1 This is Info file ../info/xemacs-faq.info, produced by Makeinfo version
2 1.68 from the input file xemacs-faq.texi.
4 INFO-DIR-SECTION XEmacs Editor
6 * FAQ: (xemacs-faq). XEmacs FAQ.
10 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Top, Next: Introduction, Prev: (dir), Up: (dir)
18 This is the guide to the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list--a
19 compendium of questions and answers pertaining to one of the finest
20 programs ever written. It is much more than just a Text Editor.
22 This FAQ is freely redistributable. I take no liability for the
23 correctness and safety of any procedures or advice given here. This
24 FAQ is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
25 WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
26 FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
28 If you have a Web browser, the official hypertext version is at
29 `http://www.xemacs.org/faq/xemacs-faq.html'.
31 This version is somewhat nicer than the unofficial hypertext versions
32 that are archived at Utrecht, Oxford, Smart Pages, and other FAQ
37 * Introduction:: Introduction, Policy, Credits.
38 * Installation:: Installation and Trouble Shooting.
39 * Customization:: Customization and Options.
40 * Subsystems:: Major Subsystems.
41 * Miscellaneous:: The Miscellaneous Stuff.
42 * Current Events:: What the Future Holds.
45 -- The Detailed Node Listing --
47 Introduction, Policy, Credits
49 * Q1.0.1:: What is XEmacs?
50 * Q1.0.2:: What is the current version of XEmacs?
51 * Q1.0.3:: Where can I find it?
52 * Q1.0.4:: Why Another Version of Emacs?
53 * Q1.0.5:: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
54 * Q1.0.6:: Where can I get help?
55 * Q1.0.7:: Where is the mailing list archived?
56 * Q1.0.8:: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
57 * Q1.0.9:: What does XEmacs look like?
58 * Q1.0.10:: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
59 * Q1.0.11:: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
60 * Q1.0.12:: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
61 * Q1.0.13:: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
62 * Q1.0.14:: Where can I get a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
65 * Q1.1.1:: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
66 * Q1.1.2:: How do I become a Beta Tester?
67 * Q1.1.3:: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
70 * Q1.2.1:: Who wrote XEmacs?
71 * Q1.2.2:: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
72 * Q1.2.3:: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
75 * Q1.3.1:: What is the status of XEmacs v20?
76 * Q1.3.2:: What is the status of Asian-language support, aka MULE?
77 * Q1.3.3:: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
78 * Q1.3.4:: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
79 * Q1.3.5:: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs 20.0
80 * Q1.3.6:: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs 20.0?
81 * Q1.3.7:: How about Cyrillic Modes?
84 * Q1.4.1:: What is a `.emacs' and is there a sample one?
85 * Q1.4.2:: Can I use the same `.emacs' with the other Emacs?
86 * Q1.4.3:: Any good XEmacs tutorials around?
87 * Q1.4.4:: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
88 * Q1.4.5:: And how do I bind it to a key?
89 * Q1.4.6:: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
90 * Q1.4.7:: Why options saved with 19.13 don't work with 19.14 or later?
92 Installation and Trouble Shooting
94 * Q2.0.1:: Running XEmacs without installing.
95 * Q2.0.2:: XEmacs is too big.
96 * Q2.0.3:: Compiling XEmacs with Netaudio.
97 * Q2.0.4:: Problems with Linux and ncurses.
98 * Q2.0.5:: Do I need X11 to run XEmacs?
99 * Q2.0.6:: I'm having strange crashes. What do I do?
100 * Q2.0.7:: Libraries in non-standard locations.
101 * Q2.0.8:: can't resolve symbol _h_errno
102 * Q2.0.9:: Where do I find external libraries?
103 * Q2.0.10:: After I run configure I find a coredump, is something wrong?
104 * Q2.0.11:: XEmacs can't resolve host names.
105 * Q2.0.12:: Why can't I strip XEmacs?
106 * Q2.0.13:: Can't link XEmacs on Solaris with Gcc.
107 * Q2.0.14:: Make on HP/UX 9 fails after linking temacs
110 * Q2.1.1:: XEmacs just crashed on me!
111 * Q2.1.2:: Cryptic Minibuffer messages.
112 * Q2.1.3:: Translation Table Syntax messages at Startup.
113 * Q2.1.4:: Startup warnings about deducing proper fonts?
114 * Q2.1.5:: XEmacs cannot connect to my X Terminal.
115 * Q2.1.6:: XEmacs just locked up my Linux X server.
116 * Q2.1.7:: HP Alt key as Meta.
117 * Q2.1.8:: got (wrong-type-argument color-instance-p nil)!
118 * Q2.1.9:: XEmacs causes my OpenWindows 3.0 server to crash.
119 * Q2.1.10:: Warnings from incorrect key modifiers.
120 * Q2.1.11:: Can't instantiate image error... in toolbar
121 * Q2.1.12:: Regular Expression Problems on DEC OSF1.
122 * Q2.1.13:: HP/UX 10.10 and `create_process' failure
123 * Q2.1.14:: `C-g' doesn't work for me. Is it broken?
124 * Q2.1.15:: How to debug an XEmacs problem with a debugger.
125 * Q2.1.16:: XEmacs crashes in `strcat' on HP/UX 10.
126 * Q2.1.17:: `Marker does not point anywhere'.
127 * Q2.1.18:: 19.14 hangs on HP/UX 10.10.
128 * Q2.1.19:: XEmacs does not follow the local timezone.
129 * Q2.1.20:: `Symbol's function definition is void: hkey-help-show.'
130 * Q2.1.21:: Every so often the XEmacs frame freezes.
131 * Q2.1.22:: XEmacs seems to take a really long time to do some things.
132 * Q2.1.23:: Movemail on Linux does not work for XEmacs 19.15 and later.
134 Customization and Options
136 * Q3.0.1:: What version of Emacs am I running?
137 * Q3.0.2:: How do I evaluate Elisp expressions?
138 * Q3.0.3:: `(setq tab-width 6)' behaves oddly.
139 * Q3.0.4:: How can I add directories to the `load-path'?
140 * Q3.0.5:: How to check if a lisp function is defined?
