of arguments
+         (modifier #f)               ; 'colon | 'at | 'colon-at | #f
+         (params '())                ; directive parameter list
+         (param-value-found #f)      ; a directive
+                                       ; parameter value
+                                       ; found
+         (conditional-nest 0)           ; conditional nesting level
+         (clause-pos 0)                 ; last cond. clause
+                                       ; beginning char pos
+         (clause-default #f)           ; conditional default
+                                       ; clause string
+         (clauses '())                  ; conditional clause
+                                       ; string list
+         (conditional-type #f)          ; reflects the
+                                       ; contional modifiers
+         (conditional-arg #f)        ; argument to apply the conditional
+         (iteration-nest 0)          ; iteration nesting level
+         (iteration-pos 0)           ; iteration string
+                                       ; beginning char pos
+         (iteration-type #f)           ; reflects the
+                                       ; iteration modifiers
+         (max-iterations #f)           ; maximum number of
+                                       ; iterations
+         (recursive-pos-save format:pos)
+              
+         (next-char                    ; gets the next char
+                                       ; from format-string
+          (lambda ()
+            (let ((ch (peek-next-char)))
+              (set! format:pos (+ 1 format:pos))
+              ch)))
+              
+         (peek-next-char
+          (lambda ()
+            (if (>= format:pos format-string-len)
+                (format:error "illegal format string")
+                (string-ref format-string format:pos))))
+              
+         (one-positive-integer?
+          (lambda (params)
+            (cond
+             ((null? params) #f)
+             ((and (integer? (car params))
+                   (>= (car params) 0)
+                   (= (length params) 1)) #t)
+             (else
+              (format:error
+               "one positive integer parameter expected")))))
+              
+         (next-arg
+          (lambda ()
+            (if (>= arg-pos arg-len)
+                (begin
+                  (set! format:arg-pos (+ arg-len 1))
+                  (format:error "missing argument(s)")))
+            (add-arg-pos 1)
+            (list-ref arglist (- arg-pos 1))))
+              
+         (prev-arg
+          (lambda ()
+            (add-arg-pos -1)
+            (if (negative? arg-pos)
+                (format:error "missing backward argument(s)"))
+            (list-ref arglist arg-pos)))
+              
+         (rest-args
+          (lambda ()
+            (let loop ((l arglist) (k arg-pos)) ; list-tail definition
+              (if (= k 0) l (loop (cdr l) (- k 1))))))
+              
+         (add-arg-pos
+          (lambda (n) 
+            (set! arg-pos (+ n arg-pos))
+            (set! format:arg-pos arg-pos)))
+              
+         (anychar-dispatch             ; dispatches the format-string
+          (lambda ()
+            (if (>= format:pos format-string-len)
+                arg-pos                 ; used for ~? continuance
+                (let ((char (next-char)))
+                  (cond
+                   ((char=? char #\~)
+                    (set! modifier #f)
+                    (set! params '())
+                    (set! param-value-found #f)
+                    (tilde-dispatch))
+                   (else
+                    (if (and (zero? conditional-nest)
+                             (zero? iteration-nest))
+                        (format:out-char char))
+                    (anychar-dispatch)))))))
+              
+         (tilde-dispatch
+          (lambda ()
+            (cond
+             ((>= format:pos format-string-len)
+              (format:out-str "~")     ; tilde at end of
+                                       ; string is just
+                                       ; output
+              arg-pos)                  ; used for ~?
+                                       ; continuance
+             ((and (or (zero? conditional-nest)
+                       (memv (peek-next-char) ; find conditional
+                                       ; directives
+                             (append '(#\[ #\] #\; #\: #\@ #\^)
+                                     format:parameter-characters)))
+                   (or (zero? iteration-nest)
+                       (memv (peek-next-char) ; find iteration
+                                       ; directives
+                             (append '(#\{ #\} #\: #\@ #\^)
+                                     format:parameter-characters))))
+              (case (char-upcase (next-char))
+                     
+                ;; format directives
+                     
+                ((#\A)                  ; Any -- for humans
+                 (set! format:read-proof
+                       (memq modifier '(colon colon-at)))
+                 (format:out-obj-padded (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                                        (next-arg) #f params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\S)                  ; Slashified -- for parsers
+                 (set! format:read-proof
+                       (memq modifier '(colon colon-at)))
+                 (format:out-obj-padded (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                                        (next-arg) #t params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\D)                  ; Decimal
+                 (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 10)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\X)                  ; Hexadecimal
+                 (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 16)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\O)                  ; Octal
+                 (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 8)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\B)                  ; Binary
+                 (format:out-num-padded modifier (next-arg) params 2)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\R)
+                 (if (null? params)
+                     (format:out-obj-padded ; Roman, cardinal,
+                                       ; ordinal numerals
+                      #f
+                      ((case modifier
+                         ((at) format:num->roman)
+                         ((colon-at) format:num->old-roman)
+                         ((colon) format:num->ordinal)
+                         (else format:num->cardinal))
+                       (next-arg))
+                      #f params)
+                     (format:out-num-padded ; any Radix
+                      modifier (next-arg) (cdr params) (car params)))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\F)                  ; Fixed-format floating-point
+                 (format:out-fixed modifier (next-arg) params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\E)                  ; Exponential floating-point
+                 (format:out-expon modifier (next-arg) params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\G)                  ; General floating-point
+                 (format:out-general modifier (next-arg) params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\$)                  ; Dollars floating-point
+                 (format:out-dollar modifier (next-arg) params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\I)                  ; Complex numbers
+                 (let ((z (next-arg)))
+                   (if (not (complex? z))
+                       (format:error "argument not a complex number"))
+                   (format:out-fixed modifier (real-part z) params)
+                   (format:out-fixed 'at (imag-part z) params)
+                   (format:out-char #\i))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\C)                  ; Character
+                 (let ((ch (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                               (integer->char (car params))
+                               (next-arg))))
+                   (if (not (char? ch))
+                       (format:error "~~c expects a character"))
+                   (case modifier
+                     ((at)
+                      (format:out-str (format:char->str ch)))
+                     ((colon)
+                      (let ((c (char->integer ch)))
+                        (if (< c 0)
+                            (set! c (+ c 256))) ; compensate
+                                       ; complement
+                                       ; impl.
