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[Emacs-diffs] /srv/bzr/emacs/trunk r106017: Copyedits and updates for Em
|
From: |
Chong Yidong |
|
Subject: |
[Emacs-diffs] /srv/bzr/emacs/trunk r106017: Copyedits and updates for Emacs manual's first few chapters. |
|
Date: |
Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:22:04 -0400 |
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User-agent: |
Bazaar (2.3.1) |
------------------------------------------------------------
revno: 106017
committer: Chong Yidong <address@hidden>
branch nick: trunk
timestamp: Fri 2011-10-07 12:22:04 -0400
message:
Copyedits and updates for Emacs manual's first few chapters.
* doc/emacs/basic.texi (Inserting Text): Add xref to Completion. Add
ucs-insert example, and document prefix argument.
(Moving Point): Fix introduction; C-f/C-b are no longer equivalent
to left/right. Tweak left-char and right-char descriptions.
M-left and M-right are now bound to left-word/right-word.
(Erasing): Document delete-forward-char.
* doc/emacs/commands.texi (User Input): Define "input event" more clearly.
(Keys): Add xref to Echo Area.
(Commands): Clarify relation between commands and functions.
* doc/emacs/entering.texi (Entering Emacs): Define "startup screen".
Document window-splitting behavior with command-line inputs.
(Exiting): Remove obsolete paragraph about shells without suspend
functionality.
* doc/emacs/frames.texi (Non-Window Terminals): Index just "text-only
terminal", which is used throughout the manual now.
* doc/emacs/screen.texi (Screen, Menu Bar): Copyedits.
(Point): Remove duplicate paragraph on cursors, also in Screen.
(Mode Line): Trailing dashes no longer shown on X displays.
modified:
admin/FOR-RELEASE
doc/emacs/ChangeLog
doc/emacs/basic.texi
doc/emacs/commands.texi
doc/emacs/entering.texi
doc/emacs/frames.texi
doc/emacs/screen.texi
etc/NEWS
=== modified file 'admin/FOR-RELEASE'
--- a/admin/FOR-RELEASE 2011-07-19 07:15:15 +0000
+++ b/admin/FOR-RELEASE 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
calendar.texi
cal-xtra.texi
cmdargs.texi
-commands.texi
+commands.texi cyd
custom.texi
dired.texi
dired-xtra.texi
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
emacs.texi
emacs-xtra.texi
emerge-xtra.texi
-entering.texi
+entering.texi cyd
files.texi
fixit.texi
fortran-xtra.texi
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@
programs.texi
regs.texi
rmail.texi
-screen.texi
+screen.texi cyd
search.texi
sending.texi
text.texi
=== modified file 'doc/emacs/ChangeLog'
--- a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog 2011-10-06 15:13:45 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -1,3 +1,28 @@
+2011-10-07 Chong Yidong <address@hidden>
+
+ * basic.texi (Inserting Text): Add xref to Completion. Add
+ ucs-insert example, and document prefix argument.
+ (Moving Point): Fix introduction; C-f/C-b are no longer equivalent
+ to left/right. Tweak left-char and right-char descriptions.
+ M-left and M-right are now bound to left-word/right-word.
+ (Erasing): Document delete-forward-char.
+
+ * screen.texi (Screen, Menu Bar): Copyedits.
+ (Point): Remove duplicate paragraph on cursors, also in Screen.
+ (Mode Line): Trailing dashes no longer shown on X displays.
+
+ * frames.texi (Non-Window Terminals): Index just "text-only
+ terminal", which is used throughout the manual now.
+
+ * entering.texi (Entering Emacs): Define "startup screen".
+ Document window-splitting behavior with command-line inputs.
+ (Exiting): Remove obsolete paragraph about shells without suspend
+ functionality.
+
+ * commands.texi (User Input): Define "input event" more clearly.
+ (Keys): Add xref to Echo Area.
+ (Commands): Clarify relation between commands and functions.
+
2011-10-06 Chong Yidong <address@hidden>
* misc.texi (emacsclient Options): Document how emacsclient runs
=== modified file 'doc/emacs/basic.texi'
--- a/doc/emacs/basic.texi 2011-10-01 21:54:33 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/basic.texi 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
Here we explain the basics of how to enter text, make corrections,
and save the text in a file. If this material is new to you, we
suggest you first run the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial, by typing
address@hidden t} inside Emacs. (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
address@hidden t} (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
@menu
@@ -41,20 +41,20 @@
@kindex RET
@cindex newline
- To end a line and start a new one, type @key{RET}. This key may be
-labeled @key{Return} or @key{Enter} on your keyboard, but we refer to
-it as @key{RET} in this manual. Pressing it inserts a newline
-character in the buffer. If point is at the end of the line, this
-creates a new blank line after it; if point is in the middle of a
-line, the line is split at that position.
+ To end a line and start a new one, type @key{RET} (@code{newline}).
+(The @key{RET} key may be labeled @key{Return} or @key{Enter} on your
+keyboard, but we refer to it as @key{RET} in this manual.) This
+command inserts a newline character into the buffer. If point is at
+the end of the line, the effect is to create a new blank line after
+it; if point is in the middle of a line, the line is split at that
+position.
As we explain later in this manual, you can change the way Emacs
handles text insertion by turning on @dfn{minor modes}. For instance,
-if you turn on a minor mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode, Emacs can
-split lines automatically when they become too long (@pxref{Filling}).
-If you turn on a minor mode called @dfn{Overwrite} mode, inserted
-characters replace (overwrite) existing text, instead of shoving it to
-the right. @xref{Minor Modes}.
+the minor mode called Auto Fill mode splits lines automatically when
+they get too long (@pxref{Filling}). The minor mode called Overwrite
+mode causes inserted characters to replace (overwrite) existing text,
+instead of shoving it to the right. @xref{Minor Modes}.
@cindex quoting
@kindex C-q
@@ -80,9 +80,10 @@
@kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits inserts the character
with the specified octal character code. You can use any number of
octal digits; any non-digit terminates the sequence. If the
-terminating character is @key{RET}, it serves only to terminate the
-sequence. Any other non-digit terminates the sequence and then acts
-as normal input---thus, @kbd{C-q 1 0 1 B} inserts @samp{AB}.
+terminating character is @key{RET}, that @key{RET} serves only to
+terminate the sequence. Any other non-digit terminates the sequence
+and then acts as normal input---thus, @kbd{C-q 1 0 1 B} inserts
address@hidden
The use of octal sequences is disabled in ordinary non-binary
Overwrite mode, to give you a convenient way to insert a digit instead
@@ -96,21 +97,28 @@
the letters @kbd{a} to @kbd{f} serve as part of a character code,
just like digits. Case is ignored.
- A numeric argument tells @kbd{C-q} how many copies of the quoted
-character to insert (@pxref{Arguments}).
-
@findex ucs-insert
@kindex C-x 8 RET
@cindex Unicode characters, inserting
@cindex insert Unicode character
@cindex characters, inserting by name or code-point
- Instead of @kbd{C-q}, you can use @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
-(@code{ucs-insert}) to insert a character based on its Unicode name or
-code-point. This command prompts for a character to insert, using
-the minibuffer; you can specify the character using either (i) the
-character's name in the Unicode standard, or (ii) the character's
-code-point in the Unicode standard. If you specify the character's
-name, the command provides completion.
+ Instead of @kbd{C-q}, you can use the command @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
+(@code{ucs-insert}). This prompts for the Unicode name or code-point
+of a character, using the minibuffer. If you enter a name, the
+command provides completion (@pxref{Completion}). If you enter a
+code-point, it should be a hexadecimal number (which is the convention
+for Unicode). The command then inserts the corresponding character
+into the buffer. For example, both of the following insert the
+infinity sign (Unicode code-point @code{#x221E}):
+
address@hidden
address@hidden 8 @key{RET} infinity @key{RET}}
address@hidden 8 @key{RET} 221e @key{RET}}
address@hidden example
+
+ A numeric argument to either @kbd{C-q} or @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
+specifies how many copies of the character to insert
+(@pxref{Arguments}).
