+++ /dev/null
-This is Info file ../../info/xemacs.info, produced by Makeinfo version
-1.68 from the input file 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.
-
-\1f
-File: xemacs.info, Node: Bugs, Prev: Lossage, Up: Top
-
-Reporting Bugs
-==============
-
- Sometimes you will encounter a bug in Emacs. Although we cannot
-promise we can or will fix the bug, and we might not even agree that it
-is a bug, we want to hear about bugs you encounter in case we do want
-to fix them.
-
- To make it possible for us to fix a bug, you must report it. In
-order to do so effectively, you must know when and how to do it.
-
-When Is There a Bug
--------------------
-
- If Emacs executes an illegal instruction, or dies with an operating
-system error message that indicates a problem in the program (as
-opposed to something like "disk full"), then it is certainly a bug.
-
- If Emacs updates the display in a way that does not correspond to
-what is in the buffer, then it is certainly a bug. If a command seems
-to do the wrong thing but the problem corrects itself if you type
-`C-l', it is a case of incorrect display updating.
-
- Taking forever to complete a command can be a bug, but you must make
-certain that it was really Emacs's fault. Some commands simply take a
-long time. Type `C-g' and then `C-h l' to see whether the input Emacs
-received was what you intended to type; if the input was such that you
-KNOW it should have been processed quickly, report a bug. If you don't
-know whether the command should take a long time, find out by looking
-in the manual or by asking for assistance.
-
- If a command you are familiar with causes an Emacs error message in a
-case where its usual definition ought to be reasonable, it is probably a
-bug.
-
- If a command does the wrong thing, that is a bug. But be sure you
-know for certain what it ought to have done. If you aren't familiar
-with the command, or don't know for certain how the command is supposed
-to work, then it might actually be working right. Rather than jumping
-to conclusions, show the problem to someone who knows for certain.
-
- Finally, a command's intended definition may not be best for editing
-with. This is a very important sort of problem, but it is also a
-matter of judgment. Also, it is easy to come to such a conclusion out
-of ignorance of some of the existing features. It is probably best not
-to complain about such a problem until you have checked the
-documentation in the usual ways, feel confident that you understand it,
-and know for certain that what you want is not available. If you are
-not sure what the command is supposed to do after a careful reading of
-the manual, check the index and glossary for any terms that may be
-unclear. If you still do not understand, this indicates a bug in the
-manual. The manual's job is to make everything clear. It is just as
-important to report documentation bugs as program bugs.
-
- If the online documentation string of a function or variable
-disagrees with the manual, one of them must be wrong, so report the bug.
-
-How to Report a Bug
--------------------
-
- When you decide that there is a bug, it is important to report it
-and to report it in a way which is useful. What is most useful is an
-exact description of what commands you type, starting with the shell
-command to run Emacs, until the problem happens. Always include the
-version number of Emacs that you are using; type `M-x emacs-version' to
-print this.
-
- The most important principle in reporting a bug is to report FACTS,
-not hypotheses or categorizations. It is always easier to report the
-facts, but people seem to prefer to strain to posit explanations and
-report them instead. If the explanations are based on guesses about
-how Emacs is implemented, they will be useless; we will have to try to
-figure out what the facts must have been to lead to such speculations.
-Sometimes this is impossible. But in any case, it is unnecessary work
-for us.
-
- For example, suppose that you type `C-x C-f /glorp/baz.ugh <RET>',
-visiting a file which (you know) happens to be rather large, and Emacs
-prints out `I feel pretty today'. The best way to report the bug is
-with a sentence like the preceding one, because it gives all the facts
-and nothing but the facts.
-
- Do not assume that the problem is due to the size of the file and
-say, "When I visit a large file, Emacs prints out `I feel pretty
-today'." This is what we mean by "guessing explanations". The problem
-is just as likely to be due to the fact that there is a `z' in the file
-name. If this is so, then when we got your report, we would try out
-the problem with some "large file", probably with no `z' in its name,
-and not find anything wrong. There is no way in the world that we
-could guess that we should try visiting a file with a `z' in its name.
-
- Alternatively, the problem might be due to the fact that the file
-starts with exactly 25 spaces. For this reason, you should make sure
-that you inform us of the exact contents of any file that is needed to
-reproduce the bug. What if the problem only occurs when you have typed
-the `C-x a l' command previously? This is why we ask you to give the
-exact sequence of characters you typed since starting to use Emacs.
-
- You should not even say "visit a file" instead of `C-x C-f' unless
-you know that it makes no difference which visiting command is used.
