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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2016 Free Software
4 @c Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @node Frames
7 @chapter Frames
8 @cindex frame
9
10 A @dfn{frame} is a screen object that contains one or more Emacs
11 windows (@pxref{Windows}). It is the kind of object called a
12 ``window'' in the terminology of graphical environments; but we can't
13 call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
14 way. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp object that
15 represents a frame on the screen. @xref{Frame Type}.
16
17 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
18 window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
19 into smaller windows. @xref{Splitting Windows}.
20
21 @cindex terminal
22 A @dfn{terminal} is a display device capable of displaying one or
23 more Emacs frames. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{terminal object} is a Lisp
24 object that represents a terminal. @xref{Terminal Type}.
25
26 @cindex text terminal
27 @cindex graphical terminal
28 @cindex graphical display
29 There are two classes of terminals: @dfn{text terminals} and
30 @dfn{graphical terminals}. Text terminals are non-graphics-capable
31 displays, including @command{xterm} and other terminal emulators. On
32 a text terminal, each Emacs frame occupies the terminal's entire
33 screen; although you can create additional frames and switch between
34 them, the terminal only shows one frame at a time. Graphical
35 terminals, on the other hand, are managed by graphical display systems
36 such as the X Window System, which allow Emacs to show multiple frames
37 simultaneously on the same display.
38
39 On GNU and Unix systems, you can create additional frames on any
40 available terminal, within a single Emacs session, regardless of
41 whether Emacs was started on a text or graphical terminal. Emacs can
42 display on both graphical and text terminals simultaneously. This
43 comes in handy, for instance, when you connect to the same session
44 from several remote locations. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
45
46 @defun framep object
47 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
48 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
49 kind of display the frame uses:
50
51 @table @code
52 @item t
53 The frame is displayed on a text terminal.
54 @item x
55 The frame is displayed on an X graphical terminal.
56 @item w32
57 The frame is displayed on a MS-Windows graphical terminal.
58 @item ns
59 The frame is displayed on a GNUstep or Macintosh Cocoa graphical
60 terminal.
61 @item pc
62 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
63 @end table
64 @end defun
65
66 @defun frame-terminal &optional frame
67 This function returns the terminal object that displays @var{frame}.
68 If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or unspecified, it defaults to the
69 selected frame.
70 @end defun
71
72 @defun terminal-live-p object
73 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
74 terminal that is live (i.e., not deleted), and @code{nil} otherwise.
75 For live terminals, the return value indicates what kind of frames are
76 displayed on that terminal; the list of possible values is the same as
77 for @code{framep} above.
78 @end defun
79
80 @menu
81 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
82 * Multiple Terminals:: Displaying on several different devices.
83 * Frame Geometry:: Geometric properties of frames.
84 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
85 * Terminal Parameters:: Parameters common for all frames on terminal.
86 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
87 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
88 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
89 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
90 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
91 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
92 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
93 lowering it makes the others hide it.
94 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
95 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
96 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
97 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
98 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
99 * Pointer Shape:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
100 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
101 * Drag and Drop:: Internals of Drag-and-Drop implementation.
102 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
103 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text terminals.
104 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
105 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
106 @end menu
107
108 @node Creating Frames
109 @section Creating Frames
110 @cindex frame creation
111
112 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
113
114 @deffn Command make-frame &optional alist
115 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
116 buffer.
117
118 The @var{alist} argument is an alist that specifies frame parameters
119 for the new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}. If you specify the
120 @code{terminal} parameter in @var{alist}, the new frame is created on
121 that terminal. Otherwise, if you specify the @code{window-system}
122 frame parameter in @var{alist}, that determines whether the frame
123 should be displayed on a text terminal or a graphical terminal.
124 @xref{Window Systems}. If neither is specified, the new frame is
125 created in the same terminal as the selected frame.
126
127 Any parameters not mentioned in @var{alist} default to the values in
128 the alist @code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Initial Parameters});
129 parameters not specified there default from the X resources or its
130 equivalent on your operating system (@pxref{X Resources,, X Resources,
131 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). After the frame is created, Emacs
132 applies any parameters listed in @code{frame-inherited-parameters}
133 (see below) and not present in the argument, taking the values from
134 the frame that was selected when @code{make-frame} was called.
135
136 Note that on multi-monitor displays (@pxref{Multiple Terminals}), the
137 window manager might position the frame differently than specified by
138 the positional parameters in @var{alist} (@pxref{Position
139 Parameters}). For example, some window managers have a policy of
140 displaying the frame on the monitor that contains the largest part of
141 the window (a.k.a.@: the @dfn{dominating} monitor).
142
143 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
144 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
145 On graphical terminals, however, the windowing system may select the
146 new frame for its own reasons.
147 @end deffn
148
149 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
150 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it creates the frame.
151 @end defvar
152
153 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
154 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
155 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
156 frame just created.
157 @end defvar
158
159 @defvar frame-inherited-parameters
160 This variable specifies the list of frame parameters that a newly
161 created frame inherits from the currently selected frame. For each
162 parameter (a symbol) that is an element in the list and is not present
163 in the argument to @code{make-frame}, the function sets the value of
164 that parameter in the created frame to its value in the selected
165 frame.
166 @end defvar
167
168 @node Multiple Terminals
169 @section Multiple Terminals
170 @cindex multiple terminals
171 @cindex multi-tty
172 @cindex multiple X displays
173 @cindex displays, multiple
174
175 Emacs represents each terminal as a @dfn{terminal object} data type
176 (@pxref{Terminal Type}). On GNU and Unix systems, Emacs can use
177 multiple terminals simultaneously in each session. On other systems,
178 it can only use a single terminal. Each terminal object has the
179 following attributes:
180
181 @itemize @bullet
182 @item
183 The name of the device used by the terminal (e.g., @samp{:0.0} or
184 @file{/dev/tty}).
185
186 @item
187 The terminal and keyboard coding systems used on the terminal.
188 @xref{Terminal I/O Encoding}.
189
190 @item
191 The kind of display associated with the terminal. This is the symbol
192 returned by the function @code{terminal-live-p} (i.e., @code{x},
193 @code{t}, @code{w32}, @code{ns}, or @code{pc}). @xref{Frames}.
194
195 @item
196 A list of terminal parameters. @xref{Terminal Parameters}.
197 @end itemize
198
199 There is no primitive for creating terminal objects. Emacs creates
200 them as needed, such as when you call @code{make-frame-on-display}
201 (described below).
202
203 @defun terminal-name &optional terminal
204 This function returns the file name of the device used by
205 @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it
206 defaults to the selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be
207 a frame, meaning that frame's terminal.
208 @end defun
209
210 @defun terminal-list
211 This function returns a list of all live terminal objects.
212 @end defun
213
214 @defun get-device-terminal device
215 This function returns a terminal whose device name is given by
216 @var{device}. If @var{device} is a string, it can be either the file
217 name of a terminal device, or the name of an X display of the form
218 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}}. If @var{device} is a
219 frame, this function returns that frame's terminal; @code{nil} means
220 the selected frame. Finally, if @var{device} is a terminal object
221 that represents a live terminal, that terminal is returned. The
222 function signals an error if its argument is none of the above.
223 @end defun
224
225 @defun delete-terminal &optional terminal force
226 This function deletes all frames on @var{terminal} and frees the
227 resources used by it. It runs the abnormal hook
228 @code{delete-terminal-functions}, passing @var{terminal} as the
229 argument to each function.
230
231 If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the
232 selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be a frame,
233 meaning that frame's terminal.
234
235 Normally, this function signals an error if you attempt to delete the
236 sole active terminal, but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, you are
237 allowed to do so. Emacs automatically calls this function when the
238 last frame on a terminal is deleted (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
239 @end defun
240
241 @defvar delete-terminal-functions
242 An abnormal hook run by @code{delete-terminal}. Each function
243 receives one argument, the @var{terminal} argument passed to
244 @code{delete-terminal}. Due to technical details, the functions may
245 be called either just before the terminal is deleted, or just
246 afterwards.
247 @end defvar
248
249 @cindex terminal-local variables
250 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
251 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
252 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
253 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
254 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
255 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can
256 never be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}).
257
258 On GNU and Unix systems, each X display is a separate graphical
259 terminal. When Emacs is started from within the X window system, it
260 uses the X display specified by the @env{DISPLAY} environment
261 variable, or by the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial Options,,,
262 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Emacs can connect to other X displays
263 via the command @code{make-frame-on-display}. Each X display has its
264 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows; however, only one
265 of those frames is @emph{the} selected frame at any given moment
266 (@pxref{Input Focus}). Emacs can even connect to other text
267 terminals, by interacting with the @command{emacsclient} program.
268 @xref{Emacs Server,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
269
270 @cindex X display names
271 @cindex display name on X
272 A single X server can handle more than one display. Each X display
273 has a three-part name,
274 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{displaynumber}.@var{screennumber}}. The
275 first part, @var{hostname}, specifies the name of the machine to which
276 the display is physically connected. The second part,
277 @var{displaynumber}, is a zero-based number that identifies one or
278 more monitors connected to that machine that share a common keyboard
279 and pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.). The third part,
280 @var{screennumber}, identifies a zero-based screen number (a separate
281 monitor) that is part of a single monitor collection on that X server.
282 When you use two or more screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows
283 by the similarity in their names that they share a single keyboard.
284
285 Systems that don't use the X window system, such as MS-Windows,
286 don't support the notion of X displays, and have only one display on
287 each host. The display name on these systems doesn't follow the above
288 3-part format; for example, the display name on MS-Windows systems is
289 a constant string @samp{w32}, and exists for compatibility, so that
290 you could pass it to functions that expect a display name.
291
292 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
293 This function creates and returns a new frame on @var{display}, taking
294 the other frame parameters from the alist @var{parameters}.
295 @var{display} should be the name of an X display (a string).
296
297 Before creating the frame, this function ensures that Emacs is set
298 up to display graphics. For instance, if Emacs has not processed X
299 resources (e.g., if it was started on a text terminal), it does so at
300 this time. In all other respects, this function behaves like
301 @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating Frames}).
302 @end deffn
303
304 @defun x-display-list
305 This function returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has
306 a connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one
307 is a display name.
308 @end defun
309
310 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
311 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display},
312 without creating a frame on that display. Normally, Emacs Lisp
313 programs need not call this function, as @code{make-frame-on-display}
314 calls it automatically. The only reason for calling it is to check
315 whether communication can be established with a given X display.
316
317 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a string
318 of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
319 @file{.Xresources} file. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The
320 GNU Emacs Manual}. These values apply to all Emacs frames created on
321 this display, overriding the resource values recorded in the X server.
322 Here's an example of what this string might look like:
323
324 @example
325 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
326 @end example
327
328 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
329 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
330 @end defun
331
332 @defun x-close-connection display
333 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
334 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open
335 on that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
336 @end defun
337
338 @cindex multi-monitor
339 On some multi-monitor setups, a single X display outputs to more
340 than one physical monitor. You can use the functions
341 @code{display-monitor-attributes-list} and @code{frame-monitor-attributes}
342 to obtain information about such setups.
343
344 @defun display-monitor-attributes-list &optional display
345 This function returns a list of physical monitor attributes on
346 @var{display}, which can be a display name (a string), a terminal, or
347 a frame; if omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame's
348 display. Each element of the list is an association list,
349 representing the attributes of a physical monitor. The first element
350 corresponds to the primary monitor. The attribute keys and values
351 are:
352
353 @table @samp
354 @item geometry
355 Position of the top-left corner of the monitor's screen and its size,
356 in pixels, as @samp{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})}. Note
357 that, if the monitor is not the primary monitor, some of the
358 coordinates might be negative.
