-This is ../info/xemacs.info, produced by makeinfo version 3.12s from
+This is ../info/xemacs.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.0 from
xemacs/xemacs.texi.
INFO-DIR-SECTION XEmacs Editor
translation approved by the author instead of in the original English.
\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Minor Modes, Next: Variables, Up: Customization
+
+Minor Modes
+===========
+
+ Minor modes are options which you can use or not. For example, Auto
+Fill mode is a minor mode in which <SPC> breaks lines between words as
+you type. All the minor modes are independent of each other and of the
+selected major mode. Most minor modes inform you in the mode line when
+they are on; for example, `Fill' in the mode line means that Auto Fill
+mode is on.
+
+ Append `-mode' to the name of a minor mode to get the name of a
+command function that turns the mode on or off. Thus, the command to
+enable or disable Auto Fill mode is called `M-x auto-fill-mode'. These
+commands are usually invoked with `M-x', but you can bind keys to them
+if you wish. With no argument, the function turns the mode on if it was
+off and off if it was on. This is known as "toggling". A positive
+argument always turns the mode on, and an explicit zero argument or a
+negative argument always turns it off.
+
+ Auto Fill mode allows you to enter filled text without breaking lines
+explicitly. Emacs inserts newlines as necessary to prevent lines from
+becoming too long. *Note Filling::.
+
+ Overwrite mode causes ordinary printing characters to replace
+existing text instead of moving it to the right. For example, if point
+is in front of the `B' in `FOOBAR', and you type a `G' in Overwrite
+mode, it changes to `FOOGAR', instead of `FOOGBAR'.
+
+ Abbrev mode allows you to define abbreviations that automatically
+expand as you type them. For example, `amd' might expand to `abbrev
+mode'. *Note Abbrevs::, for full information.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Variables, Next: Keyboard Macros, Prev: Minor Modes, Up: Customization
+
+Variables
+=========
+
+ A "variable" is a Lisp symbol which has a value. Variable names can
+contain any characters, but by convention they are words separated by
+hyphens. A variable can also have a documentation string, which
+describes what kind of value it should have and how the value will be
+used.
+
+ Lisp allows any variable to have any kind of value, but most
+variables that Emacs uses require a value of a certain type. Often the
+value has to be a string or a number. Sometimes we say that a certain
+feature is turned on if a variable is "non-`nil'," meaning that if the
+variable's value is `nil', the feature is off, but the feature is on
+for any other value. The conventional value to turn on the
+feature--since you have to pick one particular value when you set the
+variable--is `t'.
+
+ Emacs uses many Lisp variables for internal recordkeeping, as any
+Lisp program must, but the most interesting variables for you are the
+ones that exist for the sake of customization. Emacs does not
+(usually) change the values of these variables; instead, you set the
+values, and thereby alter and control the behavior of certain Emacs
+commands. These variables are called "options". Most options are
+documented in this manual and appear in the Variable Index (*note
+Variable Index::).
+
+ One example of a variable which is an option is `fill-column', which
+specifies the position of the right margin (as a number of characters
+from the left margin) to be used by the fill commands (*note Filling::).
+
+* Menu:
+
+* Examining:: Examining or setting one variable's value.
+* Easy Customization:: Convenient and easy customization of variables.
+* Edit Options:: Examining or editing list of all variables' values.
+* Locals:: Per-buffer values of variables.
+* File Variables:: How files can specify variable values.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Examining, Next: Easy Customization, Up: Variables
+
+Examining and Setting Variables
+-------------------------------
+
+`C-h v'
+`M-x describe-variable'
+ Print the value and documentation of a variable.
+
+`M-x set-variable'
+ Change the value of a variable.
+
+ To examine the value of a single variable, use `C-h v'
+(`describe-variable'), which reads a variable name using the
+minibuffer, with completion. It prints both the value and the
+documentation of the variable.
+
+ C-h v fill-column <RET>
+
+prints something like:
+
+ fill-column's value is 75
+
+ Documentation:
+ *Column beyond which automatic line-wrapping should happen.
