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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.1.10,  Next: Q5.1.11,  Prev: Q5.1.9,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.1.10: `map-extents' won't traverse all of my extents!
--------------------------------------------------------

   I tried to use `map-extents' to do an operation on all the extents
in a region.  However, it seems to quit after processing a random number
of extents.  Is it buggy?

   No.  The documentation of `map-extents' states that it will iterate
across the extents as long as FUNCTION returns `nil'.  Unexperienced
programmers often forget to return `nil' explicitly, which results in
buggy code.  For instance, the following code is supposed to delete all
the extents in a buffer, and issue as many `fubar!' messages.

     (map-extents (lambda (ext ignore)
                    (delete-extent ext)
                    (message "fubar!")))

   Instead, it will delete only the first extent, and stop right there -
because `message' will return a non-nil value.  The correct code is:

     (map-extents (lambda (ext ignore)
                    (delete-extent ext)
                    (message "fubar!")
                    nil))

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.1.11,  Next: Q5.2.1,  Prev: Q5.1.10,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.1.11: My elisp program is horribly slow.  Is there
-----------------------------------------------------

   an easy way to find out where it spends time?

   Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@xemacs.org> writes:
     Under XEmacs 20.4 and later you can use `M-x profile-key-sequence',
     press a key (say <RET> in the Gnus Group buffer), and get the
     results using `M-x profile-results'.  It should give you an idea of
     where the time is being spent.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.2.1,  Next: Q5.2.2,  Prev: Q5.1.11,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.2.1: How do I turn off the sound?
------------------------------------

   Add the following line to your `init.el'/`.emacs':

     (setq bell-volume 0)
     (setq sound-alist nil)

   That will make your XEmacs totally silent--even the default ding
sound (TTY beep on TTY-s) will be gone.

   Starting with XEmacs 20.2 you can also change these with Customize.
Select from the `Options' menu `Advanced
(Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Sound->Sound...' or type `M-x
customize <RET> sound <RET>'.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.2.2,  Next: Q5.2.3,  Prev: Q5.2.1,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.2.2: How do I get funky sounds instead of a boring beep?
-----------------------------------------------------------

   Make sure your XEmacs was compiled with sound support, and then put
this in your `init.el'/`.emacs':

     (load-default-sounds)

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.2.3,  Next: Q5.2.4,  Prev: Q5.2.2,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.2.3: What's NAS, how do I get it?
------------------------------------

   *Note Q2.0.3::, for an explanation of the "Network Audio System".

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.2.4,  Next: Q5.3.1,  Prev: Q5.2.3,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.2.4: Sunsite sounds don't play.
----------------------------------

   I'm having some trouble with sounds I've downloaded from sunsite.
They play when I run them through `showaudio' or cat them directly to
`/dev/audio', but XEmacs refuses to play them.

   Markus Gutschke <gutschk@uni-muenster.de> writes:

     [Many of] These files have an (erroneous) 24byte header that tells
     about the format that they have been recorded in. If you cat them
     to `/dev/audio', the header will be ignored and the default
     behavior for /dev/audio will be used. This happens to be 8kHz
     uLaw. It is probably possible to fix the header by piping through
     `sox' and passing explicit parameters for specifying the sampling
     format; you then need to perform a 'null' conversion from SunAudio
     to SunAudio.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.1,  Next: Q5.3.2,  Prev: Q5.2.4,  Up: Miscellaneous

5.3: Miscellaneous
==================

Q5.3.1: How do you make XEmacs indent CL if-clauses correctly?
--------------------------------------------------------------

   I'd like XEmacs to indent all the clauses of a Common Lisp `if' the
same amount instead of indenting the 3rd clause differently from the
first two.