359
360 @item workarea
361 Position of the top-left corner and size of the work area (usable
362 space) in pixels as @samp{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})}.
363 This may be different from @samp{geometry} in that space occupied by
364 various window manager features (docks, taskbars, etc.)@: may be
365 excluded from the work area. Whether or not such features actually
366 subtract from the work area depends on the platform and environment.
367 Again, if the monitor is not the primary monitor, some of the
368 coordinates might be negative.
369
370 @item mm-size
371 Width and height in millimeters as @samp{(@var{width} @var{height})}
372
373 @item frames
374 List of frames that this physical monitor dominates (see below).
375
376 @item name
377 Name of the physical monitor as @var{string}.
378
379 @item source
380 Source of the multi-monitor information as @var{string};
381 e.g., @samp{XRandr} or @samp{Xinerama}.
382 @end table
383
384 @var{x}, @var{y}, @var{width}, and @var{height} are integers.
385 @samp{name} and @samp{source} may be absent.
386
387 A frame is @dfn{dominated} by a physical monitor when either the
388 largest area of the frame resides in that monitor, or (if the frame
389 does not intersect any physical monitors) that monitor is the closest
390 to the frame. Every (non-tooltip) frame (whether visible or not) in a
391 graphical display is dominated by exactly one physical monitor at a
392 time, though the frame can span multiple (or no) physical monitors.
393
394 Here's an example of the data produced by this function on a 2-monitor
395 display:
396
397 @lisp
398 (display-monitor-attributes-list)
399 @result{}
400 (((geometry 0 0 1920 1080) ;; @r{Left-hand, primary monitor}
401 (workarea 0 0 1920 1050) ;; @r{A taskbar occupies some of the height}
402 (mm-size 677 381)
403 (name . "DISPLAY1")
404 (frames #<frame emacs@@host *Messages* 0x11578c0>
405 #<frame emacs@@host *scratch* 0x114b838>))
406 ((geometry 1920 0 1680 1050) ;; @r{Right-hand monitor}
407 (workarea 1920 0 1680 1050) ;; @r{Whole screen can be used}
408 (mm-size 593 370)
409 (name . "DISPLAY2")
410 (frames)))
411 @end lisp
412
413 @end defun
414
415 @defun frame-monitor-attributes &optional frame
416 This function returns the attributes of the physical monitor
417 dominating (see above) @var{frame}, which defaults to the selected frame.
418 @end defun
419
420
421 @node Frame Geometry
422 @section Frame Geometry
423 @cindex frame geometry
424 @cindex frame position
425 @cindex position of frame
426 @cindex frame size
427 @cindex size of frame
428
429 The geometry of a frame depends on the toolkit that was used to build
430 this instance of Emacs and the terminal that displays the frame. This
431 chapter describes these dependencies and some of the functions to deal
432 with them. Note that the @var{frame} argument of all of these functions
433 has to specify a live frame (@pxref{Deleting Frames}). If omitted or
434 @code{nil}, it specifies the selected frame (@pxref{Input Focus}).
435
436 @menu
437 * Frame Layout:: Basic layout of frames.
438 * Frame Font:: The default font of a frame and how to set it.
439 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
440 * Implied Frame Resizing:: Implied resizing of frames and how to prevent it.
441 @end menu
442
443
444 @node Frame Layout
445 @subsection Frame Layout
446 @cindex frame layout
447 @cindex layout of frame
448
449 The drawing below sketches the layout of a frame on a graphical
450 terminal:
451 @smallexample
452 @group
453
454 <------------ Outer Frame Width ----------->
455 ___________________________________________
456 ^(0) ___________ External Border __________ |
457 | | |_____________ Title Bar ______________| |
458 | | (1)_____________ Menu Bar ______________| | ^
459 | | (2)_____________ Tool Bar ______________| | ^
460 | | (3) _________ Internal Border ________ | | ^
461 | | | | ^ | | | |
462 | | | | | | | | |
463 Outer | | | Inner | | | Native
464 Frame | | | Frame | | | Frame
465 Height | | | Height | | | Height
466 | | | | | | | | |
467 | | | |<--+--- Inner Frame Width ------->| | | |
468 | | | | | | | | |
469 | | | |___v______________________________| | | |
470 | | |___________ Internal Border __________| | v
471 v |______________ External Border _____________|
472 <-------- Native Frame Width -------->
473
474 @end group
475 @end smallexample
476
477 In practice not all of the areas shown in the drawing will or may be
478 present. The meaning of these areas is:
479
480 @table @samp
481 @item Outer Frame
482 @cindex outer frame
483 @cindex outer edges
484 @cindex outer width
485 @cindex outer height
486 The @dfn{outer frame} is a rectangle comprising all areas shown in the
487 drawing. The edges of that rectangle are called the @dfn{outer edges}
488 of the frame. The @dfn{outer width} and @dfn{outer height} of the frame
489 specify the size of that rectangle.
490
491 @cindex outer position
492 The upper left corner of the outer frame (indicated by @samp{(0)} in the
493 drawing above) is the @dfn{outer position} or the frame. It is
494 specified by and settable via the @code{left} and @code{top} frame
495 parameters (@pxref{Position Parameters}) as well as the functions
496 @code{frame-position} and @code{set-frame-position} (@pxref{Size and
497 Position}).
498
499 @item External Border
500 @cindex external border
501 The @dfn{external border} is part of the decorations supplied by the
502 window manager. It's typically used for resizing the frame with the
503 mouse. The external border is normally not shown on ``fullboth'' and
504 maximized frames (@pxref{Size Parameters}) and doesn't exist for text
505 terminal frames.
506
507 The external border should not be confused with the @dfn{outer
508 border} specified by the @code{border-width} frame parameter
509 (@pxref{Layout Parameters}). Since the outer border is usually ignored
510 on most platforms it is not covered here.
511
512 @item Title Bar
513 @cindex title bar
514 The @dfn{title bar} is also part of the window manager's decorations and
515 typically displays the title of the frame (@pxref{Frame Titles}) as well
516 as buttons for minimizing, maximizing and deleting the frame. The title
517 bar is usually not displayed on fullboth (@pxref{Size Parameters})
518 or tooltip frames. Title bars don't exist for text terminal frames.
519
520 @item Menu Bar
521 @cindex internal menu bar
522 @cindex external menu bar
523 The menu bar (@pxref{Menu Bar}) can be either internal (drawn by Emacs
524 itself) or external (drawn by a toolkit). Most builds (GTK+, Lucid,
525 Motif and Windows) rely on an external menu bar. NS also uses an
526 external menu bar which, however, is not part of the outer frame.
527 Non-toolkit builds can provide an internal menu bar. On text terminal
528 frames, the menu bar is part of the frame's root window (@pxref{Windows
529 and Frames}).
530
531 @item Tool Bar
532 @cindex internal tool bar
533 @cindex external tool bar
534 Like the menu bar, the tool bar (@pxref{Tool Bar}) can be either
535 internal (drawn by Emacs itself) or external (drawn by a toolkit). The
536 GTK+ and NS builds have the tool bar drawn by the toolkit. The
537 remaining builds use internal tool bars. With GTK+ the tool bar can be
538 located on either side of the frame, immediately outside the internal
539 border, see below.
540
541 @item Native Frame
542 @cindex native frame
543 @cindex native edges
544 @cindex native width
545 @cindex native height
546 @cindex display area
547 The @dfn{native frame} is a rectangle located entirely within the outer
548 frame. It excludes the areas occupied by the external border, the title
549 bar and any external menu or external tool bar. The area enclosed by
550 the native frame is sometimes also referred to as the @dfn{display area}
551 of the frame. The edges of the native frame are called the @dfn{native
552 edges} of the frame. The @dfn{native width} and @dfn{native height} of
553 the frame specify the size of the rectangle.
554
555 @cindex native position
556 The top left corner of the native frame specifies the @dfn{native
557 position} of the frame. (1)--(3) in the drawing above indicate that
558 position for the various builds:
559
560 @itemize @w{}
561 @item (1) non-toolkit and terminal frames
562
563 @item (2) Lucid, Motif and Windows frames
564
565 @item (3) GTK+ and NS frames
566 @end itemize
567
568 Accordingly, the native height of a frame includes the height of the
569 tool bar but not that of the menu bar (Lucid, Motif, Windows) or those
570 of the menu bar and the tool bar (non-toolkit and text terminal frames).
571
572 The native position of a frame is the reference position of functions
573 that set or return the current position of the mouse (@pxref{Mouse
574 Position}) and for functions dealing with the position of windows like
575 @code{window-edges}, @code{window-at} or @code{coordinates-in-window-p}
576 (@pxref{Coordinates and Windows}).
577
578 @item Internal Border
579 The internal border (@pxref{Layout Parameters}) is a border drawn by
580 Emacs around the inner frame (see below).
581
582 @item Inner Frame
583 @cindex inner frame
584 @cindex inner edges
585 @cindex inner width
586 @cindex inner height
587 The @dfn{inner frame} is the rectangle reserved for the frame's windows.
588 It's enclosed by the internal border which, however, is not part of the
589 inner frame. Its edges are called the @dfn{inner edges} of the frame.
590 The @dfn{inner width} and @dfn{inner height} specify the size of the
591 rectangle.
592
593 @cindex minibuffer-less frame
594 @cindex minibuffer-only frame
595 As a rule, the inner frame is subdivided into the frame's root window
596 (@pxref{Windows and Frames}) and the frame's minibuffer window
597 (@pxref{Minibuffer Windows}). There are two notable exceptions to this
598 rule: A @dfn{minibuffer-less frame} contains a root window only and does
599 not contain a minibuffer window. A @dfn{minibuffer-only frame} contains
600 only a minibuffer window which also serves as that frame's root window.
601 See @ref{Initial Parameters} for how to create such frame
602 configurations.
603
604 @item Text Area
605 @cindex text area
606 The @dfn{text area} of a frame is a somewhat fictitious area located
607 entirely within the native frame. It can be obtained by removing from
608 the native frame any internal borders, one vertical and one horizontal
609 scroll bar, and one left and one right fringe as specified for this
610 frame, see @ref{Layout Parameters}.
611 @end table
612
613 @cindex absolute position
614 The @dfn{absolute position} of a frame or its edges is usually given in
615 terms of pixels counted from an origin at position (0, 0) of the frame's
616 display. Note that with multiple monitors the origin does not
617 necessarily coincide with the top left corner of the entire usable
618 display area. Hence the absolute outer position of a frame or the
619 absolute positions of the edges of the outer, native or inner frame can
620 be negative in such an environment even when that frame is completely
621 visible.
622
623 For a frame on a graphical terminal the following function returns the
624 sizes of the areas described above:
625
626 @defun frame-geometry &optional frame
627 This function returns geometric attributes of @var{frame}. The return
628 value is an association list of the attributes listed below. All
629 coordinate, height and width values are integers counting pixels.
630
631 @table @code
632 @item outer-position
633 A cons of the absolute X- and Y-coordinates of the outer position of
634 @var{frame}, relative to the origin at position (0, 0) of @var{frame}'s
635 display.