@node Moving Point
@section Changing the Location of Point
@@ -123,85 +131,104 @@
To do more than insert characters, you have to know how to move
point (@pxref{Point}). The keyboard commands @kbd{C-f}, @kbd{C-b},
@kbd{C-n}, and @kbd{C-p} move point to the right, left, up and down
-respectively. These are equivalent to the commands @address@hidden,
address@hidden@key{left}}, @address@hidden, and @address@hidden, entered using
-the @dfn{arrow keys} present on many keyboards. Many Emacs users find
-that it is slower to use the arrow keys than the equivalent control
-keys. You can also click the left mouse button to move point to the
+respectively. You can also move point using the @dfn{arrow keys}
+present on most keyboards: @address@hidden, @address@hidden,
address@hidden@key{down}}, and @address@hidden; however, many Emacs users find
+that it is slower to use the arrow keys than the control keys.
+
+ You can also click the left mouse button to move point to the
position clicked. Emacs also provides a variety of additional
keyboard commands that move point in more sophisticated ways.
address@hidden C-a
address@hidden C-e
address@hidden @kbd
+
address@hidden C-f
@kindex C-f
address@hidden forward-char
+Move forward one character (@code{forward-char}).
+
address@hidden @key{right}
address@hidden RIGHT
address@hidden right-char
+This command (@code{right-char}) behaves like @kbd{C-f}, with one
+exception: when editing right-to-left scripts such as Arabic, it
+instead moves @emph{backward} if the current paragraph is a
+right-to-left paragraph. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
+
address@hidden C-b
@kindex C-b
address@hidden backward-char
+Move backward one character (@code{backward-char}).
+
address@hidden @key{left}
address@hidden LEFT
address@hidden left-char
+This command (@code{left-char}) behaves like @kbd{C-b}, except it
+moves @emph{forward} if the current paragraph is right-to-left.
address@hidden Editing}.
+
address@hidden C-n
address@hidden @key{down}
@kindex C-n
address@hidden DOWN
address@hidden next-line
+Move down one screen line (@code{next-line}). This command attempts
+to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in the
+middle of one line, you move to the middle of the next.
+
address@hidden C-p
address@hidden @key{up}
@kindex C-p
address@hidden M->
address@hidden M-<
address@hidden M-r
address@hidden LEFT
address@hidden RIGHT
@kindex UP
address@hidden DOWN
address@hidden move-beginning-of-line
address@hidden move-end-of-line
address@hidden forward-char
address@hidden backward-char
address@hidden right-char
address@hidden left-char
address@hidden next-line
@findex previous-line
address@hidden beginning-of-buffer
address@hidden end-of-buffer
address@hidden goto-char
address@hidden goto-line
address@hidden move-to-window-line
address@hidden @kbd
+Move up one screen line (@code{previous-line}). This command
+preserves position within the line, like @kbd{C-n}.
+
@item C-a
@itemx @key{Home}
address@hidden C-a
address@hidden HOME
address@hidden move-beginning-of-line
Move to the beginning of the line (@code{move-beginning-of-line}).
+
@item C-e
@itemx @key{End}
address@hidden C-e
address@hidden END
address@hidden move-end-of-line
Move to the end of the line (@code{move-end-of-line}).
address@hidden C-f
-Move forward one character (@code{forward-char}).
address@hidden @key{right}
-Move one character to the right (@code{right-char}). This
-moves one character forward in text that is read in the usual
-left-to-right direction, but one character @emph{backward} if the text
-is read right-to-left, as needed for right-to-left scripts such as
-Arabic. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
address@hidden C-b
-Move backward one character (@code{backward-char}).
address@hidden @key{left}
-Move one character to the left (@code{left-char}). This
-moves one character backward in left-to-right text and one character
-forward in right-to-left text.
+
@item M-f
address@hidden address@hidden
address@hidden M-f
address@hidden forward-word
Move forward one word (@code{forward-word}).
+
@item address@hidden
-Move one word to the right (@code{right-word}). This moves one word
-forward in left-to-right text and one word backward in right-to-left
-text.
address@hidden address@hidden
address@hidden C-RIGHT
address@hidden M-RIGHT
address@hidden right-word
+This command (@code{right-word}) behaves like @kbd{M-f}, except it
+moves @emph{backward} by one word if the current paragraph is
+right-to-left. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
+
@item M-b
address@hidden address@hidden
address@hidden M-b
address@hidden backward-word
Move backward one word (@code{backward-word}).
+
@item address@hidden
-Move one word to the left (@code{left-word}). This moves one word
-backward in left-to-right text and one word forward in right-to-left
-text.
address@hidden C-n
address@hidden @key{down}
-Move down one screen line (@code{next-line}). This command attempts
-to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in the
-middle of one line, you move to the middle of the next.
address@hidden C-p
address@hidden @key{up}
-Move up one screen line (@code{previous-line}). This command
-preserves position within the line, like @kbd{C-n}.
address@hidden address@hidden
address@hidden C-LEFT
address@hidden M-LEFT
address@hidden left-word
+This command (@code{left-word}) behaves like @kbd{M-f}, except it
+moves @emph{forward} by one word if the current paragraph is
+right-to-left. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
+
@item M-r
address@hidden M-r
address@hidden move-to-window-line-top-bottom
Without moving the text on the screen, reposition point on the left
margin of the center-most text line of the window; on subsequent
consecutive invocations, move point to the left margin of the top-most
@@ -211,13 +238,18 @@
A numeric argument says which screen line to place point on, counting
downward from the top of the window (zero means the top line). A
negative argument counts lines up from the bottom (@minus{}1 means the
-bottom line).
+bottom line). @xref{Arguments}, for more information on numeric
+arguments.
@item M-<
address@hidden M-<
address@hidden beginning-of-buffer
Move to the top of the buffer (@code{beginning-of-buffer}). With
numeric argument @var{n}, move to @var{n}/10 of the way from the top.
address@hidden, for more information on numeric address@hidden
+
@item M->
address@hidden M->
address@hidden end-of-buffer
Move to the end of the buffer (@code{end-of-buffer}).
@item C-v
@@ -233,10 +265,15 @@
(@code{scroll-down-command}). @xref{Scrolling}.
@item M-x goto-char
address@hidden goto-char
Read a number @var{n} and move point to buffer position @var{n}.
Position 1 is the beginning of the buffer.
+
@item M-g M-g
@itemx M-g g
address@hidden M-g M-g
address@hidden M-g g
address@hidden goto-line
Read a number @var{n} and move point to the beginning of line number
@var{n} (@code{goto-line}). Line 1 is the beginning of the buffer. If
point is on or just after a number in the buffer, that is the default
@@ -244,14 +281,16 @@
also specify @var{n} by giving @kbd{M-g M-g} a numeric prefix argument.
@xref{Select Buffer}, for the behavior of @kbd{M-g M-g} when you give it
a plain prefix argument.
+
@item C-x C-n
address@hidden C-x C-n
@findex set-goal-column
address@hidden C-x C-n
Use the current column of point as the @dfn{semipermanent goal column}
for @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} (@code{set-goal-column}). When a
semipermanent goal column is in effect, those commands always try to
move to this column, or as close as possible to it, after moving
vertically. The goal column remains in effect until canceled.
+
@item C-u C-x C-n
Cancel the goal column. Henceforth, @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} try to
preserve the horizontal position, as usual.