+ Automatically becomes local when set in any fashion.
+
+The star at the beginning of the documentation indicates that this
+variable is an option. `C-h v' is not restricted to options; it allows
+any variable name.
+
+ If you know which option you want to set, you can use `M-x
+set-variable' to set it. This prompts for the variable name in the
+minibuffer (with completion), and then prompts for a Lisp expression
+for the new value using the minibuffer a second time. For example,
+
+ M-x set-variable <RET> fill-column <RET> 75 <RET>
+
+sets `fill-column' to 75, as if you had executed the Lisp expression
+`(setq fill-column 75)'.
+
+ Setting variables in this way, like all means of customizing Emacs
+except where explicitly stated, affects only the current Emacs session.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Easy Customization, Next: Edit Options, Prev: Examining, Up: Variables
+
+Easy Customization Interface
+----------------------------
+
+ A convenient way to find the user option variables that you want to
+change, and then change them, is with `M-x customize'. This command
+creates a "customization buffer" with which you can browse through the
+Emacs user options in a logically organized structure, then edit and
+set their values. You can also use the customization buffer to save
+settings permanently. (Not all Emacs user options are included in this
+structure as of yet, but we are adding the rest.)
+
+* Menu:
+
+* Groups: Customization Groups.
+ How options are classified in a structure.
+* Changing an Option:: How to edit a value and set an option.
+* Face Customization:: How to edit the attributes of a face.
+* Specific Customization:: Making a customization buffer for specific
+ options, faces, or groups.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Customization Groups, Next: Changing an Option, Up: Easy Customization
+
+Customization Groups
+....................
+
+ For customization purposes, user options are organized into "groups"
+to help you find them. Groups are collected into bigger groups, all
+the way up to a master group called `Emacs'.
+
+ `M-x customize' creates a customization buffer that shows the
+top-level `Emacs' group and the second-level groups immediately under
+it. It looks like this, in part:
+
+ /- Emacs group: ---------------------------------------------------\
+ [State]: visible group members are all at standard settings.
+ Customization of the One True Editor.
+ See also [Manual].
+
+ [Open] Editing group
+ Basic text editing facilities.
+
+ [Open] External group
+ Interfacing to external utilities.
+
+ MORE SECOND-LEVEL GROUPS
+
+ \- Emacs group end ------------------------------------------------/
+
+This says that the buffer displays the contents of the `Emacs' group.
+The other groups are listed because they are its contents. But they
+are listed differently, without indentation and dashes, because _their_
+contents are not included. Each group has a single-line documentation
+string; the `Emacs' group also has a `[State]' line.
+
+ Most of the text in the customization buffer is read-only, but it
+typically includes some "editable fields" that you can edit. There are
+also "active fields"; this means a field that does something when you
+"invoke" it. To invoke an active field, either click on it with
+`Mouse-1', or move point to it and type <RET>.
+
+ For example, the phrase `[Open]' that appears in a second-level
+group is an active field. Invoking the `[Open]' field for a group
+opens up a new customization buffer, which shows that group and its
+contents. This field is a kind of hypertext link to another group.
+
+ The `Emacs' group does not include any user options itself, but
+other groups do. By examining various groups, you will eventually find
+the options and faces that belong to the feature you are interested in
+customizing. Then you can use the customization buffer to set them.
+
+ You can view the structure of customization groups on a larger scale
+with `M-x customize-browse'. This command creates a special kind of
+customization buffer which shows only the names of the groups (and
+options and faces), and their structure.
+
+ In this buffer, you can show the contents of a group by invoking
+`[+]'. When the group contents are visible, this button changes to
+`[-]'; invoking that hides the group contents.
+
+ Each group, option or face name in this buffer has an active field
+which says `[Group]', `[Option]' or `[Face]'. Invoking that active
+field creates an ordinary customization buffer showing just that group
+and its contents, just that option, or just that face. This is the way
+to set values in it.