636
637 @item outer-size
638 A cons of the outer width and height of @var{frame}.
639
640 @item external-border-size
641 A cons of the horizontal and vertical width of @var{frame}'s external
642 borders as supplied by the window manager. If the window manager
643 doesn't supply these values, Emacs will try to guess them from the
644 coordinates of the outer and inner frame.
645
646 @item title-bar-size
647 A cons of the width and height of the title bar of @var{frame} as
648 supplied by the window manager or operating system. If both of them are
649 zero, the frame has no title bar. If only the width is zero, Emacs was
650 not able to retrieve the width information.
651
652 @item menu-bar-external
653 If non-@code{nil}, this means the menu bar is external (not part of the
654 native frame of @var{frame}).
655
656 @item menu-bar-size
657 A cons of the width and height of the menu bar of @var{frame}.
658
659 @item tool-bar-external
660 If non-@code{nil}, this means the tool bar is external (not part of the
661 native frame of @var{frame}).
662
663 @item tool-bar-position
664 This tells on which side the tool bar on @var{frame} is and can be one
665 of @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{right} or @code{bottom}. The only
666 toolkit that currently supports a value other than @code{top} is GTK+.
667
668 @item tool-bar-size
669 A cons of the width and height of the tool bar of @var{frame}.
670
671 @item internal-border-width
672 The width of the internal border of @var{frame}.
673 @end table
674 @end defun
675
676 The following function can be used to retrieve the edges of the outer,
677 native and inner frame.
678
679 @defun frame-edges &optional frame type
680 This function returns the edges of the outer, native or inner frame of
681 @var{frame}. @var{frame} must be a live frame and defaults to the
682 selected one. The list returned has the form (@var{left} @var{top}
683 @var{right} @var{bottom}) where all values are in pixels relative to the
684 position (0, 0) of @var{frame}'s display. For terminal frames
685 @var{left} and @var{top} are both zero.
686
687 Optional argument @var{type} specifies the type of the edges to return:
688 @var{type} @code{outer-edges} means to return the outer edges of
689 @var{frame}, @code{native-edges} (or @code{nil}) means to return its
690 native edges and @code{inner-edges} means to return its inner edges.
691
692 Notice that the pixels at the positions @var{bottom} and @var{right}
693 lie immediately outside the corresponding frame. This means that if you
694 have, for example, two side-by-side frames positioned such that the
695 right outer edge of the frame on the left equals the left outer edge of
696 the frame on the right, the pixels representing that edge are part
697 of the frame on the right.
698 @end defun
699
700
701 @node Frame Font
702 @subsection Frame Font
703 @cindex default font
704 @cindex default character size
705 @cindex default character width
706 @cindex default width of character
707 @cindex default character height
708 @cindex default height of character
709 Each frame has a @dfn{default font} which specifies the default
710 character size for that frame. This size is meant when retrieving or
711 changing the size of a frame in terms of columns or lines
712 (@pxref{Size Parameters}). It is also used when resizing (@pxref{Window
713 Sizes}) or splitting (@pxref{Splitting Windows}) windows.
714
715 @cindex line height
716 @cindex column width
717 The term @dfn{line height} is sometimes used instead of ``default
718 character height''. Similarly, the term @dfn{column width} is used as
719 shorthand for ``default character width''.
720
721 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
722 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
723 These functions return the default height and width of a character in
724 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. Together, these values establish the
725 size of the default font on @var{frame}. The values depend on the
726 choice of font for @var{frame}, see @ref{Font and Color Parameters}.
727 @end defun
728
729 The default font can be also set directly with the following function:
730
731 @deffn Command set-frame-font font &optional keep-size frames
732 This sets the default font to @var{font}. When called interactively, it
733 prompts for the name of a font, and uses that font on the selected
734 frame. When called from Lisp, @var{font} should be a font name (a
735 string), a font object, font entity, or a font spec.
736
737 If the optional argument @var{keep-size} is @code{nil}, this keeps the
738 number of frame lines and columns fixed. (If non-@code{nil}, the option
739 @code{frame-inhibit-implied-resize} described in the next section will
740 override this.) If @var{keep-size} is non-@code{nil} (or with a prefix
741 argument), it tries to keep the size of the display area of the current
742 frame fixed by adjusting the number of lines and columns.
743
744 If the optional argument @var{frames} is @code{nil}, this applies the
745 font to the selected frame only. If @var{frames} is non-@code{nil}, it
746 should be a list of frames to act upon, or @code{t} meaning all existing
747 and all future graphical frames.
748 @end deffn
749
750
751 @node Size and Position
752 @subsection Size and Position
753 @cindex frame size
754 @cindex frame position
755 @cindex position of frame
756
757 You can read or change the position of a frame using the frame
758 parameters @code{left} and @code{top} (@pxref{Position Parameters}) and
759 its size using the @code{height} and @code{width} parameters
760 (@pxref{Size Parameters}). Here are some special features for working
761 with sizes and positions. For all of these functions the argument
762 @var{frame} must denote a live frame and defaults to the selected frame.
763
764 @defun frame-position &optional Lisp_Object &optional frame
765 This function returns the outer position (@pxref{Frame Layout}) of
766 @var{frame} in pixels. The value is a cons giving the coordinates of
767 the top left corner of the outer frame of @var{frame} relative to an
768 origin at the position (0, 0) of the frame's display. On a text
769 terminal frame both values are zero.
770 @end defun
771
772 @defun set-frame-position frame X Y
773 This function sets the outer frame position of @var{frame} to @var{X}
774 and @var{Y}. The latter arguments specify pixels and normally count
775 from an origin at the position (0, 0) of @var{frame}'s display.
776
777 A negative parameter value positions the right edge of the outer frame
778 by @var{-x} pixels left from the right edge of the screen or the bottom
779 edge by @var{-y} pixels up from the bottom edge of the screen.
780
781 This function has no effect on text terminal frames.
782 @end defun
783
784 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
785 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
786 These functions return the inner height and width (the height and
787 width of the display area, see @ref{Frame Layout}) of @var{frame} in
788 pixels. For a text terminal, the results are in characters rather than
789 pixels.
790 @end defun
791
792 @defun frame-text-height &optional frame
793 @defunx frame-text-width &optional frame
794 These functions return the height and width of the text area of
795 @var{frame} (@pxref{Frame Layout}), measured in pixels. For a text
796 terminal, the results are in characters rather than pixels.
797
798 The value returned by @code{frame-text-height} differs from that
799 returned by @code{frame-pixel-height} by not including the heights of
800 any internal tool bar or menu bar, the height of one horizontal scroll
801 bar and the widths of the internal border.
802
803 The value returned by @code{frame-text-width} differs from that returned
804 by @code{frame-pixel-width} by not including the width of one vertical
805 scroll bar, the widths of one left and one right fringe and the widths
806 of the internal border.
807 @end defun
808
809 @defun frame-height &optional frame
810 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
811 These functions return the height and width of the text area of
812 @var{frame}, measured in units of the default font height and width of
813 @var{frame} (@pxref{Frame Font}). These functions are plain shorthands
814 for writing @code{(frame-parameter frame 'height)} and
815 @code{(frame-parameter frame 'width)}.
816
817 If the text area of @var{frame} measured in pixels is not a multiple of
818 its default font size, the values returned by these functions are
819 rounded down to the number of characters of the default font that fully
820 fit into the text area.
821 @end defun
822
823 @defopt frame-resize-pixelwise
824 If this option is @code{nil}, a frame's size is usually rounded to a
825 multiple of the current values of that frame's @code{frame-char-height}
826 and @code{frame-char-width} whenever the frame is resized. If this is
827 non-@code{nil}, no rounding occurs, hence frame sizes can
828 increase/decrease by one pixel.
829
830 Setting this variable usually causes the next resize operation to pass
831 the corresponding size hints to the window manager. This means that
832 this variable should be set only in a user's initial file; applications
833 should never bind it temporarily.
834
835 The precise meaning of a value of @code{nil} for this option depends on
836 the toolkit used. Dragging the external border with the mouse is done
837 character-wise provided the window manager is willing to process the
838 corresponding size hints. Calling @code{set-frame-size} (see below)
839 with arguments that do not specify the frame size as an integer multiple
840 of its character size, however, may: be ignored, cause a rounding
841 (GTK+), or be accepted (Lucid, Motif, MS-Windows).
842
843 With some window managers you may have to set this to non-@code{nil} in
844 order to make a frame appear truly maximized or full-screen.
845 @end defopt
846
847 @defun set-frame-size frame width height pixelwise
848 This function sets the size of the text area of @var{frame}, measured in
849 terms of the canonical height and width of a character on @var{frame}
850 (@pxref{Frame Font}).
851
852 The optional argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means to measure
853 the new width and height in units of pixels instead. Note that if
854 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
855 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame size
856 to a multiple of its character size.
857 @end defun
858
859 @defun set-frame-height frame height &optional pretend pixelwise
860 This function resizes the text area of @var{frame} to a height of
861 @var{height} lines. The sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are
862 altered proportionally to fit.
863
864 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{height}
865 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
866 actual height of the frame. This is only useful on text terminals.
867 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
868 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
869 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
870 height directly does not always work, because knowing the correct
871 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on
872 text terminals.
873
874 The optional fourth argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means that
875 @var{frame} should be @var{height} pixels high. Note that if
876 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
877 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame
878 height to a multiple of its character height.
879 @end defun
880
881 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend pixelwise
882 This function sets the width of the text area of @var{frame}, measured
883 in characters. The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
884 @code{set-frame-height}.
885
886 The optional fourth argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means that
887 @var{frame} should be @var{width} pixels wide. Note that if
888 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
889 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame width
890 to a multiple of its character width.
891 @end defun
892
893 None of these three functions will make a frame smaller than needed to
894 display all of its windows together with their scroll bars, fringes,
895 margins, dividers, mode and header lines. This contrasts with requests
896 by the window manager triggered, for example, by dragging the external
897 border of a frame with the mouse. Such requests are always honored by
898 clipping, if necessary, portions that cannot be displayed at the right,
899 bottom corner of the frame.
900
901
902 @node Implied Frame Resizing
903 @subsection Implied Frame Resizing
904 @cindex implied frame resizing
905 @cindex implied resizing of frame
906
907 By default, Emacs tries to keep the number of lines and columns of a
908 frame's text area unaltered when, for example, adding or removing the
909 menu bar, changing the default font or setting the width of the frame's
910 scroll bars. This means, however, that in such case Emacs must ask the
911 window manager to resize the outer frame in order to accommodate the
912 size change. Note that wrapping a menu or tool bar usually does not
913 resize the frame's outer size, hence this will alter the number of
914 displayed lines.
915
916 Occasionally, such @dfn{implied frame resizing} may be unwanted, for
917 example, when the frame is maximized or made full-screen (where it's
918 turned off by default). In other cases you can disable implied resizing
919 with the following option:
920
921 @defopt frame-inhibit-implied-resize
922 If this option is @code{nil}, changing font, menu bar, tool bar,
923 internal borders, fringes or scroll bars of a specific frame may
924 implicitly resize the frame's display area in order to preserve the
925 number of columns or lines the frame displays. If this option is
926 non-@code{nil}, no implied resizing is done.
927
928 The value of this option can be also be a list of frame parameters. In
929 that case, implied resizing is inhibited when changing a parameter that
930 appears in this list. The frame parameters currently handled by this
931 option are: @code{font}, @code{font-backend},
932 @code{internal-border-width}, @code{menu-bar-lines} and
933 @code{tool-bar-lines}.