@@ -266,9 +305,8 @@
(i.e., according to the text lines in the buffer) by setting the
variable @code{line-move-visual} to @code{nil}; if a logical line
occupies multiple screen lines, the cursor then skips over the
-additional screen lines. Moving by logical lines was the default
-behavior prior to Emacs 23.1. For details, see @ref{Continuation
-Lines}. @xref{Variables}, for how to set variables such as
+additional screen lines. For details, see @ref{Continuation Lines}.
address@hidden, for how to set variables such as
@code{line-move-visual}.
Unlike @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}, most of the Emacs commands that work
@@ -288,21 +326,30 @@
@vindex next-line-add-newlines
@kbd{C-n} normally stops at the end of the buffer when you use it on
-the last line of the buffer. However, if you set the variable
+the last line in the buffer. However, if you set the variable
@code{next-line-add-newlines} to a address@hidden value, @kbd{C-n} on
the last line of a buffer creates an additional line at the end and
moves down into it.
@node Erasing
@section Erasing Text
address@hidden killing characters and lines
address@hidden deleting characters and lines
address@hidden erasing characters and lines
@table @kbd
@item @key{DEL}
@itemx @key{Backspace}
-Delete the character before point (@code{delete-backward-char}).
+Delete the character before point, or the region if it is active
+(@code{delete-backward-char}).
+
address@hidden @key{Delete}
+Delete the character after point, or the region if it is active
+(@code{delete-forward-char}).
+
@item C-d
address@hidden @key{Delete}
Delete the character after point (@code{delete-char}).
+
@item C-k
Kill to the end of the line (@code{kill-line}).
@item M-d
@@ -312,37 +359,40 @@
(@code{backward-kill-word}).
@end table
- The key @address@hidden (@code{delete-backward-char}) removes the
-character before point, moving the cursor and all the characters after
-it backwards. On most keyboards, @key{DEL} is labelled
address@hidden, but we refer to it as @key{DEL} in this manual. Do
-not confuse @key{DEL} with another key, labelled @key{Delete}, that
-exists on many keyboards; we will discuss @key{Delete} momentarily.
-
- Typing @key{DEL} when the cursor is at the beginning of a line
-deletes the preceding newline character, joining the line with the one
-before it.
-
- On some text-only terminals, Emacs may not recognize the @key{DEL}
-key properly. If @key{DEL} does not do the right thing (e.g., if it
-deletes characters forwards), see @ref{DEL Does Not Delete}.
-
address@hidden killing characters and lines
address@hidden deleting characters and lines
address@hidden erasing characters and lines
- The key @kbd{C-d} (@code{delete-char}) deletes the character after
-point, i.e., the character under the cursor. This shifts the rest of
-the text on the line to the left. If you type @kbd{C-d} at the end of
-a line, it joins that line with the following line. This command is
-also bound to the key labelled @key{Delete} on many keyboards.
-
- To erase a larger amount of text, use the @kbd{C-k} key, which
-erases (kills) a line at a time. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the
-beginning or middle of a line, it kills all the text up to the end of
-the line. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the end of a line, it joins that
-line with the following line.
-
- To learn more about killing text, see @ref{Killing}.
+ The @address@hidden (@code{delete-backward-char}) command removes
+the character before point, moving the cursor and the characters after
+it backwards. If point was at the beginning of a line, this deletes
+the preceding newline, joining this line to the previous one.
+
+ If, however, the region is active, @address@hidden instead deletes
+the text in the region. @xref{Mark}, for a description of the region.
+
+ On most keyboards, @key{DEL} is labelled @key{Backspace}, but we
+refer to it as @key{DEL} in this manual. (Do not confuse @key{DEL}
+with the @key{Delete} key; we will discuss @key{Delete} momentarily.)
+On some text-only terminals, Emacs may not recognize the @key{DEL} key
+properly. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete}, if you encounter this problem.
+
+ The @key{delete} (@code{delete-forward-char}) command deletes in the
+``opposite direction'': it deletes the character after point, i.e. the
+character under the cursor. If point was at the end of a line, this
+joins the following line onto this one. Like @address@hidden, it
+deletes the text in the region if the region is active (@pxref{Mark}).
+
+ @kbd{C-d} (@code{delete-char}) deletes the character after point,
+similar to @key{delete}, but regardless of whether the region is
+active.
+
+ @xref{Deletion}, for more detailed information about the above
+deletion commands.
+
+ @kbd{C-k} (@code{kill-line}) erases (kills) a line at a time. If
+you type @kbd{C-k} at the beginning or middle of a line, it kills all
+the text up to the end of the line. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the end
+of a line, it joins that line with the following line.
+
+ @xref{Killing}, for more information about @kbd{C-k} and related
+commands.
@node Basic Undo
@section Undoing Changes
@@ -352,7 +402,7 @@
Undo one entry of the undo records---usually, one command worth
(@code{undo}).
@itemx C-x u
address@hidden C-_
address@hidden C-_
The same.
@end table
@@ -379,10 +429,7 @@
Text that you insert in an Emacs buffer lasts only as long as the
Emacs session. To keep any text permanently, you must put it in a
address@hidden Files are named units of text which are stored by the
-operating system for you to retrieve later by name. To use the
-contents of a file in any way, including editing it with Emacs, you
-must specify the file name.
address@hidden
Suppose there is a file named @file{test.emacs} in your home
directory. To begin editing this file in Emacs, type
@@ -417,14 +464,15 @@
@section Help
@cindex getting help with keys
- If you forget what a key does, you can find out with the Help
-character, which is @kbd{C-h} (or @key{F1}, which is an alias for
address@hidden). Type @kbd{C-h k}, followed by the key of interest; for
-example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you what @kbd{C-n} does. @kbd{C-h} is
-a prefix key; @kbd{C-h k} is just one of its subcommands (the command
address@hidden). The other subcommands of @kbd{C-h} provide
-different kinds of help. Type @kbd{C-h} twice to get a description of
-all the help facilities. @xref{Help}.
+ If you forget what a key does, you can find out by typing @kbd{C-h
+k} (@code{describe-key}), followed by the key of interest; for
+example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you what @kbd{C-n} does.
+
+ The prefix key @kbd{C-h} stands for ``help''. The key @key{F1}
+serves as an alias for @kbd{C-h}. Apart from @kbd{C-h k}, there are
+many other help commands providing different kinds of help.
+
+ @xref{Help}, for details.
@node Blank Lines
@section Blank Lines
@@ -532,12 +580,17 @@
@itemx M-x column-number-mode
Toggle automatic display of the current line number or column number.
@xref{Optional Mode Line}.
address@hidden M-x count-lines-region
-Display the number of lines in the current region. Normally bound to
address@hidden, except in a few specialist modes. @xref{Mark}, for
-information about the region.
+
address@hidden M-=
+Display the number of lines in the region (@code{count-lines-region}).
address@hidden, for information about the region.
+
address@hidden C-x l
+Display the number of lines in the current page
+(@code{count-lines-page}). @xref{Pages}.
+
@item M-x count-words-region
-Display the number of words in the current region.
+Display the number of words in the region.
@item C-x =
Display the character code of character after point, character position of
point, and column of point (@code{what-cursor-position}).
@@ -569,9 +622,10 @@
@kindex M-=
@findex count-lines-region
- Use @kbd{M-x count-lines-region} (normally bound to @kbd{M-=}) to
-display the number of lines in the region (@pxref{Mark}). @xref{Pages},
-for the command @kbd{C-x l} which counts the lines in the current page.
+ @kbd{M-=} (@code{count-lines-region}) displays the number of lines
+in the region (@pxref{Mark}), while @kbd{C-x l}
+(@code{count-lines-page}) counts the lines in the current page
+(@pxref{Pages}).