+                        (cond
+                         ((< c #x20)   ; assumes that control
+                                       ; chars are < #x20
+                          (format:out-char #\^)
+                          (format:out-char
+                           (integer->char (+ c #x40))))
+                         ((>= c #x7f)
+                          (format:out-str "#\\")
+                          (format:out-str
+                           (number->string c 8)))
+                         (else
+                          (format:out-char ch)))))
+                     (else (format:out-char ch))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\P)                  ; Plural
+                 (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
+                     (prev-arg))
+                 (let ((arg (next-arg)))
+                   (if (not (number? arg))
+                       (format:error "~~p expects a number argument"))
+                   (if (= arg 1)
+                       (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                           (format:out-char #\y))
+                       (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                           (format:out-str "ies")
+                           (format:out-char #\s))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\~)                  ; Tilde
+                 (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                     (format:out-fill (car params) #\~)
+                     (format:out-char #\~))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\%)                  ; Newline
+                 (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                     (format:out-fill (car params) #\newline)
+                     (format:out-char #\newline))
+                 (set! format:output-col 0)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\&)                  ; Fresh line
+                 (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                     (begin
+                       (if (> (car params) 0)
+                           (format:out-fill (- (car params)
+                                               (if (>
+                                                    format:output-col
+                                                    0) 0 1))
+                                            #\newline))
+                       (set! format:output-col 0))
+                     (if (> format:output-col 0)
+                         (format:out-char #\newline)))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\_)                  ; Space character
+                 (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                     (format:out-fill (car params) #\space)
+                     (format:out-char #\space))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\/)                  ; Tabulator character
+                 (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                     (format:out-fill (car params) #\tab)
+                     (format:out-char #\tab))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\|)                  ; Page seperator
+                 (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                     (format:out-fill (car params) #\page)
+                     (format:out-char #\page))
+                 (set! format:output-col 0)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\T)                  ; Tabulate
+                 (format:tabulate modifier params)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\Y)                  ; Structured print
+                 (let ((width (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                                  (car params)
+                                  79)))
+                   (case modifier
+                     ((at)
+                      (format:out-str
+                       (with-output-to-string 
+                         (lambda ()
+                           (truncated-print (next-arg)
+                                            #:width width)))))
+                     ((colon-at)
+                      (format:out-str
+                       (with-output-to-string 
+                         (lambda ()
+                           (truncated-print (next-arg)
+                                            #:width
+                                            (max (- width
+                                                    format:output-col)
+                                                 1))))))
+                     ((colon)
+                      (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~?"))
+                     (else
+                      (pretty-print (next-arg) format:port
+                                    #:width width)
+                      (set! format:output-col 0))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\? #\K)           ; Indirection (is "~K" in T-Scheme)
+                 (cond
+                  ((memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
+                   (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~?"))
+                  ((eq? modifier 'at)
+                   (let* ((frmt (next-arg))
+                          (args (rest-args)))
+                     (add-arg-pos (format:format-work frmt args))))
+                  (else
+                   (let* ((frmt (next-arg))
+                          (args (next-arg)))
+                     (format:format-work frmt args))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\!)                  ; Flush output
+                 (set! format:flush-output #t)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\newline)           ; Continuation lines
+                 (if (eq? modifier 'at)
+                     (format:out-char #\newline))
+                 (if (< format:pos format-string-len)
+                     (do ((ch (peek-next-char) (peek-next-char)))
+                         ((or (not (char-whitespace? ch))
+                              (= format:pos (- format-string-len 1))))
+                       (if (eq? modifier 'colon)
+                           (format:out-char (next-char))
+                           (next-char))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\*)                  ; Argument jumping
+                 (case modifier
+                   ((colon)            ; jump backwards
+                    (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                        (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
+                            ((= i (car params)))
+                          (prev-arg))
+                        (prev-arg)))
+                   ((at)                ; jump absolute
+                    (set! arg-pos (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                                      (car params) 0)))
+                   ((colon-at)
+                    (format:error "illegal modifier `:@' in ~~* directive"))
+                   (else                ; jump forward
+                    (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                        (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
+                            ((= i (car params)))
+                          (next-arg))
+                        (next-arg))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\()                  ; Case conversion begin
+                 (set! format:case-conversion
+                       (case modifier
+                         ((at) string-capitalize-first)
+                         ((colon) string-capitalize)
+                         ((colon-at) string-upcase)
+                         (else string-downcase)))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\))                  ; Case conversion end
+                 (if (not format:case-conversion)
+                     (format:error "missing ~~("))
+                 (set! format:case-conversion #f)
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\[)                  ; Conditional begin
+                 (set! conditional-nest (+ conditional-nest 1))
+                 (cond
+                  ((= conditional-nest 1)
+                   (set! clause-pos format:pos)
+                   (set! clause-default #f)
+                   (set! clauses '())
+                   (set! conditional-type
+                         (case modifier
+                           ((at) 'if-then)
+                           ((colon) 'if-else-then)
+                           ((colon-at) (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~["))
+                           (else 'num-case)))
+                   (set! conditional-arg
+                         (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                             (car params)
+                             (next-arg)))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\;)                  ; Conditional separator
+                 (if (zero? conditional-nest)
+                     (format:error "~~; not in ~~[~~] conditional"))
+                 (if (not (null? params))
+                     (format:error "no parameter allowed in ~~;"))
+                 (if (= conditional-nest 1)
+                     (let ((clause-str
+                            (cond
+                             ((eq? modifier 'colon)
+                              (set! clause-default #t)
+                              (substring format-string clause-pos 
+                                         (- format:pos 3)))
+                             ((memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                              (format:error "illegal modifier in ~~;"))
+                             (else
+                              (substring format-string clause-pos
+                                         (- format:pos 2))))))
+                       (set! clauses (append clauses (list clause-str)))
+                       (set! clause-pos format:pos)))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\])                  ; Conditional end
+                 (if (zero? conditional-nest) (format:error "missing ~~["))
+                 (set! conditional-nest (- conditional-nest 1))
+                 (if modifier
+                     (format:error "no modifier allowed in ~~]"))
+                 (if (not (null? params))
+                     (format:error "no parameter allowed in ~~]"))
+                 (cond
+                  ((zero? conditional-nest)
+                   (let ((clause-str (substring format-string clause-pos
+                                                (- format:pos 2))))
+                     (if clause-default
+                         (set! clause-default clause-str)
+                         (set! clauses (append clauses (list clause-str)))))
+                   (case conditional-type
+                     ((if-then)
+                      (if conditional-arg
+                          (format:format-work (car clauses)
+                                              (list conditional-arg))))
+                     ((if-else-then)
+                      (add-arg-pos
+                       (format:format-work (if conditional-arg
+                                               (cadr clauses)
+                                               (car clauses))