934
935 Changing any of the @code{scroll-bar-width}, @code{scroll-bar-height},
936 @code{vertical-scroll-bars}, @code{horizontal-scroll-bars},
937 @code{left-fringe} and @code{right-fringe} frame parameters is handled
938 as if the frame contained just one live window. This means, for
939 example, that removing vertical scroll bars on a frame containing
940 several side by side windows will shrink the outer frame width by the
941 width of one scroll bar provided this option is @code{nil} and keep it
942 unchanged if this option is either @code{t} or a list containing
943 @code{vertical-scroll-bars}.
944
945 The default value is @code{'(tool-bar-lines)} for Lucid, Motif and
946 Windows (which means that adding/removing a tool bar there does not
947 change the outer frame height), @code{nil} on all other window systems
948 including GTK+ (which means that changing any of the parameters listed
949 above may change the size of the outer frame), and @code{t} otherwise
950 (which means the outer frame size never changes implicitly when there's
951 no window system support).
952
953 Note that when a frame is not large enough to accommodate a change of
954 any of the parameters listed above, Emacs may try to enlarge the frame
955 even if this option is non-@code{nil}.
956 @end defopt
957
958
959 @node Frame Parameters
960 @section Frame Parameters
961 @cindex frame parameters
962
963 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
964 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
965 uses.
966
967 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of graphical displays.
968 Most frame parameters have no effect when applied to a frame on a text
969 terminal; only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name},
970 @code{title}, @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and
971 @code{buffer-predicate} parameters do something special. If the
972 terminal supports colors, the parameters @code{foreground-color},
973 @code{background-color}, @code{background-mode} and
974 @code{display-type} are also meaningful. If the terminal supports
975 frame transparency, the parameter @code{alpha} is also meaningful.
976
977 @menu
978 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
979 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
980 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
981 * Geometry:: Parsing geometry specifications.
982 @end menu
983
984 @node Parameter Access
985 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
986
987 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
988 frame.
989
990 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
991 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
992 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
993 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
994 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
995 @end defun
996
997 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
998 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
999 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
1000 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
1001 @end defun
1002
1003 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
1004 This function alters the frame @var{frame} based on the elements of
1005 @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
1006 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming
1007 a parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its
1008 value doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to
1009 the selected frame.
1010
1011 Some parameters are only meaningful for frames on certain kinds of
1012 display (@pxref{Frames}). If @var{alist} includes parameters that are
1013 not meaningful for the @var{frame}'s display, this function will
1014 change its value in the frame's parameter list, but will otherwise
1015 ignore it.
1016
1017 When @var{alist} specifies more than one parameter whose value can
1018 affect the new size of @var{frame}, the final size of the frame may
1019 differ according to the toolkit used. For example, specifying that a
1020 frame should from now on have a menu and/or tool bar instead of none and
1021 simultaneously specifying the new height of the frame will inevitably
1022 lead to a recalculation of the frame's height. Conceptually, in such
1023 case, this function will try to have the explicit height specification
1024 prevail. It cannot be excluded, however, that the addition (or removal)
1025 of the menu or tool bar, when eventually performed by the toolkit, will
1026 defeat this intention.
1027
1028 Sometimes, binding @code{frame-inhibit-implied-resize} (@pxref{Implied
1029 Frame Resizing}) to a non-@code{nil} value around calls to this function
1030 may fix the problem sketched here. Sometimes, however, exactly such
1031 binding may be hit by the problem.
1032 @end defun
1033
1034 @defun set-frame-parameter frame parm value
1035 This function sets the frame parameter @var{parm} to the specified
1036 @var{value}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
1037 frame.
1038 @end defun
1039
1040 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
1041 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
1042 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
1043 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
1044 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
1045 @end defun
1046
1047 @node Initial Parameters
1048 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
1049 @cindex parameters of initial frame
1050
1051 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame by
1052 setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init
1053 File}).
1054
1055 @defopt initial-frame-alist
1056 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
1057 creating the initial frame. You can set this variable to specify the
1058 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
1059 Each element has the form:
1060
1061 @example
1062 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
1063 @end example
1064
1065 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
1066 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
1067 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
1068 created initial frame.
1069
1070 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
1071 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
1072 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
1073 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
1074 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
1075
1076 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
1077 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
1078 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
1079 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
1080 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
1081 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
1082 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
1083 @end defopt
1084
1085 @cindex minibuffer-only frame
1086 If these parameters include @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, that indicates
1087 that the initial frame should have no minibuffer. In this case, Emacs
1088 creates a separate @dfn{minibuffer-only frame} as well.
1089
1090 @defopt minibuffer-frame-alist
1091 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
1092 creating an initial minibuffer-only frame (i.e., the minibuffer-only
1093 frame that Emacs creates if @code{initial-frame-alist} specifies a
1094 frame with no minibuffer).
1095 @end defopt
1096
1097 @defopt default-frame-alist
1098 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
1099 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
1100 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
1101 in many cases.
1102
1103 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames. Furthermore,
1104 functions that display a buffer in a separate frame may override the
1105 default parameters by supplying their own parameters.
1106 @end defopt
1107
1108 If you invoke Emacs with command-line options that specify frame
1109 appearance, those options take effect by adding elements to either
1110 @code{initial-frame-alist} or @code{default-frame-alist}. Options
1111 which affect just the initial frame, such as @samp{--geometry} and
1112 @samp{--maximized}, add to @code{initial-frame-alist}; the others add
1113 to @code{default-frame-alist}. @pxref{Emacs Invocation,, Command Line
1114 Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
1115
1116 @node Window Frame Parameters
1117 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
1118 @cindex frame parameters for windowed displays
1119
1120 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism
1121 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
1122 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
1123 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
1124 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
1125 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful only for frames on
1126 text terminals.
1127
1128 @menu
1129 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
1130 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
1131 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
1132 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
1133 enabling or disabling some parts.
1134 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
1135 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
1136 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
1137 * Font and Color Parameters:: Fonts and colors for the frame text.
1138 @end menu
1139
1140 @node Basic Parameters
1141 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
1142
1143 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
1144 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
1145
1146 @table @code
1147 @vindex display, a frame parameter
1148 @item display
1149 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
1150 form @samp{@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}}, just like the
1151 @env{DISPLAY} environment variable. @xref{Multiple Terminals}, for
1152 more details about display names.
1153
1154 @vindex display-type, a frame parameter
1155 @item display-type
1156 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
1157 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
1158 @code{mono}.
1159
1160 @vindex title, a frame parameter
1161 @item title
1162 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window
1163 system's title bar at the top of the frame, and also in the mode line
1164 of windows in that frame if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses
1165 @samp{%F} (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when
1166 Emacs is not using a window system, and can only display one frame at
1167 a time. @xref{Frame Titles}.
1168
1169 @vindex name, a frame parameter
1170 @item name
1171 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
1172 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
1173 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
1174 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
1175
1176 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
1177 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
1178 looking up X resources for the frame.
1179
1180 @item explicit-name
1181 If the frame name was specified explicitly when the frame was created,
1182 this parameter will be that name. If the frame wasn't explicitly
1183 named, this parameter will be @code{nil}.
1184 @end table
1185
1186 @node Position Parameters
1187 @subsubsection Position Parameters
1188 @cindex window position on display
1189 @cindex frame position
1190
1191 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
1192 text terminals they count characters or lines instead.
1193
1194 @table @code
1195 @vindex left, a frame parameter
1196 @item left
1197 The position, in pixels, of the left (or right) edge of the frame with
1198 respect to the left (or right) edge of the screen. The value may be:
1199
1200 @table @asis
1201 @item an integer
1202 A positive integer relates the left edge of the frame to the left edge
1203 of the screen. A negative integer relates the right frame edge to the
1204 right screen edge.
1205
1206 @item @code{(+ @var{pos})}
1207 This specifies the position of the left frame edge relative to the left
1208 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
1209 negative value specifies a position outside the screen or on a monitor
1210 other than the primary one (for multi-monitor displays).
1211
1212 @item @code{(- @var{pos})}
1213 This specifies the position of the right frame edge relative to the right
1214 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
1215 negative value specifies a position outside the screen or on a monitor
1216 other than the primary one (for multi-monitor displays).
1217 @end table
1218
1219 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
1220 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
1221 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
1222
1223 If the window manager refuses to align a frame at the left or top screen
1224 edge, combining position notation and @code{user-position} as in
1225
1226 @example
1227 (modify-frame-parameters
1228 nil '((user-position . t) (left . (+ -4))))
1229 @end example
1230
1231 may help to override that.
1232
1233 @vindex top, a frame parameter
1234 @item top
1235 The screen position of the top (or bottom) edge, in pixels, with respect
1236 to the top (or bottom) edge of the screen. It works just like
1237 @code{left}, except vertically instead of horizontally.
1238
1239 @vindex icon-left, a frame parameter
1240 @item icon-left
1241 The screen position of the left edge of the frame's icon, in pixels,
1242 counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect when the
1243 frame is iconified, if the window manager supports this feature. If
1244 you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify a
1245 value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa.
1246
1247 @vindex icon-top, a frame parameter
1248 @item icon-top
1249 The screen position of the top edge of the frame's icon, in pixels,
1250 counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect when the
1251 frame is iconified, if the window manager supports this feature.
1252
1253 @vindex user-position, a frame parameter
1254 @item user-position
1255 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
1256 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
1257 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
1258 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
1259 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
1260
1261 @cindex window positions and window managers
1262 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
1263 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
1264 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
1265 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
1266 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
1267 ignore them.
1268
1269 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
1270 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
1271 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
1272 @code{nil}.
1273 @end table
1274
1275
1276 @node Size Parameters
1277 @subsubsection Size Parameters
1278 @cindex window size on display
1279
1280 Frame parameters specify frame sizes in character units. On
1281 graphical displays, the @code{default} face determines the actual
1282 pixel sizes of these character units (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
1283
1284 @table @code
1285 @vindex height, a frame parameter
1286 @item height
1287 The height of the frame's text area (@pxref{Frame Geometry}), in
1288 characters.
1289
1290 @vindex width, a frame parameter
1291 @item width
1292 The width of the frame's text area (@pxref{Frame Geometry}), in
1293 characters.
1294
1295 @vindex user-size, a frame parameter
1296 @item user-size
1297 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
1298 the @code{user-position} parameter (@pxref{Position Parameters,
1299 user-position}) does for the position parameters @code{top} and
1300 @code{left}.
1301
1302 @cindex fullboth frames
1303 @cindex fullheight frames
1304 @cindex fullwidth frames
1305 @cindex maximized frames
1306 @vindex fullscreen, a frame parameter
1307 @item fullscreen
1308 This parameter specifies whether to maximize the frame's width, height
1309 or both. Its value can be @code{fullwidth}, @code{fullheight},
1310 @code{fullboth}, or @code{maximized}. A @dfn{fullwidth} frame is as
1311 wide as possible, a @dfn{fullheight} frame is as tall as possible, and
1312 a @dfn{fullboth} frame is both as wide and as tall as possible. A
1313 @dfn{maximized} frame is like a ``fullboth'' frame, except that it usually
1314 keeps its title bar and the buttons for resizing
1315 and closing the frame. Also, maximized frames typically avoid hiding
1316 any task bar or panels displayed on the desktop. A ``fullboth'' frame,
1317 on the other hand, usually omits the title bar and occupies the entire
1318 available screen space.