   One way is to add, to `init.el'/`.emacs':

     (put 'if 'lisp-indent-function nil)

   However, note that the package `cl-indent' that comes with XEmacs
sets up this kind of indentation by default.  `cl-indent' also knows
about many other CL-specific forms.  To use `cl-indent', one can do
this:

     (load "cl-indent")
     (setq lisp-indent-function (function common-lisp-indent-function))

   One can also customize `cl-indent.el' so it mimics the default `if'
indentation `then' indented more than the `else'.  Here's how:

     (put 'if 'common-lisp-indent-function '(nil nil &body))

   Also, a new version (1.2) of `cl-indent.el' was posted to
comp.emacs.xemacs on 12/9/94.  This version includes more documentation
than previous versions.  This may prove useful if you need to customize
any indent-functions.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.2,  Next: Q5.3.3,  Prev: Q5.3.1,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.2: [This question intentionally left blank]
------------------------------------------------

   Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.3,  Next: Q5.3.4,  Prev: Q5.3.2,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.3: How can I print WYSIWYG a font-locked buffer?
-----------------------------------------------------

   Font-lock looks nice.  How can I print (WYSIWYG) the highlighted
document?

   The package `ps-print', which is now included with XEmacs, provides
the ability to do this.  The source code contains complete instructions
on its use, in `<xemacs_src_root>/lisp/packages/ps-print.el'.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.4,  Next: Q5.3.5,  Prev: Q5.3.3,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.4: Getting `M-x lpr' to work with postscript printer.
----------------------------------------------------------

   My printer is a Postscript printer and `lpr' only works for
Postscript files, so how do I get `M-x lpr-region' and `M-x lpr-buffer'
to work?

   Put something like this in your `init.el'/`.emacs':

     (setq lpr-command "a2ps")
     (setq lpr-switches '("-p" "-1"))

   If you don't use a2ps to convert ASCII to postscript (why not, it's
free?), replace with the command you do use.  Note also that some
versions of a2ps require a `-Pprinter' to ensure spooling.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.5,  Next: Q5.3.6,  Prev: Q5.3.4,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.5: How do I specify the paths that XEmacs uses for finding files?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

   You can specify what paths to use by using a number of different
flags when running configure.  See the section MAKE VARIABLES in the
top-level file INSTALL in the XEmacs distribution for a listing of
those flags.

   Most of the time, however, the simplest fix is: *do not* specify
paths as you might for GNU Emacs.  XEmacs can generally determine the
necessary paths dynamically at run time.  The only path that generally
needs to be specified is the root directory to install into.  That can
be specified by passing the `--prefix' flag to configure.  For a
description of the XEmacs install tree, please consult the `NEWS' file.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.6,  Next: Q5.3.7,  Prev: Q5.3.5,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.6: [This question intentionally left blank]
------------------------------------------------

   Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.7,  Next: Q5.3.8,  Prev: Q5.3.6,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.7: Can I have the end of the buffer delimited in some way?
---------------------------------------------------------------

   Say, with: `[END]'?

   Try this:

     (let ((ext (make-extent (point-min) (point-max))))
       (set-extent-property ext 'start-closed t)
       (set-extent-property ext 'end-closed t)
       (set-extent-property ext 'detachable nil)
       (set-extent-end-glyph ext (make-glyph [string :data "[END]"])))

   Since this is XEmacs, you can specify an icon to be shown on
window-system devices.  To do so, change the `make-glyph' call to
something like this:

     (make-glyph '([xpm :file "~/something.xpm"]
                   [string :data "[END]"]))

   You can inline the XPM definition yourself by specifying `:data'
instead of `:file'.  Here is such a full-featured version that works on
both X and TTY devices:

     (let ((ext (make-extent (point-min) (point-max))))
       (set-extent-property ext 'start-closed t)
       (set-extent-property ext 'end-closed t)
       (set-extent-property ext 'detachable nil)
       (set-extent-end-glyph ext (make-glyph '([xpm :data "\
     /* XPM */
     static char* eye = {
     \"20 11 7 2\",
     \"__ c None\"
     \"_` c #7f7f7f\",
     \"_a c #fefefe\",
     \"_b c #7f0000\",
     \"_c c #fefe00\",
     \"_d c #fe0000\",
     \"_e c #bfbfbf\",
     \"___________`_`_`___b_b_b_b_________`____\",
     \"_________`_`_`___b_c_c_c_b_b____________\",
     \"_____`_`_`_e___b_b_c_c_c___b___b_______`\",
     \"___`_`_e_a___b_b_d___b___b___b___b______\",
     \"_`_`_e_a_e___b_b_d_b___b___b___b___b____\",
     \"_`_`_a_e_a___b_b_d___b___b___b___b___b__\",
     \"_`_`_e_a_e___b_b_d_b___b___b___b___b_b__\",
     \"___`_`_e_a___b_b_b_d_c___b___b___d_b____\",
     \"_____`_`_e_e___b_b_b_d_c___b_b_d_b______\",
     \"_`_____`_`_`_`___b_b_b_d_d_d_d_b________\",
     \"___`_____`_`_`_`___b_b_b_b_b_b__________\",
     } ;"]
                                               [string :data "[END]"]))))