+
+\1f
File: xemacs.info, Node: Changing an Option, Next: Face Customization, Prev: Customization Groups, Up: Easy Customization
Changing an Option
* Menu:
-* Interactive Rebinding:: Changing Key Bindings Interactively
-* Programmatic Rebinding:: Changing Key Bindings Programmatically
-* Key Bindings Using Strings::Using Strings for Changing Key Bindings
+* Interactive Rebinding:: Changing Key Bindings Interactively
+* Programmatic Rebinding:: Changing Key Bindings Programmatically
+* Key Bindings Using Strings:: Using Strings for Changing Key Bindings
\1f
File: xemacs.info, Node: Interactive Rebinding, Next: Programmatic Rebinding, Up: Rebinding
control [ escape
control @ control space
-\1f
-File: xemacs.info, Node: Disabling, Prev: Rebinding, Up: Key Bindings
-
-Disabling Commands
-------------------
-
- Disabling a command marks it as requiring confirmation before it can
-be executed. The purpose of disabling a command is to prevent
-beginning users from executing it by accident and being confused.
-
- The direct mechanism for disabling a command is to have a non-`nil'
-`disabled' property on the Lisp symbol for the command. These
-properties are normally set by the user's `.emacs' file with Lisp
-expressions such as:
-
- (put 'delete-region 'disabled t)
-
- If the value of the `disabled' property is a string, that string is
-included in the message printed when the command is used:
-
- (put 'delete-region 'disabled
- "Text deleted this way cannot be yanked back!\n")
-
- You can disable a command either by editing the `.emacs' file
-directly or with the command `M-x disable-command', which edits the
-`.emacs' file for you. *Note Init File::.
-
- When you attempt to invoke a disabled command interactively in Emacs,
-a window is displayed containing the command's name, its documentation,
-and some instructions on what to do next; then Emacs asks for input
-saying whether to execute the command as requested, enable it and
-execute, or cancel it. If you decide to enable the command, you are
-asked whether to do this permanently or just for the current session.
-Enabling permanently works by automatically editing your `.emacs' file.
-You can use `M-x enable-command' at any time to enable any command
-permanently.
-
- Whether a command is disabled is independent of what key is used to
-invoke it; it also applies if the command is invoked using `M-x'.
-Disabling a command has no effect on calling it as a function from Lisp
-programs.
-
-\1f
-File: xemacs.info, Node: Syntax, Next: Init File, Prev: Key Bindings, Up: Customization
-
-The Syntax Table
-================
-
- All the Emacs commands which parse words or balance parentheses are
-controlled by the "syntax table". The syntax table specifies which
-characters are opening delimiters, which are parts of words, which are
-string quotes, and so on. Actually, each major mode has its own syntax
-table (though sometimes related major modes use the same one) which it
-installs in each buffer that uses that major mode. The syntax table
-installed in the current buffer is the one that all commands use, so we
-call it "the" syntax table. A syntax table is a Lisp object, a vector
-of length 256 whose elements are numbers.
-
-* Menu:
-
-* Entry: Syntax Entry. What the syntax table records for each character.
-* Change: Syntax Change. How to change the information.
-
-\1f
-File: xemacs.info, Node: Syntax Entry, Next: Syntax Change, Up: Syntax
-
-Information About Each Character
---------------------------------
-
- The syntax table entry for a character is a number that encodes six
-pieces of information:
-
- * The syntactic class of the character, represented as a small
- integer
-
- * The matching delimiter, for delimiter characters only (the
- matching delimiter of `(' is `)', and vice versa)
-
- * A flag saying whether the character is the first character of a
- two-character comment starting sequence
-
- * A flag saying whether the character is the second character of a
- two-character comment starting sequence
-
- * A flag saying whether the character is the first character of a
- two-character comment ending sequence
-
- * A flag saying whether the character is the second character of a
- two-character comment ending sequence
-
- The syntactic classes are stored internally as small integers, but
-are usually described to or by the user with characters. For example,
-`(' is used to specify the syntactic class of opening delimiters. Here
-is a table of syntactic classes, with the characters that specify them.
-
-` '
- The class of whitespace characters.
-
-`w'
- The class of word-constituent characters.