141 * Q3.0.6:: Can I force the output of `(face-list)' to a buffer?
142 * Q3.0.7:: Font selections don't get saved after `Save Options'.
143 * Q3.0.8:: How do I make a single minibuffer frame?
144 * Q3.0.9:: What is `Customize'?
146 X Window System & Resources:
147 * Q3.1.1:: Where is a list of X resources?
148 * Q3.1.2:: How can I detect a color display?
149 * Q3.1.3:: `(set-screen-width)' worked in 19.6, but not in 19.13?
150 * Q3.1.4:: Specifying `Emacs*EmacsScreen.geometry' in `.emacs' does not work in 19.15?
151 * Q3.1.5:: How can I get the icon to just say `XEmacs'?
152 * Q3.1.6:: How can I have the window title area display the full path?
153 * Q3.1.7:: `xemacs -name junk' doesn't work?
154 * Q3.1.8:: `-iconic' doesn't work.
156 Textual Fonts & Colors:
157 * Q3.2.1:: How can I set color options from `.emacs'?
158 * Q3.2.2:: How do I set the text, menu and modeline fonts?
159 * Q3.2.3:: How can I set the colors when highlighting a region?
160 * Q3.2.4:: How can I limit color map usage?
161 * Q3.2.5:: My tty supports color, but XEmacs doesn't use them.
162 * Q3.2.6:: Can I have pixmap backgrounds in XEmacs?
165 * Q3.3.1:: How can I make the modeline go away?
166 * Q3.3.2:: How do you have XEmacs display the line number in the modeline?
167 * Q3.3.3:: How do I get XEmacs to put the time of day on the modeline?
168 * Q3.3.4:: How do I turn off current chapter from AUC TeX modeline?
169 * Q3.3.5:: How can one change the modeline color based on the mode used?
171 Multiple Device Support:
172 * Q3.4.1:: How do I open a frame on another screen of my multi-headed display?
173 * Q3.4.2:: Can I really connect to a running XEmacs after calling up over a modem? How?
176 * Q3.5.1:: How can I bind complex functions (or macros) to keys?
177 * Q3.5.2:: How can I stop down-arrow from adding empty lines to the bottom of my buffers?
178 * Q3.5.3:: How do I bind C-. and C-; to scroll one line up and down?
179 * Q3.5.4:: Globally binding `Delete'?
180 * Q3.5.5:: Scrolling one line at a time.
181 * Q3.5.6:: How to map `Help' key alone on Sun type4 keyboard?
182 * Q3.5.7:: How can you type in special characters in XEmacs?
183 * Q3.5.8:: Why does `(global-set-key [delete-forward] 'delete-char)' complain?
184 * Q3.5.9:: How do I make the Delete key delete forward?
185 * Q3.5.10:: Can I turn on "sticky" modifier keys?
186 * Q3.5.11:: How do I map the arrow keys?
189 * Q3.6.1:: Is there a way to make the bar cursor thicker?
190 * Q3.6.2:: Is there a way to get back the old block cursor where the cursor covers the character in front of the point?
191 * Q3.6.3:: Can I make the cursor blink?
193 The Mouse and Highlighting:
194 * Q3.7.1:: How can I turn off Mouse pasting?
195 * Q3.7.2:: How do I set control/meta/etc modifiers on mouse buttons?
196 * Q3.7.3:: Clicking the left button does not do anything in buffer list.
197 * Q3.7.4:: How can I get a list of buffers when I hit mouse button 3?
198 * Q3.7.5:: Why does cut-and-paste not work between XEmacs and a cmdtool?
199 * Q3.7.6:: How I can set XEmacs up so that it pastes where the text cursor is?
200 * Q3.7.7:: How do I select a rectangular region?
201 * Q3.7.8:: Why does `M-w' take so long?
203 The Menubar and Toolbar:
204 * Q3.8.1:: How do I get rid of the menu (or menubar)?
205 * Q3.8.2:: Can I customize the basic menubar?
206 * Q3.8.3:: How do I control how many buffers are listed in the menu `Buffers' list?
207 * Q3.8.4:: Resources like `Emacs*menubar*font' are not working?
208 * Q3.8.5:: How can I bind a key to a function to toggle the toolbar?
211 * Q3.9.1:: How can I disable the scrollbar?
212 * Q3.9.2:: How can one use resources to change scrollbar colors?
213 * Q3.9.3:: Moving the scrollbar can move the point; can I disable this?
214 * Q3.9.4:: How can I get automatic horizontal scrolling?
217 * Q3.10.1:: How can I turn off or change highlighted selections?
218 * Q3.10.2:: How do I get that typing on an active region removes it?
219 * Q3.10.3:: Can I turn off the highlight during isearch?
220 * Q3.10.4:: How do I turn off highlighting after `C-x C-p' (mark-page)?
221 * Q3.10.5:: The region disappears when I hit the end of buffer while scrolling.
225 * Q4.0.1:: How do I set up VM to retrieve remote mail using POP?
226 * Q4.0.2:: How do I get VM to filter mail for me?
227 * Q4.0.3:: How can I get VM to automatically check for new mail?
228 * Q4.0.4:: [This question intentionally left blank]
229 * Q4.0.5:: How do I get my outgoing mail archived?
230 * Q4.0.6:: I have various addresses at which I receive mail. How can I tell VM to ignore them when doing a "reply-all"?
231 * Q4.0.7:: Is there a mailing list or FAQ for VM?
232 * Q4.0.8:: Remote mail reading with VM.
233 * Q4.0.9:: rmail or VM gets an error incorporating new mail.
234 * Q4.0.10:: How do I make VM stay in a single frame?
235 * Q4.0.11:: How do I make VM or mh-e display graphical smilies?
236 * Q4.0.12:: Customization of VM not covered in the manual or here.
238 Web browsing with W3:
239 * Q4.1.1:: What is W3?
240 * Q4.1.2:: How do I run W3 from behind a firewall?
241 * Q4.1.3:: Is it true that W3 supports style sheets and tables?
