1 This is ../info/xemacs-faq.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.0 from
4 INFO-DIR-SECTION XEmacs Editor
6 * FAQ: (xemacs-faq). XEmacs FAQ.
10 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Top, Next: Introduction, Prev: (dir), Up: (dir)
18 This is the guide to the XEmacs Frequently Asked Questions list--a
19 compendium of questions and answers pertaining to one of the finest
20 programs ever written. It is much more than just a Text Editor.
22 This FAQ is freely redistributable. I take no liability for the
23 correctness and safety of any procedures or advice given here. This
24 FAQ is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
25 WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
26 FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
28 If you have a Web browser, the official hypertext version is at
29 `http://www.xemacs.org/faq/xemacs-faq.html'.
31 This version is somewhat nicer than the unofficial hypertext versions
32 that are archived at Utrecht, Oxford, Smart Pages, and other FAQ
37 * Introduction:: Introduction, Policy, Credits.
38 * Installation:: Installation and Trouble Shooting.
39 * Customization:: Customization and Options.
40 * Subsystems:: Major Subsystems.
41 * Miscellaneous:: The Miscellaneous Stuff.
42 * Current Events:: What the Future Holds.
45 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
47 Introduction, Policy, Credits
49 * Q1.0.1:: What is XEmacs?
50 * Q1.0.2:: What is the current version of XEmacs?
51 * Q1.0.3:: Where can I find it?
52 * Q1.0.4:: Why Another Version of Emacs?
53 * Q1.0.5:: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
54 * Q1.0.6:: Where can I get help?
55 * Q1.0.7:: Where is the mailing list archived?
56 * Q1.0.8:: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
57 * Q1.0.9:: What does XEmacs look like?
58 * Q1.0.10:: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
59 * Q1.0.11:: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
60 * Q1.0.12:: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
61 * Q1.0.13:: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
62 * Q1.0.14:: Where can I get a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
65 * Q1.1.1:: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
66 * Q1.1.2:: How do I become a Beta Tester?
67 * Q1.1.3:: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
70 * Q1.2.1:: Who wrote XEmacs?
71 * Q1.2.2:: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
72 * Q1.2.3:: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
75 * Q1.3.1:: What is the status of XEmacs v20?
76 * Q1.3.2:: What is the status of Asian-language support, aka MULE?
77 * Q1.3.3:: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
78 * Q1.3.4:: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
79 * Q1.3.5:: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs 20.0
80 * Q1.3.6:: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs 20.0?
81 * Q1.3.7:: How about Cyrillic Modes?
84 * Q1.4.1:: What is a `.emacs' and is there a sample one?
85 * Q1.4.2:: Can I use the same `.emacs' with the other Emacs?
86 * Q1.4.3:: Any good XEmacs tutorials around?
87 * Q1.4.4:: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
88 * Q1.4.5:: And how do I bind it to a key?
89 * Q1.4.6:: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
90 * Q1.4.7:: Why options saved with 19.13 don't work with 19.14 or later?
92 Installation and Trouble Shooting
94 * Q2.0.1:: Running XEmacs without installing.
95 * Q2.0.2:: XEmacs is too big.
96 * Q2.0.3:: Compiling XEmacs with Netaudio.
97 * Q2.0.4:: Problems with Linux and ncurses.
98 * Q2.0.5:: Do I need X11 to run XEmacs?
99 * Q2.0.6:: I'm having strange crashes. What do I do?
100 * Q2.0.7:: Libraries in non-standard locations.
101 * Q2.0.8:: can't resolve symbol _h_errno
102 * Q2.0.9:: Where do I find external libraries?
103 * Q2.0.10:: After I run configure I find a coredump, is something wrong?
104 * Q2.0.11:: XEmacs can't resolve host names.
105 * Q2.0.12:: Why can't I strip XEmacs?
106 * Q2.0.13:: Can't link XEmacs on Solaris with Gcc.
107 * Q2.0.14:: Make on HP/UX 9 fails after linking temacs
110 * Q2.1.1:: XEmacs just crashed on me!
111 * Q2.1.2:: Cryptic Minibuffer messages.
112 * Q2.1.3:: Translation Table Syntax messages at Startup.
113 * Q2.1.4:: Startup warnings about deducing proper fonts?
114 * Q2.1.5:: XEmacs cannot connect to my X Terminal.
115 * Q2.1.6:: XEmacs just locked up my Linux X server.
116 * Q2.1.7:: HP Alt key as Meta.
117 * Q2.1.8:: got (wrong-type-argument color-instance-p nil)!
118 * Q2.1.9:: XEmacs causes my OpenWindows 3.0 server to crash.
119 * Q2.1.10:: Warnings from incorrect key modifiers.
120 * Q2.1.11:: Can't instantiate image error... in toolbar
121 * Q2.1.12:: Regular Expression Problems on DEC OSF1.
122 * Q2.1.13:: HP/UX 10.10 and `create_process' failure
123 * Q2.1.14:: C-g doesn't work for me. Is it broken?
124 * Q2.1.15:: How to debug an XEmacs problem with a debugger.
125 * Q2.1.16:: XEmacs crashes in `strcat' on HP/UX 10.
126 * Q2.1.17:: `Marker does not point anywhere'.
127 * Q2.1.18:: 19.14 hangs on HP/UX 10.10.
128 * Q2.1.19:: XEmacs does not follow the local timezone.
129 * Q2.1.20:: `Symbol's function definition is void: hkey-help-show.'
130 * Q2.1.21:: Every so often the XEmacs frame freezes.
131 * Q2.1.22:: XEmacs seems to take a really long time to do some things.
132 * Q2.1.23:: Movemail on Linux does not work for XEmacs 19.15 and later.
134 Customization and Options
136 * Q3.0.1:: What version of Emacs am I running?
137 * Q3.0.2:: How do I evaluate Elisp expressions?
138 * Q3.0.3:: `(setq tab-width 6)' behaves oddly.
139 * Q3.0.4:: How can I add directories to the `load-path'?
140 * Q3.0.5:: How to check if a lisp function is defined?
141 * Q3.0.6:: Can I force the output of `(face-list)' to a buffer?
142 * Q3.0.7:: Font selections don't get saved after `Save Options'.