-Similarly, rather than saying "if I have three characters on the line,"
-say "after I type `<RET> A B C <RET> C-p'," if that is the way you
-entered the text.
-
- If you are not in Fundamental mode when the problem occurs, you
-should say what mode you are in.
-
- If the manifestation of the bug is an Emacs error message, it is
-important to report not just the text of the error message but a
-backtrace showing how the Lisp program in Emacs arrived at the error.
-To make the backtrace, you must execute the Lisp expression `(setq
-debug-on-error t)' before the error happens (that is to say, you must
-execute that expression and then make the bug happen). This causes the
-Lisp debugger to run (*note Lisp Debug::.). The debugger's backtrace
-can be copied as text into the bug report. This use of the debugger is
-possible only if you know how to make the bug happen again. Do note
-the error message the first time the bug happens, so if you can't make
-it happen again, you can report at least that.
-
- Check whether any programs you have loaded into the Lisp world,
-including your `.emacs' file, set any variables that may affect the
-functioning of Emacs. Also, see whether the problem happens in a
-freshly started Emacs without loading your `.emacs' file (start Emacs
-with the `-q' switch to prevent loading the init file). If the problem
-does NOT occur then, it is essential that we know the contents of any
-programs that you must load into the Lisp world in order to cause the
-problem to occur.
-
- If the problem does depend on an init file or other Lisp programs
-that are not part of the standard Emacs system, then you should make
-sure it is not a bug in those programs by complaining to their
-maintainers first. After they verify that they are using Emacs in a
-way that is supposed to work, they should report the bug.
-
- If you can tell us a way to cause the problem without visiting any
-files, please do so. This makes it much easier to debug. If you do
-need files, make sure you arrange for us to see their exact contents.
-For example, it can often matter whether there are spaces at the ends
-of lines, or a newline after the last line in the buffer (nothing ought
-to care whether the last line is terminated, but tell that to the bugs).
-
- The easy way to record the input to Emacs precisely is to write a
-dribble file; execute the Lisp expression:
-
- (open-dribble-file "~/dribble")
-
-using `Meta-<ESC>' or from the `*scratch*' buffer just after starting
-Emacs. From then on, all Emacs input will be written in the specified
-dribble file until the Emacs process is killed.
-
- For possible display bugs, it is important to report the terminal
-type (the value of environment variable `TERM'), the complete termcap
-entry for the terminal from `/etc/termcap' (since that file is not
-identical on all machines), and the output that Emacs actually sent to
-the terminal. The way to collect this output is to execute the Lisp
-expression:
-
- (open-termscript "~/termscript")
-
-using `Meta-<ESC>' or from the `*scratch*' buffer just after starting
-Emacs. From then on, all output from Emacs to the terminal will be
-written in the specified termscript file as well, until the Emacs
-process is killed. If the problem happens when Emacs starts up, put
-this expression into your `.emacs' file so that the termscript file will
-be open when Emacs displays the screen for the first time. Be warned:
-it is often difficult, and sometimes impossible, to fix a
-terminal-dependent bug without access to a terminal of the type that
-stimulates the bug.
-
- The newsgroup `comp.emacs.xemacs' may be used for bug reports, other
-discussions and requests for assistance.
-
- If you don't have access to this newgroup, you can subscribe to the
-mailing list version: the newsgroup is bidirectionally gatewayed into
-the mailing list `xemacs@xemacs.org'.
-
- To be added or removed from this mailing list, send mail to
-`xemacs-request@xemacs.org'. Do not send requests for addition to the
-mailing list itself.
-
- The mailing lists and newsgroups are archived on our anonymous FTP
-server, `ftp.xemacs.org', and at various other archive sites around the
-net. You should also check the `FAQ' in `/pub/xemacs' on our anonymous
-FTP server. It provides some introductory information and help for
-initial configuration problems.
-
-\1f
-File: xemacs.info, Node: Glossary, Next: Manifesto, Prev: Intro, Up: Top
-
-Glossary
-********
-
-Abbrev
- An abbrev is a text string which expands into a different text
- string when present in the buffer. For example, you might define
- a short word as an abbrev for a long phrase that you want to insert
- frequently. *Note Abbrevs::.
-
-Aborting
- Aborting means getting out of a recursive edit (q.v.). You can use
- the commands `C-]' and `M-x top-level' for this. *Note Quitting::.
-
-Auto Fill mode
- Auto Fill mode is a minor mode in which text you insert is
- automatically broken into lines of fixed width. *Note Filling::.