-
-`_'
- The class of characters that are part of symbol names but not
- words. This class is represented by `_' because the character `_'
- has this class in both C and Lisp.
-
-`.'
- The class of punctuation characters that do not fit into any other
- special class.
-
-`('
- The class of opening delimiters.
-
-`)'
- The class of closing delimiters.
-
-`''
- The class of expression-adhering characters. These characters are
- part of a symbol if found within or adjacent to one, and are part
- of a following expression if immediately preceding one, but are
- like whitespace if surrounded by whitespace.
-
-`"'
- The class of string-quote characters. They match each other in
- pairs, and the characters within the pair all lose their syntactic
- significance except for the `\' and `/' classes of escape
- characters, which can be used to include a string-quote inside the
- string.
-
-`$'
- The class of self-matching delimiters. This is intended for TeX's
- `$', which is used both to enter and leave math mode. Thus, a
- pair of matching `$' characters surround each piece of math mode
- TeX input. A pair of adjacent `$' characters act like a single
- one for purposes of matching.
-
-`/'
- The class of escape characters that always just deny the following
- character its special syntactic significance. The character after
- one of these escapes is always treated as alphabetic.
-
-`\'
- The class of C-style escape characters. In practice, these are
- treated just like `/'-class characters, because the extra
- possibilities for C escapes (such as being followed by digits)
- have no effect on where the containing expression ends.
-
-`<'
- The class of comment-starting characters. Only single-character
- comment starters (such as `;' in Lisp mode) are represented this
- way.
-
-`>'
- The class of comment-ending characters. Newline has this syntax in
- Lisp mode.
-
- The characters flagged as part of two-character comment delimiters
-can have other syntactic functions most of the time. For example, `/'
-and `*' in C code, when found separately, have nothing to do with
-comments. The comment-delimiter significance overrides when the pair of
-characters occur together in the proper order. Only the list and sexp
-commands use the syntax table to find comments; the commands
-specifically for comments have other variables that tell them where to
-find comments. Moreover, the list and sexp commands notice comments
-only if `parse-sexp-ignore-comments' is non-`nil'. This variable is set
-to `nil' in modes where comment-terminator sequences are liable to
-appear where there is no comment, for example, in Lisp mode where the
-comment terminator is a newline but not every newline ends a comment.
-
-\1f
-File: xemacs.info, Node: Syntax Change, Prev: Syntax Entry, Up: Syntax
-
-Altering Syntax Information
----------------------------
-
- It is possible to alter a character's syntax table entry by storing
-a new number in the appropriate element of the syntax table, but it
-would be hard to determine what number to use. Emacs therefore
-provides a command that allows you to specify the syntactic properties
-of a character in a convenient way.
-
- `M-x modify-syntax-entry' is the command to change a character's
-syntax. It can be used interactively and is also used by major modes
-to initialize their own syntax tables. Its first argument is the
-character to change. The second argument is a string that specifies the
-new syntax. When called from Lisp code, there is a third, optional
-argument, which specifies the syntax table in which to make the change.
-If not supplied, or if this command is called interactively, the third
-argument defaults to the current buffer's syntax table.
-
- 1. The first character in the string specifies the syntactic class.
- It is one of the characters in the previous table (*note Syntax
- Entry::).
-
- 2. The second character is the matching delimiter. For a character
- that is not an opening or closing delimiter, this should be a
- space, and may be omitted if no following characters are needed.
-
- 3. The remaining characters are flags. The flag characters allowed
- are:
-
- `1'
- Flag this character as the first of a two-character comment
- starting sequence.
-
- `2'
- Flag this character as the second of a two-character comment
- starting sequence.
-
- `3'
- Flag this character as the first of a two-character comment
- ending sequence.
-
- `4'
- Flag this character as the second of a two-character comment
- ending sequence.
-
- Use `C-h s' (`describe-syntax') to display a description of the
-contents of the current syntax table. The description of each
-character includes both the string you have to pass to
-`modify-syntax-entry' to set up that character's current syntax, and
-some English to explain that string if necessary.
-