243 Reading Netnews and Mail with Gnus:
244 * Q4.2.1:: GNUS, (ding) Gnus, Gnus 5, September Gnus, Red Gnus, Quassia Gnus, argh!
245 * Q4.2.2:: [This question intentionally left blank]
246 * Q4.2.3:: How do I make Gnus stay within a single frame?
247 * Q4.2.4:: How do I customize the From: line?
250 * Q4.3.1:: How can I read and/or compose MIME messages?
251 * Q4.3.2:: What is TM and where do I get it?
252 * Q4.3.3:: Why isn't this `movemail' program working?
253 * Q4.3.4:: Movemail is also distributed by Netscape? Can that cause problems?
254 * Q4.3.5:: Where do I find pstogif (required by tm)?
256 Sparcworks, EOS, and WorkShop:
257 * Q4.4.1:: What is SPARCworks, EOS, and WorkShop
260 * Q4.5.1:: What is/was Energize?
263 * Q4.6.1:: What is Infodock?
265 Other Unbundled Packages:
266 * Q4.7.1:: What is AUC TeX? Where do you get it?
267 * Q4.7.2:: Are there any Emacs Lisp Spreadsheets?
268 * Q4.7.3:: Byte compiling AUC TeX on XEmacs 19.14
269 * Q4.7.4:: Problems installing AUC TeX
270 * Q4.7.5:: Is there a reason for an Emacs package not to be included in XEmacs?
271 * Q4.7.6:: Is there a MatLab mode?
273 The Miscellaneous Stuff
275 * Q5.0.1:: How can I do source code highlighting using font-lock?
276 * Q5.0.2:: I do not like cc-mode. How do I use the old c-mode?
277 * Q5.0.3:: How do I get `More' Syntax Highlighting on by default?
278 * Q5.0.4:: How can I enable auto-indent?
279 * Q5.0.5:: How can I get XEmacs to come up in text/auto-fill mode by default?
280 * Q5.0.6:: How do I start up a second shell buffer?
281 * Q5.0.7:: Telnet from shell filters too much.
282 * Q5.0.8:: Why does edt emulation not work?
283 * Q5.0.9:: How can I emulate VI and use it as my default mode?
284 * Q5.0.10:: [This question intentionally left blank]
285 * Q5.0.11:: Filladapt doesn't work in 19.15?
286 * Q5.0.12:: How do I disable gnuserv from opening a new frame?
287 * Q5.0.13:: How do I start gnuserv so that each subsequent XEmacs is a client?
288 * Q5.0.14:: Strange things are happening in Shell Mode.
289 * Q5.0.15:: Where do I get the latest CC Mode?
290 * Q5.0.16:: I find auto-show-mode disconcerting. How do I turn it off?
291 * Q5.0.17:: How can I get two instances of info?
292 * Q5.0.18:: I upgraded to XEmacs 19.14 and gnuserv stopped working
293 * Q5.0.19:: Is there something better than LaTeX mode?
294 * Q5.0.20:: Is there a way to start a new XEmacs if there's no gnuserv running, and otherwise use gnuclient?
296 Emacs Lisp Programming Techniques:
297 * Q5.1.1:: The difference in key sequences between XEmacs and GNU Emacs?
298 * Q5.1.2:: Can I generate "fake" keyboard events?
299 * Q5.1.3:: Could you explain `read-kbd-macro' in more detail?
300 * Q5.1.4:: What is the performance hit of `let'?
301 * Q5.1.5:: What is the recommended use of `setq'?
302 * Q5.1.6:: What is the typical misuse of `setq' ?
303 * Q5.1.7:: I like the the `do' form of cl, does it slow things down?
304 * Q5.1.8:: I like recursion, does it slow things down?
305 * Q5.1.9:: How do I put a glyph as annotation in a buffer?
306 * Q5.1.10:: `map-extents' won't traverse all of my extents!
307 * Q5.1.11:: My elisp program is horribly slow. Is there an easy way to find out where it spends time?
310 * Q5.2.1:: How do I turn off the sound?
311 * Q5.2.2:: How do I get funky sounds instead of a boring beep?
312 * Q5.2.3:: What's NAS, how do I get it?
313 * Q5.2.4:: Sunsite sounds don't play.
316 * Q5.3.1:: How do you make XEmacs indent CL if-clauses correctly?
317 * Q5.3.2:: Fontifying hangs when editing a postscript file.
318 * Q5.3.3:: How can I print WYSIWYG a font-locked buffer?
319 * Q5.3.4:: Getting `M-x lpr' to work with postscript printer.
320 * Q5.3.5:: How do I specify the paths that XEmacs uses for finding files?
321 * Q5.3.6:: [This question intentionally left blank]
322 * Q5.3.7:: Can I have the end of the buffer delimited in some way?
323 * Q5.3.8:: How do I insert today's date into a buffer?
324 * Q5.3.9:: Are only certain syntactic character classes available for abbrevs?
325 * Q5.3.10:: How can I get those oh-so-neat X-Face lines?
326 * Q5.3.11:: How do I add new Info directories?
327 * Q5.3.12:: What do I need to change to make printing work?
329 What the Future Holds
331 * Q6.0.1:: What is new in 20.2?
332 * Q6.0.2:: What is new in 20.3?
333 * Q6.0.3:: What is new in 20.4?
334 * Q6.0.4:: Procedural changes in XEmacs development.
337 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Introduction, Next: Installation, Prev: Top, Up: Top
339 1 Introduction, Policy, Credits
340 *******************************
342 Learning XEmacs is a lifelong activity. Even people who have used
343 Emacs for years keep discovering new features. Therefore this document
344 cannot be complete. Instead it is aimed at the person who is either
345 considering XEmacs for their own use, or has just obtained it and is
346 wondering what to do next. It is also useful as a reference to
349 The previous maintainer of the FAQ was Anthony Rossini <rossini@stat.sc.edu>, who started it, after getting tired of hearing JWZ complain
350 about repeatedly having to answer questions. Ben Wing <ben@666.com>
351 and Chuck Thompson <cthomp@xemacs.org>, the principal authors of
352 XEmacs, then took over and Ben did a massive update reorganizing the
353 whole thing. At which point Anthony took back over, but then had to
354 give it up again. Some of the other contributors to this FAQ are
355 listed later in this document.