+                                           (rest-args))))
+                     ((num-case)
+                      (if (or (not (integer? conditional-arg))
+                              (< conditional-arg 0))
+                          (format:error "argument not a positive integer"))
+                      (if (not (and (>= conditional-arg (length clauses))
+                                    (not clause-default)))
+                          (add-arg-pos
+                           (format:format-work
+                            (if (>= conditional-arg (length clauses))
+                                clause-default
+                                (list-ref clauses conditional-arg))
+                            (rest-args))))))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\{)                  ; Iteration begin
+                 (set! iteration-nest (+ iteration-nest 1))
+                 (cond
+                  ((= iteration-nest 1)
+                   (set! iteration-pos format:pos)
+                   (set! iteration-type
+                         (case modifier
+                           ((at) 'rest-args)
+                           ((colon) 'sublists)
+                           ((colon-at) 'rest-sublists)
+                           (else 'list)))
+                   (set! max-iterations (if (one-positive-integer? params)
+                                            (car params) #f))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\})                  ; Iteration end
+                 (if (zero? iteration-nest) (format:error "missing ~~{"))
+                 (set! iteration-nest (- iteration-nest 1))
+                 (case modifier
+                   ((colon)
+                    (if (not max-iterations) (set! max-iterations 1)))
+                   ((colon-at at) (format:error "illegal modifier")))
+                 (if (not (null? params))
+                     (format:error "no parameters allowed in ~~}"))
+                 (if (zero? iteration-nest)
+                     (let ((iteration-str
+                            (substring format-string iteration-pos
+                                       (- format:pos (if modifier 3 2)))))
+                       (if (string=? iteration-str "")
+                           (set! iteration-str (next-arg)))
+                       (case iteration-type
+                         ((list)
+                          (let ((args (next-arg))
+                                (args-len 0))
+                            (if (not (list? args))
+                                (format:error "expected a list argument"))
+                            (set! args-len (length args))
+                            (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos
+                                               (format:format-work
+                                                iteration-str
+                                                (list-tail args arg-pos))))
+                                 (i 0 (+ i 1)))
+                                ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
+                                     (and max-iterations
+                                          (>= i max-iterations)))))))
+                         ((sublists)
+                          (let ((args (next-arg))
+                                (args-len 0))
+                            (if (not (list? args))
+                                (format:error "expected a list argument"))
+                            (set! args-len (length args))
+                            (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos 1)))
+                                ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
+                                     (and max-iterations
+                                          (>= arg-pos max-iterations))))
+                              (let ((sublist (list-ref args arg-pos)))
+                                (if (not (list? sublist))
+                                    (format:error
+                                     "expected a list of lists argument"))
+                                (format:format-work iteration-str sublist)))))
+                         ((rest-args)
+                          (let* ((args (rest-args))
+                                 (args-len (length args))
+                                 (usedup-args
+                                  (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos
+                                                     (format:format-work
+                                                      iteration-str
+                                                      (list-tail
+                                                       args arg-pos))))
+                                       (i 0 (+ i 1)))
+                                      ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
+                                           (and max-iterations
+                                                (>= i max-iterations)))
+                                       arg-pos))))
+                            (add-arg-pos usedup-args)))
+                         ((rest-sublists)
+                          (let* ((args (rest-args))
+                                 (args-len (length args))
+                                 (usedup-args
+                                  (do ((arg-pos 0 (+ arg-pos 1)))
+                                      ((or (>= arg-pos args-len)
+                                           (and max-iterations
+                                                (>= arg-pos max-iterations)))
+                                       arg-pos)
+                                    (let ((sublist (list-ref args arg-pos)))
+                                      (if (not (list? sublist))
+                                          (format:error "expected list arguments"))
+                                      (format:format-work iteration-str sublist)))))
+                            (add-arg-pos usedup-args)))
+                         (else (format:error "internal error in ~~}")))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                ((#\^)                  ; Up and out
+                 (let* ((continue
+                         (cond
+                          ((not (null? params))
+                           (not
+                            (case (length params)
+                              ((1) (zero? (car params)))
+                              ((2) (= (list-ref params 0) (list-ref params 1)))
+                              ((3) (<= (list-ref params 0)
+                                       (list-ref params 1)
+                                       (list-ref params 2)))
+                              (else (format:error "too much parameters")))))
+                          (format:case-conversion ; if conversion stop conversion
+                           (set! format:case-conversion string-copy) #t)
+                          ((= iteration-nest 1) #t)
+                          ((= conditional-nest 1) #t)
+                          ((>= arg-pos arg-len)
+                           (set! format:pos format-string-len) #f)
+                          (else #t))))
+                   (if continue
+                       (anychar-dispatch))))
+
+                ;; format directive modifiers and parameters
+
+                ((#\@)                  ; `@' modifier
+                 (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                     (format:error "double `@' modifier"))
+                 (set! modifier (if (eq? modifier 'colon) 'colon-at 'at))
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\:)                  ; `:' modifier
+                 (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
+                     (format:error "double `:' modifier"))
+                 (set! modifier (if (eq? modifier 'at) 'colon-at 'colon))
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\')                  ; Character parameter
+                 (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
+                 (set! params (append params (list (char->integer (next-char)))))
+                 (set! param-value-found #t)
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\0 #\1 #\2 #\3 #\4 #\5 #\6 #\7 #\8 #\9 #\- #\+) ; num. paramtr
+                 (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
+                 (let ((num-str-beg (- format:pos 1))
+                       (num-str-end format:pos))
+                   (do ((ch (peek-next-char) (peek-next-char)))
+                       ((not (char-numeric? ch)))
+                     (next-char)
+                     (set! num-str-end (+ 1 num-str-end)))
+                   (set! params
+                         (append params
+                                 (list (string->number
+                                        (substring format-string
+                                                   num-str-beg
+                                                   num-str-end))))))
+                 (set! param-value-found #t)
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\V)             ; Variable parameter from next argum.
+                 (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
+                 (set! params (append params (list (next-arg))))
+                 (set! param-value-found #t)
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\#)           ; Parameter is number of remaining args
+                 (if param-value-found (format:error "misplaced '#'"))
+                 (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
+                 (set! params (append params (list (length (rest-args)))))
+                 (set! param-value-found #t)
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\,)                  ; Parameter separators
+                 (if modifier (format:error "misplaced modifier"))
+                 (if (not param-value-found)
+                     (set! params (append params '(#f)))) ; append empty paramtr
+                 (set! param-value-found #f)
+                 (tilde-dispatch))
+                ((#\Q)                  ; Inquiry messages
+                 (if (eq? modifier 'colon)
+                     (format:out-str format:version)
+                     (let ((nl (string #\newline)))
+                       (format:out-str
+                        (string-append
+                         "SLIB Common LISP format version " format:version nl
+                         "  (C) copyright 1992-1994 by Dirk Lutzebaeck" nl
+                         "  please send bug reports to `lutzeb@cs.tu-berlin.de'"
+                         nl))))
+                 (anychar-dispatch))
+                (else                   ; Unknown tilde directive
+                 (format:error "unknown control character `~c'"
+                               (string-ref format-string (- format:pos 1))))))
+             (else (anychar-dispatch)))))) ; in case of conditional
+
+      (set! format:pos 0)
+      (set! format:arg-pos 0)
+      (anychar-dispatch)                ; start the formatting
+      (set! format:pos recursive-pos-save)
+      arg-pos))                   ; return the position in the arg. list
+
+  ;; when format:read-proof is true, format:obj->str will wrap
+  ;; result strings starting with "#<" in an extra pair of double
+  ;; quotes.
