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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @setfilename ../info/windows
7 @node Windows, Frames, Buffers, Top
8 @chapter Windows
9
10 This chapter describes most of the functions and variables related to
11 Emacs windows. See @ref{Display}, for information on how text is
12 displayed in windows.
13
14 @menu
15 * Basic Windows:: Basic information on using windows.
16 * Splitting Windows:: Splitting one window into two windows.
17 * Deleting Windows:: Deleting a window gives its space to other windows.
18 * Selecting Windows:: The selected window is the one that you edit in.
19 * Cyclic Window Ordering:: Moving around the existing windows.
20 * Buffers and Windows:: Each window displays the contents of a buffer.
21 * Displaying Buffers:: Higher-level functions for displaying a buffer
22 and choosing a window for it.
23 * Choosing Window:: How to choose a window for displaying a buffer.
24 * Window Point:: Each window has its own location of point.
25 * Window Start:: The display-start position controls which text
26 is on-screen in the window.
27 * Textual Scrolling:: Moving text up and down through the window.
28 * Vertical Scrolling:: Moving the contents up and down on the window.
29 * Horizontal Scrolling:: Moving the contents sideways on the window.
30 * Size of Window:: Accessing the size of a window.
31 * Resizing Windows:: Changing the size of a window.
32 * Coordinates and Windows:: Converting coordinates to windows.
33 * Window Configurations:: Saving and restoring the state of the screen.
34 * Window Hooks:: Hooks for scrolling, window size changes,
35 redisplay going past a certain point,
36 or window configuration changes.
37 @end menu
38
39 @node Basic Windows
40 @section Basic Concepts of Emacs Windows
41 @cindex window
42 @cindex selected window
43
44 A @dfn{window} in Emacs is the physical area of the screen in which a
45 buffer is displayed. The term is also used to refer to a Lisp object that
46 represents that screen area in Emacs Lisp. It should be
47 clear from the context which is meant.
48
49 Emacs groups windows into frames. A frame represents an area of
50 screen available for Emacs to use. Each frame always contains at least
51 one window, but you can subdivide it vertically or horizontally into
52 multiple nonoverlapping Emacs windows.
53
54 In each frame, at any time, one and only one window is designated as
55 @dfn{selected within the frame}. The frame's cursor appears in that
56 window. At any time, one frame is the selected frame; and the window
57 selected within that frame is @dfn{the selected window}. The selected
58 window's buffer is usually the current buffer (except when
59 @code{set-buffer} has been used). @xref{Current Buffer}.
60
61 For practical purposes, a window exists only while it is displayed in
62 a frame. Once removed from the frame, the window is effectively deleted
63 and should not be used, @emph{even though there may still be references
64 to it} from other Lisp objects. Restoring a saved window configuration
65 is the only way for a window no longer on the screen to come back to
66 life. (@xref{Deleting Windows}.)
67
68 Each window has the following attributes:
69
70 @itemize @bullet
71 @item
72 containing frame
73
74 @item
75 window height
76
77 @item
78 window width
79
80 @item
81 window edges with respect to the screen or frame
82
83 @item
84 the buffer it displays
85
86 @item
87 position within the buffer at the upper left of the window
88
89 @item
90 amount of horizontal scrolling, in columns
91
92 @item
93 point
94
95 @item
96 the mark
97
98 @item
99 how recently the window was selected
100
101 @item
102 fringe settings
103
104 @item
105 display margins
106
107 @item
108 scroll-bar settings
109 @end itemize
110
111 @cindex multiple windows
112 Users create multiple windows so they can look at several buffers at
113 once. Lisp libraries use multiple windows for a variety of reasons, but
114 most often to display related information. In Rmail, for example, you
115 can move through a summary buffer in one window while the other window
116 shows messages one at a time as they are reached.
117
118 The meaning of ``window'' in Emacs is similar to what it means in the
119 context of general-purpose window systems such as X, but not identical.
120 The X Window System places X windows on the screen; Emacs uses one or
121 more X windows as frames, and subdivides them into
122 Emacs windows. When you use Emacs on a character-only terminal, Emacs
123 treats the whole terminal screen as one frame.
124
125 @cindex terminal screen
126 @cindex screen of terminal
127 @cindex tiled windows
128 Most window systems support arbitrarily located overlapping windows.
129 In contrast, Emacs windows are @dfn{tiled}; they never overlap, and
130 together they fill the whole screen or frame. Because of the way in
131 which Emacs creates new windows and resizes them, not all conceivable
132 tilings of windows on an Emacs frame are actually possible.
133 @xref{Splitting Windows}, and @ref{Size of Window}.
134
135 @xref{Display}, for information on how the contents of the
136 window's buffer are displayed in the window.
137
138 @defun windowp object
139 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a window.
140 @end defun
141
142 @node Splitting Windows
143 @section Splitting Windows
144 @cindex splitting windows
145 @cindex window splitting
146
147 The functions described here are the primitives used to split a window
148 into two windows. Two higher level functions sometimes split a window,
149 but not always: @code{pop-to-buffer} and @code{display-buffer}
150 (@pxref{Displaying Buffers}).
151
152 The functions described here do not accept a buffer as an argument.
153 The two ``halves'' of the split window initially display the same buffer
154 previously visible in the window that was split.
155
156 @deffn Command split-window &optional window size horizontal
157 This function splits @var{window} into two windows. The original
158 window @var{window} remains the selected window, but occupies only
159 part of its former screen area. The rest is occupied by a newly created
160 window which is returned as the value of this function.
161
162 If @var{horizontal} is non-@code{nil}, then @var{window} splits into
163 two side by side windows. The original window @var{window} keeps the
164 leftmost @var{size} columns, and gives the rest of the columns to the
165 new window. Otherwise, it splits into windows one above the other, and
166 @var{window} keeps the upper @var{size} lines and gives the rest of the
167 lines to the new window. The original window is therefore the
168 left-hand or upper of the two, and the new window is the right-hand or
169 lower.
170
171 If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, then the selected window is
172 split. If @var{size} is omitted or @code{nil}, then @var{window} is
173 divided evenly into two parts. (If there is an odd line, it is
174 allocated to the new window.) When @code{split-window} is called
175 interactively, all its arguments are @code{nil}.
176
177 If splitting would result in making a window that is smaller than
178 @code{window-min-height} or @code{window-min-width}, the function
179 signals an error and does not split the window at all.
180
181 The following example starts with one window on a screen that is 50
182 lines high by 80 columns wide; then it splits the window.
183
184 @smallexample
185 @group
186 (setq w (selected-window))
187 @result{} #<window 8 on windows.texi>
188 (window-edges) ; @r{Edges in order:}
189 @result{} (0 0 80 50) ; @r{left--top--right--bottom}
190 @end group
191
192 @group
193 ;; @r{Returns window created}
194 (setq w2 (split-window w 15))
195 @result{} #<window 28 on windows.texi>
196 @end group
197 @group
198 (window-edges w2)
199 @result{} (0 15 80 50) ; @r{Bottom window;}
200 ; @r{top is line 15}
201 @end group
202 @group
203 (window-edges w)
204 @result{} (0 0 80 15) ; @r{Top window}
205 @end group
206 @end smallexample
207
208 The screen looks like this:
209
210 @smallexample
211 @group
212 __________
213 | | line 0
214 | w |
215 |__________|
216 | | line 15
217 | w2 |
218 |__________|
219 line 50
220 column 0 column 80
221 @end group
222 @end smallexample
223
224 Next, split the top window horizontally:
225
226 @smallexample
227 @group
228 (setq w3 (split-window w 35 t))
229 @result{} #<window 32 on windows.texi>
230 @end group
231 @group
232 (window-edges w3)
233 @result{} (35 0 80 15) ; @r{Left edge at column 35}
234 @end group
235 @group
236 (window-edges w)
237 @result{} (0 0 35 15) ; @r{Right edge at column 35}
238 @end group
239 @group
240 (window-edges w2)
241 @result{} (0 15 80 50) ; @r{Bottom window unchanged}
242 @end group
243 @end smallexample
244
245 @need 3000
246 Now the screen looks like this:
247
248 @smallexample
249 @group
250 column 35
251 __________
252 | | | line 0
253 | w | w3 |
254 |___|______|
255 | | line 15
256 | w2 |
257 |__________|
258 line 50
259 column 0 column 80
260 @end group
261 @end smallexample
262
263 Normally, Emacs indicates the border between two side-by-side windows
264 with a scroll bar (@pxref{Window Frame Parameters,Scroll Bars}) or @samp{|}
265 characters. The display table can specify alternative border
266 characters; see @ref{Display Tables}.
267 @end deffn
268
269 @deffn Command split-window-vertically &optional size
270 This function splits the selected window into two windows, one above the
271 other, leaving the upper of the two windows selected, with @var{size}
272 lines. (If @var{size} is negative, then the lower of the two windows
273 gets @minus{} @var{size} lines and the upper window gets the rest, but
274 the upper window is still the one selected.) However, if
275 @code{split-window-keep-point} (see below) is @code{nil}, then either
276 window can be selected.
277
278 In other respects, this function is similar to @code{split-window}.
279 In particular, the upper window is the original one and the return
280 value is the new, lower window.
281 @end deffn
282
283 @defopt split-window-keep-point
284 If this variable is non-@code{nil} (the default), then
285 @code{split-window-vertically} behaves as described above.
286
287 If it is @code{nil}, then @code{split-window-vertically} adjusts point
288 in each of the two windows to avoid scrolling. (This is useful on
289 slow terminals.) It selects whichever window contains the screen line
290 that point was previously on.
291
292 This variable only affects the behavior of @code{split-window-vertically}.
293 It has no effect on the other functions described here.
294 @end defopt
295
296 @deffn Command split-window-horizontally &optional size
297 This function splits the selected window into two windows
298 side-by-side, leaving the selected window on the left with @var{size}
299 columns. If @var{size} is negative, the rightmost window gets
300 @minus{} @var{size} columns, but the leftmost window still remains
301 selected.
302
303 This function is basically an interface to @code{split-window}.
304 You could define a simplified version of the function like this:
305
306 @smallexample
307 @group
308 (defun split-window-horizontally (&optional arg)
309 "Split selected window into two windows, side by side..."