143 * Q3.0.8:: How do I make a single minibuffer frame?
144 * Q3.0.9:: What is `Customize'?
146 X Window System & Resources:
147 * Q3.1.1:: Where is a list of X resources?
148 * Q3.1.2:: How can I detect a color display?
149 * Q3.1.3:: `(set-screen-width)' worked in 19.6, but not in 19.13?
150 * Q3.1.4:: Specifying `Emacs*EmacsScreen.geometry' in `.emacs' does not work in 19.15?
151 * Q3.1.5:: How can I get the icon to just say `XEmacs'?
152 * Q3.1.6:: How can I have the window title area display the full path?
153 * Q3.1.7:: `xemacs -name junk' doesn't work?
154 * Q3.1.8:: `-iconic' doesn't work.
156 Textual Fonts & Colors:
157 * Q3.2.1:: How can I set color options from `.emacs'?
158 * Q3.2.2:: How do I set the text, menu and modeline fonts?
159 * Q3.2.3:: How can I set the colors when highlighting a region?
160 * Q3.2.4:: How can I limit color map usage?
161 * Q3.2.5:: My tty supports color, but XEmacs doesn't use them.
162 * Q3.2.6:: Can I have pixmap backgrounds in XEmacs?
165 * Q3.3.1:: How can I make the modeline go away?
166 * Q3.3.2:: How do you have XEmacs display the line number in the modeline?
167 * Q3.3.3:: How do I get XEmacs to put the time of day on the modeline?
168 * Q3.3.4:: How do I turn off current chapter from AUC TeX modeline?
169 * Q3.3.5:: How can one change the modeline color based on the mode used?
171 Multiple Device Support:
172 * Q3.4.1:: How do I open a frame on another screen of my multi-headed display?
173 * Q3.4.2:: Can I really connect to a running XEmacs after calling up over a modem? How?
176 * Q3.5.1:: How can I bind complex functions (or macros) to keys?
177 * Q3.5.2:: How can I stop down-arrow from adding empty lines to the bottom of my buffers?
178 * Q3.5.3:: How do I bind C-. and C-; to scroll one line up and down?
179 * Q3.5.4:: Globally binding Delete?
180 * Q3.5.5:: Scrolling one line at a time.
181 * Q3.5.6:: How to map Help key alone on Sun type4 keyboard?
182 * Q3.5.7:: How can you type in special characters in XEmacs?
183 * Q3.5.8:: Why does `(global-set-key [delete-forward] 'delete-char)' complain?
184 * Q3.5.9:: How do I make the Delete key delete forward?
185 * Q3.5.10:: Can I turn on "sticky" modifier keys?
186 * Q3.5.11:: How do I map the arrow keys?
189 * Q3.6.1:: Is there a way to make the bar cursor thicker?
190 * 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?
191 * Q3.6.3:: Can I make the cursor blink?
193 The Mouse and Highlighting:
194 * Q3.7.1:: How can I turn off Mouse pasting?
195 * Q3.7.2:: How do I set control/meta/etc modifiers on mouse buttons?
196 * Q3.7.3:: Clicking the left button does not do anything in buffer list.
197 * Q3.7.4:: How can I get a list of buffers when I hit mouse button 3?
198 * Q3.7.5:: Why does cut-and-paste not work between XEmacs and a cmdtool?
199 * Q3.7.6:: How I can set XEmacs up so that it pastes where the text cursor is?
200 * Q3.7.7:: How do I select a rectangular region?
201 * Q3.7.8:: Why does M-w take so long?
203 The Menubar and Toolbar:
204 * Q3.8.1:: How do I get rid of the menu (or menubar)?
205 * Q3.8.2:: Can I customize the basic menubar?
206 * Q3.8.3:: How do I control how many buffers are listed in the menu `Buffers' list?
207 * Q3.8.4:: Resources like `Emacs*menubar*font' are not working?
208 * Q3.8.5:: How can I bind a key to a function to toggle the toolbar?
211 * Q3.9.1:: How can I disable the scrollbar?
212 * Q3.9.2:: How can one use resources to change scrollbar colors?
213 * Q3.9.3:: Moving the scrollbar can move the point; can I disable this?
214 * Q3.9.4:: How can I get automatic horizontal scrolling?
217 * Q3.10.1:: How can I turn off or change highlighted selections?
218 * Q3.10.2:: How do I get that typing on an active region removes it?
219 * Q3.10.3:: Can I turn off the highlight during isearch?
220 * Q3.10.4:: How do I turn off highlighting after C-x C-p (mark-page)?
221 * Q3.10.5:: The region disappears when I hit the end of buffer while scrolling.
225 * Q4.0.1:: How do I set up VM to retrieve remote mail using POP?
226 * Q4.0.2:: How do I get VM to filter mail for me?
227 * Q4.0.3:: How can I get VM to automatically check for new mail?
228 * Q4.0.4:: [This question intentionally left blank]
229 * Q4.0.5:: How do I get my outgoing mail archived?
230 * 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"?
231 * Q4.0.7:: Is there a mailing list or FAQ for VM?
232 * Q4.0.8:: Remote mail reading with VM.
233 * Q4.0.9:: rmail or VM gets an error incorporating new mail.
234 * Q4.0.10:: How do I make VM stay in a single frame?
235 * Q4.0.11:: How do I make VM or mh-e display graphical smilies?
236 * Q4.0.12:: Customization of VM not covered in the manual or here.
238 Web browsing with W3:
239 * Q4.1.1:: What is W3?
240 * Q4.1.2:: How do I run W3 from behind a firewall?
241 * Q4.1.3:: Is it true that W3 supports style sheets and tables?
243 Reading Netnews and Mail with Gnus:
244 * Q4.2.1:: GNUS, (ding) Gnus, Gnus 5, September Gnus, Red Gnus, Quassia Gnus, argh!
245 * Q4.2.2:: [This question intentionally left blank]
246 * Q4.2.3:: How do I make Gnus stay within a single frame?
247 * Q4.2.4:: How do I customize the From: line?
250 * Q4.3.1:: How can I read and/or compose MIME messages?
251 * Q4.3.2:: What is TM and where do I get it?