357 The previous version was converted to hypertext format, and edited by
358 Steven L. Baur <steve@altair.xemacs.org>. It was converted back to
359 texinfo by Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@srce.hr>.
361 The FAQ was then maintained by Andreas Kaempf <andreas@sccon.com>,
362 who passed it on to Christian Nybo/ <faq@xemacs.org>, the current FAQ
365 If you notice any errors or items which should be added or amended to
366 this FAQ please send email to Christian Nybo/ <faq@xemacs.org>. Include
367 `XEmacs FAQ' on the Subject: line.
372 * Q1.0.1:: What is XEmacs?
373 * Q1.0.2:: What is the current version of XEmacs?
374 * Q1.0.3:: Where can I find it?
375 * Q1.0.4:: Why Another Version of Emacs?
376 * Q1.0.5:: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
377 * Q1.0.6:: Where can I get help?
378 * Q1.0.7:: Where is the mailing list archived?
379 * Q1.0.8:: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
380 * Q1.0.9:: What does XEmacs look like?
381 * Q1.0.10:: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
382 * Q1.0.11:: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
383 * Q1.0.12:: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
384 * Q1.0.13:: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
385 * Q1.0.14:: Where can I get a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
388 * Q1.1.1:: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
389 * Q1.1.2:: How do I become a Beta Tester?
390 * Q1.1.3:: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
393 * Q1.2.1:: Who wrote XEmacs?
394 * Q1.2.2:: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
395 * Q1.2.3:: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
397 Internationalization:
398 * Q1.3.1:: What is the status of XEmacs v20?
399 * Q1.3.2:: What is the status of Asian-language support, aka MULE?
400 * Q1.3.3:: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
401 * Q1.3.4:: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
402 * Q1.3.5:: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs 20.0
403 * Q1.3.6:: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs 20.0?
404 * Q1.3.7:: How about Cyrillic Modes?
407 * Q1.4.1:: What is a `.emacs' and is there a sample one?
408 * Q1.4.2:: Can I use the same `.emacs' with the other Emacs?
409 * Q1.4.3:: Any good XEmacs tutorials around?
410 * Q1.4.4:: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
411 * Q1.4.5:: And how do I bind it to a key?
412 * Q1.4.6:: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
413 * Q1.4.7:: Why options saved with 19.13 don't work with 19.14 or later?
416 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.1, Next: Q1.0.2, Prev: Introduction, Up: Introduction
421 Q1.0.1: What is XEmacs?
422 -----------------------
424 An alternative to GNU Emacs, originally based on an early alpha
425 version of FSF's version 19, and has diverged quite a bit since then.
426 XEmacs was known as Lucid Emacs through version 19.10. Almost all
427 features of GNU Emacs are supported in XEmacs. The maintainers of
428 XEmacs actively track changes to GNU Emacs while also working to add
432 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.2, Next: Q1.0.3, Prev: Q1.0.1, Up: Introduction
434 Q1.0.2: What is the current version of XEmacs?
435 ----------------------------------------------
437 XEmacs 20.4 is a minor upgrade from 20.3, containing many bugfixes.
438 It was released in February 1998.
440 XEmacs 19.16 was the last release of v19, released in November, 1997,
441 which was also the last version without international language support.
444 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.3, Next: Q1.0.4, Prev: Q1.0.2, Up: Introduction
446 Q1.0.3: Where can I find it?
447 ----------------------------
449 The canonical source and binaries is found via anonymous FTP at:
451 `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/'
454 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.4, Next: Q1.0.5, Prev: Q1.0.3, Up: Introduction
456 Q1.0.4: Why Another Version of Emacs?
457 -------------------------------------
459 For a detailed description of the differences between GNU Emacs and
460 XEmacs and a detailed history of XEmacs, check out the
461 NEWS file (http://www.xemacs.org/NEWS.html)
463 However, here is a list of some of the reasons why we think you might
468 * The XEmacs maintainers are generally more receptive to suggestions
469 than the GNU Emacs maintainers.
471 * Many more bundled packages than GNU Emacs
473 * Binaries are available for many common operating systems.
475 * Face support on TTY's.
477 * A built-in toolbar.
479 * Better Motif compliance.
481 * Some internationalization support (including full MULE support, if
484 * Variable-width fonts.
486 * Variable-height lines.
488 * Marginal annotations.
492 * XEmacs can be used as an Xt widget, and can be embedded within
495 * Horizontal and vertical scrollbars (using real toolkit scrollbars).
497 * Better APIs (and performance) for attaching fonts, colors, and
498 other properties to text.
500 * The ability to embed arbitrary graphics in a buffer.
502 * Completely compatible (at the C level) with the Xt-based toolkits.
504 * First production Web Browser supporting Style Sheets.
507 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.5, Next: Q1.0.6, Prev: Q1.0.4, Up: Introduction
509 Q1.0.5: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
510 ------------------------------------------------
512 There are currently irreconcilable differences in the views about
513 technical, programming, design and organizational matters between RMS
514 and the XEmacs development team which provide little hope for a merge to
515 take place in the short-term future.
517 If you have a comment to add regarding the merge, it is a good idea
518 to avoid posting to the newsgroups, because of the very heated
519 flamewars that often result. Mail your questions to
520 <xemacs-beta@xemacs.org> and <bug-gnu-emacs@prep.ai.mit.edu>.
