]> code.delx.au - gnu-emacs/blob - lispref/elisp.texi
(elisp): Don't try to make makeinfo.
[gnu-emacs] / lispref / elisp.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c %**start of header
3 @setfilename elisp
4 @settitle GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
5 @c %**end of header
6
7 @ifinfo
8 This version is the edition 2.5 of the GNU Emacs Lisp
9 Reference Manual. It corresponds to Emacs Version 20.3
10 @c Please REMEMBER to update edition number in *four* places in this file
11 @c and also in *one* place in intro.texi
12
13 Published by the Free Software Foundation
14 59 Temple Place, Suite 330
15 Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
16
17 Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
18
19 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
20 manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
21 preserved on all copies.
22
23 @ignore
24 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
25 results, provided the printed document carries copying permission notice
26 identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph (this
27 paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
28
29 @end ignore
30 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
31 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the
32 entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
33 permission notice identical to this one.
34
35 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
36 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
37 except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation
38 approved by the Foundation.
39
40 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
41 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
42 section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included exactly as
43 in the original, and provided that the entire resulting derived work is
44 distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this
45 one.
46
47 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
48 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
49 except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' may be
50 included in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation
51 instead of in the original English.
52 @end ifinfo
53
54 @c Combine indices.
55 @synindex cp fn
56 @syncodeindex vr fn
57 @syncodeindex ky fn
58 @syncodeindex pg fn
59 @c We use the "type index" to index new functions and variables.
60 @c @syncodeindex tp fn
61
62 @setchapternewpage odd
63 @finalout
64
65 @titlepage
66 @title GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
67 @subtitle GNU Emacs Version 20
68 @subtitle for Unix Users
69 @c The edition number appears in several places in this file
70 @c and also in the file intro.texi.
71 @subtitle Revision 2.5, February 1998
72
73 @author by Bil Lewis, Dan LaLiberte, Richard Stallman
74 @author and the GNU Manual Group
75 @page
76 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
77 Copyright @copyright{} 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
78
79 @sp 2
80 Edition 2.5 @*
81 Revised for Emacs Version 20.3,@*
82 February 1998.@*
83 @sp 2
84 ISBN 1-882114-71-X
85
86 @sp 2
87 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
88 59 Temple Place, Suite 330@*
89 Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
90
91 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
92 manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
93 preserved on all copies.
94
95 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
96 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
97 section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included
98 exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire resulting
99 derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission notice
100 identical to this one.
101
102 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
103 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
104 except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' may be
105 included in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation
106 instead of in the original English.
107
108 Cover art by Etienne Suvasa.
109 @end titlepage
110 @page
111
112 @node Top, Copying, (dir), (dir)
113
114 @ifinfo
115 This Info file contains edition 2.5 of the GNU Emacs Lisp
116 Reference Manual, corresponding to GNU Emacs version 20.3.
117 @end ifinfo
118
119 @menu
120 * Copying:: Conditions for copying and changing GNU Emacs.
121 * Introduction:: Introduction and conventions used.
122 * Standards: Coding Conventions. Coding conventions for Emacs Lisp.
123
124 * Lisp Data Types:: Data types of objects in Emacs Lisp.
125 * Numbers:: Numbers and arithmetic functions.
126 * Strings and Characters:: Strings, and functions that work on them.
127 * Lists:: Lists, cons cells, and related functions.
128 * Sequences Arrays Vectors:: Lists, strings and vectors are called sequences.
129 Certain functions act on any kind of sequence.
130 The description of vectors is here as well.
131 * Symbols:: Symbols represent names, uniquely.
132
133 * Evaluation:: How Lisp expressions are evaluated.
134 * Control Structures:: Conditionals, loops, nonlocal exits.
135 * Variables:: Using symbols in programs to stand for values.
136 * Functions:: A function is a Lisp program
137 that can be invoked from other functions.
138 * Macros:: Macros are a way to extend the Lisp language.
139 * Customization:: Writing customization declarations.
140
141 * Loading:: Reading files of Lisp code into Lisp.
142 * Byte Compilation:: Compilation makes programs run faster.
143 * Debugging:: Tools and tips for debugging Lisp programs.
144
145 * Read and Print:: Converting Lisp objects to text and back.
146 * Minibuffers:: Using the minibuffer to read input.
147 * Command Loop:: How the editor command loop works,
148 and how you can call its subroutines.
149 * Keymaps:: Defining the bindings from keys to commands.
150 * Modes:: Defining major and minor modes.
151 * Documentation:: Writing and using documentation strings.
