This is ../info/xemacs.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.0 from
xemacs/xemacs.texi.

INFO-DIR-SECTION XEmacs Editor
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* XEmacs: (xemacs).		XEmacs Editor.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY

   This file documents the XEmacs editor.

   Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1988 Richard M. Stallman.  Copyright (C)
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Lucid, Inc.  Copyright (C) 1993, 1994 Sun
Microsystems, Inc.  Copyright (C) 1995 Amdahl Corporation.

   Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
preserved on all copies.

   Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of
this manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also
that the sections entitled "The GNU Manifesto", "Distribution" and "GNU
General Public License" are included exactly as in the original, and
provided that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the
terms of a permission notice identical to this one.

   Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this
manual into another language, under the above conditions for modified
versions, except that the sections entitled "The GNU Manifesto",
"Distribution" and "GNU General Public License" may be included in a
translation approved by the author instead of in the original English.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Using Packages,  Next: Building Packages,  Prev: Package Terminology,  Up: Packages

Getting Started
---------------

   When you first download XEmacs 21, you will usually first grab the
"core distribution", a file called `xemacs-21.0.tar.gz'. (Replace the
21.0 by the current version number.)  The core distribution contains
the sources of XEmacs and a minimal set of Emacs Lisp files, which are
in the subdirectory named `lisp'.  This subdirectory used to contain
all Emacs Lisp files distributed with XEmacs.  Now, to conserve disk
space, most non-essential packages were made optional.

Choosing the Packages You Need
------------------------------

   The available packages can currently be found in the same ftp
directory where you grabbed the core distribution from, and are located
in the subdirectory `packages/binary-packages'.  Package file names
follow the naming convention `<package-name>-<version>-pkg.tar.gz'.

   If you have EFS *Note (EFS)::, packages can be installed over the
network.  Alternatively, if you have copies of the packages locally,
you can install packages from a local disk or CDROM.

   The file `etc/PACKAGES' in the core distribution contains a list of
the packages available at the time of the XEmacs release.  Packages are
also listed on the `Options' menu under:

             Options->Customize->Emacs->Packages

   However, don't select any of these menu picks unless you actually
want to install the given package (and have properly configured your
system to do so).

   You can also get a list of available packages, and whether or not
they are installed, using the visual package browser and installer.
You can access it via the menus:

             Options->Manage Packages->List & Install

   Or, you can get to it via the keyboard:

     M-x pui-list-packages

   Hint to system administrators of multi-user systems: it might be a
good idea to install all packages and not interfere with the wishes of
your users.

   If you can't find which package provides the feature you require, try
using the `package-get-package-provider' function. Eg., if you know
that you need `thingatpt', type:

     M-x package-get-package-provider RET thingatpt

   which will return something like (fsf-compat "1.06"). You can the use
one of the methods above for installing the package you want.

XEmacs and Installing Packages
------------------------------

   Normally, packages are installed over the network, using EFS *Note
(EFS)::.  However, you may not have network access, or you may already
have some or all of the packages on a local disk, such as a CDROM.  If
you want to install from a local disk, you must first tell XEmacs where
to find the package binaries.  This is done by adding a line like the
following to your init file:

     (setq package-get-remote (cons (list nil "/my/path/to/package/binaries")
                                    package-get-remote))

   *Note Init File::.

   Here, you'd change `/my/path/to/package/binaries' to be the path to
your local package binaries.  Next, restart XEmacs, and you're ready to
go (advanced users can just re-evaluate the sexp).

   If you are installing from a temporary, one-time directory, you can
also add these directory names to `package-get-remote' using:

             M-x pui-add-install-directory

   Note, however, that any directories added using this function are not
saved; this information will be lost when you quit XEmacs.

   If you're going to install over the network, you only have to insure
that EFS *Note (EFS):: works, and that it can get outside a firewall, if
you happen to be behind one.  You shouldn't have to do anything else;
XEmacs already knows where to go. However you can add your own mirrors
to this list. See `package-get-remote'.

   The easiest way to install a package is to use the visual package
browser and installer, using the menu pick:

             Options->Manage Packages->List & Install
   or
             Options->Manage Packages->Using Custom->Select-> ...

   You can also access it using the keyboard:

     M-x pui-list-packages

   The visual package browser will then display a list of all packages.
Help information will be displayed at the very bottom of the buffer; you
may have to scroll down to see it.  You can also press `?' to get the
same help.  From this buffer, you can tell the package status by the
character in the first column:

`-'
     The package has not been installed.

`*'
     The package has been installed, but a newer version is available.
     The current version is out-of-date.

`+'
     The package has been marked for installation/update.

   If there is no character in the first column, the package has been
installed and is up-to-date.

   From here, you can select or unselect packages for installation using
the <RET> key, the `Mouse-2' button or selecting "Select" from the
(Popup) Menu.  Once you've finished selecting the packages, you can
press the `x' key (or use the menu) to actually install the packages.
Note that you will have to restart XEmacs for XEmacs to recognize any
new packages.

   Key summary:

`?'
     Display simple help.

`<RET>'
`<Mouse-2>'
     Toggle between selecting and unselecting a package for
     installation.

`x'
     Install selected packages.

`<SPC>'
     View, in the minibuffer, additional information about the package,
     such as the package date (not the build date) and the package
     author.  Moving the mouse over a package name will also do the
     same thing.

`v'
     Toggle between verbose and non-verbose package display.

`g'
     Refresh the package display.

`q'
     Kill the package buffer.