-
-Auto Saving
- Auto saving means that Emacs automatically stores the contents of
- an Emacs buffer in a specially-named file so the information will
- not be lost if the buffer is lost due to a system error or user
- error. *Note Auto Save::.
-
-Backup File
- A backup file records the contents that a file had before the
- current editing session. Emacs creates backup files automatically
- to help you track down or cancel changes you later regret. *Note
- Backup::.
-
-Balance Parentheses
- Emacs can balance parentheses manually or automatically. Manual
- balancing is done by the commands to move over balanced expressions
- (*note Lists::.). Automatic balancing is done by blinking the
- parenthesis that matches one just inserted (*note Matching Parens:
- Matching.).
-
-Bind
- To bind a key is to change its binding (q.v.). *Note Rebinding::.
-
-Binding
- A key gets its meaning in Emacs by having a binding which is a
- command (q.v.), a Lisp function that is run when the key is typed.
- *Note Binding: Commands. Customization often involves rebinding a
- character to a different command function. The bindings of all
- keys are recorded in the keymaps (q.v.). *Note Keymaps::.
-
-Blank Lines
- Blank lines are lines that contain only whitespace. Emacs has
- several commands for operating on the blank lines in a buffer.
-
-Buffer
- The buffer is the basic editing unit; one buffer corresponds to one
- piece of text being edited. You can have several buffers, but at
- any time you are editing only one, the `selected' buffer, though
- several buffers can be visible when you are using multiple
- windows. *Note Buffers::.
-
-Buffer Selection History
- Emacs keeps a buffer selection history which records how recently
- each Emacs buffer was selected. Emacs uses this list when
- choosing a buffer to select. *Note Buffers::.
-
-C-
- `C' in the name of a character is an abbreviation for Control.
- *Note C-: Keystrokes.
-
-C-M-
- `C-M-' in the name of a character is an abbreviation for
- Control-Meta. *Note C-M-: Keystrokes.
-
-Case Conversion
- Case conversion means changing text from upper case to lower case
- or vice versa. *Note Case::, for the commands for case conversion.
-
-Characters
- Characters form the contents of an Emacs buffer; also, Emacs
- commands are invoked by keys (q.v.), which are sequences of one or
- more characters. *Note Keystrokes::.
-
-Command
- A command is a Lisp function specially defined to be able to serve
- as a key binding in Emacs. When you type a key (q.v.), Emacs
- looks up its binding (q.v.) in the relevant keymaps (q.v.) to find
- the command to run. *Note Commands::.
-
-Command Name
- A command name is the name of a Lisp symbol which is a command
- (*note Commands::.). You can invoke any command by its name using
- `M-x' (*note M-x::.).
-
-Comments
- A comment is text in a program which is intended only for the
- people reading the program, and is marked specially so that it
- will be ignored when the program is loaded or compiled. Emacs
- offers special commands for creating, aligning, and killing
- comments. *Note Comments::.
-
-Compilation
- Compilation is the process of creating an executable program from
- source code. Emacs has commands for compiling files of Emacs Lisp
- code (*note Lisp Libraries::.) and programs in C and other
- languages (*note Compilation::.).
-
-Complete Key
- A complete key is a character or sequence of characters which,
- when typed by the user, fully specifies one action to be performed
- by Emacs. For example, `X' and `Control-f' and `Control-x m' are
- keys. Keys derive their meanings from being bound (q.v.) to
- commands (q.v.). Thus, `X' is conventionally bound to a command
- to insert `X' in the buffer; `C-x m' is conventionally bound to a
- command to begin composing a mail message. *Note Keystrokes::.
-
-Completion
- When Emacs automatically fills an abbreviation for a name into the
- entire name, that process is called completion. Completion is
- done for minibuffer (q.v.) arguments when the set of possible
- valid inputs is known; for example, on command names, buffer
- names, and file names. Completion occurs when you type <TAB>,
- <SPC>, or <RET>. *Note Completion::.
-
-Continuation Line
- When a line of text is longer than the width of the frame, it
- takes up more than one screen line when displayed. We say that the
- text line is continued, and all screen lines used for it after the
- first are called continuation lines. *Note Continuation: Basic.
-
-Control-Character
- ASCII characters with octal codes 0 through 037, and also code
- 0177, do not have graphic images assigned to them. These are the
- control characters. Any control character can be typed by holding
- down the <CTRL> key and typing some other character; some have
- special keys on the keyboard. <RET>, <TAB>, <ESC>, <LFD>, and
- <DEL> are all control characters. *Note Keystrokes::.
-
-Copyleft
- A copyleft is a notice giving the public legal permission to
- redistribute a program or other work of art. Copylefts are used
- by leftists to enrich the public just as copyrights are used by
- rightists to gain power over the public.