@kindex C-x =
@findex what-cursor-position
=== modified file 'doc/emacs/commands.texi'
--- a/doc/emacs/commands.texi 2011-09-30 18:17:34 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/commands.texi 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -23,25 +23,21 @@
@cindex @acronym{ASCII}
@cindex C-
@cindex Control
address@hidden control characters
GNU Emacs is primarily designed for use with the keyboard. While it
is possible to use the mouse to issue editing commands through the
menu bar and tool bar, that is not as efficient as using the keyboard.
Therefore, this manual mainly documents how to edit with the keyboard.
address@hidden control character
Keyboard input into Emacs is based on a heavily-extended version of
address@hidden The simplest characters that you can input into
-Emacs correspond to graphic symbols such as @samp{a}, @samp{B},
address@hidden, @samp{=}, the space character (conventionally denoted as
address@hidden), and so on. Entering these using the keyboard is
-straightforward. Certain characters found on non-English keyboards
-also fall into this category (@pxref{International}).
-
- In addition to these simple characters, Emacs recognizes
address@hidden characters} such as @key{RET}, @key{TAB}, @key{DEL},
address@hidden, @key{F1}, @key{Home}, @key{left}, etc. Most keyboards have
-special keys for entering these.
address@hidden Simple characters, like @samp{a}, @samp{B},
address@hidden, @samp{=}, and the space character (denoted as @key{SPC}),
+are entered by typing the corresponding key. @dfn{Control
+characters}, such as @key{RET}, @key{TAB}, @key{DEL}, @key{ESC},
address@hidden, @key{Home}, and @key{left}, are also entered this way, as
+are certain characters found on non-English keyboards
+(@pxref{International}).
@cindex modifier keys
@cindex Control
@@ -50,13 +46,14 @@
@cindex M-
Emacs also recognizes control characters that are entered using
@dfn{modifier keys}. Two commonly-used modifier keys are
address@hidden (which is usually labelled as @key{Ctrl}), and
address@hidden (which is usually labeled as @key{Alt})@footnote{We refer
-to @key{Alt} as @key{Meta} for historical reasons.}. For example,
address@hidden is entered by holding down the @key{Ctrl} key while
-pressing @kbd{a}; we will refer to this as @kbd{C-a} for short.
-Similarly @kbd{Meta-a}, or @kbd{M-a} for short, is entered by holding
-down the @key{Alt} key and pressing @kbd{a}.
address@hidden (usually labelled @key{Ctrl}), and @key{Meta} (usually
+labeled @key{Alt})@footnote{We refer to @key{Alt} as @key{Meta} for
+historical reasons.}. For example, @kbd{Control-a} is entered by
+holding down the @key{Ctrl} key while pressing @kbd{a}; we will refer
+to this as @kbd{C-a} for short. Similarly @kbd{Meta-a}, or @kbd{M-a}
+for short, is entered by holding down the @key{Alt} key and pressing
address@hidden Modifier keys can also be applied to non-alphanumerical
+characters, e.g. @address@hidden or @address@hidden
@cindex @key{ESC} replacing @key{Meta} key
You can also type Meta characters using two-character sequences
@@ -68,33 +65,28 @@
next character. This feature is useful on certain text-only terminals
where the @key{Meta} key does not function reliably.
- Modifier keys can apply not only to alphanumerical characters, but
-also to special input characters, such as the arrow keys and mouse
-buttons.
-
address@hidden input event
- @xref{Input Events,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, for
-the full Lisp-level details about keyboard and mouse input, which are
-collectively referred to as @dfn{input events}. If you are not doing
-Lisp programming, but simply want to redefine the meaning of some
-characters or non-character events, see @ref{Customization}.
-
@cindex keys stolen by window manager
@cindex window manager, keys stolen by
- On graphical displays, the window manager is likely to block the
-character @address@hidden before Emacs can see it. It may also
-block @address@hidden, @kbd{C-M-d} and @kbd{C-M-l}. If you have
-these problems, we recommend that you customize your window manager to
-turn off those commands, or put them on key combinations that Emacs
-does not use.
+ On graphical displays, the window manager might block some keyboard
+inputs, including @address@hidden, @address@hidden, @kbd{C-M-d}
+and @kbd{C-M-l}. If you have this problem, you can either customize
+your window manager to not block those keys, or ``rebind'' the
+affected Emacs commands (@pxref{Customization}).
+
address@hidden input event
+ Simple characters and control characters, as well as certain
+non-keyboard inputs such as mouse clicks, are collectively referred to
+as @dfn{input events}. For details about how Emacs internally handles
+input events, see @ref{Input Events,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference
+Manual}.
@node Keys, Commands, User Input, Top
@section Keys
Some Emacs commands are invoked by just one input event; for
-example, @kbd{C-f} moves forward one character in the buffer. But
-Emacs also has commands that take two or more input events to invoke,
-such as @kbd{C-x C-f} and @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}.
+example, @kbd{C-f} moves forward one character in the buffer. Other
+commands take two or more input events to invoke, such as @kbd{C-x
+C-f} and @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}.
@cindex key
@cindex key sequence
@@ -106,23 +98,23 @@
@kbd{C-f}, @kbd{C-x C-f} and @kbd{C-x 4 C-f} are all complete keys.
If a key sequence isn't long enough to invoke a command, we call it a
@dfn{prefix key}; from the preceding example, we see that @kbd{C-x}
-and @kbd{C-x 4} are prefix keys. Every key is either a complete key
-or a prefix key.
+and @kbd{C-x 4} are prefix keys. Every key sequence is either a
+complete key or a prefix key.
A prefix key combines with the following input event to make a
-longer key sequence, which may itself be complete or a prefix. For
-example, @kbd{C-x} is a prefix key, so @kbd{C-x} and the next input
-event combine to make a two-event key sequence. This two-event key
-sequence could itself be a prefix key (such as @kbd{C-x 4}), or a
-complete key (such as @kbd{C-x C-f}). There is no limit to the length
-of a key sequence, but in practice people rarely use sequences longer
-than three or four input events.
+longer key sequence. For example, @kbd{C-x} is a prefix key, so
+typing @kbd{C-x} alone does not invoke a command; instead, Emacs waits
+for further input (if you pause for longer than a second, it echoes
+the @kbd{C-x} key to prompt for that input; @pxref{Echo Area}).
address@hidden combines with the next input event to make a two-event key
+sequence, which could itself be a prefix key (such as @kbd{C-x 4}), or
+a complete key (such as @kbd{C-x C-f}). There is no limit to the
+length of key sequences, but in practice they are seldom longer than
+three or four input events.
- You can't add input events onto a complete key. For example, the
-two-event sequence @kbd{C-f C-k} is not a key, because the @kbd{C-f}
-is a complete key in itself, so @kbd{C-f C-k} cannot have an
-independent meaning as a command. @kbd{C-f C-k} is two key sequences,
-not address@hidden
+ You can't add input events onto a complete key. For example,
+because @kbd{C-f} is a complete key, the two-event sequence @kbd{C-f
+C-k} is two key sequences, not one.
By default, the prefix keys in Emacs are @kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-h},
@kbd{C-x}, @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}, @kbd{C-x @@}, @kbd{C-x a}, @kbd{C-x
@@ -132,22 +124,20 @@
stone; if you customize Emacs, you can make new prefix keys. You
could even eliminate some of the standard ones, though this is not
recommended for most users; for example, if you remove the prefix
-definition of @kbd{C-x 4}, then @kbd{C-x 4 @var{anything}} would
-become an invalid key sequence. @xref{Key Bindings}.
+definition of @kbd{C-x 4}, then @kbd{C-x 4 C-f} becomes an invalid key
+sequence. @xref{Key Bindings}.