310 (interactive "P")
311 @end group
312 @group
313 (let ((size (and arg (prefix-numeric-value arg))))
314 (and size (< size 0)
315 (setq size (+ (window-width) size)))
316 (split-window nil size t)))
317 @end group
318 @end smallexample
319 @end deffn
320
321 @defun one-window-p &optional no-mini all-frames
322 This function returns non-@code{nil} if there is only one window. The
323 argument @var{no-mini}, if non-@code{nil}, means don't count the
324 minibuffer even if it is active; otherwise, the minibuffer window is
325 counted when it is active.
326
327 The argument @var{all-frames} specifies which frames to consider. Here
328 are the possible values and their meanings:
329
330 @table @asis
331 @item @code{nil}
332 Count the windows in the selected frame, plus the minibuffer used
333 by that frame even if it lies in some other frame.
334
335 @item @code{t}
336 Count all windows in all existing frames.
337
338 @item @code{visible}
339 Count all windows in all visible frames.
340
341 @item 0
342 Count all windows in all visible or iconified frames.
343
344 @item anything else
345 Count precisely the windows in the selected frame, and no others.
346 @end table
347 @end defun
348
349 @node Deleting Windows
350 @section Deleting Windows
351 @cindex deleting windows
352
353 A window remains visible on its frame unless you @dfn{delete} it by
354 calling certain functions that delete windows. A deleted window cannot
355 appear on the screen, but continues to exist as a Lisp object until
356 there are no references to it. There is no way to cancel the deletion
357 of a window aside from restoring a saved window configuration
358 (@pxref{Window Configurations}). Restoring a window configuration also
359 deletes any windows that aren't part of that configuration.
360
361 When you delete a window, the space it took up is given to one
362 adjacent sibling.
363
364 @c Emacs 19 feature
365 @defun window-live-p window
366 This function returns @code{nil} if @var{window} is deleted, and
367 @code{t} otherwise.
368
369 @strong{Warning:} Erroneous information or fatal errors may result from
370 using a deleted window as if it were live.
371 @end defun
372
373 @deffn Command delete-window &optional window
374 This function removes @var{window} from display, and returns @code{nil}.
375 If @var{window} is omitted, then the selected window is deleted. An
376 error is signaled if there is only one window when @code{delete-window}
377 is called.
378 @end deffn
379
380 @deffn Command delete-other-windows &optional window
381 This function makes @var{window} the only window on its frame, by
382 deleting the other windows in that frame. If @var{window} is omitted or
383 @code{nil}, then the selected window is used by default.
384
385 The return value is @code{nil}.
386 @end deffn
387
388 @deffn Command delete-windows-on buffer-or-name &optional frame
389 This function deletes all windows showing @var{buffer-or-name}. If
390 there are no windows showing @var{buffer-or-name}, it does nothing.
391 @var{buffer-or-name} must be a buffer or the name of an existing
392 buffer.
393
394 @code{delete-windows-on} operates frame by frame. If a frame has
395 several windows showing different buffers, then those showing
396 @var{buffer-or-name} are removed, and the others expand to fill the
397 space. If all windows in some frame are showing @var{buffer-or-name}
398 (including the case where there is only one window), then the frame
399 winds up with a single window showing another buffer chosen with
400 @code{other-buffer}. @xref{The Buffer List}.
401
402 The argument @var{frame} controls which frames to operate on. This
403 function does not use it in quite the same way as the other functions
404 which scan all windows; specifically, the values @code{t} and @code{nil}
405 have the opposite of their meanings in other functions. Here are the
406 full details:
407
408 @itemize @bullet
409 @item
410 If it is @code{nil}, operate on all frames.
411 @item
412 If it is @code{t}, operate on the selected frame.
413 @item
414 If it is @code{visible}, operate on all visible frames.
415 @item
416 If it is 0, operate on all visible or iconified frames.
417 @item
418 If it is a frame, operate on that frame.
419 @end itemize
420
421 This function always returns @code{nil}.
422 @end deffn
423
424 @node Selecting Windows
425 @section Selecting Windows
426 @cindex selecting windows
427
428 When a window is selected, the buffer in the window becomes the current
429 buffer, and the cursor will appear in it.
430
431 @defun selected-window
432 This function returns the selected window. This is the window in
433 which the cursor appears and to which many commands apply.
434 @end defun
435
436 @defun select-window window &optional norecord
437 This function makes @var{window} the selected window. The cursor then
438 appears in @var{window} (on redisplay). Unless @var{window} was
439 already selected, @code{select-window} makes @var{window}'s buffer the
440 current buffer.
441
442 Normally @var{window}'s selected buffer is moved to the front of the
443 buffer list, but if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, the buffer list
444 order is unchanged.
445
446 The return value is @var{window}.
447
448 @example
449 @group
450 (setq w (next-window))
451 (select-window w)
452 @result{} #<window 65 on windows.texi>
453 @end group
454 @end example
455 @end defun
456
457 @defmac save-selected-window forms@dots{}
458 This macro records the selected window, as well as the selected window
459 of each frame, executes @var{forms} in sequence, then restores the
460 earlier selected windows. It returns the value of the last form in
461 @var{forms}.
462
463 This macro does not save or restore anything about the sizes,
464 arrangement or contents of windows; therefore, if the @var{forms}
465 change them, the change persists. If the previously selected window
466 of some frame is no longer live at the time of exit from @var{forms},
467 that frame's selected window is left alone. If the previously
468 selected window is no longer live, then whatever window is selected at
469 the end of @var{forms} remains selected.
470 @end defmac
471
472 @defmac with-selected-window window forms@dots{}
473 This macro selects @var{window} (without changing the buffer list),
474 executes @var{forms} in sequence, then restores the previously
475 selected window (unless that window is no longer alive). It is similar
476 to @code{save-selected-window} except that it explicitly selects
477 @var{window}, without altering the buffer list sequence.
478 @end defmac
479
480 @cindex finding windows
481 The following functions choose one of the windows on the screen,
482 offering various criteria for the choice.
483
484 @defun get-lru-window &optional frame
485 This function returns the window least recently ``used'' (that is,
486 selected). If any full-width windows are present, it only considers
487 these. The selected window is always the most recently used window.
488
489 The selected window can be the least recently used window if it is the
490 only window. A newly created window becomes the least recently used
491 window until it is selected. A minibuffer window is never a candidate.
492
493 The argument @var{frame} controls which windows are considered.
494
495 @itemize @bullet
496 @item
497 If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
498 @item
499 If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
500 @item
501 If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
502 @item
503 If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
504 @item
505 If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
506 @end itemize
507 @end defun
508
509 @defun get-largest-window &optional frame
510 This function returns the window with the largest area (height times
511 width). If there are no side-by-side windows, then this is the window
512 with the most lines. A minibuffer window is never a candidate.
513
514 If there are two windows of the same size, then the function returns
515 the window that is first in the cyclic ordering of windows (see
516 following section), starting from the selected window.
517
518 The argument @var{frame} controls which set of windows to
519 consider. See @code{get-lru-window}, above.
520 @end defun
521
522 @cindex window that satisfies a predicate
523 @cindex conditional selection of windows
524 @defun get-window-with-predicate predicate &optional minibuf all-frames default
525 This function returns a window satisfying @var{predicate}. It cycles
526 through all visible windows using @code{walk-windows} (@pxref{Cyclic
527 Window Ordering}), calling @var{predicate} on each one of them
528 with that window as its argument. The function returns the first
529 window for which @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value; if
530 that never happens, it returns @var{default}.
531
532 The optional arguments @var{minibuf} and @var{all-frames} specify the
533 set of windows to include in the scan. See the description of
534 @code{next-window} in @ref{Cyclic Window Ordering}, for details.
535 @end defun
536
537 @node Cyclic Window Ordering
538 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
539 @section Cyclic Ordering of Windows
540 @cindex cyclic ordering of windows
541 @cindex ordering of windows, cyclic
542 @cindex window ordering, cyclic
543
544 When you use the command @kbd{C-x o} (@code{other-window}) to select
545 the next window, it moves through all the windows on the screen in a
546 specific cyclic order. For any given configuration of windows, this
547 order never varies. It is called the @dfn{cyclic ordering of windows}.
548
549 This ordering generally goes from top to bottom, and from left to
550 right. But it may go down first or go right first, depending on the
551 order in which the windows were split.
552
553 If the first split was vertical (into windows one above each other),
554 and then the subwindows were split horizontally, then the ordering is
555 left to right in the top of the frame, and then left to right in the
556 next lower part of the frame, and so on. If the first split was
557 horizontal, the ordering is top to bottom in the left part, and so on.
558 In general, within each set of siblings at any level in the window tree,
559 the order is left to right, or top to bottom.
560
561 @defun next-window &optional window minibuf all-frames
562 @cindex minibuffer window
563 This function returns the window following @var{window} in the cyclic
564 ordering of windows. This is the window that @kbd{C-x o} would select
565 if typed when @var{window} is selected. If @var{window} is the only
566 window visible, then this function returns @var{window}. If omitted,
567 @var{window} defaults to the selected window.
568
569 The value of the argument @var{minibuf} determines whether the
570 minibuffer is included in the window order. Normally, when
571 @var{minibuf} is @code{nil}, the minibuffer is included if it is
572 currently active; this is the behavior of @kbd{C-x o}. (The minibuffer
573 window is active while the minibuffer is in use. @xref{Minibuffers}.)
574
575 If @var{minibuf} is @code{t}, then the cyclic ordering includes the
576 minibuffer window even if it is not active.
577
578 If @var{minibuf} is neither @code{t} nor @code{nil}, then the minibuffer
579 window is not included even if it is active.
580
581 The argument @var{all-frames} specifies which frames to consider. Here
582 are the possible values and their meanings:
583
584 @table @asis
585 @item @code{nil}
586 Consider all the windows in @var{window}'s frame, plus the minibuffer
587 used by that frame even if it lies in some other frame. If the
588 minibuffer counts (as determined by @var{minibuf}), then all windows on
589 all frames that share that minibuffer count too.
590
591 @item @code{t}
592 Consider all windows in all existing frames.
593
594 @item @code{visible}
595 Consider all windows in all visible frames. (To get useful results, you
596 must ensure @var{window} is in a visible frame.)