152
153 * Files:: Accessing files.
154 * Backups and Auto-Saving:: Controlling how backups and auto-save
155 files are made.
156 * Buffers:: Creating and using buffer objects.
157 * Windows:: Manipulating windows and displaying buffers.
158 * Frames:: Making multiple X windows.
159 * Positions:: Buffer positions and motion functions.
160 * Markers:: Markers represent positions and update
161 automatically when the text is changed.
162
163 * Text:: Examining and changing text in buffers.
164 * Non-ASCII Characters:: Non-ASCII text in buffers and strings.
165 * Searching and Matching:: Searching buffers for strings or regexps.
166 * Syntax Tables:: The syntax table controls word and list parsing.
167 * Abbrevs:: How Abbrev mode works, and its data structures.
168
169 * Processes:: Running and communicating with subprocesses.
170 * System Interface:: Getting the user id, system type, environment
171 variables, and other such things.
172 * Display:: Parameters controlling screen usage.
173 The bell. Waiting for input.
174 * Calendar:: Customizing the calendar and diary.
175
176 Appendices
177
178 * Tips:: Advice and coding conventions for Emacs Lisp.
179 * GNU Emacs Internals:: Building and dumping Emacs;
180 internal data structures.
181 * Standard Errors:: List of all error symbols.
182 * Standard Buffer-Local Variables:: List of variables local in all buffers.
183 * Standard Keymaps:: List of standard keymaps.
184 * Standard Hooks:: List of standard hook variables.
185
186 * Index:: Index including concepts, functions, variables,
187 and other terms.
188
189 * New Symbols:: New functions and variables in Emacs 20.
190
191 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
192
193 Here are other nodes that are inferiors of those already listed,
194 mentioned here so you can get to them in one step:
195
196 Introduction
197
198 * Caveats:: Flaws and a request for help.
199 * Lisp History:: Emacs Lisp is descended from Maclisp.
200 * Conventions:: How the manual is formatted.
201 * Acknowledgements:: The authors, editors, and sponsors of this manual.
202
203 Conventions
204
205 * Some Terms:: Explanation of terms we use in this manual.
206 * nil and t:: How the symbols @code{nil} and @code{t} are used.
207 * Evaluation Notation:: The format we use for examples of evaluation.
208 * Printing Notation:: The format we use for examples that print output.
209 * Error Messages:: The format we use for examples of errors.
210 * Buffer Text Notation:: The format we use for buffer contents in examples.
211 * Format of Descriptions:: Notation for describing functions, variables, etc.
212
213 Tips and Conventions
214
215 * Coding Conventions:: Conventions for clean and robust programs.
216 * Compilation Tips:: Making compiled code run fast.
217 * Documentation Tips:: Writing readable documentation strings.
218 * Comment Tips:: Conventions for writing comments.
219 * Library Headers:: Standard headers for library packages.
220
221 Format of Descriptions
222
223 * A Sample Function Description::
224 * A Sample Variable Description::
225
226 Lisp Data Types
227
228 * Printed Representation:: How Lisp objects are represented as text.
229 * Comments:: Comments and their formatting conventions.
230 * Programming Types:: Types found in all Lisp systems.
231 * Editing Types:: Types specific to Emacs.
232 * Type Predicates:: Tests related to types.
233 * Equality Predicates:: Tests of equality between any two objects.
234
235 Programming Types
236
237 * Integer Type:: Numbers without fractional parts.
238 * Floating Point Type:: Numbers with fractional parts and with a large range.
239 * Character Type:: The representation of letters, numbers and
240 control characters.
241 * Sequence Type:: Both lists and arrays are classified as sequences.
242 * Cons Cell Type:: Cons cells, and lists (which are made from cons cells).
243 * Array Type:: Arrays include strings and vectors.
244 * String Type:: An (efficient) array of characters.
245 * Vector Type:: One-dimensional arrays.
246 * Symbol Type:: A multi-use object that refers to a function,
247 variable, property list, or itself.
248 * Function Type:: A piece of executable code you can call from elsewhere.
249 * Macro Type:: A method of expanding an expression into another
250 expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
251 * Primitive Function Type:: A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
252 * Byte-Code Type:: A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
253 * Autoload Type:: A type used for automatically loading seldom-used
254 functions.
255
256 List Type
257
258 * Dotted Pair Notation:: An alternative syntax for lists.
259 * Association List Type:: A specially constructed list.
260
261 Editing Types
262
263 * Buffer Type:: The basic object of editing.
264 * Window Type:: What makes buffers visible.
265 * Window Configuration Type::Save what the screen looks like.