+       
+  (define format:read-proof #f)
+
+  ;; format:obj->str returns a R4RS representation as a string of
+  ;; an arbitrary scheme object.
+
+  (define (format:obj->str obj slashify)
+    (let ((res (if slashify
+                   (object->string obj)
+                   (with-output-to-string (lambda () (display obj))))))
+      (if (and format:read-proof (string-prefix? "#<" res))
+          (object->string res)
+          res)))
+
+  ;; format:char->str converts a character into a slashified string as
+  ;; done by `write'. The procedure is dependent on the integer
+  ;; representation of characters and assumes a character number according to
+  ;; the ASCII character set.
+
+  (define (format:char->str ch)
+    (let ((int-rep (char->integer ch)))
+      (if (< int-rep 0)                 ; if chars are [-128...+127]
+          (set! int-rep (+ int-rep 256)))
+      (string-append
+       "#\\"
+       (cond
+        ((char=? ch #\newline) "newline")
+        ((and (>= int-rep 0) (<= int-rep 32))
+         (vector-ref format:ascii-non-printable-charnames int-rep))
+        ((= int-rep 127) "del")
+        ((>= int-rep 128)              ; octal representation
+         (number->string int-rep 8))
+        (else (string ch))))))
+
+  (define format:space-ch (char->integer #\space))
+  (define format:zero-ch (char->integer #\0))
+
+  (define (format:par pars length index default name)
+    (if (> length index)
+        (let ((par (list-ref pars index)))
+          (if par
+              (if name
+                  (if (< par 0)
+                      (format:error 
+                       "~s parameter must be a positive integer" name)
+                      par)
+                  par)
+              default))
+        default))
+
+  (define (format:out-obj-padded pad-left obj slashify pars)
+    (if (null? pars)
+        (format:out-str (format:obj->str obj slashify))
+        (let ((l (length pars)))
+          (let ((mincol (format:par pars l 0 0 "mincol"))
+                (colinc (format:par pars l 1 1 "colinc"))
+                (minpad (format:par pars l 2 0 "minpad"))
+                (padchar (integer->char
+                          (format:par pars l 3 format:space-ch #f)))
+                (objstr (format:obj->str obj slashify)))
+            (if (not pad-left)
+                (format:out-str objstr))
+            (do ((objstr-len (string-length objstr))
+                 (i minpad (+ i colinc)))
+                ((>= (+ objstr-len i) mincol)
+                 (format:out-fill i padchar)))
+            (if pad-left
+                (format:out-str objstr))))))
+
+  (define (format:out-num-padded modifier number pars radix)
+    (if (not (integer? number)) (format:error "argument not an integer"))
+    (let ((numstr (number->string number radix)))
+      (if (and (null? pars) (not modifier))
+          (format:out-str numstr)
+          (let ((l (length pars))
+                (numstr-len (string-length numstr)))
+            (let ((mincol (format:par pars l 0 #f "mincol"))
+                  (padchar (integer->char
+                            (format:par pars l 1 format:space-ch #f)))
+                  (commachar (integer->char
+                              (format:par pars l 2 (char->integer #\,) #f)))
+                  (commawidth (format:par pars l 3 3 "commawidth")))
+              (if mincol
+                  (let ((numlen numstr-len)) ; calc. the output len of number
+                    (if (and (memq modifier '(at colon-at)) (>= number 0))
+                        (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                    (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at))
+                        (set! numlen (+ (quotient (- numstr-len 
+                                                     (if (< number 0) 2 1))
+                                                  commawidth)
+                                        numlen)))
+                    (if (> mincol numlen)
+                        (format:out-fill (- mincol numlen) padchar))))
+              (if (and (memq modifier '(at colon-at))
+                       (>= number 0))
+                  (format:out-char #\+))
+              (if (memq modifier '(colon colon-at)) ; insert comma character
+                  (let ((start (remainder numstr-len commawidth))
+                        (ns (if (< number 0) 1 0)))
+                    (format:out-substr numstr 0 start)
+                    (do ((i start (+ i commawidth)))
+                        ((>= i numstr-len))
+                      (if (> i ns)
+                          (format:out-char commachar))
+                      (format:out-substr numstr i (+ i commawidth))))
+                  (format:out-str numstr)))))))
+
+  (define (format:tabulate modifier pars)
+    (let ((l (length pars)))
+      (let ((colnum (format:par pars l 0 1 "colnum"))
+            (colinc (format:par pars l 1 1 "colinc"))
+            (padch (integer->char (format:par pars l 2 format:space-ch #f))))
+        (case modifier
+          ((colon colon-at)
+           (format:error "unsupported modifier for ~~t"))
+          ((at)                         ; relative tabulation
+           (format:out-fill
+            (if (= colinc 0)
+                colnum                  ; colnum = colrel
+                (do ((c 0 (+ c colinc))
+                     (col (+ format:output-col colnum)))
+                    ((>= c col)
+                     (- c format:output-col))))
+            padch))
+          (else                         ; absolute tabulation
+           (format:out-fill
+            (cond
+             ((< format:output-col colnum)
+              (- colnum format:output-col))
+             ((= colinc 0)
+              0)
+             (else
+              (do ((c colnum (+ c colinc)))
+                  ((>= c format:output-col)
+                   (- c format:output-col)))))
+            padch))))))
+
+
+  ;; roman numerals (from dorai@cs.rice.edu).