   Note that you might want to make this a function, and put it to a
hook.  We leave that as an exercise for the reader.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.8,  Next: Q5.3.9,  Prev: Q5.3.7,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.8: How do I insert today's date into a buffer?
---------------------------------------------------

   Like this:

     (insert (current-time-string))

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.9,  Next: Q5.3.10,  Prev: Q5.3.8,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.9: Are only certain syntactic character classes available for abbrevs?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Markus Gutschke <gutschk@uni-muenster.de> writes:

     Yes, abbrevs only expands word-syntax strings. While XEmacs does
     not prevent you from defining (e.g. with `C-x a g' or `C-x a l')
     abbrevs that contain special characters, it will refuse to expand
     them. So you need to ensure, that the abbreviation contains
     letters and digits only. This means that `xd', `d5', and `5d' are
     valid abbrevs, but `&d', and `x d' are not.

     If this sounds confusing to you, (re-)read the online
     documentation for abbrevs (`C-h i m XEmacs <RET> m Abbrevs
     <RET>'), and then come back and read this question/answer again.

   Starting with XEmacs 20.3 this restriction has been lifted.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.10,  Next: Q5.3.11,  Prev: Q5.3.9,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.10: How can I get those oh-so-neat X-Face lines?
-----------------------------------------------------

   Firstly there is an ftp site which describes X-faces and has the
associated tools mentioned below, at
`ftp://ftp.cs.indiana.edu:/pub/faces/'.

   Then the steps are

  1. Create 48x48x1 bitmap with your favorite tool

  2. Convert to "icon" format using one of xbm2ikon, pbmtoicon, etc.,
     and then compile the face.

  3.      cat file.xbm | xbm2ikon |compface > file.face

  4. Then be sure to quote things that are necessary for emacs strings:

          cat ./file.face | sed 's/\\/\\\\/g'
          | sed 's/\"/\\\"/g' > ./file.face.quoted

  5. Then set up emacs to include the file as a mail header - there
     were a couple of suggestions here--either something like:

          (setq  mail-default-headers
                 "X-Face:  <Ugly looking text string here>")

     Or, alternatively, as:

          (defun mail-insert-x-face ()
            (save-excursion
              (goto-char (point-min))
              (search-forward mail-header-separator)
              (beginning-of-line)
              (insert "X-Face:")
              (insert-file-contents "~/.face")))
          
          (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'mail-insert-x-face)

   However, 2 things might be wrong:

   Some versions of pbmtoicon produces some header lines that is not
expected by the version of compface that I grabbed. So I found I had to
include a `tail +3' in the pipeline like this:

     cat file.xbm | xbm2ikon | tail +3 |compface > file.face

   Some people have also found that if one uses the `(insert-file)'
method, one should NOT quote the face string using the sed script .

   It might also be helpful to use Stig's <stig@hackvan.com> script
(included in the compface distribution at XEmacs.org) to do the
conversion.

   Contributors for this item:

   Paul Emsley, Ricardo Marek, Amir J. Katz, Glen McCort, Heinz Uphoff,
Peter Arius, Paul Harrison, and Vegard Vesterheim

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.11,  Next: Q5.3.12,  Prev: Q5.3.10,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.11: How do I add new Info directories?
-------------------------------------------

   You use something like:

     (setq Info-directory-list (cons
                                (expand-file-name "~/info")
                                Info-default-directory-list))

   David Masterson <davidm@prism.kla.com> writes:

     Emacs Info and XEmacs Info do many things differently.  If you're
     trying to support a number of versions of Emacs, here are some
     notes to remember:

       1. Emacs Info scans `Info-directory-list' from right-to-left
          while XEmacs Info reads it from left-to-right, so append to
          the _correct_ end of the list.