-
-Current Buffer
- The current buffer in Emacs is the Emacs buffer on which most
- editing commands operate. You can select any Emacs buffer as the
- current one. *Note Buffers::.
-
-Current Line
- The line point is on (*note Point::.).
-
-Current Paragraph
- The paragraph that point is in. If point is between paragraphs,
- the current paragraph is the one that follows point. *Note
- Paragraphs::.
-
-Current Defun
- The defun (q.v.) that point is in. If point is between defuns, the
- current defun is the one that follows point. *Note Defuns::.
-
-Cursor
- The cursor is the rectangle on the screen which indicates the
- position called point (q.v.) at which insertion and deletion takes
- place. The cursor is on or under the character that follows
- point. Often people speak of `the cursor' when, strictly
- speaking, they mean `point'. *Note Cursor: Basic.
-
-Customization
- Customization is making minor changes in the way Emacs works. It
- is often done by setting variables (*note Variables::.) or by
- rebinding keys (*note Keymaps::.).
-
-Default Argument
- The default for an argument is the value that is used if you do not
- specify one. When Emacs prompts you in the minibuffer for an
- argument, the default argument is used if you just type <RET>.
- *Note Minibuffer::.
-
-Default Directory
- When you specify a file name that does not start with `/' or `~',
- it is interpreted relative to the current buffer's default
- directory. *Note Default Directory: Minibuffer File.
-
-Defun
- A defun is a list at the top level of parenthesis or bracket
- structure in a program. It is so named because most such lists in
- Lisp programs are calls to the Lisp function `defun'. *Note
- Defuns::.
-
-<DEL>
- The <DEL> character runs the command that deletes one character of
- text. *Note DEL: Basic.
-
-Deletion
- Deleting text means erasing it without saving it. Emacs deletes
- text only when it is expected not to be worth saving (all
- whitespace, or only one character). The alternative is killing
- (q.v.). *Note Deletion: Killing.
-
-Deletion of Files
- Deleting a file means removing it from the file system. *Note
- Misc File Ops::.
-
-Deletion of Messages
- Deleting a message means flagging it to be eliminated from your
- mail file. Until the mail file is expunged, you can undo this by
- undeleting the message.
-
-Deletion of Frames
- When working under the multi-frame X-based version of XEmacs, you
- can delete individual frames using the Close menu item from the
- File menu.
-
-Deletion of Windows
- When you delete a subwindow of an Emacs frame, you eliminate it
- from the frame. Other windows expand to use up the space. The
- deleted window can never come back, but no actual text is lost.
- *Note Windows::.
-
-Directory
- Files in the Unix file system are grouped into file directories.
- *Note Directories: ListDir.
-
-Dired
- Dired is the Emacs facility that displays the contents of a file
- directory and allows you to "edit the directory", performing
- operations on the files in the directory. *Note Dired::.
-
-Disabled Command
- A disabled command is one that you may not run without special
- confirmation. Commands are usually disabled because they are
- confusing for beginning users. *Note Disabling::.
-
-Dribble File
- A file into which Emacs writes all the characters that the user
- types on the keyboard. Dribble files are used to make a record for
- debugging Emacs bugs. Emacs does not make a dribble file unless
- you tell it to. *Note Bugs::.
-
-Echo Area
- The area at the bottom of the Emacs frame which is used for
- echoing the arguments to commands, for asking questions, and for
- printing brief messages (including error messages). *Note Echo
- Area::.
-
-Echoing
- Echoing refers to acknowledging the receipt of commands by
- displaying them (in the echo area). Emacs never echoes
- single-character keys; longer keys echo only if you pause while
- typing them.
-
-Error
- An error occurs when an Emacs command cannot execute in the current
- circumstances. When an error occurs, execution of the command
- stops (unless the command has been programmed to do otherwise) and
- Emacs reports the error by printing an error message (q.v.).
- Type-ahead is discarded. Then Emacs is ready to read another
- editing command.
-
-Error Messages
- Error messages are single lines of output printed by Emacs when the
- user asks for something impossible to do (such as killing text
- forward when point is at the end of the buffer). They appear in
- the echo area, accompanied by a beep.
-
-<ESC>
- <ESC> is a character used as a prefix for typing Meta characters on
- keyboards lacking a <META> key. Unlike the <META> key (which,
- like the <SHIFT> key, is held down while another character is
- typed), the <ESC> key is pressed and released, and applies to the
- next character typed.