266 * Marker Type:: A position in a buffer.
267 * Process Type:: A process running on the underlying OS.
268 * Stream Type:: Receive or send characters.
269 * Keymap Type:: What function a keystroke invokes.
270 * Syntax Table Type:: What a character means.
271
272 Numbers
273
274 * Integer Basics:: Representation and range of integers.
275 * Float Basics:: Representation and range of floating point.
276 * Predicates on Numbers:: Testing for numbers.
277 * Comparison of Numbers:: Equality and inequality predicates.
278 * Arithmetic Operations:: How to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
279 * Bitwise Operations:: Logical and, or, not, shifting.
280 * Numeric Conversions:: Converting float to integer and vice versa.
281 * Math Functions:: Trig, exponential and logarithmic functions.
282 * Random Numbers:: Obtaining random integers, predictable or not.
283
284 Strings and Characters
285
286 * String Basics:: Basic properties of strings and characters.
287 * Predicates for Strings:: Testing whether an object is a string or char.
288 * Creating Strings:: Functions to allocate new strings.
289 * Text Comparison:: Comparing characters or strings.
290 * String Conversion:: Converting characters or strings and vice versa.
291 * Formatting Strings:: @code{format}: Emacs's analog of @code{printf}.
292 * Character Case:: Case conversion functions.
293
294 Lists
295
296 * Cons Cells:: How lists are made out of cons cells.
297 * Lists as Boxes:: Graphical notation to explain lists.
298 * List-related Predicates:: Is this object a list? Comparing two lists.
299 * List Elements:: Extracting the pieces of a list.
300 * Building Lists:: Creating list structure.
301 * Modifying Lists:: Storing new pieces into an existing list.
302 * Sets And Lists:: A list can represent a finite mathematical set.
303 * Association Lists:: A list can represent a finite relation or mapping.
304
305 Modifying Existing List Structure
306
307 * Setcar:: Replacing an element in a list.
308 * Setcdr:: Replacing part of the list backbone.
309 This can be used to remove or add elements.
310 * Rearrangement:: Reordering the elements in a list; combining lists.
311
312 Sequences, Arrays, and Vectors
313
314 * Sequence Functions:: Functions that accept any kind of sequence.
315 * Arrays:: Characteristics of arrays in Emacs Lisp.
316 * Array Functions:: Functions specifically for arrays.
317 * Vectors:: Functions specifically for vectors.
318
319 Symbols
320
321 * Symbol Components:: Symbols have names, values, function definitions
322 and property lists.
323 * Definitions:: A definition says how a symbol will be used.
324 * Creating Symbols:: How symbols are kept unique.
325 * Property Lists:: Each symbol has a property list
326 for recording miscellaneous information.
327
328 Evaluation
329
330 * Intro Eval:: Evaluation in the scheme of things.
331 * Eval:: How to invoke the Lisp interpreter explicitly.
332 * Forms:: How various sorts of objects are evaluated.
333 * Quoting:: Avoiding evaluation (to put constants in
334 the program).
335
336 Kinds of Forms
337
338 * Self-Evaluating Forms:: Forms that evaluate to themselves.
339 * Symbol Forms:: Symbols evaluate as variables.
340 * Classifying Lists:: How to distinguish various sorts of list forms.
341 * Function Forms:: Forms that call functions.
342 * Macro Forms:: Forms that call macros.
343 * Special Forms:: ``Special forms'' are idiosyncratic primitives,
344 most of them extremely important.
345 * Autoloading:: Functions set up to load files
346 containing their real definitions.
347
348 Control Structures
349
350 * Sequencing:: Evaluation in textual order.
351 * Conditionals:: @code{if}, @code{cond}.
352 * Combining Conditions:: @code{and}, @code{or}, @code{not}.
353 * Iteration:: @code{while} loops.
354 * Nonlocal Exits:: Jumping out of a sequence.
355
356 Nonlocal Exits
357
358 * Catch and Throw:: Nonlocal exits for the program's own purposes.
359 * Examples of Catch:: Showing how such nonlocal exits can be written.
360 * Errors:: How errors are signaled and handled.
361 * Cleanups:: Arranging to run a cleanup form if an
362 error happens.
363
364 Errors
365
366 * Signaling Errors:: How to report an error.
367 * Processing of Errors:: What Emacs does when you report an error.
368 * Handling Errors:: How you can trap errors and continue execution.
369 * Error Symbols:: How errors are classified for trapping them.
370
371 Variables
372
373 * Global Variables:: Variable values that exist permanently, everywhere.