       2. Use `Info-default-directory-list' to initialize
          `Info-directory-list' _if_ it is available at startup, but not
          all Emacsen define it.

       3. Emacs Info looks for a standard `dir' file in each of the
          directories scanned from #1 and magically concatenates them
          together.

       4. XEmacs Info looks for a `localdir' file (which consists of
          just the menu entries from a `dir' file) in each of the
          directories scanned from #1 (except the first), does a simple
          concatenation of them, and magically attaches the resulting
          list to the end of the menu in the `dir' file in the first
          directory.

     Another alternative is to convert the documentation to HTML with
     texi2html and read it from a web browser like Lynx or W3.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q5.3.12,  Prev: Q5.3.11,  Up: Miscellaneous

Q5.3.12: What do I need to change to make printing work?
--------------------------------------------------------

   For regular printing there are two variables that can be customized.

`lpr-command'
     This should be set to a command that takes standard input and sends
     it to a printer.  Something like:

          (setq lpr-command "lp")

`lpr-switches'
     This should be set to a list that contains whatever the print
     command requires to do its job.  Something like:

          (setq lpr-switches '("-depson"))

   For postscript printing there are three analogous variables to
customize.

`ps-lpr-command'
     This should be set to a command that takes postscript on standard
     input and directs it to a postscript printer.

`ps-lpr-switches'
     This should be set to a list of switches required for
     `ps-lpr-command' to do its job.

`ps-print-color-p'
     This boolean variable should be set `t' if printing will be done in
     color, otherwise it should be set to `nil'.

   NOTE: It is an undocumented limitation in XEmacs that postscript
printing (the `Pretty Print Buffer' menu item) *requires* a window
system environment.  It cannot be used outside of X11.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: MS Windows,  Next: Current Events,  Prev: Miscellaneous,  Up: Top

6 XEmacs on MS Windows
**********************

   This is part 6 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list,
written by Hrvoje Niksic and others.  This section is devoted to the MS
Windows port of XEmacs.

* Menu:


General Info
* Q6.0.1::      What is the status of the XEmacs port to Windows?
* Q6.0.2::      What flavors of MS Windows are supported?
* Q6.0.3::      Where are the XEmacs on MS Windows binaries?
* Q6.0.4::      Can I build XEmacs on MS Windows with support for X or Cygwin?

Building XEmacs on MS Windows
* Q6.1.1::      I decided to run with X.  Where do I get an X server?
* Q6.1.2::      What compiler do I need to compile XEmacs?
* Q6.1.3::      How do I compile for the native port?
* Q6.1.4::      How do I compile for the X port?
* Q6.1.5::      How do I compile for Cygnus' Cygwin?
* Q6.1.6::      What do I need for Cygwin?

Customization and User Interface
* Q6.2.1::      How will the port cope with differences in the Windows user interface?
* Q6.2.2::      How do I change fonts in XEmacs on MS Windows?
* Q6.2.3::      Where do I put my `init.el'/`.emacs' file?

Miscellaneous
* Q6.3.1::      Will XEmacs rename all the win32-* symbols to w32-*?
* Q6.3.2::      What are the differences between the various MS Windows emacsen?
* Q6.3.3::      What is the porting team doing at the moment?

Troubleshooting:
* Q6.4.1::      XEmacs won't start on Windows. (NEW)

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6.0: General Info
=================

Q6.0.1: What is the status of the XEmacs port to Windows?
---------------------------------------------------------

   Is XEmacs really getting ported to MS Windows?  What is the status
of the port?

   Yes, a group of volunteers actively works on making XEmacs code base
cleanly compile and run on MS Windows operating systems.  The mailing
list at <xemacs-nt@xemacs.org> is dedicated to that effort (please use
the -request address to subscribe).

   At this time, XEmacs on MS Windows is stable and full-featured.
However, the internationalization (Mule) support does not work -
although this is being actively worked on.