597
598 @item 0
599 Consider all windows in all visible or iconified frames.
600
601 @item a frame
602 Consider all windows on that frame.
603
604 @item anything else
605 Consider precisely the windows in @var{window}'s frame, and no others.
606 @end table
607
608 This example assumes there are two windows, both displaying the
609 buffer @samp{windows.texi}:
610
611 @example
612 @group
613 (selected-window)
614 @result{} #<window 56 on windows.texi>
615 @end group
616 @group
617 (next-window (selected-window))
618 @result{} #<window 52 on windows.texi>
619 @end group
620 @group
621 (next-window (next-window (selected-window)))
622 @result{} #<window 56 on windows.texi>
623 @end group
624 @end example
625 @end defun
626
627 @defun previous-window &optional window minibuf all-frames
628 This function returns the window preceding @var{window} in the cyclic
629 ordering of windows. The other arguments specify which windows to
630 include in the cycle, as in @code{next-window}.
631 @end defun
632
633 @deffn Command other-window count &optional all-frames
634 This function selects the @var{count}th following window in the cyclic
635 order. If count is negative, then it moves back @minus{}@var{count}
636 windows in the cycle, rather than forward. It returns @code{nil}.
637
638 The argument @var{all-frames} has the same meaning as in
639 @code{next-window}, but the @var{minibuf} argument of @code{next-window}
640 is always effectively @code{nil}.
641
642 In an interactive call, @var{count} is the numeric prefix argument.
643 @end deffn
644
645 @c Emacs 19 feature
646 @defun walk-windows proc &optional minibuf all-frames
647 This function cycles through all windows, calling @code{proc}
648 once for each window with the window as its sole argument.
649
650 The optional arguments @var{minibuf} and @var{all-frames} specify the
651 set of windows to include in the scan. See @code{next-window}, above,
652 for details.
653 @end defun
654
655 @defun window-list &optional frame minibuf window
656 This function returns a list of the windows on @var{frame}, starting
657 with @var{window}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or omitted, the
658 selected frame is used instead; if @var{window} is @code{nil} or
659 omitted, the selected window is used instead.
660
661 The value of @var{minibuf} determines if the minibuffer window will be
662 included in the result list. If @var{minibuf} is @code{t}, the
663 minibuffer window will be included, even if it isn't active. If
664 @var{minibuf} is @code{nil} or omitted, the minibuffer window will
665 only be included in the list if it is active. If @var{minibuf} is
666 neither @code{nil} nor @code{t}, the minibuffer window is not
667 included, whether or not it is active.
668 @end defun
669
670 @node Buffers and Windows
671 @section Buffers and Windows
672 @cindex examining windows
673 @cindex windows, controlling precisely
674 @cindex buffers, controlled in windows
675
676 This section describes low-level functions to examine windows or to
677 display buffers in windows in a precisely controlled fashion.
678 @iftex
679 See the following section for
680 @end iftex
681 @ifnottex
682 @xref{Displaying Buffers}, for
683 @end ifnottex
684 related functions that find a window to use and specify a buffer for it.
685 The functions described there are easier to use than these, but they
686 employ heuristics in choosing or creating a window; use these functions
687 when you need complete control.
688
689 @defun set-window-buffer window buffer-or-name &optional keep-margins
690 This function makes @var{window} display @var{buffer-or-name} as its
691 contents. It returns @code{nil}. @var{buffer-or-name} must be a
692 buffer, or the name of an existing buffer. This is the fundamental
693 primitive for changing which buffer is displayed in a window, and all
694 ways of doing that call this function.
695
696 @example
697 @group
698 (set-window-buffer (selected-window) "foo")
699 @result{} nil
700 @end group
701 @end example
702
703 Normally, displaying @var{buffer} in @var{window} resets the window's
704 display margins, fringe widths, scroll bar settings, and position
705 based on the local variables of @var{buffer}. However, if
706 @var{keep-margins} is non-@code{nil}, the display margins and fringe
707 widths of @var{window} remain unchanged. @xref{Fringes}.
708 @end defun
709
710 @defun window-buffer &optional window
711 This function returns the buffer that @var{window} is displaying. If
712 @var{window} is omitted, this function returns the buffer for the
713 selected window.
714
715 @example
716 @group
717 (window-buffer)
718 @result{} #<buffer windows.texi>
719 @end group
720 @end example
721 @end defun
722
723 @defun get-buffer-window buffer-or-name &optional all-frames
724 This function returns a window currently displaying
725 @var{buffer-or-name}, or @code{nil} if there is none. If there are
726 several such windows, then the function returns the first one in the
727 cyclic ordering of windows, starting from the selected window.
728 @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
729
730 The argument @var{all-frames} controls which windows to consider.
731
732 @itemize @bullet
733 @item
734 If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
735 @item
736 If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
737 @item
738 If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
739 @item
740 If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
741 @item
742 If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
743 @end itemize
744 @end defun
745
746 @defun get-buffer-window-list buffer-or-name &optional minibuf all-frames
747 This function returns a list of all the windows currently displaying
748 @var{buffer-or-name}.
749
750 The two optional arguments work like the optional arguments of
751 @code{next-window} (@pxref{Cyclic Window Ordering}); they are @emph{not}
752 like the single optional argument of @code{get-buffer-window}. Perhaps
753 we should change @code{get-buffer-window} in the future to make it
754 compatible with the other functions.
755 @end defun
756
757 @defvar buffer-display-time
758 This variable records the time at which a buffer was last made visible
759 in a window. It is always local in each buffer; each time
760 @code{set-window-buffer} is called, it sets this variable to
761 @code{(current-time)} in the specified buffer (@pxref{Time of Day}).
762 When a buffer is first created, @code{buffer-display-time} starts out
763 with the value @code{nil}.
764 @end defvar
765
766 @node Displaying Buffers
767 @section Displaying Buffers in Windows
768 @cindex switching to a buffer
769 @cindex displaying a buffer
770
771 In this section we describe convenient functions that choose a window
772 automatically and use it to display a specified buffer. These functions
773 can also split an existing window in certain circumstances. We also
774 describe variables that parameterize the heuristics used for choosing a
775 window.
776 @iftex
777 See the preceding section for
778 @end iftex
779 @ifnottex
780 @xref{Buffers and Windows}, for
781 @end ifnottex
782 low-level functions that give you more precise control. All of these
783 functions work by calling @code{set-window-buffer}.
784
785 Do not use the functions in this section in order to make a buffer
786 current so that a Lisp program can access or modify it; they are too
787 drastic for that purpose, since they change the display of buffers in
788 windows, which would be gratuitous and surprise the user. Instead, use
789 @code{set-buffer} and @code{save-current-buffer} (@pxref{Current
790 Buffer}), which designate buffers as current for programmed access
791 without affecting the display of buffers in windows.
792
793 @deffn Command switch-to-buffer buffer-or-name &optional norecord
794 This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer, and also
795 displays the buffer in the selected window. This means that a human can
796 see the buffer and subsequent keyboard commands will apply to it.
797 Contrast this with @code{set-buffer}, which makes @var{buffer-or-name}
798 the current buffer but does not display it in the selected window.
799 @xref{Current Buffer}.
800
801 If @var{buffer-or-name} does not identify an existing buffer, then a new
802 buffer by that name is created. The major mode for the new buffer is
803 set according to the variable @code{default-major-mode}. @xref{Auto
804 Major Mode}. If @var{buffer-or-name} is @code{nil},
805 @code{switch-to-buffer} chooses a buffer using @code{other-buffer}.
806
807 Normally the specified buffer is put at the front of the buffer list
808 (both the selected frame's buffer list and the frame-independent buffer
809 list). This affects the operation of @code{other-buffer}. However, if
810 @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, this is not done. @xref{The Buffer
811 List}.
812
813 The @code{switch-to-buffer} function is often used interactively, as
814 the binding of @kbd{C-x b}. It is also used frequently in programs. It
815 returns the buffer that it switched to.
816 @end deffn
817
818 The next two functions are similar to @code{switch-to-buffer}, except
819 for the described features.
820
821 @deffn Command switch-to-buffer-other-window buffer-or-name &optional norecord
822 This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer and
823 displays it in a window not currently selected. It then selects that
824 window. The handling of the buffer is the same as in
825 @code{switch-to-buffer}.
826
827 The currently selected window is absolutely never used to do the job.
828 If it is the only window, then it is split to make a distinct window for
829 this purpose. If the selected window is already displaying the buffer,
830 then it continues to do so, but another window is nonetheless found to
831 display it in as well.
832
833 This function updates the buffer list just like @code{switch-to-buffer}
834 unless @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}.
835 @end deffn
836
837 @defun pop-to-buffer buffer-or-name &optional other-window norecord
838 This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer and
839 switches to it in some window, preferably not the window previously
840 selected. The ``popped-to'' window becomes the selected window within
841 its frame. The return value is the buffer that was switched to.
842 If @var{buffer-or-name} is @code{nil}, that means to choose some
843 other buffer, but you don't specify which.
844
845 If the variable @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil},
846 @code{pop-to-buffer} looks for a window in any visible frame already
847 displaying the buffer; if there is one, it returns that window and makes
848 it be selected within its frame. If there is none, it creates a new
849 frame and displays the buffer in it.
850
851 If @code{pop-up-frames} is @code{nil}, then @code{pop-to-buffer}
852 operates entirely within the selected frame. (If the selected frame has
853 just a minibuffer, @code{pop-to-buffer} operates within the most
854 recently selected frame that was not just a minibuffer.)
855
856 If the variable @code{pop-up-windows} is non-@code{nil}, windows may
857 be split to create a new window that is different from the original
858 window. For details, see @ref{Choosing Window}.
859
860 If @var{other-window} is non-@code{nil}, @code{pop-to-buffer} finds or
861 creates another window even if @var{buffer-or-name} is already visible
862 in the selected window. Thus @var{buffer-or-name} could end up
863 displayed in two windows. On the other hand, if @var{buffer-or-name} is
864 already displayed in the selected window and @var{other-window} is
865 @code{nil}, then the selected window is considered sufficient display
866 for @var{buffer-or-name}, so that nothing needs to be done.