252 * Q4.3.3:: Why isn't this `movemail' program working?
253 * Q4.3.4:: Movemail is also distributed by Netscape? Can that cause problems?
254 * Q4.3.5:: Where do I find pstogif (required by tm)?
256 Sparcworks, EOS, and WorkShop:
257 * Q4.4.1:: What is SPARCworks, EOS, and WorkShop
258 * Q4.4.2:: How do I start the Sun Workshop support in XEmacs 21?
261 * Q4.5.1:: What is/was Energize?
264 * Q4.6.1:: What is Infodock?
266 Other Unbundled Packages:
267 * Q4.7.1:: What is AUC TeX? Where do you get it?
268 * Q4.7.2:: Are there any Emacs Lisp Spreadsheets?
269 * Q4.7.3:: Byte compiling AUC TeX on XEmacs 19.14
270 * Q4.7.4:: Problems installing AUC TeX
271 * Q4.7.5:: Is there a reason for an Emacs package not to be included in XEmacs?
272 * Q4.7.6:: Is there a MatLab mode?
274 The Miscellaneous Stuff
276 * Q5.0.1:: How can I do source code highlighting using font-lock?
277 * Q5.0.2:: I do not like cc-mode. How do I use the old c-mode?
278 * Q5.0.3:: How do I get `More' Syntax Highlighting on by default?
279 * Q5.0.4:: How can I enable auto-indent?
280 * Q5.0.5:: How can I get XEmacs to come up in text/auto-fill mode by default?
281 * Q5.0.6:: How do I start up a second shell buffer?
282 * Q5.0.7:: Telnet from shell filters too much.
283 * Q5.0.8:: Why does edt emulation not work?
284 * Q5.0.9:: How can I emulate VI and use it as my default mode?
285 * Q5.0.10:: [This question intentionally left blank]
286 * Q5.0.11:: Filladapt doesn't work in 19.15?
287 * Q5.0.12:: How do I disable gnuserv from opening a new frame?
288 * Q5.0.13:: How do I start gnuserv so that each subsequent XEmacs is a client?
289 * Q5.0.14:: Strange things are happening in Shell Mode.
290 * Q5.0.15:: Where do I get the latest CC Mode?
291 * Q5.0.16:: I find auto-show-mode disconcerting. How do I turn it off?
292 * Q5.0.17:: How can I get two instances of info?
293 * Q5.0.18:: I upgraded to XEmacs 19.14 and gnuserv stopped working
294 * Q5.0.19:: Is there something better than LaTeX mode?
295 * Q5.0.20:: Is there a way to start a new XEmacs if there's no gnuserv running, and otherwise use gnuclient?
297 Emacs Lisp Programming Techniques:
298 * Q5.1.1:: The difference in key sequences between XEmacs and GNU Emacs?
299 * Q5.1.2:: Can I generate "fake" keyboard events?
300 * Q5.1.3:: Could you explain `read-kbd-macro' in more detail?
301 * Q5.1.4:: What is the performance hit of `let'?
302 * Q5.1.5:: What is the recommended use of `setq'?
303 * Q5.1.6:: What is the typical misuse of `setq' ?
304 * Q5.1.7:: I like the the `do' form of cl, does it slow things down?
305 * Q5.1.8:: I like recursion, does it slow things down?
306 * Q5.1.9:: How do I put a glyph as annotation in a buffer?
307 * Q5.1.10:: `map-extents' won't traverse all of my extents!
308 * Q5.1.11:: My elisp program is horribly slow. Is there an easy way to find out where it spends time?
311 * Q5.2.1:: How do I turn off the sound?
312 * Q5.2.2:: How do I get funky sounds instead of a boring beep?
313 * Q5.2.3:: What's NAS, how do I get it?
314 * Q5.2.4:: Sunsite sounds don't play.
317 * Q5.3.1:: How do you make XEmacs indent CL if-clauses correctly?
318 * Q5.3.2:: Fontifying hangs when editing a postscript file.
319 * Q5.3.3:: How can I print WYSIWYG a font-locked buffer?
320 * Q5.3.4:: Getting M-x lpr to work with postscript printer.
321 * Q5.3.5:: How do I specify the paths that XEmacs uses for finding files?
322 * Q5.3.6:: [This question intentionally left blank]
323 * Q5.3.7:: Can I have the end of the buffer delimited in some way?
324 * Q5.3.8:: How do I insert today's date into a buffer?
325 * Q5.3.9:: Are only certain syntactic character classes available for abbrevs?
326 * Q5.3.10:: How can I get those oh-so-neat X-Face lines?
327 * Q5.3.11:: How do I add new Info directories?
328 * Q5.3.12:: What do I need to change to make printing work?
330 What the Future Holds
332 * Q6.0.1:: What is new in 20.2?
333 * Q6.0.2:: What is new in 20.3?
334 * Q6.0.3:: What is new in 20.4?
335 * Q6.0.4:: Procedural changes in XEmacs development.
338 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Introduction, Next: Installation, Prev: Top, Up: Top
340 1 Introduction, Policy, Credits
341 *******************************
343 Learning XEmacs is a lifelong activity. Even people who have used
344 Emacs for years keep discovering new features. Therefore this document
345 cannot be complete. Instead it is aimed at the person who is either
346 considering XEmacs for their own use, or has just obtained it and is
347 wondering what to do next. It is also useful as a reference to
350 The previous maintainer of the FAQ was Anthony Rossini
351 <rossini@stat.sc.edu>, who started it, after getting tired of hearing
352 JWZ complain about repeatedly having to answer questions. Ben Wing
353 <ben@xemacs.org> and Chuck Thompson <cthomp@xemacs.org>, the principal
354 authors of XEmacs, then took over and Ben did a massive update
355 reorganizing the whole thing. At which point Anthony took back over,
356 but then had to give it up again. Some of the other contributors to
357 this FAQ are listed later in this document.
359 The previous version was converted to hypertext format, and edited by
360 Steven L. Baur <steve@xemacs.org>. It was converted back to texinfo by
361 Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@xemacs.org>.