374 * Constant Variables:: Certain "variables" have values that never change.
375 * Local Variables:: Variable values that exist only temporarily.
376 * Void Variables:: Symbols that lack values.
377 * Defining Variables:: A definition says a symbol is used as a variable.
378 * Accessing Variables:: Examining values of variables whose names
379 are known only at run time.
380 * Setting Variables:: Storing new values in variables.
381 * Variable Scoping:: How Lisp chooses among local and global values.
382 * Buffer-Local Variables:: Variable values in effect only in one buffer.
383
384 Scoping Rules for Variable Bindings
385
386 * Scope:: Scope means where in the program a value
387 is visible. Comparison with other languages.
388 * Extent:: Extent means how long in time a value exists.
389 * Impl of Scope:: Two ways to implement dynamic scoping.
390 * Using Scoping:: How to use dynamic scoping carefully and
391 avoid problems.
392
393 Buffer-Local Variables
394
395 * Intro to Buffer-Local:: Introduction and concepts.
396 * Creating Buffer-Local:: Creating and destroying buffer-local bindings.
397 * Default Value:: The default value is seen in buffers
398 that don't have their own local values.
399
400 Functions
401
402 * What Is a Function:: Lisp functions vs primitives; terminology.
403 * Lambda Expressions:: How functions are expressed as Lisp objects.
404 * Function Names:: A symbol can serve as the name of a function.
405 * Defining Functions:: Lisp expressions for defining functions.
406 * Calling Functions:: How to use an existing function.
407 * Mapping Functions:: Applying a function to each element of a list, etc.
408 * Anonymous Functions:: Lambda-expressions are functions with no names.
409 * Function Cells:: Accessing or setting the function definition
410 of a symbol.
411 * Related Topics:: Cross-references to specific Lisp primitives
412 that have a special bearing on how
413 functions work.
414
415 Lambda Expressions
416
417 * Lambda Components:: The parts of a lambda expression.
418 * Simple Lambda:: A simple example.
419 * Argument List:: Details and special features of argument lists.
420 * Function Documentation:: How to put documentation in a function.
421
422 Macros
423
424 * Simple Macro:: A basic example.
425 * Expansion:: How, when and why macros are expanded.
426 * Compiling Macros:: How macros are expanded by the compiler.
427 * Defining Macros:: How to write a macro definition.
428 * Backquote:: Easier construction of list structure.
429 * Problems with Macros:: Don't evaluate the macro arguments too many times.
430 Don't hide the user's variables.
431
432 Loading
433
434 * How Programs Do Loading:: The @code{load} function and others.
435 * Autoload:: Setting up a function to autoload.
436 * Named Features:: Loading a library if it isn't already loaded.
437 * Repeated Loading:: Precautions about loading a file twice.
438
439 Byte Compilation
440
441 * Compilation Functions:: Byte compilation functions.
442 * Disassembly:: Disassembling byte-code; how to read byte-code.
443
444 Debugging Lisp Programs
445
446 * Debugger:: How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented.
447 * Syntax Errors:: How to find syntax errors.
448 * Compilation Errors:: How to find errors that show up in
449 byte compilation.
450 * Edebug:: A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger.
451
452 The Lisp Debugger
453
454 * Error Debugging:: Entering the debugger when an error happens.
455 * Function Debugging:: Entering it when a certain function is called.
456 * Explicit Debug:: Entering it at a certain point in the program.
457 * Using Debugger:: What the debugger does; what you see while in it.
458 * Debugger Commands:: Commands used while in the debugger.
459 * Invoking the Debugger:: How to call the function @code{debug}.
460 * Internals of Debugger:: Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables.
461
462 Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax
463
464 * Excess Open:: How to find a spurious open paren or missing close.
465 * Excess Close:: How to find a spurious close paren or missing open.
466
467 Reading and Printing Lisp Objects
468
469 * Streams Intro:: Overview of streams, reading and printing.
470 * Input Streams:: Various data types that can be used as
471 input streams.
472 * Input Functions:: Functions to read Lisp objects from text.
473 * Output Streams:: Various data types that can be used as
474 output streams.
475 * Output Functions:: Functions to print Lisp objects as text.
476
477 Minibuffers
478
479 * Intro to Minibuffers:: Basic information about minibuffers.
480 * Text from Minibuffer:: How to read a straight text string.
481 * Object from Minibuffer:: How to read a Lisp object or expression.
482 * Completion:: How to invoke and customize completion.
483 * Yes-or-No Queries:: Asking a question with a simple answer.
484 * Minibuffer Misc:: Various customization hooks and variables.
