1 \input texinfo.tex @c -*- mode: texinfo; coding: iso-2022-8 -*-
3 @setfilename ../info/xemacs-faq.info
4 @settitle Frequently asked questions about XEmacs
10 @subtitle Frequently asked questions about XEmacs @* Last Modified: $Date: 2003/10/09 19:16:02 $
12 @author Tony Rossini <rossini@@u.washington.edu>
13 @author Ben Wing <ben@@xemacs.org>
14 @author Chuck Thompson <cthomp@@xemacs.org>
15 @author Steve Baur <steve@@xemacs.org>
16 @author Andreas Kaempf <andreas@@sccon.com>
17 @author Christian Nyb@o{} <chr@@mediascience.no>
18 @author Sandra Wambold <wambold@@xemacs.org>
23 @dircategory XEmacs Editor
25 * FAQ: (xemacs-faq). XEmacs FAQ.
29 @node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
32 This is the guide to the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list---a
33 compendium of questions and answers pertaining to one of the finest
34 programs ever written. XEmacs is much more than just a Text Editor.
36 This FAQ is freely redistributable. This FAQ is distributed in the hope
37 that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
38 implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
40 If you have a Web browser, the official hypertext version is at
44 @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/FAQ/xemacs-faq.html}
48 This document is available in several different formats:
51 @uref{xemacs-faq.txt, As a single ASCII file}, produced by
52 @code{makeinfo --no-headers}
54 @uref{xemacs-faq.dvi, As a .dvi file}, as used with
55 @uref{http://www.tug.org, TeX.}
57 As a PostScript file @uref{xemacs-faq-a4.ps, in A4 format},
58 as well as in @uref{xemacs-faq-letter.ps, letter format}
60 In html format, @uref{xemacs-faq_1.html, split by chapter}, or in
61 @uref{xemacs-faq.html, one monolithic} document.
63 The canonical version of the FAQ is the texinfo document
64 @uref{xemacs-faq.texi, man/xemacs-faq.texi}.
66 If you do not have makeinfo installed, you may @uref{xemacs-faq.info,
67 download the faq} in info format, and install it in @file{<XEmacs
68 library directory>/info/}. For example in
69 @file{/usr/local/lib/xemacs-21.4/info/}.
77 @c end ifset points to CANONICAL
80 * Introduction:: Introduction, Policy, Credits.
81 * Installation:: Installation and Trouble Shooting.
82 * Customization:: Customization and Options.
83 * Subsystems:: Major Subsystems.
84 * Miscellaneous:: The Miscellaneous Stuff.
85 * MS Windows:: XEmacs on Microsoft Windows.
86 * Current Events:: What the Future Holds.
87 * Legacy Versions:: New information about old XEmacsen.
91 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
93 Introduction, Policy, Credits
95 * Q1.0.1:: What is XEmacs?
96 * Q1.0.2:: What is the current version of XEmacs?
97 * Q1.0.3:: Where can I find it?
98 * Q1.0.4:: Why Another Version of Emacs?
99 * Q1.0.5:: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
100 * Q1.0.6:: Where can I get help?
101 * Q1.0.7:: Where are the mailing lists archived?
102 * Q1.0.8:: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
103 * Q1.0.9:: What does XEmacs look like?
104 * Q1.0.10:: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
105 * Q1.0.11:: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
106 * Q1.0.12:: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
107 * Q1.0.13:: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
108 * Q1.0.14:: Where can I get a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
111 * Q1.1.1:: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
112 * Q1.1.2:: How do I become a Beta Tester?
113 * Q1.1.3:: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
116 * Q1.2.1:: Who wrote XEmacs?
117 * Q1.2.2:: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
118 * Q1.2.3:: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
120 Internationalization:
121 * Q1.3.1:: What is the status of internationalization support aka MULE (including Asian language support?
122 * Q1.3.2:: How can I help with internationalization?
123 * Q1.3.3:: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
124 * Q1.3.4:: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
125 * Q1.3.5:: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs
126 * Q1.3.6:: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs?
127 * Q1.3.7:: How about Cyrillic Modes?
128 * Q1.3.8:: Does XEmacs support Unicode?
129 * Q1.3.9:: How does XEmacs display Unicode?
132 * Q1.4.1:: What is an @file{init.el} or @file{.emacs} and is there a sample one?
133 * Q1.4.2:: Can I use the same @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} with the other Emacs?
134 * Q1.4.3:: Any good XEmacs tutorials around?
135 * Q1.4.4:: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
136 * Q1.4.5:: And how do I bind it to a key?
137 * Q1.4.6:: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
139 Installation and Trouble Shooting
141 * Q2.0.1:: Running XEmacs without installing.
142 * Q2.0.2:: XEmacs is too big.
143 * Q2.0.3:: Compiling XEmacs with Netaudio.
144 * Q2.0.4:: Problems with Linux and ncurses.
145 * Q2.0.5:: Do I need X11 to run XEmacs?
146 * Q2.0.6:: I'm having strange crashes. What do I do?
147 * Q2.0.7:: Libraries in non-standard locations.
148 * Q2.0.8:: can't resolve symbol _h_errno
149 * Q2.0.9:: Where do I find external libraries?
150 * Q2.0.10:: After I run configure I find a coredump, is something wrong?
151 * Q2.0.11:: XEmacs can't resolve host names.
152 * Q2.0.12:: Why can't I strip XEmacs?
153 * Q2.0.13:: I don't need no steenkin' packages. Do I?
154 * Q2.0.14:: How do I figure out which packages to install?
155 * Q2.0.15:: EFS fails with "500 AUTH not understood" (NEW)
156 * Q2.0.16:: Cygwin XEmacs won't start: cygXpm-noX4.dll was not found (NEW)
159 * Q2.1.1:: XEmacs just crashed on me!
160 * Q2.1.2:: Cryptic Minibuffer messages.
161 * Q2.1.3:: Translation Table Syntax messages at Startup.
162 * Q2.1.4:: Startup warnings about deducing proper fonts?
163 * Q2.1.5:: XEmacs cannot connect to my X Terminal.
164 * Q2.1.6:: XEmacs just locked up my Linux X server.
165 * Q2.1.7:: HP Alt key as Meta.
166 * Q2.1.8:: got (wrong-type-argument color-instance-p nil)!
167 * Q2.1.9:: XEmacs causes my OpenWindows 3.0 server to crash.
168 * Q2.1.10:: Warnings from incorrect key modifiers.
169 * Q2.1.11:: Can't instantiate image error... in toolbar
170 * Q2.1.12:: Regular Expression Problems on DEC OSF1.
171 * Q2.1.13:: HP/UX 10.10 and @code{create_process} failure
172 * Q2.1.14:: @kbd{C-g} doesn't work for me. Is it broken?
173 * Q2.1.15:: How to debug an XEmacs problem with a debugger.
174 * Q2.1.16:: XEmacs crashes in @code{strcat} on HP/UX 10.
175 * Q2.1.17:: @samp{Marker does not point anywhere}.
176 * Q2.1.18:: XEmacs is outputting lots of X errors.
177 * Q2.1.19:: XEmacs does not follow the local timezone.
178 * Q2.1.20:: @samp{Symbol's function definition is void: hkey-help-show.}
179 * Q2.1.21:: [This question intentionally left blank]
180 * Q2.1.22:: XEmacs seems to take a really long time to do some things.
181 * Q2.1.23:: Movemail on Linux does not work for XEmacs 19.15 and later.
182 * Q2.1.24:: XEmacs won't start without network.
183 * Q2.1.25:: After upgrading, XEmacs won't do `foo' any more!
185 Customization and Options
187 * Q3.0.1:: What version of Emacs am I running?
188 * Q3.0.2:: How do I evaluate Elisp expressions?
189 * Q3.0.3:: @code{(setq tab-width 6)} behaves oddly.
190 * Q3.0.4:: How can I add directories to the @code{load-path}?
191 * Q3.0.5:: How to check if a lisp function is defined?
192 * Q3.0.6:: Can I force the output of @code{(face-list)} to a buffer?
193 * Q3.0.7:: Font selections don't get saved after @code{Save Options}.
194 * Q3.0.8:: How do I make a single minibuffer frame?
195 * Q3.0.9:: What is @code{Customize}?
197 X Window System & Resources:
198 * Q3.1.1:: Where is a list of X resources?
199 * Q3.1.2:: How can I detect a color display?
200 * Q3.1.3:: [This question intentionally left blank]
201 * Q3.1.4:: [This question intentionally left blank]
202 * Q3.1.5:: How can I get the icon to just say @samp{XEmacs}?
203 * Q3.1.6:: How can I have the window title area display the full path?
204 * Q3.1.7:: @samp{xemacs -name junk} doesn't work?
205 * Q3.1.8:: @samp{-iconic} doesn't work.
207 Textual Fonts & Colors:
208 * Q3.2.1:: How can I set color options from @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}?
209 * Q3.2.2:: How do I set the text, menu and modeline fonts?
210 * Q3.2.3:: How can I set the colors when highlighting a region?
211 * Q3.2.4:: How can I limit color map usage?
212 * Q3.2.5:: My tty supports color, but XEmacs doesn't use them.
213 * Q3.2.6:: Can I have pixmap backgrounds in XEmacs?
216 * Q3.3.1:: How can I make the modeline go away?
217 * Q3.3.2:: How do you have XEmacs display the line number in the modeline?
218 * Q3.3.3:: How do I get XEmacs to put the time of day on the modeline?
219 * Q3.3.4:: How do I turn off current chapter from AUC TeX modeline?
220 * Q3.3.5:: How can one change the modeline color based on the mode used?
222 Multiple Device Support:
223 * Q3.4.1:: How do I open a frame on another screen of my multi-headed display?
224 * Q3.4.2:: Can I really connect to a running XEmacs after calling up over a modem? How?
227 * Q3.5.1:: How can I bind complex functions (or macros) to keys?
228 * Q3.5.2:: How can I stop down-arrow from adding empty lines to the bottom of my buffers?
229 * Q3.5.3:: How do I bind C-. and C-; to scroll one line up and down?
230 * Q3.5.4:: Globally binding @kbd{Delete}?
231 * Q3.5.5:: Scrolling one line at a time.
232 * Q3.5.6:: How to map @kbd{Help} key alone on Sun type4 keyboard?
233 * Q3.5.7:: How can you type in special characters in XEmacs?
234 * Q3.5.8:: [This question intentionally left blank]
235 * Q3.5.9:: How do I make the Delete key delete forward?
236 * Q3.5.10:: Can I turn on @dfn{sticky} modifier keys?
237 * Q3.5.11:: How do I map the arrow keys?
240 * Q3.6.1:: Is there a way to make the bar cursor thicker?
241 * 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?
242 * Q3.6.3:: Can I make the cursor blink?
244 The Mouse and Highlighting:
245 * Q3.7.1:: How can I turn off Mouse pasting?
246 * Q3.7.2:: How do I set control/meta/etc modifiers on mouse buttons?
247 * Q3.7.3:: Clicking the left button does not do anything in buffer list.
248 * Q3.7.4:: How can I get a list of buffers when I hit mouse button 3?
249 * Q3.7.5:: Why does cut-and-paste not work between XEmacs and a cmdtool?
250 * Q3.7.6:: How I can set XEmacs up so that it pastes where the text cursor is?
251 * Q3.7.7:: How do I select a rectangular region?
252 * Q3.7.8:: Why does @kbd{M-w} take so long?
254 The Menubar and Toolbar:
255 * Q3.8.1:: How do I get rid of the menu (or menubar)?
256 * Q3.8.2:: Can I customize the basic menubar?
257 * Q3.8.3:: How do I control how many buffers are listed in the menu @code{Buffers} list?
258 * Q3.8.4:: Resources like @code{Emacs*menubar*font} are not working?
259 * Q3.8.5:: How can I bind a key to a function to toggle the toolbar?
262 * Q3.9.1:: How can I disable the scrollbar?
263 * Q3.9.2:: How can one use resources to change scrollbar colors?
264 * Q3.9.3:: Moving the scrollbar can move the point; can I disable this?
265 * Q3.9.4:: How can I turn off automatic horizontal scrolling in specific modes?
268 * Q3.10.1:: How can I turn off or change highlighted selections?
269 * Q3.10.2:: How do I get that typing on an active region removes it?
270 * Q3.10.3:: Can I turn off the highlight during isearch?
271 * Q3.10.4:: How do I turn off highlighting after @kbd{C-x C-p} (mark-page)?
272 * Q3.10.5:: The region disappears when I hit the end of buffer while scrolling.
273 * Q3.10.6:: Why is killing so slow?
277 * Q4.0.1:: How do I set up VM to retrieve remote mail using POP?
278 * Q4.0.2:: How do I get VM to filter mail for me?
279 * Q4.0.3:: How can I get VM to automatically check for new mail?
280 * Q4.0.4:: [This question intentionally left blank]
281 * Q4.0.5:: How do I get my outgoing mail archived?
282 * 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"?
283 * Q4.0.7:: Is there a mailing list or FAQ for VM?
284 * Q4.0.8:: Remote mail reading with VM.
285 * Q4.0.9:: rmail or VM gets an error incorporating new mail.
286 * Q4.0.10:: How do I make VM stay in a single frame?
287 * Q4.0.11:: How do I make VM or mh-e display graphical smilies?
288 * Q4.0.12:: Customization of VM not covered in the manual or here.
290 Web browsing with W3:
291 * Q4.1.1:: What is W3?
292 * Q4.1.2:: How do I run W3 from behind a firewall?
293 * Q4.1.3:: Is it true that W3 supports style sheets and tables?
295 Reading Netnews and Mail with Gnus:
296 * Q4.2.1:: GNUS, (ding) Gnus, Gnus 5, September Gnus, Red Gnus, Quassia Gnus, argh!
297 * Q4.2.2:: [This question intentionally left blank]
298 * Q4.2.3:: How do I make Gnus stay within a single frame?
299 * Q4.2.4:: How do I customize the From: line?
302 * Q4.3.1:: How can I read and/or compose MIME messages?
303 * Q4.3.2:: What is TM and where do I get it?
304 * Q4.3.3:: Why isn't this @code{movemail} program working?
305 * Q4.3.4:: Movemail is also distributed by Netscape? Can that cause problems?
306 * Q4.3.5:: Where do I find pstogif (required by tm)?
308 Sparcworks, EOS, and WorkShop:
309 * Q4.4.1:: What is SPARCworks, EOS, and WorkShop
310 * Q4.4.2:: How do I start the Sun Workshop support in XEmacs 21?
313 * Q4.5.1:: What is/was Energize?
316 * Q4.6.1:: What is Infodock?
318 Other Unbundled Packages:
319 * Q4.7.1:: What is AUC TeX? Where do you get it?
320 * Q4.7.2:: Are there any Emacs Lisp Spreadsheets?
321 * Q4.7.3:: [This question intentionally left blank]
322 * Q4.7.4:: Problems installing AUC TeX
323 * Q4.7.5:: Is there a reason for an Emacs package not to be included in XEmacs?
324 * Q4.7.6:: Is there a MatLab mode?
325 * Q4.7.7:: Can I edit files on other hosts?
327 The Miscellaneous Stuff
329 * Q5.0.1:: How can I do source code highlighting using font-lock?
330 * Q5.0.2:: I do not like cc-mode. How do I use the old c-mode?
331 * Q5.0.3:: How do I get @samp{More} Syntax Highlighting on by default?
332 * Q5.0.4:: How can I enable auto-indent and/or Filladapt?
333 * Q5.0.5:: How can I get XEmacs to come up in text/auto-fill mode by default?
334 * Q5.0.6:: How do I start up a second shell buffer?
335 * Q5.0.7:: Telnet from shell filters too much.
336 * Q5.0.8:: Why does edt emulation not work?
337 * Q5.0.9:: How can I emulate VI and use it as my default mode?
338 * Q5.0.10:: [This question intentionally left blank]
339 * Q5.0.11:: [This question intentionally left blank]
340 * Q5.0.12:: How do I disable gnuserv from opening a new frame?
341 * Q5.0.13:: How do I start gnuserv so that each subsequent XEmacs is a client?
342 * Q5.0.14:: Strange things are happening in Shell Mode.
343 * Q5.0.15:: Where do I get the latest CC Mode?
344 * Q5.0.16:: I find auto-show-mode disconcerting. How do I turn it off?
345 * Q5.0.17:: How can I get two instances of info?
346 * Q5.0.18:: [This question intentionally left blank]
347 * Q5.0.19:: Is there something better than LaTeX mode?
348 * Q5.0.20:: Is there a way to start a new XEmacs if there's no gnuserv running, and otherwise use gnuclient?
350 Emacs Lisp Programming Techniques:
351 * Q5.1.1:: The difference in key sequences between XEmacs and GNU Emacs?
352 * Q5.1.2:: Can I generate "fake" keyboard events?
353 * Q5.1.3:: Could you explain @code{read-kbd-macro} in more detail?
354 * Q5.1.4:: What is the performance hit of @code{let}?
355 * Q5.1.5:: What is the recommended use of @code{setq}?
356 * Q5.1.6:: What is the typical misuse of @code{setq} ?
357 * Q5.1.7:: I like the @code{do} form of cl, does it slow things down?
358 * Q5.1.8:: I like recursion, does it slow things down?
359 * Q5.1.9:: How do I put a glyph as annotation in a buffer?
360 * Q5.1.10:: @code{map-extents} won't traverse all of my extents!
361 * Q5.1.11:: My elisp program is horribly slow. Is there an easy way to find out where it spends time?
364 * Q5.2.1:: How do I turn off the sound?
365 * Q5.2.2:: How do I get funky sounds instead of a boring beep?
366 * Q5.2.3:: What's NAS, how do I get it?
367 * Q5.2.4:: Sunsite sounds don't play.
370 * Q5.3.1:: How do you make XEmacs indent CL if-clauses correctly?
371 * Q5.3.2:: [This question intentionally left blank]
372 * Q5.3.3:: How can I print WYSIWYG a font-locked buffer?
373 * Q5.3.4:: Getting @kbd{M-x lpr} to work with postscript printer.
374 * Q5.3.5:: How do I specify the paths that XEmacs uses for finding files?
375 * Q5.3.6:: [This question intentionally left blank]
376 * Q5.3.7:: Can I have the end of the buffer delimited in some way?
377 * Q5.3.8:: How do I insert today's date into a buffer?
378 * Q5.3.9:: Are only certain syntactic character classes available for abbrevs?
379 * Q5.3.10:: How can I get those oh-so-neat X-Face lines?
380 * Q5.3.11:: How do I add new Info directories?
381 * Q5.3.12:: What do I need to change to make printing work?
386 * Q6.0.1:: What is the status of the XEmacs port to Windows?
387 * Q6.0.2:: What flavors of MS Windows are supported? The list name implies NT only.
388 * Q6.0.3:: Are binaries available?
389 * Q6.0.4:: Can I build XEmacs on MS Windows with X support? Do I need to?
390 * Q6.0.5:: I'd like to help out. What do I do?
391 * Q6.0.6:: What are Cygwin and MinGW, and do I need them to run XEmacs?
392 * Q6.0.7:: What exactly are all the different ways to build XEmacs under Windows?
394 Building XEmacs on MS Windows:
395 * Q6.1.1:: What compiler/libraries do I need to compile XEmacs?
396 * Q6.1.2:: How do I compile the native port?
397 * Q6.1.3:: What do I need for Cygwin?
398 * Q6.1.4:: How do I compile under Cygwin?
399 * Q6.1.5:: How do I compile using MinGW (aka @samp{the -mno-cygwin flag to gcc})?
400 * Q6.1.6:: I decided to run with X. Where do I get an X server?
401 * Q6.1.7:: How do I compile with X support?
403 Customization and User Interface:
404 * Q6.2.1:: How does the port cope with differences in the Windows user interface?
405 * Q6.2.2:: How do I change fonts in XEmacs on MS Windows?
406 * Q6.2.3:: Where do I put my @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file?
407 * Q6.2.4:: How do I get Windows Explorer to associate a file type with XEmacs?
408 * Q6.2.5:: Is it possible to print from XEmacs?
411 * Q6.3.1:: Does XEmacs rename all the @samp{win32-*} symbols to @samp{w32-*}?
412 * Q6.3.2:: What are the differences between the various MS Windows emacsen?
413 * Q6.3.3:: XEmacs 21.1 on Windows used to spawn an ugly console window on every startup. Has that been fixed?
414 * Q6.3.4:: What is the porting team doing at the moment?
417 * Q6.4.1:: XEmacs won't start on Windows.
418 * Q6.4.2:: Why do I get a blank toolbar on Windows 95?
419 * Q6.4.3:: XEmacs complains "No such file or directory, diff"
421 What the Future Holds
423 * Q7.0.1:: What new features will be in XEmacs soon?
424 * Q7.0.2:: What's new in XEmacs 21.4?
425 * Q7.0.3:: What's new in XEmacs 21.1?
426 * Q7.0.4:: What's new in XEmacs 20.4?
427 * Q7.0.5:: What's new in XEmacs 20.3?
428 * Q7.0.6:: What's new in XEmacs 20.2?
430 New information about old XEmacsen.
433 * Q8.0.1:: Gnus 5.10 won't display smileys in XEmacs 21.1.
438 @node Introduction, Installation, Top, Top
439 @unnumbered 1 Introduction, Policy, Credits
441 Learning XEmacs is a lifelong activity. Even people who have used Emacs
442 for years keep discovering new features. Therefore this document cannot
443 be complete. Instead it is aimed at the person who is either
444 considering XEmacs for their own use, or has just obtained it and is
445 wondering what to do next. It is also useful as a reference to
448 The previous maintainer of the FAQ was @email{rossini@@biostat.washington.edu,
449 Anthony Rossini}, who started it, after getting tired of hearing JWZ
450 complain about repeatedly having to answer questions.
451 @email{ben@@xemacs.org, Ben Wing} and @email{cthomp@@xemacs.org, Chuck
452 Thompson}, the principal authors of XEmacs, then took over and Ben did
453 a massive update reorganizing the whole thing. At which point Anthony
454 took back over, but then had to give it up again. Some of the other
455 contributors to this FAQ are listed later in this document.
457 The previous version was converted to hypertext format, and edited by
458 @email{steve@@xemacs.org, Steven L. Baur}. It was converted back to
459 texinfo by @email{hniksic@@xemacs.org, Hrvoje Niksic}. The FAQ was then
460 maintained by @email{andreas@@sccon.com, Andreas Kaempf}, who passed it
461 on to ChristianNyb@o{}.
463 If you notice any errors or items which should be added or amended to
464 this FAQ please send email to @email{faq@@xemacs.org, Sandra
465 Wambold}. Include @samp{XEmacs FAQ} on the Subject: line.
469 * Q1.0.1:: What is XEmacs?
470 * Q1.0.2:: What is the current version of XEmacs?
471 * Q1.0.3:: Where can I find it?
472 * Q1.0.4:: Why Another Version of Emacs?
473 * Q1.0.5:: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
474 * Q1.0.6:: Where can I get help?
475 * Q1.0.7:: Where are the mailing lists archived?
476 * Q1.0.8:: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
477 * Q1.0.9:: What does XEmacs look like?
478 * Q1.0.10:: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
479 * Q1.0.11:: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
480 * Q1.0.12:: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
481 * Q1.0.13:: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
482 * Q1.0.14:: Where can I get a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
485 * Q1.1.1:: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
486 * Q1.1.2:: How do I become a Beta Tester?
487 * Q1.1.3:: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
490 * Q1.2.1:: Who wrote XEmacs?
491 * Q1.2.2:: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
492 * Q1.2.3:: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
494 Internationalization:
495 * Q1.3.1:: What is the status of internationalization support aka MULE (including Asian language support?
496 * Q1.3.2:: How can I help with internationalization?
497 * Q1.3.3:: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
498 * Q1.3.4:: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
499 * Q1.3.5:: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs
500 * Q1.3.6:: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs?
501 * Q1.3.7:: How about Cyrillic Modes?
502 * Q1.3.8:: Does XEmacs support Unicode?
503 * Q1.3.9:: How does XEmacs display Unicode?
506 * Q1.4.1:: What is an @file{init.el} or @file{.emacs} and is there a sample one?
507 * Q1.4.2:: Can I use the same @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} with the other Emacs?
508 * Q1.4.3:: Any good XEmacs tutorials around?
509 * Q1.4.4:: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
510 * Q1.4.5:: And how do I bind it to a key?
511 * Q1.4.6:: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
514 @node Q1.0.1, Q1.0.2, Introduction, Introduction
515 @unnumberedsec 1.0: Introduction
516 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.1: What is XEmacs?
519 XEmacs is a powerful, highly customizable open source text editor and
520 application development system, with full GUI support. It is protected
521 under the GNU Public License and related to other versions of Emacs, in
522 particular GNU Emacs. Its emphasis is on modern graphical user
523 interface support and an open software development model, similar to
524 Linux. XEmacs has an active development community numbering in the
525 hundreds (and thousands of active beta testers on top of this), and runs
526 on all versions of MS Windows, on Linux, and on nearly every other
527 version of Unix in existence. Support for XEmacs has been supplied by
528 Sun Microsystems, University of Illinois, Lucid, ETL/Electrotechnical
529 Laboratory, Amdahl Corporation, BeOpen, and others, as well as the
530 unpaid time of a great number of individual developers.
532 @node Q1.0.2, Q1.0.3, Q1.0.1, Introduction
533 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.2: What is the current version of XEmacs?
535 XEmacs versions 21.1.* are releases made from the current stable
536 sources. XEmacs versions 21.2.* are releases made from the development
537 sources. Check at @uref{http://www.xemacs.org} for the current minor
540 XEmacs 19.16 was the last release of v19, released in November, 1997,
541 which was also the last version without international language support.
543 @node Q1.0.3, Q1.0.4, Q1.0.2, Introduction
544 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.3: Where can I find it?
546 The canonical source and binaries can be found via anonymous FTP at:
549 @uref{ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/}
552 @node Q1.0.4, Q1.0.5, Q1.0.3, Introduction
553 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.4: Why Another Version of Emacs?
555 For a detailed description of the differences between GNU Emacs and
556 XEmacs and a detailed history of XEmacs, check out the
558 @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/About/XEmacsVsGNUemacs.html, NEWS file}
561 However, here is a list of some of the reasons why we think you might
569 The XEmacs maintainers are generally more receptive to suggestions than
570 the GNU Emacs maintainers.
573 Many more bundled packages than GNU Emacs.
576 Binaries are available for many common operating systems.
579 Face support on TTY's.
585 Better Motif compliance.
588 Some internationalization support (including full MULE support, if
592 Variable-width fonts.
595 Variable-height lines.
598 Marginal annotations.
604 XEmacs can be used as an Xt widget, and can be embedded within another
608 Horizontal and vertical scrollbars (using real toolkit scrollbars).
611 Better APIs (and performance) for attaching fonts, colors, and other
615 The ability to embed arbitrary graphics in a buffer.
618 Completely compatible (at the C level) with the Xt-based toolkits.
622 @node Q1.0.5, Q1.0.6, Q1.0.4, Introduction
623 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.5: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
625 There are currently irreconcilable differences in the views about
626 technical, programming, design and organizational matters between RMS
627 and the XEmacs development team which provide little hope for a merge to
628 take place in the short-term future.
630 If you have a comment to add regarding the merge, it is a good idea to
631 avoid posting to the newsgroups, because of the very heated flamewars
632 that often result. Mail your questions to @email{xemacs-beta@@xemacs.org} and
633 @email{bug-gnu-emacs@@prep.ai.mit.edu}.
635 @node Q1.0.6, Q1.0.7, Q1.0.5, Introduction
636 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.6: Where can I get help?
638 Probably the easiest way, if everything is installed, is to use Info, by
639 pressing @kbd{C-h i}, or looking for an Info item on the
640 Help Menu. @kbd{M-x apropos} can be used to look for particular commands.
642 For items not found in the manual, try reading this FAQ
643 @comment , examining the regular GNU Emacs FAQ (which can be
644 @comment found with the Emacs 19 distribution) as well as at
645 @comment @uref{http://www.eecs.nwu.edu/emacs/faq/}
646 and reading the Usenet group comp.emacs.xemacs.
648 If you choose to post to a newsgroup, @strong{please use
649 comp.emacs.xemacs}. Please do not post XEmacs related questions to
652 If you cannot post or read Usenet news, there is a corresponding mailing
653 list @email{xemacs-news@@xemacs.org} which is available. It can be
654 subscribed to via the Mailman Web interface or by sending mail to to
655 @email{xemacs-news-request@@xemacs.org} with @samp{subscribe} in the
656 body of the message. See also
657 @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/Lists/#xemacs-news}. To cancel a
658 subscription, you may use the @email{xemacs-news-request@@xemacs.org}
659 address or the Web interface. Send a message with a subject of
660 @samp{unsubscribe} to be removed.
662 @node Q1.0.7, Q1.0.8, Q1.0.6, Introduction
663 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.7: Where are the mailing lists archived?
665 The archives can be found at @uref{http://list-archive.xemacs.org}
667 @node Q1.0.8, Q1.0.9, Q1.0.7, Introduction
668 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.8: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
670 The most common pronounciation is @samp{Eks eemax}.
672 @node Q1.0.9, Q1.0.10, Q1.0.8, Introduction
673 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.9: What does XEmacs look like?
675 Screen snapshots are available at
676 @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/About/Screenshots/index.html}
677 as part of the XEmacs website.
679 @node Q1.0.10, Q1.0.11, Q1.0.9, Introduction
680 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.10: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
682 Yes. XEmacs can be built under MS Windows and is fully-featured and
683 actively developed. See @ref{MS Windows}.
685 @node Q1.0.11, Q1.0.12, Q1.0.10, Introduction
686 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.11: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
689 @c There has been a port to the MachTen environment of XEmacs 19.13, but no
690 @c patches have been submitted to the maintainers to get this in the
691 @c mainstream distribution.
693 @c For the MacOS, there is a port of
694 @c @uref{ftp://ftp.cs.cornell.edu/pub/parmet/, Emacs 18.59}.
698 XEmacs 21.5 (perhaps 21.4 also?) works on MacOS X, although it certainly
699 will not feel very much like a Mac application as it has no Mac-specific
702 There is also a port of XEmacs 19.14 that works on all recent versions
703 of MacOS, from 8.1 through MacOS X, by @email{pjarvis@@ispchannel.com,
704 Pitts Jarvis}. It runs in an equivalent of TTY mode only (one single
705 Macintosh window, 25 colors), but has a large number of Mac-specific
706 additions. It's available at
707 @uref{http://homepage.mac.com/pjarvis/xemacs.html}.
709 @node Q1.0.12, Q1.0.13, Q1.0.11, Introduction
710 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.12: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
712 Carl Edman, apparently no longer at @email{cedman@@princeton.edu}, did
713 the port of GNU Emacs to NeXTstep and expressed interest in doing the
714 XEmacs port, but never went any farther.
716 @node Q1.0.13, Q1.0.14, Q1.0.12, Introduction
717 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.13: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
719 No, but Alexander Nikolaev <avn_1251@@mail.ru> is working on it.
721 @node Q1.0.14, Q1.1.1, Q1.0.13, Introduction
722 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.0.14: Where can I obtain a printed copy of the XEmacs User's Manual?
724 Pre-printed manuals are not available. If you are familiar with
725 TeX, you can generate your own manual from the XEmacs sources.
727 HTML and Postscript versions of XEmacs manuals are available from the
729 @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/Documentation/index.html}.
731 @node Q1.1.1, Q1.1.2, Q1.0.14, Introduction
732 @unnumberedsec 1.1: Policies
733 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.1.1: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
735 The FAQ is actively maintained and modified regularly. All links should
736 be up to date. Unfortunately, some of the information is out of date --
737 a situation which the FAQ maintainer is working on. All submissions are
738 welcome, please e-mail submissions to @email{faq@@xemacs.org, XEmacs FAQ
741 Please make sure that @samp{XEmacs FAQ} appears on the Subject: line.
742 If you think you have a better way of answering a question, or think a
743 question should be included, we'd like to hear about it. Questions and
744 answers included into the FAQ will be edited for spelling and grammar
745 and will be attributed. Answers appearing without attribution are
746 either from versions of the FAQ dated before May 1996 or are from
747 previous FAQ maintainers. Answers quoted from Usenet news articles will
748 always be attributed, regardless of the author.
750 @node Q1.1.2, Q1.1.3, Q1.1.1, Introduction
751 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.1.2: How do I become a Beta Tester?
753 Send an email message to @email{xemacs-beta-request@@xemacs.org} with
754 the line @samp{subscribe} in the body of the message.
756 Be prepared to get your hands dirty, as beta testers are expected to
757 identify problems as best they can.
759 @node Q1.1.3, Q1.2.1, Q1.1.2, Introduction
760 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.1.3: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
762 Ben Wing @email{ben@@xemacs.org} writes:
765 BTW if you have a wish list of things that you want added, you have to
766 speak up about it! More specifically, you can do the following if you
767 want a feature added (in increasing order of usefulness):
771 Make a posting about a feature you want added.
774 Become a beta tester and make more postings about those same features.
777 Convince us that you're going to use the features in some cool and
781 Come up with a clear and well-thought-out API concerning the features.
784 Write the code to implement a feature and send us a patch.
787 (not that we're necessarily requiring you to write the code, but we can
791 @node Q1.2.1, Q1.2.2, Q1.1.3, Introduction
792 @unnumberedsec 1.2: Credits
793 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.2.1: Who wrote XEmacs?