363 The FAQ was then maintained by Andreas Kaempf <andreas@sccon.com>,
364 who passed it on to Christian Nyb/o <faq@xemacs.org>, the current FAQ
367 If you notice any errors or items which should be added or amended to
368 this FAQ please send email to Christian Nyb/o <faq@xemacs.org>. Include
369 `XEmacs FAQ' on the Subject: line.
374 * Q1.0.1:: What is XEmacs?
375 * Q1.0.2:: What is the current version of XEmacs?
376 * Q1.0.3:: Where can I find it?
377 * Q1.0.4:: Why Another Version of Emacs?
378 * Q1.0.5:: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
379 * Q1.0.6:: Where can I get help?
380 * Q1.0.7:: Where is the mailing list archived?
381 * Q1.0.8:: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
382 * Q1.0.9:: What does XEmacs look like?
383 * Q1.0.10:: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
384 * Q1.0.11:: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
385 * Q1.0.12:: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
386 * Q1.0.13:: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
387 * Q1.0.14:: Where can I get a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
390 * Q1.1.1:: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
391 * Q1.1.2:: How do I become a Beta Tester?
392 * Q1.1.3:: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
395 * Q1.2.1:: Who wrote XEmacs?
396 * Q1.2.2:: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
397 * Q1.2.3:: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
399 Internationalization:
400 * Q1.3.1:: What is the status of XEmacs v20?
401 * Q1.3.2:: What is the status of Asian-language support, aka MULE?
402 * Q1.3.3:: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
403 * Q1.3.4:: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
404 * Q1.3.5:: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs 20.0
405 * Q1.3.6:: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs 20.0?
406 * Q1.3.7:: How about Cyrillic Modes?
409 * Q1.4.1:: What is a `.emacs' and is there a sample one?
410 * Q1.4.2:: Can I use the same `.emacs' with the other Emacs?
411 * Q1.4.3:: Any good XEmacs tutorials around?
412 * Q1.4.4:: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
413 * Q1.4.5:: And how do I bind it to a key?
414 * Q1.4.6:: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
415 * Q1.4.7:: Why options saved with 19.13 don't work with 19.14 or later?
418 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.1, Next: Q1.0.2, Prev: Introduction, Up: Introduction
423 Q1.0.1: What is XEmacs?
424 -----------------------
426 An alternative to GNU Emacs, originally based on an early alpha
427 version of FSF's version 19, and has diverged quite a bit since then.
428 XEmacs was known as Lucid Emacs through version 19.10. Almost all
429 features of GNU Emacs are supported in XEmacs. The maintainers of
430 XEmacs actively track changes to GNU Emacs while also working to add
434 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.2, Next: Q1.0.3, Prev: Q1.0.1, Up: Introduction
436 Q1.0.2: What is the current version of XEmacs?
437 ----------------------------------------------
439 XEmacs 20.4 is a minor upgrade from 20.3, containing many bugfixes.
440 It was released in February 1998.
442 XEmacs 19.16 was the last release of v19, released in November, 1997,
443 which was also the last version without international language support.
446 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.3, Next: Q1.0.4, Prev: Q1.0.2, Up: Introduction
448 Q1.0.3: Where can I find it?
449 ----------------------------
451 The canonical source and binaries is found via anonymous FTP at:
453 `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/xemacs/'
456 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.4, Next: Q1.0.5, Prev: Q1.0.3, Up: Introduction
458 Q1.0.4: Why Another Version of Emacs?
459 -------------------------------------
461 For a detailed description of the differences between GNU Emacs and
462 XEmacs and a detailed history of XEmacs, check out the
463 NEWS file (http://www.xemacs.org/NEWS.html)
465 However, here is a list of some of the reasons why we think you might
470 * The XEmacs maintainers are generally more receptive to suggestions
471 than the GNU Emacs maintainers.
473 * Many more bundled packages than GNU Emacs
475 * Binaries are available for many common operating systems.
477 * Face support on TTY's.
479 * A built-in toolbar.
481 * Better Motif compliance.
483 * Some internationalization support (including full MULE support, if
486 * Variable-width fonts.
488 * Variable-height lines.
490 * Marginal annotations.
494 * XEmacs can be used as an Xt widget, and can be embedded within
497 * Horizontal and vertical scrollbars (using real toolkit scrollbars).
499 * Better APIs (and performance) for attaching fonts, colors, and
500 other properties to text.
502 * The ability to embed arbitrary graphics in a buffer.
504 * Completely compatible (at the C level) with the Xt-based toolkits.
506 * First production Web Browser supporting Style Sheets.
509 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.5, Next: Q1.0.6, Prev: Q1.0.4, Up: Introduction
511 Q1.0.5: Why Haven't XEmacs and GNU Emacs Merged?
512 ------------------------------------------------
514 There are currently irreconcilable differences in the views about
515 technical, programming, design and organizational matters between RMS
516 and the XEmacs development team which provide little hope for a merge to
517 take place in the short-term future.
519 If you have a comment to add regarding the merge, it is a good idea
520 to avoid posting to the newsgroups, because of the very heated
521 flamewars that often result. Mail your questions to
522 <xemacs-beta@xemacs.org> and <bug-gnu-emacs@prep.ai.mit.edu>.
525 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.6, Next: Q1.0.7, Prev: Q1.0.5, Up: Introduction
527 Q1.0.6: Where can I get help?
528 -----------------------------
530 Probably the easiest way, if everything is installed, is to use
531 info, by pressing `C-h i', or selecting `Manuals->Info' from the Help
534 Also, `M-x apropos' will look for commands for you.
536 Try reading this FAQ, examining the regular GNU Emacs FAQ (which can
537 be found with the Emacs 19 distribution) as well as at
538 `http://www.eecs.nwu.edu/emacs/faq/' and reading the Usenet group
541 If that does not help, try posting your question to
542 comp.emacs.xemacs. Please *do not* post XEmacs related questions to
545 If you cannot post or read Usenet news, there is a corresponding
546 mailing list which is available. It can be subscribed to by sending a
547 message with a subject of `subscribe' to <xemacs-request@xemacs.org>
548 for subscription information and <xemacs@xemacs.org> to send messages
551 To cancel a subscription, you *must* use the xemacs-request address.
552 Send a message with a subject of `unsubscribe' to be removed.
555 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.7, Next: Q1.0.8, Prev: Q1.0.6, Up: Introduction
557 Q1.0.7: Where is the mailing list archived?
558 -------------------------------------------
560 The mailing list was archived in the directory
561 `ftp://ftp.xemacs.org/pub/mlists/'.
