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I have a symbol, say x, whose calculated value is a 2nd symbol. How can I set the 2nd symbol to a given value? For example, say the value of x is one of the symbols a, b, or c. If it is a, I want to set a = 10. If it is b, I want to set b = 10. Ditto for c. But, I can use a, b, or c only if I can extract it from x. I want to do something like

x=a
%=10
Out= a=10

To complicate this just a bit, my 2nd "symbols" actually are subscripts, like Subscript[a,1], Subscript[a,1,2], Subscript[a,1,3,4]. I found a partial solution.

x=Subscript[a,3];
Subscript[x[[1]],x[[2]]=10;
Subscript[a,3]
Out(1)= 10

But how do I do this if a has n subscripts? How do I write something like 

x=Subscript[a,3,4,2, ..., 5];
Subscript[a,x[[2]], ... , x[[n]]]=10
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  • $\begingroup$ Hold[x = 10] /. OwnValues[x] // ReleaseHold? -- BTW, I avoid subscripts for variables, and most questions about them. But then I've only been using Mathematica for a couple of decades or so. Still, OwnValues might work with them, if x is a regular symbol. Otherwise, maybe DownValues will work. $\endgroup$ – Michael E2 Sep 14 '16 at 2:44
  • $\begingroup$ I just discovered a partial solution. $\endgroup$ – matrixbud Sep 14 '16 at 2:54
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Avoid the hold on the left hand side of an assignment with Evaluate.

x=a

a

Evaluate[x]=10

10

a

10

x = Subscript[b, 1]

Subscript[b, 1]

Evaluate[x] = 2

2

Subscript[b, 1]

2

But why?

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  • $\begingroup$ Why? Because it sounds like the OP wants reference-type variable passing... $\endgroup$ – Myridium Sep 14 '16 at 3:27
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you, Mark. This seems to do the trick. I searched for "Release" in the Documentation Center and it says that Release has been superseded by Evaluate and ReleaseHold. I tried them and Evaluate seems to work the same way but not ReleaseHold. $\endgroup$ – matrixbud Sep 14 '16 at 4:02
  • $\begingroup$ Ah, didn't know that. I'm an old timer, so I still use Release. I'll update the answer. $\endgroup$ – Mark Adler Sep 14 '16 at 4:10
  • $\begingroup$ Note that this will not work again. Once a is set to a number, x then evaluates to a number, as does x=a. $\endgroup$ – Mark Adler Sep 14 '16 at 4:13
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    $\begingroup$ Sure. You can a=.. However I am still wondering why you are doing this. You may want to ask a new question about what you are actually trying to do. There is probably a better approach for that than this. $\endgroup$ – Mark Adler Sep 14 '16 at 4:42

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