Typing the help character (@kbd{C-h} or @key{F1}) after a prefix key
displays a list of the commands starting with that prefix. The sole
exception to this rule is @key{ESC}: @address@hidden C-h} is equivalent
to @kbd{C-M-h}, which does something else entirely. You can, however,
-use @key{F1} to displays a list of the commands starting with
address@hidden
+use @key{F1} to display a list of commands starting with @key{ESC}.
@node Commands, Entering Emacs, Keys, Top
@section Keys and Commands
@cindex binding
@cindex command
address@hidden function definition
This manual is full of passages that tell you what particular keys
do. But Emacs does not assign meanings to keys directly. Instead,
Emacs assigns meanings to named @dfn{commands}, and then gives keys
@@ -155,11 +145,9 @@
Every command has a name chosen by a programmer. The name is
usually made of a few English words separated by dashes; for example,
address@hidden or @code{forward-word}. A command also has a
address@hidden definition} which is a Lisp program; this is how the
-command does its work. In Emacs Lisp, a command is a Lisp function
-with special properties that make it suitable for interactive use.
-For more information on commands and functions, see @ref{What Is a
address@hidden or @code{forward-word}. Internally, each command is
+a special type of Lisp @dfn{function}, and the actions associated with
+the command are performed by running the function. @xref{What Is a
Function,, What Is a Function, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference
Manual}.
=== modified file 'doc/emacs/entering.texi'
--- a/doc/emacs/entering.texi 2011-01-25 04:08:28 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/entering.texi 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -19,49 +19,45 @@
The usual way to invoke Emacs is with the shell command
@command{emacs}. From a terminal window running in the X Window
-System, you can also run Emacs in the background with
address@hidden&}; this way, Emacs won't tie up the terminal window, so
-you can use it to run other shell commands.
+System, you can run Emacs in the background with @command{emacs &};
+this way, Emacs won't tie up the terminal window, so you can use it to
+run other shell commands.
@cindex startup screen
When Emacs starts up, the initial frame displays a special buffer
-named @samp{*GNU Emacs*}. This buffer contains some information about
-Emacs, and includes @dfn{links} to common tasks that might be useful
-to beginning users. For instance, activating the @samp{Emacs
+named @samp{*GNU Emacs*}. This @dfn{startup screen} contains
+information about Emacs and @dfn{links} to common tasks that are
+useful for beginning users. For instance, activating the @samp{Emacs
Tutorial} link opens the Emacs tutorial; this does the same thing as
the command @kbd{C-h t} (@code{help-with-tutorial}). To activate a
link, either move point onto it and type @address@hidden, or click on
it with @kbd{mouse-1} (the left mouse button).
Using a command line argument, you can tell Emacs to visit one or
-more specific files as soon as it starts up. For example,
address@hidden foo.txt} starts Emacs with a buffer displaying the
-contents of the file @samp{foo.txt}. This feature exists mainly for
-compatibility with other editors, which are designed to edit one file
-at a time: once you are done with that file, you exit the editor, and
-start it again the next time you need it.
-
- Using Emacs in this way---starting it afresh each time you want to
-edit a file---is unnecessary and wasteful. Emacs can visit more than
-one file in a single editing session, and exiting the Emacs session
-loses valuable accumulated context, such as the kill ring, registers,
-undo history, and mark ring. These features, described later in the
-manual, are useful for performing edits across multiple files, or
-continuing edits to a single file.
-
- The recommended way to use Emacs is to start it only once, just
-after you log in, and do all your editing in the same Emacs session.
-Each time you edit a file, visit it with the existing Emacs, which
-eventually has many files in it ready for editing. @xref{Files}, for
-more information on visiting more than one file.
+more files as soon as it starts up. For example, @command{emacs
+foo.txt} starts Emacs with a buffer displaying the contents of the
+file @samp{foo.txt}. This feature exists mainly for compatibility
+with other editors, which are designed to be launched from the shell
+for short editing sessions. If you call Emacs this way, the initial
+frame is split into two windows---one showing the specified file, and
+the other showing the startup screen. @xref{Windows}.
+
+ Generally, it is unnecessary and wasteful to start Emacs afresh each
+time you want to edit a file. The recommended way to use Emacs is to
+start it just once, just after you log in, and do all your editing in
+the same Emacs session. @xref{Files}, for information on visiting
+more than one file. If you use Emacs this way, the Emacs session
+accumulates valuable context, such as the kill ring, registers, undo
+history, and mark ring data, which together make editing more
+convenient. These features are described later in the manual.
To edit a file from another program while Emacs is running, you can
use the @command{emacsclient} helper program to open a file in the
-already running Emacs. @xref{Emacs Server}.
+existing Emacs session. @xref{Emacs Server}.
Emacs accepts other command line arguments that tell it to load
-certain Lisp files, call certain functions, and so forth. These
-features exist mainly for advanced users. @xref{Emacs Invocation}.
+certain Lisp files, where to put the initial frame, and so forth.
address@hidden Invocation}.
@vindex inhibit-startup-screen
If the variable @code{inhibit-startup-screen} is address@hidden,
@@ -72,11 +68,10 @@
@xref{Lisp Interaction}. You can set the variable
@code{inhibit-startup-screen} using the Customize facility
(@pxref{Easy Customization}), or by editing your initialization file
-(@pxref{Init File})address@hidden that setting
address@hidden in @file{site-start.el} doesn't work,
-because the startup screen is set up before reading
address@hidden @xref{Init File}, for information about
address@hidden
+(@pxref{Init File})address@hidden @code{inhibit-startup-screen} in
address@hidden doesn't work, because the startup screen is set
+up before reading @file{site-start.el}. @xref{Init File}, for
+information about @file{site-start.el}.}
You can also force Emacs to display a file or directory at startup
by setting the variable @code{initial-buffer-choice} to a
@@ -105,13 +100,13 @@
@findex save-buffers-kill-terminal
@dfn{Killing} Emacs means terminating the Emacs program. To do
this, type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal}). A
-two-character key is used to make it harder to type by accident. If
-there are any modified file-visiting buffers when you type @kbd{C-x
-C-c}, Emacs first offers to save these buffers. If you do not save
-them all, it asks for confirmation again, since the unsaved changes
-will be lost. Emacs also asks for confirmation if any subprocesses
-are still running, since killing Emacs will also kill the subprocesses
-(@pxref{Shell}).
+two-character key sequence is used to make it harder to type by
+accident. If there are any modified file-visiting buffers when you
+type @kbd{C-x C-c}, Emacs first offers to save these buffers. If you
+do not save them all, it asks for confirmation again, since the
+unsaved changes will be lost. Emacs also asks for confirmation if any
+subprocesses are still running, since killing Emacs will also kill the
+subprocesses (@pxref{Shell}).
@kbd{C-x C-c} behaves specially if you are using Emacs as a server.
If you type it from a ``client frame'', it closes the client
@@ -135,39 +130,19 @@
To kill Emacs without being prompted about saving, type @kbd{M-x
kill-emacs}.
address@hidden minimizing a frame
address@hidden C-z
address@hidden suspend-frame
address@hidden minimizing
@cindex iconifying
@cindex suspending
- You can ``exit'' Emacs in two other ways. On a graphical display,
-you can @dfn{minimize} (or @dfn{iconify}) an Emacs frame; depending on
-the window system, this either replaces the Emacs frame with a tiny
-``icon'' or conceals the frame entirely (@pxref{Frames}). On a
-text-only terminal, you can @dfn{suspend} Emacs; this means stopping
-the Emacs program temporarily, returning control to its parent process
-(usually a shell).