795 XEmacs is the result of the time and effort of many people. The
796 developers responsible for recent releases are:
799 @item @email{martin@@xemacs.org, Martin Buchholz}
801 <br><img src="mrb.jpeg" alt="Portrait of Martin Buchholz"><br>
805 @item @email{stephen@@xemacs.org, Stephen Turnbull}
808 @item @email{ben@@xemacs.org, Ben Wing}
810 <br><img src="wing.gif" alt="Portrait of Ben Wing"><br>
814 @item @email{hniksic@@xemacs.org, Hrvoje Niksic}
817 <br><img src="hniksic.jpeg" alt="Portrait of Hrvoje Niksic"><br>
822 The developers responsible for older releases were:
825 @item @email{steve@@xemacs.org, Steve Baur}
828 <br><img src="steve.gif" alt="Portrait of Steve Baur"><br>
831 @item @email{cthomp@@xemacs.org, Chuck Thompson}
833 <br><img src="cthomp.jpeg" alt="Portrait of Chuck Thompson"><br>
836 @item @email{jwz@@jwz.org, Jamie Zawinski}
838 <br><img src="jwz.gif" alt="Portrait of Jamie Zawinski"><br>
841 @item @email{mly@@adoc.xerox.com, Richard Mlynarik}
843 Steve Baur was the primary maintainer for 19.15 through 21.0.
845 Chuck Thompson and Ben Wing were the maintainers for 19.11 through 19.14
846 and heavy code contributors for 19.8 through 19.10.
848 Jamie Zawinski was the maintainer for 19.0 through 19.10 (the entire
849 history of Lucid Emacs). Richard Mlynarik was a heavy code contributor
850 to 19.6 through 19.8.
854 Along with many other contributors, partially enumerated in the
855 @samp{About XEmacs} option in the Help menu.
857 @node Q1.2.2, Q1.2.3, Q1.2.1, Introduction
858 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.2.2: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
860 The following people contributed valuable suggestions to building this
861 version of the FAQ (listed in alphabetical order):
864 @item @email{steve@@xemacs.org, SL Baur}
866 @item @email{hniksic@@xemacs.org, Hrvoje Niksic}
868 @item @email{Aki.Vehtari@@hut.fi, Aki Vehtari}
872 @node Q1.2.3, Q1.3.1, Q1.2.2, Introduction
873 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.2.3: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
875 This is only a partial list, as many names were lost in a hard disk
879 @item @email{binge@@aloft.att.com, Curtis.N.Bingham}
881 @item @email{bruncott@@dormeur.inria.fr, Georges Brun-Cottan}
883 @item @email{rjc@@cogsci.ed.ac.uk, Richard Caley}
885 @item @email{cognot@@ensg.u-nancy.fr, Richard Cognot}
887 @item @email{daku@@nortel.ca, Mark Daku}
889 @item @email{wgd@@martigny.ai.mit.edu, William G. Dubuque}
891 @item @email{eeide@@cs.utah.edu, Eric Eide}
893 @item @email{af@@biomath.jussieu.fr, Alain Fauconnet}
895 @item @email{cflatter@@nrao.edu, Chris Flatters}
897 @item @email{ginsparg@@adra.com, Evelyn Ginsparg}
899 @item @email{hall@@aplcenmp.apl.jhu.edu, Marty Hall}
901 @item @email{dkindred@@cmu.edu, Darrell Kindred}
903 @item @email{dmoore@@ucsd.edu, David Moore}
905 @item @email{arup+@@cmu.edu, Arup Mukherjee}
907 @item @email{nickel@@prz.tu-berlin.de, Juergen Nickelsen}
909 @item @email{powell@@csl.ncsa.uiuc.edu, Kevin R. Powell}
911 @item @email{dworkin@@ccs.neu.edu, Justin Sheehy}
913 @item @email{stig@@hackvan.com, Stig}
915 @item @email{Aki.Vehtari@@hut.fi, Aki Vehtari}
918 @node Q1.3.1, Q1.3.2, Q1.2.3, Introduction
919 @unnumberedsec 1.3: Internationalization
920 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.1: What is the status of internationalization support aka MULE (including Asian language support?
922 Both the stable and development versions of XEmacs include
923 internationalization support (aka MULE). MULE currently (21.4) works on
924 UNIX and Linux systems. It is possible to build with MULE on Windows
925 systems, but if you really need MULE on Windows, it is recommended that
926 you build and use the development (21.5) version, and deal with the
927 instability of the development tree. Binaries compiled without MULE
928 support run faster than MULE capable XEmacsen.
930 @node Q1.3.2, Q1.3.3, Q1.3.1, Introduction
931 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.2: How can I help with internationalization?
933 If you would like to help, you may want to join the
934 @email{xemacs-mule@@xemacs.org} mailing list. Especially needed are
935 people who speak/write languages other than English, who are willing to
936 use XEmacs/MULE regularly, and have some experience with Elisp.
938 Translations of the TUTORIAL and man page are welcome, and XEmacs does
939 support multilingual menus, but we have few current translations.
943 @node Q1.3.3, Q1.3.4, Q1.3.2, Introduction
944 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.3: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
946 See question 3.5.7 (@pxref{Q3.5.7}) in part 3 of this FAQ for some
947 simple methods that also work in non-MULE builds of XEmacs (but only for
948 one-octet coded character sets, and mostly for ISO 8859/1). Many of the
949 methods available for Cyrillic (@pxref{Q1.3.7}) work without MULE.
950 MULE has more general capabilities. @xref{Q1.3.5}.
952 @xref{Q3.2.7}, which covers display of non-ASCII characters.
954 @node Q1.3.4, Q1.3.5, Q1.3.3, Introduction
955 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.4: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
957 The message-catalog support was written but is badly bit-rotted. XEmacs
958 20 and 21 did @emph{not} support it, and early releases of XEmacs 22
961 However, menubar localization @emph{does} work. To enable it, add to
962 your @file{Emacs} file entries like this:
965 Emacs*XlwMenu.resourceLabels: True
966 Emacs*XlwMenu.file.labelString: Fichier
967 Emacs*XlwMenu.openInOtherWindow.labelString: In anderem Fenster oeffnen
970 The name of the resource is derived from the non-localized entry by
971 removing punctuation and capitalizing as above.
973 @node Q1.3.5, Q1.3.6, Q1.3.4, Introduction
974 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.5: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs
976 Mule supports a wide variety of input methods. There are three basic
977 classes: Lisp implementations, generic platform support, and library
980 @emph{Lisp implementations} include Quail, which provides table-driven input
981 methods for almost all the character sets that Mule supports (including
982 all of the ISO 8859 family, the Indic languages, Thai, and so on), and
983 SKK, for Japanese. (SKK also supports an interface to an external
984 "dictionary server" process.) Quail supports both typical "dead-key"
985 methods (eg, in the "latin-1-prefix" method, @kbd{" a} produces ä, LATIN
986 SMALL LETTER A WITH DIAERESIS), and the complex dictionary-based phonetic
987 methods used for Asian ideographic languages like Chinese.
989 Lisp implementations can be less powerful (but they are not perceptibly
990 inefficient), and of course are not portable to non-Emacs applications.
991 The incompatibility can be very annoying. On the other hand, they
992 require no special platform support or external libraries, so if you can
993 display the characters, Mule can input them for you and you can edit,
996 @emph{Generic platform support} is currently limited to the X Input
997 Method (XIM) framework, although support for MSIME (for MS Windows) is
998 planned, and IIIMF (Sun's Internet-Intranet Input Method Framework)
999 support is extremely desirable. XIM is enabled at build time by use of
1000 the @samp{--with-xim} flag to @code{configure}. For use of XIM, see
1001 your platform documentation. However, normally the input method you use
1002 is specified via the @samp{LANG} and @samp{XMODIFIERS} environment
1005 Of course, input skills are portable across most applications. However,
1006 especially in modern GUI systems the habit of using bucky bits has
1007 fallen into sad disuse, and many XIM systems are poorly configured for
1008 use with Emacs. For example, the kinput2 input manager (a separate
1009 process providing an interface between Japanese dictionary servers such
1010 as Canna and Wnn, and the application) tends to gobble up keystrokes
1011 generating Meta characters. This means that to edit while using an XIM
1012 input method, you must toggle the input method off every time you want
1013 to use @kbd{M-f}. Your mileage may vary.
1015 @emph{Library interfaces} are most common for Japanese, although Wnn
1016 supports Chinese (traditional and simplified) and Korean. There are
1017 Chinese and Korean input servers available, but we do not know of any
1018 patches for XEmacs to use them directly. You can use them via
1019 IM-enabled terminals, by manipulating the terminal coding systems. We
1020 describe only the Japanese-oriented systems here. The advantage of
1021 these systems is that they are very powerful, and on platforms where
1022 they are available there is typically a wide range of applications that
1023 support them. Thus your input skills are portable across applications.
1025 Mule provides built-in interfaces to the following input methods: Wnn4,
1026 Wnn6, Canna, and SJ3. These can be configured at build time. There are
1027 patches available (no URL, sorry) to support the SKK server, as well.
1028 Wnn and SJ3 use the @code{egg} user interface. The interface for Canna
1029 is specialized to Canna.
1031 Wnn supports Japanese, Chinese and Korean. It is made by OMRON and Kyôto
1032 University. It is a powerful and complex system. Wnn4 is free and Wnn6
1033 is not. Wnn uses grammatical hints and probability of word association,
1034 so in principle Wnn can be cleverer than other methods.
1036 Canna, made by NEC, supports only Japanese. It is a simple and powerful
1037 system. Canna uses only grammar, but its grammar and dictionary are
1038 quite sophisticated. So for standard modern Japanese, Canna seems
1039 cleverer than Wnn4. In addition, the UNIX version of Canna is free (now
1040 there is a Microsoft Windows version).
1042 SJ3, by Sony, supports only Japanese.
1044 Egg consists of following parts:
1048 Input character Translation System (ITS) layer.
1049 It translates ASCII inputs to Kana/PinYin/Hangul characters.
1052 Kana/PinYin/Hangul to Kanji transfer layer.
1053 The interface layer to network Kana-Kanji server (Wnn and Sj3).
1056 These input methods are modal. They have a raw (alphabet) mode, a
1057 phonetic input mode, and Kana-Kanji transfer mode. However there are
1058 mode-less input methods for Egg and Canna. @samp{boiled-egg} is a
1059 mode-less input method running on Egg. For Canna, @samp{canna.el} has a
1060 tiny boiled-egg-like command, @code{(canna-boil)}, and there are some
1061 boiled-egg-like utilities.
1063 Much of this information was provided by @email{morioka@@jaist.ac.jp,
1066 @node Q1.3.6, Q1.3.7, Q1.3.5, Introduction
1067 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.6: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs?
1069 MULE has evolved rapidly over the last few years, and the original third
1070 party patch (for GNU Emacs 19), GNU Emacs 20+, and XEmacs 20+ have quite
1071 different implementations. The APIs also vary although recent versions
1072 of XEmacs have tended to converge to the GNU Emacs standard.
1074 MULE implementations are going to continue to evolve. Both GNU Emacs
1075 and XEmacs are working hard on Unicode support, which will involve new
1076 APIs and probably variations on old ones. For XEmacs 22, the old ISO
1077 2022-based system for recognizing encodings will be replaced by a much
1078 more flexible system, which should improve accuracy of automatic coding
1079 detections, but will also involve new APIs.
1081 @email{morioka@@jaist.ac.jp, MORIOKA Tomohiko} writes:
1084 The application implementor must write separate code for these mule
1085 variants. [Please don't hesitate to report these variants to us; they
1086 are not, strictly speaking, bugs, but they give third-party developers
1087 the same kind of creepy-crawly feeling. We'll do what we can. -- Ed.]
1089 MULE and the next version of Emacs are similar but the symbols are very
1090 different---requiring separate code as well.
1092 Namely we must support 3 kinds of mule variants and 4 or 5 or 6 kinds of
1093 emacs variants... (;_;) I'm shocked, so I wrote a wrapper package called
1094 @code{emu} to provide a common interface. [There is an XEmacs package
1095 of APEL which provides much more comprehensive coverage. Be careful,
1096 however; APEL has problems of its own. -- Ed.]
1098 I have the following suggestions about dealing with mule variants:
1102 @code{(featurep 'mule)} @code{t} on all mule variants
1105 @code{(boundp 'MULE)} is @code{t} on only MULE. Maybe the next version
1106 of Emacs will not have this symbol.
1109 MULE has a variable @code{mule-version}. Perhaps the next version of
1110 Emacs will have this variable as well.
1113 Following is a sample to distinguish mule variants:
1116 (if (featurep 'mule)
1117 (cond ((boundp 'MULE)
1118 ;; for original Mule
1120 ((string-match "XEmacs" emacs-version)
1121 ;; for XEmacs with Mule
1124 ;; for next version of Emacs
1126 ;; for old emacs variants
1131 @node Q1.3.7, Q1.3.8, Q1.3.6, Introduction
1132 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.7: How about Cyrillic Modes?
1134 @email{ilya@@math.ohio-state.edu, Ilya Zakharevich} writes:
1137 There is a cyrillic mode in the file @file{mysetup.zip} in
1141 @uref{ftp://ftp.math.ohio-state.edu/pub/users/ilya/emacs/}. This is a
1142 modification to @email{ava@@math.jhu.ed, Valery Alexeev's} @file{russian.el}
1143 which can be obtained from
1146 @uref{http://www.math.uga.edu/~valery/russian.el}.
1148 @email{d.barsky@@ee.surrey.ac.uk, Dima Barsky} writes:
1151 There is another cyrillic mode for both GNU Emacs and XEmacs by
1152 @email{manin@@camelot.mssm.edu, Dmitrii
1157 @uref{http://kulichki-lat.rambler.ru/centrolit/manin/cyr.el}.
1158 @c Link above, <URL:http://camelot.mssm.edu/~manin/cyr.el> was dead.
1159 @c Changed to russian host instead
1162 @email{rebecca.ore@@op.net, Rebecca Ore} writes:
1165 The fullest resource I found on Russian language use (in and out of
1166 XEmacs) is @uref{http://www.ibiblio.org/sergei/Software/Software.html}
1169 @node Q1.3.8, Q1.3.9, Q1.3.7, Introduction
1170 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.8: Does XEmacs support Unicode?
1172 Partially, as an external encoding for files, processes, and terminals.
1173 It does not yet support Unicode fonts @ref{Q1.3.9, Does XEmacs support
1176 To get Unicode support, you need a Mule-enabled XEmacs. Install
1177 Mule-UCS from packages in the usual way. Put
1180 (require 'un-define)
1181 (set-coding-priority-list '(utf-8))
1182 (set-coding-category-system 'utf-8 'utf-8)
1185 in your init file to enable the UTF-8 coding system. You may wish to
1186 view the documentation of @code{set-coding-priority-list} if you find
1187 that files that are not UTF-8 are being mis-recognized as UTF-8.
1189 Install standard national fonts (not Unicode fonts) for all
1190 character sets you use. See @ref{Q1.3.9}.
1192 Mule-UCS also supports 16-bit forms of Unicode (UTF-16). It does not
1193 support 31-bit forms of Unicode (UTF-32 or UCS-4).
1195 @node Q1.3.9, Q1.4.1, Q1.3.8, Introduction
1196 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.3.9: How does XEmacs display Unicode?
1198 Mule doesn't have a Unicode charset internally, so there's nothing to
1199 bind a Unicode registry to. It would not be straightforward to create,
1200 either, because Unicode is not ISO 2022-compatible. You'd have to
1201 translate it to multiple 96x96 pages.
1203 This means that Mule-UCS uses ordinary national fonts for display. This
1204 is not really a problem, except for those languages that use the Unified
1205 Han characters. The problem here is that Mule-UCS maps from Unicode
1206 code points to national character sets in a deterministic way. By
1207 default, this means that Japanese fonts are tried first, then Chinese,
1208 then Korean. To change the priority ordering, use the command
1209 `un-define-change-charset-order'.
1211 It also means you can't use Unicode fonts directly, at least not without
1212 extreme hackery. You can run -nw with (set-terminal-coding-system
1213 'utf-8) if you really want a Unicode font for some reason.
1215 Real Unicode support will be introduced in XEmacs 22.0.
1217 @node Q1.4.1, Q1.4.2, Q1.3.9, Introduction
1218 @unnumberedsec 1.4: Getting Started, Backing up & Recovery
1219 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.4.1: What is an @file{init.el} or @file{.emacs} and is there a sample one?
1221 The @file{init.el} or @file{.emacs} file is used to customize XEmacs to
1222 your tastes. Starting in 21.4, the preferred location for the init file
1223 is @file{~/.xemacs/init.el}; in previous versions, it was
1224 @file{~/.emacs}. 21.4 still accepts the old location, but the first
1225 time you run it, it will ask to migrate your file to the new location.
1226 If you answer yes, the file will be moved, and a "compatibility"
1227 @file{.emacs} file will be placed in the old location so that you can
1228 still run older versions of XEmacs, and versions of GNU Emacs, which
1229 expect the old location. The @file{.emacs} file present is just a stub
1230 that loads the real file in @file{~/.xemacs/init.el}.
1232 No two init files are alike, nor are they expected to be alike, but
1233 that's the point. The XEmacs distribution contains an excellent starter
1234 example in the @file{etc/} directory called @file{sample.init.el}
1235 (starting in 21.4) or @file{sample.emacs} in older versions. Copy this
1236 file from there to @file{~/.xemacs/init.el} (starting in 21.4) or
1237 @file{~/.emacs} in older versions, where @samp{~} means your home
1238 directory, of course. Then edit it to suit.
1240 You may bring the @file{sample.init.el} or @file{sample.emacs} file into
1241 an XEmacs buffer from the menubar. (The menu entry for it is always
1242 under the @samp{Help} menu, but its location under that has changed in
1243 various versions. Recently, look under the @samp{Samples} submenu.) To
1244 determine the location of the @file{etc/} directory type the command
1245 @kbd{C-h v data-directory @key{RET}}.
1247 @node Q1.4.2, Q1.4.3, Q1.4.1, Introduction
1248 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.4.2: Can I use the same @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} with the other Emacs?
1250 Yes. The sample @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} included in the XEmacs
1251 distribution will show you how to handle different versions and flavors
1254 @node Q1.4.3, Q1.4.4, Q1.4.2, Introduction
1255 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.4.3: Any good tutorials around?
1257 There's the XEmacs tutorial available from the Help Menu under
1258 @samp{Basics->Tutorials}, or by typing @kbd{C-h t}. To check whether
1259 it's available in a non-english language, type @kbd{C-u C-h t TAB}, type
1260 the first letters of your preferred language, then type @key{RET}.
1262 @comment There's an Emacs Lisp tutorial at
1265 @comment @uref{ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/emacs-lisp-intro-1.04.tar.gz}.
1266 @comment @end example
1268 @comment @email{erik@@petaxp.rug.ac.be, Erik Sundermann} has made a tutorial web
1273 @comment @uref{http://petaxp.rug.ac.be/~erik/xemacs/}.
1275 @node Q1.4.4, Q1.4.5, Q1.4.3, Introduction
1276 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.4.4: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
1278 The following function does a little bit of everything useful. It does
1279 something with the prefix argument, it examines the text around the
1280 cursor, and it's interactive so it may be bound to a key. It inserts
1281 copies of the current word the cursor is sitting on at the cursor. If
1282 you give it a prefix argument: @kbd{C-u 3 M-x double-word} then it will
1286 (defun double-word (count)
1287 "Insert a copy of the current word underneath the cursor"
1289 (let (here there string)
1294 (setq there (point))
1295 (setq string (buffer-substring here there)))
1301 The best way to see what is going on here is to let XEmacs tell you.
1302 Put the code into an XEmacs buffer, and do a @kbd{C-h f} with the cursor
1303 sitting just to the right of the function you want explained. Eg. move
1304 the cursor to the SPACE between @code{interactive} and @samp{"*p"} and
1305 hit @kbd{C-h f} to see what the function @code{interactive} does. Doing
1306 this will tell you that the @code{*} requires a writable buffer, and
1307 @code{p} converts the prefix argument to a number, and
1308 @code{interactive} allows you to execute the command with @kbd{M-x}.
1310 @node Q1.4.5, Q1.4.6, Q1.4.4, Introduction
1311 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.4.5: And how do I bind it to a key?
1313 To bind to a key do:
1316 (global-set-key "\C-cd" 'double-word)
1319 Or interactively, @kbd{M-x global-set-key} and follow the prompts.
1321 @node Q1.4.6, , Q1.4.5, Introduction
1322 @unnumberedsubsec Q1.4.6: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
1324 Quoting from the Lisp Reference (a.k.a @dfn{Lispref}) Manual:
1326 @dfn{Macros} enable you to define new control constructs and other
1327 language features. A macro is defined much like a function, but instead
1328 of telling how to compute a value, it tells how to compute another Lisp
1329 expression which will in turn compute the value. We call this
1330 expression the @dfn{expansion} of the macro.
1332 Macros can do this because they operate on the unevaluated expressions
1333 for the arguments, not on the argument values as functions do. They can
1334 therefore construct an expansion containing these argument expressions
1337 Do not confuse the two terms with @dfn{keyboard macros}, which are
1338 another matter, entirely. A keyboard macro is a key bound to several
1339 other keys. Refer to manual for details.
1341 @node Installation, Customization, Introduction, Top
1342 @unnumbered 2 Installation and Trouble Shooting
1344 This is part 2 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list. This
1345 section is devoted to Installation, Maintenance and Trouble Shooting.
1349 * Q2.0.1:: Running XEmacs without installing.
1350 * Q2.0.2:: XEmacs is too big.
1351 * Q2.0.3:: Compiling XEmacs with Netaudio.
1352 * Q2.0.4:: Problems with Linux and ncurses.
1353 * Q2.0.5:: Do I need X11 to run XEmacs?
1354 * Q2.0.6:: I'm having strange crashes. What do I do?
1355 * Q2.0.7:: Libraries in non-standard locations.
1356 * Q2.0.8:: can't resolve symbol _h_errno
1357 * Q2.0.9:: Where do I find external libraries?
1358 * Q2.0.10:: After I run configure I find a coredump, is something wrong?
1359 * Q2.0.11:: XEmacs can't resolve host names.
1360 * Q2.0.12:: Why can't I strip XEmacs?
1361 * Q2.0.13:: I don't need no steenkin' packages. Do I?
1362 * Q2.0.14:: I don't want to install a million .els one at a time!
1363 * Q2.0.15:: EFS fails with "500 AUTH not understood" (NEW)
1364 * Q2.0.16:: Cygwin XEmacs won't start: cygXpm-noX4.dll was not found (NEW)
1367 * Q2.1.1:: XEmacs just crashed on me!
1368 * Q2.1.2:: Cryptic Minibuffer messages.
1369 * Q2.1.3:: Translation Table Syntax messages at Startup.
1370 * Q2.1.4:: Startup warnings about deducing proper fonts?
1371 * Q2.1.5:: XEmacs cannot connect to my X Terminal.
1372 * Q2.1.6:: XEmacs just locked up my Linux X server.
1373 * Q2.1.7:: HP Alt key as Meta.
1374 * Q2.1.8:: got (wrong-type-argument color-instance-p nil)!
1375 * Q2.1.9:: XEmacs causes my OpenWindows 3.0 server to crash.
1376 * Q2.1.10:: Warnings from incorrect key modifiers.
1377 * Q2.1.11:: Can't instantiate image error... in toolbar
1378 * Q2.1.12:: Regular Expression Problems on DEC OSF1.
1379 * Q2.1.13:: HP/UX 10.10 and @code{create_process} failure
1380 * Q2.1.14:: @kbd{C-g} doesn't work for me. Is it broken?
1381 * Q2.1.15:: How to debug an XEmacs problem with a debugger.
1382 * Q2.1.16:: XEmacs crashes in @code{strcat} on HP/UX 10.
1383 * Q2.1.17:: @samp{Marker does not point anywhere}.
1384 * Q2.1.18:: XEmacs is outputting lots of X errors.
1385 * Q2.1.19:: XEmacs does not follow the local timezone.
1386 * Q2.1.20:: @samp{Symbol's function definition is void: hkey-help-show.}
1387 * Q2.1.21:: [This question intentionally left blank]
1388 * Q2.1.22:: XEmacs seems to take a really long time to do some things.
1389 * Q2.1.23:: Movemail on Linux does not work for XEmacs 19.15 and later.
1390 * Q2.1.24:: XEmacs won't start without network.
1391 * Q2.1.25:: After upgrading, XEmacs won't do `foo' any more!
1394 @node Q2.0.1, Q2.0.2, Installation, Installation
1395 @unnumberedsec 2.0: Installation
1396 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.1: Running XEmacs without installing
1398 How can I just try XEmacs without installing it?
1400 XEmacs will run in place without requiring installation and copying of
1401 the Lisp directories, and without having to specify a special build-time
1402 flag. It's the copying of the Lisp directories that requires so much
1403 space. XEmacs is largely written in Lisp.
1405 A good method is to make a shell alias for xemacs:
1408 alias xemacs=/i/xemacs-20.2/src/xemacs
1411 (You will obviously use whatever directory you downloaded the source
1412 tree to instead of @file{/i/xemacs-20.2}).
1414 This will let you run XEmacs without massive copying.
1416 @node Q2.0.2, Q2.0.3, Q2.0.1, Installation
1417 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.2: XEmacs is too big
1419 The space required by the installation directories can be
1420 reduced dramatically if desired. Gzip all the .el files. Remove all
1421 the packages you'll never want to use. Remove the TexInfo manuals.
1422 Remove the Info (and use just hardcopy versions of the manual). Remove
1423 most of the stuff in etc. Remove or gzip all the source code. Gzip or
1424 remove the C source code. Configure it so that copies are not made of
1427 These are all Emacs Lisp source code and bytecompiled object code. You
1428 may safely gzip everything named *.el here. You may remove any package
1429 you don't use. @emph{Nothing bad will happen if you delete a package
1430 that you do not use}. You must be sure you do not use it though, so be
1431 conservative at first.
1433 Any package with the possible exceptions of xemacs-base, and EFS are
1434 candidates for removal. Ask yourself, @emph{Do I ever want to use this
1435 package?} If the answer is no, then it is a candidate for removal.
1437 First, gzip all the .el files. Then go about package by package and
1438 start gzipping the .elc files. Then run XEmacs and do whatever it is
1439 you normally do. If nothing bad happens, then remove the package. You
1440 can remove a package via the PUI interface
1441 (@code{M-x pui-list-packages}, then press @kbd{d} to mark the packages
1442 you wish to delete, and then @kbd{x} to delete them.
1444 Another method is to do @code{M-x package-get-delete-package}.
1446 @node Q2.0.3, Q2.0.4, Q2.0.2, Installation
1447 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.3: Compiling XEmacs with Netaudio.
1449 What is the best way to compile XEmacs with the netaudio system, since I
1450 have got the netaudio system compiled but installed at a weird place, I
1451 am not root. Also in the READMEs it does not say anything about
1452 compiling with the audioserver?
1454 You should only need to add some stuff to the configure command line.
1455 To tell it to compile in netaudio support: @samp{--with-sound=both}, or
1456 @samp{--with-sound=nas} if you don't want native sound support for some
1457 reason.) To tell it where to find the netaudio includes and libraries:
1460 --site-libraries=WHATEVER
1461 --site-includes=WHATEVER
1464 Then (fingers crossed) it should compile and it will use netaudio if you
1465 have a server running corresponding to the X server. The netaudio server
1466 has to be there when XEmacs starts. If the netaudio server goes away and
1467 another is run, XEmacs should cope (fingers crossed, error handling in
1468 netaudio isn't perfect).
1470 BTW, netaudio has been renamed as it has a name clash with something
1471 else, so if you see references to NAS or Network Audio System, it's the
1472 same thing. It also might be found at
1473 @uref{ftp://ftp.x.org/contrib/audio/nas/}.
1475 @node Q2.0.4, Q2.0.5, Q2.0.3, Installation
1476 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.4: Problems with Linux and ncurses.
1478 On Linux 1.3.98 with termcap 2.0.8 and the ncurses that came with libc
1479 5.2.18, XEmacs 20.0b20 is unable to open a tty device:
1483 Initialization error:
1487 Terminal type `xterm' undefined (or can't access database?)
1490 @email{ben@@xemacs.org, Ben Wing} writes:
1493 Your ncurses configuration is messed up. Your /usr/lib/terminfo is a
1494 bad pointer, perhaps to a CD-ROM that is not inserted.
1497 @node Q2.0.5, Q2.0.6, Q2.0.4, Installation
1498 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.5: Do I need X11 to run XEmacs?
1500 No. The name @dfn{XEmacs} is unfortunate in the sense that it is
1501 @strong{not} an X Window System-only version of Emacs. XEmacs has
1502 full color support on a color-capable character terminal.
1504 @node Q2.0.6, Q2.0.7, Q2.0.5, Installation
1505 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.6: I'm having strange crashes. What do I do?
1507 There have been a variety of reports of crashes due to compilers with
1508 buggy optimizers. Please see the @file{PROBLEMS} file that comes with
1509 XEmacs to read what it says about your platform.
1511 If you compiled XEmacs using @samp{--use-union-type} (or the option
1512 @samp{USE_UNION_TYPE} in @file{config.inc} under Windows), try
1513 recompiling again without it. The union type has been known to trigger
1514 compiler errors in a number of cases.
1516 @node Q2.0.7, Q2.0.8, Q2.0.6, Installation
1517 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.7: Libraries in non-standard locations
1519 I have x-faces, jpeg, xpm etc. all in different places. I've tried
1520 space-separated, comma-separated, several --site-libraries, all to no
1524 --site-libraries='/path/one /path/two /path/etc'
1527 @node Q2.0.8, Q2.0.9, Q2.0.7, Installation
1528 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.8: can't resolve symbol _h_errno
1530 You are using the Linux/ELF distribution of XEmacs 19.14, and your ELF
1531 libraries are out of date. You have the following options:
1535 Upgrade your libc to at least 5.2.16 (better is 5.2.18, 5.3.12, or
1539 Patch the XEmacs binary by replacing all occurrences of
1540 @samp{_h_errno^@@} with
1544 @samp{h_errno^@@^@@}. Any version of Emacs will
1545 suffice. If you don't understand how to do this, don't do it.
1548 Rebuild XEmacs yourself---any working ELF version of libc should be
1552 @email{hniksic@@xemacs.org, Hrvoje Niksic} writes:
1555 Why not use a Perl one-liner for No. 2?
1558 perl -pi -e 's/_h_errno\0/h_errno\0\0/g' \
1559 /usr/local/bin/xemacs-19.14
1562 NB: You @emph{must} patch @file{/usr/local/bin/xemacs-19.14}, and not
1563 @file{xemacs} because @file{xemacs} is a link to @file{xemacs-19.14};
1564 the Perl @samp{-i} option will cause unwanted side-effects if applied to
1568 @email{steve@@xemacs.org, SL Baur} writes:
1571 If you build against a recent libc-5.4 (late enough to have caused
1572 problems earlier in the beta cycle) and then run with an earlier version
1577 xemacs: can't resolve symbol '__malloc_hook'
1578 zsh: 7942 segmentation fault (core dumped) xemacs
1581 (Example binary compiled against libc-5.4.23 and run with libc-5.4.16).
1583 The solution is to upgrade to at least libc-5.4.23. Sigh. Drat.
1586 @node Q2.0.9, Q2.0.10, Q2.0.8, Installation
1587 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.9: Where do I find external libraries?
1589 All external libraries used by XEmacs can be found at the XEmacs FTP
1594 @uref{ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/aux/}.
1595 [These tarballs and this FAQ are wa-a-ay out of date. Sorry, I'm not
1596 currently network-capable, and I will probably forgot to update this
1597 before submitting the patch. -- Ed.]
1599 @c Changed June Link above, <URL:ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/aux/> was dead.
1600 @c This list is a pain in the you-know-what to keep in synch with the
1602 The canonical locations (at the time of this writing) are as follows:
1606 @uref{ftp://ftp.uu.net/graphics/jpeg/}. Version 6a is current.
1607 @c Check from host with legal IP address
1609 @uref{ftp://ftp.x.org/contrib/libraries/}. Version 3.4j is current.
1610 Older versions of this package are known to cause XEmacs crashes.
1613 @uref{ftp://ftp.sgi.com/graphics/tiff/}. v3.4 is current. The latest
1614 beta is v3.4b035. There is a HOWTO here.
1617 @uref{ftp://ftp.uu.net/graphics/png/}. 0.89c is current. XEmacs
1618 requires a fairly recent version to avoid using temporary files.
1619 @c Check from host with legal IP address
1621 @uref{ftp://swrinde.nde.swri.edu/pub/png/src/}
1624 @uref{ftp://ftp.cs.indiana.edu/pub/faces/compface/}. This library has
1625 been frozen for about 6 years, and is distributed without version
1626 numbers. @emph{It should be compiled with the same options that X11 was
1627 compiled with on your system}. The version of this library at
1628 XEmacs.org includes the @file{xbm2xface.pl} script, written by
1629 @email{stig@@hackvan.com}, which may be useful when generating your own xface.
1632 @uref{ftp://ftp.x.org/contrib/audio/nas/}.
1633 Version 1.2p5 is current. There is a FAQ here.
1636 @node Q2.0.10, Q2.0.11, Q2.0.9, Installation
1637 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.10: After I run configure I find a core dump, is something wrong?
1639 Not necessarily. If you have GNU sed 3.0 you should downgrade it to
1640 2.05. From the @file{README} at prep.ai.mit.edu:
1643 sed 3.0 has been withdrawn from distribution. It has major revisions,
1644 which mostly seem to be improvements; but it turns out to have bugs too
1645 which cause trouble in some common cases.