   Moving the mouse over a package will also cause additional
information about the package to be displayed in the minibuffer.

Other package installation interfaces
-------------------------------------

   For an alternative package interface, you can select packages from
the customize menus, under:

             Options->Customize->Emacs->Packages-> ...
   or
             Options->Manage Packages->Using Custom->Select-> ...

   Set their state to on, and then do:

             Options->Manage Packages->Using Custom->Update Packages

   This will automatically retrieve the packages you have selected from
the XEmacs ftp site or your local disk, and install them into XEmacs.
Additionally it will update any packages you already have installed to
the newest version.  Note that if a package is newly installed you will
have to restart XEmacs for the change to take effect.

   You can also install packages using a semi-manual interface:

     M-x package-get-all <return>

   Enter the name of the package (e.g., `prog-modes'), and XEmacs will
search for the latest version (as listed in the lisp file
`lisp/package-get-base.el'), and install it and any packages that it
depends upon.

Manual Binary Package Installation
----------------------------------

   Pre-compiled, binary packages can be installed in either a system
package directory (this is determined when XEmacs is compiled), or in
one of the following subdirectories of your `$HOME' directory:

     ~/.xemacs/mule-packages
     ~/.xemacs/xemacs-packages

   Packages in the former directory will only be found by a Mule-enabled
XEmacs.

   XEmacs does not have to be running to install binary packages,
although XEmacs will not know about any newly-installed packages until
you restart XEmacs.  Note, however, that installing a newer version of a
package while XEmacs is running could cause strange errors in XEmacs;
it's best to exit XEmacs before upgrading an existing package.

   To install binary packages manually:

  1. Download the package(s) that you want to install.  Each binary
     package will typically be a gzip'd tarball.

  2. Decide where to install the packages: in the system package
     directory, or in `~/.xemacs/mule-packages' or
     `~/.xemacs/xemacs-packages', respectively.  If you want to install
     the packages in the system package directory, make sure you can
     write into that directory.  If you want to install in your `$HOME'
     directory, create the directory, `~/.xemacs/mule-packages' or
     `~/.xemacs/xemacs-packages', respectively.

  3. Next, `cd' to the directory under which you want to install the
     package(s).

  4. From this directory, uncompress and extract each of the gzip'd
     tarballs that you downloaded in step 1.  Unix and Cygnus cygwin
     users will typically do this using the commands:

                  gunzip < package.tar.gz | tar xvf -

     Above, replace `package.tar.gz' with the filename of the package
     that you downloaded in step 1.

     Of course, if you use GNU `tar', you could also use:

                  tar xvzf package.tar.gz

  5. That's it.  Quit and restart XEmacs to get it to recognize any new
     or changed packages.



File: xemacs.info,  Node: Building Packages,  Next: Available Packages,  Prev: Using Packages,  Up: Packages

   Source packages are available from the `packages/source-packages'
subdirectory of your favorite XEmacs distribution site.  Alternatively,
they are available via CVS from `cvs.xemacs.org'.  Look at
`http://cvs.xemacs.org' for instructions.

Prerequisites for Building Source Packages
------------------------------------------

   You must have GNU `cp', GNU `install' (or a BSD compatible `install'
program) GNU `make' (3.75 or later preferred), `makeinfo' (1.68 from
`texinfo-3.11' or later required), GNU `tar' and XEmacs 21.0.  The
source packages will untar into a correct directory structure.  At the
top level you must have `XEmacs.rules' and `package-compile.el'.  These
files are available from the XEmacs FTP site from the same place you
obtained your source package distributions.

What You Can Do With Source Packages
------------------------------------

   NB:  A global build operation doesn't exist yet as of 13 January
1998.

   Source packages are most useful for creating XEmacs package tarballs
for installation into your own XEmacs installations or for distributing
to others.

   Supported operations from `make' are:

`clean'
     Remove all built files except `auto-autoloads.el' and
     `custom-load.el'.

`distclean'
     Remove XEmacs backups as well as the files deleted by `make clean'.

`all'
     Bytecompile all files, build and bytecompile byproduct files like
     `auto-autoloads.el' and `custom-load.el'.  Create info version of
     TeXinfo documentation if present.

`srckit'
     Usually aliased to `make srckit-std'.  This does a `make
     distclean' and creates a package source tarball in the staging
     directory.  This is generally only of use for package maintainers.

`binkit'
     May be aliased to `binkit-sourceonly', `binkit-sourceinfo',
     `binkit-sourcedata', or `binkit-sourcedatainfo'. `sourceonly'
     indicates there is nothing to install in a data directory or info
     directory.  `sourceinfo' indicates that source and info files are
     to be installed.  `sourcedata' indicates that source and etc
     (data) files are to be installed.  `sourcedatainfo' indicates
     source, etc (data), and info files are to be installed.  A few
     packages have needs beyond the basic templates so this is not yet
     complete.

`dist'
     Runs the rules `srckit' followed by `binkit'.  This is primarily
     of use by XEmacs maintainers producing files for distribution.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Available Packages,  Prev: Building Packages,  Up: Packages

   This section is surely out-of-date.  If you're sure that XEmacs is
able to do something, but your installed XEmacs won't do it for you,
it's probably in a package.  If you can't find it in this section,
that's a bug--please report it.  It is very hard to keep this section
up-to-date; your reports, comments, and questions will help a lot.

   This data is up-to-date as of 10 February 1999.  (Ouch!  I told you!)

Library Packages (libs)
-----------------------

   These packages are required to build and support most of the rest of
XEmacs.  By design, xemacs-base is a `regular' package.  Use restraint
when adding new files there as it is required by almost everything.

