"nil" to nil

Here is a really simple question. How do I change the format of a string
"nil" to behave like plain old nil?

Thx - kemp

 

Holy cow, that was even simpler than I imagined. All these resources and
I couldn't find something that simple - thanks!

kemp

 

Command: (read "NIL")
nil

Command: (read "pop")
POP

What's the deal with case?

 

Does this help?

Command: (type (read "NIL"))
nil

Command: (type (read "pop"))
SYM

 

Actually, yes. Nil is a value (or rather an expression of lack of value),
either numeric or string. So, it appears that symbols are always expressed
in upper case:
Command: (read (strcase "pop" T))
POP
I can't even force it to display in lower case.
interesting...

 

Your code is same as (read "POP"),

I believe what you tried to do was (strcase (read "pop") T).

And that doesn't work because result is not a string

 

How true it is.