485
486 Completion
487
488 * Basic Completion:: Low-level functions for completing strings.
489 (These are too low level to use the minibuffer.)
490 * Minibuffer Completion:: Invoking the minibuffer with completion.
491 * Completion Commands:: Minibuffer commands that do completion.
492 * High-Level Completion:: Convenient special cases of completion
493 (reading buffer name, file name, etc.)
494 * Reading File Names:: Using completion to read file names.
495 * Programmed Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name.
496
497 Command Loop
498
499 * Command Overview:: How the command loop reads commands.
500 * Defining Commands:: Specifying how a function should read arguments.
501 * Interactive Call:: Calling a command, so that it will read arguments.
502 * Command Loop Info:: Variables set by the command loop for you to examine.
503 * Input Events:: What input looks like when you read it.
504 * Reading Input:: How to read input events from the keyboard or mouse.
505 * Waiting:: Waiting for user input or elapsed time.
506 * Quitting:: How @kbd{C-g} works. How to catch or defer quitting.
507 * Prefix Command Arguments:: How the commands to set prefix args work.
508 * Recursive Editing:: Entering a recursive edit,
509 and why you usually shouldn't.
510 * Disabling Commands:: How the command loop handles disabled commands.
511 * Command History:: How the command history is set up, and how accessed.
512 * Keyboard Macros:: How keyboard macros are implemented.
513
514 Defining Commands
515
516 * Using Interactive:: General rules for @code{interactive}.
517 * Interactive Codes:: The standard letter-codes for reading arguments
518 in various ways.
519 * Interactive Examples:: Examples of how to read interactive arguments.
520
521 Keymaps
522
523 * Keymap Terminology:: Definitions of terms pertaining to keymaps.
524 * Format of Keymaps:: What a keymap looks like as a Lisp object.
525 * Creating Keymaps:: Functions to create and copy keymaps.
526 * Inheritance and Keymaps:: How one keymap can inherit the bindings
527 of another keymap.
528 * Prefix Keys:: Defining a key with a keymap as its definition.
529 * Menu Keymaps:: A keymap can define a menu for X windows
530 or for use from the terminal.
531 * Active Keymaps:: Each buffer has a local keymap
532 to override the standard (global) bindings.
533 Each minor mode can also override them.
534 * Key Lookup:: How extracting elements from keymaps works.
535 * Functions for Key Lookup:: How to request key lookup.
536 * Changing Key Bindings:: Redefining a key in a keymap.
537 * Key Binding Commands:: Interactive interfaces for redefining keys.
538 * Scanning Keymaps:: Looking through all keymaps, for printing help.
539
540 Major and Minor Modes
541
542 * Major Modes:: Defining major modes.
543 * Minor Modes:: Defining minor modes.
544 * Mode Line Format:: Customizing the text that appears in the mode line.
545 * Hooks:: How to use hooks; how to write code that
546 provides hooks.
547
548 Major Modes
549
550 * Major Mode Conventions:: Coding conventions for keymaps, etc.
551 * Example Major Modes:: Text mode and Lisp modes.
552 * Auto Major Mode:: How Emacs chooses the major mode automatically.
553 * Mode Help:: Finding out how to use a mode.
554
555 Minor Modes
556
557 * Minor Mode Conventions:: Tips for writing a minor mode.
558 * Keymaps and Minor Modes:: How a minor mode can have its own keymap.
559
560 Mode Line Format
561
562 * Mode Line Data:: The data structure that controls the mode line.
563 * Mode Line Variables:: Variables used in that data structure.
564 * %-Constructs:: Putting information into a mode line.
565
566 Documentation
567
568 * Documentation Basics:: Good style for doc strings.
569 Where to put them. How Emacs stores them.
570 * Accessing Documentation:: How Lisp programs can access doc strings.
571 * Keys in Documentation:: Substituting current key bindings.
572 * Describing Characters:: Making printable descriptions of
573 non-printing characters and key sequences.
574 * Help Functions:: Subroutines used by Emacs help facilities.
575
576 Files
577
578 * Visiting Files:: Reading files into Emacs buffers for editing.
579 * Saving Buffers:: Writing changed buffers back into files.
580 * Reading from Files:: Reading files into other buffers.
581 * Writing to Files:: Writing new files from parts of buffers.
582 * File Locks:: Locking and unlocking files, to prevent
583 simultaneous editing by two people.
584 * Information about Files:: Testing existence, accessibility, size of files.
585 * Contents of Directories:: Getting a list of the files in a directory.
586 * Changing Files:: Renaming files, changing protection, etc.
