+File: xemacs.info, Node: Minibuffer File, Next: Minibuffer Edit, Prev: Minibuffer, Up: Minibuffer
+
+Minibuffers for File Names
+==========================
+
+ Sometimes the minibuffer starts out with text in it. For example,
+when you are supposed to give a file name, the minibuffer starts out
+containing the "default directory", which ends with a slash. This is
+to inform you which directory the file will be found in if you do not
+specify a directory.
+
+ For example, the minibuffer might start out with these contents:
+
+ Find File: /u2/emacs/src/
+
+where `Find File: ' is the prompt. Typing `buffer.c' specifies the
+file `/u2/emacs/src/buffer.c'. To find files in nearby directories,
+use `..'; thus, if you type `../lisp/simple.el', you will get the file
+named `/u2/emacs/lisp/simple.el'. Alternatively, you can kill with
+`M-<DEL>' the directory names you don't want (*note Words::).
+
+ If you don't want any of the default, you can kill it with `C-a
+C-k'. But you don't need to kill the default; you can simply ignore it.
+Insert an absolute file name, one starting with a slash or a tilde,
+after the default directory. For example, to specify the file
+`/etc/termcap', just insert that name, giving these minibuffer contents:
+
+ Find File: /u2/emacs/src//etc/termcap
+
+XEmacs gives a special meaning to a double slash (which is not normally
+a useful thing to write): it means, "ignore everything before the
+second slash in the pair." Thus, `/u2/emacs/src/' is ignored in the
+example above, and you get the file `/etc/termcap'.
+
+ If you set `insert-default-directory' to `nil', the default
+directory is not inserted in the minibuffer. This way, the minibuffer
+starts out empty. But the name you type, if relative, is still
+interpreted with respect to the same default directory.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Minibuffer Edit, Next: Completion, Prev: Minibuffer File, Up: Minibuffer
+
+Editing in the Minibuffer
+=========================
+
+ The minibuffer is an XEmacs buffer (albeit a peculiar one), and the
+usual XEmacs commands are available for editing the text of an argument
+you are entering.
+
+ Since <RET> in the minibuffer is defined to exit the minibuffer, you
+can't use it to insert a newline in the minibuffer. To do that, type
+`C-o' or `C-q C-j'. (Recall that a newline is really the character
+control-J.)
+
+ The minibuffer has its own window which always has space on the
+screen but acts as if it were not there when the minibuffer is not in
+use. When the minibuffer is in use, its window is just like the
+others; you can switch to another window with `C-x o', edit text in
+other windows and perhaps even visit more files, before returning to the
+minibuffer to submit the argument. You can kill text in another window,
+return to the minibuffer window, and then yank the text to use it in the
+argument. *Note Windows::.
+
+ There are some restrictions on the use of the minibuffer window,
+however. You cannot switch buffers in it--the minibuffer and its
+window are permanently attached. Also, you cannot split or kill the
+minibuffer window. But you can make it taller in the normal fashion with
+`C-x ^'. If you enable Resize-Minibuffer mode, then the minibuffer
+window expands vertically as necessary to hold the text that you put in
+the minibuffer. Use `M-x resize-minibuffer-mode' to enable or disable
+this minor mode (*note Minor Modes::).
+
+ If while in the minibuffer you issue a command that displays help
+text of any sort in another window, you can use the `C-M-v' command
+while in the minibuffer to scroll the help text. This lasts until you
+exit the minibuffer. This feature is especially useful if a completing
+minibuffer gives you a list of possible completions. *Note Other
+Window::.
+
+ If the variable `minibuffer-confirm-incomplete' is `t', you are
+asked for confirmation if there is no known completion for the text you
+typed. For example, if you attempted to visit a non-existent file, the
+minibuffer might read:
+ Find File: chocolate_bar.c [no completions, confirm]
+ If you press `Return' again, that confirms the filename. Otherwise,
+you can continue editing it.
+
+ XEmacs supports recursive use of the minibuffer. However, it is easy
+to do this by accident (because of autorepeating keyboards, for example)
+and get confused. Therefore, most XEmacs commands that use the
+minibuffer refuse to operate if the minibuffer window is selected. If
+the minibuffer is active but you have switched to a different window,
+recursive use of the minibuffer is allowed--if you know enough to try
+to do this, you probably will not get confused.
+
+ If you set the variable `enable-recursive-minibuffers' to a
+non-`nil', recursive use of the minibuffer is always allowed.
+
+\1f
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