1647 Tom Lord won't be able to work fixing the bugs until May. So in the
1648 mean time, we've decided to withdraw sed 3.0 from distribution and make
1649 version 2.05 once again the recommended version.
1652 It has also been observed that the vfork test on Solaris will leave a
1655 @node Q2.0.11, Q2.0.12, Q2.0.10, Installation
1656 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.11: XEmacs doesn't resolve hostnames.
1658 This is the result of a long-standing problem with SunOS and the fact
1659 that stock SunOS systems do not ship with DNS resolver code in libc.
1661 @email{ckd@@loiosh.kei.com, Christopher Davis} writes:
1664 That's correct [The SunOS 4.1.3 precompiled binaries don't do name
1665 lookup]. Since Sun figured that everyone used NIS to do name lookups
1666 (that DNS thing was apparently only a passing fad, right?), the stock
1667 SunOS 4.x systems don't have DNS-based name lookups in libc.
1669 This is also why Netscape ships two binaries for SunOS 4.1.x.
1671 The best solution is to compile it yourself; the configure script will
1672 check to see if you've put DNS in the shared libc and will then proceed
1673 to link against the DNS resolver library code.
1676 @node Q2.0.12, Q2.0.13, Q2.0.11, Installation
1677 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.12: Why can't I strip XEmacs?
1679 @email{cognot@@fronsac.ensg.u-nancy.fr, Richard Cognot} writes:
1682 Because of the way XEmacs (and every other Emacsen, AFAIK) is built. The
1683 link gives you a bare-boned emacs (called temacs). temacs is then run,
1684 preloading some of the lisp files. The result is then dumped into a new
1685 executable, named xemacs, which will contain all of the preloaded lisp
1688 Now, during the dump itself, the executable (code+data+symbols) is
1689 written on disk using a special unexec() function. This function is
1690 obviously heavily system dependent. And on some systems, it leads to an
1691 executable which, although valid, cannot be stripped without damage. If
1692 memory serves, this is especially the case for AIX binaries. On other
1693 architectures it might work OK.
1695 The Right Way to strip the emacs binary is to strip temacs prior to
1696 dumping xemacs. This will always work, although you can do that only if
1697 you install from sources (as temacs is @file{not} part of the binary
1701 @email{nat@@nataa.fr.eu.org, Nat Makarevitch} writes:
1708 [ ./configure; make ]
1720 cp src/xemacs /usr/local/bin/xemacs
1723 cp lib-src/DOC-19.16-XEmacs
1727 /usr/local/lib/xemacs-19.16/i586-unknown-linuxaout
1731 @node Q2.0.13, Q2.0.14, Q2.0.12, Installation
1732 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.13: I don't need no steenkin' packages. Do I?
1734 Strictly speaking, no. XEmacs will build and install just fine without
1735 any packages installed. However, only the most basic editing functions
1736 will be available with no packages installed, so installing packages is
1737 an essential part of making your installed XEmacs _useful_.
1739 @node Q2.0.14, Q2.0.15, Q2.0.13, Installation
1740 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.14: How do I figure out which packages to install?
1742 Many people really liked the old way that packages were bundled and do
1743 not want to mess with packages at all. You can grab all the packages at
1744 once like you used to with old XEmacs versions. Download the file
1746 @file{xemacs-sumo.tar.gz}
1748 For an XEmacs compiled with Mule you also need
1750 @file{xemacs-mule-sumo.tar.gz}
1752 from the @file{packages} directory on your XEmacs mirror archive.
1753 N.B. They are called 'Sumo Tarballs' for good reason. They are
1754 currently about 15MB and 2.3MB (gzipped) respectively.
1758 @code{cd $prefix/lib/xemacs ; gunzip -c <tarballname> | tar xf -}
1760 See README.packages for more detailed installation instructions.
1762 As the Sumo tarballs are not regenerated as often as the individual
1763 packages, it is recommended that you use the automatic package tools
1764 afterwards to pick up any recent updates.
1766 @node Q2.0.15, Q2.0.16, Q2.0.14, Installation
1767 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.15: EFS fails with "500 AUTH not understood" (NEW)
1769 A typical error: FTP Error: USER request failed; 500 AUTH not understood.
1771 Thanks to giacomo boffi @email{giacomo.boffi@@polimi.it} who recommends
1772 on comp.emacs.xemacs:
1774 tell your ftp client to not attempt AUTH authentication (or do not
1775 use FTP servers that don't understand AUTH)
1777 and notes that you need to add an element (often "-u") to
1778 `efs-ftp-program-args'. Use M-x customize-variable, and verify the
1779 needed flag with `man ftp' or other local documentation.
1781 @node Q2.0.16, Q2.1.1, Q2.0.15, Installation
1782 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.0.16: Cygwin XEmacs won't start: cygXpm-noX4.dll was not found (NEW)
1784 The Cygwin binary distributed with the netinstaller uses an external DLL
1785 to handle XPM images (such as toolbar buttons). You may get an error like
1787 This application has failed to start because cygXpm-noX4.dll was not found.
1788 Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
1790 Andy Piper <andy@@xemacs.org> sez:
1792 cygXpm-noX4 is part of the cygwin distribution under libraries or
1793 graphics, but is not installed by default. You need to run the
1794 cygwin setup again and select this package.
1796 Ie, reinstalling XEmacs won't help because it is not part of the XEmacs
1799 @node Q2.1.1, Q2.1.2, Q2.0.16, Installation
1800 @unnumberedsec 2.1: Trouble Shooting
1801 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.1: Help! XEmacs just crashed on me!
1803 First of all, don't panic. Whenever XEmacs crashes, it tries extremely
1804 hard to auto-save all of your files before dying. (The main time that
1805 this will not happen is if the machine physically lost power or if you
1806 killed the XEmacs process using @code{kill -9}). The next time you try
1807 to edit those files, you will be informed that a more recent auto-save
1808 file exists. You can use @kbd{M-x recover-file} to retrieve the
1809 auto-saved version of the file.
1811 You can use the command @kbd{M-x recover-session} after a crash to pick
1812 up where you left off.
1814 Now, XEmacs is not perfect, and there may occasionally be times, or
1815 particular sequences of actions, that cause it to crash. If you can
1816 come up with a reproducible way of doing this (or even if you have a
1817 pretty good memory of exactly what you were doing at the time), the
1818 maintainers would be very interested in knowing about it. The best way
1819 to report a bug is using @kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug} (or by selecting
1820 @samp{Send Bug Report...} from the Help menu). If that won't work
1821 (e.g. you can't get XEmacs working at all), send ordinary mail to
1822 @email{crashes@@xemacs.org}. @emph{MAKE SURE} to include the output from
1823 the crash, especially including the Lisp backtrace, as well as the
1824 XEmacs configuration from @kbd{M-x describe-installation} (or
1825 equivalently, the file @file{Installation} in the top of the build
1826 tree). Please note that the @samp{crashes} address is exclusively for
1827 crash reports. The best way to report bugs in general is through the
1828 @kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug} interface just mentioned, or if necessary by
1829 emailing @email{xemacs-beta@@xemacs.org}. Note that the developers do
1830 @emph{not} usually follow @samp{comp.emacs.xemacs} on a regular basis;
1831 thus, this is better for general questions about XEmacs than bug
1834 If at all possible, include a C stack backtrace of the core dump that
1835 was produced. This shows where exactly things went wrong, and makes it
1836 much easier to diagnose problems. To do this under Unix, you need to
1837 locate the core file (it's called @file{core}, and is usually sitting in
1838 the directory that you started XEmacs from, or your home directory if
1839 that other directory was not writable). Then, go to that directory and
1840 execute a command like:
1843 gdb `which xemacs` core
1846 and then issue the command @samp{where} to get the stack backtrace. You
1847 might have to use @code{dbx} or some similar debugger in place of
1848 @code{gdb}. If you don't have any such debugger available, complain to
1849 your system administrator.
1851 It's possible that a core file didn't get produced, in which case you're
1852 out of luck. Go complain to your system administrator and tell him not
1853 to disable core files by default. Also see @ref{Q2.1.15}, for tips and
1854 techniques for dealing with a debugger.
1856 If you're under Microsoft Windows, you're out of luck unless you happen
1857 to have a debugging aid installed on your system, for example Visual
1858 C++. In this case, the crash will result in a message giving you the
1859 option to enter a debugger (for example, by pressing @samp{Cancel}). Do
1860 this and locate the stack-trace window. (If your XEmacs was built
1861 without debugging information, the stack trace may not be very useful.)
1863 When making a problem report make sure that:
1867 Report @strong{all} of the information output by XEmacs during the
1871 You mention what O/S & Hardware you are running XEmacs on.
1874 What version of XEmacs you are running.
1877 What build options you are using.
1880 If the problem is related to graphics and you are running Unix, we will
1881 also need to know what version of the X Window System you are running,
1882 and what window manager you are using.
1885 If the problem happened on a TTY, please include the terminal type.
1888 Much of the information above is automatically generated by @kbd{M-x
1889 report-emacs-bug}. Even more, and often useful, information can be
1890 generated by redirecting the output of @code{make} and @code{make check}
1891 to a file (@file{beta.err} is the default used by @code{build-report}),
1892 and executing @kbd{M-x build-report}.
1894 @node Q2.1.2, Q2.1.3, Q2.1.1, Installation
1895 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.2: Cryptic Minibuffer messages.
1897 When I try to use some particular option of some particular package, I
1898 get a cryptic error in the minibuffer.
1900 If you can't figure out what's going on, select Options/General
1901 Options/Debug on Error from the Menubar and then try and make the error
1902 happen again. This will give you a backtrace that may be enlightening.
1903 If not, try reading through this FAQ; if that fails, you could try
1904 posting to comp.emacs.xemacs (making sure to include the backtrace) and
1905 someone may be able to help. If you can identify which Emacs lisp
1906 source file the error is coming from you can get a more detailed stack
1907 backtrace by doing the following:
1911 Visit the .el file in an XEmacs buffer.
1914 Issue the command @kbd{M-x eval-current-buffer}.
1917 Reproduce the error.
1920 Depending on the version of XEmacs, you may either select View->Show
1921 Message Log (recent versions), Edit->Show Messages (some earlier
1922 versions) or Help->Recent Keystrokes/Messages (other earlier versions)
1923 from the menubar to see the most recent messages. This command is bound
1924 to @kbd{C-h l} by default.
1926 @node Q2.1.3, Q2.1.4, Q2.1.2, Installation
1927 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.3: Translation Table Syntax messages at Startup
1929 I get tons of translation table syntax error messages during startup.
1930 How do I get rid of them?
1932 There are two causes of this problem. The first usually only strikes
1933 people using the prebuilt binaries. The culprit in both cases is the
1934 file @file{XKeysymDB}.
1938 The binary cannot find the @file{XKeysymDB} file. The location is
1939 hardcoded at compile time so if the system the binary was built on puts
1940 it a different place than your system does, you have problems. To fix,
1941 set the environment variable @code{XKEYSYMDB} to the location of the
1942 @file{XKeysymDB} file on your system or to the location of the one
1943 included with XEmacs which should be at
1947 @file{<xemacs_root_directory>/lib/xemacs-19.16/etc/XKeysymDB}.
1950 The binary is finding the XKeysymDB but it is out-of-date on your system
1951 and does not contain the necessary lines. Either ask your system
1952 administrator to replace it with the one which comes with XEmacs (which
1953 is the stock R6 version and is backwards compatible) or set your
1954 @code{XKEYSYMDB} variable to the location of XEmacs's described above.
1957 @node Q2.1.4, Q2.1.5, Q2.1.3, Installation
1958 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.4: Startup warnings about deducing proper fonts?
1960 How can I avoid the startup warnings about deducing proper fonts?
1962 This is highly dependent on your installation, but try with the
1963 following font as your base font for XEmacs and see what it does:
1966 -adobe-courier-medium-r-*-*-*-120-*-*-*-*-iso8859-1
1969 More precisely, do the following in your resource file:
1972 Emacs.default.attributeFont: \
1973 -adobe-courier-medium-r-*-*-*-120-*-*-*-*-iso8859-1
1976 If you just don't want to see the @samp{*Warnings*} buffer at startup
1977 time, you can set this:
1980 (setq display-warning-minimum-level 'error)
1983 The buffer still exists; it just isn't in your face.
1985 @node Q2.1.5, Q2.1.6, Q2.1.4, Installation
1986 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.5: XEmacs cannot connect to my X Terminal!
1988 Help! I can not get XEmacs to display on my Envizex X-terminal!
1990 Try setting the @code{DISPLAY} variable using the numeric IP address of
1991 the host you are running XEmacs from.
1993 @node Q2.1.6, Q2.1.7, Q2.1.5, Installation
1994 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.6: XEmacs just locked up my Linux X server!
1996 There have been several reports of the X server locking up under Linux.
1997 In all reported cases removing speedo and scaled fonts from the font
1998 path corrected the problem. This can be done with the command
2001 It is possible that using a font server may also solve the problem.
2003 @node Q2.1.7, Q2.1.8, Q2.1.6, Installation
2004 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.7: HP Alt key as Meta.
2006 How can I make XEmacs recognize the Alt key of my HP workstation as a
2009 Put the following line into a file and load it with xmodmap(1) before
2013 remove Mod1 = Mode_switch
2016 @node Q2.1.8, Q2.1.9, Q2.1.7, Installation
2017 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.8: got (wrong-type-argument color-instance-p nil)
2019 @email{nataliek@@rd.scitec.com.au, Natalie Kershaw} writes:
2022 I am trying to run xemacs 19.13 under X11R4. Whenever I move the mouse I
2023 get the following error. Has anyone seen anything like this? This
2024 doesn't occur on X11R5.
2028 (error "got (wrong-type-argument color-instance-p nil)
2029 and I don't know why!")
2033 @email{map01kd@@gold.ac.uk, dinos} writes:
2036 I think this is due to undefined resources; You need to define color
2037 backgrounds and foregrounds into your @file{.../app-defaults/Emacs}
2041 *Foreground: Black ;everything will be of black on grey95,
2042 *Background: Grey95 ;unless otherwise specified.
2043 *cursorColor: Red3 ;red3 cursor with grey95 border.
2044 *pointerColor: Red3 ;red3 pointer with grey95 border.
2048 Natalie Kershaw adds:
2051 What fixed the problem was adding some more colors to the X color
2052 database (copying the X11R5 colors over), and also defining the
2053 following resources:
2056 xemacs*cursorColor: black
2057 xemacs*pointerColor: black
2060 With the new colors installed the problem still occurs if the above
2061 resources are not defined.
2063 If the new colors are not present then an additional error occurs on
2064 XEmacs startup, which says @samp{Color Red3} not defined.
2067 @node Q2.1.9, Q2.1.10, Q2.1.8, Installation
2068 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.9: XEmacs causes my OpenWindows 3.0 server to crash.
2070 The OpenWindows 3.0 server is incredibly buggy. Your best bet is to
2071 replace it with one from the generic MIT X11 release. You might also
2072 try disabling parts of your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}, like those
2073 that enable background pixmaps.
2075 @node Q2.1.10, Q2.1.11, Q2.1.9, Installation
2076 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.10: Warnings from incorrect key modifiers.
2078 The following information comes from the @file{PROBLEMS} file that comes
2081 If you're having troubles with HP/UX it is because HP/UX defines the
2082 modifiers wrong in X. Here is a shell script to fix the problem; be
2083 sure that it is run after VUE configures the X server.
2087 xmodmap 2> /dev/null - << EOF
2088 keysym Alt_L = Meta_L
2089 keysym Alt_R = Meta_R
2094 keysym Mode_switch = NoSymbol
2096 keysym Meta_R = Mode_switch
2097 add mod2 = Mode_switch
2101 @node Q2.1.11, Q2.1.12, Q2.1.10, Installation
2102 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.11: @samp{Can't instantiate image error...} in toolbar
2105 @email{expt@@alanine.ram.org, Dr. Ram Samudrala} writes:
2107 I just installed the XEmacs (20.4-2) RPMS that I downloaded from
2108 @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/}. Everything works fine, except that when
2109 I place my mouse over the toolbar, it beeps and gives me this message:
2112 Can't instantiate image (probably cached):
2113 [xbm :mask-file "/usr/include/X11/bitmaps/leftptrmsk :mask-data
2114 (16 16 <strange control characters> ...
2117 @email{kyle_jones@@wonderworks.com, Kyle Jones} writes:
2119 This is problem specific to some Chips and Technologies video
2120 chips, when running XFree86. Putting
2122 @code{Option "sw_cursor"}
2124 in @file{XF86Config} gets rid of the problem.
2127 @node Q2.1.12, Q2.1.13, Q2.1.11, Installation
2128 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.12: Problems with Regular Expressions on DEC OSF1.
2130 I have xemacs 19.13 running on an alpha running OSF1 V3.2 148 and ispell
2131 would not run because it claimed the version number was incorrect
2132 although it was indeed OK. I traced the problem to the regular
2135 @email{douglask@@dstc.edu.au, Douglas Kosovic} writes:
2138 Actually it's a DEC cc optimization bug that screws up the regexp
2141 Rebuilding using the @samp{-migrate} switch for DEC cc (which uses a
2142 different sort of optimization) works fine.
2145 See @file{xemacs-19_13-dunix-3_2c.patch} at the following URL on how to
2146 build with the @samp{-migrate} flag:
2149 @uref{http://www-digital.cern.ch/carney/emacs/emacs.html}
2150 @c Link above, <URL:http://www-digital.cern.ch/carney/emacs/emacs.html> is
2151 @c dead. And the directory `carney' is empty.
2157 NOTE: There have been a variety of other problems reported that are
2158 fixed in this fashion.
2160 @node Q2.1.13, Q2.1.14, Q2.1.12, Installation
2161 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.13: HP/UX 10.10 and @code{create_process} failure.
2163 @email{Dave.Carrigan@@ipl.ca, Dave Carrigan} writes:
2166 With XEmacs 19.13 and HP/UX 10.10, anything that relies on the
2167 @code{create_process} function fails. This breaks a lot of things
2168 (shell-mode, compile, ange-ftp, to name a few).
2171 @email{johnson@@dtc.hp.com, Phil Johnson} writes:
2174 This is a problem specific to HP-UX 10.10. It only occurs when XEmacs
2175 is compiled for shared libraries (the default), so you can work around
2176 it by compiling a statically-linked binary (run configure with
2177 @samp{--dynamic=no}).
2179 I'm not sure whether the problem is with a particular shared library or
2180 if it's a kernel problem which crept into 10.10.
2183 @email{cognot@@ensg.u-nancy.fr, Richard Cognot} writes:
2186 I had a few problems with 10.10. Apparently, some of them were solved by
2187 forcing a static link of libc (manually).
2190 @node Q2.1.14, Q2.1.15, Q2.1.13, Installation
2191 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.14: @kbd{C-g} doesn't work for me. Is it broken?
2193 @email{ben@@xemacs.org, Ben Wing} writes:
2196 @kbd{C-g} does work for most people in most circumstances. If it
2197 doesn't, there are only two explanations:
2201 The code is wrapped with a binding of @code{inhibit-quit} to
2202 @code{t}. @kbd{Ctrl-Shift-G} should still work, I think.
2205 SIGIO is broken on your system, but BROKEN_SIGIO isn't defined.
2208 To test #2, try executing @code{(while t)} from the @samp{*scratch*}
2209 buffer. If @kbd{C-g} doesn't interrupt, then you're seeing #2.
2212 @email{terra@@diku.dk, Morten Welinder} writes:
2215 On some (but @emph{not} all) machines a hung XEmacs can be revived by
2216 @code{kill -FPE <pid>}. This is a hack, of course, not a solution.
2217 This technique works on a Sun4 running 4.1.3_U1. To see if it works for
2218 you, start another XEmacs and test with that first. If you get a core
2219 dump the method doesn't work and if you get @samp{Arithmetic error} then
2223 @node Q2.1.15, Q2.1.16, Q2.1.14, Installation
2224 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.15: How to debug an XEmacs problem with a debugger
2226 If XEmacs does crash on you, one of the most productive things you can
2227 do to help get the bug fixed is to poke around a bit with the debugger.
2228 Here are some hints:
2232 First of all, if the crash is at all reproducible, consider very
2233 strongly recompiling your XEmacs with debugging symbols and with no
2234 optimization (e.g. with GCC use the compiler flags @samp{-g -O0} --
2235 that's an "oh" followed by a zero), and with the configure options
2236 @samp{--debug=yes} and @samp{--error-checking=all}. This will make your
2237 XEmacs run somewhat slower, but you are a lot more likely to catch the
2238 problem earlier (closer to its source). It makes it a lot easier to
2239 determine what's going on with a debugger.
2242 If it's not a true crash (@emph{i.e.}, XEmacs is hung, or a zombie
2243 process), or it's inconvenient to run XEmacs again because XEmacs is
2244 already running or is running in batch mode as part of a bunch of
2245 scripts, you may be able to attach to the existing process with your
2246 debugger. Most debuggers let you do this by substituting the process ID
2247 for the core file when you invoke the debugger from the command line, or
2248 by using the @code{attach} command or something similar.
2251 If you're able to run XEmacs under a debugger and reproduce the crash,
2252 here are some things you can do:
2255 If XEmacs is hitting an assertion failure, put a breakpoint on
2256 @code{assert_failed()}.
2259 If XEmacs is hitting some weird Lisp error that's causing it to crash
2260 (e.g. during startup), put a breakpoint on @code{signal_1()}---this is
2261 declared static in eval.c.
2264 If XEmacs is outputting lots of X errors, put a breakpoint on
2265 @code{x_error_handler()}; that will tell you which call is causing them.
2268 Internally, you will probably see lots of variables that hold objects of
2269 type @code{Lisp_Object}. These are references to Lisp objects.
2270 Printing them out with the debugger probably won't be too
2271 useful---you'll likely just see a number. To decode them, do this:
2277 where @var{OBJECT} is whatever you want to decode (it can be a variable,
2278 a function call, etc.). This uses the Lisp printing routines to out a
2279 readable representation on the TTY from which the xemacs process was
2283 If you want to get a Lisp backtrace showing the Lisp call
2291 Using @code{dp} and @code{db} has two disadvantages - they can only be
2292 used with a running (including hung or zombie) xemacs process, and they
2293 do not display the internal C structure of a Lisp Object. Even if all
2294 you've got is a core dump, all is not lost.
2296 If you're using GDB, there are some macros in the file
2297 @file{src/.gdbinit} in the XEmacs source distribution that should make
2298 it easier for you to decode Lisp objects. This file is automatically
2299 read by gdb if gdb is run in the directory where xemacs was built, and
2300 contains these useful macros to inspect the state of xemacs:
2304 Usage: pobj lisp_object @*
2305 Print the internal C representation of a lisp object.
2308 Usage: xtype lisp_object @*
2309 Print the Lisp type of a lisp object.
2313 Print the current Lisp stack trace.
2314 Requires a running xemacs process. (It works by calling the db
2315 routine described above.)
2318 Usage: ldp lisp_object @*
2319 Print a Lisp Object value using the Lisp printer.
2320 Requires a running xemacs process. (It works by calling the dp
2321 routine described above.)
2324 Usage: run-temacs @*
2325 Run temacs interactively, like xemacs.
2326 Use this with debugging tools (like purify) that cannot deal with dumping,
2327 or when temacs builds successfully, but xemacs does not.
2330 Usage: dump-temacs @*
2331 Run the dumping part of the build procedure.
2332 Use when debugging temacs, not xemacs!
2333 Use this when temacs builds successfully, but xemacs does not.
2336 Usage: check-xemacs @*
2337 Run the test suite. Equivalent to 'make check'.
2340 Usage: check-temacs @*
2341 Run the test suite on temacs. Equivalent to 'make check-temacs'.
2342 Use this with debugging tools (like purify) that cannot deal with dumping,
2343 or when temacs builds successfully, but xemacs does not.
2346 If you are using Sun's @file{dbx} debugger, there is an equivalent file
2347 @file{src/.dbxrc}, which defines the same commands for dbx.
2350 If you're using a debugger to get a C stack backtrace and you're seeing
2351 stack traces with some of the innermost frames mangled, it may be due to
2352 dynamic linking. (This happens especially under Linux.) Consider
2353 reconfiguring with @samp{--dynamic=no}. Also, sometimes (again under
2354 Linux), stack backtraces of core dumps will have the frame where the
2355 fatal signal occurred mangled; if you can obtain a stack trace while
2356 running the XEmacs process under a debugger, the stack trace should be
2359 @email{1CMC3466@@ibm.mtsac.edu, Curtiss} suggests upgrading to ld.so
2360 version 1.8 if dynamic linking and debugging is a problem on Linux.
2363 If you're using a debugger to get a C stack backtrace and you're
2364 getting a completely mangled and bogus stack trace, it's probably due to
2365 one of the following:
2369 Your executable has been stripped. Bad news. Tell your sysadmin not to
2370 do this---it doesn't accomplish anything except to save a bit of disk
2371 space, and makes debugging much much harder.
2374 Your stack is getting trashed. Debugging this is hard; you have to do a
2375 binary-search type of narrowing down where the crash occurs, until you
2376 figure out exactly which line is causing the problem. Of course, this
2377 only works if the bug is highly reproducible. Also, in many cases if
2378 you run XEmacs from the debugger, the debugger can protect the stack
2379 somewhat. However, if the stack is being smashed, it is typically the
2380 case that there is a wild pointer somewhere in the program, often quite
2381 far from where the crash occurs.
2384 If your stack trace has exactly one frame in it, with address 0x0, this
2385 could simply mean that XEmacs attempted to execute code at that address,
2386 e.g. through jumping to a null function pointer. Unfortunately, under
2387 those circumstances, GDB under Linux doesn't know how to get a stack
2388 trace. (Yes, this is the fourth Linux-related problem I've mentioned. I
2389 have no idea why GDB under Linux is so bogus. Complain to the GDB
2390 authors, or to comp.os.linux.development.system.) Again, you'll have to
2391 use the narrowing-down process described above.
2394 You will get a Lisp backtrace output when XEmacs crashes, so you'll have
2400 If you compile with the newer gcc variants gcc-2.8 or egcs, you will
2401 also need gdb 4.17 or above. Earlier releases of gdb can't handle the
2402 debug information generated by the newer compilers.
2405 In versions of XEmacs before 21.2.27, @file{src/.gdbinit} was named
2406 @file{src/gdbinit}. This had the disadvantage of not being sourced
2407 automatically by gdb, so you had to set that up yourself.
2410 If you are running Microsoft Windows, the the file @file{nt/README} for
2411 further information about debugging XEmacs.
2415 @node Q2.1.16, Q2.1.17, Q2.1.15, Installation
2416 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.16: XEmacs crashes in @code{strcat} on HP/UX 10
2418 From the problems database (through
2419 the former address http://support.mayfield.hp.com/):
2422 Problem Report: 5003302299
2425 System/Model: 9000/700
2426 Product Name: HPUX S800 10.0X
2427 Product Vers: 9245XB.10.00
2429 Description: strcat(3C) may read beyond
2430 end of source string, can cause SIGSEGV
2433 *** PROBLEM TEXT ***
2434 strcat(3C) may read beyond the source string onto an unmapped page,
2435 causing a segmentation violation.
2438 @node Q2.1.17, Q2.1.18, Q2.1.16, Installation
2439 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.17: @samp{Marker does not point anywhere}
2441 As with other errors, set @code{debug-on-error} to @code{t} to get the
2442 backtrace when the error occurs. Specifically, two problems have been
2443 reported (and fixed).
2447 A problem with line-number-mode in XEmacs 19.14 affected a large number
2448 of other packages. If you see this error message, turn off
2452 A problem with some early versions of Gnus 5.4 caused this error.
2456 @node Q2.1.18, Q2.1.19, Q2.1.17, Installation
2457 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.18: XEmacs is outputting lots of X errors.
2459 If this is happening, we would very much like to know what's causing
2460 them. To find this out, see @ref{Q2.1.15}. Try to get both a C and Lisp
2461 backtrace, and send them to @email{xemacs-beta@@xemacs.org}.
2463 @node Q2.1.19, Q2.1.20, Q2.1.18, Installation
2464 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.19: XEmacs does not follow the local timezone.
2466 When using one of the prebuilt binaries many users have observed that
2467 XEmacs uses the timezone under which it was built, but not the timezone
2468 under which it is running. The solution is to add:
2471 (set-time-zone-rule "MET")
2474 to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} or the @file{site-start.el} file if
2475 you can. Replace @code{MET} with your local timezone.
2477 @node Q2.1.20, Q2.1.21, Q2.1.19, Installation
2478 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.20: @samp{Symbol's function definition is void: hkey-help-show.}
2480 This is a problem with a partially loaded hyperbole. Try adding:
2483 (require 'hmouse-drv)
2486 where you load hyperbole and the problem should go away.
2488 @node Q2.1.21, Q2.1.22, Q2.1.20, Installation
2489 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.21: [This question intentionally left blank]
2491 @node Q2.1.22, Q2.1.23, Q2.1.21, Installation
2492 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.22: XEmacs seems to take a really long time to do some things
2494 @email{dmoore@@ucsd.edu, David Moore} writes:
2497 Two things you can do:
2501 When you see it going mad like this, you might want to use gdb from an
2502 'xterm' to attach to the running process and get a stack trace. To do
2506 gdb /path/to/xemacs/xemacs ####
2509 Where @code{####} is the process id of your xemacs, instead of
2510 specifying the core. When gdb attaches, the xemacs will stop [1] and
2511 you can type `where' in gdb to get a stack trace as usual. To get
2512 things moving again, you can just type `quit' in gdb. It'll tell you
2513 the program is running and ask if you want to quit anyways. Say 'y' and
2514 it'll quit and have your emacs continue from where it was at.
2518 Turn on debug-on-quit early on. When you think things are going slow
2519 hit C-g and it may pop you in the debugger so you can see what routine
2520 is running. Press `c' to get going again.
2522 debug-on-quit doesn't work if something's turned on inhibit-quit or in
2523 some other strange cases.
2526 @node Q2.1.23, Q2.1.24, Q2.1.22, Installation
2527 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.23: Movemail on Linux does not work for XEmacs 19.15 and later.
2529 Movemail used to work fine in 19.14 but has stopped working in 19.15
2530 and 20.x. I am using Linux.
2532 @email{steve@@xemacs.org, SL Baur} writes:
2535 Movemail on Linux used to default to using flock file locking. With
2536 19.15 and later versions it now defaults to using @code{.lock} file
2537 locking. If this is not appropriate for your system, edit src/s/linux.h
2538 and uncomment the line that reads:
2541 #define MAIL_USE_FLOCK
2545 @node Q2.1.24, Q2.1.25, Q2.1.23, Installation
2546 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.24: XEmacs won't start without network.
2548 If XEmacs starts when you're on the network, but fails when you're not
2549 on the network, you may be missing a "localhost" entry in your
2550 @file{/etc/hosts} file. The file should contain an entry like:
2556 Add that line, and XEmacs will be happy.
2558 @node Q2.1.25, , Q2.1.24, Installation
2559 @unnumberedsubsec Q2.1.25:: After upgrading, XEmacs won't do `foo' any more!
2561 You have been used to doing `foo', but now when you invoke it (or click
2562 the toolbar button or select the menu item), nothing (or an error)
2563 happens. The simplest explanation is that you are missing a package
2564 that is essential to you. You can either track it down and install it
2565 (there is a list of packages and brief descriptions of their contents in
2566 @file{etc/PACKAGES}), or install the `Sumo Tarball' (@pxref{Q2.0.14}).
2568 @c #### should xref to XEmacs manual here
2570 @node Customization, Subsystems, Installation, Top
2571 @unnumbered 3 Customization and Options
2573 This is part 3 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list. This
2574 section is devoted to Customization and screen settings.
2577 Customization---Emacs Lisp and @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
2578 * Q3.0.1:: What version of Emacs am I running?
2579 * Q3.0.2:: How do I evaluate Elisp expressions?
2580 * Q3.0.3:: @code{(setq tab-width 6)} behaves oddly.
2581 * Q3.0.4:: How can I add directories to the @code{load-path}?
2582 * Q3.0.5:: How to check if a lisp function is defined?
2583 * Q3.0.6:: Can I force the output of @code{(face-list)} to a buffer?
2584 * Q3.0.7:: Font selections don't get saved after @code{Save Options}.
2585 * Q3.0.8:: How do I make a single minibuffer frame?
2586 * Q3.0.9:: What is @code{Customize}?
2588 X Window System & Resources:
2589 * Q3.1.1:: Where is a list of X resources?
2590 * Q3.1.2:: How can I detect a color display?
2591 * Q3.1.3:: [This question intentionally left blank]
2592 * Q3.1.4:: [This question intentionally left blank]
2593 * Q3.1.5:: How can I get the icon to just say @samp{XEmacs}?
2594 * Q3.1.6:: How can I have the window title area display the full path?
2595 * Q3.1.7:: @samp{xemacs -name junk} doesn't work?
2596 * Q3.1.8:: @samp{-iconic} doesn't work.
2598 Textual Fonts & Colors:
2599 * Q3.2.1:: How can I set color options from @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}?
2600 * Q3.2.2:: How do I set the text, menu and modeline fonts?
2601 * Q3.2.3:: How can I set the colors when highlighting a region?
2602 * Q3.2.4:: How can I limit color map usage?
2603 * Q3.2.5:: My tty supports color, but XEmacs doesn't use them.
