# How to extract all necessarily code for a function?

Many times when someone pastes a piece of code into SE there are missing values and symbols that the user left out.

To prevent this I'm looking for a function that uproots other functions (extract the roots of the function like pulling a plant up from the ground).

I thought there might be something in GeneralUtilities or in some other developer packages...

• Sorry, I'm lost with your botanical metaphor. Could you try to explain further? – Dr. belisarius Mar 29 '16 at 22:05
• Sorry it's spring and I have plants on my mind... I'll add a concrete example. – M.R. Mar 29 '16 at 22:06
• Essentially talking about a dependency tree for a piece of code – M.R. Mar 29 '16 at 22:14
• Have you tried DumpSave["filename.mx"] without supplying a second argument? – barrycarter Mar 30 '16 at 2:09
• I am dealing with the same issue, while using DumpSave. I did try DumpSave but it does not seem to accept a single argument, at least on MMA 10.2. – Trad Dog Mar 30 '16 at 9:17

I think Save is the built-in function that come closest to what you are looking for.
a = 5; n = 1/2;

• You could try it and see what happens. You could reflect on the fact that definitions of Plus and Power don't show up. – m_goldberg Mar 30 '16 at 1:08