867
868 All the variables that affect @code{display-buffer} affect
869 @code{pop-to-buffer} as well. @xref{Choosing Window}.
870
871 If @var{buffer-or-name} is a string that does not name an existing
872 buffer, a buffer by that name is created. The major mode for the new
873 buffer is set according to the variable @code{default-major-mode}.
874 @xref{Auto Major Mode}.
875
876 This function updates the buffer list just like @code{switch-to-buffer}
877 unless @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}.
878 @end defun
879
880 @deffn Command replace-buffer-in-windows buffer-or-name
881 This function replaces @var{buffer-or-name} with some other buffer in all
882 windows displaying it. It chooses the other buffer with
883 @code{other-buffer}. In the usual applications of this function, you
884 don't care which other buffer is used; you just want to make sure that
885 @var{buffer-or-name} is no longer displayed.
886
887 This function returns @code{nil}.
888 @end deffn
889
890 @node Choosing Window
891 @section Choosing a Window for Display
892
893 This section describes the basic facility that chooses a window to
894 display a buffer in---@code{display-buffer}. All the higher-level
895 functions and commands use this subroutine. Here we describe how to use
896 @code{display-buffer} and how to customize it.
897
898 @deffn Command display-buffer buffer-or-name &optional not-this-window frame
899 This command makes @var{buffer-or-name} appear in some window, like
900 @code{pop-to-buffer}, but it does not select that window and does not
901 make the buffer current. The identity of the selected window is
902 unaltered by this function. @var{buffer-or-name} must be a buffer, or
903 the name of an existing buffer.
904
905 If @var{not-this-window} is non-@code{nil}, it means to display the
906 specified buffer in a window other than the selected one, even if it is
907 already on display in the selected window. This can cause the buffer to
908 appear in two windows at once. Otherwise, if @var{buffer-or-name} is
909 already being displayed in any window, that is good enough, so this
910 function does nothing.
911
912 @code{display-buffer} returns the window chosen to display
913 @var{buffer-or-name}.
914
915 If the argument @var{frame} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies which frames
916 to check when deciding whether the buffer is already displayed. If the
917 buffer is already displayed in some window on one of these frames,
918 @code{display-buffer} simply returns that window. Here are the possible
919 values of @var{frame}:
920
921 @itemize @bullet
922 @item
923 If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
924 (Actually, the last non-minibuffer frame.)
925 @item
926 If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
927 @item
928 If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
929 @item
930 If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
931 @item
932 If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
933 @end itemize
934
935 Precisely how @code{display-buffer} finds or creates a window depends on
936 the variables described below.
937 @end deffn
938
939 @defopt display-buffer-reuse-frames
940 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer} searches
941 existing frames for a window displaying the buffer. If the buffer is
942 already displayed in a window in some frame, @code{display-buffer} makes
943 the frame visible and raises it, to use that window. If the buffer is
944 not already displayed, or if @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is
945 @code{nil}, @code{display-buffer}'s behavior is determined by other
946 variables, described below.
947 @end defopt
948
949 @defopt pop-up-windows
950 This variable controls whether @code{display-buffer} makes new windows.
951 If it is non-@code{nil} and there is only one window, then that window
952 is split. If it is @code{nil}, then @code{display-buffer} does not
953 split the single window, but uses it whole.
954 @end defopt
955
956 @defopt split-height-threshold
957 This variable determines when @code{display-buffer} may split a window,
958 if there are multiple windows. @code{display-buffer} always splits the
959 largest window if it has at least this many lines. If the largest
960 window is not this tall, it is split only if it is the sole window and
961 @code{pop-up-windows} is non-@code{nil}.
962 @end defopt
963
964 @defopt even-window-heights
965 This variable determines if @code{display-buffer} should even out window
966 heights if the buffer gets displayed in an existing window, above or
967 beneath another existing window. If @code{even-window-heights} is
968 @code{t}, the default, window heights will be evened out. If
969 @code{even-window-heights} is @code{nil}, the original window heights
970 will be left alone.
971 @end defopt
972
973 @c Emacs 19 feature
974 @defopt pop-up-frames
975 This variable controls whether @code{display-buffer} makes new frames.
976 If it is non-@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer} looks for an existing
977 window already displaying the desired buffer, on any visible frame. If
978 it finds one, it returns that window. Otherwise it makes a new frame.
979 The variables @code{pop-up-windows} and @code{split-height-threshold} do
980 not matter if @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil}.
981
982 If @code{pop-up-frames} is @code{nil}, then @code{display-buffer} either
983 splits a window or reuses one.
984
985 @xref{Frames}, for more information.
986 @end defopt
987
988 @c Emacs 19 feature
989 @defopt pop-up-frame-function
990 This variable specifies how to make a new frame if @code{pop-up-frames}
991 is non-@code{nil}.
992
993 Its value should be a function of no arguments. When
994 @code{display-buffer} makes a new frame, it does so by calling that
995 function, which should return a frame. The default value of the
996 variable is a function that creates a frame using parameters from
997 @code{pop-up-frame-alist}.
998 @end defopt
999
1000 @defopt pop-up-frame-alist
1001 This variable holds an alist specifying frame parameters used when
1002 @code{display-buffer} makes a new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}, for
1003 more information about frame parameters.
1004 @end defopt
1005
1006 @defopt special-display-buffer-names
1007 A list of buffer names for buffers that should be displayed specially.
1008 If the buffer's name is in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the
1009 buffer specially.
1010
1011 By default, special display means to give the buffer a dedicated frame.
1012
1013 If an element is a list, instead of a string, then the @sc{car} of the
1014 list is the buffer name, and the rest of the list says how to create
1015 the frame. There are two possibilities for the rest of the list (its
1016 @sc{cdr}). It can be an alist, specifying frame parameters, or it can
1017 contain a function and arguments to give to it. (The function's first
1018 argument is always the buffer to be displayed; the arguments from the
1019 list come after that.)
1020
1021 For example:
1022
1023 @example
1024 (("myfile" (minibuffer) (menu-bar-lines . 0)))
1025 @end example
1026
1027 @noindent
1028 specifies to display a buffer named @samp{myfile} in a dedicated frame
1029 with specified @code{minibuffer} and @code{menu-bar-lines} parameters.
1030
1031 The list of frame parameters can also use the phony frame parameters
1032 @code{same-frame} and @code{same-window}. If the specified frame
1033 parameters include @code{(same-window . @var{value})} and @var{value}
1034 is non-@code{nil}, that means to display the buffer in the current
1035 selected window. Otherwise, if they include @code{(same-frame .
1036 @var{value})} and @var{value} is non-@code{nil}, that means to display
1037 the buffer in a new window in the currently selected frame.
1038 @end defopt
1039
1040 @defopt special-display-regexps
1041 A list of regular expressions that specify buffers that should be
1042 displayed specially. If the buffer's name matches any of the regular
1043 expressions in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer
1044 specially.
1045
1046 By default, special display means to give the buffer a dedicated frame.
1047
1048 If an element is a list, instead of a string, then the @sc{car} of the
1049 list is the regular expression, and the rest of the list says how to
1050 create the frame. See above, under @code{special-display-buffer-names}.
1051 @end defopt
1052
1053 @defun special-display-p buffer-name
1054 This function returns non-@code{nil} if displaying a buffer
1055 named @var{buffer-name} with @code{display-buffer} would
1056 create a special frame. The value is @code{t} if it would
1057 use the default frame parameters, or else the specified list
1058 of frame parameters.
1059 @end defun
1060
1061 @defvar special-display-function
1062 This variable holds the function to call to display a buffer specially.
1063 It receives the buffer as an argument, and should return the window in
1064 which it is displayed.
1065
1066 The default value of this variable is
1067 @code{special-display-popup-frame}.
1068 @end defvar
1069
1070 @defun special-display-popup-frame buffer &optional args
1071 This function makes @var{buffer} visible in a frame of its own. If
1072 @var{buffer} is already displayed in a window in some frame, it makes
1073 the frame visible and raises it, to use that window. Otherwise, it
1074 creates a frame that will be dedicated to @var{buffer}. This
1075 function returns the window it used.
1076
1077 If @var{args} is an alist, it specifies frame parameters for the new
1078 frame.
1079
1080 If @var{args} is a list whose @sc{car} is a symbol, then @code{(car
1081 @var{args})} is called as a function to actually create and set up the
1082 frame; it is called with @var{buffer} as first argument, and @code{(cdr
1083 @var{args})} as additional arguments.
1084
1085 This function always uses an existing window displaying @var{buffer},
1086 whether or not it is in a frame of its own; but if you set up the above
1087 variables in your init file, before @var{buffer} was created, then
1088 presumably the window was previously made by this function.
1089 @end defun
1090
1091 @defopt special-display-frame-alist
1092 This variable holds frame parameters for
1093 @code{special-display-popup-frame} to use when it creates a frame.
1094 @end defopt
1095
1096 @defopt same-window-buffer-names
1097 A list of buffer names for buffers that should be displayed in the
1098 selected window. If the buffer's name is in this list,
1099 @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer by switching to it in the
1100 selected window.
1101 @end defopt
1102
1103 @defopt same-window-regexps
1104 A list of regular expressions that specify buffers that should be
1105 displayed in the selected window. If the buffer's name matches any of
1106 the regular expressions in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the
1107 buffer by switching to it in the selected window.
1108 @end defopt
1109
1110 @defun same-window-p buffer-name
1111 This function returns @code{t} if displaying a buffer
1112 named @var{buffer-name} with @code{display-buffer} would
1113 put it in the selected window.
1114 @end defun
1115
1116 @c Emacs 19 feature
1117 @defvar display-buffer-function
1118 This variable is the most flexible way to customize the behavior of
1119 @code{display-buffer}. If it is non-@code{nil}, it should be a function
1120 that @code{display-buffer} calls to do the work. The function should
1121 accept two arguments, the first two arguments that @code{display-buffer}
1122 received. It should choose or create a window, display the specified
1123 buffer in it, and then return the window.
1124
1125 This hook takes precedence over all the other options and hooks
1126 described above.
1127 @end defvar
1128
1129 @c Emacs 19 feature
1130 @cindex dedicated window
1131 A window can be marked as ``dedicated'' to its buffer. Then
1132 @code{display-buffer} will not try to use that window to display any
1133 other buffer.