523 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.6, Next: Q1.0.7, Prev: Q1.0.5, Up: Introduction
525 Q1.0.6: Where can I get help?
526 -----------------------------
528 Probably the easiest way, if everything is installed, is to use
529 info, by pressing `C-h i', or selecting `Manuals->Info' from the Help
532 Also, `M-x apropos' will look for commands for you.
534 Try reading this FAQ, examining the regular GNU Emacs FAQ (which can
535 be found with the Emacs 19 distribution) as well as at
536 `http://www.eecs.nwu.edu/emacs/faq/' and reading the Usenet group
539 If that does not help, try posting your question to
540 comp.emacs.xemacs. Please *do not* post XEmacs related questions to
543 If you cannot post or read Usenet news, there is a corresponding
544 mailing list which is available. It can be subscribed to by sending a
545 message with a subject of `subscribe' to <xemacs-request@xemacs.org>
546 for subscription information and <xemacs@xemacs.org> to send messages
549 To cancel a subscription, you *must* use the xemacs-request address.
550 Send a message with a subject of `unsubscribe' to be removed.
553 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.7, Next: Q1.0.8, Prev: Q1.0.6, Up: Introduction
555 Q1.0.7: Where is the mailing list archived?
556 -------------------------------------------
558 The mailing list was archived in the directory
559 `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/mlists/'.
561 However, this archive is out of date. The current mailing list
562 server supports an `archive' feature, which may be utilized.
565 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.8, Next: Q1.0.9, Prev: Q1.0.7, Up: Introduction
567 Q1.0.8: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
568 ------------------------------------
570 I pronounce it `Eks eemax'.
573 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.9, Next: Q1.0.10, Prev: Q1.0.8, Up: Introduction
575 Q1.0.9: What does XEmacs look like?
576 -----------------------------------
578 Screen snapshots are available in the WWW version of the FAQ.
579 `http://www.xemacs.org/faq/xemacs-faq.html'
582 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.10, Next: Q1.0.11, Prev: Q1.0.9, Up: Introduction
584 Q1.0.10: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
585 ------------------------------------------------------------
587 Thanks to efforts of many people, coordinated by David Hobley <davidh@wr.com.au> and Marc Paquette <marcpa@cam.org>, beta versions of
588 XEmacs now run on 32-bit Windows platforms (NT and 95). The current
589 betas require having an X server to run XEmacs; however, a native NT/95
590 port is in alpha, thanks to Jonathan Harris <jhar@tardis.ed.ac.uk>.
592 Although some features are still unimplemented, XEmacs 21.0 will
595 The NT development is now coordinated by a mailing list at
596 <xemacs-nt@xemacs.org>.
598 If you are willing to contribute or want to follow the progress,
599 mail to <xemacs-nt-request@xemacs.org> to subscribe.
601 Furthermore, Altrasoft is seeking corporate and government sponsors
602 to help fund a fully native port of XEmacs to Windows 95 and NT using
603 full-time, senior-level staff working under a professionally managed
604 project structure. See the Altrasoft web site (http://www.altrasoft.com/) for more details or contact Altrasoft directly at 1-888-ALTSOFT.
606 The closest existing port is "Win-Emacs", which is based on Lucid
607 Emacs 19.6. Available from `http://www.pearlsoft.com/'.
609 There's a port of GNU Emacs (not XEmacs) at
610 `http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/voelker/ntemacs.html'.
613 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.11, Next: Q1.0.12, Prev: Q1.0.10, Up: Introduction
615 Q1.0.11: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
616 ----------------------------------------------------
618 There has been a port to the MachTen environment of XEmacs 19.13,
619 but no patches have been submitted to the maintainers to get this in the
620 mainstream distribution.
622 For the MacOS, there is a port of
623 Emacs 18.59 (ftp://ftp.cs.cornell.edu/pub/parmet/).
626 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.12, Next: Q1.0.13, Prev: Q1.0.11, Up: Introduction
628 Q1.0.12: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
629 -----------------------------------------------
631 Carl Edman, apparently no longer at <cedman@princeton.edu>, did the
632 port of GNU Emacs to NeXTstep and expressed interest in doing the
633 XEmacs port, but never went any farther.
636 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.13, Next: Q1.0.14, Prev: Q1.0.12, Up: Introduction
638 Q1.0.13: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
639 -------------------------------------------
641 No, and there is no news of anyone working on it.
644 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.14, Next: Q1.1.1, Prev: Q1.0.13, Up: Introduction
646 Q1.0.14: Where can I obtain a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
647 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
649 Altrasoft Associates, a firm specializing in Emacs-related support
650 and development, will be maintaining the XEmacs user manual. The firm
651 plans to begin publishing printed copies of the manual soon.
653 Web: `http://www.xemacs.com'
654 E-mail: <info@xemacs.com>
658 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.1.1, Next: Q1.1.2, Prev: Q1.0.14, Up: Introduction
663 Q1.1.1: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
664 -----------------------------------------
666 The FAQ is actively maintained and modified regularly. All links
667 should be up to date.
669 Changes are displayed on a monthly basis. "Months", for this
670 purpose are defined as the 5th of the month through the 5th of the
671 month. Preexisting questions that have been changed are marked as such.
672 Brand new questions are tagged.
674 All submissions are welcome. E-mail submissions to Christian Nybo/ <faq@xemacs.org>.
676 Please make sure that `XEmacs FAQ' appears on the Subject: line. If
677 you think you have a better way of answering a question, or think a
678 question should be included, I'd like to hear about it. Questions and
679 answers included into the FAQ will be edited for spelling and grammar,
680 and will be attributed. Answers appearing without attribution are
681 either from versions of the FAQ dated before May 1996, or are from one
682 of the four people listed at the top of this document. Answers quoted
683 from Usenet news articles will always be attributed, regardless of the
687 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.1.2, Next: Q1.1.3, Prev: Q1.1.1, Up: Introduction
689 Q1.1.2: How do I become a Beta Tester?
690 --------------------------------------
692 Send an email message to <xemacs-beta-request@xemacs.org> with a
693 subject line of `subscribe'.
695 Be prepared to get your hands dirty, as beta testers are expected to
696 identify problems as best they can.
699 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.1.3, Next: Q1.2.1, Prev: Q1.1.2, Up: Introduction
701 Q1.1.3: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
702 ---------------------------------------------
704 Ben Wing <ben@666.com> writes:
706 BTW if you have a wish list of things that you want added, you
707 have to speak up about it! More specifically, you can do the
708 following if you want a feature added (in increasing order of
711 * Make a posting about a feature you want added.