1319
1320 Full-height and full-width frames are more similar to maximized
1321 frames in this regard. However, these typically display an external
1322 border which might be absent with maximized frames. Hence the heights
1323 of maximized and full-height frames and the widths of maximized and
1324 full-width frames often differ by a few pixels.
1325
1326 With some window managers you may have to customize the variable
1327 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} (@pxref{Size and Position}) in order to
1328 make a frame truly appear maximized or full-screen. Moreover,
1329 some window managers might not support smooth transition between the
1330 various full-screen or maximization states. Customizing the variable
1331 @code{x-frame-normalize-before-maximize} can help to overcome that.
1332
1333 @vindex fullscreen-restore, a frame parameter
1334 @item fullscreen-restore
1335 This parameter specifies the desired fullscreen state of the frame
1336 after invoking the @code{toggle-frame-fullscreen} command (@pxref{Frame
1337 Commands,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}) in the ``fullboth'' state.
1338 Normally this parameter is installed automatically by that command when
1339 toggling the state to fullboth. If, however, you start Emacs in the
1340 ``fullboth'' state, you have to specify the desired behavior in your initial
1341 file as, for example
1342
1343 @example
1344 (setq default-frame-alist
1345 '((fullscreen . fullboth) (fullscreen-restore . fullheight)))
1346 @end example
1347
1348 This will give a new frame full height after typing in it @key{F11} for
1349 the first time.
1350 @end table
1351
1352
1353 @node Layout Parameters
1354 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
1355 @cindex layout parameters of frames
1356 @cindex frame layout parameters
1357
1358 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
1359 frame, or control their sizes.
1360
1361 @table @code
1362 @vindex border-width, a frame parameter
1363 @item border-width
1364 The width in pixels of the frame's border.
1365
1366 @vindex internal-border-width, a frame parameter
1367 @item internal-border-width
1368 The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
1369
1370 @vindex vertical-scroll-bars, a frame parameter
1371 @item vertical-scroll-bars
1372 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
1373 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
1374 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
1375
1376 @vindex horizontal-scroll-bars, a frame parameter
1377 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
1378 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling (@code{t} and
1379 @code{bottom} mean yes, @code{nil} means no).
1380
1381 @vindex scroll-bar-width, a frame parameter
1382 @item scroll-bar-width
1383 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
1384 use the default width.
1385
1386 @vindex scroll-bar-height, a frame parameter
1387 @item scroll-bar-height
1388 The height of horizontal scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning
1389 to use the default height.
1390
1391 @vindex left-fringe, a frame parameter
1392 @vindex right-fringe, a frame parameter
1393 @item left-fringe
1394 @itemx right-fringe
1395 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
1396 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
1397 removes the corresponding fringe.
1398
1399 When you use @code{frame-parameter} to query the value of either of
1400 these two frame parameters, the return value is always an integer.
1401 When using @code{set-frame-parameter}, passing a @code{nil} value
1402 imposes an actual default value of 8 pixels.
1403
1404 @vindex right-divider-width, a frame parameter
1405 @item right-divider-width
1406 The width (thickness) reserved for the right divider (@pxref{Window
1407 Dividers}) of any window on the frame, in pixels. A value of zero means
1408 to not draw right dividers.
1409
1410 @vindex bottom-divider-width, a frame parameter
1411 @item bottom-divider-width
1412 The width (thickness) reserved for the bottom divider (@pxref{Window
1413 Dividers}) of any window on the frame, in pixels. A value of zero means
1414 to not draw bottom dividers.
1415
1416 @vindex menu-bar-lines frame parameter
1417 @item menu-bar-lines
1418 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
1419 bar. The default is 1 if Menu Bar mode is enabled, and 0 otherwise.
1420 @xref{Menu Bars,,,emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
1421
1422 @vindex tool-bar-lines frame parameter
1423 @item tool-bar-lines
1424 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. The default is 1 if Tool
1425 Bar mode is enabled, and 0 otherwise. @xref{Tool Bars,,,emacs, The
1426 GNU Emacs Manual}.
1427
1428 @vindex tool-bar-position frame parameter
1429 @item tool-bar-position
1430 The position of the tool bar. Currently only for the GTK tool bar.
1431 Value can be one of @code{top}, @code{bottom} @code{left}, @code{right}.
1432 The default is @code{top}.
1433
1434 @vindex line-spacing, a frame parameter
1435 @item line-spacing
1436 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
1437 integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
1438 @end table
1439
1440 @node Buffer Parameters
1441 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
1442 @cindex frame, which buffers to display
1443 @cindex buffers to display on frame
1444
1445 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
1446 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
1447
1448 @table @code
1449 @vindex minibuffer, a frame parameter
1450 @item minibuffer
1451 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
1452 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
1453 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other
1454 frame), the frame uses that minibuffer.
1455
1456 This frame parameter takes effect when the frame is created, and can
1457 not be changed afterwards.
1458
1459 @vindex buffer-predicate, a frame parameter
1460 @item buffer-predicate
1461 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
1462 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
1463 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
1464 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
1465 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
1466 considers that buffer.
1467
1468 @vindex buffer-list, a frame parameter
1469 @item buffer-list
1470 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame, ordered
1471 most-recently-selected first.
1472
1473 @vindex unsplittable, a frame parameter
1474 @item unsplittable
1475 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
1476 @end table
1477
1478 @node Management Parameters
1479 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
1480 @cindex window manager interaction, and frame parameters
1481
1482 The following frame parameters control various aspects of the
1483 frame's interaction with the window manager. They have no effect on
1484 text terminals.
1485
1486 @table @code
1487 @vindex visibility, a frame parameter
1488 @item visibility
1489 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
1490 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
1491 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
1492
1493 @vindex auto-raise, a frame parameter
1494 @item auto-raise
1495 If non-@code{nil}, Emacs automatically raises the frame when it is
1496 selected. Some window managers do not allow this.
1497
1498 @vindex auto-lower, a frame parameter
1499 @item auto-lower
1500 If non-@code{nil}, Emacs automatically lowers the frame when it is
1501 deselected. Some window managers do not allow this.
1502
1503 @vindex icon-type, a frame parameter
1504 @item icon-type
1505 The type of icon to use for this frame. If the value is a string,
1506 that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use; @code{nil} specifies
1507 no icon (in which case the window manager decides what to show); any
1508 other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default Emacs icon.
1509
1510 @vindex icon-name, a frame parameter
1511 @item icon-name
1512 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
1513 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
1514
1515 @vindex window-id, a frame parameter
1516 @item window-id
1517 The ID number which the graphical display uses for this frame. Emacs
1518 assigns this parameter when the frame is created; changing the
1519 parameter has no effect on the actual ID number.
1520
1521 @vindex outer-window-id, a frame parameter
1522 @item outer-window-id
1523 The ID number of the outermost window-system window in which the frame
1524 exists. As with @code{window-id}, changing this parameter has no
1525 actual effect.
1526
1527 @vindex wait-for-wm, a frame parameter
1528 @item wait-for-wm
1529 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
1530 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
1531 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
1532 prevent hanging with those window managers.
1533
1534 @vindex sticky, a frame parameter
1535 @item sticky
1536 If non-@code{nil}, the frame is visible on all virtual desktops on systems
1537 with virtual desktops.
1538
1539 @ignore
1540 @vindex parent-id, a frame parameter
1541 @item parent-id
1542 @c ??? Not yet working.
1543 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
1544 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
1545 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
1546 it and see if it works.)
1547 @end ignore
1548 @end table
1549
1550 @node Cursor Parameters
1551 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
1552 @cindex cursor, and frame parameters
1553
1554 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
1555
1556 @table @code
1557 @vindex cursor-type, a frame parameter
1558 @item cursor-type
1559 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
1560
1561 @table @code
1562 @item box
1563 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
1564 @item hollow
1565 Display a hollow box.
1566 @item nil
1567 Don't display a cursor.
1568 @item bar
1569 Display a vertical bar between characters.
1570 @item (bar . @var{width})
1571 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
1572 @item hbar
1573 Display a horizontal bar.
1574 @item (hbar . @var{height})
1575 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
1576 @end table
1577 @end table
1578
1579 @vindex cursor-type
1580 The @code{cursor-type} frame parameter may be overridden by the
1581 variables @code{cursor-type} and
1582 @code{cursor-in-non-selected-windows}:
1583
1584 @defvar cursor-type
1585 This buffer-local variable controls how the cursor looks in a selected
1586 window showing the buffer. If its value is @code{t}, that means to
1587 use the cursor specified by the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1588 Otherwise, the value should be one of the cursor types listed above,
1589 and it overrides the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1590 @end defvar
1591
1592 @defopt cursor-in-non-selected-windows
1593 This buffer-local variable controls how the cursor looks in a window
1594 that is not selected. It supports the same values as the
1595 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter; also, @code{nil} means don't
1596 display a cursor in nonselected windows, and @code{t} (the default)
1597 means use a standard modification of the usual cursor type (solid box
1598 becomes hollow box, and bar becomes a narrower bar).
1599 @end defopt
1600
1601 @defopt x-stretch-cursor
1602 This variable controls the width of the block cursor displayed on
1603 extra-wide glyphs such as a tab or a stretch of white space. By
1604 default, the block cursor is only as wide as the font's default
1605 character, and will not cover all of the width of the glyph under it
1606 if that glyph is extra-wide. A non-@code{nil} value of this variable
1607 means draw the block cursor as wide as the glyph under it. The
1608 default value is @code{nil}.
1609
1610 This variable has no effect on text-mode frames, since the text-mode
1611 cursor is drawn by the terminal out of Emacs's control.
1612 @end defopt
1613
1614 @defopt blink-cursor-alist
1615 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
1616 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
1617 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
1618 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
1619 when it blinks off. Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
1620 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1621
1622 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
1623 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
1624 variable do not take effect immediately, only when you specify the
1625 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1626 @end defopt
1627
1628 @node Font and Color Parameters
1629 @subsubsection Font and Color Parameters
1630 @cindex font and color, frame parameters
1631
1632 These frame parameters control the use of fonts and colors.
1633
1634 @table @code
1635 @vindex font-backend, a frame parameter
1636 @item font-backend
1637 A list of symbols, specifying the @dfn{font backends} to use for
1638 drawing fonts in the frame, in order of priority. On X, there are
1639 currently two available font backends: @code{x} (the X core font
1640 driver) and @code{xft} (the Xft font driver). On MS-Windows, there are
1641 currently two available font backends: @code{gdi} and
1642 @code{uniscribe} (@pxref{Windows Fonts,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
1643 Manual}). On other systems, there is only one available font backend,
1644 so it does not make sense to modify this frame parameter.
1645
1646 @vindex background-mode, a frame parameter
1647 @item background-mode
1648 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
1649 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
1650
1651 @vindex tty-color-mode, a frame parameter
1652 @item tty-color-mode
1653 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
1654 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
1655 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
1656 specifies the color mode to use on a text terminal. The value can be
1657 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
1658 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
1659 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
1660 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
1661 off color support.
1662
1663 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
1664 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
1665 used instead.
1666
1667 @vindex screen-gamma, a frame parameter
1668 @item screen-gamma
1669 @cindex gamma correction
1670 If this is a number, Emacs performs gamma correction which adjusts
1671 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
1672 your display.