-
-Fill Prefix
- The fill prefix is a string that Emacs enters at the beginning of
- each line when it performs filling. It is not regarded as part of
- the text to be filled. *Note Filling::.
-
-Filling
- Filling text means moving text from line to line so that all the
- lines are approximately the same length. *Note Filling::.
-
-Frame
- When running Emacs on a TTY terminal, "frame" means the terminal's
- screen. When running Emacs under X, you can have multiple frames,
- each corresponding to a top-level X window and each looking like
- the screen on a TTY. Each frame contains one or more
- non-overlapping Emacs windows (possibly with associated
- scrollbars, under X), an echo area, and (under X) possibly a
- menubar.
-
-Global
- Global means `independent of the current environment; in effect
- throughout Emacs'. It is the opposite of local (q.v.). Examples
- of the use of `global' appear below.
-
-Global Abbrev
- A global definition of an abbrev (q.v.) is effective in all major
- modes that do not have local (q.v.) definitions for the same
- abbrev. *Note Abbrevs::.
-
-Global Keymap
- The global keymap (q.v.) contains key bindings that are in effect
- unless local key bindings in a major mode's local keymap (q.v.)
- override them.*Note Keymaps::.
-
-Global Substitution
- Global substitution means replacing each occurrence of one string
- by another string through a large amount of text. *Note Replace::.
-
-Global Variable
- The global value of a variable (q.v.) takes effect in all buffers
- that do not have their own local (q.v.) values for the variable.
- *Note Variables::.
-
-Graphic Character
- Graphic characters are those assigned pictorial images rather than
- just names. All the non-Meta (q.v.) characters except for the
- Control (q.v.) character are graphic characters. These include
- letters, digits, punctuation, and spaces; they do not include
- <RET> or <ESC>. In Emacs, typing a graphic character inserts that
- character (in ordinary editing modes). *Note Basic Editing: Basic.
-
-Grinding
- Grinding means adjusting the indentation in a program to fit the
- nesting structure. *Note Grinding: Indentation.
-
-Hardcopy
- Hardcopy means printed output. Emacs has commands for making
- printed listings of text in Emacs buffers. *Note Hardcopy::.
-
-<HELP>
- You can type <HELP> at any time to ask what options you have, or
- to ask what any command does. <HELP> is really `Control-h'.
- *Note Help::.
-
-Inbox
- An inbox is a file in which mail is delivered by the operating
- system. Some mail handlers transfers mail from inboxes to mail
- files (q.v.) in which the mail is then stored permanently or until
- explicitly deleted.
-
-Indentation
- Indentation means blank space at the beginning of a line. Most
- programming languages have conventions for using indentation to
- illuminate the structure of the program, and Emacs has special
- features to help you set up the correct indentation. *Note
- Indentation::.
-
-Insertion
- Insertion means copying text into the buffer, either from the
- keyboard or from some other place in Emacs.
-
-Justification
- Justification means adding extra spaces to lines of text to make
- them come exactly to a specified width. *Note Justification:
- Filling.
-
-Keyboard Macros
- Keyboard macros are a way of defining new Emacs commands from
- sequences of existing ones, with no need to write a Lisp program.
- *Note Keyboard Macros::.
-
-Key
- A key is a sequence of characters that, when input to Emacs,
- specify or begin to specify a single action for Emacs to perform.
- That is, the sequence is considered a single unit. If the key is
- enough to specify one action, it is a complete key (q.v.); if it
- is less than enough, it is a prefix key (q.v.). *Note
- Keystrokes::.
-
-Keymap
- The keymap is the data structure that records the bindings (q.v.)
- of keys to the commands that they run. For example, the keymap
- binds the character `C-n' to the command function `next-line'.
- *Note Keymaps::.
-
-Kill Ring
- The kill ring is the place where all text you have killed recently
- is saved. You can re-insert any of the killed text still in the
- ring; this is called yanking (q.v.). *Note Yanking::.
-
-Killing
- Killing means erasing text and saving it on the kill ring so it
- can be yanked (q.v.) later. Some other systems call this
- "cutting." Most Emacs commands to erase text do killing, as
- opposed to deletion (q.v.). *Note Killing::.
-
-Killing Jobs
- Killing a job (such as, an invocation of Emacs) means making it
- cease to exist. Any data within it, if not saved in a file, is
- lost. *Note Exiting::.
-
-List
- A list is, approximately, a text string beginning with an open
- parenthesis and ending with the matching close parenthesis. In C
- mode and other non-Lisp modes, groupings surrounded by other kinds
- of matched delimiters appropriate to the language, such as braces,
- are also considered lists. Emacs has special commands for many
- operations on lists. *Note Lists::.