1134
1135 @defun window-dedicated-p window
1136 This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{window} is marked as
1137 dedicated; otherwise @code{nil}.
1138 @end defun
1139
1140 @defun set-window-dedicated-p window flag
1141 This function marks @var{window} as dedicated if @var{flag} is
1142 non-@code{nil}, and nondedicated otherwise.
1143 @end defun
1144
1145 @node Window Point
1146 @section Windows and Point
1147 @cindex window position
1148 @cindex window point
1149 @cindex position in window
1150 @cindex point in window
1151
1152 Each window has its own value of point, independent of the value of
1153 point in other windows displaying the same buffer. This makes it useful
1154 to have multiple windows showing one buffer.
1155
1156 @itemize @bullet
1157 @item
1158 The window point is established when a window is first created; it is
1159 initialized from the buffer's point, or from the window point of another
1160 window opened on the buffer if such a window exists.
1161
1162 @item
1163 Selecting a window sets the value of point in its buffer from the
1164 window's value of point. Conversely, deselecting a window sets the
1165 window's value of point from that of the buffer. Thus, when you switch
1166 between windows that display a given buffer, the point value for the
1167 selected window is in effect in the buffer, while the point values for
1168 the other windows are stored in those windows.
1169
1170 @item
1171 As long as the selected window displays the current buffer, the window's
1172 point and the buffer's point always move together; they remain equal.
1173
1174 @item
1175 @xref{Positions}, for more details on buffer positions.
1176 @end itemize
1177
1178 As far as the user is concerned, point is where the cursor is, and
1179 when the user switches to another buffer, the cursor jumps to the
1180 position of point in that buffer.
1181
1182 @defun window-point &optional window
1183 This function returns the current position of point in @var{window}.
1184 For a nonselected window, this is the value point would have (in that
1185 window's buffer) if that window were selected. If @var{window} is
1186 @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1187
1188 When @var{window} is the selected window and its buffer is also the
1189 current buffer, the value returned is the same as point in that buffer.
1190
1191 Strictly speaking, it would be more correct to return the
1192 ``top-level'' value of point, outside of any @code{save-excursion}
1193 forms. But that value is hard to find.
1194 @end defun
1195
1196 @defun set-window-point window position
1197 This function positions point in @var{window} at position
1198 @var{position} in @var{window}'s buffer.
1199 @end defun
1200
1201 @node Window Start
1202 @section The Window Start Position
1203
1204 Each window contains a marker used to keep track of a buffer position
1205 that specifies where in the buffer display should start. This position
1206 is called the @dfn{display-start} position of the window (or just the
1207 @dfn{start}). The character after this position is the one that appears
1208 at the upper left corner of the window. It is usually, but not
1209 inevitably, at the beginning of a text line.
1210
1211 @defun window-start &optional window
1212 @cindex window top line
1213 This function returns the display-start position of window
1214 @var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is
1215 used. For example,
1216
1217 @example
1218 @group
1219 (window-start)
1220 @result{} 7058
1221 @end group
1222 @end example
1223
1224 When you create a window, or display a different buffer in it, the
1225 display-start position is set to a display-start position recently used
1226 for the same buffer, or 1 if the buffer doesn't have any.
1227
1228 Redisplay updates the window-start position (if you have not specified
1229 it explicitly since the previous redisplay)---for example, to make sure
1230 point appears on the screen. Nothing except redisplay automatically
1231 changes the window-start position; if you move point, do not expect the
1232 window-start position to change in response until after the next
1233 redisplay.
1234
1235 For a realistic example of using @code{window-start}, see the
1236 description of @code{count-lines} in @ref{Text Lines}.
1237 @end defun
1238
1239 @defun window-end &optional window update
1240 This function returns the position of the end of the display in window
1241 @var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is
1242 used.
1243
1244 Simply changing the buffer text or moving point does not update the
1245 value that @code{window-end} returns. The value is updated only when
1246 Emacs redisplays and redisplay completes without being preempted.
1247
1248 If the last redisplay of @var{window} was preempted, and did not finish,
1249 Emacs does not know the position of the end of display in that window.
1250 In that case, this function returns @code{nil}.
1251
1252 If @var{update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{window-end} always returns an
1253 up-to-date value for where the window ends, based on the current
1254 @code{window-start} value. If the saved value is valid,
1255 @code{window-end} returns that; otherwise it computes the correct
1256 value by scanning the buffer text.
1257
1258 Even if @var{update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{window-end} does not
1259 attempt to scroll the display if point has moved off the screen, the
1260 way real redisplay would do. It does not alter the
1261 @code{window-start} value. In effect, it reports where the displayed
1262 text will end if scrolling is not required.
1263 @end defun
1264
1265 @defun set-window-start window position &optional noforce
1266 This function sets the display-start position of @var{window} to
1267 @var{position} in @var{window}'s buffer. It returns @var{position}.
1268
1269 The display routines insist that the position of point be visible when a
1270 buffer is displayed. Normally, they change the display-start position
1271 (that is, scroll the window) whenever necessary to make point visible.
1272 However, if you specify the start position with this function using
1273 @code{nil} for @var{noforce}, it means you want display to start at
1274 @var{position} even if that would put the location of point off the
1275 screen. If this does place point off screen, the display routines move
1276 point to the left margin on the middle line in the window.
1277
1278 For example, if point @w{is 1} and you set the start of the window @w{to
1279 2}, then point would be ``above'' the top of the window. The display
1280 routines will automatically move point if it is still 1 when redisplay
1281 occurs. Here is an example:
1282
1283 @example
1284 @group
1285 ;; @r{Here is what @samp{foo} looks like before executing}
1286 ;; @r{the @code{set-window-start} expression.}
1287 @end group
1288
1289 @group
1290 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1291 @point{}This is the contents of buffer foo.
1292 2
1293 3
1294 4
1295 5
1296 6
1297 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1298 @end group
1299
1300 @group
1301 (set-window-start
1302 (selected-window)
1303 (1+ (window-start)))
1304 @result{} 2
1305 @end group
1306
1307 @group
1308 ;; @r{Here is what @samp{foo} looks like after executing}
1309 ;; @r{the @code{set-window-start} expression.}
1310 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1311 his is the contents of buffer foo.
1312 2
1313 3
1314 @point{}4
1315 5
1316 6
1317 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1318 @end group
1319 @end example
1320
1321 If @var{noforce} is non-@code{nil}, and @var{position} would place point
1322 off screen at the next redisplay, then redisplay computes a new window-start
1323 position that works well with point, and thus @var{position} is not used.
1324 @end defun
1325
1326 @defun pos-visible-in-window-p &optional position window partially
1327 This function returns @code{t} if @var{position} is within the range of
1328 text currently visible on the screen in @var{window}. It returns
1329 @code{nil} if @var{position} is scrolled vertically or horizontally out
1330 of view. Locations that are partially obscured are not considered
1331 visible unless @var{partially} is non-@code{nil}. The argument
1332 @var{position} defaults to the current position of point in
1333 @var{window}; @var{window}, to the selected window.
1334
1335 Here is an example:
1336
1337 @example
1338 @group
1339 (or (pos-visible-in-window-p
1340 (point) (selected-window))
1341 (recenter 0))
1342 @end group
1343 @end example
1344 @end defun
1345
1346 @node Textual Scrolling
1347 @section Textual Scrolling
1348 @cindex textual scrolling
1349 @cindex scrolling textually
1350
1351 @dfn{Textual scrolling} means moving the text up or down though a
1352 window. It works by changing the value of the window's display-start
1353 location. It may also change the value of @code{window-point} to keep
1354 point on the screen.
1355
1356 Textual scrolling was formerly called ``vertical scrolling,'' but we
1357 changed its name to distinguish it from the new vertical fractional
1358 scrolling feature (@pxref{Vertical Scrolling}).
1359
1360 In the commands @code{scroll-up} and @code{scroll-down}, the directions
1361 ``up'' and ``down'' refer to the motion of the text in the buffer at which
1362 you are looking through the window. Imagine that the text is
1363 written on a long roll of paper and that the scrolling commands move the
1364 paper up and down. Thus, if you are looking at text in the middle of a
1365 buffer and repeatedly call @code{scroll-down}, you will eventually see
1366 the beginning of the buffer.
1367
1368 Some people have urged that the opposite convention be used: they
1369 imagine that the window moves over text that remains in place. Then
1370 ``down'' commands would take you to the end of the buffer. This view is
1371 more consistent with the actual relationship between windows and the
1372 text in the buffer, but it is less like what the user sees. The
1373 position of a window on the terminal does not move, and short scrolling
1374 commands clearly move the text up or down on the screen. We have chosen
1375 names that fit the user's point of view.
1376
1377 The textual scrolling functions (aside from
1378 @code{scroll-other-window}) have unpredictable results if the current
1379 buffer is different from the buffer that is displayed in the selected
1380 window. @xref{Current Buffer}.
1381
1382 @deffn Command scroll-up &optional count
1383 This function scrolls the text in the selected window upward
1384 @var{count} lines. If @var{count} is negative, scrolling is actually
1385 downward.
1386
1387 If @var{count} is @code{nil} (or omitted), then the length of scroll
1388 is @code{next-screen-context-lines} lines less than the usable height of
1389 the window (not counting its mode line).
1390
1391 @code{scroll-up} returns @code{nil}, unless it gets an error
1392 because it can't scroll any further.
1393 @end deffn
1394
1395 @deffn Command scroll-down &optional count
1396 This function scrolls the text in the selected window downward
1397 @var{count} lines. If @var{count} is negative, scrolling is actually
1398 upward.
1399
1400 If @var{count} is omitted or @code{nil}, then the length of the scroll
1401 is @code{next-screen-context-lines} lines less than the usable height of
1402 the window (not counting its mode line).
1403
1404 @code{scroll-down} returns @code{nil}, unless it gets an error because
1405 it can't scroll any further.
1406 @end deffn
1407
1408 @deffn Command scroll-other-window &optional count
1409 This function scrolls the text in another window upward @var{count}
1410 lines. Negative values of @var{count}, or @code{nil}, are handled
1411 as in @code{scroll-up}.