713 * Become a beta tester and make more postings about those same
716 * Convince us that you're going to use the features in some
719 * Come up with a clear and well-thought-out API concerning the
722 * Write the code to implement a feature and send us a patch.
724 (not that we're necessarily requiring you to write the code, but
725 we can always hope :)
728 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.2.1, Next: Q1.2.2, Prev: Q1.1.3, Up: Introduction
733 Q1.2.1: Who wrote XEmacs?
734 -------------------------
736 XEmacs is the result of the time and effort of many people. The
737 developers responsible for the 19.16/20.x releases are:
739 * Martin Buchholz <martin@xemacs.org>
741 * Steve Baur <steve@altair.xemacs.org>
743 * Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@srce.hr>
745 The developers responsible for the 19.14 release are:
747 * Chuck Thompson <cthomp@xemacs.org>
749 Chuck was Mr. XEmacs from 19.11 through 19.14, and is responsible
750 for XEmacs becoming a widely distributed program over the Internet.
752 * Ben Wing <ben@666.com>
754 * Jamie Zawinski <jwz@netscape.com>
756 Jamie Zawinski was Mr. Lucid Emacs from 19.0 through 19.10, the
757 last release actually named Lucid Emacs. Richard Mlynarik was
758 crucial to most of those releases.
760 * Richard Mlynarik <mly@adoc.xerox.com>
762 Along with many other contributors, partially enumerated in the
763 `About XEmacs' option in the Help menu.
766 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.2.2, Next: Q1.2.3, Prev: Q1.2.1, Up: Introduction
768 Q1.2.2: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
769 ---------------------------------------------------
771 The following people contributed valuable suggestions to building
772 this version of the FAQ (listed in alphabetical order):
774 * SL Baur <steve@xemacs.org>
776 * Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@srce.hr>
778 * Aki Vehtari <Aki.Vehtari@hut.fi>
781 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.2.3, Next: Q1.3.1, Prev: Q1.2.2, Up: Introduction
783 Q1.2.3: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
784 -----------------------------------------------
786 This is only a partial list, as many names were lost in a hard disk
789 * Curtis.N.Bingham <binge@aloft.att.com>
791 * Richard Caley <rjc@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
793 * Richard Cognot <cognot@ensg.u-nancy.fr>
795 * William G. Dubuque <wgd@martigny.ai.mit.edu>
797 * Eric Eide <eeide@cs.utah.edu>
799 * Chris Flatters <cflatter@nrao.edu>
801 * Evelyn Ginsparg <ginsparg@adra.com>
803 * Marty Hall <hall@aplcenmp.apl.jhu.edu>
805 * Darrell Kindred <dkindred@cmu.edu>
807 * David Moore <dmoore@ucsd.edu>
809 * Arup Mukherjee <arup+@cmu.edu>
811 * Juergen Nickelsen <nickel@prz.tu-berlin.de>
813 * Kevin R. Powell <powell@csl.ncsa.uiuc.edu>
815 * Justin Sheehy <dworkin@ccs.neu.edu>
817 * Stig <stig@hackvan.com>
819 * Aki Vehtari <Aki.Vehtari@hut.fi>
822 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.1, Next: Q1.3.2, Prev: Q1.2.3, Up: Introduction
824 1.3: Internationalization
825 =========================
827 Q1.3.1: What is the status of XEmacs v20?
828 -----------------------------------------
830 XEmacs v20 is the version of XEmacs that includes MULE
831 (Asian-language) support. XEmacs 20.0 was released in February 1997,
832 followed by XEmacs 20.2 in May, XEmacs 20.3 in November and XEmacs 20.4
833 in February 1998. When compiled without MULE support, 20.4 is
834 approximately as stable as 19.16, and probably faster (due to
835 additional optimization work.)
837 As of XEmacs 20.3, version 20 is *the* supported version of XEmacs.
838 This means that 19.16 will optionally receive stability fixes (if any),
839 but that all the real development work will be done on the v20 tree.
841 The incompatible changes in XEmacs 20 include the additional
842 byte-codes, new primitive data types (`character', `char-table', and
843 `range-table'). This means that the character-integer equivalence
844 inherent to all the previous Emacs and XEmacs releases no longer
847 However, to avoid breaking old code, many functions that should
848 normally accept characters work with integers, and vice versa. For more
849 information, see the Lisp reference manual. Here is a relevant excerpt,
850 for your convenience.
852 In XEmacs version 19, and in all versions of FSF GNU Emacs, a
853 "character" in XEmacs Lisp is nothing more than an integer. This
854 is yet another holdover from XEmacs Lisp's derivation from
855 vintage-1980 Lisps; modern versions of Lisp consider this
856 equivalence a bad idea, and have separate character types. In
857 XEmacs version 20, the modern convention is followed, and
858 characters are their own primitive types. (This change was
859 necessary in order for MULE, i.e. Asian-language, support to be
860 correctly implemented.)
862 Even in XEmacs version 20, remnants of the equivalence between
863 characters and integers still exist; this is termed the "char-int
864 confoundance disease". In particular, many functions such as `eq',
865 `equal', and `memq' have equivalent functions (`old-eq',
866 `old-equal', `old-memq', etc.) that pretend like characters are
867 integers are the same. Byte code compiled under any version 19
868 Emacs will have all such functions mapped to their `old-'
869 equivalents when the byte code is read into XEmacs 20. This is to
870 preserve compatibility - Emacs 19 converts all constant characters
871 to the equivalent integer during byte-compilation, and thus there
872 is no other way to preserve byte-code compatibility even if the
873 code has specifically been written with the distinction between
874 characters and integers in mind.
876 Every character has an equivalent integer, called the "character
877 code". For example, the character `A' is represented as the
878 integer 65, following the standard ASCII representation of
879 characters. If XEmacs was not compiled with MULE support, the
880 range of this integer will always be 0 to 255 - eight bits, or one
881 byte. (Integers outside this range are accepted but silently
882 truncated; however, you should most decidedly *not* rely on this,
883 because it will not work under XEmacs with MULE support.) When
884 MULE support is present, the range of character codes is much
885 larger. (Currently, 19 bits are used.)