-
-Local
- Local means `in effect only in a particular context'; the relevant
- kind of context is a particular function execution, a particular
- buffer, or a particular major mode. Local is the opposite of
- `global' (q.v.). Specific uses of `local' in Emacs terminology
- appear below.
-
-Local Abbrev
- A local abbrev definition is effective only if a particular major
- mode is selected. In that major mode, it overrides any global
- definition for the same abbrev. *Note Abbrevs::.
-
-Local Keymap
- A local keymap is used in a particular major mode; the key bindings
- (q.v.) in the current local keymap override global bindings of the
- same keys. *Note Keymaps::.
-
-Local Variable
- A local value of a variable (q.v.) applies to only one buffer.
- *Note Locals::.
-
-M-
- `M-' in the name of a character is an abbreviation for <META>, one
- of the modifier keys that can accompany any character. *Note
- Keystrokes::.
-
-M-C-
- `M-C-' in the name of a character is an abbreviation for
- Control-Meta; it means the same thing as `C-M-'. If your terminal
- lacks a real <META> key, you type a Control-Meta character by
- typing <ESC> and then typing the corresponding Control character.
- *Note C-M-: Keystrokes.
-
-M-x
- `M-x' is the key which is used to call an Emacs command by name.
- You use it to call commands that are not bound to keys. *Note
- M-x::.
-
-Mail
- Mail means messages sent from one user to another through the
- computer system, to be read at the recipient's convenience. Emacs
- has commands for composing and sending mail, and for reading and
- editing the mail you have received. *Note Sending Mail::.
-
-Major Mode
- The major modes are a mutually exclusive set of options each of
- which configures Emacs for editing a certain sort of text.
- Ideally, each programming language has its own major mode. *Note
- Major Modes::.
-
-Mark
- The mark points to a position in the text. It specifies one end
- of the region (q.v.), point being the other end. Many commands
- operate on the whole region, that is, all the text from point to
- the mark. *Note Mark::.
-
-Mark Ring
- The mark ring is used to hold several recent previous locations of
- the mark, just in case you want to move back to them. *Note Mark
- Ring::.
-
-Message
- See `mail'.
-
-Meta
- Meta is the name of a modifier bit which a command character may
- have. It is present in a character if the character is typed with
- the <META> key held down. Such characters are given names that
- start with `Meta-'. For example, `Meta-<' is typed by holding down
- <META> and at the same time typing `<' (which itself is done, on
- most terminals, by holding down <SHIFT> and typing `,'). *Note
- Meta: Keystrokes.
-
-Meta Character
- A Meta character is one whose character code includes the Meta bit.
-
-Minibuffer
- The minibuffer is the window that Emacs displays inside the echo
- area (q.v.) when it prompts you for arguments to commands. *Note
- Minibuffer::.
-
-Minor Mode
- A minor mode is an optional feature of Emacs which can be switched
- on or off independent of the major mode. Each minor mode has a
- command to turn it on or off. *Note Minor Modes::.
-
-Mode Line
- The mode line is the line at the bottom of each text window (q.v.),
- which gives status information on the buffer displayed in that
- window. *Note Mode Line::.
-
-Modified Buffer
- A buffer (q.v.) is modified if its text has been changed since the
- last time the buffer was saved (or since it was created, if it has
- never been saved). *Note Saving::.
-
-Moving Text
- Moving text means erasing it from one place and inserting it in
- another. This is done by killing (q.v.) and then yanking (q.v.).
- *Note Killing::.
-
-Named Mark
- A named mark is a register (q.v.) in its role of recording a
- location in text so that you can move point to that location.
- *Note Registers::.
-
-Narrowing
- Narrowing means creating a restriction (q.v.) that limits editing
- in the current buffer to only a part of the text in the buffer.
- Text outside that part is inaccessible to the user until the
- boundaries are widened again, but it is still there, and saving
- the file saves the invisible text. *Note Narrowing::.
-
-Newline
- <LFD> characters in the buffer terminate lines of text and are
- called newlines. *Note Newline: Keystrokes.
-
-Numeric Argument
- A numeric argument is a number, specified before a command, to
- change the effect of the command. Often the numeric argument
- serves as a repeat count. *Note Arguments::.
-
-Option
- An option is a variable (q.v.) that allows you to customize Emacs
- by giving it a new value. *Note Variables::.
-
-Overwrite Mode
- Overwrite mode is a minor mode. When it is enabled, ordinary text
- characters replace the existing text after point rather than
- pushing it to the right. *Note Minor Modes::.