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Q6.0.2: What flavors of MS Windows are supported?  The list name implies NT only.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   The list name is misleading, as XEmacs will support Windows 95,
Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, and all
newer versions of Windows.  The MS Windows-specific code is based on
Microsoft Win32 API, and will not work on MS Windows 3.x or on MS-DOS.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q6.0.3,  Next: Q6.0.4,  Prev: Q6.0.2,  Up: MS Windows

Q6.0.3: Are binaries available?
-------------------------------

   Binaries are available at
`ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/binaries/win32/' for the native MS
Windows version.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q6.0.4,  Next: Q6.1.1,  Prev: Q6.0.3,  Up: MS Windows

Q6.0.4: Can I build XEmacs on MS Windows with support for X or Cygwin?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Yes.  XEmacs can be built in several ways in the MS Windows
environment.

   The standard way is what we call the "native" port.  It uses the
Win32 API and has no connection with X whatsoever - it does not require
X libraries to build, nor does it require an X server to run.  The
native port is the most reliable version and provides the best graphical
support.  Almost all development is geared towards this version, and
there is little reason not to use it.

   You can also build XEmacs "X" port--it requires X libraries to build
and an X server to run.  Internally it uses the Xt event loop and makes
use of X toolkits.  Its look is quite un-Windowsy, and it is not well
maintained, but it is being kept around for the time being because it
has a long history.

   There is also a third special case, the Cygwin port.  It takes
advantage of Cygnus emulation library under Win32, which enables it to
reuse much of the Unix XEmacs code base, such as processes and network
support, or internal select() mechanisms.

   Cygwin port supports all display types--TTY, X & MS GUI, and can be
built with support for all three.  If you build with MS GUI support
then the Cygwin version uses the majority of the msw code, which is
mostly related to display.  If you want to build with X support you
need X libraries.  If you want to build with TTY support you need
ncurses.  MS GUI requires no additional libraries.

   The advantages of the Cygwin version are that it integrates well with
Cygwin environment for existing Cygwin users; uses configure so building
with different features is very easy; and has process support in X &
tty.

   The disadvantage is that it requires several Unix utilities and the
whole Cygwin environment, whereas the native port requires only a
suitable MS Windows compiler.  Also, it follows the Unix filesystem and
process model very closely (some will undoubtedly view this as an
advantage).

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q6.1.1,  Next: Q6.1.2,  Prev: Q6.0.4,  Up: MS Windows

6.1: Building XEmacs on MS Windows
==================================

Q6.1.1: I decided to run with X.  Where do I get an X server?
-------------------------------------------------------------

   Pointers to X servers can be found at
`http://dao.gsfc.nasa.gov/software/grads/win32/X11R6.3/';

   look for "Where to get an X server".  Also note that, although the
above page talks about Cygnus gnu-win32 (Cygwin), the information on X
servers is Cygwin-independent.  You don't have to be running/using
Cygwin to use these X servers, and you don't have to compile XEmacs
under Cygwin to use XEmacs with these X servers.  An "X port" XEmacs
compiled under Visual C++ will work with these X servers (as will
XEmacs running on a Unix box, redirected to the server running on your
PC).

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Q6.1.2: What compiler do I need to compile XEmacs?
--------------------------------------------------

   You need Visual C++ 4.2, 5.0, or 6.0, with the exception of the
Cygwin port, which uses Gcc.  There is also a MINGW32 port of XEmacs
(using Gcc, but using native libraries rather than the Cygwin
libraries).  #### More information about this should be provided.

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Q6.1.3: How do I compile for the native port?
---------------------------------------------

   Please read the file `nt/README' in the XEmacs distribution, which
contains the full description.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q6.1.4,  Next: Q6.1.5,  Prev: Q6.1.3,  Up: MS Windows

Q6.1.4: How do I compile for the X port?
----------------------------------------

   Again, it is described in `nt/README' in some detail.  Basically, you
need to get X11 libraries from ftp.x.org, and compile them.  If the
precompiled versions are available somewhere, I don't know of it.