587 * File Names:: Decomposing and expanding file names.
588
589 Visiting Files
590
591 * Visiting Functions:: The usual interface functions for visiting.
592 * Subroutines of Visiting:: Lower-level subroutines that they use.
593
594 Information about Files
595
596 * Testing Accessibility:: Is a given file readable? Writable?
597 * Kinds of Files:: Is it a directory? A link?
598 * File Attributes:: How large is it? Any other names? Etc.
599
600 File Names
601
602 * File Name Components:: The directory part of a file name, and the rest.
603 * Directory Names:: A directory's name as a directory
604 is different from its name as a file.
605 * Relative File Names:: Some file names are relative to a
606 current directory.
607 * File Name Expansion:: Converting relative file names to absolute ones.
608 * Unique File Names:: Generating names for temporary files.
609 * File Name Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name.
610
611 Backups and Auto-Saving
612
613 * Backup Files:: How backup files are made; how their names
614 are chosen.
615 * Auto-Saving:: How auto-save files are made; how their
616 names are chosen.
617 * Reverting:: @code{revert-buffer}, and how to customize
618 what it does.
619
620 Backup Files
621
622 * Making Backups:: How Emacs makes backup files, and when.
623 * Rename or Copy:: Two alternatives: renaming the old file
624 or copying it.
625 * Numbered Backups:: Keeping multiple backups for each source file.
626 * Backup Names:: How backup file names are computed; customization.
627
628 Buffers
629
630 * Buffer Basics:: What is a buffer?
631 * Buffer Names:: Accessing and changing buffer names.
632 * Buffer File Name:: The buffer file name indicates which file
633 is visited.
634 * Buffer Modification:: A buffer is @dfn{modified} if it needs to be saved.
635 * Modification Time:: Determining whether the visited file was changed
636 ``behind Emacs's back''.
637 * Read Only Buffers:: Modifying text is not allowed in a
638 read-only buffer.
639 * The Buffer List:: How to look at all the existing buffers.
640 * Creating Buffers:: Functions that create buffers.
641 * Killing Buffers:: Buffers exist until explicitly killed.
642 * Current Buffer:: Designating a buffer as current
643 so primitives will access its contents.
644
645 Windows
646
647 * Basic Windows:: Basic information on using windows.
648 * Splitting Windows:: Splitting one window into two windows.
649 * Deleting Windows:: Deleting a window gives its space to other windows.
650 * Selecting Windows:: The selected window is the one that you edit in.
651 * Cyclic Window Ordering:: Moving around the existing windows.
652 * Buffers and Windows:: Each window displays the contents of a buffer.
653 * Displaying Buffers:: Higher-lever functions for displaying a buffer
654 and choosing a window for it.
655 * Window Point:: Each window has its own location of point.
656 * Window Start:: The display-start position controls which text
657 is on-screen in the window.
658 * Vertical Scrolling:: Moving text up and down in the window.
659 * Horizontal Scrolling:: Moving text sideways on the window.
660 * Size of Window:: Accessing the size of a window.
661 * Resizing Windows:: Changing the size of a window.
662 * Window Configurations:: Saving and restoring the state of the screen.
663
664 Frames
665
666 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
667 * Multiple Displays:: Creating frames on other X displays.
668 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
669 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
670 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
671 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
672 * Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
673 display of text always works through windows.
674 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
675 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
676 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
677 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other X windows;
678 lowering it makes the others hide them.
679 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
680 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
681 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
682 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
683 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
684 * Pointer Shapes:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
685 * X Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
686 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
687 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
688 * Server Data:: Getting info about the X server.
689
690 Positions
691
692 * Point:: The special position where editing takes place.
693 * Motion:: Changing point.
694 * Excursions:: Temporary motion and buffer changes.
695 * Narrowing:: Restricting editing to a portion of the buffer.
696
697 Motion
698
699 * Character Motion:: Moving in terms of characters.
700 * Word Motion:: Moving in terms of words.
701 * Buffer End Motion:: Moving to the beginning or end of the buffer.
702 * Text Lines:: Moving in terms of lines of text.
703 * Screen Lines:: Moving in terms of lines as displayed.
704 * List Motion:: Moving by parsing lists and sexps.
705 * Skipping Characters:: Skipping characters belonging to a certain set.
706
707 Markers
708
709 * Overview of Markers:: The components of a marker, and how it relocates.
710 * Predicates on Markers:: Testing whether an object is a marker.
711 * Creating Markers:: Making empty markers or markers at certain places.
712 * Information from Markers:: Finding the marker's buffer or character
713 position.