-
-Page
- A page is a unit of text, delimited by formfeed characters (ASCII
- Control-L, code 014) coming at the beginning of a line. Some Emacs
- commands are provided for moving over and operating on pages.
- *Note Pages::.
-
-Paragraphs
- Paragraphs are the medium-size unit of English text. There are
- special Emacs commands for moving over and operating on paragraphs.
- *Note Paragraphs::.
-
-Parsing
- We say that Emacs parses words or expressions in the text being
- edited. Really, all it knows how to do is find the other end of a
- word or expression. *Note Syntax::.
-
-Point
- Point is the place in the buffer at which insertion and deletion
- occur. Point is considered to be between two characters, not at
- one character. The terminal's cursor (q.v.) indicates the
- location of point. *Note Point: Basic.
-
-Prefix Key
- A prefix key is a key (q.v.) whose sole function is to introduce a
- set of multi-character keys. `Control-x' is an example of a prefix
- key; any two-character sequence starting with `C-x' is also a
- legitimate key. *Note Keystrokes::.
-
-Prompt
- A prompt is text printed to ask the user for input. Printing a
- prompt is called prompting. Emacs prompts always appear in the
- echo area (q.v.). One kind of prompting happens when the
- minibuffer is used to read an argument (*note Minibuffer::.); the
- echoing which happens when you pause in the middle of typing a
- multi-character key is also a kind of prompting (*note Echo
- Area::.).
-
-Quitting
- Quitting means cancelling a partially typed command or a running
- command, using `C-g'. *Note Quitting::.
-
-Quoting
- Quoting means depriving a character of its usual special
- significance. In Emacs this is usually done with `Control-q'.
- What constitutes special significance depends on the context and
- on convention. For example, an "ordinary" character as an Emacs
- command inserts itself; so in this context, a special character is
- any character that does not normally insert itself (such as <DEL>,
- for example), and quoting it makes it insert itself as if it were
- not special. Not all contexts allow quoting. *Note Quoting:
- Basic.
-
-Read-only Buffer
- A read-only buffer is one whose text you are not allowed to change.
- Normally Emacs makes buffers read-only when they contain text which
- has a special significance to Emacs, such asDired buffers.
- Visiting a file that is write-protected also makes a read-only
- buffer. *Note Buffers::.
-
-Recursive Editing Level
- A recursive editing level is a state in which part of the
- execution of a command involves asking the user to edit some text.
- This text may or may not be the same as the text to which the
- command was applied. The mode line indicates recursive editing
- levels with square brackets (`[' and `]'). *Note Recursive Edit::.
-
-Redisplay
- Redisplay is the process of correcting the image on the screen to
- correspond to changes that have been made in the text being edited.
- *Note Redisplay: Frame.
-
-Regexp
- See `regular expression'.
-
-Region
- The region is the text between point (q.v.) and the mark (q.v.).
- Many commands operate on the text of the region. *Note Region:
- Mark.
-
-Registers
- Registers are named slots in which text or buffer positions or
- rectangles can be saved for later use. *Note Registers::.
-
-Regular Expression
- A regular expression is a pattern that can match various text
- strings; for example, `l[0-9]+' matches `l' followed by one or more
- digits. *Note Regexps::.
-
-Replacement
- See `global substitution'.
-
-Restriction
- A buffer's restriction is the amount of text, at the beginning or
- the end of the buffer, that is temporarily invisible and
- inaccessible. Giving a buffer a nonzero amount of restriction is
- called narrowing (q.v.). *Note Narrowing::.
-
-<RET>
- <RET> is the character than runs the command to insert a newline
- into the text. It is also used to terminate most arguments read
- in the minibuffer (q.v.). *Note Return: Keystrokes.
-
-Saving
- Saving a buffer means copying its text into the file that was
- visited (q.v.) in that buffer. To actually change a file you have
- edited in Emacs, you have to save it. *Note Saving::.
-
-Scrolling
- Scrolling means shifting the text in the Emacs window to make a
- different part ot the buffer visible. *Note Scrolling: Display.
-
-Searching
- Searching means moving point to the next occurrence of a specified
- string. *Note Search::.
-
-Selecting
- Selecting a buffer means making it the current (q.v.) buffer.
- *Note Selecting: Buffers.
-
-Self-documentation
- Self-documentation is the feature of Emacs which can tell you what
- any command does, or can give you a list of all commands related
- to a topic you specify. You ask for self-documentation with the
- help character, `C-h'. *Note Help::.