1412
1413 You can specify which buffer to scroll by setting the variable
1414 @code{other-window-scroll-buffer} to a buffer. If that buffer isn't
1415 already displayed, @code{scroll-other-window} displays it in some
1416 window.
1417
1418 When the selected window is the minibuffer, the next window is normally
1419 the one at the top left corner. You can specify a different window to
1420 scroll, when the minibuffer is selected, by setting the variable
1421 @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. This variable has no effect when any
1422 other window is selected. @xref{Minibuffer Misc}.
1423
1424 When the minibuffer is active, it is the next window if the selected
1425 window is the one at the bottom right corner. In this case,
1426 @code{scroll-other-window} attempts to scroll the minibuffer. If the
1427 minibuffer contains just one line, it has nowhere to scroll to, so the
1428 line reappears after the echo area momentarily displays the message
1429 ``Beginning of buffer''.
1430 @end deffn
1431
1432 @c Emacs 19 feature
1433 @defvar other-window-scroll-buffer
1434 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it tells @code{scroll-other-window}
1435 which buffer to scroll.
1436 @end defvar
1437
1438 @defopt scroll-margin
1439 This option specifies the size of the scroll margin---a minimum number
1440 of lines between point and the top or bottom of a window. Whenever
1441 point gets within this many lines of the top or bottom of the window,
1442 redisplay scrolls the text automatically (if possible) to move point
1443 out of the margin, closer to the center of the window.
1444 @end defopt
1445
1446 @defopt scroll-conservatively
1447 This variable controls how scrolling is done automatically when point
1448 moves off the screen (or into the scroll margin). If the value is a
1449 positive integer @var{n}, then redisplay scrolls the text up to
1450 @var{n} lines in either direction, if that will bring point back into
1451 proper view. This action is called @dfn{conservative scrolling}.
1452 Otherwise, scrolling happens in the usual way, under the control of
1453 other variables such as @code{scroll-up-aggressively} and
1454 @code{scroll-down-aggressively}.
1455
1456 The default value is zero, which means that conservative scrolling
1457 never happens.
1458 @end defopt
1459
1460 @defopt scroll-down-aggressively
1461 @tindex scroll-down-aggressively
1462 The value of this variable should be either @code{nil} or a fraction
1463 @var{f} between 0 and 1. If it is a fraction, that specifies where on
1464 the screen to put point when scrolling down. More precisely, when a
1465 window scrolls down because point is above the window start, the new
1466 start position is chosen to put point @var{f} part of the window
1467 height from the top. The larger @var{f}, the more aggressive the
1468 scrolling.
1469
1470 A value of @code{nil} is equivalent to .5, since its effect is to center
1471 point. This variable automatically becomes buffer-local when set in any
1472 fashion.
1473 @end defopt
1474
1475 @defopt scroll-up-aggressively
1476 @tindex scroll-up-aggressively
1477 Likewise, for scrolling up. The value, @var{f}, specifies how far
1478 point should be placed from the bottom of the window; thus, as with
1479 @code{scroll-up-aggressively}, a larger value scrolls more aggressively.
1480 @end defopt
1481
1482 @defopt scroll-step
1483 This variable is an older variant of @code{scroll-conservatively}. The
1484 difference is that it if its value is @var{n}, that permits scrolling
1485 only by precisely @var{n} lines, not a smaller number. This feature
1486 does not work with @code{scroll-margin}. The default value is zero.
1487 @end defopt
1488
1489 @defopt scroll-preserve-screen-position
1490 If this option is non-@code{nil}, the scroll functions move point so
1491 that the vertical position of the cursor is unchanged, when that is
1492 possible.
1493 @end defopt
1494
1495 @defopt next-screen-context-lines
1496 The value of this variable is the number of lines of continuity to
1497 retain when scrolling by full screens. For example, @code{scroll-up}
1498 with an argument of @code{nil} scrolls so that this many lines at the
1499 bottom of the window appear instead at the top. The default value is
1500 @code{2}.
1501 @end defopt
1502
1503 @deffn Command recenter &optional count
1504 @cindex centering point
1505 This function scrolls the text in the selected window so that point is
1506 displayed at a specified vertical position within the window. It does
1507 not ``move point'' with respect to the text.
1508
1509 If @var{count} is a nonnegative number, that puts the line containing
1510 point @var{count} lines down from the top of the window. If
1511 @var{count} is a negative number, then it counts upward from the
1512 bottom of the window, so that @minus{}1 stands for the last usable
1513 line in the window. If @var{count} is a non-@code{nil} list, then it
1514 stands for the line in the middle of the window.
1515
1516 If @var{count} is @code{nil}, @code{recenter} puts the line containing
1517 point in the middle of the window, then clears and redisplays the entire
1518 selected frame.
1519
1520 When @code{recenter} is called interactively, @var{count} is the raw
1521 prefix argument. Thus, typing @kbd{C-u} as the prefix sets the
1522 @var{count} to a non-@code{nil} list, while typing @kbd{C-u 4} sets
1523 @var{count} to 4, which positions the current line four lines from the
1524 top.
1525
1526 With an argument of zero, @code{recenter} positions the current line at
1527 the top of the window. This action is so handy that some people make a
1528 separate key binding to do this. For example,
1529
1530 @example
1531 @group
1532 (defun line-to-top-of-window ()
1533 "Scroll current line to top of window.
1534 Replaces three keystroke sequence C-u 0 C-l."
1535 (interactive)
1536 (recenter 0))
1537
1538 (global-set-key [kp-multiply] 'line-to-top-of-window)
1539 @end group
1540 @end example
1541 @end deffn
1542
1543 @node Vertical Scrolling
1544 @section Vertical Fractional Scrolling
1545 @cindex Vertical Fractional Scrolling
1546
1547 @dfn{Vertical fractional scrolling} means shifting the image in the
1548 window up or down by a specified multiple or fraction of a line.
1549 Starting in Emacs 21, each window has a @dfn{vertical scroll position},
1550 which is a number, never less than zero. It specifies how far to raise
1551 the contents of the window. Raising the window contents generally makes
1552 all or part of some lines disappear off the top, and all or part of some
1553 other lines appear at the bottom. The usual value is zero.
1554
1555 The vertical scroll position is measured in units of the normal line
1556 height, which is the height of the default font. Thus, if the value is
1557 .5, that means the window contents are scrolled up half the normal line
1558 height. If it is 3.3, that means the window contents are scrolled up
1559 somewhat over three times the normal line height.
1560
1561 What fraction of a line the vertical scrolling covers, or how many
1562 lines, depends on what the lines contain. A value of .5 could scroll a
1563 line whose height is very short off the screen, while a value of 3.3
1564 could scroll just part of the way through a tall line or an image.
1565
1566 @defun window-vscroll &optional window
1567 This function returns the current vertical scroll position of
1568 @var{window}, If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is
1569 used.
1570
1571 @example
1572 @group
1573 (window-vscroll)
1574 @result{} 0
1575 @end group
1576 @end example
1577 @end defun
1578
1579 @defun set-window-vscroll window lines
1580 This function sets @var{window}'s vertical scroll position to
1581 @var{lines}. The argument @var{lines} should be zero or positive; if
1582 not, it is taken as zero.
1583
1584 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1585
1586 The actual vertical scroll position must always correspond
1587 to an integral number of pixels, so the value you specify
1588 is rounded accordingly.
1589
1590 The return value is the result of this rounding.
1591
1592 @example
1593 @group
1594 (set-window-vscroll (selected-window) 1.2)
1595 @result{} 1.13
1596 @end group
1597 @end example
1598 @end defun
1599
1600 @node Horizontal Scrolling
1601 @section Horizontal Scrolling
1602 @cindex horizontal scrolling
1603
1604 @dfn{Horizontal scrolling} means shifting the image in the window left
1605 or right by a specified multiple of the normal character width. Each
1606 window has a @dfn{horizontal scroll position}, which is a number, never
1607 less than zero. It specifies how far to shift the contents left.
1608 Shifting the window contents left generally makes all or part of some
1609 characters disappear off the left, and all or part of some other
1610 characters appear at the right. The usual value is zero.
1611
1612 The horizontal scroll position is measured in units of the normal
1613 character width, which is the width of space in the default font. Thus,
1614 if the value is 5, that means the window contents are scrolled left by 5
1615 times the normal character width. How many characters actually
1616 disappear off to the left depends on their width, and could vary from
1617 line to line.
1618
1619 Because we read from side to side in the ``inner loop'', and from top
1620 to bottom in the ``outer loop'', the effect of horizontal scrolling is
1621 not like that of textual or vertical scrolling. Textual scrolling
1622 involves selection of a portion of text to display, and vertical
1623 scrolling moves the window contents contiguously; but horizontal
1624 scrolling causes part of @emph{each line} to go off screen.
1625
1626 Usually, no horizontal scrolling is in effect; then the leftmost
1627 column is at the left edge of the window. In this state, scrolling to
1628 the right is meaningless, since there is no data to the left of the edge
1629 to be revealed by it; so this is not allowed. Scrolling to the left is
1630 allowed; it scrolls the first columns of text off the edge of the window
1631 and can reveal additional columns on the right that were truncated
1632 before. Once a window has a nonzero amount of leftward horizontal
1633 scrolling, you can scroll it back to the right, but only so far as to
1634 reduce the net horizontal scroll to zero. There is no limit to how far
1635 left you can scroll, but eventually all the text will disappear off the
1636 left edge.
1637
1638 @vindex auto-hscroll-mode
1639 If @code{auto-hscroll-mode} is set, redisplay automatically alters
1640 the horizontal scrolling of a window as necessary to ensure that point
1641 is always visible. However, you can still set the horizontal
1642 scrolling value explicitly. The value you specify serves as a lower
1643 bound for automatic scrolling, i.e. automatic scrolling will not
1644 scroll a window to a column less than the specified one.
1645
1646 @deffn Command scroll-left &optional count
1647 This function scrolls the selected window @var{count} columns to the
1648 left (or to the right if @var{count} is negative). The default
1649 for @var{count} is the window width, minus 2.
1650
1651 The return value is the total amount of leftward horizontal scrolling in
1652 effect after the change---just like the value returned by
1653 @code{window-hscroll} (below).