714 * Moving Markers:: Moving the marker to a new buffer or position.
715 * The Mark:: How ``the mark'' is implemented with a marker.
716 * The Region:: How to access ``the region''.
717
718 Text
719
720 * Near Point:: Examining text in the vicinity of point.
721 * Buffer Contents:: Examining text in a general fashion.
722 * Insertion:: Adding new text to a buffer.
723 * Commands for Insertion:: User-level commands to insert text.
724 * Deletion:: Removing text from a buffer.
725 * User-Level Deletion:: User-level commands to delete text.
726 * The Kill Ring:: Where removed text sometimes is saved for
727 later use.
728 * Undo:: Undoing changes to the text of a buffer.
729 * Auto Filling:: How auto-fill mode is implemented to break lines.
730 * Filling:: Functions for explicit filling.
731 * Margins:: How to specify margins for filling commands.
732 * Sorting:: Functions for sorting parts of the buffer.
733 * Indentation:: Functions to insert or adjust indentation.
734 * Columns:: Computing horizontal positions, and using them.
735 * Case Changes:: Case conversion of parts of the buffer.
736 * Text Properties:: Assigning Lisp property lists to text characters.
737 * Substitution:: Replacing a given character wherever it appears.
738 * Transposition:: Swapping two portions of a buffer.
739 * Registers:: How registers are implemented. Accessing
740 the text or position stored in a register.
741 * Change Hooks:: Supplying functions to be run when text is changed.
742
743 The Kill Ring
744
745 * Kill Ring Concepts:: What text looks like in the kill ring.
746 * Kill Functions:: Functions that kill text.
747 * Yank Commands:: Commands that access the kill ring.
748 * Low-Level Kill Ring:: Functions and variables for kill ring access.
749 * Internals of Kill Ring:: Variables that hold kill-ring data.
750
751 Indentation
752
753 * Primitive Indent:: Functions used to count and insert indentation.
754 * Mode-Specific Indent:: Customize indentation for different modes.
755 * Region Indent:: Indent all the lines in a region.
756 * Relative Indent:: Indent the current line based on previous lines.
757 * Indent Tabs:: Adjustable, typewriter-like tab stops.
758 * Motion by Indent:: Move to first non-blank character.
759
760 Text Properties
761
762 * Examining Properties:: Looking at the properties of one character.
763 * Changing Properties:: Setting the properties of a range of text.
764 * Property Search:: Searching for where a property changes value.
765 * Special Properties:: Particular properties with special meanings.
766 * Format Properties:: Properties for representing formatting of text.
767 * Sticky Properties:: How inserted text gets properties from
768 neighboring text.
769 * Saving Properties:: Saving text properties in files, and reading
770 them back.
771 * Lazy Properties:: Computing text properties in a lazy fashion
772 only when text is examined.
773 * Not Intervals:: Why text properties do not use
774 Lisp-visible text intervals.
775
776 Searching and Matching
777
778 * String Search:: Search for an exact match.
779 * Regular Expressions:: Describing classes of strings.
780 * Regexp Search:: Searching for a match for a regexp.
781 * Match Data:: Finding out which part of the text matched
782 various parts of a regexp, after regexp search.
783 * Saving Match Data:: Saving and restoring this information.
784 * Standard Regexps:: Useful regexps for finding sentences, pages,...
785 * Searching and Case:: Case-independent or case-significant searching.
786
787 Regular Expressions
788
789 * Syntax of Regexps:: Rules for writing regular expressions.
790 * Regexp Example:: Illustrates regular expression syntax.
791
792 Syntax Tables
793
794 * Syntax Descriptors:: How characters are classified.
795 * Syntax Table Functions:: How to create, examine and alter syntax tables.
796 * Parsing Expressions:: Parsing balanced expressions
797 using the syntax table.
798 * Standard Syntax Tables:: Syntax tables used by various major modes.
799 * Syntax Table Internals:: How syntax table information is stored.
800
801 Syntax Descriptors
802
803 * Syntax Class Table:: Table of syntax classes.
804 * Syntax Flags:: Additional flags each character can have.
805
806 Abbrevs And Abbrev Expansion
807
808 * Abbrev Mode:: Setting up Emacs for abbreviation.
809 * Tables: Abbrev Tables. Creating and working with abbrev tables.
810 * Defining Abbrevs:: Specifying abbreviations and their expansions.
811 * Files: Abbrev Files. Saving abbrevs in files.
812 * Expansion: Abbrev Expansion. Controlling expansion; expansion subroutines.
813 * Standard Abbrev Tables:: Abbrev tables used by various major modes.
