user 3.14159
I try to summarize the question in the following mini-article (the TeX code is below):
```
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{pgf}
\begin{document}
\subsection*{Standard \LaTeX}
In standard \LaTeX\ (or just \TeX) one define macros, e.g.\def\mycode#1{(#1!)}
\begin{quote}
\verb|\def\mycode#1{(#1!)}|.
\end{quote}
One can then use the macro ``as is'', e.g.
\begin{quote}
\verb|\mycode{pft}| yields \texttt{\mycode{pft}}.
\end{quote}
If the result of such operations is expandable, one can store it in a new macro,
e.g.\edef\myresult{\mycode{pft}}
\begin{quote}
\verb|\edef\myresult{\mycode{pft}}\myresult| yields \myresult.
\end{quote}
\subsection*{pgf}
In \texttt{pgf} one can also define macros/codes, e.g.\pgfkeys{/my stuff/my code/.code={(#1!)}}
\begin{quote}
\verb|\pgfkeys{/my stuff/my code/.code={(#1!)}}|.
\end{quote}
One can then use the code ``as is'', e.g.
\begin{quote}
\verb|\pgfkeys{/my stuff/my code=pft}| yields \texttt{\pgfkeys{/my stuff/my code=pft}}.
\end{quote}
However, storing the result in a new macro is not easy. For instance, naive
attempts of the sort
\begin{quote}
\verb|\edef\myresult{\pgfkeys{/my stuff/my code=pft}}|
\end{quote}
fail miserably. One \emph{can} make it work, of course,
\begin{quote}
\verb|\pgfkeysgetvalue{/my stuff/my code/.@cmd}{\mytemporarymacro}%|\\
\verb|\edef\mypgfresult{\mytemporarymacro{pft}\pgfeov}%|\\
\verb|\mypgfresult|\\
\pgfkeysgetvalue{/my stuff/my code/.@cmd}{\mytemporarymacro}%
\edef\mypgfresult{\mytemporarymacro{pft}\pgfeov}%
\mypgfresult
\end{quote}
But this is far from elegant.
\subsection*{Question}
Is it possible to get the result of a \texttt{pgf} code more easily?
P.S.\ The \verb|\edef| is not essential, the analogous question arises for
ordinary \verb|\def|s.
\end{document}
```