currentdict

– currentdict → dict

Table 1. Before
Level	Object
(none)

Table 2. After
Level	Object
0	`dict` (current dictionary)

currentdict pushes the current dictionary (the dictionary on top of the dictionary stack) onto the operand stack.

This does NOT pop the dictionary stack - it just pushes a duplicate reference to the top dictionary.

Level 1 and later

Getting current dictionary

currentdict  % Returns userdict (if no begin executed)

Checking current scope

5 dict begin
  currentdict  % Returns the 5-element dict
  /mykey known % Check if mykey in current dict
end

Adding to current dictionary

currentdict /newkey newvalue put
% Same as: /newkey newvalue def

/savedict currentdict def
% ... operations that change dict stack ...
savedict begin
  % Restore dictionary context
end

currentdict {
  exch =  % Print key
  =       % Print value
} forall

currentdict /setting known not {
  /setting defaultValue def
} if

Does Not Pop Dictionary Stack - currentdict leaves dictionary stack unchanged.

dict begin
  currentdict  % Stack: dict (dict stack unchanged)
  % dict stack still has dict on it
end

Returns Reference - Modifying the returned dictionary affects the dictionary on the stack.

currentdict /key value put
% Modifies the dict on the dictionary stack

Use for Debugging - Examine current dictionary during development:

currentdict { exch = = } forall  % Print all entries

Error Condition

Error	Condition
[`stackoverflow`]	No room on operand stack

[stackoverflow]

No room on operand stack

Top    → Local dict (via begin)
         ...
         userdict
         globaldict (Level 2)
Bottom → systemdict

currentdict returns the topmost dictionary.

1. currentdict