`Sun'
     Support for Sparcworks.

`apel'
     A Portable Emacs Library.  Used by XEmacs MIME support.

`edebug'
     A Lisp debugger.

`dired'
     The DIRectory EDitor is for manipulating, and running commands on
     files in a directory.

`efs'
     Treat files on remote systems the same as local files.

`mail-lib'
     Fundamental lisp files for providing email support.

`tooltalk'
     Support for building with Tooltalk.

`xemacs-base'
     Fundamental XEmacs support.  Install this unless you wish a totally
     naked XEmacs.

`xemacs-devel'
     XEmacs Lisp developer support.  This package contains utilities for
     supporting Lisp development.  It is a single-file package so it
     may be tailored.

Communications Packages (comm)
------------------------------

   These packages provide support for various communications, primarily
email and usenet.

`footnote'
     Footnoting in mail message editing modes.

`gnats'
     XEmacs bug reports.

`gnus'
     The Gnus Newsreader and Mailreader.

`mailcrypt'
     Support for messaging encryption with PGP.

`mh-e'
     Front end support for MH.

`net-utils'
     Miscellaneous Networking Utilities.  This is a single-file package
     and files may be deleted at will.

`ph'
     Emacs implementation of the ph client to CCSO/qi directory servers.

`rmail'
     An obsolete Emacs mailer.  If you do not already use it don't
     start.

`supercite'
     An Emacs citation tool.  Useful with all Emacs Mailers and
     Newsreaders.

`tm'
     Emacs MIME support.

`vm'
     An Emacs mailer.

`w3'
     A Web browser.

Games and Amusements (games)
----------------------------

`cookie'
     Spook and Yow (Zippy quotes).

`games'
     Tetris, Sokoban, and Snake.

`mine'
     Minehunt.

`misc-games'
     Other amusements and diversions.

Mule Support (mule)
-------------------

`egg-its'
     Wnn (4.2 and 6) support.  SJ3 support.  Must be installed prior to
     XEmacs build.

`leim'
     Quail.  Used for everything other than English and Japanese.

`locale'
     Used for localized menubars (French and Japanese) and localized
     splash screens (Japanese).

`mule-base'
     Basic Mule support.  Must be installed prior to building with Mule.

`skk'
     Another Japanese Language Input Method.  Can be used without a
     separate process running as a dictionary server.

Productivity Packages (oa)
--------------------------

`calendar'
     Calendar and diary support.

`edit-utils'
     Single file lisp packages for various XEmacs goodies.  Load this
     and weed out the junk you don't want.

`forms'
     Forms editing support (obsolete, use the builtin Widget instead).

`frame-icon'
     Provide a WM icon based on major mode.

`hm--html-menus'
     HTML editing.

`ispell'
     Spell-checking with ispell.

`pc'
     PC style interface emulation.

`psgml'
     Validated HTML/SGML editing.

`sgml'
     SGML/Linuxdoc-SGML editing.

`slider'
     User interface tool.

`speedbar'
     ??? Document me.

`strokes'
     Mouse enhancement utility.

`text-modes'
     Various single file lisp packages for editing text files.

`time'
     Display time & date on the modeline.

Operating System Utilities (os)
-------------------------------

`eterm'
     Terminal emulator.

`igrep'
     Enhanced front-end for Grep.

`ilisp'
     Front-end for Inferior Lisp.

`os-utils'
     Miscellaneous single-file O/S utilities, for printing, archiving,
     compression, remote shells, etc.

`view-process'
     A Unix process browsing tool.

Program Editing Support (prog)
------------------------------

`ada'
     Ada language support.

`c-support'
     Basic single-file add-ons for editing C code.

`cc-mode'
     C, C++ and Java language support.

`debug'
     GUD, gdb, dbx debugging support.

`ediff'
     Interface over patch.

`emerge'
     Another interface over patch.

`pcl-cvs'
     CVS frontend.

`prog-modes'
     Miscellaneous single-file lisp files for various programming
     languages.

`scheme'
     Front-end support for Inferior Scheme.

`sh-script'
     Support for editing shell scripts.

`vc'
     Version Control for Free systems.

`vc-cc'
     Version Control for ClearCase.  This package must be installed
     prior to building XEmacs [broken as of XEmacs 20.5-beta19].

`vhdl'
     Support for VHDL.

Word Processing (wp)
--------------------

`auctex'
     Basic TeX/LaTeX support.

`crisp'
     Crisp/Brief emulation.

`edt'
     DEC EDIT/EDT emulation.

`texinfo'
     XEmacs TeXinfo support.

`textools'
     Single-file TeX support.

`tpu'
     DEC EDIT/TPU support.

`viper'
     VI emulation support.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Abbrevs,  Next: Picture,  Prev: Running,  Up: Top

Abbrevs
*******

   An "abbrev" is a word which "expands" into some different text.
Abbrevs are defined by the user to expand in specific ways.  For
example, you might define `foo' as an abbrev expanding to `find outer
otter'.  With this abbrev defined, you would be able to get `find outer
otter ' into the buffer by typing `f o o <SPC>'.

   Abbrevs expand only when Abbrev mode (a minor mode) is enabled.
Disabling Abbrev mode does not cause abbrev definitions to be discarded,
but they do not expand until Abbrev mode is enabled again.  The command
`M-x abbrev-mode' toggles Abbrev mode; with a numeric argument, it
turns Abbrev mode on if the argument is positive, off otherwise.  *Note
Minor Modes::.  `abbrev-mode' is also a variable; Abbrev mode is on
when the variable is non-`nil'.  The variable `abbrev-mode'
automatically becomes local to the current buffer when it is set.