887 FSF GNU Emacs uses kludgy character codes above 255 to represent
888 keyboard input of ASCII characters in combination with certain
889 modifiers. XEmacs does not use this (a more general mechanism is
890 used that does not distinguish between ASCII keys and other keys),
891 so you will never find character codes above 255 in a non-MULE
894 Individual characters are not often used in programs. It is far
895 more common to work with *strings*, which are sequences composed of
899 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.2, Next: Q1.3.3, Prev: Q1.3.1, Up: Introduction
901 Q1.3.2: What is the status of Asian-language support, aka MULE?
902 ---------------------------------------------------------------
904 The MULE support works OK but still needs a fair amount of work
905 before it's really solid. We could definitely use some help here, esp.
906 people who speak Japanese and will use XEmacs/MULE to work with
907 Japanese and have some experience with E-Lisp.
909 As the fundings on Mule have stopped, the Mule part of XEmacs is
910 currently looking for a full-time maintainer. If you can provide help
911 here, or are willing to fund the work, please mail to
912 <xemacs-beta@xemacs.org>.
917 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.3, Next: Q1.3.4, Prev: Q1.3.2, Up: Introduction
919 Q1.3.3: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
920 -------------------------------------------
922 See question 3.5.7 (*note Q3.5.7::.) in part 3 of this FAQ.
925 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.4, Next: Q1.3.5, Prev: Q1.3.3, Up: Introduction
927 Q1.3.4: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
928 -------------------------------------------------------------
930 The message-catalog support has mostly been written but doesn't
931 currently work. The first release of XEmacs 20 will *not* support it.
932 However, menubar localization *does* work, even in 19.14. To enable
933 it, add to your `Emacs' file entries like this:
935 Emacs*XlwMenu.resourceLabels: True
936 Emacs*XlwMenu.file.labelString: Fichier
937 Emacs*XlwMenu.openInOtherWindow.labelString: In anderem Fenster offnen
939 The name of the resource is derived from the non-localized entry by
940 removing punctuation and capitalizing as above.
943 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.5, Next: Q1.3.6, Prev: Q1.3.4, Up: Introduction
945 Q1.3.5: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs 20.0
946 --------------------------------------------------------------------
948 MORIOKA Tomohiko <morioka@jaist.ac.jp> writes:
950 Original Mule supports the following input methods: Wnn4, Wnn6,
951 Canna, SJ3 and XIM. Interfaces for Wnn and SJ3 uses the `egg' user
952 interface. Interface for Canna does not use `egg'. I don't know
953 about XIM. It is to support ATOK, of course, it may work for
956 Wnn supports Japanese, Chinese and Korean. It is made by OMRON and
957 Kyôto university. It is a powerful and complex system. Wnn4 is
958 free and Wnn6 is not free.
960 Canna supports only Japanese. It is made by NEC. It is a simple and
961 powerful system. Canna uses only grammar (Wnn uses grammar and
962 probability between words), so I think Wnn is cleverer than Canna,
963 however Canna users made a good grammar and dictionary. So for
964 standard modern Japanese, Canna seems cleverer than Wnn4. In
965 addition, the UNIX version of Canna is free (now there is a
966 Microsoft Windows version).
968 SJ3 supports only Japanese. It is made by Sony. XIM supports was
969 made to use ATOK (a major input method in personal computer
970 world). XIM is the standard for accessing input methods bundled
971 in Japanese versions of Solaris. (XEmacs 20 will support XIM
974 Egg consists of following parts:
976 1. Input character Translation System (ITS) layer. It
977 translates ASCII inputs to Kana/PinYin/Hangul characters.
979 2. Kana/PinYin/Hangul to Kanji transfer layer. It is interface
980 layer for network Kana-Kanji server (Wnn and Sj3).
982 These input methods are modal, namely there are mode, alphabet
983 mode and Kana-Kanji transfer mode. However there are mode-less
984 input methods for Egg and Canna. `Boiled-egg' is a mode-less
985 input method running on Egg. For Canna, `canna.el' has a tiny
986 boiled-egg like command, `(canna-boil)', and there are some
987 boiled-egg like utilities. In addition, it was planned to make an
988 abstraction for all transfer type input methods. However authors
989 of input methods are busy, so maybe this plan is stopped. Perhaps
990 after Mule merged GNU Emacs will be released, it will be continued.
993 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.6, Next: Q1.3.7, Prev: Q1.3.5, Up: Introduction
995 Q1.3.6: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs 20?
996 --------------------------------------------------
998 MORIOKA Tomohiko <morioka@jaist.ac.jp> writes:
1000 MULE and XEmacs are quite different. So the application
1001 implementor must write separate code for these mule variants.
1003 MULE and the next version of Emacs are similar but the symbols are
1004 very different--requiring separate code as well.
1006 Namely we must support 3 kinds of mule variants and 4 or 5 or 6
1007 kinds of emacs variants... (;_;) I'm shocked, so I wrote a wrapper
1008 package called `emu' to provide a common interface.
1010 I have the following suggestions about dealing with mule variants:
1012 * `(featurep 'mule)' `t' on all mule variants
1014 * `(boundp 'MULE)' is `t' on only MULE. Maybe the next version
1015 of Emacs will not have this symbol.
1017 * MULE has a variable `mule-version'. Perhaps the next version
1018 of Emacs will have this variable as well.
1020 Following is a sample to distinguish mule variants:
1022 (if (featurep 'mule)
1023 (cond ((boundp 'MULE)
1024 ;; for original Mule
1026 ((string-match "XEmacs" emacs-version)
1027 ;; for XEmacs with Mule
1030 ;; for next version of Emacs
1032 ;; for old emacs variants
1036 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.7, Next: Q1.4.1, Prev: Q1.3.6, Up: Introduction
1038 Q1.3.7: How about Cyrillic Modes?
1039 ---------------------------------
1041 Ilya Zakharevich <ilya@math.ohio-state.edu> writes:
1043 There is a cyrillic mode in the file `mysetup.zip' in
1044 `ftp://ftp.math.ohio-state.edu/pub/users/ilya/emacs/'. This is a
1045 modification to Valery Alexeev's <ava@math.jhu.ed> `russian.el'
1046 which can be obtained from
1048 `http://ftpsearch.ntnu.no/?query=russian.el.Z'.