2604 * Q3.2.6:: Can I have pixmap backgrounds in XEmacs?
2605 * Q3.2.7:: How do I display non-ASCII characters?
2608 * Q3.3.1:: How can I make the modeline go away?
2609 * Q3.3.2:: How do you have XEmacs display the line number in the modeline?
2610 * Q3.3.3:: How do I get XEmacs to put the time of day on the modeline?
2611 * Q3.3.4:: How do I turn off current chapter from AUC TeX modeline?
2612 * Q3.3.5:: How can one change the modeline color based on the mode used?
2614 3.4 Multiple Device Support:
2615 * Q3.4.1:: How do I open a frame on another screen of my multi-headed display?
2616 * Q3.4.2:: Can I really connect to a running XEmacs after calling up over a modem? How?
2619 * Q3.5.1:: How can I bind complex functions (or macros) to keys?
2620 * Q3.5.2:: How can I stop down-arrow from adding empty lines to the bottom of my buffers?
2621 * Q3.5.3:: How do I bind C-. and C-; to scroll one line up and down?
2622 * Q3.5.4:: Globally binding @kbd{Delete}?
2623 * Q3.5.5:: Scrolling one line at a time.
2624 * Q3.5.6:: How to map @kbd{Help} key alone on Sun type4 keyboard?
2625 * Q3.5.7:: How can you type in special characters in XEmacs?
2626 * Q3.5.8:: [This question intentionally left blank]
2627 * Q3.5.9:: How do I make the Delete key delete forward?
2628 * Q3.5.10:: Can I turn on @dfn{sticky} modifier keys?
2629 * Q3.5.11:: How do I map the arrow keys?
2632 * Q3.6.1:: Is there a way to make the bar cursor thicker?
2633 * 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?
2634 * Q3.6.3:: Can I make the cursor blink?
2636 The Mouse and Highlighting:
2637 * Q3.7.1:: How can I turn off Mouse pasting?
2638 * Q3.7.2:: How do I set control/meta/etc modifiers on mouse buttons?
2639 * Q3.7.3:: Clicking the left button does not do anything in buffer list.
2640 * Q3.7.4:: How can I get a list of buffers when I hit mouse button 3?
2641 * Q3.7.5:: Why does cut-and-paste not work between XEmacs and a cmdtool?
2642 * Q3.7.6:: How I can set XEmacs up so that it pastes where the text cursor is?
2643 * Q3.7.7:: How do I select a rectangular region?
2644 * Q3.7.8:: Why does @kbd{M-w} take so long?
2646 The Menubar and Toolbar:
2647 * Q3.8.1:: How do I get rid of the menu (or menubar)?
2648 * Q3.8.2:: Can I customize the basic menubar?
2649 * Q3.8.3:: How do I control how many buffers are listed in the menu @code{Buffers} list?
2650 * Q3.8.4:: Resources like @code{Emacs*menubar*font} are not working?
2651 * Q3.8.5:: How can I bind a key to a function to toggle the toolbar?
2654 * Q3.9.1:: How can I disable the scrollbar?
2655 * Q3.9.2:: How can one use resources to change scrollbar colors?
2656 * Q3.9.3:: Moving the scrollbar can move the point; can I disable this?
2657 * Q3.9.4:: How can I turn off automatic horizontal scrolling in specific modes?
2660 * Q3.10.1:: How can I turn off or change highlighted selections?
2661 * Q3.10.2:: How do I get that typing on an active region removes it?
2662 * Q3.10.3:: Can I turn off the highlight during isearch?
2663 * Q3.10.4:: How do I turn off highlighting after @kbd{C-x C-p} (mark-page)?
2664 * Q3.10.5:: The region disappears when I hit the end of buffer while scrolling.
2665 * Q3.10.6:: Why is killing so slow?
2668 @node Q3.0.1, Q3.0.2, Customization, Customization
2669 @unnumberedsec 3.0: Customization -- Emacs Lisp and @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}
2670 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.1: What version of Emacs am I running?
2672 How can @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} determine which of the family of
2675 To determine if you are currently running GNU Emacs 18, GNU Emacs 19,
2676 XEmacs 19, XEmacs 20, or Epoch, and use appropriate code, check out the
2677 example given in @file{etc/sample.init.el} (@file{etc/sample.emacs} in
2678 XEmacs versions prior to 21.4). There are other nifty things in there
2681 For all new code, all you really need to do is:
2684 (defvar running-xemacs (string-match "XEmacs\\|Lucid" emacs-version))
2687 @node Q3.0.2, Q3.0.3, Q3.0.1, Customization
2688 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.2: How can I evaluate Emacs-Lisp expressions?
2690 I know I can evaluate Elisp expressions from @code{*scratch*} buffer
2691 with @kbd{C-j} after the expression. How do I do it from another
2694 Press @kbd{M-:} (the default binding of @code{eval-expression}), and
2695 enter the expression to the minibuffer.
2697 @node Q3.0.3, Q3.0.4, Q3.0.2, Customization
2698 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.3: @code{(setq tab-width 6)} behaves oddly.
2700 If you put @code{(setq tab-width 6)} in your
2701 @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file it does not work! Is there a reason
2702 for this? If you do it at the EVAL prompt it works fine!! How strange.
2704 Use @code{setq-default} instead, since @code{tab-width} is
2707 @node Q3.0.4, Q3.0.5, Q3.0.3, Customization
2708 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.4: How can I add directories to the @code{load-path}?
2710 Here are two ways to do that, one that puts your directories at the
2711 front of the load-path, the other at the end:
2714 ;;; Add things at the beginning of the load-path, do not add
2715 ;;; duplicate directories:
2716 (pushnew "bar" load-path :test 'equal)
2718 (pushnew "foo" load-path :test 'equal)
2720 ;;; Add things at the end, unconditionally
2721 (setq load-path (nconc load-path '("foo" "bar")))
2724 @email{keithh@@nortel.ca, keith (k.p.) hanlan} writes:
2727 To add directories using Unix shell metacharacters use
2728 @file{expand-file-name} like this:
2731 (push (expand-file-name "~keithh/.emacsdir") load-path)
2735 @node Q3.0.5, Q3.0.6, Q3.0.4, Customization
2736 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.5: How to check if a lisp function is defined?
2738 Use the following elisp:
2744 It's almost always a mistake to test @code{emacs-version} or any similar
2747 Instead, use feature-tests, such as @code{featurep}, @code{boundp},
2748 @code{fboundp}, or even simple behavioral tests, eg.:
2751 (defvar foo-old-losing-code-p
2752 (condition-case nil (progn (losing-code t) nil)
2753 (wrong-number-of-arguments t)))
2756 There is an incredible amount of broken code out there which could work
2757 much better more often in more places if it did the above instead of
2758 trying to divine its environment from the value of one variable.
2760 @node Q3.0.6, Q3.0.7, Q3.0.5, Customization
2761 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.6: Can I force the output of @code{(face-list)} to a buffer?
2763 It would be good having it in a buffer, as the output of
2764 @code{(face-list)} is too wide to fit to a minibuffer.
2766 Evaluate the expression in the @samp{*scratch*} buffer with point after
2767 the rightmost paren and typing @kbd{C-j}.
2769 If the minibuffer smallness is the only problem you encounter, you can
2770 simply press @kbd{C-h l} to get the former minibuffer contents in a
2773 @node Q3.0.7, Q3.0.8, Q3.0.6, Customization
2774 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.7: Font selections in don't get saved after @code{Save Options}.
2776 @email{mannj@@ll.mit.edu, John Mann} writes:
2779 You have to go to Options->Frame Appearance and unselect
2780 @samp{Frame-Local Font Menu}. If this option is selected, font changes
2781 are only applied to the @emph{current} frame and do @emph{not} get saved
2782 when you save options.
2785 Also, set the following in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
2788 (setq options-save-faces t)
2791 @node Q3.0.8, Q3.0.9, Q3.0.7, Customization
2792 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.8: How do I get a single minibuffer frame?
2794 @email{acs@@acm.org, Vin Shelton} writes:
2797 (setq initial-frame-plist '(minibuffer nil))
2798 (setq default-frame-plist '(minibuffer nil))
2799 (setq default-minibuffer-frame
2804 menubar-visible-p nil
2805 default-toolbar-visible-p nil
2809 has-modeline-p nil)))
2810 (frame-notice-user-settings)
2813 @strong{Please note:} The single minibuffer frame may not be to everyone's
2814 taste, and there any number of other XEmacs options settings that may
2815 make it difficult or inconvenient to use.
2817 @node Q3.0.9, Q3.1.1, Q3.0.8, Customization
2818 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.0.9: What is @code{Customize}?
2820 Starting with XEmacs 20.2 there is new system 'Customize' for customizing
2823 You can access @code{Customize} from the @code{Options} menu
2824 or invoking one of customize commands by typing eg.
2825 @kbd{M-x customize}, @kbd{M-x customize-face},
2826 @kbd{M-x customize-variable} or @kbd{M-x customize-apropos}.
2828 Starting with XEmacs 20.3 there is also new `browser' mode for Customize.
2829 Try it out with @kbd{M-x customize-browse}
2831 @node Q3.1.1, Q3.1.2, Q3.0.9, Customization
2832 @unnumberedsec 3.1: X Window System & Resources
2833 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.1: Where is a list of X resources?
2835 Search through the @file{NEWS} file for @samp{X Resources}. A fairly
2836 comprehensive list is given after it.
2838 In addition, an @file{app-defaults} file @file{etc/Emacs.ad} is
2839 supplied, listing the defaults. The file @file{etc/sample.Xresources}
2840 gives a different set of defaults that you might consider for
2841 installation in your @file{~/.Xresources} file. It is nearly the same
2842 as @file{etc/Emacs.ad}, but a few entries are altered. Be careful about
2843 installing the contents of this file into your @file{.Xresources} (or
2844 legacy @file{.Xdefaults}) file if you use GNU Emacs under X11 as well.
2846 @node Q3.1.2, Q3.1.3, Q3.1.1, Customization
2847 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.2: How can I detect a color display?
2849 You can test the return value of the function @code{(device-class)}, as
2853 (when (eq (device-class) 'color)
2854 (set-face-foreground 'font-lock-comment-face "Grey")
2855 (set-face-foreground 'font-lock-string-face "Red")
2860 @node Q3.1.3, Q3.1.4, Q3.1.2, Customization
2861 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.3: [This question intentionally left blank]
2863 @node Q3.1.4, Q3.1.5, Q3.1.3, Customization
2864 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.4: [This question intentionally left blank]
2866 @node Q3.1.5, Q3.1.6, Q3.1.4, Customization
2867 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.5: How can I get the icon to just say @samp{XEmacs}?
2869 I'd like the icon to just say @samp{XEmacs}, and not include the name of
2870 the current file in it.
2872 Add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
2875 (setq frame-icon-title-format "XEmacs")
2878 @node Q3.1.6, Q3.1.7, Q3.1.5, Customization
2879 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.6: How can I have the window title area display the full path?
2881 I'd like to have the window title area display the full directory/name
2882 of the current buffer file and not just the name.
2884 Add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
2887 (setq frame-title-format "%S: %f")
2890 A more sophisticated title might be:
2893 (setq frame-title-format
2894 '("%S: " (buffer-file-name "%f"
2895 (dired-directory dired-directory "%b"))))
2898 That is, use the file name, or the dired-directory, or the buffer name.
2900 @node Q3.1.7, Q3.1.8, Q3.1.6, Customization
2901 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.7: @samp{xemacs -name junk} doesn't work?
2903 When I run @samp{xterm -name junk}, I get an xterm whose class name
2904 according to xprop, is @samp{junk}. This is the way it's supposed to
2905 work, I think. When I run @samp{xemacs -name junk} the class name is
2906 not set to @samp{junk}. It's still @samp{emacs}. What does
2907 @samp{xemacs -name} really do? The reason I ask is that my window
2908 manager (fvwm) will make a window sticky and I use XEmacs to read my
2909 mail. I want that XEmacs window to be sticky, without having to use the
2910 window manager's function to set the window sticky. What gives?
2912 @samp{xemacs -name} sets the application name for the program (that is,
2913 the thing which normally comes from @samp{argv[0]}). Using @samp{-name}
2914 is the same as making a copy of the executable with that new name. The
2915 @code{WM_CLASS} property on each frame is set to the frame-name, and the
2916 application-class. So, if you did @samp{xemacs -name FOO} and then
2917 created a frame named @var{BAR}, you'd get an X window with WM_CLASS =
2918 @code{( "BAR", "Emacs")}. However, the resource hierarchy for this
2922 Name: FOO .shell .container .BAR
2923 Class: Emacs .TopLevelEmacsShell.EmacsManager.EmacsFrame
2926 instead of the default
2929 Name: xemacs.shell .container .emacs
2930 Class: Emacs .TopLevelEmacsShell.EmacsManager.EmacsFrame
2934 It is arguable that the first element of WM_CLASS should be set to the
2935 application-name instead of the frame-name, but I think that's less
2936 flexible, since it does not give you the ability to have multiple frames
2937 with different WM_CLASS properties. Another possibility would be for
2938 the default frame name to come from the application name instead of
2939 simply being @samp{emacs}. However, at this point, making that change
2940 would be troublesome: it would mean that many users would have to make
2941 yet another change to their resource files (since the default frame name
2942 would suddenly change from @samp{emacs} to @samp{xemacs}, or whatever
2943 the executable happened to be named), so we'd rather avoid it.
2945 To make a frame with a particular name use:
2948 (make-frame '((name . "the-name")))
2951 @node Q3.1.8, Q3.2.1, Q3.1.7, Customization
2952 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.1.8: @samp{-iconic} doesn't work.
2954 When I start up XEmacs using @samp{-iconic} it doesn't work right.
2955 Using @samp{-unmapped} on the command line, and setting the
2956 @code{initiallyUnmapped} X Resource don't seem to help much either...
2958 @email{ben@@xemacs.org, Ben Wing} writes:
2961 Ugh, this stuff is such an incredible mess that I've about given up
2962 getting it to work. The principal problem is numerous window-manager
2966 @node Q3.2.1, Q3.2.2, Q3.1.8, Customization
2967 @unnumberedsec 3.2: Textual Fonts & Colors
2968 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.1: How can I set color options from @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}?
2970 How can I set the most commonly used color options from my
2971 @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} instead of from my @file{.Xresources}?
2976 (set-face-background 'default "bisque") ; frame background
2977 (set-face-foreground 'default "black") ; normal text
2978 (set-face-background 'zmacs-region "red") ; When selecting w/
2980 (set-face-foreground 'zmacs-region "yellow")
2981 (set-face-font 'default "*courier-bold-r*120-100-100*")
2982 (set-face-background 'highlight "blue") ; Ie when selecting
2984 (set-face-foreground 'highlight "yellow")
2985 (set-face-background 'modeline "blue") ; Line at bottom
2987 (set-face-foreground 'modeline "white")
2988 (set-face-font 'modeline "*bold-r-normal*140-100-100*")
2989 (set-face-background 'isearch "yellow") ; When highlighting
2991 (set-face-foreground 'isearch "red")
2992 (setq x-pointer-foreground-color "black") ; Adds to bg color,
2994 (setq x-pointer-background-color "blue") ; This is color
2999 @node Q3.2.2, Q3.2.3, Q3.2.1, Customization
3000 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.2: How do I set the text, menu and modeline fonts?
3002 Note that you should use @samp{Emacs.} and not @samp{Emacs*} when
3003 setting face values.
3005 In @file{.Xresources}:
3008 Emacs.default.attributeFont: -*-*-medium-r-*-*-*-120-*-*-m-*-*-*
3009 Emacs*menubar*font: fixed
3010 Emacs.modeline.attributeFont: fixed
3013 This is confusing because @samp{default} and @samp{modeline} are face
3014 names, and can be found listed with all faces in the current mode by
3015 using @kbd{M-x set-face-font (enter) ?}. They use the face-specific
3016 resource @samp{attributeFont}.
3018 On the other hand, @samp{menubar} is a normal X thing that uses the
3019 resource @samp{font}. With Motif it @emph{may be} necessary to use
3020 @samp{fontList} @emph{instead of} @samp{font}. In @emph{non-Motif}
3021 configurations with Mule it @emph{is} necessary to use @samp{fontSet}
3022 instead of @samp{font}. (Sorry, there just is no simple recipe here.)
3024 @node Q3.2.3, Q3.2.4, Q3.2.2, Customization
3025 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.3: How can I set the colors when highlighting a region?
3027 How can I set the background/foreground colors when highlighting a
3030 You can change the face @code{zmacs-region} either in your
3034 Emacs.zmacs-region.attributeForeground: firebrick
3035 Emacs.zmacs-region.attributeBackground: lightseagreen
3038 or in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
3041 (set-face-background 'zmacs-region "red")
3042 (set-face-foreground 'zmacs-region "yellow")
3045 @node Q3.2.4, Q3.2.5, Q3.2.3, Customization
3046 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.4: How can I limit color map usage?
3048 I'm using Netscape (or another color grabber like XEmacs);
3049 is there any way to limit the number of available colors in the color map?
3051 Answer: No, but you can start Netscape before XEmacs, and it will use
3052 the closest available color if the colormap is full. You can also limit
3053 the number of colors Netscape uses, using the flags -mono, -ncols <#> or
3054 -install (for mono, limiting to <#> colors, or for using a private color
3057 If you have the money, another solution would be to use a truecolor or
3060 @node Q3.2.5, Q3.2.6, Q3.2.4, Customization
3061 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.5: My tty supports color, but XEmacs doesn't use them.
3063 XEmacs tries to automatically determine whether your tty supports color,
3064 but sometimes guesses wrong. In that case, you can make XEmacs Do The
3065 Right Thing using this Lisp code:
3068 (if (eq 'tty (device-type))
3069 (set-device-class nil 'color))
3072 @node Q3.2.6, Q3.2.7, Q3.2.5, Customization
3073 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.6: Can I have pixmap backgrounds in XEmacs?
3075 @email{jvillaci@@wahnsinnig.extreme.indiana.edu, Juan Villacis} writes:
3078 There are several ways to do it. For example, you could specify a
3079 default pixmap image to use in your @file{~/.Xresources}, e.g.,
3083 Emacs*EmacsFrame.default.attributeBackgroundPixmap: /path/to/image.xpm
3087 and then reload ~/.Xresources and restart XEmacs. Alternatively,
3088 since each face can have its own pixmap background, a better way
3089 would be to set a face's pixmap within your XEmacs init file, e.g.,
3092 (set-face-background-pixmap 'default "/path/to/image.xpm")
3093 (set-face-background-pixmap 'bold "/path/to/another_image.xpm")
3096 and so on. You can also do this interactively via @kbd{M-x edit-faces}.
3100 @node Q3.2.7, Q3.3.1, Q3.2.6, Customization
3101 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.2.7: How do I display non-ASCII characters?
3104 If you're using a Mule-enabled XEmacs, then display is automatic. If
3105 you're not seeing the characters you expect, either (1) you don't have
3106 appropriate fonts available or (2) XEmacs did not correctly detect the
3107 coding system (@pxref{Recognize Coding, , , xemacs}). In case (1),
3108 install fonts as is customary for your platform. In case (2), you
3109 need to tell XEmacs explicitly what coding systems you're using.
3110 @ref{Specify Coding, , , xemacs}.
3112 If your XEmacs is not Mule-enabled, and for some reason getting a
3113 Mule-enabled XEmacs seems like the wrong thing to do, all is not lost.
3114 You can arrange it by brute force. In @file{event-Xt.c} (suppress the
3115 urge to look in this file---play Doom instead, because you'll survive
3116 longer), it is written:
3119 In a non-Mule world, a user can still have a multi-lingual editor, by
3120 doing @code{(set-face-font "-*-iso8859-2" (current-buffer))} for all
3121 their Latin-2 buffers, etc.
3124 For the related problem of @emph{inputting} non-ASCII characters in a
3125 non-Mule XEmacs, @xref{Q3.5.7}.
3127 @node Q3.3.1, Q3.3.2, Q3.2.7, Customization
3128 @unnumberedsec 3.3: The Modeline
3129 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.3.1: How can I make the modeline go away?
3132 (set-specifier has-modeline-p nil)
3135 @c Starting with XEmacs 19.14 the modeline responds to mouse clicks, so if
3136 @c you haven't liked or used the modeline in the past, you might want to
3137 @c try the new version out.
3139 @node Q3.3.2, Q3.3.3, Q3.3.1, Customization
3140 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.3.2: How do you have XEmacs display the line number in the modeline?
3142 Add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file to
3143 display the line number:
3146 (line-number-mode 1)
3149 Use the following to display the column number:
3152 (column-number-mode 1)
3155 Or select from the @code{Options} menu
3159 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Basics->Line Number Mode}
3164 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Basics->Column Number Mode}
3166 Or type @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} editing-basics @key{RET}}.
3168 @node Q3.3.3, Q3.3.4, Q3.3.2, Customization
3169 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.3.3: How do I get XEmacs to put the time of day on the modeline?
3171 Add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file to
3178 See @code{Customize} from the @code{Options} menu for customization.
3180 @node Q3.3.4, Q3.3.5, Q3.3.3, Customization
3181 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.3.4: How do I turn off current chapter from AUC TeX modeline?
3183 With AUC TeX, fast typing is hard because the current chapter, section
3184 etc. are given in the modeline. How can I turn this off?
3186 It's not AUC TeX, it comes from @code{func-menu} in @file{func-menu.el}.
3188 @c Add this code to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} to turn it off:
3191 @c (setq fume-display-in-modeline-p nil)
3194 @c Or just add a hook to @code{TeX-mode-hook} to turn it off only for TeX
3198 @c (add-hook 'TeX-mode-hook
3199 @c '(lambda () (setq fume-display-in-modeline-p nil)))
3202 @email{dhughes@@origin-at.co.uk, David Hughes} writes:
3205 Try this; you'll still get the function name displayed in the modeline,
3206 but it won't attempt to keep track when you modify the file. To refresh
3207 when it gets out of synch, you simply need click on the @samp{Rescan
3208 Buffer} option in the function-menu.
3211 (setq-default fume-auto-rescan-buffer-p nil)
3215 @node Q3.3.5, Q3.4.1, Q3.3.4, Customization
3216 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.3.5: How can one change the modeline color based on the mode used?
3218 You can use something like the following:
3221 (add-hook 'lisp-mode-hook
3223 (set-face-background 'modeline "red" (current-buffer))))
3226 Then, when editing a Lisp file (i.e. when in Lisp mode), the modeline
3227 colors change from the default set in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}.
3228 The change will only be made in the buffer you just entered (which
3229 contains the Lisp file you are editing) and will not affect the modeline
3230 colors anywhere else.
3236 @item The hook is the mode name plus @code{-hook}. eg. c-mode-hook,
3237 c++-mode-hook, emacs-lisp-mode-hook (used for your
3238 @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} or a @file{xx.el} file),
3239 lisp-interaction-mode-hook (the @samp{*scratch*} buffer),
3240 text-mode-hook, etc.
3243 Be sure to use @code{add-hook}, not @code{(setq c-mode-hook xxxx)},
3244 otherwise you will erase anything that anybody has already put on the
3248 You can also do @code{(set-face-font 'modeline @var{font})},
3249 eg. @code{(set-face-font 'modeline "*bold-r-normal*140-100-100*"
3250 (current-buffer))} if you wish the modeline font to vary based on the
3254 There are additional modeline faces, @code{modeline-buffer-id},
3255 @code{modeline-mousable}, and @code{modeline-mousable-minor-mode}, which
3256 you may want to customize.
3258 @node Q3.4.1, Q3.4.2, Q3.3.5, Customization
3259 @unnumberedsec 3.4: Multiple Device Support
3260 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.4.1: How do I open a frame on another screen of my multi-headed display?
3262 Use the command @kbd{M-x make-frame-on-display}. This command is also
3263 on the File menu in the menubar.
3265 The command @code{make-frame-on-tty} also exists, which will establish a
3266 connection to any tty-like device. Opening the TTY devices should be
3267 left to @code{gnuclient}, though.
3269 @node Q3.4.2, Q3.5.1, Q3.4.1, Customization
3270 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.4.2: Can I really connect to a running XEmacs after calling up over a modem? How?
3272 Yes. Use @code{gnuclient -nw}. (Prior to 20.3, use the @code{gnuattach}
3273 program supplied with XEmacs instead.)
3275 Also see @ref{Q5.0.12}.
3277 @node Q3.5.1, Q3.5.2, Q3.4.2, Customization
3278 @unnumberedsec 3.5: The Keyboard
3279 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.1: How can I bind complex functions (or macros) to keys?
3281 As an example, say you want the @kbd{paste} key on a Sun keyboard to
3282 insert the current Primary X selection at point. You can accomplish this
3286 (define-key global-map [f18] 'x-insert-selection)
3289 However, this only works if there is a current X selection (the
3290 selection will be highlighted). The functionality I like is for the
3291 @kbd{paste} key to insert the current X selection if there is one,
3292 otherwise insert the contents of the clipboard. To do this you need to
3293 pass arguments to @code{x-insert-selection}. This is done by wrapping
3294 the call in a 'lambda form:
3297 (global-set-key [f18]
3298 (lambda () (interactive) (x-insert-selection t nil)))
3301 This binds the f18 key to a @dfn{generic} functional object. The
3302 interactive spec is required because only interactive functions can be
3305 For the FAQ example you could use:
3308 (global-set-key [(control ?.)]
3309 (lambda () (interactive) (scroll-up 1)))
3310 (global-set-key [(control ?;)]
3311 (lambda () (interactive) (scroll-up -1)))
3314 This is fine if you only need a few functions within the lambda body.
3315 If you're doing more it's cleaner to define a separate function as in
3316 question 3.5.3 (@pxref{Q3.5.3}).
3318 @node Q3.5.2, Q3.5.3, Q3.5.1, Customization
3319 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.2: How can I stop down-arrow from adding empty lines to the bottom of my buffers?
3321 Add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file:
3324 (setq next-line-add-newlines nil)
3327 This has been the default setting in XEmacs for some time.
3329 @node Q3.5.3, Q3.5.4, Q3.5.2, Customization
3330 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.3: How do I bind C-. and C-; to scroll one line up and down?
3332 Add the following (Thanks to @email{mly@@adoc.xerox.com, Richard Mlynarik} and
3333 @email{wayne@@zen.cac.stratus.com, Wayne Newberry}) to @file{.emacs}:
3336 (defun scroll-up-one-line ()
3340 (defun scroll-down-one-line ()
3344 (global-set-key [(control ?.)] 'scroll-up-one-line) ; C-.
3345 (global-set-key [(control ?;)] 'scroll-down-one-line) ; C-;
3348 The key point is that you can only bind simple functions to keys; you
3349 can not bind a key to a function that you're also passing arguments to.
3350 (@pxref{Q3.5.1} for a better answer).
3352 @node Q3.5.4, Q3.5.5, Q3.5.3, Customization
3353 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.4: Globally binding @kbd{Delete}?
3355 I cannot manage to globally bind my @kbd{Delete} key to something other
3356 than the default. How does one do this?
3358 Answer: The problem is that many modes explicitly bind @kbd{Delete}. To
3359 get around this, try the following:
3364 (message "You hit DELETE"))
3366 (define-key key-translation-map 'delete 'redirected-delete)
3367 (global-set-key 'redirected-delete 'foo)
3370 Also see @ref{Q3.5.10}.
3372 @node Q3.5.5, Q3.5.6, Q3.5.4, Customization
3373 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.5: Scrolling one line at a time.
3375 Can the cursor keys scroll the screen a line at a time, rather than the
3376 default half page jump? I tend it to find it disorienting.
3381 (defun scroll-one-line-up (&optional arg)
3382 "Scroll the selected window up (forward in the text) one line (or N lines)."
3384 (scroll-up (or arg 1)))
3386 (defun scroll-one-line-down (&optional arg)
3387 "Scroll the selected window down (backward in the text) one line (or N)."
3389 (scroll-down (or arg 1)))
3391 (global-set-key [up] 'scroll-one-line-up)
3392 (global-set-key [down] 'scroll-one-line-down)
3395 The following will also work but will affect more than just the cursor
3396 keys (i.e. @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}):
3399 (setq scroll-step 1)
3402 Starting with XEmacs-20.3 you can also change this with Customize.
3403 Select from the @code{Options} menu
3404 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Windows->Scroll Step...} or type
3405 @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} windows @key{RET}}.
3407 @node Q3.5.6, Q3.5.7, Q3.5.5, Customization
3408 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.6: How to map @kbd{Help} key alone on Sun type4 keyboard?
3410 The following works in GNU Emacs 19:
3413 (global-set-key [help] 'help-command);; Help
3416 The following works in XEmacs with the addition of shift:
3419 (global-set-key [(shift help)] 'help-command);; Help
3422 But it doesn't work alone. This is in the file @file{PROBLEMS} which
3423 should have come with your XEmacs installation: @emph{Emacs ignores the
3424 @kbd{help} key when running OLWM}.
3426 OLWM grabs the @kbd{help} key, and retransmits it to the appropriate
3431 @code{XSendEvent}. Allowing Emacs to react to synthetic
3432 events is a security hole, so this is turned off by default. You can
3433 enable it by setting the variable @code{x-allow-sendevents} to t. You
3434 can also cause fix this by telling OLWM to not grab the help key, with
3435 the null binding @code{OpenWindows.KeyboardCommand.Help:}.
3437 @node Q3.5.7, Q3.5.8, Q3.5.6, Customization
3438 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.7: How can you type in special characters in XEmacs?
3440 One way is to use the package @code{x-compose}. Then you can use
3441 sequences like @kbd{Compose " a} to get ä, etc.
3443 Another way is to use the @code{iso-insert} package. Then you can use
3444 sequences like @kbd{C-x 8 " a} to get ä, etc.
3446 @email{glynn@@sensei.co.uk, Glynn Clements} writes:
3449 It depends upon your X server.
3451 Generally, the simplest way is to define a key as Multi_key with
3453 @c hey, show some respect, willya -- there's xkeycaps, isn't there? --
3456 xmodmap -e 'keycode 0xff20 = Multi_key'
3459 You will need to pick an appropriate keycode. Use xev to find out the
3460 keycodes for each key.
3462 [NB: On a `Windows' keyboard, recent versions of XFree86 automatically
3463 define the right `Windows' key as Multi_key'.]
3465 Once you have Multi_key defined, you can use e.g.
3474 Also, recent versions of XFree86 define various AltGr-<key>
3475 combinations as dead keys, i.e.
3477 AltGr [ => dead_diaeresis
3478 AltGr ] => dead_tilde
3479 AltGr ; => dead_acute
3483 Running @samp{xmodmap -pk} will list all of the defined keysyms.
3486 For the related problem of @emph{displaying} non-ASCII characters in a
3487 non-Mule XEmacs, @xref{Q3.2.7}.
3489 @node Q3.5.8, Q3.5.9, Q3.5.7, Customization
3490 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.8: [This question intentionally left blank]
3492 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.
3494 @node Q3.5.9, Q3.5.10, Q3.5.8, Customization
3495 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.9: How do I make the Delete key delete forward?
3497 With XEmacs-20.2 use the @code{delbs} package:
3503 This will give you the functions @code{delbs-enable-delete-forward} to
3504 set things up, and @code{delbs-disable-delete-forward} to revert to
3505 ``normal'' behavior. Note that @code{delbackspace} package is obsolete.
3507 Starting with XEmacs-20.3 better solution is to set variable
3508 @code{delete-key-deletes-forward} to t. You can also change this with
3509 Customize. Select from the @code{Options} menu
3510 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Basics->Delete Key Deletes Forward} or
3511 type @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} editing-basics @key{RET}}.
3513 Also see @ref{Q3.5.4}.
3515 @node Q3.5.10, Q3.5.11, Q3.5.9, Customization
3516 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.10: Can I turn on @dfn{sticky} modifier keys?
3518 Yes, with @code{(setq modifier-keys-are-sticky t)}. This will give the
3519 effect of being able to press and release Shift and have the next
3520 character typed come out in upper case. This will affect all the other
3521 modifier keys like Control and Meta as well.
3523 @email{ben@@xemacs.org, Ben Wing} writes:
3526 One thing about the sticky modifiers is that if you move the mouse out
3527 of the frame and back in, it cancels all currently ``stuck'' modifiers.
3530 @node Q3.5.11, Q3.6.1, Q3.5.10, Customization
3531 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.5.11: How do I map the arrow keys?
3533 Say you want to map @kbd{C-@key{right}} to forward-word:
3535 @email{sds@@usa.net, Sam Steingold} writes:
3539 ; both XEmacs and Emacs
3540 (define-key global-map [(control right)] 'forward-word)
3545 (define-key global-map [C-right] 'forward-word)
3550 (define-key global-map (kbd "C-<right>") 'forward-word)
3556 @node Q3.6.1, Q3.6.2, Q3.5.11, Customization
3557 @unnumberedsec 3.6: The Cursor
3558 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.6.1: Is there a way to make the bar cursor thicker?
3560 I'd like to have the bar cursor a little thicker, as I tend to "lose" it
3563 For a 1 pixel bar cursor, use:
3569 For a 2 pixel bar cursor, use:
3572 (setq bar-cursor 'anything-else)
3575 Starting with XEmacs-20.3 you can also change these with Customize.
3576 Select from the @code{Options} menu
3577 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Display->Bar Cursor...} or type
3578 @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} display @key{RET}}.
3580 You can use a color to make it stand out better:
3583 Emacs*cursorColor: Red
3586 @node Q3.6.2, Q3.6.3, Q3.6.1, Customization
3587 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.6.2: Is there a way to get back the block cursor?