   Abbrev definitions can be "mode-specific"--active only in one major
mode.  Abbrevs can also have "global" definitions that are active in
all major modes.  The same abbrev can have a global definition and
various mode-specific definitions for different major modes.  A
mode-specific definition for the current major mode overrides a global
definition.

   You can define Abbrevs interactively during an editing session.  You
can also save lists of abbrev definitions in files and reload them in
later sessions.  Some users keep extensive lists of abbrevs that they
load in every session.

   A second kind of abbreviation facility is called the "dynamic
expansion".  Dynamic abbrev expansion happens only when you give an
explicit command and the result of the expansion depends only on the
current contents of the buffer.  *Note Dynamic Abbrevs::.

* Menu:

* Defining Abbrevs::  Defining an abbrev, so it will expand when typed.
* Expanding Abbrevs:: Controlling expansion: prefixes, canceling expansion.
* Editing Abbrevs::   Viewing or editing the entire list of defined abbrevs.
* Saving Abbrevs::    Saving the entire list of abbrevs for another session.
* Dynamic Abbrevs::   Abbreviations for words already in the buffer.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Defining Abbrevs,  Next: Expanding Abbrevs,  Prev: Abbrevs,  Up: Abbrevs

Defining Abbrevs
================

`C-x a g'
     Define an abbrev to expand into some text before point
     (`add-global-abbrev').

`C-x a l'
     Similar, but define an abbrev available only in the current major
     mode (`add-mode-abbrev').

`C-x a i g'
     Define a word in the buffer as an abbrev
     (`inverse-add-global-abbrev').

`C-x a i l'
     Define a word in the buffer as a mode-specific abbrev
     (`inverse-add-mode-abbrev').

`M-x kill-all-abbrevs'
     After this command, no abbrev definitions remain in effect.

   The usual way to define an abbrev is to enter the text you want the
abbrev to expand to, position point after it, and type `C-x a g'
(`add-global-abbrev').  This reads the abbrev itself using the
minibuffer, and then defines it as an abbrev for one or more words
before point.  Use a numeric argument to say how many words before point
should be taken as the expansion.  For example, to define the abbrev
`foo' as in the example above, insert the text `find outer otter', then
type
`C-u 3 C-x a g f o o <RET>'.

   An argument of zero to `C-x a g' means to use the contents of the
region as the expansion of the abbrev being defined.

   The command `C-x a l' (`add-mode-abbrev') is similar, but defines a
mode-specific abbrev.  Mode-specific abbrevs are active only in a
particular major mode.  `C-x a l' defines an abbrev for the major mode
in effect at the time `C-x a l' is typed.  The arguments work the same
way they do for `C-x a g'.

   If the text of an abbrev you want is already in the buffer instead of
the expansion, use command `C-x a i g' (`inverse-add-global-abbrev')
instead of `C-x a g', or use `C-x a i l' (`inverse-add-mode-abbrev')
instead of `C-x a l'.  These commands are called "inverse" because they
invert the meaning of the argument found in the buffer and the argument
read using the minibuffer.

   To change the definition of an abbrev, just add the new definition.
You will be asked to confirm if the abbrev has a prior definition.  To
remove an abbrev definition, give a negative argument to `C-x a g' or
`C-x a l'.  You must choose the command to specify whether to kill a
global definition or a mode-specific definition for the current mode,
since those two definitions are independent for one abbrev.

   `M-x kill-all-abbrevs' removes all existing abbrev definitions.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Expanding Abbrevs,  Next: Editing Abbrevs,  Prev: Defining Abbrevs,  Up: Abbrevs

Controlling Abbrev Expansion
============================

   An abbrev expands whenever it is in a buffer just before point and
you type a self-inserting punctuation character (<SPC>, comma, etc.).
Most often an abbrev is used by inserting the abbrev followed by
punctuation.

   Abbrev expansion preserves case; thus, `foo' expands into `find
outer otter', `Foo' into `Find outer otter', and `FOO' into `FIND OUTER
OTTER' or `Find Outer Otter' according to the variable
`abbrev-all-caps' (a non-`nil' value chooses the first of the two
expansions).

   Two commands are available to control abbrev expansion:

`M-''
     Separate a prefix from a following abbrev to be expanded
     (`abbrev-prefix-mark').

`C-x a e'
     Expand the abbrev before point (`expand-abbrev').  This is
     effective even when Abbrev mode is not enabled.

`M-x unexpand-abbrev'
     Undo last abbrev expansion.

`M-x expand-region-abbrevs'
     Expand some or all abbrevs found in the region.

   You may wish to expand an abbrev with a prefix attached.  For
example, if `cnst' expands into `construction', you may want to use it
to enter `reconstruction'.  It does not work to type `recnst', because
that is not necessarily a defined abbrev.  Instead, you can use the
command `M-'' (`abbrev-prefix-mark') between the prefix `re' and the
abbrev `cnst'.  First, insert `re'.  Then type `M-''; this inserts a
minus sign in the buffer to indicate that it has done its work.  Then
insert the abbrev `cnst'.  The buffer now contains `re-cnst'.  Now
insert a punctuation character to expand the abbrev `cnst' into
`construction'.  The minus sign is deleted at this point by `M-''.  The
resulting text is the desired `reconstruction'.