563 However, this archive is out of date. The current mailing list
564 server supports an `archive' feature, which may be utilized.
567 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.8, Next: Q1.0.9, Prev: Q1.0.7, Up: Introduction
569 Q1.0.8: How do you pronounce XEmacs?
570 ------------------------------------
572 I pronounce it `Eks eemax'.
575 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.9, Next: Q1.0.10, Prev: Q1.0.8, Up: Introduction
577 Q1.0.9: What does XEmacs look like?
578 -----------------------------------
580 Screen snapshots are available in the WWW version of the FAQ.
581 `http://www.xemacs.org/faq/xemacs-faq.html'
584 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.10, Next: Q1.0.11, Prev: Q1.0.9, Up: Introduction
586 Q1.0.10: Is there a port of XEmacs to Microsoft ('95 or NT)?
587 ------------------------------------------------------------
589 Thanks to efforts of many people, coordinated by David Hobley
590 <davidh@wr.com.au> and Marc Paquette <marcpa@cam.org>, beta versions of
591 XEmacs now run on 32-bit Windows platforms (NT and 95). The current
592 betas require having an X server to run XEmacs; however, a native NT/95
593 port is in alpha, thanks to Jonathan Harris <jhar@tardis.ed.ac.uk>.
595 Although some features are still unimplemented, XEmacs 21.0 will
598 The NT development is now coordinated by a mailing list at
599 <xemacs-nt@xemacs.org>.
601 If you are willing to contribute or want to follow the progress,
602 mail to <xemacs-nt-request@xemacs.org> to subscribe.
604 Furthermore, Altrasoft is seeking corporate and government sponsors
605 to help fund a fully native port of XEmacs to Windows 95 and NT using
606 full-time, senior-level staff working under a professionally managed
607 project structure. See the Altrasoft web site
608 (http://www.altrasoft.com/) for more details or contact Altrasoft
609 directly at 1-888-ALTSOFT.
611 The closest existing port is "Win-Emacs", which is based on Lucid
612 Emacs 19.6. Available from `http://www.pearlsoft.com/'.
614 There's a port of GNU Emacs (not XEmacs) at
615 `http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/voelker/ntemacs.html'.
618 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.11, Next: Q1.0.12, Prev: Q1.0.10, Up: Introduction
620 Q1.0.11: Is there a port of XEmacs to the Macintosh?
621 ----------------------------------------------------
623 There has been a port to the MachTen environment of XEmacs 19.13,
624 but no patches have been submitted to the maintainers to get this in the
625 mainstream distribution.
627 For the MacOS, there is a port of Emacs 18.59
628 (ftp://ftp.cs.cornell.edu/pub/parmet/).
631 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.12, Next: Q1.0.13, Prev: Q1.0.11, Up: Introduction
633 Q1.0.12: Is there a port of XEmacs to NextStep?
634 -----------------------------------------------
636 Carl Edman, apparently no longer at <cedman@princeton.edu>, did the
637 port of GNU Emacs to NeXTstep and expressed interest in doing the
638 XEmacs port, but never went any farther.
641 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.13, Next: Q1.0.14, Prev: Q1.0.12, Up: Introduction
643 Q1.0.13: Is there a port of XEmacs to OS/2?
644 -------------------------------------------
646 No, and there is no news of anyone working on it.
649 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.0.14, Next: Q1.1.1, Prev: Q1.0.13, Up: Introduction
651 Q1.0.14: Where can I obtain a printed copy of the XEmacs users manual?
652 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
654 Altrasoft Associates, a firm specializing in Emacs-related support
655 and development, will be maintaining the XEmacs user manual. The firm
656 plans to begin publishing printed copies of the manual soon.
658 Web: `http://www.xemacs.com'
659 E-mail: <info@xemacs.com>
663 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.1.1, Next: Q1.1.2, Prev: Q1.0.14, Up: Introduction
668 Q1.1.1: What is the FAQ editorial policy?
669 -----------------------------------------
671 The FAQ is actively maintained and modified regularly. All links
672 should be up to date.
674 Changes are displayed on a monthly basis. "Months", for this
675 purpose are defined as the 5th of the month through the 5th of the
676 month. Preexisting questions that have been changed are marked as such.
677 Brand new questions are tagged.
679 All submissions are welcome. E-mail submissions to Christian Nyb/o
682 Please make sure that `XEmacs FAQ' appears on the Subject: line. If
683 you think you have a better way of answering a question, or think a
684 question should be included, I'd like to hear about it. Questions and
685 answers included into the FAQ will be edited for spelling and grammar,
686 and will be attributed. Answers appearing without attribution are
687 either from versions of the FAQ dated before May 1996, or are from one
688 of the four people listed at the top of this document. Answers quoted
689 from Usenet news articles will always be attributed, regardless of the
693 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.1.2, Next: Q1.1.3, Prev: Q1.1.1, Up: Introduction
695 Q1.1.2: How do I become a Beta Tester?
696 --------------------------------------
698 Send an email message to <xemacs-beta-request@xemacs.org> with a
699 subject line of `subscribe'.
701 Be prepared to get your hands dirty, as beta testers are expected to
702 identify problems as best they can.
705 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.1.3, Next: Q1.2.1, Prev: Q1.1.2, Up: Introduction
707 Q1.1.3: How do I contribute to XEmacs itself?
708 ---------------------------------------------
710 Ben Wing <ben@xemacs.org> writes:
712 BTW if you have a wish list of things that you want added, you
713 have to speak up about it! More specifically, you can do the
714 following if you want a feature added (in increasing order of
717 * Make a posting about a feature you want added.
719 * Become a beta tester and make more postings about those same
722 * Convince us that you're going to use the features in some
725 * Come up with a clear and well-thought-out API concerning the
728 * Write the code to implement a feature and send us a patch.