+
+  (define format:roman-alist
+   '((1000 #\M) (500 #\D) (100 #\C) (50 #\L)
+     (10 #\X) (5 #\V) (1 #\I)))
+
+  (define format:roman-boundary-values
+   '(100 100 10 10 1 1 #f))
+
+  (define (format:num->old-roman n)
+    (if (and (integer? n) (>= n 1))
+        (let loop ((n n)
+                   (romans format:roman-alist)
+                   (s '()))
+          (if (null? romans) (list->string (reverse s))
+              (let ((roman-val (caar romans))
+                    (roman-dgt (cadar romans)))
+                (do ((q (quotient n roman-val) (- q 1))
+                     (s s (cons roman-dgt s)))
+                    ((= q 0)
+                     (loop (remainder n roman-val)
+                           (cdr romans) s))))))
+        (format:error "only positive integers can be romanized")))
+
+  (define (format:num->roman n)
+    (if (and (integer? n) (> n 0))
+        (let loop ((n n)
+                   (romans format:roman-alist)
+                   (boundaries format:roman-boundary-values)
+                   (s '()))
+          (if (null? romans)
+              (list->string (reverse s))
+              (let ((roman-val (caar romans))
+                    (roman-dgt (cadar romans))
+                    (bdry (car boundaries)))
+                (let loop2 ((q (quotient n roman-val))
+                            (r (remainder n roman-val))
+                            (s s))
+                  (if (= q 0)
+                      (if (and bdry (>= r (- roman-val bdry)))
+                          (loop (remainder r bdry) (cdr romans)
+                                (cdr boundaries)
+                                (cons roman-dgt
+                                      (append
+                                       (cdr (assv bdry romans))
+                                       s)))
+                          (loop r (cdr romans) (cdr boundaries) s))
+                      (loop2 (- q 1) r (cons roman-dgt s)))))))
+        (format:error "only positive integers can be romanized")))
+
+  ;; cardinals & ordinals (from dorai@cs.rice.edu)
+
+  (define format:cardinal-ones-list
+   '(#f "one" "two" "three" "four" "five"
+        "six" "seven" "eight" "nine" "ten" "eleven" "twelve" "thirteen"
+        "fourteen" "fifteen" "sixteen" "seventeen" "eighteen"
+        "nineteen"))
+
+  (define format:cardinal-tens-list
+   '(#f #f "twenty" "thirty" "forty" "fifty" "sixty" "seventy" "eighty"
+        "ninety"))
+
+  (define (format:num->cardinal999 n)
+    ;; this procedure is inspired by the Bruno Haible's CLisp
+    ;; function format-small-cardinal, which converts numbers
+    ;; in the range 1 to 999, and is used for converting each
+    ;; thousand-block in a larger number
+    (let* ((hundreds (quotient n 100))
+           (tens+ones (remainder n 100))
+           (tens (quotient tens+ones 10))
+           (ones (remainder tens+ones 10)))
+      (append
+       (if (> hundreds 0)
+           (append
+            (string->list
+             (list-ref format:cardinal-ones-list hundreds))
+            (string->list" hundred")
+            (if (> tens+ones 0) '(#\space) '()))
+           '())
+       (if (< tens+ones 20)
+           (if (> tens+ones 0)
+               (string->list
+                (list-ref format:cardinal-ones-list tens+ones))
+               '())
+           (append
+            (string->list
+             (list-ref format:cardinal-tens-list tens))
+            (if (> ones 0)
+                (cons #\-
+                      (string->list
+                       (list-ref format:cardinal-ones-list ones)))
+                '()))))))
+
+  (define format:cardinal-thousand-block-list
+   '("" " thousand" " million" " billion" " trillion" " quadrillion"
+     " quintillion" " sextillion" " septillion" " octillion" " nonillion"
+     " decillion" " undecillion" " duodecillion" " tredecillion"
+     " quattuordecillion" " quindecillion" " sexdecillion" " septendecillion"
+     " octodecillion" " novemdecillion" " vigintillion"))
+
+  (define (format:num->cardinal n)
+    (cond ((not (integer? n))
+           (format:error
+            "only integers can be converted to English cardinals"))
+          ((= n 0) "zero")
+          ((< n 0) (string-append "minus " (format:num->cardinal (- n))))
+          (else
+           (let ((power3-word-limit
+                  (length format:cardinal-thousand-block-list)))
+             (let loop ((n n)
+                        (power3 0)
+                        (s '()))
+               (if (= n 0)
+                   (list->string s)
+                   (let ((n-before-block (quotient n 1000))
+                         (n-after-block (remainder n 1000)))
+                     (loop n-before-block
+                           (+ power3 1)
+                           (if (> n-after-block 0)
+                               (append
+                                (if (> n-before-block 0)
+                                    (string->list ", ") '())
+                                (format:num->cardinal999 n-after-block)
+                                (if (< power3 power3-word-limit)
+                                    (string->list
+                                     (list-ref
+                                      format:cardinal-thousand-block-list
+                                      power3))
+                                    (append
+                                     (string->list " times ten to the ")
+                                     (string->list
+                                      (format:num->ordinal
+                                       (* power3 3)))
+                                     (string->list " power")))
+                                s)
+                               s)))))))))
+
+  (define format:ordinal-ones-list
+   '(#f "first" "second" "third" "fourth" "fifth"
+        "sixth" "seventh" "eighth" "ninth" "tenth" "eleventh" "twelfth"
+        "thirteenth" "fourteenth" "fifteenth" "sixteenth" "seventeenth"
+        "eighteenth" "nineteenth"))
+
+  (define format:ordinal-tens-list
+   '(#f #f "twentieth" "thirtieth" "fortieth" "fiftieth" "sixtieth"
+        "seventieth" "eightieth" "ninetieth"))
+
+  (define (format:num->ordinal n)
+    (cond ((not (integer? n))
+           (format:error
+            "only integers can be converted to English ordinals"))
+          ((= n 0) "zeroth")
+          ((< n 0) (string-append "minus " (format:num->ordinal (- n))))
+          (else
+           (let ((hundreds (quotient n 100))
+                 (tens+ones (remainder n 100)))
+             (string-append
+              (if (> hundreds 0)
+                  (string-append
+                   (format:num->cardinal (* hundreds 100))
+                   (if (= tens+ones 0) "th" " "))
+                  "")
+              (if (= tens+ones 0) ""
+                  (if (< tens+ones 20)
+                      (list-ref format:ordinal-ones-list tens+ones)
+                      (let ((tens (quotient tens+ones 10))
+                            (ones (remainder tens+ones 10)))
+                        (if (= ones 0)
+                            (list-ref format:ordinal-tens-list tens)
+                            (string-append
+                             (list-ref format:cardinal-tens-list tens)
+                             "-"
+                             (list-ref format:ordinal-ones-list ones))))
+                      )))))))
+
+  ;; format inf and nan.
+
+  (define (format:out-inf-nan number width digits edigits overch padch)
+    ;; inf and nan are always printed exactly as "+inf.0", "-inf.0" or
+    ;; "+nan.0", suitably justified in their field.  We insist on
+    ;; printing this exact form so that the numbers can be read back in.
+    (let* ((str (number->string number))
+           (len (string-length str))
+           (dot (string-index str #\.))