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File: xemacs-faq.info,  Node: Q6.1.5,  Next: Q6.1.6,  Prev: Q6.1.4,  Up: MS Windows

Q6.1.5: How do I compile for Cygnus' Cygwin?
--------------------------------------------

   Similar as on Unix; use the usual `configure' and `make' process.
Some problems to watch out for:

   * make sure HOME is set. This controls where you `init.el'/`.emacs'
     file comes from;

   * CYGWIN needs to be set to tty for process support work. e.g.
     CYGWIN=tty; (use CYGWIN32=tty under b19 and older.)

   * picking up some other grep or other UNIX-like tools can kill
     configure;

   * static heap too small, adjust `src/sheap-adjust.h' to a more
     positive number;

   * The Cygwin version doesn't understand `//machine/path' type paths
     so you will need to manually mount a directory of this form under
     a unix style directory for a build to work on the directory.


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Q6.1.6: What do I need for Cygwin?
----------------------------------

   You can find the Cygwin tools and compiler at:

   `http://sourceware.cygnus.com/cygwin/'

   You will need version b19 or later.  The latest current version is
1.1.1.  Other common versions you will see are b20.1.

   Another location, one of the mirror sites of the site just mentioned,
is usually a last faster:

   `ftp://ftp.freesoftware.com/pub/sourceware/cygwin/'

   You can obtain the latest version (currently 1.1.1) from the
`latest/' subdirectory of either of the above two just-mentioned URL's.

   *WARNING: The version of GCC supplied under `latest/', as of June
6th, 2000, does not appear to work.  It generates loads of spurious
preprocessor warnings and errors, which makes it impossible to compile
XEmacs with it.*

   You will also need the X libraries.  You can get them on the XEmacs
FTP site at

   `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/aux/cygwin/'

   You will find b19 and b20 versions of the X libraries, plus b19 and
b20 versions of stuff that should go into `/usr/local/', donated by
Andy Piper.  This includes pre-built versions of various graphics
libraries, such as PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and XPM. (Remember, GIF support is
built-in to XEmacs.)

   (X libraries for v1 and beyond of Cygwin can be found on the Cygwin
site itself - look in the `xfree/' subdirectory.)

   _NOTE:_ There are two versions of the XPM library provided in Andy's
packets.  Once is for building with X support, and the other for
building without.  The X version should work if you're building with
both X and Windows support.  The two files are called `libXpm-X.a' and
`libXpm-noX.a' respectively, and you must symlink the appropriate one
to `libXpm.a'. *CAREFUL:* By default, the non-X version is symlinked
in.  If you then configure XEmacs with X, you won't run into problems
until you start compiling `events.c', at which point you'll get strange
and decidedly non-obvious errors.

   Please see `http://www.xemacs.freeserve.co.uk/' (Andy Piper's home
page) for more information.

   BTW There are also libraries at
`http://dao.gsfc.nasa.gov/software/grads/win32/X11R6.3/', but these are
not b19 compatible, and may in fact be native-compiled.

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6.2: Customization and User Interface
=====================================

Q6.2.1: How will the port cope with differences in the Windows user interface?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   XEmacs (and Emacs in general) UI is pretty different from what is
expected of a typical MS Windows program.  How will the MS Windows port
cope with it?

   Fortunately, Emacs is also one of the most configurable editor beasts
in the world.  The MS Windows "look and feel" (mark via shift-arrow,
self-inserting deletes region, etc.) can be easily configured via
various packages distributed with XEmacs.  The `pending-delete' package
is an example of such a utility.

   In future versions, some of these packages might be turned on by
default in the MS Windows environment.

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Q6.2.2: How do I change fonts in XEmacs on MS Windows?
------------------------------------------------------

   In 21.2.*, use the font menu.  In 21.1.*, you can change font
manually. For example:

         (set-face-font 'default "Lucida Console:Regular:10")
         (set-face-font 'modeline "MS Sans Serif:Regular:10")

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Q6.2.3: Where do I put my `init.el'/`.emacs' file?
--------------------------------------------------

   `init.el' is the name of the init file starting with 21.4, and is
located in the subdirectory `.xemacs/' of your home directory.  In
prior versions, the init file is called `.emacs' and is located in your
home directory.  Your home directory under Windows is determined by the
HOME environment variable.  If this is not set, it defaults to `C:\'.