   If you actually want the text of the abbrev in the buffer, rather
than its expansion, insert the following punctuation with `C-q'.  Thus,
`foo C-q -' leaves `foo-' in the buffer.

   If you expand an abbrev by mistake, you can undo the expansion
(replace the expansion by the original abbrev text) with `M-x
unexpand-abbrev'.  You can also use `C-_' (`undo') to undo the
expansion; but that will first undo the insertion of the punctuation
character.

   `M-x expand-region-abbrevs' searches through the region for defined
abbrevs, and  offers to replace each one it finds with its expansion.
This command is useful if you have typed text using abbrevs but forgot
to turn on Abbrev mode first.  It may also be useful together with a
special set of abbrev definitions for making several global
replacements at once.  The command is effective even if Abbrev mode is
not enabled.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Editing Abbrevs,  Next: Saving Abbrevs,  Prev: Expanding Abbrevs,  Up: Abbrevs

Examining and Editing Abbrevs
=============================

`M-x list-abbrevs'
     Print a list of all abbrev definitions.

`M-x edit-abbrevs'
     Edit a list of abbrevs; you can add, alter, or remove definitions.

   The output from `M-x list-abbrevs' looks like this:

     (lisp-mode-abbrev-table)
     "dk"           0    "define-key"
     (global-abbrev-table)
     "dfn"          0    "definition"

(Some blank lines of no semantic significance, and some other abbrev
tables, have been omitted.)

   A line containing a name in parentheses is the header for abbrevs in
a particular abbrev table; `global-abbrev-table' contains all the global
abbrevs, and the other abbrev tables that are named after major modes
contain the mode-specific abbrevs.

   Within each abbrev table, each non-blank line defines one abbrev.
The word at the beginning is the abbrev.  The number that appears is
the number of times the abbrev has been expanded.  Emacs keeps track of
this to help you see which abbrevs you actually use, in case you want
to eliminate those that you don't use often.  The string at the end of
the line is the expansion.

   `M-x edit-abbrevs' allows you to add, change or kill abbrev
definitions by editing a list of them in an Emacs buffer.  The list has
the format described above.  The buffer of abbrevs is called
`*Abbrevs*', and is in Edit-Abbrevs mode.  This mode redefines the key
`C-c C-c' to install the abbrev definitions as specified in the buffer.
The  `edit-abbrevs-redefine' command does this.  Any abbrevs not
described in the buffer are eliminated when this is done.

   `edit-abbrevs' is actually the same as `list-abbrevs', except that
it selects the buffer `*Abbrevs*' whereas `list-abbrevs' merely
displays it in another window.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Saving Abbrevs,  Next: Dynamic Abbrevs,  Prev: Editing Abbrevs,  Up: Abbrevs

Saving Abbrevs
==============

   These commands allow you to keep abbrev definitions between editing
sessions.

`M-x write-abbrev-file'
     Write a file describing all defined abbrevs.

`M-x read-abbrev-file'
     Read such an abbrev file and define abbrevs as specified there.

`M-x quietly-read-abbrev-file'
     Similar, but do not display a message about what is going on.

`M-x define-abbrevs'
     Define abbrevs from buffer.

`M-x insert-abbrevs'
     Insert all abbrevs and their expansions into the buffer.

   Use `M-x write-abbrev-file' to save abbrev definitions for use in a
later session.  The command reads a file name using the minibuffer and
writes a description of all current abbrev definitions into the
specified file.  The text stored in the file looks like the output of
`M-x list-abbrevs'.

   `M-x read-abbrev-file' prompts for a file name using the minibuffer
and reads the specified file, defining abbrevs according to its
contents.  `M-x quietly-read-abbrev-file' is the same but does not
display a message in the echo area; it is actually useful primarily in
the init file.  *Note Init File::. If you give an empty argument to
either of these functions, the file name Emacs uses is the value of the
variable `abbrev-file-name', which is by default `"~/.abbrev_defs"'.

   Emacs offers to save abbrevs automatically if you have changed any of
them, whenever it offers to save all files (for `C-x s' or `C-x C-c').
Set the variable `save-abbrevs' to `nil' to inhibit this feature.

   The commands `M-x insert-abbrevs' and `M-x define-abbrevs' are
similar to the previous commands but work on text in an Emacs buffer.
`M-x insert-abbrevs' inserts text into the current buffer before point,
describing all current abbrev definitions; `M-x define-abbrevs' parses
the entire current buffer and defines abbrevs accordingly.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Dynamic Abbrevs,  Prev: Saving Abbrevs,  Up: Abbrevs

Dynamic Abbrev Expansion
========================

   The abbrev facility described above operates automatically as you
insert text, but all abbrevs must be defined explicitly.  By contrast,
"dynamic abbrevs" allow the meanings of abbrevs to be determined
automatically from the contents of the buffer, but dynamic abbrev
expansion happens only when you request it explicitly.

`M-/'
     Expand the word in the buffer before point as a "dynamic abbrev",
     by searching in the buffer for words starting with that
     abbreviation (`dabbrev-expand').

   For example, if the buffer contains `does this follow ' and you type
`f o M-/', the effect is to insert `follow' because that is the last
word in the buffer that starts with `fo'.  A numeric argument to `M-/'
says to take the second, third, etc. distinct expansion found looking
backward from point.  Repeating `M-/' searches for an alternative
expansion by looking farther back.  After the entire buffer before
point has been considered, the buffer after point is searched.