1654 @end deffn
1655
1656 @deffn Command scroll-right &optional count
1657 This function scrolls the selected window @var{count} columns to the
1658 right (or to the left if @var{count} is negative). The default
1659 for @var{count} is the window width, minus 2.
1660
1661 The return value is the total amount of leftward horizontal scrolling in
1662 effect after the change---just like the value returned by
1663 @code{window-hscroll} (below).
1664
1665 Once you scroll a window as far right as it can go, back to its normal
1666 position where the total leftward scrolling is zero, attempts to scroll
1667 any farther right have no effect.
1668 @end deffn
1669
1670 @defun window-hscroll &optional window
1671 This function returns the total leftward horizontal scrolling of
1672 @var{window}---the number of columns by which the text in @var{window}
1673 is scrolled left past the left margin.
1674
1675 The value is never negative. It is zero when no horizontal scrolling
1676 has been done in @var{window} (which is usually the case).
1677
1678 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1679
1680 @example
1681 @group
1682 (window-hscroll)
1683 @result{} 0
1684 @end group
1685 @group
1686 (scroll-left 5)
1687 @result{} 5
1688 @end group
1689 @group
1690 (window-hscroll)
1691 @result{} 5
1692 @end group
1693 @end example
1694 @end defun
1695
1696 @defun set-window-hscroll window columns
1697 This function sets horizontal scrolling of @var{window}. The value of
1698 @var{columns} specifies the amount of scrolling, in terms of columns
1699 from the left margin. The argument @var{columns} should be zero or
1700 positive; if not, it is taken as zero. Fractional values of
1701 @var{columns} are not supported at present.
1702
1703 Note that @code{set-window-hscroll} may appear not to work if you test
1704 it by evaluating a call with @kbd{M-:} in a simple way. What happens
1705 is that the function sets the horizontal scroll value and returns, but
1706 then redisplay adjusts the horizontal scrolling to make point visible,
1707 and this overrides what the function did. You can observe the
1708 function's effect if you call it while point is sufficiently far from
1709 the left margin that it will remain visible.
1710
1711 The value returned is @var{columns}.
1712
1713 @example
1714 @group
1715 (set-window-hscroll (selected-window) 10)
1716 @result{} 10
1717 @end group
1718 @end example
1719 @end defun
1720
1721 Here is how you can determine whether a given position @var{position}
1722 is off the screen due to horizontal scrolling:
1723
1724 @example
1725 @group
1726 (defun hscroll-on-screen (window position)
1727 (save-excursion
1728 (goto-char position)
1729 (and
1730 (>= (- (current-column) (window-hscroll window)) 0)
1731 (< (- (current-column) (window-hscroll window))
1732 (window-width window)))))
1733 @end group
1734 @end example
1735
1736 @node Size of Window
1737 @section The Size of a Window
1738 @cindex window size
1739 @cindex size of window
1740
1741 An Emacs window is rectangular, and its size information consists of
1742 the height (the number of lines) and the width (the number of character
1743 positions in each line). The mode line is included in the height. But
1744 the width does not count the scroll bar or the column of @samp{|}
1745 characters that separates side-by-side windows.
1746
1747 The following three functions return size information about a window:
1748
1749 @defun window-height &optional window
1750 This function returns the number of lines in @var{window}, including
1751 its mode line and header line, if any. If @var{window} fills its
1752 entire frame except for the echo area, this is typically one less than
1753 the value of @code{frame-height} on that frame.
1754
1755 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the function uses the selected window.
1756
1757 @example
1758 @group
1759 (window-height)
1760 @result{} 23
1761 @end group
1762 @group
1763 (split-window-vertically)
1764 @result{} #<window 4 on windows.texi>
1765 @end group
1766 @group
1767 (window-height)
1768 @result{} 11
1769 @end group
1770 @end example
1771 @end defun
1772
1773 @tindex window-body-height
1774 @defun window-body-height &optional window
1775 Like @code{window-height} but the value does not include the
1776 mode line (if any) or the header line (if any).
1777 @end defun
1778
1779 @defun window-width &optional window
1780 This function returns the number of columns in @var{window}. If
1781 @var{window} fills its entire frame, this is the same as the value of
1782 @code{frame-width} on that frame. The width does not include the
1783 window's scroll bar or the column of @samp{|} characters that separates
1784 side-by-side windows.
1785
1786 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the function uses the selected window.
1787
1788 @example
1789 @group
1790 (window-width)
1791 @result{} 80
1792 @end group
1793 @end example
1794 @end defun
1795
1796 @defun window-edges &optional window
1797 This function returns a list of the edge coordinates of @var{window}.
1798 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1799
1800 The order of the list is @code{(@var{left} @var{top} @var{right}
1801 @var{bottom})}, all elements relative to 0, 0 at the top left corner of
1802 the frame. The element @var{right} of the value is one more than the
1803 rightmost column used by @var{window}, and @var{bottom} is one more than
1804 the bottommost row used by @var{window} and its mode-line.
1805
1806 If a window has a scroll bar, the right edge value includes the width of
1807 the scroll bar. Otherwise, if the window has a neighbor on the right,
1808 its right edge value includes the width of the separator line between
1809 the window and that neighbor. Since the width of the window does not
1810 include this separator, the width does not usually equal the difference
1811 between the right and left edges.
1812 @end defun
1813
1814 @defun window-inside-edges window
1815 This is similar to @code{window-edges}, but the edge values
1816 it returns include only the text area of the window. They
1817 do not include the header line, mode line, scroll bar or
1818 vertical separator, fringes, or display margins.
1819 @end defun
1820
1821 Here are the results obtained on a typical 24-line terminal with just
1822 one window, with menu bar enabled:
1823
1824 @example
1825 @group
1826 (window-edges (selected-window))
1827 @result{} (0 1 80 23)
1828 @end group
1829 @group
1830 (window-inside-edges (selected-window))
1831 @result{} (0 1 80 22)
1832 @end group
1833 @end example
1834
1835 @noindent
1836 The bottom edge is at line 23 because the last line is the echo area.
1837 The bottom inside edge is at line 22, which is the window's mode line.
1838
1839 If @var{window} is at the upper left corner of its frame, and there is
1840 no menu bar, then @var{bottom} returned by @code{window-edges} is the
1841 same as the value of @code{(window-height)}, @var{right} is almost the
1842 same as the value of @code{(window-width)}, and @var{top} and
1843 @var{left} are zero. For example, the edges of the following window
1844 are @w{@samp{0 0 8 5}}. Assuming that the frame has more than 8
1845 columns, the last column of the window (column 7) holds a border
1846 rather than text. The last row (row 4) holds the mode line, shown
1847 here with @samp{xxxxxxxxx}.
1848
1849 @example
1850 @group
1851 0
1852 _______
1853 0 | |
1854 | |
1855 | |
1856 | |
1857 xxxxxxxxx 4
1858
1859 7
1860 @end group
1861 @end example
1862
1863 In the following example, let's suppose that the frame is 7
1864 columns wide. Then the edges of the left window are @w{@samp{0 0 4 3}}
1865 and the edges of the right window are @w{@samp{4 0 7 3}}.
1866 The inside edges of the left window are @w{@samp{0 0 3 2}},
1867 and the inside edges of the right window are @w{@samp{4 0 7 2}},
1868
1869 @example
1870 @group
1871 ___ ___
1872 | | |
1873 | | |
1874 xxxxxxxxx
1875
1876 0 34 7
1877 @end group
1878 @end example
1879
1880 @defun window-pixel-edges window
1881 This function is like @code{window-edges} except that, on a graphical
1882 display, the edge values are measured in pixels instead of in
1883 character lines and columns.
1884 @end defun
1885
1886 @defun window-inside-pixel-edges window
1887 This function is like @code{window-inside-edges} except that, on a
1888 graphical display, the edge values are measured in pixels instead of
1889 in character lines and columns.
1890 @end defun
1891
1892 @node Resizing Windows
1893 @section Changing the Size of a Window
1894 @cindex window resizing
1895 @cindex changing window size
1896 @cindex window size, changing
1897
1898 The window size functions fall into two classes: high-level commands
1899 that change the size of windows and low-level functions that access
1900 window size. Emacs does not permit overlapping windows or gaps between
1901 windows, so resizing one window affects other windows.
1902
1903 @deffn Command enlarge-window size &optional horizontal
1904 This function makes the selected window @var{size} lines taller,
1905 stealing lines from neighboring windows. It takes the lines from one
1906 window at a time until that window is used up, then takes from another.
1907 If a window from which lines are stolen shrinks below
1908 @code{window-min-height} lines, that window disappears.
1909
1910 If @var{horizontal} is non-@code{nil}, this function makes
1911 @var{window} wider by @var{size} columns, stealing columns instead of
1912 lines. If a window from which columns are stolen shrinks below
1913 @code{window-min-width} columns, that window disappears.
1914
1915 If the requested size would exceed that of the window's frame, then the
1916 function makes the window occupy the entire height (or width) of the
1917 frame.
1918
1919 If there are various other windows from which lines or columns can be
1920 stolen, and some of them specify fixed size (using
1921 @code{window-size-fixed}, see below), they are left untouched while
1922 other windows are ``robbed.'' If it would be necessary to alter the
1923 size of a fixed-size window, @code{enlarge-window} gets an error
1924 instead.
1925
1926 If @var{size} is negative, this function shrinks the window by
1927 @minus{}@var{size} lines or columns. If that makes the window smaller
1928 than the minimum size (@code{window-min-height} and
1929 @code{window-min-width}), @code{enlarge-window} deletes the window.
1930
1931 @code{enlarge-window} returns @code{nil}.
1932 @end deffn
1933
1934 @deffn Command enlarge-window-horizontally columns
1935 This function makes the selected window @var{columns} wider.
1936 It could be defined as follows:
1937
1938 @example
1939 @group
1940 (defun enlarge-window-horizontally (columns)
1941 (enlarge-window columns t))
1942 @end group
1943 @end example
1944 @end deffn
1945
1946 @deffn Command shrink-window size &optional horizontal
1947 This function is like @code{enlarge-window} but negates the argument
1948 @var{size}, making the selected window smaller by giving lines (or
1949 columns) to the other windows. If the window shrinks below
1950 @code{window-min-height} or @code{window-min-width}, then it disappears.