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6.3: Miscellaneous
==================

Q6.3.1: Will XEmacs rename all the win32-* symbols to w32-*?
------------------------------------------------------------

   In his flavor of Emacs 20, Richard Stallman has renamed all the
win32-* symbols to w32-*.  Will XEmacs do the same?

   We consider such a move counter-productive, thus we will not use the
`w32' prefix.  However, we do recognize that Win32 name is little more
than a marketing buzzword (will it be Win64 in the next release?), so
we decided not to use it.  Using `windows-' would be wrong because the
term is too generic, which is why we settled on a compromise
`mswindows' term.

   Thus all the XEmacs variables and functions directly related to Win32
are prefixed `mswindows-'.  The user-variables shared with NT Emacs
will be provided as compatibility aliases.

   Architectural note: We believe that there should be a very small
number of window-systems-specific variables, and we provide generic
interfaces whenever possible.  Thus, most of the equivalents of GNU
Emacs `w32-*' functions and variables (as well as the corresponding
`x-*' versions) are non-window-system-specific in XEmacs, and the issue
of `mswindows-*' vs. `w32-*' does not come up much.

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Q6.3.2: What are the differences between the various MS Windows emacsen?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

   XEmacs, Win-Emacs, DOS Emacs, NT Emacs, this is all very confusing.
Could you briefly explain the differences between them?

   Here is a recount of various Emacs versions running on MS Windows:

   * Win-Emacs

        - Win-Emacs is a port of Lucid Emacs 19.6 to MS Windows using X
          compatibility libraries.  Win-Emacs has been written by Ben
          Wing.  The MS Windows code has not made it back to Lucid
          Emacs, which left Win-Emacs pretty much dead for our
          purposes.  Win-Emacs used to be available at Pearlsoft, but
          not anymore, since Pearlsoft went out of business.

   * GNU Emacs for DOS

        - GNU Emacs features support for MS-DOS and DJGPP (D.J.
          Delorie's DOS port of Gcc).  Such an Emacs is heavily
          underfeatured, because it does not supports long file names,
          lacks proper subprocesses support, and is far too big
          compared to typical DOS editors.

   * GNU Emacs compiled with Win32

        - Starting with version 19.30, it has been possible to compile
          GNU Emacs under MS Windows using the DJGPP compiler and X
          libraries.  The result is is very similar to GNU Emacs
          compiled under MS DOS, only it supports longer file names,
          etc.  This "port" is similar to the "X" flavor of XEmacs on
          MS Windows.

   * NT Emacs

        - NT Emacs is a version of GNU Emacs modified to compile and
          run under MS MS Windows 95 and NT using the native Win32 API.
          As such, it is close in spirit to the XEmacs "native" port.

        - NT Emacs has been written by Geoff Voelker, and more
          information can be found at
          `http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/voelker/ntemacs.html'.


   * XEmacs

        - Beginning with XEmacs 19.12, XEmacs' architecture has been
          redesigned in such a way to allow clean support of multiple
          window systems.  At this time the TTY support was added,
          making X and TTY the first two "window systems" XEmacs
          supported.  The 19.12 design is the basis for the current
          native MS Windows code.

        - Some time during 1997, David Hobley (soon joined by Marc
          Paquette) imported some of the NT-specific portions of GNU
          Emacs, making XEmacs with X support compile under Windows NT,
          and creating the "X" port.

        - Several months later, Jonathan Harris sent out initial
          patches to use the Win32 API, thus creating the native port.
          Since then, various people have contributed, including Kirill
          M. Katsnelson (contributed support for menubars, subprocesses
          and network, as well as loads of other code), Andy Piper
          (ported XEmacs to Cygwin environment, contributed Windows
          unexec, Windows-specific glyphs and toolbars code, and more),
          Jeff Sparkes (contributed scrollbars support) and many others.



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Q6.3.3: What is the porting team doing at the moment?
-----------------------------------------------------

   (as of March 2001)

   The porting team is continuing work on the MS Windows-specific code.
Major projects are the development of Mule (internationalization)
support for Windows and the improvement of the widget support (better
support for dialog boxes, buttons, edit fields, and similar UI
elements).

