[Zope] Namespace Confusion

[Richard Wackerbarth]

I'm trying to convert shell scripts into DTML methods.

Please excuse the pseudo code. I'm using it to represent the problems
that I am addressing.

set basket_total=0
set taxable_total=0
foreach item( 'apple', 'peach', 'soap', 'pear', 'plum', 'magazine' )
 if (! isfood($item))
  @ taxable_total = $taxable_total + price_of($item)
 endif
 @ basket_total = $basket_total + price_of($item)
endfor
print "Of the $basket_total total, $taxable_total is taxable"


1) Can I generate an explicit list rather than getting it with
as the result of either a database query or enumeration of an object?

2) How do I generate "local" variables.
I know that I could use the REQUEST variable as a global property store.
However, because of nesting, global (REQUEST) variables are not desirable.

I'd like to say something like the following:

<!--#WITH "LOCAL_NAMESPACE (basket_total=0, taxable_total=0)"-->
 <!--#FOR "['apple', 'peach', 'soap', 'pear', 'plum', 'magazine']"-->
  ...
  <!--#SET basket_total=basket_total+price ...>
 <!--#/FOR-->
 ...
 <!--#var basket_total--> 
 ...
<!--#/WITH-->

Does Zope's DTML have constructs to address either of these?