1673
1674 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
1675 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
1676 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
1677 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
1678 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
1679 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
1680 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
1681
1682 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
1683 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
1684 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
1685 results for LCD color displays.
1686
1687 @vindex alpha, a frame parameter
1688 @item alpha
1689 @cindex opacity, frame
1690 @cindex transparency, frame
1691 @vindex frame-alpha-lower-limit
1692 This parameter specifies the opacity of the frame, on graphical
1693 displays that support variable opacity. It should be an integer
1694 between 0 and 100, where 0 means completely transparent and 100 means
1695 completely opaque. It can also have a @code{nil} value, which tells
1696 Emacs not to set the frame opacity (leaving it to the window manager).
1697
1698 To prevent the frame from disappearing completely from view, the
1699 variable @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} defines a lower opacity limit.
1700 If the value of the frame parameter is less than the value of this
1701 variable, Emacs uses the latter. By default,
1702 @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} is 20.
1703
1704 The @code{alpha} frame parameter can also be a cons cell
1705 @code{(@var{active} . @var{inactive})}, where @var{active} is the
1706 opacity of the frame when it is selected, and @var{inactive} is the
1707 opacity when it is not selected.
1708 @end table
1709
1710 The following frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are
1711 automatically equivalent to particular face attributes of particular
1712 faces (@pxref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}):
1713
1714 @table @code
1715 @vindex font, a frame parameter
1716 @item font
1717 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
1718 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
1719 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
1720 attribute of the @code{default} face.
1721
1722 @vindex foreground-color, a frame parameter
1723 @item foreground-color
1724 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
1725 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
1726
1727 @vindex background-color, a frame parameter
1728 @item background-color
1729 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
1730 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
1731
1732 @vindex mouse-color, a frame parameter
1733 @item mouse-color
1734 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
1735 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
1736
1737 @vindex cursor-color, a frame parameter
1738 @item cursor-color
1739 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
1740 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
1741
1742 @vindex border-color, a frame parameter
1743 @item border-color
1744 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
1745 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
1746
1747 @vindex scroll-bar-foreground, a frame parameter
1748 @item scroll-bar-foreground
1749 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
1750 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
1751 @code{scroll-bar} face.
1752
1753 @vindex scroll-bar-background, a frame parameter
1754 @item scroll-bar-background
1755 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
1756 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
1757 @code{scroll-bar} face.
1758 @end table
1759
1760
1761 @node Geometry
1762 @subsection Geometry
1763
1764 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
1765 specification:
1766
1767 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
1768 @cindex geometry specification
1769 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
1770 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
1771 @code{make-frame}.
1772
1773 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
1774 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
1775 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
1776 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
1777
1778 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
1779 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
1780 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
1781 instead. The @var{value} possibilities for the position parameters are:
1782 an integer, a list @code{(+ @var{pos})}, or a list @code{(- @var{pos})};
1783 as previously described (@pxref{Position Parameters}).
1784
1785 Here is an example:
1786
1787 @example
1788 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
1789 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
1790 (top - 0) (left . 0))
1791 @end example
1792 @end defun
1793
1794 @node Terminal Parameters
1795 @section Terminal Parameters
1796 @cindex terminal parameters
1797
1798 Each terminal has a list of associated parameters. These
1799 @dfn{terminal parameters} are mostly a convenient way of storage for
1800 terminal-local variables, but some terminal parameters have a special
1801 meaning.
1802
1803 This section describes functions to read and change the parameter values
1804 of a terminal. They all accept as their argument either a terminal or
1805 a frame; the latter means use that frame's terminal. An argument of
1806 @code{nil} means the selected frame's terminal.
1807
1808 @defun terminal-parameters &optional terminal
1809 This function returns an alist listing all the parameters of
1810 @var{terminal} and their values.
1811 @end defun
1812
1813 @defun terminal-parameter terminal parameter
1814 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
1815 symbol) of @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} has no setting for
1816 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
1817 @end defun
1818
1819 @defun set-terminal-parameter terminal parameter value
1820 This function sets the parameter @var{parameter} of @var{terminal} to the
1821 specified @var{value}, and returns the previous value of that
1822 parameter.
1823 @end defun
1824
1825 Here's a list of a few terminal parameters that have a special
1826 meaning:
1827
1828 @table @code
1829 @item background-mode
1830 The classification of the terminal's background color, either
1831 @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1832 @item normal-erase-is-backspace
1833 Value is either 1 or 0, depending on whether
1834 @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode} is turned on or off on this
1835 terminal. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
1836 @item terminal-initted
1837 After the terminal is initialized, this is set to the
1838 terminal-specific initialization function.
1839 @item tty-mode-set-strings
1840 When present, a list of strings containing escape sequences that Emacs
1841 will output while configuring a tty for rendering. Emacs emits these
1842 strings only when configuring a terminal: if you want to enable a mode
1843 on a terminal that is already active (for example, while in
1844 @code{tty-setup-hook}), explicitly output the necessary escape
1845 sequence using @code{send-string-to-terminal} in addition to adding
1846 the sequence to @code{tty-mode-set-strings}.
1847 @item tty-mode-reset-strings
1848 When present, a list of strings that undo the effects of the strings
1849 in @code{tty-mode-set-strings}. Emacs emits these strings when
1850 exiting, deleting a terminal, or suspending itself.
1851 @end table
1852
1853 @node Frame Titles
1854 @section Frame Titles
1855 @cindex frame title
1856
1857 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
1858 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
1859 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
1860 frame property.
1861
1862 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
1863 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
1864 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
1865 frame is redisplayed.
1866
1867 @defvar frame-title-format
1868 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
1869 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
1870 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
1871 @samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
1872 Data}.
1873 @end defvar
1874
1875 @defvar icon-title-format
1876 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
1877 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
1878 appears in the icon itself.
1879 @end defvar
1880
1881 @defvar multiple-frames
1882 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
1883 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
1884 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
1885 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
1886 only when there is more than one frame.
1887
1888 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
1889 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
1890 @code{icon-title-format}.
1891 @end defvar
1892
1893 @node Deleting Frames
1894 @section Deleting Frames
1895 @cindex deleting frames
1896
1897 A @dfn{live frame} is one that has not been deleted. When a frame
1898 is deleted, it is removed from its terminal display, although it may
1899 continue to exist as a Lisp object until there are no more references
1900 to it.
1901
1902 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
1903 @vindex delete-frame-functions
1904 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
1905 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
1906 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
1907 the selected frame.
1908
1909 A frame cannot be deleted as long as its minibuffer serves as surrogate
1910 minibuffer for another frame (@pxref{Minibuffers and Frames}).
1911 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
1912 but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
1913 @end deffn
1914
1915 @defun frame-live-p frame
1916 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
1917 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
1918 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
1919 @end defun
1920
1921 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
1922 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
1923 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
1924 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
1925 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
1926
1927 @node Finding All Frames
1928 @section Finding All Frames
1929 @cindex frames, scanning all
1930
1931 @defun frame-list
1932 This function returns a list of all the live frames, i.e., those that
1933 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
1934 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get
1935 is newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
1936 internals of Emacs.
1937 @end defun
1938
1939 @defun visible-frame-list
1940 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
1941 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. Frames on text terminals always count as
1942 visible, even though only the selected one is actually displayed.
1943 @end defun
1944
1945 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
1946 This function lets you cycle conveniently through all the frames on
1947 the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It returns the
1948 next frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If @var{frame} is
1949 omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame (@pxref{Input
1950 Focus}).
1951
1952 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
1953
1954 @table @asis
1955 @item @code{nil}
1956 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
1957 @item @code{visible}
1958 Consider all visible frames.
1959 @item 0
1960 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1961 @item a window
1962 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1963 minibuffer.
1964 @item anything else
1965 Consider all frames.
1966 @end table
1967 @end defun
1968
1969 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1970 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1971 direction.
1972 @end defun
1973
1974 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1975 Window Ordering}.
1976
1977 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1978 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1979
1980 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1981 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1982 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1983 minibuffer-window}).
1984
1985 @cindex frame without a minibuffer
1986 @cindex surrogate minibuffer frame
1987 However, you can also create a frame without a minibuffer. Such a frame
1988 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. That other frame
1989 will serve as @dfn{surrogate minibuffer frame} for this frame and cannot
1990 be deleted via @code{delete-frame} (@pxref{Deleting Frames}) as long as
1991 this frame is live.
1992
1993 When you create the frame, you can explicitly specify the minibuffer
1994 window to use (in some other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer
1995 is found in the frame which is the value of the variable
1996 @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its value should be a frame that does
1997 have a minibuffer.
1998
1999 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
2000 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
2001 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
2002
2003 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
2004 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
2005 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
2006 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
2007 Terminals}.
2008 @end defvar
2009
2010 @node Input Focus
2011 @section Input Focus
2012 @cindex input focus
2013 @c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame, same for selected-window.
2014
2015 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
2016 window always resides on the selected frame.
2017
2018 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
2019 Terminals}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one
2020 of these is @emph{the} selected frame: it's the frame that belongs
2021 to the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when
2022 Emacs runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected
2023 frame is the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single
2024 command at any given time, it needs to consider only one selected
2025 frame at a time; this frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame}
2026 in this manual. The display on which the selected frame is shown is
2027 the @dfn{selected frame's display}.
2028
2029 @defun selected-frame
2030 This function returns the selected frame.
2031 @end defun
2032
2033 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
2034 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
2035 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
2036 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
2037 explicitly switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
2038 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
2039
2040 Lisp programs can also switch frames temporarily by calling the
2041 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
2042 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
2043 until that control is somehow reasserted.
2044
2045 When using a text terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a time
2046 on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
2047 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
2048 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame}. Each
2049 frame on a text terminal has a number which appears in the mode line
2050 before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode Line Variables}).
2051
2052 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame &optional norecord
2053 This function selects @var{frame}, raises it (should it happen to be
2054 obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X server's focus.
2055 On a text terminal, the next redisplay displays the new frame on the
2056 entire terminal screen. The optional argument @var{norecord} has the
2057 same meaning as for @code{select-frame} (see below). The return value
2058 of this function is not significant.
2059 @end defun
2060
2061 @deffn Command select-frame frame &optional norecord
2062 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
2063 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
2064 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
2065 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
2066 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
2067 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
2068 have the window system's input focus.)
2069
2070 The specified @var{frame} becomes the selected frame, and its terminal
2071 becomes the selected terminal. This function then calls
2072 @code{select-window} as a subroutine, passing the window selected
2073 within @var{frame} as its first argument and @var{norecord} as its
2074 second argument (hence, if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, this
2075 avoids changing the order of recently selected windows nor the buffer
2076 list). @xref{Selecting Windows}.
2077
2078 This function returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has
2079 been deleted.
2080
2081 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that
2082 could switch to a different terminal without switching back when
2083 you're done.
2084 @end deffn
2085
2086 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
2087 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
2088 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
2089 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
2090 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
2091
2092 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
2093 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
2094
2095 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
2096 Don't call it for any other reason.
2097 @end deffn
2098
2099 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
2100 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
2101 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
2102 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
2103 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
2104 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
2105
2106 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
2107 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
2108 events.
2109
2110 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
2111 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
2112 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
2113 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
2114 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
2115
2116 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
2117 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
2118 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
2119 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
2120 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
2121
2122 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
2123 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
2124 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
2125
2126 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
2127 change it.
