From: Robert Schaaf <ruby-bucket@...>
Date: 2009-06-10T11:24:59+09:00
Subject: treetop grammar problem

I have devised this grammar for roman numerals for treetop.

grammar RomanNumeral

     rule roman_numeral
         ('MMM' / 'MM' / 'M')?
             (('C' [DM]) / ('D'? ('CCC' / 'CC' / 'C')?))?
             (('X' [LC]) / ('L'? ('XXX' / 'XX' / 'X')?))?
             (('I' [VX]) / ('V'? ('III' / 'II' / 'I')?))?
     end

end

It recognizes numbers in the range 1-3999, and rejects all bad input  
as far as I can tell.  T

But the empty string passes!

The problem is that any part is optional, but not ALL parts.  At a  
minimum, there must be one digit.  Duh.

Treetop is ingenious, and easy to use, except when it's hard.

Does anyone have a suggestion?  I'm new at this, so I beg your patience.

Also, is there a better way of translating "M{0,3}" than "('MMM' /  
'MM' / 'M')?" ?

Bob Schaaf