3590 (setq bar-cursor nil)
3593 Starting with XEmacs 20.3 you can also change this with Customize.
3594 Select from the @code{Options} menu
3595 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Display->Bar Cursor...} or type
3596 @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} display @key{RET}}.
3598 @node Q3.6.3, Q3.7.1, Q3.6.2, Customization
3599 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.6.3: Can I make the cursor blink?
3607 This function toggles between a steady cursor and a blinking cursor.
3608 You may also set this mode from the menu bar by selecting @samp{Options
3609 => Frame Appearance => Blinking Cursor}. Remember to save options.
3611 @node Q3.7.1, Q3.7.2, Q3.6.3, Customization
3612 @unnumberedsec 3.7: The Mouse and Highlighting
3613 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.1: How can I turn off Mouse pasting?
3615 I keep hitting the middle mouse button by accident and getting stuff
3616 pasted into my buffer so how can I turn this off?
3618 Here is an alternative binding, whereby the middle mouse button selects
3619 (but does not cut) the expression under the mouse. Clicking middle on a
3620 left or right paren will select to the matching one. Note that you can
3621 use @code{define-key} or @code{global-set-key}.
3624 (defun mouse-set-point-and-select (event)
3625 "Sets the point at the mouse location, then marks following form"
3627 (mouse-set-point event)
3629 (define-key global-map [button2] 'mouse-set-point-and-select)
3632 @node Q3.7.2, Q3.7.3, Q3.7.1, Customization
3633 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.2: How do I set control/meta/etc modifiers on mouse buttons?
3635 Use, for instance, @code{[(meta button1)]}. For example, here is a common
3636 setting for Common Lisp programmers who use the bundled @code{ilisp}
3637 package, whereby meta-button1 on a function name will find the file where
3638 the function name was defined, and put you at that location in the source
3641 [Inside a function that gets called by the lisp-mode-hook and
3645 (local-set-key [(meta button1)] 'edit-definitions-lisp)
3648 @node Q3.7.3, Q3.7.4, Q3.7.2, Customization
3649 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.3: Clicking the left button does not do anything in buffer list.
3651 I do @kbd{C-x C-b} to get a list of buffers and the entries get
3652 highlighted when I move the mouse over them but clicking the left mouse
3653 does not do anything.
3655 Use the middle mouse button.
3657 @node Q3.7.4, Q3.7.5, Q3.7.3, Customization
3658 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.4: How can I get a list of buffers when I hit mouse button 3?
3660 The following code will replace the default popup on button3:
3663 (global-set-key [button3] 'popup-buffer-menu)
3666 @node Q3.7.5, Q3.7.6, Q3.7.4, Customization
3667 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.5: Why does cut-and-paste not work between XEmacs and a cmdtool?
3669 We don't know. It's a bug. There does seem to be a work-around,
3670 however. Try running xclipboard first. It appears to fix the problem
3671 even if you exit it. (This should be mostly fixed in 19.13, but we
3672 haven't yet verified that).
3674 @node Q3.7.6, Q3.7.7, Q3.7.5, Customization
3675 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.6: How I can set XEmacs up so that it pastes where the text cursor is?
3677 By default XEmacs pastes X selections where the mouse pointer is. How
3680 Examine the function @code{mouse-yank}, by typing @kbd{C-h f mouse-yank
3683 To get XEmacs to paste at the text cursor, add this your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
3686 (setq mouse-yank-at-point t)
3689 Starting with XEmacs-20.2 you can also change this with Customize.
3690 Select from the @code{Options} menu
3691 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Mouse->Yank At Point...} or type
3692 @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} mouse @key{RET}}.
3694 @node Q3.7.7, Q3.7.8, Q3.7.6, Customization
3695 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.7: How do I select a rectangular region?
3697 Just select the region normally, then use the rectangle commands (e.g.
3698 @code{kill-rectangle} on it. The region does not highlight as a
3699 rectangle, but the commands work just fine.
3701 To actually sweep out rectangular regions with the mouse you can use
3702 @code{mouse-track-do-rectangle} which is assigned to @kbd{M-button1}.
3703 Then use rectangle commands.
3705 You can also do the following to change default behavior to sweep out
3706 rectangular regions:
3709 (setq mouse-track-rectangle-p t)
3712 Starting with XEmacs-20.2 you can also change this with Customize.
3713 Select from the @code{Options} menu
3714 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Mouse->Track Rectangle...} or type
3715 @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} mouse @key{RET}}.
3719 mouse-track-do-rectangle: (event)
3720 -- an interactive compiled Lisp function.
3721 Like `mouse-track' but selects rectangles instead of regions.
3724 @node Q3.7.8, Q3.8.1, Q3.7.7, Customization
3725 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.7.8: Why does @kbd{M-w} take so long?
3727 It actually doesn't. It leaves the region visible for a second so that
3728 you can see what area is being yanked. If you start working, though, it
3729 will immediately complete its operation. In other words, it will only
3730 delay for a second if you let it.
3732 @node Q3.8.1, Q3.8.2, Q3.7.8, Customization
3733 @unnumberedsec 3.8: The Menubar and Toolbar
3734 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.8.1: How do I get rid of the menu (or menubar)?
3736 @c If you are running XEmacs 19.13 or earlier, add this command to your
3737 @c @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}.
3740 @c (set-menubar nil)
3743 @c Starting with XEmacs 19.14 the preferred method is:
3746 (set-specifier menubar-visible-p nil)
3749 @node Q3.8.2, Q3.8.3, Q3.8.1, Customization
3750 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.8.2: Can I customize the basic menubar?
3752 For an extensive menubar, add this line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
3755 (load "big-menubar")
3758 If you'd like to write your own, this file provides as good a set of
3759 examples as any to start from. The file is located in edit-utils
3762 @node Q3.8.3, Q3.8.4, Q3.8.2, Customization
3763 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.8.3: How do I control how many buffers are listed in the menu @code{Buffers List}?
3765 Add the following to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} (suit to fit):
3768 (setq buffers-menu-max-size 20)
3771 For no limit, use an argument of @samp{nil}.
3773 Starting with XEmacs-20.3 you can also change this with Customize.
3774 Select from the @code{Options} menu
3775 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Menu->Buffers Menu->Max Size...} or
3776 type @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} buffers-menu @key{RET}}.
3778 @node Q3.8.4, Q3.8.5, Q3.8.3, Customization
3779 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.8.4: Resources like @code{Emacs*menubar*font} are not working?
3781 I am trying to use a resource like @code{Emacs*menubar*font} to set the
3782 font of the menubar but it's not working.
3784 In Motif, the use of @samp{font} resources is obsoleted in order to
3785 support internationalization. If you are using the real Motif menubar,
3786 this resource is not recognized at all; you have to say:
3789 Emacs*menubar*fontList: FONT
3792 If you are using the Lucid menubar, for backward compatibility with
3793 existing user configurations, the @samp{font} resource is recognized.
3794 Since this is not supported by Motif itself, the code is a kludge and
3795 the @samp{font} resource will be recognized only if the @samp{fontList}
3796 resource resource is unset. This means that the resource
3805 Emacs*menubar*font: FONT
3808 even though the latter is more specific.
3810 In non-Motif configurations using @samp{--with-mule} and
3811 @samp{--with-xfs} it @emph{is} necessary to use the @code{fontSet}
3812 resource @emph{instead of} the @code{font} resource. The backward
3813 compatibility kludge was never implemented for non-Motif builds.
3820 @node Q3.8.5, Q3.9.1, Q3.8.4, Customization
3821 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.8.5: How can I bind a key to a function to toggle the toolbar?
3826 (defun my-toggle-toolbar ()
3828 (set-specifier default-toolbar-visible-p
3829 (not (specifier-instance default-toolbar-visible-p))))
3830 (global-set-key "\C-xT" 'my-toggle-toolbar)
3833 There are redisplay bugs in 19.14 that may make the preceding result in
3834 a messed-up display, especially for frames with multiple windows. You
3835 may need to resize the frame before XEmacs completely realizes the
3836 toolbar is really gone.
3838 Thanks to @email{martin@@xemacs.org, Martin Buchholz} for the correct
3841 @node Q3.9.1, Q3.9.2, Q3.8.5, Customization
3842 @unnumberedsec 3.9: Scrollbars
3843 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.9.1: How can I disable the scrollbar?
3845 To disable them for all frames, add the following line to
3846 your @file{.Xresources}:
3849 Emacs.scrollBarWidth: 0
3852 Or select from the @code{Options} menu @code{Frame Appearance->Scrollbars}.
3853 Remember to save options.
3855 To turn the scrollbar off on a per-frame basis, use the following
3859 (set-specifier scrollbar-width 0 (selected-frame))
3862 You can actually turn the scrollbars on at any level you want by
3863 substituting for (selected-frame) in the above command. For example, to
3864 turn the scrollbars off only in a single buffer:
3867 (set-specifier scrollbar-width 0 (current-buffer))
3870 @c In XEmacs versions prior to 19.14, you had to use the hairier construct:
3873 @c (set-specifier scrollbar-width (cons (selected-frame) 0))
3876 @node Q3.9.2, Q3.9.3, Q3.9.1, Customization
3877 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.9.2: How can one use resources to change scrollbar colors?
3879 Here's a recap of how to use resources to change your scrollbar colors:
3884 Emacs*XmScrollBar.Background: skyblue
3885 Emacs*XmScrollBar.troughColor: lightgray
3889 Emacs*Scrollbar.Foreground: skyblue
3890 Emacs*Scrollbar.Background: lightgray
3893 Note the capitalization of @code{Scrollbar} for the Athena widget.
3895 @node Q3.9.3, Q3.9.4, Q3.9.2, Customization
3896 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.9.3: Moving the scrollbar can move the point; can I disable this?
3898 When I move the scrollbar in an XEmacs window, it moves the point as
3899 well, which should not be the default behavior. Is this a bug or a
3900 feature? Can I disable it?
3902 The current behavior is a feature, not a bug. Point remains at the same
3903 buffer position as long as that position does not scroll off the screen.
3904 In that event, point will end up in either the upper-left or lower-left
3907 This cannot be changed.
3909 @node Q3.9.4, Q3.10.1, Q3.9.3, Customization
3910 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.9.4: How can I turn off automatic horizontal scrolling in specific modes?
3912 Do @code{(setq truncate-lines t)} in the mode-hooks for any modes
3913 in which you want lines truncated.
3915 More precisely: If @code{truncate-lines} is nil, horizontal scrollbars
3916 will never appear. Otherwise, they will appear only if the value of
3917 @code{scrollbar-height} for that buffer/window/etc. is non-zero. If you
3921 (set-specifier scrollbar-height 0)
3924 then horizontal scrollbars will not appear in truncated buffers unless
3925 the package specifically asked for them.
3927 @node Q3.10.1, Q3.10.2, Q3.9.4, Customization
3928 @unnumberedsec 3.10: Text Selections
3929 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.10.1: How can I turn off or change highlighted selections?
3931 The @code{zmacs} mode allows for what some might call gratuitous
3932 highlighting for selected regions (either by setting mark or by using
3933 the mouse). This is the default behavior. To turn off, add the
3934 following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file:
3937 (setq zmacs-regions nil)
3940 Starting with XEmacs-20.2 you can also change this with Customize. Select
3941 from the @code{Options} menu @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Basics->Zmacs
3942 Regions} or type @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} editing-basics @key{RET}}.
3944 To change the face for selection, look at @code{Options->Customize} on
3947 @node Q3.10.2, Q3.10.3, Q3.10.1, Customization
3948 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.10.2: How do I get that typing on an active region removes it?
3950 I want to change things so that if I select some text and start typing,
3951 the typed text replaces the selected text, similar to Motif.
3953 You want to use something called @dfn{pending delete}. Pending delete
3954 is what happens when you select a region (with the mouse or keyboard)
3955 and you press a key to replace the selected region by the key you typed.
3956 Usually backspace kills the selected region.
3958 To get this behavior, add the following lines to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
3962 ((fboundp 'turn-on-pending-delete)
3963 (turn-on-pending-delete))
3964 ((fboundp 'pending-delete-on)
3965 (pending-delete-on t)))
3968 Note that this will work with both Backspace and Delete. This code is a
3969 tad more complicated than it has to be for XEmacs in order to make it
3972 @node Q3.10.3, Q3.10.4, Q3.10.2, Customization
3973 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.10.3: Can I turn off the highlight during isearch?
3975 I do not like my text highlighted while I am doing isearch as I am not
3976 able to see what's underneath. How do I turn it off?
3978 Put the following in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
3981 (setq isearch-highlight nil)
3984 Starting with XEmacs-20.2 you can also change this with Customize. Type
3985 @kbd{M-x customize-variable @key{RET} isearch-highlight @key{RET}}.
3987 Note also that isearch-highlight affects query-replace and ispell.
3988 Instead of disabling isearch-highlight you may find that a better
3989 solution consists of customizing the @code{isearch} face.
3991 @node Q3.10.4, Q3.10.5, Q3.10.3, Customization
3992 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.10.4: How do I turn off highlighting after @kbd{C-x C-p} (mark-page)?
3994 Put this in your @code{.emacs}:
3997 (setq zmacs-regions nil)
4000 @strong{Warning: This command turns off all region highlighting.}
4002 Also see @ref{Q3.10.1}.
4004 @node Q3.10.5, Q3.10.6, Q3.10.4, Customization
4005 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.10.5: The region disappears when I hit the end of buffer while scrolling.
4007 This has been fixed by default starting with XEmacs-20.3.
4009 With older versions you can turn this feature (if it indeed is a feature)
4013 (defadvice scroll-up (around scroll-up freeze)
4015 (let ((zmacs-region-stays t))
4019 (end-of-buffer (goto-char (point-max))))
4022 (defadvice scroll-down (around scroll-down freeze)
4024 (let ((zmacs-region-stays t))
4028 (beginning-of-buffer (goto-char (point-min))))
4032 Thanks to @email{raman@@adobe.com, T. V. Raman} for assistance in deriving this
4035 @node Q3.10.6, , Q3.10.5, Customization
4036 @unnumberedsubsec Q3.10.6: Why is killing so slow?
4038 This actually is an X Windows question, although you'll notice it with
4039 keyboard operations as well as while using the GUI. Basically, there
4040 are four ways to communicate interprogram via the X server:
4043 @item Primary selection
4044 a transient selection that gets replaced every time a new selection is made
4046 @item Secondary selection
4047 for "exchanging" with the primary selection
4050 a clipboard internal to the X server (deprecated)
4052 @item Clipboard selection
4053 a selection with a notification protocol that allows a separate app to
4054 manage the clipboard
4057 The cut buffers are deprecated because managing them is even more
4058 inefficient than the clipboard notification protocol. The primary
4059 selection works fine for many users and applications, but is not very
4060 robust under intensive or sophisticated use.
4062 In Motif and MS Windows, a clipboard has become the primary means for
4063 managing cut and paste. These means that "modern" applications tend to
4064 be oriented toward a true clipboard, rather than the primary selection.
4065 (On Windows, there is nothing equivalent to the primary selection.)
4066 It's not that XEmacs doesn't support the simple primary selection
4067 method, it's that more and more other applications don't.
4069 So the slowdown occurs because XEmacs now engages in the clipboard
4070 notification protocol on @emph{every} kill. This is especially slow on
4073 With most people running most clients and server on the same host, and
4074 many of the rest working over very fast communication, you may expect
4075 that the situation is not going to improve.
4077 There are a number of workarounds. The most effective is to use a
4078 special command to do selection ownership only when you intend to paste
4079 to another application. Useful commands are @code{kill-primary-selection}
4080 and @code{copy-primary-selection}. These work only on text selected
4081 with the mouse (probably; experiment), and are bound by default to the
4082 @kbd{Cut} and @kbd{Copy}, respectively, buttons on the toolbar.
4083 @code{copy-primary-selection} is also bound to @kbd{C-Insert}. You can
4084 yank the clipboard contents with @code{yank-primary-selection}, bound to
4085 the @kbd{Paste} toolbar button and @kbd{Sh-Insert}.
4087 If you are communicating by cut and paste with applications that use the
4088 primary selection, then you can customize
4089 @code{interprogram-cut-function} to @code{nil}, restoring the XEmacs
4090 version 20 behavior. How can you tell if a program will support this?
4091 Motifly-correct programs require the clipboard; you lose. For others,
4092 only by trying it. You also need to customize the complementary
4093 @code{interprogram-paste-function} to @code{nil}. (Otherwise
4094 XEmacs-to-XEmacs pastes will not work correctly.)
4096 You may get some relief on Motif by setting
4097 @code{x-selection-strict-motif-ownership} to nil, but this means you will
4098 only intermittently be able to paste XEmacs kills to Motif applications.
4100 Thanks to Jeff Mincy and Glynn Clements for corrections.
4102 @node Subsystems, Miscellaneous, Customization, Top
4103 @unnumbered 4 Major Subsystems
4105 This is part 4 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list. This
4106 section is devoted to major XEmacs subsystems.
4109 Reading Mail with VM:
4110 * Q4.0.1:: How do I set up VM to retrieve remote mail using POP?
4111 * Q4.0.2:: How do I get VM to filter mail for me?
4112 * Q4.0.3:: How can I get VM to automatically check for new mail?
4113 * Q4.0.4:: [This question intentionally left blank]
4114 * Q4.0.5:: How do I get my outgoing mail archived?
4115 * 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"?
4116 * Q4.0.7:: Is there a mailing list or FAQ for VM?
4117 * Q4.0.8:: Remote mail reading with VM.
4118 * Q4.0.9:: rmail or VM gets an error incorporating new mail.
4119 * Q4.0.10:: How do I make VM stay in a single frame?
4120 * Q4.0.11:: How do I make VM or mh-e display graphical smilies?
4121 * Q4.0.12:: Customization of VM not covered in the manual or here.
4123 Web browsing with W3:
4124 * Q4.1.1:: What is W3?
4125 * Q4.1.2:: How do I run W3 from behind a firewall?
4126 * Q4.1.3:: Is it true that W3 supports style sheets and tables?
4128 Reading Netnews and Mail with Gnus:
4129 * Q4.2.1:: GNUS, (ding) Gnus, Gnus 5, September Gnus, Red Gnus,argh!
4130 * Q4.2.2:: [This question intentionally left blank]
4131 * Q4.2.3:: How do I make Gnus stay within a single frame?
4132 * Q4.2.4:: How do I customize the From: line?
4135 * Q4.3.1:: How can I read and/or compose MIME messages?
4136 * Q4.3.2:: What is TM and where do I get it?
4137 * Q4.3.3:: Why isn't this @code{movemail} program working?
4138 * Q4.3.4:: Movemail is also distributed by Netscape? Can that cause problems?
4139 * Q4.3.5:: Where do I find pstogif (required by tm)?
4141 Sparcworks, EOS, and WorkShop:
4142 * Q4.4.1:: What is SPARCworks, EOS, and WorkShop
4143 * Q4.4.2:: How do I start the Sun Workshop support in XEmacs 21?
4146 * Q4.5.1:: What is/was Energize?
4149 * Q4.6.1:: What is Infodock?
4151 Other Unbundled Packages:
4152 * Q4.7.1:: What is AUC TeX? Where do you get it?
4153 * Q4.7.2:: Are there any Emacs Lisp Spreadsheets?
4154 * Q4.7.3:: [This question intentionally left blank]
4155 * Q4.7.4:: Problems installing AUC TeX
4156 * Q4.7.5:: Is there a reason for an Emacs package not to be included in XEmacs?
4157 * Q4.7.6:: Is there a MatLab mode?
4158 * Q4.7.7:: Can I edit files on other hosts?
4161 @node Q4.0.1, Q4.0.2, Subsystems, Subsystems
4162 @unnumberedsec 4.0: Reading Mail with VM
4163 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.1: How do I set up VM to retrieve mail from a remote site using POP?
4165 Use @code{vm-spool-files}, like this for example:
4168 (setq vm-spool-files '("/var/spool/mail/wing"
4169 "netcom23.netcom.com:110:pass:wing:MYPASS"))
4172 Of course substitute your actual password for MYPASS.
4174 @node Q4.0.2, Q4.0.3, Q4.0.1, Subsystems
4175 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.2: How do I get VM to filter mail for me?
4177 One possibility is to use procmail to split your mail before it gets to
4178 VM. I prefer this personally, since there are many strange and
4179 wonderful things one can do with procmail. Procmail may be found at
4180 @uref{ftp://ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/pub/packages/procmail/}.
4182 Also see the Mail Filtering FAQ at:
4186 @uref{ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/mail/filtering-faq}.
4188 @c <URL:http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/mail/filtering-faq/faq.html>
4191 @node Q4.0.3, Q4.0.4, Q4.0.2, Subsystems
4192 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.3: How can I get VM to automatically check for new mail?
4194 @email{turner@@lanl.gov, John Turner} writes:
4200 (setq vm-auto-get-new-mail 60)
4204 @node Q4.0.4, Q4.0.5, Q4.0.3, Subsystems
4205 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.4: [This question intentionally left blank]
4207 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.
4209 @node Q4.0.5, Q4.0.6, Q4.0.4, Subsystems
4210 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.5: How do I get my outgoing mail archived?
4213 (setq mail-archive-file-name "~/outbox")
4216 @node Q4.0.6, Q4.0.7, Q4.0.5, Subsystems
4217 @unnumberedsubsec 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"?
4219 Set @code{vm-reply-ignored-addresses} to a list, like
4222 (setq vm-reply-ignored-addresses
4223 '("wing@@nuspl@@nvwls.cc.purdue.edu,netcom[0-9]*.netcom.com"
4224 "wing@@netcom.com" "wing@@xemacs.org"))
4227 Note that each string is a regular expression.
4229 @node Q4.0.7, Q4.0.8, Q4.0.6, Subsystems
4230 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.7: Is there a mailing list or FAQ for VM?
4232 A FAQ for VM exists at @uref{http://www.wonderworks.com/vm/FAQ.html}.
4234 VM has its own newsgroups gnu.emacs.vm.info and gnu.emacs.vm.bug.
4236 @node Q4.0.8, Q4.0.9, Q4.0.7, Subsystems
4237 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.8: Remote mail reading with VM.
4239 My mailbox lives at the office on a big honkin server. My regular INBOX
4240 lives on my honkin desktop machine. I now can PPP to the office from
4241 home which is far from honking... I'd like to be able to read mail at
4242 home without storing it here and I'd like to use xemacs and VM at
4243 home... Is there a recommended setup?
4245 @email{nuspl@@nvwls.cc.purdue.edu, Joseph J. Nuspl Jr.} writes:
4248 There are several ways to do this.
4252 Set your display to your home machine and run dxpc or one of the other X
4256 NFS mount your desktop machine on your home machine and modify your pop
4257 command on your home machine to rsh to your desktop machine and actually
4261 Run a POP server on your desktop machine as well and do a sort of two
4266 @email{wmperry@@monolith.spry.com, William Perry} adds:
4269 Or you could run a pop script periodically on your desktop machine, and
4270 just use ange-ftp or NFS to get to your mailbox. I used to do this all
4271 the time back at IU.
4274 @node Q4.0.9, Q4.0.10, Q4.0.8, Subsystems
4275 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.9: rmail or VM gets an error incorporating new mail.
4277 Quoting the XEmacs PROBLEMS file:
4280 rmail and VM get new mail from @file{/usr/spool/mail/$USER} using a
4281 program called @code{movemail}. This program interlocks with
4282 @code{/bin/mail} using the protocol defined by @code{/bin/mail}.
4284 There are two different protocols in general use. One of them uses the
4285 @code{flock} system call. The other involves creating a lock file;
4286 @code{movemail} must be able to write in @file{/usr/spool/mail} in order
4287 to do this. You control which one is used by defining, or not defining,
4288 the macro @code{MAIL_USE_FLOCK} in @file{config.h} or the m- or s- file
4291 @strong{IF YOU DON'T USE THE FORM OF INTERLOCKING THAT IS NORMAL ON YOUR
4292 SYSTEM, YOU CAN LOSE MAIL!}
4294 If your system uses the lock file protocol, and fascist restrictions
4295 prevent ordinary users from writing the lock files in
4296 @file{/usr/spool/mail}, you may need to make @code{movemail} setgid to a
4297 suitable group such as @samp{mail}. You can use these commands (as
4305 If your system uses the lock file protocol, and fascist restrictions
4306 prevent ordinary users from writing the lock files in
4307 @file{/usr/spool/mail}, you may need to make @code{movemail} setgid to a
4308 suitable group such as @code{mail}. To do this, use the following
4309 commands (as root) after doing the make install.
4316 Installation normally copies movemail from the build directory to an
4317 installation directory which is usually under @file{/usr/local/lib}.
4318 The installed copy of @code{movemail} is usually in the directory
4319 @file{/usr/local/lib/emacs/VERSION/TARGET}. You must change the group
4320 and mode of the installed copy; changing the group and mode of the build
4321 directory copy is ineffective.
4324 @node Q4.0.10, Q4.0.11, Q4.0.9, Subsystems
4325 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.10: How do I make VM stay in a single frame?
4327 John.@email{Cooper@@Eng.Sun.COM, John S Cooper} writes:
4331 ; Don't use multiple frames
4332 (setq vm-frame-per-composition nil)
4333 (setq vm-frame-per-folder nil)
4334 (setq vm-frame-per-edit nil)
4335 (setq vm-frame-per-summary nil)
4339 @node Q4.0.11, Q4.0.12, Q4.0.10, Subsystems
4340 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.11: How do I make VM or mh-e display graphical smilies?
4342 For mh-e use the following:
4345 (add-hook 'mh-show-mode-hook '(lambda ()
4346 (smiley-region (point-min)
4350 @email{bill@@carpenter.ORG, WJCarpenter} writes:
4351 For VM use the following:
4353 (autoload 'smiley-region "smiley" nil t)
4354 (add-hook 'vm-select-message-hook
4356 (smiley-region (point-min)
4360 For tm use the following:
4362 (autoload 'smiley-buffer "smiley" nil t)
4363 (add-hook 'mime-viewer/plain-text-preview-hook 'smiley-buffer)
4366 @node Q4.0.12, Q4.1.1, Q4.0.11, Subsystems
4367 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.0.12: Customization of VM not covered in the manual, or here.
4369 @email{boffi@@hp735.stru.polimi.it, giacomo boffi} writes:
4372 The meta-answer is to look into the file @file{vm-vars.el}, in the vm
4373 directory of the lisp library.
4375 @file{vm-vars.el} contains, initializes and carefully describes, with
4376 examples of usage, the plethora of user options that @emph{fully}
4377 control VM's behavior.
4379 Enter vm-vars, @code{forward-search} for toolbar, find the variables
4380 that control the toolbar placement, appearance, existence, copy to your
4381 @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} or @file{.vm} and modify according to the
4382 detailed instructions.
4384 The above also applies to all the various features of VM: search for
4385 some keywords, maybe the first you conjure isn't appropriate, find the
4386 appropriate variables, copy and experiment.
4389 @node Q4.1.1, Q4.1.2, Q4.0.12, Subsystems
4390 @unnumberedsec 4.1: Web browsing with W3
4391 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.1.1: What is W3?
4393 W3 is an advanced graphical browser written in Emacs lisp that runs on
4394 XEmacs. It has full support for cascaded style sheets, and more...
4396 It has a home web page at
4397 @uref{http://www.cs.indiana.edu/elisp/w3/docs.html}.
4399 @node Q4.1.2, Q4.1.3, Q4.1.1, Subsystems
4400 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.1.2: How do I run W3 from behind a firewall?
4402 There is a long, well-written, detailed section in the W3 manual that
4403 describes how to do this. Look in the section entitled "Firewalls".
4405 @node Q4.1.3, Q4.2.1, Q4.1.2, Subsystems
4406 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.1.3: Is it true that W3 supports style sheets and tables?
4408 Yes, and much more. W3, as distributed with the latest XEmacs is a
4409 full-featured web browser.
4411 @node Q4.2.1, Q4.2.2, Q4.1.3, Subsystems
4412 @unnumberedsec 4.2: Reading Netnews and Mail with Gnus
4413 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.2.1: GNUS, (ding) Gnus, Gnus 5, September Gnus, Red Gnus, Quassia Gnus, argh!
4415 The Gnus numbering issues are not meant for mere mortals to know them.
4416 If you feel you @emph{must} enter the muddy waters of Gnus, visit the
4417 excellent FAQ, maintained by Justin Sheehy, at:
4420 @uref{http://www.ccs.neu.edu/software/contrib/gnus/}
4423 See also Gnus home page
4425 @uref{http://www.gnus.org/}
4428 @node Q4.2.2, Q4.2.3, Q4.2.1, Subsystems
4429 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.2.2: This question intentionally left blank.
4431 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.
4433 @node Q4.2.3, Q4.2.4, Q4.2.2, Subsystems
4434 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.2.3: How do I make Gnus stay within a single frame?
4436 The toolbar code to start Gnus opens the new frame---and it's a feature
4437 rather than a bug. If you don't like it, but would still like to click
4438 on the seemly icon, use the following code:
4441 (defun toolbar-news ()
4445 It will redefine the callback function of the icon to just call
4446 @code{gnus}, without all the fancy frame stuff.
4448 @node Q4.2.4, Q4.3.1, Q4.2.3, Subsystems
4449 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.2.4: How do I customize the From: line?
4451 How do I change the @code{From:} line? I have set gnus-user-from-line
4454 Gail Gurman <gail.gurman@@sybase.com>
4456 @noindent , but XEmacs Gnus doesn't use
4459 Gail Mara Gurman @email{gailg@@deall}
4461 @noindent and then complains
4462 that it's incorrect. Also, as you perhaps can see, my Message-ID is
4463 screwy. How can I change that?
4465 @email{larsi@@ifi.uio.no, Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen} writes:
4468 Set @code{user-mail-address} to @samp{gail.gurman@@sybase.com} or
4469 @code{mail-host-address} to @samp{sybase.com}.
4472 @node Q4.3.1, Q4.3.2, Q4.2.4, Subsystems
4473 @unnumberedsec 4.3: Other Mail & News
4474 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.3.1: How can I read and/or compose MIME messages?
4477 VM supports MIME natively.
4479 You probably want to use the Tools for MIME (tm). @xref{Q4.3.2}, for
4482 @email{trey@@cs.berkeley.edu, Trey Jackson} has an Emacs & MIME web page at
4486 @uref{http://bmrc.berkeley.edu/~trey/emacs/mime.html}.
4489 Another possibility is RMIME. You may find RMIME at
4493 @uref{http://www.cinti.net/~rmoody/rmime/index.html}.
4496 @node Q4.3.2, Q4.3.3, Q4.3.1, Subsystems
4497 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.3.2: What is TM and where do I get it?
4499 TM stands for @dfn{Tools for MIME} and not Tiny MIME. TM integrates
4500 with all major XEmacs packages like Gnus (all flavors), VM, MH-E, and
4501 mailcrypt. It provides totally transparent and trouble-free MIME
4502 support. When appropriate a message will be decoded in place in an
4505 TM now comes as a package with XEmacs 19.16 and XEmacs 20.2.
4507 TM was written by @email{morioka@@jaist.ac.jp, MORIOKA Tomohiko} and
4508 @email{shuhei-k@@jaist.ac.jp, KOBAYASHI
4511 It is based on the work of @email{umerin@@mse.kyutech.ac.jp, UMEDA
4512 Masanobu}, the original writer of GNUS.
4514 The following information is from the @file{README}:
4516 @dfn{tm} is a MIME package for GNU Emacs.
4517 tm has following functions:
4520 @item MIME style multilingual header.
4521 @item MIME message viewer (mime/viewer-mode).
4522 @item MIME message composer (mime/editor-mode).
4523 @item MIME extenders for mh-e, GNUS, RMAIL and VM.
4526 tm is available from following anonymous ftp sites:
4528 @comment @item @uref{ftp://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/GNU/elisp/mime/} (Japan).
4529 @comment @item @uref{ftp://ftp.nis.co.jp/pub/gnu/emacs-lisp/tm/} (Japan).
4530 @comment @c The host above is unknown.
4531 @comment @item @uref{ftp://ftp.nisiq.net/pub/gnu/emacs-lisp/tm/} (US).
4532 @comment @item @uref{ftp://ftp.miranova.com/pub/gnus/jaist.ac.jp/} (US).
4533 @item @uref{ftp://ftp.unicamp.br/pub/mail/mime/tm/} (Brasil).
4534 @item @uref{ftp://ftp.th-darmstadt.de/pub/editors/GNU-Emacs/lisp/mime/} (Germany).
4535 @item @uref{ftp://ftp.tnt.uni-hannover.de/pub/editors/xemacs/contrib/} (Germany).
4538 Don't let the installation procedure & instructions stop you from trying
4539 this package out---it's much simpler than it looks, and once installed,
4542 @email{youngs@@xemacs.org, Steve Youngs} writes:
4545 All the major Emacs Lisp based MUAs (Gnus, MH-E, and VM) all do their
4546 own thing when it comes to MIME so you won't need TM to get MIME support
4550 @node Q4.3.3, Q4.3.4, Q4.3.2, Subsystems
4551 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.3.3: Why isn't this @code{movemail} program working?
4553 Ben Wing @email{ben@@xemacs.org} writes:
4556 It wasn't chown'ed/chmod'd correctly.
4559 @node Q4.3.4, Q4.3.5, Q4.3.3, Subsystems
4560 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.3.4: Movemail is also distributed by Netscape? Can that cause problems?