   Dynamic abbrev expansion is completely independent of Abbrev mode;
the expansion of a word with `M-/' is completely independent of whether
it has a definition as an ordinary abbrev.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Picture,  Next: Sending Mail,  Prev: Abbrevs,  Up: Top

Editing Pictures
****************

   If you want to create a picture made out of text characters (for
example, a picture of the division of a register into fields, as a
comment in a program), use the command `edit-picture' to enter Picture
mode.

   In Picture mode, editing is based on the "quarter-plane" model of
text.  In this model, the text characters lie studded on an area that
stretches infinitely far to the right and downward.  The concept of the
end of a line does not exist in this model; the most you can say is
where the last non-blank character on the line is found.

   Of course, Emacs really always considers text as a sequence of
characters, and lines really do have ends.  But in Picture mode most
frequently-used keys are rebound to commands that simulate the
quarter-plane model of text.  They do this by inserting spaces or by
converting tabs to spaces.

   Most of the basic editing commands of Emacs are redefined by Picture
mode to do essentially the same thing but in a quarter-plane way.  In
addition, Picture mode defines various keys starting with the `C-c'
prefix to run special picture editing commands.

   One of these keys, `C-c C-c', is pretty important.  Often a picture
is part of a larger file that is usually edited in some other major
mode.  `M-x edit-picture' records the name of the previous major mode.
You can then use the `C-c C-c' command (`picture-mode-exit') to restore
that mode.  `C-c C-c' also deletes spaces from the ends of lines,
unless you give it a numeric argument.

   The commands used in Picture mode all work in other modes (provided
the `picture' library is loaded), but are only  bound to keys in
Picture mode.  Note that the descriptions below talk of moving "one
column" and so on, but all the picture mode commands handle numeric
arguments as their normal equivalents do.

   Turning on Picture mode calls the value of the variable
`picture-mode-hook' as a function, with no arguments, if that value
exists and is non-`nil'.

* Menu:

* Basic Picture::         Basic concepts and simple commands of Picture Mode.
* Insert in Picture::     Controlling direction of cursor motion
                           after "self-inserting" characters.
* Tabs in Picture::       Various features for tab stops and indentation.
* Rectangles in Picture:: Clearing and superimposing rectangles.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Basic Picture,  Next: Insert in Picture,  Prev: Picture,  Up: Picture

Basic Editing in Picture Mode
=============================

   Most keys do the same thing in Picture mode that they usually do,
but do it in a quarter-plane style.  For example, `C-f' is rebound to
run `picture-forward-column', which moves point one column to the
right, by inserting a space if necessary, so that the actual end of the
line makes no difference.  `C-b' is rebound to run
`picture-backward-column', which always moves point left one column,
converting a tab to multiple spaces if necessary.  `C-n' and `C-p' are
rebound to run `picture-move-down' and `picture-move-up', which can
either insert spaces or convert tabs as necessary to make sure that
point stays in exactly the same column.  `C-e' runs
`picture-end-of-line', which moves to after the last non-blank
character on the line.  There was no need to change `C-a', as the choice
of screen model does not affect beginnings of lines.

   Insertion of text is adapted to the quarter-plane screen model
through the use of Overwrite mode (*note Minor Modes::).
Self-inserting characters replace existing text, column by column,
rather than pushing existing text to the right.  <RET> runs
`picture-newline', which just moves to the beginning of the following
line so that new text will replace that line.

   Text is erased instead of deleted and killed.  <DEL>
(`picture-backward-clear-column') replaces the preceding character with
a space rather than removing it.  `C-d' (`picture-clear-column') does
the same in a forward direction.  `C-k' (`picture-clear-line') really
kills the contents of lines, but never removes the newlines from a
buffer.

   To do actual insertion, you must use special commands.  `C-o'
(`picture-open-line') creates a blank line, but does so after the
current line; it never splits a line.  `C-M-o', `split-line', makes
sense in Picture mode, so it remains unchanged.  <LFD>
(`picture-duplicate-line') inserts another line with the same contents
below the current line.

   To actually delete parts of the picture, use `C-w', or with `C-c
C-d' (which is defined as `delete-char', as `C-d' is in other modes),
or with one of the picture rectangle commands (*note Rectangles in
Picture::).


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Insert in Picture,  Next: Tabs in Picture,  Prev: Basic Picture,  Up: Picture

Controlling Motion After Insert
===============================

   Since "self-inserting" characters just overwrite and move point in
Picture mode, there is no essential restriction on how point should be
moved.  Normally point moves right, but you can specify any of the eight
orthogonal or diagonal directions for motion after a "self-inserting"
character.  This is useful for drawing lines in the buffer.

`C-c <'
     Move left after insertion (`picture-movement-left').

`C-c >'
     Move right after insertion (`picture-movement-right').

`C-c ^'
     Move up after insertion (`picture-movement-up').

`C-c .'
     Move down after insertion (`picture-movement-down').

`C-c `'
     Move up and left ("northwest") after insertion
     (`picture-movement-nw').

`C-c ''
     Move up and right ("northeast") after insertion
     (`picture-movement-ne').

`C-c /'
     Move down and left ("southwest") after insertion
     (`picture-movement-sw').

`C-c \'
     Move down and right ("southeast") after insertion
     (`picture-movement-se').