-
address@hidden C-z
address@hidden suspend-frame
@kbd{C-z} runs the command @code{suspend-frame}. On a graphical
-display, this ``minimizes'' (or ``iconifies'') the selected Emacs
-frame. On a text terminal, this suspends the Emacs process.
-
- After minimizing or suspending Emacs, you can return to it and
-continue editing wherever you left off. The way to do this depends on
-the window system or shell. In most common shells, you can resume
-Emacs after suspending it with the shell command @command{%emacs}.
-
address@hidden cannot-suspend
- On very old systems that don't support suspending programs,
address@hidden starts an inferior shell that communicates directly with the
-terminal, and Emacs waits until you exit the subshell. (The way to
-exit the subshell is usually @kbd{C-d} or @command{exit}.) On these
-systems, you can only get back to the shell from which Emacs was run
-(to log out, for example) when you kill Emacs. Suspending can also
-fail if you run Emacs under a shell that doesn't support suspending
-jobs, even if the system itself does support it. In this case, you
-can set the variable @code{cannot-suspend} to a address@hidden value
-to force @kbd{C-z} to start an inferior shell.
+display, this command @dfn{minimizes} (or @dfn{iconifies}) the
+selected Emacs frame, hiding it in a way that lets you bring it back
+later (exactly how this hiding occurs depends on the window system).
+On a text terminal, the @kbd{C-z} command @dfn{suspends} Emacs,
+stopping the program temporarily and returning control to the parent
+process (usually a shell); in most shells, you can resume Emacs after
+suspending it with the shell command @command{%emacs}.
Text-only terminals usually listen for certain special characters
whose meaning is to kill or suspend the program you are running.
=== modified file 'doc/emacs/frames.texi'
--- a/doc/emacs/frames.texi 2011-09-24 18:19:20 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/frames.texi 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -1229,8 +1229,7 @@
@node Non-Window Terminals
@section Non-Window Terminals
address@hidden non-window terminals
address@hidden single-frame terminals
address@hidden text-only terminal
On a text-only terminal, Emacs can display only one Emacs frame at a
time. However, you can still create multiple Emacs frames, and switch
=== modified file 'doc/emacs/screen.texi'
--- a/doc/emacs/screen.texi 2011-07-12 22:37:20 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/screen.texi 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -5,31 +5,35 @@
@node Screen, User Input, Acknowledgments, Top
@chapter The Organization of the Screen
@cindex screen
address@hidden parts of the screen
-
- On a text-only terminal, the Emacs display occupies the entire
-terminal screen. On a graphical display, such as on GNU/Linux using
-the X Window System, Emacs creates its own windows to use. We use the
-term @dfn{frame} to mean the entire terminal screen or graphical
-window used by Emacs. Emacs uses both kinds of frames, in the same
-way, to display your editing. Emacs normally starts out with just one
-frame, but you can create additional frames if you wish
-(@pxref{Frames}).
-
- The frame consists of several distinct regions. At the top of the
address@hidden frame
+
+ On a graphical display, such as on GNU/Linux using the X Window
+System, Emacs occupies a ``graphical window''. On a text-only
+terminal, Emacs occupies the entire terminal screen. We will use the
+term @dfn{frame} to mean a graphical window or terminal screen
+occupied by Emacs. Emacs behaves very similarly on both kinds of
+frames. It normally starts out with just one frame, but you can
+create additional frames if you wish (@pxref{Frames}).
+
+ Each frame consists of several distinct regions. At the top of the
frame is a @dfn{menu bar}, which allows you to access commands via a
series of menus. On a graphical display, directly below the menu bar
is a @dfn{tool bar}, a row of icons that perform editing commands if
-you click on them. At the very bottom of the frame is a special
address@hidden area}, where short informative messages are displayed and
-where you enter information when Emacs asks for it.
+you click on them. At the very bottom of the frame is an @dfn{echo
+area}, where informative messages are displayed and where you enter
+information when Emacs asks for it.
The main area of the frame, below the tool bar (if one exists) and
-above the echo area, is called @dfn{the window}. This is where Emacs
-displays the @dfn{buffer}: the text that you are editing. On a
-graphical display, the window possesses a @dfn{scroll bar} on one
-side, which you can use to display different parts of the buffer in
-the window. The last line of the window is a @dfn{mode line}. This
+above the echo area, is called @dfn{the window}. Henceforth in this
+manual, we will use the word ``window'' in this sense. Graphical
+display systems commonly use the word ``window'' with a different
+meaning; but, as stated above, we refer to those ``graphical windows''
+as ``frames''.
+
+ An Emacs window is where the @dfn{buffer}---the text you are
+editing---is displayed. On a graphical display, the window possesses
+a @dfn{scroll bar} on one side, which can be used to scroll through
+the buffer. The last line of the window is a @dfn{mode line}. This
displays various information about what is going on in the buffer,
such as whether there are unsaved changes, the editing modes that are
in use, the current line number, and so forth.
@@ -37,20 +41,18 @@
When you start Emacs, there is normally only one window in the
frame. However, you can subdivide this window horizontally or
vertically to create multiple windows, each of which can independently
-display a buffer (@pxref{Windows}). In this manual, the word
-``window'' refers to the initial large window if not subdivided, or
-any one of the multiple windows you have subdivided it into.
+display a buffer (@pxref{Windows}).
- At any time, one window is the @dfn{selected window}. On graphical
-displays, the selected window normally shows a more prominent cursor
-(usually solid and blinking) while other windows show a weaker cursor
-(such as a hollow box). Text terminals have just one cursor, so it
-always appears in the selected window. The buffer displayed in the
-selected window is called the @dfn{current buffer}, and it is where
-editing happens. Most Emacs commands implicitly apply to the current
-buffer; the text displayed in unselected windows is mostly visible for
-reference. If you use multiple frames on a graphical display,
-selecting a particular frame selects a window in that frame.
+ At any time, one window is the @dfn{selected window}. On a
+graphical display, the selected window shows a more prominent cursor
+(usually solid and blinking); other windows show a less prominent
+cursor (usually a hollow box). On a text terminal, there is only one
+cursor, which is shown in the selected window. The buffer displayed
+in the selected window is called the @dfn{current buffer}, and it is
+where editing happens. Most Emacs commands implicitly apply to the
+current buffer; the text displayed in unselected windows is mostly
+visible for reference. If you use multiple frames on a graphical
+display, selecting a particular frame selects a window in that frame.
@menu
* Point:: The place in the text where editing commands operate.
@@ -64,42 +66,33 @@
@cindex point
@cindex cursor
- The active cursor shows the location at which editing commands will
-take effect, which is called @address@hidden term ``point''
-comes from the character @samp{.}, which was the command in TECO (the
-language in which the original Emacs was written) for accessing the
-value now called ``point.''}. Many Emacs commands move point to
-different places in the buffer; for example, you can place point by
+ The cursor in the selected window shows the location where most
+editing commands take effect, which is called @address@hidden
+term ``point'' comes from the character @samp{.}, which was the
+command in TECO (the language in which the original Emacs was written)
+for accessing the editing position.}. Many Emacs commands move point
+to different places in the buffer; for example, you can place point by
clicking mouse button 1 (normally the left button) at the desired
location.
- If you use a block cursor, the cursor appears to be @emph{on} a
-character, but you should think of point as @emph{between} two
-characters; it points @emph{before} the character that appears under
-the cursor. For example, if your text looks like @samp{frob} with the
-cursor over the @samp{b}, then point is between the @samp{o} and the
address@hidden If you insert the character @samp{!} at that position, the
-result is @samp{fro!b}, with point between the @samp{!} and the
address@hidden Thus, the cursor remains over the @samp{b}, as before.
-
- Sometimes people speak of ``the cursor'' when they mean ``point,'' or
-speak of commands that move point as ``cursor motion'' commands.