4562 @email{steve@@xemacs.org, Steve Baur} writes:
4565 Yes. Always use the movemail installed with your XEmacs. Failure to do
4566 so can result in lost mail.
4569 Please refer to @email{jwz@@jwz.org, Jamie Zawinski's} notes at
4573 @uref{http://home.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/2.0/relnotes/demo/movemail.html}.
4574 In particular, this document will show you how to make Netscape use the
4575 version of movemail configured for your system by the person who built
4578 @node Q4.3.5, Q4.4.1, Q4.3.4, Subsystems
4579 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.3.5: Where do I find pstogif (required by tm)?
4581 pstogif is part of the latex2html package.
4583 @email{vroonhof@@math.ethz.ch, Jan Vroonhof} writes:
4585 latex2html is best found at the CTAN hosts and their mirrors
4590 @file{tex-archive/support/latex2html}.
4595 @item @uref{ftp://ftp.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/support/latex2html/}.
4596 @item @uref{ftp://ftp.dante.de/tex-archive/support/latex2html/}.
4599 There is a good mirror at ftp.cdrom.com;
4603 @uref{ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/tex/ctan/support/latex2html/}.
4605 @node Q4.4.1, Q4.4.2, Q4.3.5, Subsystems
4606 @unnumberedsec 4.4: Sparcworks, EOS, and WorkShop
4607 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.4.1: What is SPARCworks, EOS, and WorkShop?
4609 @email{turner@@lanl.gov, John Turner} writes:
4612 SPARCworks is SunSoft's development environment, comprising compilers
4613 (C, C++, FORTRAN 77, Fortran 90, Ada, and Pascal), a debugger, and other
4614 tools such as TeamWare (for configuration management), MakeTool, etc.
4617 See @uref{http://www.sun.com/software/Developer-products/}
4620 EOS stands for "Era on SPARCworks", but I don't know what Era stands
4623 EOS is the integration of XEmacs with the SPARCworks debugger. It
4624 allows one to use an XEmacs frame to view code (complete with
4625 fontification, etc.), set breakpoints, print variables, etc., while
4626 using the SPARCworks debugger. It works very well and I use it all the
4629 @email{cthomp@@xemacs.org, Chuck Thompson} writes:
4632 Era stood for "Emacs Rewritten Again". It was what we were calling the
4633 modified version of Lucid Emacs for Sun when I was dragged, er, allowed
4634 to work on this wonderful editor.
4637 @email{martin@@xemacs.org, Martin Buchholz} writes:
4640 EOS is being replaced with a new graphical development environment
4641 called Sun WorkShop, which is currently (07/96) in Alpha Test. For more
4646 @uref{http://www.sun.com/software/Products/Developer-products}.
4649 @node Q4.4.2, Q4.5.1, Q4.4.1, Subsystems
4650 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.4.2: How do I start the Sun Workshop support in XEmacs 21?
4652 Add the switch ---with-workshop to the configure command when building
4653 XEmacs and put the following in one of your startup files
4654 (e.g. site-start.el or .emacs):
4657 (when (featurep 'tooltalk)
4658 (load "tooltalk-macros")
4659 (load "tooltalk-util")
4660 (load "tooltalk-init"))
4661 (when (featurep 'sparcworks)
4662 (load "sunpro-init")
4665 (load "annotations")
4669 If you are not using the latest Workshop (5.0) you have to apply the
4673 --- /opt/SUNWspro/lib/eserve.el.ORIG Fri May 14 15:23:26 1999
4674 +++ /opt/SUNWspro/lib/eserve.el Fri May 14 15:24:54 1999
4675 @@@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@@@
4676 (defvar running-xemacs nil "t if we're running XEmacs")
4677 (defvar running-emacs nil "t if we're running GNU Emacs 19")
4679 -(if (string-match "^\\(19\\|20\\)\..*\\(XEmacs\\|Lucid\\)" emacs-version)
4680 +(if (string-match "\\(XEmacs\\|Lucid\\)" emacs-version)
4681 (setq running-xemacs t)
4682 (setq running-emacs t))
4687 @node Q4.5.1, Q4.6.1, Q4.4.2, Subsystems
4688 @unnumberedsec 4.5: Energize
4689 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.5.1: What is/was Energize?
4691 @email{gray@@meteor.harlequin.com, David N Gray} writes:
4693 The files in @file{lisp/energize} are to enable Emacs to interface with
4694 the "Energize Programming System", a C and C++ development environment,
4695 which was a product of Lucid, Inc. Tragically, Lucid went out of
4696 business in 1994, so although Energize is still a great system, if you
4697 don't already have it, there isn't any way to get it now. (Unless you
4698 happen to be in Japan; INS Engineering may still be selling it there.
4699 Tartan bought the rights to sell it in the rest of the world, but never
4703 @node Q4.6.1, Q4.7.1, Q4.5.1, Subsystems
4704 @unnumberedsec 4.6: Infodock
4705 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.6.1: What is Infodock?
4707 @uref{http://sourceforge.net/projects/infodock/, InfoDock} is an
4708 integrated productivity toolset, mainly aimed at technical people,
4709 hosted at SourceForge.
4711 InfoDock is built atop the XEmacs variant of GNU Emacs and so has all of
4712 the power of Emacs, but with an easier to use and more comprehensive
4713 menu-based user interface. The bottom portion of this text describes
4714 how it differs from XEmacs and GNU Emacs from the Free Software
4717 InfoDock is aimed at people who want a free, turn-key productivity
4718 environment. Although InfoDock is customizable, it is not intended for
4719 people who like basic versions of Emacs which need to be customized
4720 extensively for local use; standard Emacs distributions are better for
4721 such uses. InfoDock is for those people who want a complete,
4722 pre-customized environment in one package, which they need not touch
4723 more than once or twice a year to update to new revisions.
4725 InfoDock is pre-built for SPARC SunOS/Solaris systems, PA-RISC HP-UX,
4726 and Intel Linux systems. It is intended for use on a color display,
4727 although most features will work on monochrome monitors. Simply unpack
4728 InfoDock according to the instructions in the ID-INSTALL file and you
4731 The InfoDock Manual is concise, yet sufficient as a user guide for users
4732 who have never used an Emacs-type editor before. For users who are
4733 already familiar with Emacs, it supplements the information in the GNU
4736 InfoDock menus are much more extensive and more mature than standard
4737 Emacs menus. Each menu offers a @samp{Manual} item which displays
4738 documentation associated with the menu's functions.
4741 Four types of menubars are provided:
4744 An extensive menubar providing access to global InfoDock commands.
4746 Mode-specific menubars tailored to the current major mode.
4748 A simple menubar for basic editing to help novices get started with InfoDock.
4750 The standard XEmacs menubar.
4753 Most modes also include mode-specific popup menus. Additionally, region and
4754 rectangle popup menus are included.
4756 @samp{Hyperbole}, the everyday information manager, is a core part of
4757 InfoDock. This provides context-sensitive mouse keys, a rolodex-type
4758 contact manager, programmable hypertext buttons, and an autonumbered
4759 outliner with embedded hyperlink anchors.
4761 The @samp{OO-Browser}, a multi-language object-oriented code browser, is a
4762 standard part of InfoDock.
4764 InfoDock saves a more extensive set of user options than other Emacs
4767 InfoDock inserts a useful file header in many file types, showing the
4768 author, summary, and last modification time of each file. A summary
4769 program can then be used to summarize all of the files in a directory,
4770 for easy MANIFEST file creation.
4772 Your working set of buffers is automatically saved and restored (if you
4773 answer yes to a prompt) between InfoDock sessions.
4775 Refined color choices for code highlighting are provided for both dark and
4776 light background display frames.
4778 The @kbd{C-z} key prefix performs frame-based commands which parallel the
4779 @kbd{C-x} key prefix for window-based commands.
4781 The Smart Menu system is included for producing command menus on dumb
4784 Lisp libraries are better categorized according to function.
4786 Extensions and improvements to many areas of Emacs are included, such as:
4787 paragraph filling, mail reading with Rmail, shell handling, outlining, code
4788 highlighting and browsing, and man page browsing.
4790 InfoDock questions, answers and discussion should go to the mail list
4794 @email{infodock@@infodock.com}. Use
4795 @email{infodock-request@@infodock.com} to be added or removed from the
4796 list. Always include your InfoDock version number when sending help
4799 InfoDock is available across the Internet via anonymous FTP. To get
4800 it, first move to a directory into which you want the InfoDock archive
4801 files placed. We will call this <DIST-DIR>.
4807 Ftp to ftp.xemacs.org (Internet Host ID = 128.174.252.16):
4810 prompt> ftp ftp.xemacs.org
4813 Login as @samp{anonymous} with your own <user-id>@@<site-name> as a password.
4816 Name (ftp.xemacs.org): anonymous
4817 331 Guest login ok, send your complete e-mail address as password.
4818 Password: -<your-user-id>@@<your-domain>
4819 230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
4822 Move to the location of the InfoDock archives:
4825 ftp> cd pub/infodock
4828 Set your transfer mode to binary:
4839 Interactive mode off.
4842 Retrieve the InfoDock archives that you want, either by using a
4843 @samp{get <file>} for each file you want or by using the following to
4844 get a complete distribution, including all binaries:
4847 ftp> mget ID-INSTALL
4851 Close the FTP connection:
4858 Read the @file{ID-INSTALL} file which you just retrieved for
4859 step-by-step installation instructions.
4861 @node Q4.7.1, Q4.7.2, Q4.6.1, Subsystems
4862 @unnumberedsec 4.7: Other Unbundled Packages
4863 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.1: What is AUC TeX? Where do you get it?
4865 AUC TeX is a package written by @email{abraham@@dina.kvl.dk, Per Abrahamsen}.
4866 Starting with XEmacs 19.16, AUC TeX is bundled with XEmacs. The
4867 following information is from the @file{README} and website.
4869 AUC TeX is an extensible package that supports writing and formatting
4870 TeX files for most variants of GNU Emacs. Many different macro packages
4871 are supported, including AMS TeX, LaTeX, and TeXinfo.
4873 The most recent version is always available by ftp at
4877 @uref{ftp://sunsite.dk/packages/auctex/auctex.tar.gz}.
4879 In case you don't have access to anonymous ftp, you can get it by an
4880 email request to @email{ftpmail@@decwrl.dec.com}.
4882 WWW users may want to check out the AUC TeX page at
4886 @uref{http://sunsite.dk/auctex/}.
4888 @node Q4.7.2, Q4.7.3, Q4.7.1, Subsystems
4889 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.2: Are there any Emacs Lisp Spreadsheets?
4891 Yes. Check out @dfn{dismal} (which stands for Dis' Mode Ain't Lotus) at
4895 @uref{ftp://cs.nyu.edu/pub/local/fox/dismal/}.
4897 @node Q4.7.3, Q4.7.4, Q4.7.2, Subsystems
4898 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.3: [This question intentionally left blank]
4900 @node Q4.7.4, Q4.7.5, Q4.7.3, Subsystems
4901 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.4: Problems installing AUC TeX.
4903 @email{vroonhof@@math.ethz.ch, Jan Vroonhof} writes:
4906 AUC TeX works fine on both stock Emacs and XEmacs has been doing so for
4907 a very very long time. This is mostly due to the work of
4908 @email{abraham@@dina.kvl.dk, Per Abrahamsen} (clap clap) in particular his @file{easymenu}
4909 package. Which leads to what is probably the problem...
4912 Most problems with AUC TeX are one of two things:
4916 The TeX-lisp-directory in @file{tex-site.el} and the makefile don't
4919 Fix: make sure you configure AUC TeX properly @strong{before} installing.
4922 You have an old version of easymenu.el in your path.
4924 Fix: use @code{locate-library} and remove old versions to make sure it
4925 @strong{only} finds the one that came with XEmacs.
4929 @node Q4.7.5, Q4.7.6, Q4.7.4, Subsystems
4930 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.5: Is there a reason for an Emacs package not to be included in XEmacs?
4932 The reason for an Emacs package not to be included in XEmacs is
4933 usually one or more of the following:
4937 The package has not been ported to XEmacs. This will typically happen
4938 when it uses GNU-Emacs-specific features, which make it fail under
4941 Porting a package to XEmacs can range from a trivial amount of change to
4942 a partial or full rewrite. Fortunately, the authors of modern packages
4943 usually choose to support both Emacsen themselves.
4946 The package has been decided not to be appropriate for XEmacs. It may
4947 have an equivalent or better replacement within XEmacs, in which case
4948 the developers may choose not to burden themselves with supporting an
4951 Each package bundled with XEmacs means more work for the maintainers,
4952 whether they want it or not. If you are ready to take over the
4953 maintenance responsibilities for the package you port, be sure to say
4954 so---we will more likely include it.
4957 The package simply hasn't been noted by the XEmacs development. If
4958 that's the case, the messages like yours are very useful for attracting
4962 The package was noted by the developers, but they simply haven't yet
4963 gotten around to including/porting it. Wait for the next release or,
4964 even better, offer your help. It will be gladly accepted and
4968 @node Q4.7.6, Q4.7.7, Q4.7.5, Subsystems
4969 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.5: Is there a MatLab mode?
4971 Yes, a matlab mode and other items are available at the
4972 @uref{ftp://ftp.mathworks.com/pub/contrib/emacs_add_ons,
4973 MathWorks' emacs_add_ons ftp directory}.
4975 @node Q4.7.7, , Q4.7.6, Subsystems
4976 @unnumberedsubsec Q4.7.7: Can I edit files on other hosts?
4978 Yes. Of course XEmacs can use any network file system (such as NFS or
4979 Windows file sharing) you have available, and includes some
4980 optimizations and safety features appropriate to those environments.
4982 It is also possible to transparently edit files via FTP, ssh, or rsh. That
4983 is, XEmacs makes a local copy using the transport in the background, and
4984 automatically refreshes the remote original from that copy when you save
4985 it. XEmacs also is capable of doing file system manipulations like
4986 creating and removing directories and files. The FTP interface is
4987 provided by the standard @samp{efs} package @ref{Top, EFS, , efs}. The
4988 ssh/rsh interface is provided by the optional @samp{tramp} package
4989 @ref{Top, TRAMP, , tramp}.
4991 @node Miscellaneous, MS Windows, Subsystems, Top
4992 @unnumbered 5 The Miscellaneous Stuff
4994 This is part 5 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list. This
4995 section is devoted to anything that doesn't fit neatly into the other
4999 Major & Minor Modes:
5000 * Q5.0.1:: How can I do source code highlighting using font-lock?
5001 * Q5.0.2:: I do not like cc-mode. How do I use the old c-mode?
5002 * Q5.0.3:: How do I get @samp{More} Syntax Highlighting on by default?
5003 * Q5.0.4:: How can I enable auto-indent and/or Filladapt?
5004 * Q5.0.5:: How can I get XEmacs to come up in text/auto-fill mode by default?
5005 * Q5.0.6:: How do I start up a second shell buffer?
5006 * Q5.0.7:: Telnet from shell filters too much.
5007 * Q5.0.8:: Why does edt emulation not work?
5008 * Q5.0.9:: How can I emulate VI and use it as my default mode?
5009 * Q5.0.10:: [This question intentionally left blank]
5010 * Q5.0.11:: [This question intentionally left blank]
5011 * Q5.0.12:: How do I disable gnuserv from opening a new frame?
5012 * Q5.0.13:: How do I start gnuserv so that each subsequent XEmacs is a client?
5013 * Q5.0.14:: Strange things are happening in Shell Mode.
5014 * Q5.0.15:: Where do I get the latest CC Mode?
5015 * Q5.0.16:: I find auto-show-mode disconcerting. How do I turn it off?
5016 * Q5.0.17:: How can I get two instances of info?
5017 * Q5.0.18:: [This question intentionally left blank]
5018 * Q5.0.19:: Is there something better than LaTeX mode?
5019 * Q5.0.20:: Is there a way to start a new XEmacs if there's no gnuserv running, and otherwise use gnuclient?
5021 Emacs Lisp Programming Techniques:
5022 * Q5.1.1:: The difference in key sequences between XEmacs and GNU Emacs?
5023 * Q5.1.2:: Can I generate "fake" keyboard events?
5024 * Q5.1.3:: Could you explain @code{read-kbd-macro} in more detail?
5025 * Q5.1.4:: What is the performance hit of @code{let}?
5026 * Q5.1.5:: What is the recommended use of @code{setq}?
5027 * Q5.1.6:: What is the typical misuse of @code{setq}?
5028 * Q5.1.7:: I like the @code{do} form of cl, does it slow things down?
5029 * Q5.1.8:: I like recursion, does it slow things down?
5030 * Q5.1.9:: How do I put a glyph as annotation in a buffer?
5031 * Q5.1.10:: @code{map-extents} won't traverse all of my extents!
5032 * Q5.1.11:: My elisp program is horribly slow. Is there an easy way to find out where it spends time?
5035 * Q5.2.1:: How do I turn off the sound?
5036 * Q5.2.2:: How do I get funky sounds instead of a boring beep?
5037 * Q5.2.3:: What's NAS, how do I get it?
5038 * Q5.2.4:: Sunsite sounds don't play.
5041 * Q5.3.1:: How do you make XEmacs indent CL if-clauses correctly?
5042 * Q5.3.2:: [This question intentionally left blank]
5043 * Q5.3.3:: How can I print WYSIWYG a font-locked buffer?
5044 * Q5.3.4:: Getting @kbd{M-x lpr} to work with postscript printer.
5045 * Q5.3.5:: How do I specify the paths that XEmacs uses for finding files?
5046 * Q5.3.6:: [This question intentionally left blank]
5047 * Q5.3.7:: Can I have the end of the buffer delimited in some way?
5048 * Q5.3.8:: How do I insert today's date into a buffer?
5049 * Q5.3.9:: Are only certain syntactic character classes available for abbrevs?
5050 * Q5.3.10:: How can I get those oh-so-neat X-Face lines?
5051 * Q5.3.11:: How do I add new Info directories?
5052 * Q5.3.12:: What do I need to change to make printing work?
5055 @node Q5.0.1, Q5.0.2, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous
5056 @unnumberedsec 5.0: Major & Minor Modes
5057 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.1: How can I do source code highlighting using font-lock?
5059 For most modes, font-lock is already set up and just needs to be turned
5060 on. This can be done by adding the line:
5063 (require 'font-lock)
5066 to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}. (You can turn it on for the
5067 current buffer and session only by @kbd{M-x font-lock-mode}.) See the
5068 file @file{etc/sample.init.el} (@file{etc/sample.emacs} in XEmacs
5069 versions prior to 21.4) for more information.
5072 @c (add-hook 'emacs-lisp-mode-hook 'turn-on-font-lock)
5073 @c (add-hook 'dired-mode-hook 'turn-on-font-lock)
5075 See also @code{Syntax Highlighting} from the @code{Options} menu.
5076 Remember to save options.
5078 @node Q5.0.2, Q5.0.3, Q5.0.1, Miscellaneous
5079 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.2: I do not like cc-mode. How do I use the old c-mode?
5081 Well, first off, consider if you really want to do this. cc-mode is
5082 much more powerful than the old c-mode. If you're having trouble
5083 getting your old offsets to work, try using @code{c-set-offset} instead.
5084 You might also consider using the package @code{cc-compat}.
5086 But, if you still insist, add the following lines to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5089 (fmakunbound 'c-mode)
5090 (makunbound 'c-mode-map)
5091 (fmakunbound 'c++-mode)
5092 (makunbound 'c++-mode-map)
5093 (makunbound 'c-style-alist)
5094 (load-library "old-c-mode")
5095 (load-library "old-c++-mode")
5098 This must be done before any other reference is made to either c-mode or
5101 @node Q5.0.3, Q5.0.4, Q5.0.2, Miscellaneous
5102 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.3: How do I get @samp{More} Syntax Highlighting on by default?
5104 Use the following code in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5107 (setq-default font-lock-maximum-decoration t)
5110 @c In versions of XEmacs prior to 19.14, you had to use a kludgy solution
5114 @c (setq c-font-lock-keywords c-font-lock-keywords-2
5115 @c c++-font-lock-keywords c++-font-lock-keywords-2
5116 @c lisp-font-lock-keywords lisp-font-lock-keywords-2)
5119 @c It will work for C, C++ and Lisp.
5121 See also @code{Syntax Highlighting} from the @code{Options} menu.
5122 Remember to save options.
5124 @node Q5.0.4, Q5.0.5, Q5.0.3, Miscellaneous
5125 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.4: How can I enable auto-indent and/or Filladapt?
5127 Put the following line in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5130 (setq indent-line-function 'indent-relative-maybe)
5133 If you want to get fancy, try the @code{filladapt} package available
5134 standard with XEmacs. Put this into your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5137 (require 'filladapt)
5138 (setq-default filladapt-mode t)
5139 (add-hook 'c-mode-hook 'turn-off-filladapt-mode)
5142 This will enable Filladapt for all modes except C mode, where it doesn't
5143 work well. To turn Filladapt on only in particular major modes, remove
5144 the @code{(setq-default ...)} line and use
5145 @code{turn-on-filladapt-mode}, like this:
5148 (add-hook 'text-mode-hook 'turn-on-filladapt-mode)
5151 You can customize filling and adaptive filling with Customize.
5152 Select from the @code{Options} menu
5153 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Editing->Fill->Fill...}
5154 or type @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} fill @key{RET}}.
5156 Note that well-behaving text-lookalike modes will run
5157 @code{text-mode-hook} by default (e.g. that's what Message does). For
5158 the nasty ones, you'll have to provide the @code{add-hook}s yourself.
5160 Please note that the @code{fa-extras} package is no longer useful.
5162 @node Q5.0.5, Q5.0.6, Q5.0.4, Miscellaneous
5163 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.5: How can I get XEmacs to come up in text/auto-fill mode by default?
5165 Try the following lisp in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5168 (setq default-major-mode 'text-mode)
5169 (setq text-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill)
5172 @strong{WARNING}: note that changing the value of
5173 @code{default-major-mode} from @code{fundamental-mode} can break a large
5174 amount of built-in code that expects newly created buffers to be in
5175 @code{fundamental-mode}. (Changing from @code{fundamental-mode} to
5176 @code{text-mode} might not wreak too much havoc, but changing to
5177 something more exotic like a lisp-mode would break many Emacs packages).
5179 Note that Emacs by default starts up in buffer @code{*scratch*} in
5180 @code{initial-major-mode}, which defaults to
5181 @code{lisp-interaction-mode}. Thus adding the following form to your
5182 Emacs init file will cause the initial @code{*scratch*} buffer to be put
5183 into auto-fill'ed @code{text-mode}:
5186 (setq initial-major-mode
5189 (turn-on-auto-fill)))
5192 Note that after your init file is loaded, if
5193 @code{inhibit-startup-message} is @code{nil} (the default) and the
5194 startup buffer is @code{*scratch*} then the startup message will be
5195 inserted into @code{*scratch*}; it will be removed after a timeout by
5196 erasing the entire @code{*scratch*} buffer. Keep in mind this default
5197 usage of @code{*scratch*} if you desire any prior manipulation of
5198 @code{*scratch*} from within your Emacs init file. In particular,
5199 anything you insert into @code{*scratch*} from your init file will be
5200 later erased. Also, if you change the mode of the @code{*scratch*}
5201 buffer, be sure that this will not interfere with possible later
5202 insertion of the startup message (e.g. if you put @code{*scratch*} into
5203 a nonstandard mode that has automatic font lock rules, then the startup
5204 message might get fontified in a strange foreign manner, e.g. as code in
5205 some programming language).
5207 @node Q5.0.6, Q5.0.7, Q5.0.5, Miscellaneous
5208 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.6: How do I start up a second shell buffer?
5210 In the @code{*shell*} buffer:
5213 M-x rename-buffer @key{RET} *shell-1* @key{RET}
5217 This will then start a second shell. The key is that no buffer named
5218 @samp{*shell*} can exist. It might be preferable to use @kbd{M-x
5219 rename-uniquely} to rename the @code{*shell*} buffer instead of @kbd{M-x
5222 Alternately, you can set the variable @code{shell-multiple-shells}.
5223 If the value of this variable is non-nil, each time shell mode is invoked,
5226 @node Q5.0.7, Q5.0.8, Q5.0.6, Miscellaneous
5227 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.7: Telnet from shell filters too much
5229 I'm using the Emacs @kbd{M-x shell} function, and I would like to invoke
5230 and use a telnet session within it. Everything works fine except that
5231 now all @samp{^M}'s are filtered out by Emacs. Fixes?
5233 Use @kbd{M-x rsh} or @kbd{M-x telnet} to open remote sessions rather
5234 than doing rsh or telnet within the local shell buffer. Starting with
5235 XEmacs-20.3 you can also use @kbd{M-x ssh} to open secure remote session
5236 if you have @code{ssh} installed.
5238 @node Q5.0.8, Q5.0.9, Q5.0.7, Miscellaneous
5239 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.8: Why does edt emulation not work?
5241 We don't know, but you can use tpu-edt emulation instead, which works
5242 fine and is a little fancier than the standard edt emulation. To do
5243 this, add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5249 If you don't want it to replace @kbd{C-h} with an edt-style help menu
5253 (global-set-key [(control h)] 'help-for-help)
5256 @node Q5.0.9, Q5.0.10, Q5.0.8, Miscellaneous
5257 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.9: How can I emulate VI and use it as my default mode?
5259 Our recommended VI emulator is viper. To make viper-mode the default,
5260 add this to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5266 @email{kifer@@CS.SunySB.EDU, Michael Kifer} writes:
5269 This should be added as close to the top of @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} as you can get
5270 it, otherwise some minor modes may not get viper-ized.
5273 @node Q5.0.10, Q5.0.11, Q5.0.9, Miscellaneous
5274 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.10: [This question intentionally left blank]
5276 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering
5278 @node Q5.0.11, Q5.0.12, Q5.0.10, Miscellaneous
5279 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.11: [This question intentionally left blank]
5281 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering
5283 @node Q5.0.12, Q5.0.13, Q5.0.11, Miscellaneous
5284 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.12: How do I disable gnuserv from opening a new frame?
5286 If you set the @code{gnuserv-frame} variable to the frame that should be
5287 used to display buffers that are pulled up, a new frame will not be
5288 created. For example, you could put
5291 (setq gnuserv-frame (selected-frame))
5294 early on in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}, to ensure that the first frame created
5295 is the one used for your gnuserv buffers.
5297 There is an option to set the gnuserv target to the current frame. See
5298 @code{Options->Display->"Other Window" Location->Make Current Frame Gnuserv Target}
5300 Starting with XEmacs-20.3 you can also change this with Customize.
5301 Select from the @code{Options} menu
5302 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Gnuserv->Gnuserv Frame...}
5303 or type @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} gnuserv @key{RET}}.
5306 @node Q5.0.13, Q5.0.14, Q5.0.12, Miscellaneous
5307 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.13: How do I start gnuserv so that each subsequent XEmacs is a client?
5309 Put the following in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file to start the server:
5315 Start your first XEmacs as usual. After that, you can do:
5318 gnuclient randomfilename
5321 from the command line to get your existing XEmacs process to open a new
5322 frame and visit randomfilename in that window. When you're done editing
5323 randomfilename, hit @kbd{C-x #} to kill the buffer and get rid of the
5326 See also man page of gnuclient.
5328 @node Q5.0.14, Q5.0.15, Q5.0.13, Miscellaneous
5329 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.14: Strange things are happening in Shell Mode.
5331 Sometimes (i.e. it's not repeatable, and I can't work out why it
5332 happens) when I'm typing into shell mode, I hit return and only a
5333 portion of the command is given to the shell, and a blank prompt is
5334 returned. If I hit return again, the rest of the previous command is
5337 @email{martin@@xemacs.org, Martin Buchholz} writes:
5340 There is a known problem with interaction between @code{csh} and the
5341 @code{filec} option and XEmacs. You should add the following to your
5345 if ( "$TERM" == emacs || "$TERM" == unknown ) unset filec
5349 @node Q5.0.15, Q5.0.16, Q5.0.14, Miscellaneous
5350 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.15: Where do I get the latest CC Mode?
5352 @email{bwarsaw@@cnri.reston.va.us, Barry A. Warsaw} writes:
5355 This can be had from @uref{http://www.python.org/emacs/}.
5358 @node Q5.0.16, Q5.0.17, Q5.0.15, Miscellaneous
5359 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.16: I find auto-show-mode disconcerting. How do I turn it off?
5361 @code{auto-show-mode} controls whether or not a horizontal scrollbar
5362 magically appears when a line is too long to be displayed. This is
5363 enabled by default. To turn it off, put the following in your
5364 @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5367 (setq auto-show-mode nil)
5368 (setq-default auto-show-mode nil)
5371 @node Q5.0.17, Q5.0.18, Q5.0.16, Miscellaneous
5372 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.17: How can I get two instances of info?
5374 Before 21.4, you can't. The @code{info} package does not provide for
5375 multiple info buffers. In 21.4, this should be fixed. #### how?
5377 @node Q5.0.18, Q5.0.19, Q5.0.17, Miscellaneous
5378 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.18: [This question intentionally left blank]
5380 @node Q5.0.19, Q5.0.20, Q5.0.18, Miscellaneous
5381 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.19: Is there something better than LaTeX mode?
5383 @email{dak@@fsnif.neuroinformatik.ruhr-uni-bochum.de, David Kastrup} writes:
5386 The standard TeX modes leave much to be desired, and are somewhat
5387 leniently maintained. Serious TeX users use AUC TeX (@pxref{Q4.7.1}).
5390 @node Q5.0.20, Q5.1.1, Q5.0.19, Miscellaneous
5391 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.0.20: Is there a way to start a new XEmacs if there's no gnuserv running, and otherwise use gnuclient?
5393 @email{vroonhof@@math.ethz.ch, Jan Vroonhof} writes:
5395 Here is one of the solutions, we have this in a script called
5396 @file{etc/editclient.sh}.
5399 if gnuclient -batch -eval t >/dev/null 2>&1
5401 exec gnuclient $@{1+"$@@"@}
5403 xemacs -unmapped -f gnuserv-start &
5404 until gnuclient -batch -eval t >/dev/null 2>&1
5408 exec gnuclient $@{1+"$@@"@}
5412 Note that there is a known problem when running XEmacs and 'gnuclient
5413 -nw' on the same TTY.
5416 @node Q5.1.1, Q5.1.2, Q5.0.20, Miscellaneous
5417 @unnumberedsec 5.1: Emacs Lisp Programming Techniques
5418 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.1: What is the difference in key sequences between XEmacs and GNU Emacs?
5420 @email{clerik@@naggum.no, Erik Naggum} writes;
5423 Emacs has a legacy of keyboards that produced characters with modifier
5424 bits, and therefore map a variety of input systems into this scheme even
5425 today. XEmacs is instead optimized for X events. This causes an
5426 incompatibility in the way key sequences are specified, but both Emacs
5427 and XEmacs will accept a key sequence as a vector of lists of modifiers
5428 that ends with a key, e.g., to bind @kbd{M-C-a}, you would say
5429 @code{[(meta control a)]} in both Emacsen. XEmacs has an abbreviated
5430 form for a single key, just (meta control a). Emacs has an abbreviated
5431 form for the Control and the Meta modifiers to string-characters (the
5432 ASCII characters), as in @samp{\M-\C-a}. XEmacs users need to be aware
5433 that the abbreviated form works only for one-character key sequences,
5434 while Emacs users need to be aware that the string-character is rather
5435 limited. Specifically, the string-character can accommodate only 256
5436 different values, 128 of which have the Meta modifier and 128 of which
5437 have not. In each of these blocks, only 32 characters have the Control
5438 modifier. Whereas @code{[(meta control A)]} differs from @code{[(meta
5439 control a)]} because the case differs, @samp{\M-\C-a} and @samp{\M-\C-A}
5440 do not. Programmers are advised to use the full common form, both
5441 because it is more readable and less error-prone, and because it is
5442 supported by both Emacsen.
5445 Another (even safer) way to be sure of the key-sequences is to use the
5446 @code{read-kbd-macro} function, which takes a string like @samp{C-c
5447 <up>}, and converts it to the internal key representation of the Emacs
5448 you use. The function is available both on XEmacs and GNU Emacs.
5450 @node Q5.1.2, Q5.1.3, Q5.1.1, Miscellaneous
5451 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.2: Can I generate "fake" keyboard events?
5453 I wonder if there is an interactive function that can generate
5454 @dfn{fake} keyboard events. This way, I could simply map them inside
5460 (defun cg--generate-char-event (ch)
5461 "Generate an event, as if ch has been typed"
5462 (dispatch-event (character-to-event ch)))
5464 ;; Backspace and Delete stuff
5465 (global-set-key [backspace]
5466 (lambda () (interactive) (cg--generate-char-event 127)))
5467 (global-set-key [unknown_keysym_0x4]
5468 (lambda () (interactive) (cg--generate-char-event 4)))
5471 @node Q5.1.3, Q5.1.4, Q5.1.2, Miscellaneous
5472 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.3: Could you explain @code{read-kbd-macro} in more detail?
5474 The @code{read-kbd-macro} function returns the internal Emacs
5475 representation of a human-readable string (which is its argument).
5479 (read-kbd-macro "C-c C-a")
5480 @result{} [(control ?c) (control ?a)]
5482 (read-kbd-macro "C-c C-. <up>")
5483 @result{} [(control ?c) (control ?.) up]
5486 In GNU Emacs the same forms will be evaluated to what GNU Emacs
5487 understands internally---the sequences @code{"\C-x\C-c"} and @code{[3
5488 67108910 up]}, respectively.
