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I'm trying to add custom downvalues for GeneratingFunction, and to do so I thought I just had to Unprotect it. However, that doesn't work:

Unprotect[GeneratingFunction]

{"GeneratingFunction"}

GeneratingFunction[2] = 3

During evaluation of In[3]:= Set::write: Tag GeneratingFunction in 
GeneratingFunction[2] is Protected. >>

 3

GeneratingFunction[2]

During evaluation of In[4]:= GeneratingFunction::argmu: GeneratingFunction
called with 1 argument; 3 or more arguments are expected. >>

GeneratingFunction[2]

I'm running Mathematica 9 64 bit on Linux. What do I need to do to really remove protection from this symbol?

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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GeneratingFunction by default is not a function: it is a stub which loads corresponding .mx package. You can see this with the following:

ClearAttributes[GeneratingFunction,{Protected,ReadProtected}]
OwnValues@GeneratingFunction

{HoldPattern[GeneratingFunction] :>
System`Dump`AutoLoad[Hold[GeneratingFunction], Hold[GeneratingFunction, GenerateConditions`TopLevelCode], "Discrete`GeneratingFunction`"] /; System`Dump`TestLoad}

The functions ClearAttributes and OwnValues have Hold* attributes and so the above code does not evaluate GeneratingFunction. After first evaluation it's Attributes and Options are redefined by the loaded package:

GeneratingFunction;
Attributes[GeneratingFunction]
Options[GeneratingFunction]

{Protected, ReadProtected}

{Assumptions :> $Assumptions, GenerateConditions -> False, Method -> Automatic, VerifyConvergence -> True}

I do not know why we can't see any top-level code for GeneratingFunction with Information, but Tracing its evaluation reveals a bunch of top-level functions it uses:

Trace[GeneratingFunction[1, n, x], TraceInternal -> True]

For the original discussion of this issue see this answer by Sasha (Wolfram Research) with comments under it.

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I do not know why Unprotectdoes not work (bug, feature?). The following does work though:

ClearAttributes[GeneratingFunction, Protected]
GeneratingFunction[2] = 3
GeneratingFunction[2]

3

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  • $\begingroup$ hmm, that's not working for me $\endgroup$
    – Andrew
    Sep 17, 2013 at 22:37
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    $\begingroup$ clearing the attribute, attempting to set a value, receiving an error, then clearing the attribute again and setting a value seems to work though $\endgroup$
    – Andrew
    Sep 17, 2013 at 22:39
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    $\begingroup$ @Andrew May be the situation is similar to this? $\endgroup$
    – Alexey Popkov
    Sep 18, 2013 at 2:11
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    $\begingroup$ @AndrewMacFie: You need to run it twice so Wolfram can confirm your intentions with absolute certainty. ;-) On a serious note, what kind of "feature" is that?! $\endgroup$
    – Hector
    Sep 18, 2013 at 3:49
  • $\begingroup$ @AlexeyPopkov ah yes... this question is very similar to that one $\endgroup$
    – Andrew
    Sep 18, 2013 at 20:24

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