   Two motion commands move based on the current Picture insertion
direction.  The command `C-c C-f' (`picture-motion') moves in the same
direction as motion after "insertion" currently does, while `C-c C-b'
(`picture-motion-reverse') moves in the opposite direction.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Tabs in Picture,  Next: Rectangles in Picture,  Prev: Insert in Picture,  Up: Picture

Picture Mode Tabs
=================

   Two kinds of tab-like action are provided in Picture mode.
Context-based tabbing is done with `M-<TAB>' (`picture-tab-search').
With no argument, it moves to a point underneath the next "interesting"
character that follows whitespace in the previous non-blank line.
"Next" here means "appearing at a horizontal position greater than the
one point starts out at".  With an argument, as in `C-u M-<TAB>', the
command moves to the next such interesting character in the current
line.  `M-<TAB>' does not change the text; it only moves point.
"Interesting" characters are defined by the variable
`picture-tab-chars', which contains a string of characters considered
interesting.  Its default value is `"!-~"'.

   <TAB> itself runs `picture-tab', which operates based on the current
tab stop settings; it is the Picture mode equivalent of
`tab-to-tab-stop'.  Without arguments it just moves point, but with a
numeric argument it clears the text that it moves over.

   The context-based and tab-stop-based forms of tabbing are brought
together by the command `C-c <TAB>' (`picture-set-tab-stops'.)  This
command sets the tab stops to the positions which `M-<TAB>' would
consider significant in the current line.  If you use this command with
<TAB>, you can get the effect of context-based tabbing.  But `M-<TAB>'
is more convenient in the cases where it is sufficient.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Rectangles in Picture,  Prev: Tabs in Picture,  Up: Picture

Picture Mode Rectangle Commands
===============================

   Picture mode defines commands for working on rectangular pieces of
the text in ways that fit with the quarter-plane model.  The standard
rectangle commands may also be useful (*note Rectangles::).

`C-c C-k'
     Clear out the region-rectangle (`picture-clear-rectangle').  With
     argument, kill it.

`C-c C-w R'
     Similar but save rectangle contents in register R first
     (`picture-clear-rectangle-to-register').

`C-c C-y'
     Copy last killed rectangle into the buffer by overwriting, with
     upper left corner at point (`picture-yank-rectangle').  With
     argument, insert instead.

`C-c C-x R'
     Similar, but use the rectangle in register R
     (`picture-yank-rectangle-from-register').

   The picture rectangle commands `C-c C-k' (`picture-clear-rectangle')
and `C-c C-w' (`picture-clear-rectangle-to-register') differ from the
standard rectangle commands in that they normally clear the rectangle
instead of deleting it; this is analogous with the way `C-d' is changed
in Picture mode.

   However, deletion of rectangles can be useful in Picture mode, so
these commands delete the rectangle if given a numeric argument.

   The Picture mode commands for yanking rectangles differ from the
standard ones in overwriting instead of inserting.  This is the same
way that Picture mode insertion of other text is different from other
modes.  `C-c C-y' (`picture-yank-rectangle') inserts (by overwriting)
the rectangle that was most recently killed, while `C-c C-x'
(`picture-yank-rectangle-from-register') does for the rectangle found
in a specified register.

   Since most region commands in Picture mode operate on rectangles,
when you select a region of text with the mouse in Picture mode, it is
highlighted as a rectangle.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Sending Mail,  Next: Reading Mail,  Prev: Picture,  Up: Top

Sending Mail
************

   To send a message in Emacs, start by typing the command (`C-x m') to
select and initialize the `*mail*' buffer.  You can then edit the text
and headers of the message in the mail buffer, and type the command
(`C-c C-c') to send the message.

`C-x m'
     Begin composing a message to send (`mail').

`C-x 4 m'
     Likewise, but display the message in another window
     (`mail-other-window').

`C-c C-c'
     In Mail mode, send the message and switch to another buffer
     (`mail-send-and-exit').

   The command `C-x m' (`mail') selects a buffer named `*mail*' and
initializes it with the skeleton of an outgoing message.  `C-x 4 m'
(`mail-other-window') selects the `*mail*' buffer in a different
window, leaving the previous current buffer visible.

   Because the buffer for mail composition is an ordinary Emacs buffer,
you can switch to other buffers while in the middle of composing mail,
and switch back later (or never).  If you use the `C-x m' command again
when you have been composing another message but have not sent it, a
new mail buffer will be created; in this way, you can compose multiple
messages at once.  You can switch back to and complete an unsent
message by using the normal buffer selection mechanisms.

   `C-u C-x m' is another way to switch back to a message in progress:
it will search for an existing, unsent mail message buffer and select
it.

* Menu:

* Format: Mail Format.    Format of the mail being composed.
* Headers: Mail Headers.  Details of allowed mail header fields.
* Mode: Mail Mode.        Special commands for editing mail being composed.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Mail Format,  Next: Mail Headers,  Prev: Sending Mail,  Up: Sending Mail

The Format of the Mail Buffer
=============================

   In addition to the "text" or contents, a message has "header
fields", which say who sent it, when, to whom, why, and so on.  Some
header fields, such as the date and sender, are created automatically
after the message is sent.  Others, such as the recipient names, must
be specified by you in order to send the message properly.

   Mail mode provides a few commands to help you edit some header
fields, and some are preinitialized in the buffer automatically at
times.  You can insert or edit any header fields using ordinary editing
commands.

   The line in the buffer that says:

     --text follows this line--

is a special delimiter that separates the headers you have specified
from the text.  Whatever follows this line is the text of the message;
the headers precede it.  The delimiter line itself does not appear in
the message actually sent.  The text used for the delimiter line is
controlled by the variable `mail-header-separator'.

   Here is an example of what the headers and text in the `*mail*'
buffer might look like.

