[metapost] independent variables overflow

[Boguslaw Jackowski]

Hi,

> Can someone please explain to me why the following snippet overflows
WL> (with both MetaPost and MetaFont)?  What can I do to fix this?
[...]
WL> This is METAFONT, Version 2.71828 (Web2C 7.5.6)
WL> (zzz.mp
WL> ! METAFONT capacity exceeded, sorry [independent variables=33554431].
WL> <for(895.98483)> line:=(1,
WL>                           0)--(1,1); ENDFOR
WL> l.6 endfor
WL>           ;

I cannot reproduce the beavior. I added a message to your script:
   path line;
   for i := 0 step 0.0001 until 1000:
     line := (1, 0)
             -- (1, 1);
   endfor;
   message "OK?"
   bye;

And here you have the results:

This is MetaPost, Version 0.641 (Web2c 7.5.2) (mem=mpost 2006.4.9)  9 JAN 2008 14:59
(c:\TeXLive/texmf/web2c/cp8bit.tcx)
**WLTEST.MP
(WLTEST.MP
OK? )

This is METAFONT, Version 2.71828 (Web2c 7.5.2) (base=mf 2006.4.9)  9 JAN 2008 15:00
(c:\TeXLive/texmf/web2c/cp8bit.tcx)
**WLTEST.MP
(WLTEST.MP
OK? )

I'm using archaic WIN98 (and equally archaic MPOST -- don't say it to Taco
and Hans ;-)

Cheers -- Jacko

-- 
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  Bogus\l{}aw Jackowski: B_Jackowski at GUST.ORG.PL
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  Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even
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