730 (not that we're necessarily requiring you to write the code, but
731 we can always hope :)
734 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.2.1, Next: Q1.2.2, Prev: Q1.1.3, Up: Introduction
739 Q1.2.1: Who wrote XEmacs?
740 -------------------------
742 XEmacs is the result of the time and effort of many people. The
743 developers responsible for the 19.16/20.x releases are:
745 * Martin Buchholz <martin@xemacs.org>
747 * Steve Baur <steve@xemacs.org>
749 * Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@xemacs.org>
752 The developers responsible for the 19.14 release are:
754 * Chuck Thompson <cthomp@xemacs.org>
756 Chuck was Mr. XEmacs from 19.11 through 19.14, and is responsible
757 for XEmacs becoming a widely distributed program over the Internet.
759 * Ben Wing <ben@xemacs.org>
762 * Jamie Zawinski <jwz@jwz.org>
764 Jamie Zawinski was Mr. Lucid Emacs from 19.0 through 19.10, the
765 last release actually named Lucid Emacs. Richard Mlynarik was
766 crucial to most of those releases.
768 * Richard Mlynarik <mly@adoc.xerox.com>
770 Along with many other contributors, partially enumerated in the
771 `About XEmacs' option in the Help menu.
774 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.2.2, Next: Q1.2.3, Prev: Q1.2.1, Up: Introduction
776 Q1.2.2: Who contributed to this version of the FAQ?
777 ---------------------------------------------------
779 The following people contributed valuable suggestions to building
780 this version of the FAQ (listed in alphabetical order):
782 * SL Baur <steve@xemacs.org>
784 * Hrvoje Niksic <hniksic@xemacs.org>
786 * Aki Vehtari <Aki.Vehtari@hut.fi>
790 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.2.3, Next: Q1.3.1, Prev: Q1.2.2, Up: Introduction
792 Q1.2.3: Who contributed to the FAQ in the past?
793 -----------------------------------------------
795 This is only a partial list, as many names were lost in a hard disk
798 * Curtis.N.Bingham <binge@aloft.att.com>
800 * Richard Caley <rjc@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
802 * Richard Cognot <cognot@ensg.u-nancy.fr>
804 * William G. Dubuque <wgd@martigny.ai.mit.edu>
806 * Eric Eide <eeide@cs.utah.edu>
808 * Chris Flatters <cflatter@nrao.edu>
810 * Evelyn Ginsparg <ginsparg@adra.com>
812 * Marty Hall <hall@aplcenmp.apl.jhu.edu>
814 * Darrell Kindred <dkindred@cmu.edu>
816 * David Moore <dmoore@ucsd.edu>
818 * Arup Mukherjee <arup+@cmu.edu>
820 * Juergen Nickelsen <nickel@prz.tu-berlin.de>
822 * Kevin R. Powell <powell@csl.ncsa.uiuc.edu>
824 * Justin Sheehy <dworkin@ccs.neu.edu>
826 * Stig <stig@hackvan.com>
828 * Aki Vehtari <Aki.Vehtari@hut.fi>
831 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.1, Next: Q1.3.2, Prev: Q1.2.3, Up: Introduction
833 1.3: Internationalization
834 =========================
836 Q1.3.1: What is the status of XEmacs v20?
837 -----------------------------------------
839 XEmacs v20 is the version of XEmacs that includes MULE
840 (Asian-language) support. XEmacs 20.0 was released in February 1997,
841 followed by XEmacs 20.2 in May, XEmacs 20.3 in November and XEmacs 20.4
842 in February 1998. When compiled without MULE support, 20.4 is
843 approximately as stable as 19.16, and probably faster (due to
844 additional optimization work.)
846 As of XEmacs 20.3, version 20 is _the_ supported version of XEmacs.
847 This means that 19.16 will optionally receive stability fixes (if any),
848 but that all the real development work will be done on the v20 tree.
850 The incompatible changes in XEmacs 20 include the additional
851 byte-codes, new primitive data types (`character', `char-table', and
852 `range-table'). This means that the character-integer equivalence
853 inherent to all the previous Emacs and XEmacs releases no longer
856 However, to avoid breaking old code, many functions that should
857 normally accept characters work with integers, and vice versa. For more
858 information, see the Lisp reference manual. Here is a relevant excerpt,
859 for your convenience.
861 In XEmacs version 19, and in all versions of FSF GNU Emacs, a
862 "character" in XEmacs Lisp is nothing more than an integer. This
863 is yet another holdover from XEmacs Lisp's derivation from
864 vintage-1980 Lisps; modern versions of Lisp consider this
865 equivalence a bad idea, and have separate character types. In
866 XEmacs version 20, the modern convention is followed, and
867 characters are their own primitive types. (This change was
868 necessary in order for MULE, i.e. Asian-language, support to be
869 correctly implemented.)
871 Even in XEmacs version 20, remnants of the equivalence between
872 characters and integers still exist; this is termed the "char-int
873 confoundance disease". In particular, many functions such as `eq',
874 `equal', and `memq' have equivalent functions (`old-eq',
875 `old-equal', `old-memq', etc.) that pretend like characters are
876 integers are the same. Byte code compiled under any version 19
877 Emacs will have all such functions mapped to their `old-'
878 equivalents when the byte code is read into XEmacs 20. This is to
879 preserve compatibility - Emacs 19 converts all constant characters
880 to the equivalent integer during byte-compilation, and thus there
881 is no other way to preserve byte-code compatibility even if the
882 code has specifically been written with the distinction between
883 characters and integers in mind.
885 Every character has an equivalent integer, called the "character
886 code". For example, the character `A' is represented as the
887 integer 65, following the standard ASCII representation of
888 characters. If XEmacs was not compiled with MULE support, the
889 range of this integer will always be 0 to 255 - eight bits, or one
890 byte. (Integers outside this range are accepted but silently
891 truncated; however, you should most decidedly _not_ rely on this,
892 because it will not work under XEmacs with MULE support.) When
893 MULE support is present, the range of character codes is much
894 larger. (Currently, 19 bits are used.)