2128 @end defun
2129
2130 @defvar focus-in-hook
2131 This is a normal hook run when an Emacs frame gains input focus.
2132 @end defvar
2133
2134 @defvar focus-out-hook
2135 This is a normal hook run when an Emacs frame loses input focus.
2136 @end defvar
2137
2138 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
2139 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
2140 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
2141 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
2142 position consistent with the new selected frame.
2143 @end defopt
2144
2145 @node Visibility of Frames
2146 @section Visibility of Frames
2147 @cindex visible frame
2148 @cindex invisible frame
2149 @cindex iconified frame
2150 @cindex minimized frame
2151 @cindex frame visibility
2152
2153 A frame on a graphical display may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible},
2154 or @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, its contents are displayed in
2155 the usual manner. If it is iconified, its contents are not displayed,
2156 but there is a little icon somewhere to bring the frame back into view
2157 (some window managers refer to this state as @dfn{minimized} rather
2158 than @dfn{iconified}, but from Emacs' point of view they are the same
2159 thing). If a frame is invisible, it is not displayed at all.
2160
2161 Visibility is meaningless on text terminals, since only the selected
2162 one is actually displayed in any case.
2163
2164 @defun frame-visible-p frame
2165 This function returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The
2166 value is @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is
2167 invisible, and @code{icon} if it is iconified.
2168
2169 On a text terminal, all frames are considered visible for the
2170 purposes of this function, even though only one frame is displayed.
2171 @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
2172 @end defun
2173
2174 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
2175 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
2176 iconifies the selected frame.
2177 @end deffn
2178
2179 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
2180 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
2181 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
2182 the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
2183 (@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
2184 @end deffn
2185
2186 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
2187 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
2188 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
2189
2190 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
2191 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
2192 @end deffn
2193
2194 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
2195 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
2196 Parameters}. The user can also iconify and deiconify frames with the
2197 window manager. This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert
2198 any control, but Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep
2199 track of such changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
2200
2201 @node Raising and Lowering
2202 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
2203
2204 @cindex raising a frame
2205 @cindex lowering a frame
2206 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor
2207 is the idea that system-level windows (e.g., Emacs frames) are
2208 stacked in a notional third dimension perpendicular to the screen
2209 surface. Where two overlap, the one higher up covers the one
2210 underneath. You can @dfn{raise} or @dfn{lower} a frame using the
2211 functions @code{raise-frame} and @code{lower-frame}.
2212
2213 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
2214 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
2215 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
2216 @end deffn
2217
2218 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
2219 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
2220 @end deffn
2221
2222 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
2223 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
2224 that the minibuffer window is in.
2225 @end defopt
2226
2227 On window systems, you can also enable auto-raising (on frame
2228 selection) or auto-lowering (on frame deselection) using frame
2229 parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
2230
2231 @cindex top frame
2232 The concept of raising and lowering frames also applies to text
2233 terminal frames. On each text terminal, only the top frame is
2234 displayed at any one time.
2235
2236 @defun tty-top-frame terminal
2237 This function returns the top frame on @var{terminal}. @var{terminal}
2238 should be a terminal object, a frame (meaning that frame's terminal),
2239 or @code{nil} (meaning the selected frame's terminal). If it does not
2240 refer to a text terminal, the return value is @code{nil}.
2241 @end defun
2242
2243 @node Frame Configurations
2244 @section Frame Configurations
2245 @cindex frame configuration
2246
2247 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
2248 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
2249 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
2250
2251 @defun current-frame-configuration
2252 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
2253 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
2254 @end defun
2255
2256 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
2257 This function restores the state of frames described in
2258 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
2259 frames.
2260
2261 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
2262 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
2263 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
2264 @end defun
2265
2266 @node Mouse Tracking
2267 @section Mouse Tracking
2268 @cindex mouse tracking
2269 @c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
2270
2271 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
2272 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
2273 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
2274 the mouse actually moves.
2275
2276 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
2277 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
2278 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
2279 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
2280 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
2281 button.
2282
2283 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
2284 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
2285 events enabled. Typically, @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
2286 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
2287 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
2288
2289 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
2290 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
2291 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
2292 it is time to stop tracking.
2293
2294 The @code{track-mouse} form causes Emacs to generate mouse motion
2295 events by binding the variable @code{track-mouse} to a
2296 non-@code{nil} value. If that variable has the special value
2297 @code{dragging}, it additionally instructs the display engine to
2298 refrain from changing the shape of the mouse pointer. This is
2299 desirable in Lisp programs that require mouse dragging across large
2300 portions of Emacs display, which might otherwise cause the mouse
2301 pointer to change its shape according to the display portion it hovers
2302 on (@pxref{Pointer Shape}). Therefore, Lisp programs that need the
2303 mouse pointer to retain its original shape during dragging should bind
2304 @code{track-mouse} to the value @code{dragging} at the beginning of
2305 their @var{body}.
2306 @end defspec
2307
2308 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
2309 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
2310 position.
2311
2312 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
2313 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
2314 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
2315 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
2316
2317 @ignore
2318 @c These are not implemented yet.
2319
2320 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
2321 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
2322 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
2323 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
2324 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
2325
2326 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
2327 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
2328 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
2329 @end defun
2330
2331 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
2332 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
2333 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
2334 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
2335 @end defun
2336
2337 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
2338 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
2339 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
2340 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
2341 location of point.
2342 @end defun
2343
2344 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
2345 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
2346 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
2347 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
2348 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
2349 @end defun
2350 @end ignore
2351
2352 @node Mouse Position
2353 @section Mouse Position
2354 @cindex mouse position
2355 @cindex position of mouse
2356
2357 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
2358 give access to the current position of the mouse.
2359
2360 @defun mouse-position
2361 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
2362 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
2363 and @var{y} are integers giving the (possibly rounded) position in
2364 multiples of the default character size of @var{frame} (@pxref{Frame
2365 Font}) relative to the native position of @var{frame} (@pxref{Frame
2366 Geometry}).
2367 @end defun
2368
2369 @defvar mouse-position-function
2370 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
2371 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
2372 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
2373 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
2374
2375 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
2376 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
2377 @end defvar
2378
2379 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
2380 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
2381 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
2382 giving the position in multiples of the default character size of
2383 @var{frame} (@pxref{Frame Font}) relative to the native position of
2384 @var{frame} (@pxref{Frame Geometry}).
2385
2386 The resulting mouse position is constrained to the native frame of
2387 @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing.
2388 The return value is not significant.
2389 @end defun
2390
2391 @defun mouse-pixel-position
2392 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
2393 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
2394 @end defun
2395
2396 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
2397 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
2398 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
2399 characters.
2400
2401 The resulting mouse position is not constrained to the native frame of
2402 @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing.
2403 The return value is not significant.
2404 @end defun
2405
2406 On a graphical terminal the following two functions allow to retrieve
2407 and set the absolute position of the mouse cursor.
2408
2409 @defun mouse-absolute-pixel-position
2410 This function returns a cons cell (@var{x} . @var{y}) of the coordinates
2411 of the mouse cursor position in pixels, relative to a position (0, 0) of
2412 the selected frame's display.
2413 @end defun
2414
2415 @defun set-mouse-absolute-pixel-position x y
2416 This function moves the mouse cursor to the position (@var{x}, @var{y}).
2417 The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y} are interpreted in pixels relative
2418 to a position (0, 0) of the selected frame's display.
2419 @end defun
2420
2421 The following function can tell whether the mouse cursor is currently
2422 visible on a frame:
2423
2424 @defun frame-pointer-visible-p &optional frame
2425 This predicate function returns non-@code{nil} if the mouse pointer
2426 displayed on @var{frame} is visible; otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
2427 @var{frame} omitted or @code{nil} means the selected frame. This is
2428 useful when @code{make-pointer-invisible} is set to @code{t}: it
2429 allows to know if the pointer has been hidden.
2430 @xref{Mouse Avoidance,,,emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
2431 @end defun
2432
2433 @need 3000
2434
2435 @node Pop-Up Menus
2436 @section Pop-Up Menus
2437 @cindex menus, popup
2438
2439 A Lisp program can pop up a menu so that the user can choose an
2440 alternative with the mouse. On a text terminal, if the mouse is not
2441 available, the user can choose an alternative using the keyboard
2442 motion keys---@kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-p}, or up- and down-arrow keys.
2443
2444 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
2445 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
2446 what selection the user makes.
2447
2448 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
2449 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
2450 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
2451 list of this form:
2452
2453 @example
2454 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
2455 @end example
2456
2457 @noindent
2458 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
2459 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
2460 may be a window or a frame.
2461
2462 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
2463 position (or the top-left corner of the frame if the mouse is not
2464 available on a text terminal). If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it
2465 means to precompute the key binding equivalents for the keymaps
2466 specified in @var{menu}, without actually displaying or popping up the
2467 menu.
2468
2469 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
2470 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
2471 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
2472 This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
2473 submenu. (Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
2474 command bound to that sequence of events.) On text terminals and
2475 toolkits that support menu titles, the title is taken from the prompt
2476 string of @var{menu} if @var{menu} is a keymap, or from the prompt
2477 string of the first keymap in @var{menu} if it is a list of keymaps
2478 (@pxref{Defining Menus}).
2479
2480 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
2481
2482 @example
2483 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
2484 @end example
2485
2486 @noindent
2487 where each pane is a list of form
2488
2489 @example
2490 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
2491 @end example
2492
2493 Each @var{item} should be a cons cell, @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
2494 where @var{line} is a string and @var{value} is the value to return if
2495 that @var{line} is chosen. Unlike in a menu keymap, a @code{nil}
2496 @var{value} does not make the menu item non-selectable.
2497 Alternatively, each @var{item} can be a string rather than a cons
2498 cell; this makes a non-selectable menu item.
2499
2500 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
2501 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
2502 @kbd{C-g}, then this normally results in a quit and
2503 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
2504 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
2505 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
2506 @end defun
2507
2508 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
2509 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
2510 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
2511 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
2512 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
2513 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
2514 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
2515
2516 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
2517 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
2518 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
2519 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
2520 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
2521 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
2522 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
2523
2524 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
2525 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
2526 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
2527 the menu keymap as necessary.
2528
2529 @node Dialog Boxes
2530 @section Dialog Boxes
2531 @cindex dialog boxes
2532
2533 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
2534 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
2535 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
2536 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes'', ``no'',
2537 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
2538 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
2539 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
2540 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
2541
2542 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
2543 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
2544 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
2545 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
2546
2547 @example
2548 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
2549 @end example
2550
2551 @noindent
2552 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
2553 @code{x-popup-menu}.
2554
2555 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
2556
2557 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
2558 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
2559 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
2560
2561 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
2562 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
2563 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
2564 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
2565 items appear on each side.
2566
2567 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
2568 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
2569 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
2570 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
2571
2572 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
2573 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
2574 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}). (On text terminals, the
2575 box title is not displayed.)
2576
2577 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
2578 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
2579 frame.
2580
2581 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
2582 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
2583 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
2584 @end defun
2585
2586 @node Pointer Shape
2587 @section Pointer Shape
2588 @cindex pointer shape
2589 @cindex mouse pointer shape
2590
2591 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
2592 images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
2593 @code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
2594 use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
2595 @code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
2596 @code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
2597 style used over text.
2598
2599 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
2600 of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
2601 @code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
2602 those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
2603
2604 @defopt void-text-area-pointer
2605 This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
2606 These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
2607 in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
2608 pointer style.