+ By default, the cursor in the selected window is drawn as a solid
+block and appears to be @emph{on} a character, but you should think of
+point as @emph{between} two characters; it is situated @emph{before}
+the character under the cursor. For example, if your text looks like
address@hidden with the cursor over the @samp{b}, then point is between
+the @samp{o} and the @samp{b}. If you insert the character @samp{!}
+at that position, the result is @samp{fro!b}, with point between the
address@hidden and the @samp{b}. Thus, the cursor remains over the
address@hidden, as before.
If you are editing several files in Emacs, each in its own buffer,
-each buffer has its own point location. A buffer that is not
-currently displayed remembers its point location in case you display
-it again later. When Emacs displays multiple windows, each window has
-its own point location. If the same buffer appears in more than one
-window, each window has its own point position in that buffer.
+each buffer has its own value of point. A buffer that is not
+currently displayed remembers its value of point if you later display
+it again. Furthermore, if a buffer is displayed in multiple windows,
+each of those windows has its own value of point.
- On a graphical display, Emacs shows a cursor in each window. The
-selected window's cursor will be blinking. If you use the default,
address@hidden cursor type, the selected window's cursor will be solid,
-and the other cursors are hollow. On a text-only terminal, there is
-just one cursor, in the selected window; even though the unselected
-windows have their own point positions, they do not display a cursor.
address@hidden Display}, for customizable variables that control cursor
-display.
+ @xref{Cursor Display}, for options that control how Emacs displays
+the cursor.
@node Echo Area
@section The Echo Area
@@ -108,40 +101,41 @@
The line at the very bottom of the frame is the @dfn{echo area}. It
is used to display small amounts of text for various purposes.
- @dfn{Echoing} means displaying the characters that you type.
-Single-character commands, including most simple editing operations,
-are not echoed. Multi-character commands are echoed if you pause
-while typing them: if you pause for more than a second in the middle
-of a command, Emacs echoes all the characters of the command so far,
-to prompt you for the rest of the command. The echoed characters are
-displayed in the echo area. Once echoing has started, the rest of the
-command echoes immediately as you type it. This behavior is designed
-to give confident users fast response, while giving hesitant users
-maximum feedback. @xref{Display Custom}.
-
address@hidden error message in the echo area
- If a command cannot do its job, it may display an @dfn{error
-message}. Error messages are also displayed in the echo area. They
-may be accompanied by beeping or by flashing the screen.
-
- Some commands display informative messages in the echo area. Unlike
-error messages, these messages are not announced with a beep or flash.
-Sometimes the message tells you what the command has done, when this
-is not obvious from looking at the text being edited. Other times,
-the sole purpose of a command is to show you a message giving you
-specific information. For example, @kbd{C-x =} (hold down @key{CTRL}
-and type @kbd{x}, then let go of @key{CTRL} and type @kbd{=}) displays
-a message describing the character position of point in the text and
-its current column in the window. Commands that take a long time
-often display messages ending in @samp{...} while they are working,
-and add @samp{done} at the end when they are finished. They may also
-indicate progress with percentages.
address@hidden echoing
+ The echo area is so-named because one of the things it is used for
+is @dfn{echoing}, which means displaying the characters of a
+multi-character command as you type. Single-character commands are
+not echoed. Multi-character commands (@pxref{Keys}) are echoed if you
+pause for more than a second in the middle of a command. Emacs then
+echoes all the characters of the command so far, to prompt you for the
+rest. Once echoing has started, the rest of the command echoes
+immediately as you type it. This behavior is designed to give
+confident users fast response, while giving hesitant users maximum
+feedback.
+
address@hidden error message
address@hidden echo area message
+ The echo area is also used to display an @dfn{error message} when a
+command cannot do its job. Error messages may be accompanied by
+beeping or by flashing the screen.
+
+ Some commands display informative messages in the echo area to tell
+you what the command has done, or to provide you with some specific
+information. These @dfn{informative} messages, unlike error messages,
+are not accompanied with a beep or flash. For example, @kbd{C-x =}
+(hold down @key{CTRL} and type @kbd{x}, then let go of @key{CTRL} and
+type @kbd{=}) displays a message describing the character at point,
+its position in the buffer, and its current column in the window.
+Commands that take a long time often display messages ending in
address@hidden while they are working (sometimes also indicating how much
+progress has been made, as a percentage), and add @samp{done} when
+they are finished.
@cindex @samp{*Messages*} buffer
@cindex saved echo area messages
@cindex messages saved from echo area
@vindex message-log-max
- Informative echo-area messages are saved in a special buffer named
+ Informative echo area messages are saved in a special buffer named
@samp{*Messages*}. (We have not explained buffers yet; see
@ref{Buffers}, for more information about them.) If you miss a
message that appeared briefly on the screen, you can switch to the
@@ -152,15 +146,17 @@
this limit, one line is deleted from the beginning whenever a new
message line is added at the end.
+ @xref{Display Custom}, for options that control how Emacs uses the
+echo area.
+
@cindex minibuffer
The echo area is also used to display the @dfn{minibuffer}, a
special window where you can input arguments to commands, such as the
name of a file to be edited. When the minibuffer is in use, the text
-displayed in the echo area begins with a @dfn{prompt string} (usually
-ending with a colon); also, the active cursor appears within the
-minibuffer, which is temporarily considered the selected window. You
-can always get out of the minibuffer by typing @kbd{C-g}.
address@hidden
+displayed in the echo area begins with a @dfn{prompt string}, and the
+active cursor appears within the minibuffer, which is temporarily
+considered the selected window. You can always get out of the
+minibuffer by typing @kbd{C-g}. @xref{Minibuffer}.
@node Mode Line
@section The Mode Line
@@ -171,47 +167,51 @@
what is going on in the current buffer. When there is only one
window, the mode line appears right above the echo area; it is the
next-to-last line in the frame. On a graphical display, the mode line
-is drawn with a 3D box appearance, and the mode line of the selected
-window has a brighter color than that of unselected windows to make it
-stand out. On a text-only terminal, the mode line is usually drawn in
-inverse video.
+is drawn with a 3D box appearance. Emacs also usually draws the mode
+line of the selected window with a different color than that of
+unselected windows, in order to make it stand out.
The text displayed in the mode line has the following format:
@example
address@hidden:@address@hidden @var{buf} @var{pos} @var{line}
(@var{major} @var{minor})------
+ @var{cs}:@address@hidden @var{buf} @var{pos} @var{line} (@var{major}
@var{minor})
@end example
@noindent
+On a text-only terminal, this text is followed by a series of dashes
+extending to the right edge of the window. These dashes are omitted
+on a graphical display.
+
The @var{cs} string and the colon character after it describe the
character set and newline convention used for the current buffer.
-Normally, Emacs handles these settings intelligently, but it is
-sometimes useful to have this information.
+Normally, Emacs automatically handles these settings for you, but it
+is sometimes useful to have this information.
- @var{cs} describes the character set of the buffer (@pxref{Coding
-Systems}). If it is a dash (@samp{-}), that indicates the default
-state of affairs: no special character set handling, except for the
-end-of-line translations described in the next paragraph. @samp{=}
-means no conversion whatsoever. Characters represent various nontrivial
+ @var{cs} describes the character set of the text in the buffer
+(@pxref{Coding Systems}). If it is a dash (@samp{-}), that indicates
+no special character set handling (with the possible expection of
+end-of-line conventions, described in the next paragraph). @samp{=}
+means no conversion whatsoever, and is usually used for files
+containing non-textual data. Other characters represent various
@dfn{coding systems}---for example, @samp{1} represents ISO Latin-1.