     To: rms@mc
     CC: mly@mc, rg@oz
     Subject: The XEmacs User's Manual
     --Text follows this line--
     Please ignore this message.


File: xemacs.info,  Node: Mail Headers,  Next: Mail Mode,  Prev: Mail Format,  Up: Sending Mail

Mail Header Fields
==================

   There are several header fields you can use in the `*mail*' buffer.
Each header field starts with a field name at the beginning of a line,
terminated by a colon.  It does not matter whether you use upper or
lower case in the field name.  After the colon and optional whitespace
comes the contents of the field.

`To'
     This field contains the mailing addresses of the message.

`Subject'
     The contents of the `Subject' field should be a piece of text that
     says what the message is about.  Subject fields are useful because
     most mail-reading programs can provide a summary of messages,
     listing the subject of each message but not its text.

`CC'
     This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the
     message to, but whose readers should not regard the message as
     addressed to them.

`BCC'
     This field contains additional mailing addresses to send the
     message to, but which should not appear in the header of the
     message actually sent.

`FCC'
     This field contains the name of one file (in Unix mail file
     format) to which a copy of the message should be appended when the
     message is sent.

`From'
     Use the `From' field to say who you are, when the account you are
     using to send the mail is not your own.  The contents of the
     `From' field should be a valid mailing address, since replies will
     normally go there.

`Reply-To'
     Use the `Reply-To' field to direct replies to a different address,
     not your own. `From' and `Reply-To' have the same effect on where
     replies go, but they convey a different meaning to the person who
     reads the message.

`In-Reply-To'
     This field contains a piece of text describing a message you are
     replying to.  Some mail systems can use the information to
     correlate related pieces of mail.  This field is normally filled
     in by your mail handling package when you are replying to a
     message and you never need to think about it.

The `To', `CC', `BCC' and `FCC' fields can appear any number of times,
to specify many places to send the message.

The `To', `CC', and `BCC', fields can have continuation lines.  All the
lines starting with whitespace, following the line on which the field
starts, are considered part of the field.  For example,

     To: foo@here, this@there,
       me@gnu.cambridge.mass.usa.earth.spiral3281

If you have a `~/.mailrc' file, Emacs scans it for mail aliases the
first time you try to send mail in an Emacs session.  Emacs expands
aliases found in the `To', `CC', and `BCC' fields where appropriate.
You can set the variable `mail-abbrev-mailrc-file' to the name of the
file with mail aliases.  If `nil', `~/.mailrc' is used.

   Your `.mailrc' file ensures that word-abbrevs are defined for each
of your mail aliases when point is in a `To', `CC', `BCC', or `From'
field.  The aliases are defined in your `.mailrc' file or in a file
specified by the MAILRC environment variable if it exists.  Your mail
aliases expand any time you type a word-delimiter at the end of an
abbreviation.

   In this version of Emacs, what you see is what you get: in contrast
to some other versions, no abbreviations are expanded after you have
sent the mail.  This means you don't suffer the annoyance of having the
system do things behind your back--if the system rewrites an address
you typed, you know it immediately, instead of after the mail has been
sent and it's too late to do anything about it.  For example, you will
never again be in trouble because you forgot to delete an old alias
from your `.mailrc' and a new local user is given a userid which
conflicts with one of your aliases.

   Your mail alias abbrevs are in effect only when point is in an
appropriate header field. The mail aliases will not expand in the body
of the message, or in other header fields.  The default mode-specific
abbrev table `mail-mode-abbrev-table' is used instead if defined.  That
means if you have been using mail-mode specific abbrevs, this code will
not adversely affect you.  You can control which header fields the
abbrevs are used in by changing the variable `mail-abbrev-mode-regexp'.

   If auto-fill mode is on, abbrevs wrap at commas instead of at word
boundaries, and header continuation lines will be properly indented.

   You can also insert a mail alias with
`mail-interactive-insert-alias'.  This function, which is bound to `C-c
C-a', prompts you for an alias (with completion) and inserts its
expansion at point.

   In this version of Emacs, it is possible to have lines like the
following in your `.mailrc' file:

          alias someone "John Doe <doe@quux.com>"

   That is, if you want an address to have embedded spaces, simply
surround it with double-quotes.  The quotes are necessary because the
format of the `.mailrc' file uses spaces as address delimiters.

   Aliases in the `.mailrc' file may be nested. For example, assume you
define aliases like:
          alias group1 fred ethel
          alias group2 larry curly moe
          alias everybody group1 group2

   When you now type `everybody' on the `To' line, it will expand to:
          fred, ethyl, larry, curly, moe

   Aliases may contain forward references; the alias of `everybody' in
the example above can precede the aliases of `group1' and `group2'.

   In this version of Emacs, you can use the `source' `.mailrc' command
for reading aliases from some other file as well.

   Aliases may contain hyphens, as in `"alias foo-bar foo@bar"', even
though word-abbrevs normally cannot contain hyphens.

   To read in the contents of another `.mailrc'-type file from Emacs,
use the command `M-x merge-mail-aliases'.  The `rebuild-mail-aliases'
command is similar, but deletes existing aliases first.

   If you want multiple addresses separated by a string other than `,'
(a comma), then set the variable `mail-alias-separator-string' to it.
This has to be a comma bracketed by whitespace if you want any kind  of
reasonable behavior.

   If the variable `mail-archive-file-name' is non-`nil', it should be
a string naming a file.  Each time you start to edit a message to send,
an `FCC' field is entered for that file.  Unless you remove the `FCC'
field, every message is written into that file when it is sent.