Change variables from numrical code to corresponding phrase

When retrieving information from a drawing into lisp I am given one of five didgets each represents a material.

1 for lead
2 = zinc
3 = ceramic
4 = concrete
5 = synthetic

The values are stored in a variable, which is written to excel.

Rather then have an excel file work things out how can I reference/ index the numbers with there corresponding material using lisp?

So rather then have an excel with:

1
1
2
1
3
1
4
2

I have an excel file with:

Lead
Lead
Zinc
Lead
Ceramic
Lead
Concrete
Zinc

Associative lists are really good for this type of data

(setq matdata '(
("LEAD" . 1)
("ZINC" . 2)
("CERAMIC" . 3)
("CONCRETE" . 4)
("SYNTHETIC" . 5)
))

and then:

(cdr (assoc value matdata))

They are case sensitive however. Or it could be reversed depending on your needs. -David

Use a cond statement prior to writing the value to the excel file.

Example:

;; Get variable value
(setq var 1)

;; Interpret value prior to write
(cond
 ((= 1 var)
  (setq var "Lead"))
 ((= 2 var)
  (setq var "Zinc"))
 ((= 3 var)
  (setq var "Ceramic"))
 ((= 4 var)
  (setq var "Concrete"))
 ;; ...etc.
 )

;; Write variable to excel

Associative lists are really good for this type of data

(setq matdata '(
("LEAD" . 1)
("ZINC" . 2)
("CERAMIC" . 3)
("CONCRETE" . 4)
("SYNTHETIC" . 5)
))

and then:

(cdr (assoc value matdata))

 

They are case sensitive however. Or it could be reversed depending on your needs. -David

Perhaps this format would be preferable?

(setq matdata '((1 . "LEAD")
               (2 . "ZINC")
               (3 . "CERAMIC")
               (4 . "CONCRETE")
               (5 . "SYNTHETIC")
               ))

Perhaps this format would be preferable?

I couldn't tell from the OP which way they needed the data.....