-On a text-only terminal, @var{cs} is preceded by two additional
-characters that describe the coding system for keyboard input and the
-coding system for terminal output. Furthermore, if you are using an
-input method, @var{cs} is preceded by a string that identifies the
-input method, which takes the form @address@hidden>}, @address@hidden,
-or @address@hidden@@} (@pxref{Input Methods}).
-
address@hidden end-of-line conversion, mode-line indication
- The character after @var{cs} is usually a colon. However, under
-some circumstances a different string is displayed, which indicates a
-nontrivial end-of-line convention. Usually, lines of text are
-separated by @dfn{newline characters}, but two other conventions are
-sometimes used. The MS-DOS convention is to use a ``carriage-return''
+
+ On a text-only terminal, @var{cs} is preceded by two additional
+characters that describe the coding systems for keyboard input and
+terminal output. Furthermore, if you are using an input method,
address@hidden is preceded by a string that identifies the input method
+(@pxref{Input Methods}).
+
address@hidden end-of-line convention, mode-line indication
+ The character after @var{cs} is usually a colon. If a different
+string is displayed, that indicates a nontrivial end-of-line
+convention for encoding a file. Usually, lines of text are separated
+by @dfn{newline characters} in a file, but two other conventions are
+sometimes used. The MS-DOS convention uses a ``carriage-return''
character followed by a ``linefeed'' character; when editing such
files, the colon changes to either a backslash (@samp{\}) or
address@hidden(DOS)}, depending on the operating system. The Macintosh
-end-of-line convention is to use a ``carriage-return'' character
-instead of a newline; when editing such files, the colon indicator
address@hidden(DOS)}, depending on the operating system. Another convention,
+employed by older Macintosh systems, uses a ``carriage-return''
+character instead of a newline; when editing such files, the colon
changes to either a forward slash (@samp{/}) or @samp{(Mac)}. On some
systems, Emacs displays @samp{(Unix)} instead of the colon for files
that use newline as the line separator.
@@ -234,14 +234,14 @@
Usually, this is the same as the name of a file you are editing.
@xref{Buffers}.
- @var{pos} tells you whether there is additional text above the top of
-the window, or below the bottom. If your buffer is small and it is all
-visible in the window, @var{pos} is @samp{All}. Otherwise, it is
address@hidden if you are looking at the beginning of the buffer, @samp{Bot}
-if you are looking at the end of the buffer, or @address@hidden, where
address@hidden is the percentage of the buffer above the top of the window.
-With Size Indication mode, you can display the size of the buffer as
-well. @xref{Optional Mode Line}.
+ @var{pos} tells you whether there is additional text above the top
+of the window, or below the bottom. If your buffer is small and all
+of it is visible in the window, @var{pos} is @samp{All}. Otherwise,
+it is @samp{Top} if you are looking at the beginning of the buffer,
address@hidden if you are looking at the end of the buffer, or
address@hidden@var{nn}%}, where @var{nn} is the percentage of the buffer above
+the top of the window. With Size Indication mode, you can display the
+size of the buffer as well. @xref{Optional Mode Line}.
@var{line} is the character @samp{L} followed by the line number at
point. (You can display the current column number too, by turning on
@@ -249,16 +249,14 @@
@var{major} is the name of the @dfn{major mode} used in the buffer.
A major mode is a principal editing mode for the buffer, such as Text
-mode, Lisp mode, C mode, and so forth. @xref{Major Modes}.
-
- Some major modes display additional information after the major mode
-name. For example, Rmail buffers display the current message number and
-the total number of messages. Compilation buffers and Shell buffers
-display the status of the subprocess.
-
- @var{minor} is a list of some of the @dfn{minor modes} turned on in
-the buffer. Minor modes are optional editing modes that provide
-additional features on top of the major mode. @xref{Minor Modes}.
+mode, Lisp mode, C mode, and so forth. @xref{Major Modes}. Some
+major modes display additional information after the major mode name.
+For example, Compilation buffers and Shell buffers display the status
+of the subprocess.
+
+ @var{minor} is a list of some of the enabled @dfn{minor modes},
+which are optional editing modes that provide additional features on
+top of the major mode. @xref{Minor Modes}.
Some features are listed together with the minor modes whenever they
are turned on, even though they are not really minor modes.
@@ -271,9 +269,8 @@
brackets (@address@hidden) appear around the parentheses that
surround the modes. If Emacs is in one recursive editing level within
another, double square brackets appear, and so on. Since recursive
-editing levels affect Emacs globally, not just one buffer, the square
-brackets appear in every window's mode line or not in any of them.
address@hidden address@hidden
+editing levels affect Emacs globally, such square brackets appear in
+the mode line of every window. @xref{Recursive Edit}.
You can change the appearance of the mode line as well as the format
of its contents. @xref{Optional Mode Line}. In addition, the mode
@@ -293,10 +290,10 @@
@findex tmm-menubar
@findex menu-bar-open
On a graphical display, you can use the mouse to choose a command
-from the menu bar. A right-arrow at the end of a menu item means it
+from the menu bar. An arrow on the right edge of a menu item means it
leads to a subsidiary menu, or @dfn{submenu}. A @samp{...} at the end
-of a menu item means that the command invoked will prompt you for
-further input before it actually does anything.
+of a menu item means that the command will prompt you for further
+input before it actually does anything.
Some of the commands in the menu bar have ordinary key bindings as
well; if so, a key binding is shown in parentheses after the item
@@ -310,14 +307,13 @@
selected menu item, press @key{RET}; to cancel menu navigation, press
@key{ESC}.
- On text-only terminals with no mouse, you can use the menu bar by
-typing @kbd{M-`} or @key{F10} (these run the command
address@hidden). This lets you select a menu item with the
-keyboard. A provisional choice appears in the echo area. You can use
-the up and down arrow keys to move through the menu to different
-items, and then you can type @key{RET} to select the item.
-
- Each menu item also has an assigned letter or digit which designates
-that item; it is usually the initial of some word in the item's name.
-This letter or digit is separated from the item name by @samp{=>}. You
-can type the item's letter or digit to select the item.
+ On a text-only terminal, you can use the menu bar by typing
address@hidden or @key{F10} (these run the command @code{tmm-menubar}).
+This lets you select a menu item with the keyboard. A provisional
+choice appears in the echo area. You can use the up and down arrow
+keys to move through the menu to different items, and then you can
+type @key{RET} to select the item. Each menu item is also designated
+by a letter or digit (usually the initial of some word in the item's
+name). This letter or digit is separated from the item name by
address@hidden>}. You can type the item's letter or digit to select the
+item.
=== modified file 'etc/NEWS'
--- a/etc/NEWS 2011-10-01 23:15:46 +0000
+++ b/etc/NEWS 2011-10-07 16:22:04 +0000
@@ -96,8 +96,10 @@
*** shell-mode uses pcomplete rules, with the standard completion UI.
-*** Many packages have been changed to use completion-at-point rather than
-their own completion code.
+*** Many packages have been changed to use `completion-at-point'
+rather than their own completion code.
+
+*** `completion-at-point' now handles tags and semantic completion.
*** Completion in a non-minibuffer now tries to detect the end of completion
and pops down the *Completions* buffer accordingly.
@@ -455,8 +457,6 @@
+++
** New command `count-words-region'. This does what you expect.
-** completion-at-point now handles tags and semantic completion.
-
** The default value of `backup-by-copying-when-mismatch' is now t.
** The command `just-one-space' (M-SPC), if given a negative argument,
@@ -724,6 +724,8 @@
** Shell mode
+*** Shell mode uses pcomplete rules, with the standard completion UI.
+
*** The `shell' command prompts for the shell path name if the default
directory is a remote file name and neither the environment variable
$ESHELL nor the variable `explicit-shell-file-name' is set.
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