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6.3: Troubleshooting
====================

Q6.4.1 XEmacs won't start on Windows. (NEW)
-------------------------------------------

   XEmacs relies on a process called "dumping" to generate a working
executable. Under MS-Windows this process effectively fixes the memory
addresses of information in the executable. When XEmacs starts up it
tries to reserve these memory addresses so that the dumping process can
be reversed - putting the information back at the correct addresses.
Unfortunately some .dlls (For instance the soundblaster driver) occupy
memory addresses that can conflict with those needed by the dumped
XEmacs executable. In this instance XEmacs will fail to start without
any explanation. Note that this is extremely machine specific.

   21.1.10 includes a fix for this that makes more intelligent guesses
about which memory addresses will be free, and this should cure the
problem for most people.  Unfortunately, no binary is yet available for
this version.  Check back periodically at

   `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/binaries/'.

   21.2 implements "portable dumping" which will eliminate the problem
altogether.  You might have better luck with the 21.2 beta binary,
available at

   `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/beta/binaries/'.

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7 What the Future Holds
***********************

   This is part 7 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list.  This
section will change monthly, and contains any interesting items that
have transpired over the previous month.  If you are reading this from
the XEmacs distribution, please see the version on the Web or archived
at the various FAQ FTP sites, as this file is surely out of date.

* Menu:

* Q7.0.1::      What is new in 20.2?
* Q7.0.2::      What is new in 20.3?
* Q7.0.3::      What is new in 20.4?
* Q7.0.4::      Procedural changes in XEmacs development.

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7.0: Changes
============

Q7.0.1: What is new in 20.2?
----------------------------

   The biggest changes in 20.2 include integration of EFS (the next
generation of ange-ftp) and AUC Tex (the Emacs subsystem that includes a
major mode for editing Tex and LaTeX, and a lot of other stuff).  Many
bugs from 20.0 have been fixed for this release.  20.2 also contains a
new system for customizing XEmacs options, invoked via `M-x customize'.

   XEmacs 20.2 is the development release (20.0 was beta), and is no
longer considered unstable.

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Q7.0.2: What is new in 20.3?
----------------------------

   XEmacs 20.3 was released in November 1997. It contains many bugfixes,
and a number of new features, including Autoconf 2 based configuration,
additional support for Mule (Multi-language extensions to Emacs), many
more customizations, multiple frames on TTY-s, support for multiple info
directories, an enhanced gnuclient, improvements to regexp matching,
increased MIME support, and many, many synches with GNU Emacs 20.

   The XEmacs/Mule support has been only seriously tested in a Japanese
locale, and no doubt many problems still remain.  The support for
ISO-Latin-1 and Japanese is fairly strong.  MULE support comes at a
price--about a 30% slowdown from 19.16.  We're making progress on
improving performance and XEmacs 20.3 compiled without Mule (which is
the default) is definitely faster than XEmacs 19.16.

   XEmacs 20.3 is the first non-beta v20 release, and will be the basis
for all further development.

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Q7.0.3: What's new in XEmacs 20.4?
----------------------------------

   XEmacs 20.4 is a bugfix release with no user-visible changes.

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Q7.0.4: Procedural changes in XEmacs development.
-------------------------------------------------

  1. Discussion about the development of XEmacs occurs on the
     xemacs-beta mailing list.  Subscriptions to this list will now be
     fully automated instead of being handled by hand.  Send a mail
     message to <xemacs-beta-request@xemacs.org> with `subscribe' as the
     BODY of the message to join the list.  Please note this is a
     developers mailing list for people who have an active interest in
     the development process.

     The discussion of NT XEmacs development is taking place on a
     separate mailing list.  Send mail to
     <xemacs-nt-request@xemacs.org> to subscribe.

  2. Due to the long development cycle in between releases, it has been
     decided that intermediate versions will be made available in
     source only form for the truly interested.

     XEmacs 19.16 was the last 19 release, basically consisting of
     19.15 plus the collected bugfixes.

  3. As of December 1996, Steve Baur <steve@xemacs.org> has become the
     lead maintainer of XEmacs.