5490 The exact @dfn{human-readable} syntax is defined in the docstring of
5491 @code{edmacro-mode}. I'll repeat it here, for completeness.
5494 Format of keyboard macros during editing:
5496 Text is divided into @dfn{words} separated by whitespace. Except for
5497 the words described below, the characters of each word go directly as
5498 characters of the macro. The whitespace that separates words is
5499 ignored. Whitespace in the macro must be written explicitly, as in
5500 @kbd{foo @key{SPC} bar @key{RET}}.
5504 The special words @kbd{RET}, @kbd{SPC}, @kbd{TAB}, @kbd{DEL}, @kbd{LFD},
5505 @kbd{ESC}, and @kbd{NUL} represent special control characters. The
5506 words must be written in uppercase.
5509 A word in angle brackets, e.g., @code{<return>}, @code{<down>}, or
5510 @code{<f1>}, represents a function key. (Note that in the standard
5511 configuration, the function key @code{<return>} and the control key
5512 @key{RET} are synonymous.) You can use angle brackets on the words
5513 @key{RET}, @key{SPC}, etc., but they are not required there.
5516 Keys can be written by their @sc{ascii} code, using a backslash followed
5517 by up to six octal digits. This is the only way to represent keys with
5521 One or more prefixes @kbd{M-} (meta), @kbd{C-} (control), @kbd{S-}
5522 (shift), @kbd{A-} (alt), @kbd{H-} (hyper), and @kbd{s-} (super) may
5523 precede a character or key notation. For function keys, the prefixes
5524 may go inside or outside of the brackets: @code{C-<down>} @equiv{}
5525 @code{<C-down>}. The prefixes may be written in any order: @kbd{M-C-x}
5526 @equiv{} @kbd{C-M-x}.
5528 Prefixes are not allowed on multi-key words, e.g., @kbd{C-abc}, except
5529 that the Meta prefix is allowed on a sequence of digits and optional
5530 minus sign: @kbd{M--123} @equiv{} @kbd{M-- M-1 M-2 M-3}.
5533 The @code{^} notation for control characters also works: @kbd{^M}
5537 Double angle brackets enclose command names: @code{<<next-line>>} is
5538 shorthand for @kbd{M-x next-line @key{RET}}.
5541 Finally, @code{REM} or @code{;;} causes the rest of the line to be
5542 ignored as a comment.
5545 Any word may be prefixed by a multiplier in the form of a decimal number
5546 and @code{*}: @code{3*<right>} @equiv{} @code{<right> <right> <right>},
5547 and @code{10*foo} @equiv{}
5551 @code{foofoofoofoofoofoofoofoofoofoo}.
5553 Multiple text keys can normally be strung together to form a word, but
5554 you may need to add whitespace if the word would look like one of the
5555 above notations: @code{; ; ;} is a keyboard macro with three semicolons,
5556 but @code{;;;} is a comment. Likewise, @code{\ 1 2 3} is four keys but
5557 @code{\123} is a single key written in octal, and @code{< right >} is
5558 seven keys but @code{<right>} is a single function key. When in doubt,
5562 @node Q5.1.4, Q5.1.5, Q5.1.3, Miscellaneous
5563 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.4: What is the performance hit of @code{let}?
5565 In most cases, not noticeable. Besides, there's no avoiding
5566 @code{let}---you have to bind your local variables, after all. Some
5567 pose a question whether to nest @code{let}s, or use one @code{let} per
5568 function. I think because of clarity and maintenance (and possible
5569 future implementation), @code{let}-s should be used (nested) in a way to
5570 provide the clearest code.
5572 @node Q5.1.5, Q5.1.6, Q5.1.4, Miscellaneous
5573 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.5: What is the recommended use of @code{setq}?
5576 @item Global variables
5578 You will typically @code{defvar} your global variable to a default
5579 value, and use @code{setq} to set it later.
5581 It is never a good practice to @code{setq} user variables (like
5582 @code{case-fold-search}, etc.), as it ignores the user's choice
5583 unconditionally. Note that @code{defvar} doesn't change the value of a
5584 variable if it was bound previously. If you wish to change a
5585 user-variable temporarily, use @code{let}:
5588 (let ((case-fold-search nil))
5589 ... ; code with searches that must be case-sensitive
5593 You will notice the user-variables by their docstrings beginning with an
5594 asterisk (a convention).
5596 @item Local variables
5598 Bind them with @code{let}, which will unbind them (or restore their
5599 previous value, if they were bound) after exiting from the @code{let}
5600 form. Change the value of local variables with @code{setq} or whatever
5601 you like (e.g. @code{incf}, @code{setf} and such). The @code{let} form
5602 can even return one of its local variables.
5607 ;; iterate through the elements of the list returned by
5608 ;; `hairy-function-that-returns-list'
5609 (let ((l (hairy-function-that-returns-list)))
5611 ... do something with (car l) ...
5615 Another typical usage includes building a value simply to work with it.
5618 ;; Build the mode keymap out of the key-translation-alist
5619 (let ((inbox (file-truename (expand-file-name box)))
5621 ... code dealing with inbox ...
5625 This piece of code uses the local variable @code{inbox}, which becomes
5626 unbound (or regains old value) after exiting the form. The form also
5627 returns the value of @code{inbox}, which can be reused, for instance:
5630 (setq foo-processed-inbox
5635 @node Q5.1.6, Q5.1.7, Q5.1.5, Miscellaneous
5636 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.6: What is the typical misuse of @code{setq} ?
5638 A typical misuse is probably @code{setq}ing a variable that was meant to
5639 be local. Such a variable will remain bound forever, never to be
5640 garbage-collected. For example, the code doing:
5643 (defun my-function (whatever)
5645 ... build a large list ...
5649 does a bad thing, as @code{a} will keep consuming memory, never to be
5650 unbound. The correct thing is to do it like this:
5653 (defun my-function (whatever)
5654 (let (a) ; default initialization is to nil
5655 ... build a large list ...
5656 ... and exit, unbinding `a' in the process ...)
5659 Not only is this prettier syntactically, but it makes it possible for
5660 Emacs to garbage-collect the objects which @code{a} used to reference.
5662 Note that even global variables should not be @code{setq}ed without
5663 @code{defvar}ing them first, because the byte-compiler issues warnings.
5664 The reason for the warning is the following:
5667 (defun flurgoze nil) ; ok, global internal variable
5670 (setq flurghoze t) ; ops! a typo, but semantically correct.
5671 ; however, the byte-compiler warns.
5673 While compiling toplevel forms:
5674 ** assignment to free variable flurghoze
5677 @node Q5.1.7, Q5.1.8, Q5.1.6, Miscellaneous
5678 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.7: I like the @code{do} form of cl, does it slow things down?
5680 It shouldn't. Here is what Dave Gillespie has to say about cl.el
5684 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{defun*},
5685 @code{loop}, and @code{setf}, are implemented as Lisp macros. In
5686 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
5687 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example, the
5695 are expanded at compile-time to the Lisp forms
5699 (setcar p (cons x (car p)))
5702 which are the most efficient ways of doing these respective operations
5703 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
5704 readable @code{incf} and @code{push} forms in your compiled code.
5706 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
5707 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
5708 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled. (The
5709 features labelled @dfn{Special Form} instead of @dfn{Function} in this
5710 manual are macros.) A loop using @code{incf} a hundred times will
5711 execute considerably faster if compiled, and will also garbage-collect
5712 less because the macro expansion will not have to be generated, used,
5713 and thrown away a hundred times.
5715 You can find out how a macro expands by using the @code{cl-prettyexpand}
5719 @node Q5.1.8, Q5.1.9, Q5.1.7, Miscellaneous
5720 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.8: I like recursion, does it slow things down?
5722 Yes. Emacs byte-compiler cannot do much to optimize recursion. But
5723 think well whether this is a real concern in Emacs. Much of the Emacs
5724 slowness comes from internal mechanisms such as redisplay, or from the
5725 fact that it is an interpreter.
5727 Please try not to make your code much uglier to gain a very small speed
5728 gain. It's not usually worth it.
5730 @node Q5.1.9, Q5.1.10, Q5.1.8, Miscellaneous
5731 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.9: How do I put a glyph as annotation in a buffer?
5733 Here is a solution that will insert the glyph annotation at the
5734 beginning of buffer:
5737 (make-annotation (make-glyph '([FORMAT :file FILE]
5738 [string :data "fallback-text"]))
5744 Replace @samp{FORMAT} with an unquoted symbol representing the format of
5745 the image (e.g. @code{xpm}, @code{xbm}, @code{gif}, @code{jpeg}, etc.)
5746 Instead of @samp{FILE}, use the image file name
5751 @file{/usr/local/lib/xemacs-21.4/etc/recycle.xpm}).
5753 You can turn this to a function (that optionally prompts you for a file
5754 name), and inserts the glyph at @code{(point)} instead of
5757 @node Q5.1.10, Q5.1.11, Q5.1.9, Miscellaneous
5758 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.10: @code{map-extents} won't traverse all of my extents!
5760 I tried to use @code{map-extents} to do an operation on all the extents
5761 in a region. However, it seems to quit after processing a random number
5762 of extents. Is it buggy?
5764 No. The documentation of @code{map-extents} states that it will iterate
5765 across the extents as long as @var{function} returns @code{nil}.
5766 Unexperienced programmers often forget to return @code{nil} explicitly,
5767 which results in buggy code. For instance, the following code is
5768 supposed to delete all the extents in a buffer, and issue as many
5769 @samp{fubar!} messages.
5772 (map-extents (lambda (ext ignore)
5774 (message "fubar!")))
5777 Instead, it will delete only the first extent, and stop right there --
5778 because @code{message} will return a non-nil value. The correct code
5782 (map-extents (lambda (ext ignore)
5788 @node Q5.1.11, Q5.2.1, Q5.1.10, Miscellaneous
5789 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.1.11: My elisp program is horribly slow. Is there
5790 an easy way to find out where it spends time?
5793 @email{hniksic@@xemacs.org, Hrvoje Niksic} writes:
5795 Under XEmacs 20.4 and later you can use @kbd{M-x profile-key-sequence},
5796 press a key (say @key{RET} in the Gnus Group buffer), and get the
5797 results using @kbd{M-x profile-results}. It should give you an idea of
5798 where the time is being spent.
5801 @node Q5.2.1, Q5.2.2, Q5.1.11, Miscellaneous
5802 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.2.1: How do I turn off the sound?
5804 Add the following line to your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5807 (setq bell-volume 0)
5808 (setq sound-alist nil)
5811 That will make your XEmacs totally silent---even the default ding sound
5812 (TTY beep on TTY-s) will be gone.
5814 Starting with XEmacs 20.2 you can also change these with Customize.
5815 Select from the @code{Options} menu
5816 @code{Advanced (Customize)->Emacs->Environment->Sound->Sound...} or type
5817 @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET} sound @key{RET}}.
5820 @node Q5.2.2, Q5.2.3, Q5.2.1, Miscellaneous
5821 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.2.2: How do I get funky sounds instead of a boring beep?
5823 Make sure your XEmacs was compiled with sound support, and then put this
5824 in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5827 (load-default-sounds)
5830 @c The sound support in XEmacs 19.14 was greatly improved over previous
5833 @node Q5.2.3, Q5.2.4, Q5.2.2, Miscellaneous
5834 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.2.3: What's NAS, how do I get it?
5836 @xref{Q2.0.3}, for an explanation of the @dfn{Network Audio System}.
5838 @node Q5.2.4, Q5.3.1, Q5.2.3, Miscellaneous
5839 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.2.4: Sunsite sounds don't play.
5841 I'm having some trouble with sounds I've downloaded from sunsite. They
5842 play when I run them through @code{showaudio} or cat them directly to
5843 @file{/dev/audio}, but XEmacs refuses to play them.
5845 @email{gutschk@@uni-muenster.de, Markus Gutschke} writes:
5848 [Many of] These files have an (erroneous) 24byte header that tells about
5849 the format that they have been recorded in. If you cat them to
5850 @file{/dev/audio}, the header will be ignored and the default behavior
5851 for /dev/audio will be used. This happens to be 8kHz uLaw. It is
5852 probably possible to fix the header by piping through @code{sox} and
5853 passing explicit parameters for specifying the sampling format; you then
5854 need to perform a 'null' conversion from SunAudio to SunAudio.
5857 @node Q5.3.1, Q5.3.2, Q5.2.4, Miscellaneous
5858 @unnumberedsec 5.3: Miscellaneous
5859 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.1: How do you make XEmacs indent CL if-clauses correctly?
5861 I'd like XEmacs to indent all the clauses of a Common Lisp @code{if} the
5862 same amount instead of indenting the 3rd clause differently from the
5865 One way is to add, to @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5868 (put 'if 'lisp-indent-function nil)
5871 However, note that the package @code{cl-indent} that comes with
5872 XEmacs sets up this kind of indentation by default. @code{cl-indent}
5873 also knows about many other CL-specific forms. To use @code{cl-indent},
5878 (setq lisp-indent-function (function common-lisp-indent-function))
5881 One can also customize @file{cl-indent.el} so it mimics the default
5882 @code{if} indentation @code{then} indented more than the @code{else}.
5886 (put 'if 'common-lisp-indent-function '(nil nil &body))
5889 Also, a new version (1.2) of @file{cl-indent.el} was posted to
5890 comp.emacs.xemacs on 12/9/94. This version includes more documentation
5891 than previous versions. This may prove useful if you need to customize
5892 any indent-functions.
5894 @node Q5.3.2, Q5.3.3, Q5.3.1, Miscellaneous
5895 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.2: [This question intentionally left blank]
5897 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.
5899 @node Q5.3.3, Q5.3.4, Q5.3.2, Miscellaneous
5900 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.3: How can I print WYSIWYG a font-locked buffer?
5902 Font-lock looks nice. How can I print (WYSIWYG) the highlighted
5905 The package @code{ps-print}, which is now included with XEmacs, provides
5906 the ability to do this. The source code contains complete instructions
5908 @file{$prefix/lib/xemacs/xemacs-packages/lisp/ps-print/ps-print.el},
5909 being the default location of an installed ps-print package.
5911 @node Q5.3.4, Q5.3.5, Q5.3.3, Miscellaneous
5912 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.4: Getting @kbd{M-x lpr} to work with postscript printer.
5914 My printer is a Postscript printer and @code{lpr} only works for
5915 Postscript files, so how do I get @kbd{M-x lpr-region} and @kbd{M-x
5916 lpr-buffer} to work?
5918 Put something like this in your @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs}:
5921 (setq lpr-command "a2ps")
5922 (setq lpr-switches '("-p" "-1"))
5925 If you don't use a2ps to convert ASCII to postscript (why not, it's
5926 free?), replace with the command you do use. Note also that some
5927 versions of a2ps require a @samp{-Pprinter} to ensure spooling.
5929 @node Q5.3.5, Q5.3.6, Q5.3.4, Miscellaneous
5930 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.5: How do I specify the paths that XEmacs uses for finding files?
5932 You can specify what paths to use by using a number of different flags
5933 when running configure. See the section MAKE VARIABLES in the top-level
5934 file INSTALL in the XEmacs distribution for a listing of those flags.
5936 Most of the time, however, the simplest fix is: @strong{do not} specify
5937 paths as you might for GNU Emacs. XEmacs can generally determine the
5938 necessary paths dynamically at run time. The only path that generally
5939 needs to be specified is the root directory to install into. That can
5940 be specified by passing the @code{--prefix} flag to configure. For a
5941 description of the XEmacs install tree, please consult the @file{NEWS}
5944 @node Q5.3.6, Q5.3.7, Q5.3.5, Miscellaneous
5945 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.6: [This question intentionally left blank]
5947 Obsolete question, left blank to avoid renumbering.
5949 @node Q5.3.7, Q5.3.8, Q5.3.6, Miscellaneous
5950 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.7: Can I have the end of the buffer delimited in some way?
5952 Say, with: @samp{[END]}?
5957 (let ((ext (make-extent (point-min) (point-max))))
5958 (set-extent-property ext 'start-closed t)
5959 (set-extent-property ext 'end-closed t)
5960 (set-extent-property ext 'detachable nil)
5961 (set-extent-end-glyph ext (make-glyph [string :data "[END]"])))
5964 Since this is XEmacs, you can specify an icon to be shown on
5965 window-system devices. To do so, change the @code{make-glyph} call to
5966 something like this:
5969 (make-glyph '([xpm :file "~/something.xpm"]
5970 [string :data "[END]"]))
5973 You can inline the @sc{xpm} definition yourself by specifying
5974 @code{:data} instead of @code{:file}. Here is such a full-featured
5975 version that works on both X and TTY devices:
5978 (let ((ext (make-extent (point-min) (point-max))))
5979 (set-extent-property ext 'start-closed t)
5980 (set-extent-property ext 'end-closed t)
5981 (set-extent-property ext 'detachable nil)
5982 (set-extent-end-glyph ext (make-glyph '([xpm :data "\
5984 static char* eye = @{
5993 \"___________`_`_`___b_b_b_b_________`____\",
5994 \"_________`_`_`___b_c_c_c_b_b____________\",
5995 \"_____`_`_`_e___b_b_c_c_c___b___b_______`\",
5996 \"___`_`_e_a___b_b_d___b___b___b___b______\",
5997 \"_`_`_e_a_e___b_b_d_b___b___b___b___b____\",
5998 \"_`_`_a_e_a___b_b_d___b___b___b___b___b__\",
5999 \"_`_`_e_a_e___b_b_d_b___b___b___b___b_b__\",
6000 \"___`_`_e_a___b_b_b_d_c___b___b___d_b____\",
6001 \"_____`_`_e_e___b_b_b_d_c___b_b_d_b______\",
6002 \"_`_____`_`_`_`___b_b_b_d_d_d_d_b________\",
6003 \"___`_____`_`_`_`___b_b_b_b_b_b__________\",
6005 [string :data "[END]"]))))
6008 Note that you might want to make this a function, and put it to a hook.
6009 We leave that as an exercise for the reader.
6011 @node Q5.3.8, Q5.3.9, Q5.3.7, Miscellaneous
6012 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.8: How do I insert today's date into a buffer?
6017 (insert (current-time-string))
6020 @node Q5.3.9, Q5.3.10, Q5.3.8, Miscellaneous
6021 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.9: Are only certain syntactic character classes available for abbrevs?
6023 @email{gutschk@@uni-muenster.de, Markus Gutschke} writes:
6026 Yes, abbrevs only expands word-syntax strings. While XEmacs does not
6027 prevent you from defining (e.g. with @kbd{C-x a g} or @kbd{C-x a l})
6028 abbrevs that contain special characters, it will refuse to expand
6029 them. So you need to ensure, that the abbreviation contains letters and
6030 digits only. This means that @samp{xd}, @samp{d5}, and @samp{5d} are
6031 valid abbrevs, but @samp{&d}, and @samp{x d} are not.
6033 If this sounds confusing to you, (re-)read the online documentation for
6034 abbrevs (@kbd{C-h i m XEmacs @key{RET} m Abbrevs @key{RET}}), and then come back and
6035 read this question/answer again.
6038 Starting with XEmacs 20.3 this restriction has been lifted.
6040 @node Q5.3.10, Q5.3.11, Q5.3.9, Miscellaneous
6041 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.10: How can I get those oh-so-neat X-Face lines?
6043 Firstly there is an ftp site which describes X-faces and has the
6044 associated tools mentioned below, at
6045 @uref{ftp://ftp.cs.indiana.edu:/pub/faces/}.
6051 Create 48x48x1 bitmap with your favorite tool
6054 Convert to "icon" format using one of xbm2ikon, pbmtoicon, etc.,
6055 and then compile the face.
6059 cat file.xbm | xbm2ikon |compface > file.face
6063 Then be sure to quote things that are necessary for emacs strings:
6066 cat ./file.face | sed 's/\\/\\\\/g'
6070 | sed 's/\"/\\\"/g' > ./file.face.quoted
6074 Then set up emacs to include the file as a mail header - there were a
6075 couple of suggestions here---either something like:
6078 (setq mail-default-headers
6079 "X-Face: @email{Ugly looking text string here}")
6082 Or, alternatively, as:
6085 (defun mail-insert-x-face ()
6087 (goto-char (point-min))
6088 (search-forward mail-header-separator)
6091 (insert-file-contents "~/.face")))
6093 (add-hook 'mail-setup-hook 'mail-insert-x-face)
6097 However, 2 things might be wrong:
6099 Some versions of pbmtoicon produces some header lines that is not
6100 expected by the version of compface that I grabbed. So I found I had to
6101 include a @code{tail +3} in the pipeline like this:
6104 cat file.xbm | xbm2ikon | tail +3 |compface > file.face
6107 Some people have also found that if one uses the @code{(insert-file)}
6108 method, one should NOT quote the face string using the sed script .
6110 It might also be helpful to use @email{stig@@hackvan.com, Stig's} script
6111 (included in the compface distribution at XEmacs.org) to do the
6113 @comment For convenience xbm2xface is available for anonymous FTP at
6114 @comment @uref{ftp://ftp.miranova.com/pub/xemacs/xbm2xface.pl}.
6116 Contributors for this item:
6127 @node Q5.3.11, Q5.3.12, Q5.3.10, Miscellaneous
6128 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.11: How do I add new Info directories?
6130 You use something like:
6133 (setq Info-directory-list (cons
6134 (expand-file-name "~/info")
6135 Info-default-directory-list))
6138 @email{davidm@@prism.kla.com, David Masterson} writes:
6141 Emacs Info and XEmacs Info do many things differently. If you're trying to
6142 support a number of versions of Emacs, here are some notes to remember:
6146 Emacs Info scans @code{Info-directory-list} from right-to-left while
6147 XEmacs Info reads it from left-to-right, so append to the @emph{correct}
6151 Use @code{Info-default-directory-list} to initialize
6152 @code{Info-directory-list} @emph{if} it is available at startup, but not
6153 all Emacsen define it.
6156 Emacs Info looks for a standard @file{dir} file in each of the
6157 directories scanned from #1 and magically concatenates them together.
6160 XEmacs Info looks for a @file{localdir} file (which consists of just the
6161 menu entries from a @file{dir} file) in each of the directories scanned
6162 from #1 (except the first), does a simple concatenation of them, and
6163 magically attaches the resulting list to the end of the menu in the
6164 @file{dir} file in the first directory.
6167 Another alternative is to convert the documentation to HTML with
6168 texi2html and read it from a web browser like Lynx or W3.
6171 @node Q5.3.12, , Q5.3.11, Miscellaneous
6172 @unnumberedsubsec Q5.3.12: What do I need to change to make printing work?
6174 For regular printing there are two variables that can be customized.
6178 This should be set to a command that takes standard input and sends
6179 it to a printer. Something like:
6182 (setq lpr-command "lp")
6186 This should be set to a list that contains whatever the print command
6187 requires to do its job. Something like:
6190 (setq lpr-switches '("-depson"))
6194 For postscript printing there are three analogous variables to
6198 @item ps-lpr-command
6199 This should be set to a command that takes postscript on standard input
6200 and directs it to a postscript printer.
6202 @item ps-lpr-switches
6203 This should be set to a list of switches required for
6204 @code{ps-lpr-command} to do its job.
6206 @item ps-print-color-p
6207 This boolean variable should be set @code{t} if printing will be done in
6208 color, otherwise it should be set to @code{nil}.
6211 NOTE: It is an undocumented limitation in XEmacs that postscript
6212 printing (the @code{Pretty Print Buffer} menu item) @strong{requires} a
6213 window system environment. It cannot be used outside of X11.
6215 @node MS Windows, Current Events, Miscellaneous, Top
6216 @unnumbered 6 XEmacs on MS Windows
6218 This is part 6 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list, written by
6219 Hrvoje Niksic and others. This section is devoted to the MS Windows
6224 * Q6.0.1:: What is the status of the XEmacs port to Windows?
6225 * Q6.0.2:: What flavors of MS Windows are supported? The list name implies NT only.
6226 * Q6.0.3:: Are binaries available?
6227 * Q6.0.4:: Can I build XEmacs on MS Windows with X support? Do I need to?
6228 * Q6.0.5:: I'd like to help out. What do I do?
6229 * Q6.0.6:: What are Cygwin and MinGW, and do I need them to run XEmacs?
6230 * Q6.0.7:: What exactly are all the different ways to build XEmacs under Windows?
6232 Building XEmacs on MS Windows:
6233 * Q6.1.1:: What compiler/libraries do I need to compile XEmacs?
6234 * Q6.1.2:: How do I compile the native port?
6235 * Q6.1.3:: What do I need for Cygwin?
6236 * Q6.1.4:: How do I compile under Cygwin?
6237 * Q6.1.5:: How do I compile using MinGW (aka @samp{the -mno-cygwin flag to gcc})?
6238 * Q6.1.6:: I decided to run with X. Where do I get an X server?
6239 * Q6.1.7:: How do I compile with X support?
6241 Customization and User Interface:
6242 * Q6.2.1:: How does the port cope with differences in the Windows user interface?
6243 * Q6.2.2:: How do I change fonts in XEmacs on MS Windows?
6244 * Q6.2.3:: Where do I put my @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file?
6245 * Q6.2.4:: How do I get Windows Explorer to associate a file type with XEmacs?
6246 * Q6.2.5:: Is it possible to print from XEmacs?
6249 * Q6.3.1:: Does XEmacs rename all the @samp{win32-*} symbols to @samp{w32-*}?
6250 * Q6.3.2:: What are the differences between the various MS Windows emacsen?
6251 * Q6.3.3:: XEmacs 21.1 on Windows used to spawn an ugly console window on every startup. Has that been fixed?
6252 * Q6.3.4:: What is the porting team doing at the moment?
6255 * Q6.4.1:: XEmacs won't start on Windows.
6256 * Q6.4.2:: Why do I get a blank toolbar on Windows 95?
6257 * Q6.4.3:: XEmacs complains "No such file or directory, diff"
6261 @node Q6.0.1, Q6.0.2, MS Windows, MS Windows
6262 @unnumberedsec 6.0: General Info
6263 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.1: What is the status of the XEmacs port to Windows?
6265 Is XEmacs really ported to MS Windows? What is the status of the port?
6267 Beginning with release 21.0, XEmacs has worked under MS Windows. A
6268 group of dedicated developers actively maintains and improves the
6269 Windows-specific portions of the code. The mailing list at
6270 @email{xemacs-nt@@xemacs.org} is dedicated to that effort (please use
6271 the -request address to subscribe). (Despite its name, XEmacs actually
6272 works on all versions of Windows.)
6274 As of May 2001, XEmacs on MS Windows is stable and full-featured, and
6275 has been so for a year or more -- in fact, some features, such as
6276 printing, actually work better on Windows than native Unix. However,
6277 the internationalization (Mule) support does not work -- although this
6278 is being actively worked on.
6281 @node Q6.0.2, Q6.0.3, Q6.0.1, MS Windows
6282 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.2: What flavors of MS Windows are supported? The list name implies NT only.
6284 The list name is misleading, as XEmacs supports and has been compiled on
6285 Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows
6286 XP, and all newer versions of Windows. The MS Windows-specific code is
6287 based on Microsoft Win32 API, and will not work on MS Windows 3.x or on
6290 XEmacs also supports the Cygwin and MinGW development and runtime
6291 environments, where it also uses native Windows code for graphical
6295 @node Q6.0.3, Q6.0.4, Q6.0.2, MS Windows
6296 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.3: Are binaries available?
6298 Binaries are available at @uref{http://www.xemacs.org/Download/win32/}
6299 for the native and Cygwin MS Windows versions of 21.4, and the native
6302 The 21.4 binaries use a modified version of the Cygwin installer. Run
6303 the provided @file{setup.exe}, and follow the instructions.
6306 @node Q6.0.4, Q6.0.5, Q6.0.3, MS Windows
6307 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.4: Can I build XEmacs on MS Windows with X support? Do I need to?
6309 Yes, you can, but no you do not need to. In fact, we recommend that you
6310 use a native-GUI version unless you have a specific need for an X
6313 @node Q6.0.5, Q6.0.6, Q6.0.4, MS Windows
6314 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.5: I'd like to help out. What do I do?
6316 It depends on the knowledge and time you possess. If you are a
6317 programmer, try to build XEmacs and see if you can improve it.
6318 Windows-specific improvements like integration with established
6319 Windows environments are especially sought after.
6321 Otherwise, you can still help by downloading the binaries, using
6322 XEmacs as your everyday editor and reporting bugs you find to the
6325 Another area where we need help is the documentation: We need good
6326 documentation for building XEmacs and for using it. This FAQ is a
6327 small step in that direction.
6329 @node Q6.0.6, Q6.0.7, Q6.0.5, MS Windows
6330 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.6: What are Cygwin and MinGW, and do I need them to run XEmacs?
6332 To answer the second part of the question: No, you, you don't need
6333 Cygwin or MinGW to build or to run XEmacs. But if you have them and
6334 want to use them, XEmacs supports these environments.
6336 (One important reason to support Cygwin is that it lets the MS Windows
6337 developers test out their code in a Unix environment without actually
6338 having to have a Unix machine around. For this reason alone, Cygwin
6339 support is likely to remain supported for a long time in XEmacs. Same
6340 goes for the X support under Cygwin, for the same reasons. MinGW
6341 support, on the other hand, depends on volunteers to keep it up to date;
6342 but this is generally not hard.)
6344 Cygwin is a set of tools providing Unix-like API on top of Win32.
6345 It makes it easy to port large Unix programs without significant
6346 changes to their source code. It is a development environment as well
6347 as a runtime environment.
6349 When built with Cygwin, XEmacs supports all display types -- TTY, X &
6350 Win32 GUI, and can be built with support for all three simultaneously.
6351 If you build with Win32 GUI support then the Cygwin version uses the
6352 majority of the Windows-specific code, which is mostly related to
6353 display. If you want to build with X support you need X libraries (and
6354 an X server to display XEmacs on); see @ref{Q6.1.4}. TTY and Win32 GUI
6355 require no additional libraries beyond what comes standard with Cygwin.
6357 The advantages of the Cygwin version are that it integrates well with
6358 the Cygwin environment for existing Cygwin users; uses configure so
6359 building with different features is very easy; and actively supports X &
6360 TTY. Furthermore, the entire Cygwin environment and compiler are free,
6361 whereas Visual C++ costs money.
6363 The disadvantage is that it requires the whole Cygwin environment,
6364 whereas the native port requires only a suitable MS Windows compiler.
6365 Also, it follows the Unix filesystem and process model very closely
6366 (some will undoubtedly view this as an advantage).
6368 See @uref{http://sources.redhat.com/cygwin/} for more information on
6371 MinGW is a collection of header files and import libraries that allow
6372 one to use GCC under the Cygwin environment to compile and produce
6373 exactly the same native Win32 programs that you can using Visual C++.
6374 Programs compiled with MinGW make use of the standard Microsoft runtime
6375 library @file{MSVCRT.DLL}, present on all Windows systems, and look,
6376 feel, and act like a standard Visual-C-produced application. (The only
6377 difference is the compiler.) This means that, unlike a
6378 standardly-compiled Cygwin application, no extra runtime support
6379 (e.g. Cygwin's @file{cygwin1.dll}) is required. This, along with the
6380 fact that GCC is free (and works in a nice Unix-y way in a nice Unix-y
6381 environment, for those die-hard Unix hackers out there), is the main
6382 advantage of MinGW. It is also potentially faster than Cygwin because
6383 it has less overhead when calling Windows, but you lose the POSIX
6384 emulation layer, which makes Unix programs harder to port. (But this is
6385 irrelevant for XEmacs since it's already ported to Win32.)
6387 See @uref{http://www.mingw.org/} for more information on MinGW.
6389 @node Q6.0.7, Q6.1.1, Q6.0.6, MS Windows
6390 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.0.7: What exactly are all the different ways to build XEmacs under Windows?
6392 XEmacs can be built in several ways in the MS Windows environment.
6394 The standard way is what we call the "native" port. It uses the Win32
6395 API and has no connection with X whatsoever -- it does not require X
6396 libraries to build, nor does it require an X server to run. The native
6397 port is the most reliable version and provides the best graphical
6398 support. Almost all development is geared towards this version, and
6399 there is little reason not to use it.
6401 The second way to build is the Cygwin port. It takes advantage of
6402 Cygnus emulation library under Win32. @xref{Q6.0.6}, for more
6405 A third way is the MinGW port. It uses the Cygwin environment to build
6406 but does not require it at runtime. @xref{Q6.0.6}, for more
6409 Finally, you might also be able to build the non-Cygwin, non-MinGW "X"
6410 port. This was actually the first version of XEmacs that ran under MS
6411 Windows, and although the code is still in XEmacs, it's essentially
6412 orphaned and it's unlikely it will compile without a lot of work. If
6413 you want an MS Windows versin of XEmacs that supports X, use the Cygwin
6414 version. (The X support there is actively maintained, so that Windows
6415 developers can test the X support in XEmacs.)
6418 @node Q6.1.1, Q6.1.2, Q6.0.7, MS Windows
6419 @unnumberedsec 6.1: Building XEmacs on MS Windows
6420 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.1: What compiler/libraries do I need to compile XEmacs?
6422 You need Visual C++ 4.2, 5.0, or 6.0 for the native version. (We have
6423 some beta testers currently trying to compile with VC.NET, aka version
6424 7.0, but we can't yet report complete success.) For the Cygwin and MinGW
6425 versions, you need the Cygwin environment, which comes with GCC, the
6426 compiler used for those versions. @xref{Q6.0.6}, for more information
6427 on Cygwin and MinGW.