+           (digits (+ (or digits 0)
+                      (if edigits (+ edigits 2) 0))))
+      (if (and width overch (< width len))
+          (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
+          (let* ((leftpad (if width
+                              (max (- width (max len (+ dot 1 digits))) 0)
+                              0))
+                 (rightpad (if width
+                               (max (- width leftpad len) 0)
+                               0))
+                 (padch (integer->char (or padch format:space-ch)))) 
+            (format:out-fill leftpad padch)
+            (format:out-str str)
+            (format:out-fill rightpad padch)))))
+
+  ;; format fixed flonums (~F)
+
+  (define (format:out-fixed modifier number pars)
+    (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
+        (format:error "argument is not a number or a number string"))
+
+    (let ((l (length pars)))
+      (let ((width (format:par pars l 0 #f "width"))
+            (digits (format:par pars l 1 #f "digits"))
+            (scale (format:par pars l 2 0 #f))
+            (overch (format:par pars l 3 #f #f))
+            (padch (format:par pars l 4 format:space-ch #f)))
+
+        (cond
+         ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
+          (format:out-inf-nan number width digits #f overch padch))
+
+         (digits
+          (format:parse-float number #t scale)
+          (if (<= (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot) digits)
+              (format:fn-zfill #f (- digits (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
+              (format:fn-round digits))
+          (if width
+              (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 1)))
+                (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
+                    (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (> width (+ digits 1)))
+                    (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                (if (< numlen width)
+                    (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
+                (if (and overch (> numlen width))
+                    (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
+                    (format:fn-out modifier (> width (+ digits 1)))))
+              (format:fn-out modifier #t)))
+
+         (else
+          (format:parse-float number #t scale)
+          (format:fn-strip)
+          (if width
+              (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 1)))
+                (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
+                    (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
+                    (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                (if (< numlen width)
+                    (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
+                (if (> numlen width)   ; adjust precision if possible
+                    (let ((dot-index (- numlen
+                                        (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot))))
+                      (if (> dot-index width)
+                          (if overch ; numstr too big for required width
+                              (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
+                              (format:fn-out modifier #t))
+                          (begin
+                            (format:fn-round (- width dot-index))
+                            (format:fn-out modifier #t))))
+                    (format:fn-out modifier #t)))
+              (format:fn-out modifier #t)))))))
+
+  ;; format exponential flonums (~E)
+
+  (define (format:out-expon modifier number pars)
+    (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
+        (format:error "argument is not a number"))
+
+    (let ((l (length pars)))
+      (let ((width (format:par pars l 0 #f "width"))
+            (digits (format:par pars l 1 #f "digits"))
+            (edigits (format:par pars l 2 #f "exponent digits"))
+            (scale (format:par pars l 3 1 #f))
+            (overch (format:par pars l 4 #f #f))
+            (padch (format:par pars l 5 format:space-ch #f))
+            (expch (format:par pars l 6 #f #f)))
+             
+        (cond
+         ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
+          (format:out-inf-nan number width digits edigits overch padch))
+
+         (digits                        ; fixed precision
+
+          (let ((digits (if (> scale 0)
+                            (if (< scale (+ digits 2))
+                                (+ (- digits scale) 1)
+                                0)
+                            digits)))
+            (format:parse-float number #f scale)
+            (if (<= (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot) digits)
+                (format:fn-zfill #f (- digits (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
+                (format:fn-round digits))
+            (if width
+                (if (and edigits overch (> format:en-len edigits))
+                    (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
+                    (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 3))) ; .E+
+                      (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
+                          (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                      (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (> width (+ digits 1)))
+                          (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))  
+                      (set! numlen
+                            (+ numlen 
+                               (if (and edigits (>= edigits format:en-len))
+                                   edigits 
+                                   format:en-len)))
+                      (if (< numlen width)
+                          (format:out-fill (- width numlen)
+                                           (integer->char padch)))
+                      (if (and overch (> numlen width))
+                          (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
+                          (begin
+                            (format:fn-out modifier (> width (- numlen 1)))
+                            (format:en-out edigits expch)))))
+                (begin
+                  (format:fn-out modifier #t)
+                  (format:en-out edigits expch)))))
+
+         (else
+          (format:parse-float number #f scale)
+          (format:fn-strip)
+          (if width
+              (if (and edigits overch (> format:en-len edigits))
+                  (format:out-fill width (integer->char overch))
+                  (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 3))) ; .E+
+                    (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (eq? modifier 'at))
+                        (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                    (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
+                        (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+                    (set! numlen
+                          (+ numlen
+                             (if (and edigits (>= edigits format:en-len))
+                                 edigits 
+                                 format:en-len)))
+                    (if (< numlen width)
+                        (format:out-fill (- width numlen)
+                                         (integer->char padch)))
+                    (if (> numlen width) ; adjust precision if possible
+                        (let ((f (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot))) ; fract len
+                          (if (> (- numlen f) width)
+                              (if overch ; numstr too big for required width
+                                  (format:out-fill width 
+                                                   (integer->char overch))
+                                  (begin
+                                    (format:fn-out modifier #t)
+                                    (format:en-out edigits expch)))
+                              (begin
+                                (format:fn-round (+ (- f numlen) width))
+                                (format:fn-out modifier #t)
+                                (format:en-out edigits expch))))
+                        (begin
+                          (format:fn-out modifier #t)
+                          (format:en-out edigits expch)))))
+              (begin
+                (format:fn-out modifier #t)
+                (format:en-out edigits expch))))))))
+       
+  ;; format general flonums (~G)
+
+  (define (format:out-general modifier number pars)
+    (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
+        (format:error "argument is not a number or a number string"))
+
+    (let ((l (length pars)))
+      (let ((width (if (> l 0) (list-ref pars 0) #f))
+            (digits (if (> l 1) (list-ref pars 1) #f))
+            (edigits (if (> l 2) (list-ref pars 2) #f))
+            (overch (if (> l 4) (list-ref pars 4) #f))
+            (padch (if (> l 5) (list-ref pars 5) #f)))
+        (cond
+         ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
+          ;; FIXME: this isn't right.
+          (format:out-inf-nan number width digits edigits overch padch))
+         (else
+          (format:parse-float number #t 0)
+          (format:fn-strip)
+          (let* ((ee (if edigits (+ edigits 2) 4)) ; for the following algorithm
+                 (ww (if width (- width ee) #f)) ; see Steele's CL book p.395
+                 (n (if (= format:fn-dot 0) ; number less than (abs 1.0) ?