896 FSF GNU Emacs uses kludgy character codes above 255 to represent
897 keyboard input of ASCII characters in combination with certain
898 modifiers. XEmacs does not use this (a more general mechanism is
899 used that does not distinguish between ASCII keys and other keys),
900 so you will never find character codes above 255 in a non-MULE
903 Individual characters are not often used in programs. It is far
904 more common to work with _strings_, which are sequences composed of
908 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.2, Next: Q1.3.3, Prev: Q1.3.1, Up: Introduction
910 Q1.3.2: What is the status of Asian-language support, aka MULE?
911 ---------------------------------------------------------------
913 The MULE support works OK but still needs a fair amount of work
914 before it's really solid. We could definitely use some help here, esp.
915 people who speak Japanese and will use XEmacs/MULE to work with
916 Japanese and have some experience with E-Lisp.
918 As the fundings on Mule have stopped, the Mule part of XEmacs is
919 currently looking for a full-time maintainer. If you can provide help
920 here, or are willing to fund the work, please mail to
921 <xemacs-beta@xemacs.org>.
926 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.3, Next: Q1.3.4, Prev: Q1.3.2, Up: Introduction
928 Q1.3.3: How do I type non-ASCII characters?
929 -------------------------------------------
931 See question 3.5.7 (*note Q3.5.7::) in part 3 of this FAQ.
934 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.4, Next: Q1.3.5, Prev: Q1.3.3, Up: Introduction
936 Q1.3.4: Can XEmacs messages come out in a different language?
937 -------------------------------------------------------------
939 The message-catalog support has mostly been written but doesn't
940 currently work. The first release of XEmacs 20 will _not_ support it.
941 However, menubar localization _does_ work, even in 19.14. To enable
942 it, add to your `Emacs' file entries like this:
944 Emacs*XlwMenu.resourceLabels: True
945 Emacs*XlwMenu.file.labelString: Fichier
946 Emacs*XlwMenu.openInOtherWindow.labelString: In anderem Fenster offnen
948 The name of the resource is derived from the non-localized entry by
949 removing punctuation and capitalizing as above.
952 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.5, Next: Q1.3.6, Prev: Q1.3.4, Up: Introduction
954 Q1.3.5: Please explain the various input methods in MULE/XEmacs 20.0
955 --------------------------------------------------------------------
957 MORIOKA Tomohiko <morioka@jaist.ac.jp> writes:
959 Original Mule supports the following input methods: Wnn4, Wnn6,
960 Canna, SJ3 and XIM. Interfaces for Wnn and SJ3 uses the `egg' user
961 interface. Interface for Canna does not use `egg'. I don't know
962 about XIM. It is to support ATOK, of course, it may work for
965 Wnn supports Japanese, Chinese and Korean. It is made by OMRON and
966 Kyôto university. It is a powerful and complex system. Wnn4 is
967 free and Wnn6 is not free.
969 Canna supports only Japanese. It is made by NEC. It is a simple and
970 powerful system. Canna uses only grammar (Wnn uses grammar and
971 probability between words), so I think Wnn is cleverer than Canna,
972 however Canna users made a good grammar and dictionary. So for
973 standard modern Japanese, Canna seems cleverer than Wnn4. In
974 addition, the UNIX version of Canna is free (now there is a
975 Microsoft Windows version).
977 SJ3 supports only Japanese. It is made by Sony. XIM supports was
978 made to use ATOK (a major input method in personal computer
979 world). XIM is the standard for accessing input methods bundled
980 in Japanese versions of Solaris. (XEmacs 20 will support XIM
983 Egg consists of following parts:
985 1. Input character Translation System (ITS) layer. It
986 translates ASCII inputs to Kana/PinYin/Hangul characters.
988 2. Kana/PinYin/Hangul to Kanji transfer layer. It is interface
989 layer for network Kana-Kanji server (Wnn and Sj3).
991 These input methods are modal, namely there are mode, alphabet
992 mode and Kana-Kanji transfer mode. However there are mode-less
993 input methods for Egg and Canna. `Boiled-egg' is a mode-less
994 input method running on Egg. For Canna, `canna.el' has a tiny
995 boiled-egg like command, `(canna-boil)', and there are some
996 boiled-egg like utilities. In addition, it was planned to make an
997 abstraction for all transfer type input methods. However authors
998 of input methods are busy, so maybe this plan is stopped. Perhaps
999 after Mule merged GNU Emacs will be released, it will be continued.
1002 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.6, Next: Q1.3.7, Prev: Q1.3.5, Up: Introduction
1004 Q1.3.6: How do I portably code for MULE/XEmacs 20?
1005 --------------------------------------------------
1007 MORIOKA Tomohiko <morioka@jaist.ac.jp> writes:
1009 MULE and XEmacs are quite different. So the application
1010 implementor must write separate code for these mule variants.
1012 MULE and the next version of Emacs are similar but the symbols are
1013 very different--requiring separate code as well.
1015 Namely we must support 3 kinds of mule variants and 4 or 5 or 6
1016 kinds of emacs variants... (;_;) I'm shocked, so I wrote a wrapper
1017 package called `emu' to provide a common interface.
1019 I have the following suggestions about dealing with mule variants:
1021 * `(featurep 'mule)' `t' on all mule variants
1023 * `(boundp 'MULE)' is `t' on only MULE. Maybe the next version
1024 of Emacs will not have this symbol.
1026 * MULE has a variable `mule-version'. Perhaps the next version
1027 of Emacs will have this variable as well.
1029 Following is a sample to distinguish mule variants:
1031 (if (featurep 'mule)
1032 (cond ((boundp 'MULE)
1033 ;; for original Mule
1035 ((string-match "XEmacs" emacs-version)
1036 ;; for XEmacs with Mule
1039 ;; for next version of Emacs
1041 ;; for old emacs variants
1045 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.3.7, Next: Q1.4.1, Prev: Q1.3.6, Up: Introduction
1047 Q1.3.7: How about Cyrillic Modes?
1048 ---------------------------------
1050 Ilya Zakharevich <ilya@math.ohio-state.edu> writes:
1052 There is a cyrillic mode in the file `mysetup.zip' in
1053 `ftp://ftp.math.ohio-state.edu/pub/users/ilya/emacs/'. This is a
1054 modification to Valery Alexeev's <ava@math.jhu.ed> `russian.el'
1055 which can be obtained from
1057 `http://ftpsearch.ntnu.no/?query=russian.el.Z'.
