[OS X TeX] Plain TeX question

[Eric van der Oord]

I would like to use TeX to parse some files, e.g.

%%% example

\long\def\foo#1#2#3#4#5{%
\write1{#3&#5&#4}%
}
\openout1=dest.tex
\input source.tex
\immediate\closeout1
\bye

%%% end example

Unfortunately  TeX expands all macros contained in #3, #5, #4 before 
writing them.

How could I prevent expanding macros in "write" ?

thanks for any help

Eric

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