+                        (- (format:fn-zlead))
+                        format:fn-dot))
+                 (d (if digits
+                        digits
+                        (max format:fn-len (min n 7)))) ; q = format:fn-len
+                 (dd (- d n)))
+            (if (<= 0 dd d)
+                (begin
+                  (format:out-fixed modifier number (list ww dd #f overch padch))
+                  (format:out-fill ee #\space)) ;~@T not implemented yet
+                (format:out-expon modifier number pars))))))))
+
+  ;; format dollar flonums (~$)
+
+  (define (format:out-dollar modifier number pars)
+    (if (not (or (number? number) (string? number)))
+        (format:error "argument is not a number or a number string"))
+
+    (let ((l (length pars)))
+      (let ((digits (format:par pars l 0 2 "digits"))
+            (mindig (format:par pars l 1 1 "mindig"))
+            (width (format:par pars l 2 0 "width"))
+            (padch (format:par pars l 3 format:space-ch #f)))
+
+        (cond
+         ((or (inf? number) (nan? number))
+          (format:out-inf-nan number width digits #f #f padch))
+
+         (else
+          (format:parse-float number #t 0)
+          (if (<= (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot) digits)
+              (format:fn-zfill #f (- digits (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
+              (format:fn-round digits))
+          (let ((numlen (+ format:fn-len 1)))
+            (if (or (not format:fn-pos?) (memq modifier '(at colon-at)))
+                (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+            (if (and mindig (> mindig format:fn-dot))
+                (set! numlen (+ numlen (- mindig format:fn-dot))))
+            (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (not mindig))
+                (set! numlen (+ numlen 1)))
+            (if (< numlen width)
+                (case modifier
+                  ((colon)
+                   (if (not format:fn-pos?)
+                       (format:out-char #\-))
+                   (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
+                  ((at)
+                   (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch))
+                   (format:out-char (if format:fn-pos? #\+ #\-)))
+                  ((colon-at)
+                   (format:out-char (if format:fn-pos? #\+ #\-))
+                   (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch)))
+                  (else
+                   (format:out-fill (- width numlen) (integer->char padch))
+                   (if (not format:fn-pos?)
+                       (format:out-char #\-))))
+                (if format:fn-pos?
+                    (if (memq modifier '(at colon-at)) (format:out-char #\+))
+                    (format:out-char #\-))))
+          (if (and mindig (> mindig format:fn-dot))
+              (format:out-fill (- mindig format:fn-dot) #\0))
+          (if (and (= format:fn-dot 0) (not mindig))
+              (format:out-char #\0))
+          (format:out-substr format:fn-str 0 format:fn-dot)
+          (format:out-char #\.)
+          (format:out-substr format:fn-str format:fn-dot format:fn-len))))))
+
+                                       ; the flonum buffers
+
+  (define format:fn-max 400)                   ; max. number of number digits
+  (define format:fn-str #f)                    ; number buffer
+  (define format:fn-len 0)                     ; digit length of number
+  (define format:fn-dot #f)                    ; dot position of number
+  (define format:fn-pos? #t)                   ; number positive?
+  (define format:en-max 10)                    ; max. number of exponent digits
+  (define format:en-str #f)                    ; exponent buffer
+  (define format:en-len 0)                     ; digit length of exponent
+  (define format:en-pos? #t)                   ; exponent positive?
+
+  (define (format:parse-float num fixed? scale)
+    (let ((num-str (if (string? num)
+                       num
+                       (number->string (exact->inexact num)))))
+      (set! format:fn-pos? #t)
+      (set! format:fn-len 0)
+      (set! format:fn-dot #f)
+      (set! format:en-pos? #t)
+      (set! format:en-len 0)
+      (do ((i 0 (+ i 1))
+           (left-zeros 0)
+           (mantissa? #t)
+           (all-zeros? #t)
+           (num-len (string-length num-str))
+           (c #f))                  ; current exam. character in num-str
+          ((= i num-len)
+           (if (not format:fn-dot)
+               (set! format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
+
+           (if all-zeros?
+               (begin
+                 (set! left-zeros 0)
+                 (set! format:fn-dot 0)
+                 (set! format:fn-len 1)))
+
+           ;; now format the parsed values according to format's need
+
+           (if fixed?
+
+               (begin                   ; fixed format m.nnn or .nnn
+                 (if (and (> left-zeros 0) (> format:fn-dot 0))
+                     (if (> format:fn-dot left-zeros) 
+                         (begin         ; norm 0{0}nn.mm to nn.mm
+                           (format:fn-shiftleft left-zeros)
+                           (set! format:fn-dot (- format:fn-dot left-zeros))
+                           (set! left-zeros 0))
+                         (begin         ; normalize 0{0}.nnn to .nnn
+                           (format:fn-shiftleft format:fn-dot)
+                           (set! left-zeros (- left-zeros format:fn-dot))
+                           (set! format:fn-dot 0))))
+                 (if (or (not (= scale 0)) (> format:en-len 0))
+                     (let ((shift (+ scale (format:en-int))))
+                       (cond
+                        (all-zeros? #t)
+                        ((> (+ format:fn-dot shift) format:fn-len)
+                         (format:fn-zfill
+                          #f (- shift (- format:fn-len format:fn-dot)))
+                         (set! format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
+                        ((< (+ format:fn-dot shift) 0)
+                         (format:fn-zfill #t (- (- shift) format:fn-dot))
+                         (set! format:fn-dot 0))
+                        (else
+                         (if (> left-zeros 0)
+                             (if (<= left-zeros shift) ; shift always > 0 here
+                                 (format:fn-shiftleft shift) ; shift out 0s
+                                 (begin
+                                   (format:fn-shiftleft left-zeros)
+                                   (set! format:fn-dot (- shift left-zeros))))
+                             (set! format:fn-dot (+ format:fn-dot shift))))))))
+
+               (let ((negexp            ; expon format m.nnnEee
+                      (if (> left-zeros 0)
+                          (- left-zeros format:fn-dot -1)
+                          (if (= format:fn-dot 0) 1 0))))
+                 (if (> left-zeros 0)
+                     (begin             ; normalize 0{0}.nnn to n.nn
+                       (format:fn-shiftleft left-zeros)
+                       (set! format:fn-dot 1))
+                     (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
+                         (set! format:fn-dot 1)))
+                 (format:en-set (- (+ (- format:fn-dot scale) (format:en-int))
+                                   negexp))
+                 (cond 
+                  (all-zeros?
+                   (format:en-set 0)
+                   (set! format:fn-dot 1))
+                  ((< scale 0)          ; leading zero
+                   (format:fn-zfill #t (- scale))
+                   (set! format:fn-dot 0))
+                  ((> scale format:fn-dot)
+                   (format:fn-zfill #f (- scale format:fn-dot))
+                   (set! format:fn-dot scale))
+                  (else
+                   (set! format:fn-dot scale)))))
+           #t)
+
+        ;; do body      
+        (set! c (string-ref num-str i)) ; parse the output of number->string
+        (cond                           ; which can be any valid number
+         ((char-numeric? c)             ; representation of R4RS except 
+          (if mantissa?                 ; complex numbers
+              (begin
+                (if (char=? c #\0)
+                    (if all-zeros?