-
-Sentences
- Emacs has commands for moving by or killing by sentences. *Note
- Sentences::.
-
-Sexp
- An sexp (short for `s-expression,' itself short for `symbolic
- expression') is the basic syntactic unit of Lisp in its textual
- form: either a list, or Lisp atom. Many Emacs commands operate on
- sexps. The term `sexp' is generalized to languages other than
- Lisp to mean a syntactically recognizable expression. *Note
- Sexps: Lists.
-
-Simultaneous Editing
- Simultaneous editing means two users modifying the same file at
- once. If simultaneous editing is not detected, you may lose your
- work. Emacs detects all cases of simultaneous editing and warns
- the user to investigate them. *Note Simultaneous Editing:
- Interlocking.
-
-String
- A string is a kind of Lisp data object which contains a sequence of
- characters. Many Emacs variables are intended to have strings as
- values. The Lisp syntax for a string consists of the characters in
- the string with a `"' before and another `"' after. Write a `"'
- that is part of the string as `\"' and a `\' that is part of the
- string as `\\'. You can include all other characters, including
- newline, just by writing them inside the string. You can also
- include escape sequences as in C, such as `\n' for newline or
- `\241' using an octal character code.
-
-String Substitution
- See `global substitution'.
-
-Syntax Table
- The syntax table tells Emacs which characters are part of a word,
- which characters balance each other like parentheses, etc. *Note
- Syntax::.
-
-Tag Table
- A tag table is a file that serves as an index to the function
- definitions in one or more other files. *Note Tags::.
-
-Termscript File
- A termscript file contains a record of all characters Emacs sent to
- the terminal. It is used for tracking down bugs in Emacs
- redisplay. Emacs does not make a termscript file unless
- explicitly instructed to do so. *Note Bugs::.
-
-Text
- Text has two meanings (*note Text::.):
-
- * Data consisting of a sequence of characters, as opposed to
- binary numbers, images, graphics commands, executable
- programs, and the like. The contents of an Emacs buffer are
- always text in this sense.
-
- * Data consisting of written human language, as opposed to
- programs, or something that follows the stylistic conventions
- of human language.
-
-Top Level
- Top level is the normal state of Emacs, in which you are editing
- the text of the file you have visited. You are at top level
- whenever you are not in a recursive editing level (q.v.) or the
- minibuffer (q.v.), and not in the middle of a command. You can
- get back to top level by aborting (q.v.) and quitting (q.v.).
- *Note Quitting::.
-
-Transposition
- Transposing two units of text means putting each one into the place
- formerly occupied by the other. There are Emacs commands to
- transpose two adjacent characters, words, sexps (q.v.), or lines
- (*note Transpose::.).
-
-Truncation
- Truncating text lines in the display means leaving out any text on
- a line that does not fit within the right margin of the window
- displaying it. See also `continuation line'. *Note Truncation:
- Basic.
-
-Undoing
- Undoing means making your previous editing go in reverse, bringing
- back the text that existed earlier in the editing session. *Note
- Undo::.
-
-Variable
- A variable is Lisp object that can store an arbitrary value.
- Emacs uses some variables for internal purposes, and has others
- (known as `options' (q.v.)) you can set to control the behavior of
- Emacs. The variables used in Emacs that you are likely to be
- interested in are listed in the Variables Index of this manual.
- *Note Variables::, for information on variables.
-
-Visiting
- Visiting a file means loading its contents into a buffer (q.v.)
- where they can be edited. *Note Visiting::.
-
-Whitespace
- Whitespace is any run of consecutive formatting characters (spaces,
- tabs, newlines, and backspaces).
-
-Widening
- Widening is removing any restriction (q.v.) on the current buffer;
- it is the opposite of narrowing (q.v.). *Note Narrowing::.
-
-Window
- Emacs divides the frame into one or more windows, each of which can
- display the contents of one buffer (q.v.) at any time. *Note
- Frame::, for basic information on how Emacs uses the frame. *Note
- Windows::, for commands to control the use of windows. Note that if
- you are running Emacs under X, terminology can be confusing: Each
- Emacs frame occupies a separate X window and can, in turn, be
- divided into different subwindows.
-
-Word Abbrev
- Synonymous with `abbrev'.
-
-Word Search
- Word search is searching for a sequence of words, considering the
- punctuation between them as insignificant. *Note Word Search::.
-
-Yanking
- Yanking means reinserting text previously killed. It can be used
- to undo a mistaken kill, or for copying or moving text. Some other
- systems call this "pasting". *Note Yanking::.
-
projects / chise / xemacs-chise.git.1 / blobdiff