814
815 Processes
816
817 * Subprocess Creation:: Functions that start subprocesses.
818 * Synchronous Processes:: Details of using synchronous subprocesses.
819 * Asynchronous Processes:: Starting up an asynchronous subprocess.
820 * Deleting Processes:: Eliminating an asynchronous subprocess.
821 * Process Information:: Accessing run-status and other attributes.
822 * Input to Processes:: Sending input to an asynchronous subprocess.
823 * Signals to Processes:: Stopping, continuing or interrupting
824 an asynchronous subprocess.
825 * Output from Processes:: Collecting output from an asynchronous subprocess.
826 * Sentinels:: Sentinels run when process run-status changes.
827 * Network:: Opening network connections.
828
829 Receiving Output from Processes
830
831 * Process Buffers:: If no filter, output is put in a buffer.
832 * Filter Functions:: Filter functions accept output from the process.
833 * Accepting Output:: How to wait until process output arrives.
834
835 Operating System Interface
836
837 * Starting Up:: Customizing Emacs start-up processing.
838 * Getting Out:: How exiting works (permanent or temporary).
839 * System Environment:: Distinguish the name and kind of system.
840 * Terminal Input:: Recording terminal input for debugging.
841 * Terminal Output:: Recording terminal output for debugging.
842 * Flow Control:: How to turn output flow control on or off.
843 * Batch Mode:: Running Emacs without terminal interaction.
844
845 Starting Up Emacs
846
847 * Start-up Summary:: Sequence of actions Emacs performs at start-up.
848 * Init File:: Details on reading the init file (@file{.emacs}).
849 * Terminal-Specific:: How the terminal-specific Lisp file is read.
850 * Command Line Arguments:: How command line arguments are processed,
851 and how you can customize them.
852
853 Getting out of Emacs
854
855 * Killing Emacs:: Exiting Emacs irreversibly.
856 * Suspending Emacs:: Exiting Emacs reversibly.
857
858 Emacs Display
859
860 * Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
861 * Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
862 * The Echo Area:: Where messages are displayed.
863 * Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
864 * Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
865 * Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
866 * Waiting:: Forcing display update and waiting for user.
867 * Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
868 * Usual Display:: How control characters are displayed.
869 * Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
870 * Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
871
872 GNU Emacs Internals
873
874 * Building Emacs:: How to preload Lisp libraries into Emacs.
875 * Pure Storage:: A kludge to make preloaded Lisp functions sharable.
876 * Garbage Collection:: Reclaiming space for Lisp objects no longer used.
877 * Object Internals:: Data formats of buffers, windows, processes.
878 * Writing Emacs Primitives:: Writing C code for Emacs.
879
880 Object Internals
881
882 * Buffer Internals:: Components of a buffer structure.
883 * Window Internals:: Components of a window structure.
884 * Process Internals:: Components of a process structure.
885 @end menu
886
887 @include intro.texi
888 @include objects.texi
889 @include numbers.texi
890 @include strings.texi
891
892 @include lists.texi
893 @include sequences.texi
894 @include symbols.texi
895 @include eval.texi
896
897 @include control.texi
898 @include variables.texi
899 @include functions.texi
900 @include macros.texi
901
902 @include customize.texi
903 @include loading.texi
904 @include compile.texi
905 @include debugging.texi
906
907 @include streams.texi
908 @include minibuf.texi
909 @include commands.texi
910 @include keymaps.texi
911
912 @include modes.texi
913 @include help.texi
914 @include files.texi
915 @include backups.texi
916
917 @include buffers.texi
918 @include windows.texi
919 @include frames.texi
920 @include positions.texi
921
922 @include markers.texi
923 @include text.texi
924 @include nonascii.texi
925 @include searching.texi
926
927 @include syntax.texi
928 @include abbrevs.texi
929 @include processes.texi
930 @include os.texi
931
932 @include display.texi
933 @include calendar.texi
934
935 @c MOVE to Emacs Manual: include misc-modes.texi
936
937 @c appendices
938
939 @c REMOVE this: include non-hacker.texi
940
941 @include tips.texi
942 @include internals.texi
943 @include errors.texi
944 @include locals.texi
945 @include maps.texi
946 @include hooks.texi
947
948 @include index.texi
949
950 @node New Symbols, , Index, Top
951 @chapter New Symbols Since the Previous Edition
952
953 @include elisp.tps
954
955 @c Print the tables of contents
956 @summarycontents
957 @contents
958 @c That's all
959
960 @bye
961
962 \f
963 These words prevent "local variables" above from confusing Emacs.