2609 @end defopt
2610
2611 When using X, you can specify what the @code{text} pointer style
2612 really looks like by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
2613
2614 @defvar x-pointer-shape
2615 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
2616 Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
2617 @end defvar
2618
2619 @defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
2620 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
2621 is over mouse-sensitive text.
2622 @end defvar
2623
2624 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
2625 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
2626 frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
2627 @xref{Font and Color Parameters}.
2628
2629 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
2630 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
2631 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
2632
2633 @node Window System Selections
2634 @section Window System Selections
2635 @cindex selection (for window systems)
2636 @cindex clipboard
2637 @cindex primary selection
2638 @cindex secondary selection
2639
2640 In the X window system, data can be transferred between different
2641 applications by means of @dfn{selections}. X defines an arbitrary
2642 number of @dfn{selection types}, each of which can store its own data;
2643 however, only three are commonly used: the @dfn{clipboard},
2644 @dfn{primary selection}, and @dfn{secondary selection}. @xref{Cut and
2645 Paste,, Cut and Paste, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for Emacs
2646 commands that make use of these selections. This section documents
2647 the low-level functions for reading and setting X selections.
2648
2649 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
2650 This function sets an X selection. It takes two arguments: a
2651 selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it, @var{data}.
2652
2653 @var{type} should be a symbol; it is usually one of @code{PRIMARY},
2654 @code{SECONDARY} or @code{CLIPBOARD}. These are symbols with
2655 upper-case names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If
2656 @var{type} is @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
2657
2658 If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the selection.
2659 Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer (or a cons
2660 of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a cons of two
2661 markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair of markers
2662 stands for text in the overlay or between the markers. The argument
2663 @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector selection values.
2664
2665 This function returns @var{data}.
2666 @end deffn
2667
2668 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
2669 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
2670 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
2671 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
2672 @code{PRIMARY}.
2673
2674 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
2675 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
2676 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
2677 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
2678 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
2679 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
2680 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
2681 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
2682 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
2683 @code{STRING}.
2684 @end defun
2685
2686 @defopt selection-coding-system
2687 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
2688 writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
2689 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
2690 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
2691 @end defopt
2692
2693 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
2694 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
2695 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
2696 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
2697 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
2698 clipboard as empty.
2699
2700 @node Drag and Drop
2701 @section Drag and Drop
2702 @cindex drag and drop
2703
2704 @vindex x-dnd-test-function
2705 @vindex x-dnd-known-types
2706 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
2707 application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
2708 dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
2709 what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
2710 which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
2711 @code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
2712 @code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
2713 on some other criteria.
2714
2715 @vindex x-dnd-types-alist
2716 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
2717 or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
2718 detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
2719 drop.
2720
2721 @vindex dnd-protocol-alist
2722 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
2723 another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
2724 @code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL@. If
2725 there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
2726 an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
2727 text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
2728 you can customize these variables.
2729
2730 @node Color Names
2731 @section Color Names
2732
2733 @cindex color names
2734 @cindex specify color
2735 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
2736 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
2737 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
2738 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
2739 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
2740 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
2741 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
2742 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
2743 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
2744 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
2745 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
2746 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
2747 colors.)
2748
2749 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
2750 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
2751 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
2752 meaning of the term ``selected frame''.
2753
2754 To read user input of color names with completion, use
2755 @code{read-color} (@pxref{High-Level Completion, read-color}).
2756
2757 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
2758 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
2759 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
2760 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
2761 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2762
2763 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
2764 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
2765 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
2766 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
2767 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
2768
2769 @findex x-color-defined-p
2770 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
2771 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2772 @end defun
2773
2774 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
2775 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
2776 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
2777 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
2778
2779 @findex x-defined-colors
2780 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
2781 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2782 @end defun
2783
2784 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
2785 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
2786 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
2787 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
2788
2789 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
2790 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
2791 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
2792 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
2793
2794 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
2795 @end defun
2796
2797 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
2798 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
2799 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
2800 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
2801 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
2802 @end defun
2803
2804 @defun color-values color &optional frame
2805 @cindex rgb value
2806 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
2807 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
2808 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
2809 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
2810 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
2811 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
2812 color.
2813
2814 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2815
2816 @example
2817 (color-values "black")
2818 @result{} (0 0 0)
2819 (color-values "white")
2820 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
2821 (color-values "red")
2822 @result{} (65280 0 0)
2823 (color-values "pink")
2824 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
2825 (color-values "hungry")
2826 @result{} nil
2827 @end example
2828
2829 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
2830 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
2831 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
2832 value is @code{nil}.
2833
2834 @findex x-color-values
2835 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
2836 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2837 @end defun
2838
2839 @node Text Terminal Colors
2840 @section Text Terminal Colors
2841 @cindex colors on text terminals
2842
2843 Text terminals usually support only a small number of colors, and
2844 the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
2845 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
2846 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
2847 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
2848 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
2849
2850 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
2851 are used by Emacs.
2852
2853 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
2854 in @ref{Color Names}.
2855
2856 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
2857 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make
2858 Emacs support different colors on different text terminals; then this
2859 argument will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being
2860 the selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present,
2861 though, the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
2862
2863 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
2864 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
2865 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
2866
2867 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
2868 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
2869 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
2870 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
2871 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
2872 @end defun
2873
2874 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
2875 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text terminal.
2876 @end defun
2877
2878 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
2879 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by
2880 a text terminal.
2881
2882 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
2883 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
2884 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
2885 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
2886 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
2887 @end defun
2888
2889 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
2890 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
2891 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
2892 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
2893 @code{tty-color-alist}.
2894 @end defun
2895
2896 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
2897 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
2898 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
2899 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2900 @end defun
2901
2902 @node Resources
2903 @section X Resources
2904
2905 This section describes some of the functions and variables for
2906 querying and using X resources, or their equivalent on your operating
2907 system. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2908 Manual}, for more information about X resources.
2909
2910 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
2911 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
2912 Window defaults database.
2913
2914 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
2915 This function searches using a key of the form
2916 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
2917 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
2918 the class.
2919
2920 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
2921 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
2922 If you specify them, the key is
2923 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
2924 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
2925 @end defun
2926
2927 @defvar x-resource-class
2928 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
2929 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
2930 resources for other application names by binding this
2931 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
2932 @end defvar
2933
2934 @defvar x-resource-name
2935 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
2936 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
2937 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
2938 @end defvar
2939
2940 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
2941
2942 @example
2943 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
2944 @end example
2945
2946 @noindent
2947 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
2948 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
2949
2950 @example
2951 @group
2952 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2953 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
2954 @result{} "yellow"
2955 @end group
2956 @group
2957 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2958 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
2959 @result{} "yellow"
2960 @end group
2961 @end example
2962
2963 @defvar inhibit-x-resources
2964 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not look up X
2965 resources, and X resources do not have any effect when creating new
2966 frames.
2967 @end defvar
2968
2969 @node Display Feature Testing
2970 @section Display Feature Testing
2971 @cindex display feature testing
2972
2973 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2974 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2975 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2976 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2977
2978 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2979 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2980 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2981 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2982
2983 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2984 obtain information about displays.
2985
2986 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2987 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2988 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires
2989 that the mouse be available, since the menu is popped up by clicking
2990 the mouse on some portion of the Emacs display.
2991 @end defun
2992
2993 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2994 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2995 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2996 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X,
2997 and false for text terminals.
2998 @end defun
2999
3000 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
3001 @cindex mouse, availability
3002 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
3003 @code{nil} if not.
3004 @end defun
3005
3006 @defun display-color-p &optional display
3007 @findex x-display-color-p
3008 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
3009 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
3010 is still supported as an alias.
3011 @end defun
3012
3013 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
3014 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
3015 (All color displays can do this.)
3016 @end defun
3017
3018 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
3019 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
3020 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
3021 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
3022
3023 The definition of ``supported'' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
3024 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
3025 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
3026 way that's
3027
3028 @enumerate
3029 @item
3030 different in appearance than the default face, and
3031
3032 @item
3033 close in spirit to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
3034 @end enumerate
3035
3036 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
3037 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
3038 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
3039 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
3040 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a dim face for
3041 italic.
3042 @end defun
3043
3044 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
3045 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
3046 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
3047 supported in some other cases.
3048 @end defun
3049
3050 @defun display-images-p &optional display
3051 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
3052 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
3053 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
3054 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
3055 @end defun
3056
3057 @defun display-screens &optional display
3058 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
3059 @end defun
3060
3061 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
3062 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
3063 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
3064
3065 For graphical terminals, note that on multi-monitor setups this
3066 refers to the pixel height for all physical monitors associated with
3067 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
3068 @end defun
3069
3070 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
3071 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
3072 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
3073
3074 For graphical terminals, note that on multi-monitor setups this
3075 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
3076 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
3077 @end defun
3078
3079 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
3080 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
3081 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
3082
3083 For graphical terminals, note that on multi-monitor setups this
3084 refers to the height for all physical monitors associated with
3085 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
3086 @end defun
3087
3088 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
3089 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
3090 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
3091
3092 For graphical terminals, note that on multi-monitor setups this
3093 refers to the width for all physical monitors associated with
3094 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
3095 @end defun
3096
3097 @defopt display-mm-dimensions-alist
3098 This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
3099 displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
3100 @code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
3101 @end defopt
3102
3103 @cindex backing store
3104 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
3105 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
3106 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
3107 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
3108 displayed very quickly.
3109
3110 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
3111 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
3112 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
3113 @end defun
3114
3115 @cindex SaveUnder feature
3116 @defun display-save-under &optional display
3117 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
3118 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
3119 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
3120 quickly.
3121 @end defun
3122
3123 @defun display-planes &optional display
3124 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
3125 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
3126 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
3127 @end defun
3128
3129 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
3130 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is
3131 one of the symbols @code{static-gray} (a limited, unchangeable number
3132 of grays), @code{gray-scale} (a full range of grays),
3133 @code{static-color} (a limited, unchangeable number of colors),
3134 @code{pseudo-color} (a limited number of colors), @code{true-color} (a
3135 full range of colors), and @code{direct-color} (a full range of
3136 colors).
3137 @end defun
3138
3139 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
3140 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
3141 @end defun
3142
3143 These functions obtain additional information about the window
3144 system in use where Emacs shows the specified @var{display}. (Their
3145 names begin with @code{x-} for historical reasons.)
3146
3147 @defun x-server-version &optional display
3148 This function returns the list of version numbers of the GUI window
3149 system running on @var{display}, such as the X server on GNU and Unix
3150 systems. The value is a list of three integers: the major and minor
3151 version numbers of the protocol, and the distributor-specific release
3152 number of the window system software itself. On GNU and Unix systems,
3153 these are normally the version of the X protocol and the
3154 distributor-specific release number of the X server software. On
3155 MS-Windows, this is the version of the Windows OS.
3156 @end defun
3157
3158 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
3159 This function returns the vendor that provided the window system
3160 software (as a string). On GNU and Unix systems this really means
3161 whoever distributes the X server. On MS-Windows this is the vendor ID
3162 string of the Windows OS (Microsoft).
3163
3164 When the developers of X labeled software distributors as
3165 ``vendors'', they showed their false assumption that no system could
3166 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
3167 @end defun
3168
3169 @ignore
3170 @defvar x-no-window-manager
3171 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
3172 @end defvar
3173 @end ignore
3174
3175 @ignore
3176 @item
3177 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
3178 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
3179 @end ignore