1050 Dima Barsky <d.barsky@ee.surrey.ac.uk> writes:
1052 There is another cyrillic mode for both GNU Emacs and XEmacs by
1053 Dmitrii (Mitya) Manin <manin@camelot.mssm.edu> at
1054 `http://kulichki-lat.rambler.ru/centrolit/manin/cyr.el'.
1056 Rebecca Ore <rebecca.ore@op.net> writes:
1058 The fullest resource I found on Russian language use (in and out of
1060 `http://sunsite.oit.unc.edu/sergei/Software/Software.html'
1063 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.1, Next: Q1.4.2, Prev: Q1.3.7, Up: Introduction
1065 1.4: Getting Started, Backing up & Recovery
1066 ===========================================
1068 Q1.4.1: What is a `.emacs' and is there a sample one?
1069 -----------------------------------------------------
1071 The `.emacs' file is used to customize XEmacs to your tastes. No
1072 two are alike, nor are they expected to be alike, but that's the point.
1073 The XEmacs distribution contains an excellent starter example in the etc
1074 directory called `sample.emacs'. Copy this file from there to your
1075 home directory and rename it `.emacs'. Then edit it to suit.
1077 Starting with 19.14, you may bring the `sample.emacs' into an XEmacs
1078 buffer by selecting `Help->Samples->Sample .emacs' from the menubar.
1079 To determine the location of the `etc' directory type the command `C-h
1080 v data-directory <RET>'.
1083 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.2, Next: Q1.4.3, Prev: Q1.4.1, Up: Introduction
1085 Q1.4.2: Can I use the same `.emacs' with the other Emacs?
1086 ---------------------------------------------------------
1088 Yes. The sample `.emacs' included in the XEmacs distribution will
1089 show you how to handle different versions and flavors of Emacs.
1092 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.3, Next: Q1.4.4, Prev: Q1.4.2, Up: Introduction
1094 Q1.4.3: Any good tutorials around?
1095 ----------------------------------
1097 There's the XEmacs tutorial available from the Help Menu under
1098 `Basics->Tutorials', or by typing `C-h t'. To check whether it's
1099 available in a non-english language, type `C-u C-h t TAB', type the
1100 first letters of your preferred language, then type <RET>.
1102 There's an Emacs Lisp tutorial at
1104 `ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/emacs-lisp-intro-1.04.tar.gz'.
1106 Erik Sundermann <erik@petaxp.rug.ac.be> has made a tutorial web page
1107 at `http://petaxp.rug.ac.be/~erik/xemacs/'.
1110 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.4, Next: Q1.4.5, Prev: Q1.4.3, Up: Introduction
1112 Q1.4.4: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
1113 --------------------------------------------------------------
1115 The following function does a little bit of everything useful. It
1116 does something with the prefix argument, it examines the text around the
1117 cursor, and it's interactive so it may be bound to a key. It inserts
1118 copies of the current word the cursor is sitting on at the cursor. If
1119 you give it a prefix argument: `C-u 3 M-x double-word' then it will
1122 (defun double-word (count)
1123 "Insert a copy of the current word underneath the cursor"
1125 (let (here there string)
1130 (setq there (point))
1131 (setq string (buffer-substring here there)))
1136 The best way to see what is going on here is to let XEmacs tell you.
1137 Put the code into an XEmacs buffer, and do a `C-h f' with the cursor
1138 sitting just to the right of the function you want explained. Eg. move
1139 the cursor to the SPACE between `interactive' and `"*p"' and hit `C-h
1140 f' to see what the function `interactive' does. Doing this will tell
1141 you that the `*' requires a writable buffer, and `p' converts the
1142 prefix argument to a number, and `interactive' allows you to execute
1143 the command with `M-x'.
1146 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.5, Next: Q1.4.6, Prev: Q1.4.4, Up: Introduction
1148 Q1.4.5: And how do I bind it to a key?
1149 --------------------------------------
1151 To bind to a key do:
1153 (global-set-key "\C-cd" 'double-word)
1155 Or interactively, `M-x global-set-key' and follow the prompts.
1158 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.6, Next: Q1.4.7, Prev: Q1.4.5, Up: Introduction
1160 Q1.4.6: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
1161 -------------------------------------------------------------
1163 Quoting from the Lisp Reference (a.k.a "Lispref") Manual:
1165 "Macros" enable you to define new control constructs and other
1166 language features. A macro is defined much like a function, but instead
1167 of telling how to compute a value, it tells how to compute another Lisp
1168 expression which will in turn compute the value. We call this
1169 expression the "expansion" of the macro.
1171 Macros can do this because they operate on the unevaluated
1172 expressions for the arguments, not on the argument values as functions
1173 do. They can therefore construct an expansion containing these
1174 argument expressions or parts of them.
1176 Do not confuse the two terms with "keyboard macros", which are
1177 another matter, entirely. A keyboard macro is a key bound to several
1178 other keys. Refer to manual for details.
1181 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.7, Prev: Q1.4.6, Up: Introduction
1183 Q1.4.7: How come options saved with 19.13 don't work with 19.14 or later?
1184 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
1186 There's a problem with options of the form:
1188 (add-spec-list-to-specifier (face-property 'searchm-field 'font)
1191 saved by a 19.13 XEmacs that causes a 19.14 XEmacs grief. You must
1192 delete these options. XEmacs 19.14 and later no longer write the
1193 options directly to `.emacs' which should allow us to deal with version
1194 incompatibilities better in the future.
1196 Options saved under XEmacs 19.13 are protected by code that
1197 specifically requires a version 19 XEmacs. This won't be a problem
1198 unless you're using XEmacs v20. You should consider changing the code
1202 ((and (string-match "XEmacs" emacs-version)
1203 (boundp 'emacs-major-version)
1204 (or (and (= emacs-major-version 19)
1205 (>= emacs-minor-version 12))
1206 (>= emacs-major-version 20)))