6429 @node Q6.1.2, Q6.1.3, Q6.1.1, MS Windows
6430 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.2: How do I compile the native port?
6432 Please read the file @file{nt/README} in the XEmacs distribution, which
6433 contains the full description.
6435 @node Q6.1.3, Q6.1.4, Q6.1.2, MS Windows
6436 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.3: What do I need for Cygwin?
6438 You can find the Cygwin tools and compiler at:
6440 @uref{http://sources.redhat.com/cygwin/}
6442 Click on the @samp{Install now!} link, which will download a file
6443 @file{setup.exe}, which you can use to download everything else. (You
6444 will need to pick a mirror site; @samp{mirrors.rcn.net} is probably the
6445 best.) You should go ahead and install everything -- you'll get various
6446 ancillary libraries that XEmacs needs or likes, e.g. XPM, PNG, JPEG,
6449 If you want to compile under X, you will also need the X libraries; see
6452 If you want to compile without X, you will need the @file{xpm-nox}
6453 library, which must be specifically selected in the Cygwin netinstaller;
6454 it is not selected by default. The package has had various names.
6455 Currently it is called @file{cygXpm-noX4.dll}.
6458 @node Q6.1.4, Q6.1.5, Q6.1.3, MS Windows
6459 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.4: How do I compile under Cygwin?
6461 Similar as on Unix; use the usual `configure' and `make' process.
6462 Some problems to watch out for:
6466 make sure HOME is set. This controls where you
6467 @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file comes from;
6470 CYGWIN needs to be set to tty for process support to work, e.g. CYGWIN=tty;
6473 picking up some other grep or other UNIX-like tools can kill configure;
6476 static heap too small, adjust @file{src/sheap-adjust.h} to a more positive
6480 (Unconfirmed) The Cygwin version doesn't understand
6481 @file{//machine/path} type paths so you will need to manually mount a
6482 directory of this form under a unix style directory for a build to work
6486 If you're building @strong{WITHOUT} X11, don't forget to change symlinks
6487 @file{/usr/lib/libXpm.a} and @file{/usr/lib/libXpm.dll.a} to point to
6488 the non-X versions of these libraries. By default they point to the X
6492 /usr/lib/libXpm.a -> /usr/lib/libXpm-noX.a
6493 /usr/lib/libXpm.dll.a -> /usr/lib/libXpm-noX.dll.a
6496 (This advice may now be obsolete because of the availability of the
6497 cygXpm-noX4.dll package from Cygwin. Send confirmation to
6498 @email{faq@@xemacs.org}.)
6501 Other problems are listed in the @file{PROBLEMS} file, in the top-level
6502 directory of the XEmacs sources.
6507 @node Q6.1.5, Q6.1.6, Q6.1.4, MS Windows
6508 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.5: How do I compile using MinGW (aka @samp{the -mno-cygwin flag to gcc})?
6510 Similar to the method for Unix. Things to remember:
6514 Specify the target host on the command line for @file{./configure}, e.g.
6515 @samp{./configure i586-pc-mingw32}.
6518 Be sure that your build directory is mounted such that it has the
6519 same path either as a cygwin path (@file{/build/xemacs}) or as a Windows
6520 path (@file{c:\build\xemacs}).
6523 Build @samp{gcc -mno-cygwin} versions of the extra libs, i.e. @file{libpng},
6524 @file{compface}, etc.
6527 Specify the target location of the extra libs on the command line
6528 to @file{configure}, e.g.
6529 @samp{./configure --site-prefixes=/build/libs i586-pc-mingw32}.
6533 @node Q6.1.6, Q6.1.7, Q6.1.5, MS Windows
6534 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.6: I decided to run with X. Where do I get an X server?
6536 As of May 2001, we are recommending that you use the port of XFree86 to
6537 Cygwin. This has recently stabilized, and will undoubtedly soon make
6538 most other MS Windows X servers obsolete. It is what the Windows
6539 developers use to test the MS Windows X support.
6541 To install, go to @uref{http://xfree86.cygwin.com/}. There is a
6542 detailed description on that site of exactly how to install it. This
6543 installation also provides the libraries, include files, and other stuff
6544 needed for development; a large collection of internationalized fonts;
6545 the standard X utilities (xterm, twm, etc.) -- in a word, the works.
6547 NOTE: As of late May 2001, there is a bug in the file
6548 @file{startxwin.bat}, used to start X Windows. It passes the option
6549 @samp{-engine -4} to the X server, which is bogus -- you need to edit
6550 the file and change it to @samp{-engine 4}.
6553 @node Q6.1.7, Q6.2.1, Q6.1.6, MS Windows
6554 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.1.7: How do I compile with X support?
6556 To compile under Cygwin, all you need to do is install XFree86
6557 (@pxref{Q6.1.6}). Once installed, @file{configure} should automatically
6558 find the X libraries and compile with X support.
6560 As noted above, the non-Cygwin X support is basically orphaned, and
6561 probably won't work. But if it want to try, it's described in
6562 @file{nt/README} in some detail. Basically, you need to get X11
6563 libraries from ftp.x.org, and compile them. If the precompiled versions
6564 are available somewhere, we don't know of it.
6567 @node Q6.2.1, Q6.2.2, Q6.1.7, MS Windows
6568 @unnumberedsec 6.2: Customization and User Interface
6569 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.2.1: How does the port cope with differences in the Windows user interface?
6571 The XEmacs (and Emacs in general) user interface is pretty different
6572 from what is expected of a typical MS Windows program. How does the MS
6573 Windows port cope with it?
6575 As a general rule, we follow native MS Windows conventions as much as
6576 possible. 21.4 is a fairly complete Windows application, supporting
6577 native printing, system file dialog boxes, tool tips, etc. In cases
6578 where there's a clear UI conflict, we currently use normal Unix XEmacs
6579 behavior by default, but make sure the MS Windows "look and feel" (mark
6580 via shift-arrow, self-inserting deletes region, Alt selects menu items,
6581 etc.) is easily configurable (respectively: using the variable
6582 @code{shifted-motion-keys-select-region} in 21.4 and above [it's in fact
6583 the default in these versions], or the @file{pc-select} package; using
6584 the @file{pending-del} package; and setting the variable
6585 @code{menu-accelerator-enabled} to @code{menu-force} in 21.4 and above).
6586 In fact, if you use the sample @file{init.el} file as your init file,
6587 you will get all these behaviors automatically turned on.
6589 In future versions, some of these features might be turned on by
6590 default in the MS Windows environment.
6593 @node Q6.2.2, Q6.2.3, Q6.2.1, MS Windows
6594 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.2.2: How do I change fonts in XEmacs on MS Windows?
6596 In 21.4 and above, you can use the "Options" menu to change the font.
6597 You can also do it in your init file, e.g. like this:
6600 (set-face-font 'default "Lucida Console:Regular:10")
6601 (set-face-font 'modeline "MS Sans Serif:Regular:10")
6605 @node Q6.2.3, Q6.2.4, Q6.2.2, MS Windows
6606 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.2.3: Where do I put my @file{init.el}/@file{.emacs} file?
6608 @file{init.el} is the name of the init file starting with 21.4, and is
6609 located in the subdirectory @file{.xemacs/} of your home directory. In
6610 prior versions, the init file is called @file{.emacs} and is located in
6611 your home directory. Your home directory under Windows is determined by
6612 the @samp{HOME} environment variable. If this is not set, it defaults to
6615 To set this variable, modify @file{AUTOEXEC.BAT} under Windows 95/98, or
6616 select @samp{Control Panel->System->Advanced->Environment Variables...}
6617 under Windows NT/2000.
6620 @node Q6.2.4, Q6.2.5, Q6.2.3, MS Windows
6621 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.2.4: How do I get Windows Explorer to associate a file type with XEmacs?
6623 @unnumberedsubsubsec Associating a new file type with XEmacs.
6625 In Explorer select @samp{View/Options/File Types}, press @samp{[New
6626 Type...]} and fill in the dialog box, e.g.:
6629 Description of type: Emacs Lisp source
6630 Associated extension: el
6631 Content Type (MIME): text/plain
6634 then press @samp{[New...]} and fill in the @samp{Action} dialog box as
6641 Application used to perform action:
6642 D:\Full\path\for\xemacs.exe "%1"
6652 DDE Application Not Running:
6659 @unnumberedsubsubsec Associating an existing file type with XEmacs.
6661 In Explorer select @samp{View/Options/File Types}. Click on the file
6662 type in the list and press @samp{[Edit...]}. If the file type already
6663 has an @samp{Open} action, double click on it and fill in the
6664 @samp{Action} dialog box as described above; otherwise create a new
6667 If the file type has more than one action listed, you probably want to
6668 make the @samp{Open} action that you just edited the default by clicking on
6669 it and pressing @samp{Set Default}.
6671 Note for Windows 2000 users: Under Windows 2000, get to @samp{File Types}
6672 using @samp{Control Panel->Folder Options->File Types}.
6675 @node Q6.2.5, Q6.3.1, Q6.2.4, MS Windows
6676 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.2.5: Is it possible to print from XEmacs?
6678 As of 21.4, printing works on Windows, using simply @samp{File->Print},
6679 and can be configured with @samp{File->Page Setup}.
6681 Prior to 21.4, there is no built-in support, but there are some clever
6682 hacks out there. If you know how, please let us know and we'll put it
6686 @node Q6.3.1, Q6.3.2, Q6.2.5, MS Windows
6687 @unnumberedsec 6.3: Miscellaneous
6688 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.3.1: Does XEmacs rename all the @samp{win32-*} symbols to @samp{w32-*}?
6690 In his flavor of Emacs 20, Richard Stallman has renamed all the @samp{win32-*}
6691 symbols to @samp{w32-*}. Does XEmacs do the same?
6693 We consider such a move counter-productive, thus we do not use the
6694 @samp{w32} prefix. (His rather questionable justification was that he
6695 did not consider Windows to be a "winning" platform.) However, the name
6696 @samp{Win32} is not particularly descriptive outside the Windows world,
6697 and using just @samp{windows-} would be too generic. So we chose a
6698 compromise, the prefix @samp{mswindows-} for Windows-related variables
6701 Thus all the XEmacs variables and functions directly related to either
6702 the Windows GUI or OS are prefixed @samp{mswindows-} (except for a
6703 couple of debugging variables, prefixed @samp{debug-mswindows-}). From
6704 an architectural perspective, however, we believe that this is mostly a
6705 non-issue because there should be a very small number of
6706 window-systems-specific variables anyway. Whenever possible, we try to
6707 provide generic interfaces that apply to all window systems.
6710 @c The user variables
6711 @c that share functionality with existing NT Emacs variables are be named
6712 @c with our convention, but we provide the GNU Emacs names as
6713 @c compatibility aliases.
6716 @node Q6.3.2, Q6.3.3, Q6.3.1, MS Windows
6717 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.3.2: What are the differences between the various MS Windows emacsen?
6719 XEmacs, Win-Emacs, DOS Emacs, NT Emacs, this is all very confusing.
6720 Could you briefly explain the differences between them?
6722 Here is a recount of various Emacs versions running on MS Windows:
6732 Beginning with XEmacs 19.12, XEmacs' architecture was redesigned
6733 in such a way to allow clean support of multiple window systems. At
6734 this time the TTY support was added, making X and TTY the first two
6735 "window systems" supported by XEmacs. The 19.12 design is the basis for
6736 the current native MS Windows code.
6739 Some time during 1997, David Hobley (soon joined by Marc Paquette)
6740 imported some of the NT-specific portions of GNU Emacs, making XEmacs
6741 with X support compile under Windows NT, and creating the "X" port.
6744 Several months later, Jonathan Harris sent out initial patches to use
6745 the Win32 API, thus creating the native port. Since then, various
6746 people have contributed, including Kirill M. Katsnelson (contributed
6747 support for menubars, subprocesses and network, as well as loads of
6748 other code), Andy Piper (ported XEmacs to Cygwin environment,
6749 contributed Windows unexec, Windows-specific glyphs and toolbars code,
6750 and more), Ben Wing (loads of improvements; primary MS Windows developer
6751 since 2000), Jeff Sparkes (contributed scrollbars support) and many
6761 NT Emacs is a version of GNU Emacs modified to compile and run under MS
6762 Windows 95 and NT using the native Win32 API. As such, it is close in
6763 spirit to the XEmacs "native" port.
6766 NT Emacs has been written by Geoff Voelker, and more information can be
6771 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs.html}.
6780 Win-Emacs was a port of Lucid Emacs 19.6 to MS Windows using X
6781 compatibility libraries. Win-Emacs was written by Ben Wing. The MS
6782 Windows code never made it back to Lucid Emacs, and its creator (Pearl
6783 Software) has long since gone out of business.
6792 GNU Emacs features support for MS-DOS and DJGPP (D.J. Delorie's DOS
6793 port of GCC). Such an Emacs is heavily underfeatured, because it does
6794 not support long file names, lacks proper subprocesses support, and
6795 is far too big compared with typical DOS editors.
6799 GNU Emacs compiled with Win32
6804 Starting with version 19.30, it has been possible to compile GNU Emacs
6805 under MS Windows using the DJGPP compiler and X libraries. The result
6806 is very similar to GNU Emacs compiled under MS DOS, only it works
6807 somewhat better because it runs in 32-bit mode, makes use of all the
6808 system memory, supports long file names, etc.
6814 @node Q6.3.3, Q6.3.4, Q6.3.2, MS Windows
6815 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.3.3: XEmacs 21.1 on Windows used to spawn an ugly console window on every startup. Has that been fixed?
6819 The console was there because @file{temacs} (and in turn, @file{xemacs})
6820 was a console application, and Windows typically creates a new
6821 console for a console process unless the creating process requests that
6822 one isn't created. This used to be fixed with @file{runemacs}, a small
6823 Windows application that existed merely to start @file{xemacs}, stating
6824 that it didn't want a console.
6826 XEmacs 21.4 fixes this cleanly by the virtue of being a true "GUI"
6827 application. The explanation of what that means is included for
6830 When building an application to be run in a Win32 environment, you must
6831 state which sub-system it is to run in. Valid subsystems include
6832 "console" and "gui". The subsystem you use affects the run time
6833 libraries linked into your application, the start up function that is
6834 run before control is handed over to your application, the entry point
6835 to your program, and how Windows normally invokes your program. (Console
6836 programs automatically get a console created for them at startup if
6837 their stdin/stdout don't point anywhere useful, which is the case when
6838 run from the GUI. This is a stupid design, of course -- instead, the
6839 console should get created only when the first I/O actually occurs!
6840 GUI programs have an equally stupid design: When called from
6841 @file{CMD.EXE}/@file{COMMAND.COM}, their stdin/stdout will be set to
6842 point nowhere useful, even though the command shell has its own
6843 stdin/stdout. It's as if someone who had learned a bit about stdio but
6844 had no actual knowledge of interprocess communication designed the
6845 scheme; unfortunately, the whole process-communication aspect of the
6846 Win32 API is equally badly designed.) For example, the entry point for a
6847 console app is "main" (which is what you'd expect for a C/C++ program),
6848 but the entry point for a "gui" app is "WinMain". This confuses and
6849 annoys a lot of programmers who've grown up on Unix systems, where the
6850 kernel doesn't really care whether your application is a gui program or
6853 For reasons not altogether clear, and are lost in the mists of time and
6854 tradition, XEmacs on Win32 started out as a console application, and
6855 therefore a console was automatically created for it. (It may have been
6856 made a console application partly because a console is needed in some
6857 circumstances, especially under Win95, to interrupt, terminate, or send
6858 signals to a child process, and because of the bogosity mentioned above
6859 with GUI programs and the standard command shell. Currently, XEmacs
6860 just creates and immediately hides a console when necessary, and
6861 works around the "no useful stdio" problem by creating its own console
6862 window as necessary to display messages in.)
6865 @node Q6.3.4, Q6.4.1, Q6.3.3, MS Windows
6866 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.3.4: What is the porting team doing at the moment?
6870 The porting team is continuing work on the MS Windows-specific code.
6871 Major projects are the development of Mule (internationalization)
6872 support for Windows and the improvement of the widget support (better
6873 support for dialog boxes, buttons, edit fields, and similar UI
6878 @node Q6.4.1, Q6.4.2, Q6.3.4, MS Windows
6879 @unnumberedsec 6.3: Troubleshooting
6880 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.4.1 XEmacs won't start on Windows.
6882 XEmacs relies on a process called "dumping" to generate a working
6883 executable. Under MS-Windows this process effectively fixes the memory
6884 addresses of information in the executable. When XEmacs starts up it tries
6885 to reserve these memory addresses so that the dumping process can be
6886 reversed -- putting the information back at the correct addresses.
6887 Unfortunately some .DLLs (for instance the soundblaster driver) occupy
6888 memory addresses that can conflict with those needed by the dumped XEmacs
6889 executable. In this instance XEmacs will fail to start without any
6890 explanation. Note that this is extremely machine specific.
6892 21.1.10 includes a fix for this that makes more intelligent guesses
6893 about which memory addresses will be free, and this should cure the
6894 problem for most people. 21.4 implements "portable dumping", which
6895 eliminates the problem altogether. We recommend you use the 21.4
6896 binaries, but you can use the 21.1 binaries if you are very paranoid
6897 about stability. @xref{Q6.0.3}.
6899 @node Q6.4.2, Q6.4.3, Q6.4.1, MS Windows
6900 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.4.2 Why do I get a blank toolbar on Windows 95?
6902 You need at least version 4.71 of the system file @file{comctl32.dll}.
6903 The updated version is supplied with Internet Explorer 4 and later but if
6904 you are avoiding IE you can also download it from the Microsoft web
6905 site. Go into support and search for @file{comctl32.dll}. The download
6906 is a self-installing executable.
6908 @node Q6.4.3, , Q6.4.2, MS Windows
6909 @unnumberedsubsec Q6.4.3 XEmacs complains "No such file or directory, diff"
6911 or "ispell" or other commands that seem related to whatever you just
6912 tried to do (M-x ediff or M-$, for example).
6914 There are a large number of common (in the sense that "everyone has
6915 these, they really do") Unix utilities that are not provided with
6916 XEmacs. The GNU Project's implementations are available for Windows in
6917 the the Cygwin distribution (@uref{http://www.cygwin.com/}), which also
6918 provides a complete Unix emulation environment (and thus makes ports of
6919 Unix utilities nearly trivial). Another implementation is that from
6920 MinGW (@uref{http://www.mingw.org/msys.shtml}). If you know of others,
6925 @node Current Events, Legacy Versions, MS Windows, Top
6926 @unnumbered 7 What the Future Holds
6928 This is part 7 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list. This
6929 section will change frequently, and (in theory) should contain any
6930 interesting items that have transpired recently. (But in practice it's
6931 not getting updated like this.)
6933 This section also contains descriptions of the new features in all the
6934 recent releases of XEmacs. For the most part, the information below is
6935 a synopsis of the more complete information that can be found in the
6936 file @file{NEWS} in the @file{etc} directory of the XEmacs distribution.
6937 You can view this file in XEmacs using @kbd{C-h n} or the @samp{Help}
6940 Information on older versions of XEmacs can be find in @file{ONEWS} in
6941 the same directory, or @file{OONEWS} for really old versions.
6945 * Q7.0.1:: What new features will be in XEmacs soon?
6946 * Q7.0.2:: What's new in XEmacs 21.4?
6947 * Q7.0.3:: What's new in XEmacs 21.1?
6948 * Q7.0.4:: What's new in XEmacs 20.4?
6949 * Q7.0.5:: What's new in XEmacs 20.3?
6950 * Q7.0.6:: What's new in XEmacs 20.2?
6953 @node Q7.0.1, Q7.0.2, Current Events, Current Events
6954 @unnumberedsec 7.0: Changes
6955 @unnumberedsubsec Q7.0.1: What new features will be in XEmacs soon?
6959 @node Q7.0.2, Q7.0.3, Q7.0.1, Current Events
6960 @unnumberedsubsec Q7.0.2: What's new in XEmacs 21.4?
6962 21.4 was the "stable" version of the 21.2 series, which was considered
6963 "experimental" throughout its life; thus there were no "official"
6964 releases at all. In essence, XEmacs is now following the "alternating"
6965 scheme of Linux, where at any point there are at least two different
6966 development branches, one "stable" and one "experimental". Periodic
6967 releases happen in both branches, but those in the experimental branch
6968 are not tested as well, and there's no guarantee they will work at all.
6969 The experiemental branch is open to any and all code that's acceptable
6970 to the developers; the stable branch, however, is in general limited
6971 only to bug fixes, and all contributions are carefully reviewed to make
6972 sure they will increase and not decrease stability.
6974 21.3 never existed at all; it was decided to follow the Linux scheme
6975 exactly, where odd-numbered series are experimental and even-numbered
6978 The following lists summarizes the essential changes made in this
6979 version. For a fuller list, see the @file{NEWS} in the @file{etc}
6980 directory of the XEmacs distribution, or use @kbd{C-h n} or the
6981 @samp{Help} menu to view this file inside of XEmacs.
6983 @unnumberedsubsubsec User-visible changes in XEmacs 21.4
6988 The delete key now deletes forward by default.
6990 Shifted motion keys now select text by default.
6992 You can now build XEmacs with support for GTK+ widget set.
6994 ~/.xemacs/init.el is now the preferred location for the init
6995 file. (XEmacs now supports a `~/.xemacs/init.el' startup file. Custom
6996 file will move to ~/.xemacs/custom.el.)
6998 Much-improved sample init.el, showing how to use many useful features.
7000 XEmacs support for menu accelerators has been much improved.
7002 Default menubar improvements. (Default menubar has many new commands and
7003 better organization. The font-menu is now available under MS Windows.)
7005 Dialog box improvements, including a real file dialog box. (XEmacs now has a proper file dialog box under MS Windows (and GTK)! The old clunky file dialog box is improved. Keyboard traversal now works correctly in MS Windows dialog boxes. There is a Search dialog box available from Edit->Find...)
7009 There is a new MS Windows installer, netinstall, ported from Cygwin.
7011 The subprocess quote-handling mechanism under Windows is much improved.
7013 Printing support now available under MS Windows.
7015 Selection improvements. (Kill and yank now interact with the clipboard under Windows. MS Windows support for selection is now much more robust. Motif selection support is now more correct (but slower).)
7017 Mail spool locking now works correctly.
7019 International support changes. (The default coding-priority-list is now
7020 safer. International keysyms are now supported under X. MS Windows
7021 1251 code page now supported. Czech, Thai, Cyrillic-KOI8, Vietnamese,
7022 Ethiopic now supported. Proper support for words in Latin 3 and Latin
7025 Help buffers contain hyperlinks, and other changes.
7027 The modeline's text is now scrollable.
7029 The mouse wheel under MS Windows now functions correctly.
7031 Interactive searching and matching case improvements. (Incremental search will now highlight all visible matches. Interactive searches always respect uppercase characters.)
7033 Rectangle functions rewritten to avoid inserting extra spaces.
7035 New command `kill-entire-line' that always kills the entire line.
7037 Default values correctly stored in minibuffer histories.
7039 You can now create "indirect buffers", like in GNU Emacs.
7041 Pixel-based scrolling has been implemented.
7043 Operation progress can be displayed using graphical widgets.
7045 User names following a tilde can now be completed at file name prompts.
7047 XEmacs can now play sound using Enlightenment Sound Daemon (ESD).
7049 X-Face support is now available under MS Windows.
7051 The PostgreSQL Relational Database Management System is now supported.
7053 Indentation no longer indents comments that begin at column zero.
7055 Face and variable settings can have comments in Customize.
7057 New locations for early package hierarchies.
7059 The `auto-save' library has been greatly improved.
7061 New variable `mswindows-alt-by-itself-activates-menu'.
7063 Other init-file-related changes. (Init file in your home directory may be called `.emacs.el'. New command-line switches -user-init-file and -user-init-directory.)
7065 Etags changes. See @file{NEWS} for full details.
7068 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lisp and internal changes in XEmacs 21.4
7072 @c APA: Texi2html produces invalid HTML from an empty list of bullets!
7073 @c Please uncomment following list when it does contain bullets.
7077 @node Q7.0.3, Q7.0.4, Q7.0.2, Current Events
7078 @unnumberedsubsec Q7.0.3: What's new in XEmacs 21.1?
7080 21.1 was the "stable" version of "experimental" 21.0 series.
7083 The following lists summarizes the essential changes made in this
7084 version. For a fuller list, see the @file{NEWS} in the @file{etc}
7085 directory of the XEmacs distribution, or use @kbd{C-h n} or the
7086 @samp{Help} menu to view this file inside of XEmacs.
7088 @unnumberedsubsubsec User-visible changes in XEmacs 21.1
7093 XEmacs is now supported under Microsoft Windows 95/98 and Windows NT
7094 operating systems. To discuss Windows-specific issues, subscribe to the
7095 mailing list at @email{xemacs-nt-request@@xemacs.org}.
7098 XEmacs has been unbundled into constituent installable packages.
7101 @strong{Other notable changes}: The @samp{Options} menu has been ported to
7102 Custom; XEmacs now is able to choose X visuals and use private
7103 colormaps; You can drag the vertical divider of "horizontally"
7104 (side-by-side) split windows.
7107 @strong{Building changes}: XEmacs can be built with support for 31-bit Lisp
7108 integers and 32-bit pointers (previously, it was 28-bit integers and
7109 pointers); XEmacs can be built with LDAP support; @file{dir} files can be
7110 removed in the Info subsystem, and will be regenerated on-the-fly.
7113 @strong{New packages}: @file{imenu}, @file{popper}, @file{gdb-highlight}
7116 @strong{Package changes}: Many changes to @file{cc-mode}, @file{gnus},
7117 @file{gnuclient}. See @file{NEWS} for full details.
7120 @strong{New commands, variables and functions}:
7121 @code{center-to-window-line} (like @code{recenter} but doesn't force a
7122 redisplay); variable @code{user-full-name} (customize what your full
7123 name looks like in mail); @kbd{M-x customize-changed-options} (customize
7124 options whose default values changes because you upgraded your XEmacs);
7125 @kbd{M-x add-log-convert} (converts an old-style ChangeLog buffer to
7126 new-style); @kbd{M-x zap-up-to-char} (like @code{zap-to-char} but
7127 doesn't delete the char searched for); commands to store, retrieve and
7128 increment numbers in registers, useful for macros.
7131 @strong{Changes to commands, variables, and functions}: @kbd{M-x
7132 query-replace} and friends operate only on the region when it's active;
7133 @code{echo-keystrokes} can now be a floating-point number; @kbd{M-.}
7134 searches exact tag matches before inexact ones; function
7135 @code{user-full-name} with no arguments returns the var
7136 @code{user-full-name}; a prefix arg to @kbd{M-:} and @kbd{C-h c} inserts
7137 the result in the current buffer.
7140 @strong{Other changes}: Under X, new application class @samp{XEmacs};
7141 byte-compilation of user-specs now works.
7144 @strong{XEmacs/Mule (internationalization) changes}: Mule support now
7145 works on TTY's; Egg/SJ3 input method now officially supported (Quail and
7146 Egg/Skk already available through LEIM since 20.3); localized Japanese
7147 menubars if XEmacs is built with the right support.
7151 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lisp and internal changes in XEmacs 21.1
7156 @strong{Specifier changes}: The window locale now has a higher
7157 precedence than the buffer locale when instantiating; new macro
7158 @code{let-specifier}; new specifiers
7159 @code{vertical-scrollbar-visible-p}, horizontal-scrollbar-visible-p',
7160 @code{scrollbar-on-left-p}, @code{scrollbar-on-top-p},
7161 @code{vertical-divider-always-visible-p},
7162 @code{vertical-divider-shadow-thickness},
7163 @code{vertical-divider-line-width}, @code{vertical-divider-spacing};
7164 specifiers and symbols whose value is a specifier allowed as modeline
7168 @strong{Frame focus changes}: @code{focus-follows-mouse} works like FSF,
7169 prevents any attempt to permanently change the selected frame; new
7170 function @code{focus-frame} sets the window system focus a frame; new
7171 special forms @code{save-selected-frame} and @code{with-selected-frame}.
7174 @strong{Window function changes}: @code{select-window} now has optional
7175 argument @var{NORECORD} to inhibit recording a buffer change;
7176 @code{vertical-motion} now correctly handles optional @var{WINDOW}
7177 argument and has new optional argument @var{PIXELS}, to have the
7178 returned values be in pixels; new function
7179 @code{vertical-motion-pixels}; new functions
7180 @code{window-text-area-pixel-@{width,height,edges@}}; new functions
7181 @code{shrink-window-pixels} and @code{enlarge-window-pixels}; new
7182 function @code{window-displayed-text-pixel-height}.
7185 @strong{Other function changes}: Arithmetic comparison functions
7186 @code{<}, @code{>}, @code{=}, @code{/=} now accept a variable number of
7187 arguments; hashtables now have a consistent read/print syntax; keyword
7188 symbols cannot be set to a value other than themselves; @code{concat} no
7189 longer accepts integer arguments; new function @code{string}, like
7190 @code{list}, @code{vector}, etc.; new function @code{temp-directory}
7191 (OS-independent way to get a temp directory); @code{load-average} has
7192 optional argument @var{USE-FLOATS}; @code{make-event} implemented
7193 completely; new function @code{function-interactive} (returns a
7194 function's interactive spec); new functions @code{lmessage},
7195 @code{lwarn} (printf-like versions of @code{display-wessage},
7196 @code{display-warning}); new keyword @code{:version} to
7200 @strong{Performance}: when the new GNU Malloc aka Doug Lea Malloc is
7201 available, it will be used (better performance on libc6 Linux systems);
7202 tracking line-numbers in modeline is now efficient; profiling records a
7203 call-count of all called functions, retrievable through
7204 @code{profile-call-count-results}.
7207 @strong{Startup and path searching}: code to assemble paths at startup
7208 rewritten for new package system; new function @code{split-path} (splits
7209 by @code{path-separator}); @code{Info-default-directory-list} obsolete,
7210 use @code{Info-directory-list} instead; site-lisp is deprecated and no
7211 longer on the load-path by default.
7215 @node Q7.0.4, Q7.0.5, Q7.0.3, Current Events
7216 @unnumberedsubsec Q7.0.4: What's new in XEmacs 20.4?
7218 XEmacs 20.4 is a bugfix release with no user-visible changes.
7219 @c Filled in from NEWS file of 20.5-b33
7221 @node Q7.0.5, Q7.0.6, Q7.0.4, Current Events
7222 @unnumberedsubsec Q7.0.5: What's new in XEmacs 20.3?
7224 XEmacs 20.3 was released in November 1997. It contains many bugfixes,
7225 and a number of new features, including Autoconf 2 based configuration,
7226 additional support for Mule (Multi-language extensions to Emacs), many
7227 more customizations, multiple frames on TTY-s, support for multiple info
7228 directories, an enhanced gnuclient, improvements to regexp matching,
7229 increased MIME support, and many, many synches with GNU Emacs 20.
7231 The XEmacs/Mule support has been only seriously tested in a Japanese
7232 locale, and no doubt many problems still remain. The support for
7233 ISO-Latin-1 and Japanese is fairly strong. MULE support comes at a
7234 price---about a 30% slowdown from 19.16. We're making progress on
7235 improving performance and XEmacs 20.3 compiled without Mule (which is
7236 the default) is definitely faster than XEmacs 19.16.
7238 XEmacs 20.3 is the first non-beta v20 release, and will be the
7239 basis for all further development.
7241 @node Q7.0.6, , Q7.0.5, Current Events
7242 @unnumberedsubsec Q7.0.6: What's new in XEmacs 20.2?
7244 The biggest changes in 20.2 include integration of EFS (the next
7245 generation of ange-ftp) and AUC Tex (the Emacs subsystem that includes a
7246 major mode for editing Tex and LaTeX, and a lot of other stuff). Many
7247 bugs from 20.0 have been fixed for this release. 20.2 also contains a
7248 new system for customizing XEmacs options, invoked via @kbd{M-x
7251 XEmacs 20.2 is the development release (20.0 was beta), and is no longer
7252 considered unstable.
7254 For older news, see the file @file{ONEWS} in the @file{etc} directory of
7255 the XEmacs distribution.
7259 @node Legacy Versions, , Current Events, Top
7260 @unnumbered 8 New information about old XEmacsen
7262 This is part 8 of the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list. It will
7263 occasionally be updated to reflect new information about versions which
7264 are no longer being revised by the XEmacs Project. The primary purpose
7265 is advice on compatibility of older XEmacsen with new packages and
7266 updated versions of packages, but bug fixes (which will not be applied
7267 to released XEmacsen, but users can apply themselves) are also accepted.
7271 * Q8.0.1:: Gnus 5.10 won't display smileys in XEmacs 21.1.
7274 @node Q8.0.1, , , Legacy Versions
7275 @unnumberedsubsec Q8.0.1: Gnus 5.10 won't display smileys in XEmacs 21.1.
7277 @email{eeide@@cs.utah.edu, Eric Eide} wrote:
7282 Eric> Summary: with Gnus 5.10.1 in XEmacs 21.1.14, I don't see
7283 Eric> any smileys :-(.
7285 After a bit of sleuthing, I discovered the essence of the problem.
7290 (insert-file-contents "foo.xpm")
7294 returns the empty string. This is because something somewhere
7295 replaces the XPM data with a glyph --- I haven't figured out where
7299 @email{kyle_jones@@wonderworks.com, Kyle Jones} replies:
7305 (setq format-alist nil)
7308 The image-mode stuff is gone from format-alist in the 21.4