+                        (set! left-zeros (+ left-zeros 1)))
+                    (begin
+                      (set! all-zeros? #f)))
+                (string-set! format:fn-str format:fn-len c)
+                (set! format:fn-len (+ format:fn-len 1)))
+              (begin
+                (string-set! format:en-str format:en-len c)
+                (set! format:en-len (+ format:en-len 1)))))
+         ((or (char=? c #\-) (char=? c #\+))
+          (if mantissa?
+              (set! format:fn-pos? (char=? c #\+))
+              (set! format:en-pos? (char=? c #\+))))
+         ((char=? c #\.)
+          (set! format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
+         ((char=? c #\e)
+          (set! mantissa? #f))
+         ((char=? c #\E)
+          (set! mantissa? #f))
+         ((char-whitespace? c) #t)
+         ((char=? c #\d) #t)            ; decimal radix prefix
+         ((char=? c #\#) #t)
+         (else
+          (format:error "illegal character `~c' in number->string" c))))))
+
+  (define (format:en-int)           ; convert exponent string to integer
+    (if (= format:en-len 0)
+        0
+        (do ((i 0 (+ i 1))
+             (n 0))
+            ((= i format:en-len) 
+             (if format:en-pos?
+                 n
+                 (- n)))
+          (set! n (+ (* n 10) (- (char->integer (string-ref format:en-str i))
+                                 format:zero-ch))))))
+
+  (define (format:en-set en)            ; set exponent string number
+    (set! format:en-len 0)
+    (set! format:en-pos? (>= en 0))
+    (let ((en-str (number->string en)))
+      (do ((i 0 (+ i 1))
+           (en-len (string-length en-str))
+           (c #f))
+          ((= i en-len))
+        (set! c (string-ref en-str i))
+        (if (char-numeric? c)
+            (begin
+              (string-set! format:en-str format:en-len c)
+              (set! format:en-len (+ format:en-len 1)))))))
+
+  (define (format:fn-zfill left? n)         ; fill current number string with 0s
+    (if (> (+ n format:fn-len) format:fn-max) ; from the left or right
+        (format:error "number is too long to format (enlarge format:fn-max)"))
+    (set! format:fn-len (+ format:fn-len n))
+    (if left?
+        (do ((i format:fn-len (- i 1))) ; fill n 0s to left
+            ((< i 0))
+          (string-set! format:fn-str i
+                       (if (< i n)
+                           #\0
+                           (string-ref format:fn-str (- i n)))))
+        (do ((i (- format:fn-len n) (+ i 1))) ; fill n 0s to the right
+            ((= i format:fn-len))
+          (string-set! format:fn-str i #\0))))
+
+  (define (format:fn-shiftleft n)  ; shift left current number n positions
+    (if (> n format:fn-len)
+        (format:error "internal error in format:fn-shiftleft (~d,~d)"
+                      n format:fn-len))
+    (do ((i n (+ i 1)))
+        ((= i format:fn-len)
+         (set! format:fn-len (- format:fn-len n)))
+      (string-set! format:fn-str (- i n) (string-ref format:fn-str i))))
+
+  (define (format:fn-round digits)             ; round format:fn-str
+    (set! digits (+ digits format:fn-dot))
+    (do ((i digits (- i 1))            ; "099",2 -> "10"
+         (c 5))                         ; "023",2 -> "02"
+        ((or (= c 0) (< i 0))           ; "999",2 -> "100"
+         (if (= c 1)                   ; "005",2 -> "01"
+             (begin                    ; carry overflow
+               (set! format:fn-len digits)
+               (format:fn-zfill #t 1)   ; add a 1 before fn-str
+               (string-set! format:fn-str 0 #\1)
+               (set! format:fn-dot (+ format:fn-dot 1)))
+             (set! format:fn-len digits)))
+      (set! c (+ (- (char->integer (string-ref format:fn-str i))
+                    format:zero-ch) c))
+      (string-set! format:fn-str i (integer->char
+                                    (if (< c 10) 
+                                        (+ c format:zero-ch)
+                                        (+ (- c 10) format:zero-ch))))
+      (set! c (if (< c 10) 0 1))))
+
+  (define (format:fn-out modifier add-leading-zero?)
+    (if format:fn-pos?
+        (if (eq? modifier 'at) 
+            (format:out-char #\+))
+        (format:out-char #\-))
+    (if (= format:fn-dot 0)
+        (if add-leading-zero?
+            (format:out-char #\0))
+        (format:out-substr format:fn-str 0 format:fn-dot))
+    (format:out-char #\.)
+    (format:out-substr format:fn-str format:fn-dot format:fn-len))
+
+  (define (format:en-out edigits expch)
+    (format:out-char (if expch (integer->char expch) #\E))
+    (format:out-char (if format:en-pos? #\+ #\-))
+    (if edigits 
+        (if (< format:en-len edigits)
+            (format:out-fill (- edigits format:en-len) #\0)))
+    (format:out-substr format:en-str 0 format:en-len))
+
+  (define (format:fn-strip)             ; strip trailing zeros but one
+    (string-set! format:fn-str format:fn-len #\0)
+    (do ((i format:fn-len (- i 1)))
+        ((or (not (char=? (string-ref format:fn-str i) #\0))
+             (<= i format:fn-dot))
+         (set! format:fn-len (+ i 1)))))
+
+  (define (format:fn-zlead)             ; count leading zeros
+    (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
+        ((or (= i format:fn-len)
+             (not (char=? (string-ref format:fn-str i) #\0)))
+         (if (= i format:fn-len)        ; found a real zero
+             0
+             i))))
+
+
+;;; some global functions not found in SLIB
+
+  (define (string-capitalize-first str)      ; "hello" -> "Hello"
+    (let ((cap-str (string-copy str))     ; "hELLO" -> "Hello"
+          (non-first-alpha #f)            ; "*hello" -> "*Hello"
+          (str-len (string-length str)))  ; "hello you" -> "Hello you"
+      (do ((i 0 (+ i 1)))
+          ((= i str-len) cap-str)
+        (let ((c (string-ref str i)))
+          (if (char-alphabetic? c)
+              (if non-first-alpha
+                  (string-set! cap-str i (char-downcase c))
+                  (begin
+                    (set! non-first-alpha #t)
+                    (string-set! cap-str i (char-upcase c)))))))))
+
+  ;; Aborts the program when a formatting error occures. This is a null
+  ;; argument closure to jump to the interpreters toplevel continuation.
+
+  (define (format:abort) (error "error in format"))
+    
+  (set! format:error-save format:error)
+  (set! format:fn-str (make-string format:fn-max))   ; number buffer
+  (set! format:en-str (make-string format:en-max))   ; exponent buffer
+
+  (apply format:format args))
+
+;; Thanks to Shuji Narazaki
+(module-set! the-root-module 'format format)