1059 Dima Barsky <d.barsky@ee.surrey.ac.uk> writes:
1061 There is another cyrillic mode for both GNU Emacs and XEmacs by
1062 Dmitrii (Mitya) Manin <manin@camelot.mssm.edu> at
1063 `http://kulichki-lat.rambler.ru/centrolit/manin/cyr.el'.
1065 Rebecca Ore <rebecca.ore@op.net> writes:
1067 The fullest resource I found on Russian language use (in and out of
1069 `http://sunsite.oit.unc.edu/sergei/Software/Software.html'
1072 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.1, Next: Q1.4.2, Prev: Q1.3.7, Up: Introduction
1074 1.4: Getting Started, Backing up & Recovery
1075 ===========================================
1077 Q1.4.1: What is a `.emacs' and is there a sample one?
1078 -----------------------------------------------------
1080 The `.emacs' file is used to customize XEmacs to your tastes. No
1081 two are alike, nor are they expected to be alike, but that's the point.
1082 The XEmacs distribution contains an excellent starter example in the etc
1083 directory called `sample.emacs'. Copy this file from there to your
1084 home directory and rename it `.emacs'. Then edit it to suit.
1086 Starting with 19.14, you may bring the `sample.emacs' into an XEmacs
1087 buffer by selecting `Help->Sample .emacs' from the menubar. To
1088 determine the location of the `etc' directory type the command `C-h v
1089 data-directory <RET>'.
1092 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.2, Next: Q1.4.3, Prev: Q1.4.1, Up: Introduction
1094 Q1.4.2: Can I use the same `.emacs' with the other Emacs?
1095 ---------------------------------------------------------
1097 Yes. The sample `.emacs' included in the XEmacs distribution will
1098 show you how to handle different versions and flavors of Emacs.
1101 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.3, Next: Q1.4.4, Prev: Q1.4.2, Up: Introduction
1103 Q1.4.3: Any good tutorials around?
1104 ----------------------------------
1106 There's the XEmacs tutorial available from the Help Menu under
1107 `Basics->Tutorials', or by typing `C-h t'. To check whether it's
1108 available in a non-english language, type `C-u C-h t TAB', type the
1109 first letters of your preferred language, then type <RET>.
1111 There's an Emacs Lisp tutorial at
1113 `ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/emacs-lisp-intro-1.04.tar.gz'.
1115 Erik Sundermann <erik@petaxp.rug.ac.be> has made a tutorial web page
1116 at `http://petaxp.rug.ac.be/~erik/xemacs/'.
1119 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.4, Next: Q1.4.5, Prev: Q1.4.3, Up: Introduction
1121 Q1.4.4: May I see an example of a useful XEmacs Lisp function?
1122 --------------------------------------------------------------
1124 The following function does a little bit of everything useful. It
1125 does something with the prefix argument, it examines the text around the
1126 cursor, and it's interactive so it may be bound to a key. It inserts
1127 copies of the current word the cursor is sitting on at the cursor. If
1128 you give it a prefix argument: `C-u 3 M-x double-word' then it will
1131 (defun double-word (count)
1132 "Insert a copy of the current word underneath the cursor"
1134 (let (here there string)
1139 (setq there (point))
1140 (setq string (buffer-substring here there)))
1145 The best way to see what is going on here is to let XEmacs tell you.
1146 Put the code into an XEmacs buffer, and do a `C-h f' with the cursor
1147 sitting just to the right of the function you want explained. Eg. move
1148 the cursor to the SPACE between `interactive' and `"*p"' and hit `C-h
1149 f' to see what the function `interactive' does. Doing this will tell
1150 you that the `*' requires a writable buffer, and `p' converts the
1151 prefix argument to a number, and `interactive' allows you to execute
1152 the command with `M-x'.
1155 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.5, Next: Q1.4.6, Prev: Q1.4.4, Up: Introduction
1157 Q1.4.5: And how do I bind it to a key?
1158 --------------------------------------
1160 To bind to a key do:
1162 (global-set-key "\C-cd" 'double-word)
1164 Or interactively, `M-x global-set-key' and follow the prompts.
1167 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.6, Next: Q1.4.7, Prev: Q1.4.5, Up: Introduction
1169 Q1.4.6: What's the difference between a macro and a function?
1170 -------------------------------------------------------------
1172 Quoting from the Lisp Reference (a.k.a "Lispref") Manual:
1174 "Macros" enable you to define new control constructs and other
1175 language features. A macro is defined much like a function, but instead
1176 of telling how to compute a value, it tells how to compute another Lisp
1177 expression which will in turn compute the value. We call this
1178 expression the "expansion" of the macro.
1180 Macros can do this because they operate on the unevaluated
1181 expressions for the arguments, not on the argument values as functions
1182 do. They can therefore construct an expansion containing these
1183 argument expressions or parts of them.
1185 Do not confuse the two terms with "keyboard macros", which are
1186 another matter, entirely. A keyboard macro is a key bound to several
1187 other keys. Refer to manual for details.
1190 File: xemacs-faq.info, Node: Q1.4.7, Prev: Q1.4.6, Up: Introduction
1192 Q1.4.7: How come options saved with 19.13 don't work with 19.14 or later?
1193 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
1195 There's a problem with options of the form:
1197 (add-spec-list-to-specifier (face-property 'searchm-field 'font)
1200 saved by a 19.13 XEmacs that causes a 19.14 XEmacs grief. You must
1201 delete these options. XEmacs 19.14 and later no longer write the
1202 options directly to `.emacs' which should allow us to deal with version
1203 incompatibilities better in the future.
1205 Options saved under XEmacs 19.13 are protected by code that
1206 specifically requires a version 19 XEmacs. This won't be a problem
1207 unless you're using XEmacs v20. You should consider changing the code
1211 ((and (string-match "XEmacs" emacs-version)
1212 (boundp 'emacs-major-version)
1213 (or (and (= emacs-major-version 19)
1214 (>= emacs-minor-version 12))
1215 (>= emacs-major-version 20)))