1951
1952 If @var{size} is negative, the window is enlarged by @minus{}@var{size}
1953 lines or columns.
1954 @end deffn
1955
1956 @deffn Command shrink-window-horizontally columns
1957 This function makes the selected window @var{columns} narrower.
1958 It could be defined as follows:
1959
1960 @example
1961 @group
1962 (defun shrink-window-horizontally (columns)
1963 (shrink-window columns t))
1964 @end group
1965 @end example
1966 @end deffn
1967
1968 @deffn Command shrink-window-if-larger-than-buffer &optional window
1969 This command shrinks @var{window} to be as small as possible while still
1970 showing the full contents of its buffer---but not less than
1971 @code{window-min-height} lines. If @var{window} is not given,
1972 it defaults to the selected window.
1973
1974 However, the command does nothing if the window is already too small to
1975 display the whole text of the buffer, or if part of the contents are
1976 currently scrolled off screen, or if the window is not the full width of
1977 its frame, or if the window is the only window in its frame.
1978 @end deffn
1979
1980 @tindex window-size-fixed
1981 @defvar window-size-fixed
1982 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, in any given buffer,
1983 then the size of any window displaying the buffer remains fixed
1984 unless you explicitly change it or Emacs has no other choice.
1985 (This feature is new in Emacs 21.)
1986
1987 If the value is @code{height}, then only the window's height is fixed;
1988 if the value is @code{width}, then only the window's width is fixed.
1989 Any other non-@code{nil} value fixes both the width and the height.
1990
1991 The usual way to use this variable is to give it a buffer-local value in
1992 a particular buffer. That way, the windows (but usually there is only
1993 one) displaying that buffer have fixed size.
1994
1995 Explicit size-change functions such as @code{enlarge-window}
1996 get an error if they would have to change a window size which is fixed.
1997 Therefore, when you want to change the size of such a window,
1998 you should bind @code{window-size-fixed} to @code{nil}, like this:
1999
2000 @example
2001 (let ((window-size-fixed nil))
2002 (enlarge-window 10))
2003 @end example
2004
2005 Note that changing the frame size will change the size of a
2006 fixed-size window, if there is no other alternative.
2007 @end defvar
2008
2009 @cindex minimum window size
2010 The following two variables constrain the window-structure-changing
2011 functions to a minimum height and width.
2012
2013 @defopt window-min-height
2014 The value of this variable determines how short a window may become
2015 before it is automatically deleted. Making a window smaller than
2016 @code{window-min-height} automatically deletes it, and no window may
2017 be created shorter than this. The default value is 4.
2018
2019 The absolute minimum window height is one; actions that change window
2020 sizes reset this variable to one if it is less than one.
2021 @end defopt
2022
2023 @defopt window-min-width
2024 The value of this variable determines how narrow a window may become
2025 before it is automatically deleted. Making a window smaller than
2026 @code{window-min-width} automatically deletes it, and no window may be
2027 created narrower than this. The default value is 10.
2028
2029 The absolute minimum window width is two; actions that change window
2030 sizes reset this variable to two if it is less than two.
2031 @end defopt
2032
2033 @node Coordinates and Windows
2034 @section Coordinates and Windows
2035
2036 This section describes how to relate screen coordinates to windows.
2037
2038 @defun window-at x y &optional frame
2039 This function returns the window containing the specified cursor
2040 position in the frame @var{frame}. The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y}
2041 are measured in characters and count from the top left corner of the
2042 frame. If they are out of range, @code{window-at} returns @code{nil}.
2043
2044 If you omit @var{frame}, the selected frame is used.
2045 @end defun
2046
2047 @defun coordinates-in-window-p coordinates window
2048 This function checks whether a particular frame position falls within
2049 the window @var{window}.
2050
2051 The argument @var{coordinates} is a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{x}
2052 . @var{y})}. The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y} are measured in
2053 characters, and count from the top left corner of the screen or frame.
2054
2055 The value returned by @code{coordinates-in-window-p} is non-@code{nil}
2056 if the coordinates are inside @var{window}. The value also indicates
2057 what part of the window the position is in, as follows:
2058
2059 @table @code
2060 @item (@var{relx} . @var{rely})
2061 The coordinates are inside @var{window}. The numbers @var{relx} and
2062 @var{rely} are the equivalent window-relative coordinates for the
2063 specified position, counting from 0 at the top left corner of the
2064 window.
2065
2066 @item mode-line
2067 The coordinates are in the mode line of @var{window}.
2068
2069 @item header-line
2070 The coordinates are in the header line of @var{window}.
2071
2072 @item vertical-line
2073 The coordinates are in the vertical line between @var{window} and its
2074 neighbor to the right. This value occurs only if the window doesn't
2075 have a scroll bar; positions in a scroll bar are considered outside the
2076 window for these purposes.
2077
2078 @item left-fringe
2079 @itemx right-fringe
2080 The coordinates are in the left or right fringe of the window.
2081
2082 @item left-margin
2083 @itemx right-margin
2084 The coordinates are in the left or right margin of the window.
2085
2086 @item nil
2087 The coordinates are not in any part of @var{window}.
2088 @end table
2089
2090 The function @code{coordinates-in-window-p} does not require a frame as
2091 argument because it always uses the frame that @var{window} is on.
2092 @end defun
2093
2094 @node Window Configurations
2095 @section Window Configurations
2096 @cindex window configurations
2097 @cindex saving window information
2098
2099 A @dfn{window configuration} records the entire layout of one
2100 frame---all windows, their sizes, which buffers they contain, what
2101 part of each buffer is displayed, and the values of point and the
2102 mark; also their fringes, margins, and scroll bar settings. It also
2103 includes the values of @code{window-min-height},
2104 @code{window-min-width} and @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. An
2105 exception is made for point in the selected window for the current
2106 buffer; its value is not saved in the window configuration.
2107
2108 You can bring back an entire previous layout by restoring a window
2109 configuration previously saved. If you want to record all frames
2110 instead of just one, use a frame configuration instead of a window
2111 configuration. @xref{Frame Configurations}.
2112
2113 @defun current-window-configuration &optional frame
2114 This function returns a new object representing @var{frame}'s current
2115 window configuration. If @var{frame} is omitted, the selected frame
2116 is used.
2117 @end defun
2118
2119 @defun set-window-configuration configuration
2120 This function restores the configuration of windows and buffers as
2121 specified by @var{configuration}, for the frame that @var{configuration}
2122 was created for.
2123
2124 The argument @var{configuration} must be a value that was previously
2125 returned by @code{current-window-configuration}. This configuration is
2126 restored in the frame from which @var{configuration} was made, whether
2127 that frame is selected or not. This always counts as a window size
2128 change and triggers execution of the @code{window-size-change-functions}
2129 (@pxref{Window Hooks}), because @code{set-window-configuration} doesn't
2130 know how to tell whether the new configuration actually differs from the
2131 old one.
2132
2133 If the frame which @var{configuration} was saved from is dead, all this
2134 function does is restore the three variables @code{window-min-height},
2135 @code{window-min-width} and @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}.
2136
2137 Here is a way of using this function to get the same effect
2138 as @code{save-window-excursion}:
2139
2140 @example
2141 @group
2142 (let ((config (current-window-configuration)))
2143 (unwind-protect
2144 (progn (split-window-vertically nil)
2145 @dots{})
2146 (set-window-configuration config)))
2147 @end group
2148 @end example
2149 @end defun
2150
2151 @defspec save-window-excursion forms@dots{}
2152 This special form records the window configuration, executes @var{forms}
2153 in sequence, then restores the earlier window configuration. The window
2154 configuration includes the value of point and the portion of the buffer
2155 that is visible. It also includes the choice of selected window.
2156 However, it does not include the value of point in the current buffer;
2157 use @code{save-excursion} also, if you wish to preserve that.
2158
2159 Don't use this construct when @code{save-selected-window} is sufficient.
2160
2161 Exit from @code{save-window-excursion} always triggers execution of the
2162 @code{window-size-change-functions}. (It doesn't know how to tell
2163 whether the restored configuration actually differs from the one in
2164 effect at the end of the @var{forms}.)
2165
2166 The return value is the value of the final form in @var{forms}.
2167 For example:
2168
2169 @example
2170 @group
2171 (split-window)
2172 @result{} #<window 25 on control.texi>
2173 @end group
2174 @group
2175 (setq w (selected-window))
2176 @result{} #<window 19 on control.texi>
2177 @end group
2178 @group
2179 (save-window-excursion
2180 (delete-other-windows w)
2181 (switch-to-buffer "foo")
2182 'do-something)
2183 @result{} do-something
2184 ;; @r{The screen is now split again.}
2185 @end group
2186 @end example
2187 @end defspec
2188
2189 @defun window-configuration-p object
2190 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a window configuration.
2191 @end defun
2192
2193 @defun compare-window-configurations config1 config2
2194 This function compares two window configurations as regards the
2195 structure of windows, but ignores the values of point and mark and the
2196 saved scrolling positions---it can return @code{t} even if those
2197 aspects differ.
2198
2199 The function @code{equal} can also compare two window configurations; it
2200 regards configurations as unequal if they differ in any respect, even a
2201 saved point or mark.
2202 @end defun
2203
2204 @defun window-configuration-frame config
2205 This function returns the frame for which the window configuration
2206 @var{config} was made.
2207 @end defun
2208
2209 Other primitives to look inside of window configurations would make
2210 sense, but are not implemented because we did not need them. See the
2211 file @file{winner.el} for some more operations on windows
2212 configurations.
2213
2214 @node Window Hooks
2215 @section Hooks for Window Scrolling and Changes
2216
2217 This section describes how a Lisp program can take action whenever a
2218 window displays a different part of its buffer or a different buffer.
2219 There are three actions that can change this: scrolling the window,
2220 switching buffers in the window, and changing the size of the window.
2221 The first two actions run @code{window-scroll-functions}; the last runs
2222 @code{window-size-change-functions}. The paradigmatic use of these
2223 hooks is in the implementation of Lazy Lock mode; see @file{lazy-lock.el}.
2224
2225 @defvar window-scroll-functions
2226 This variable holds a list of functions that Emacs should call before
2227 redisplaying a window with scrolling. It is not a normal hook, because
2228 each function is called with two arguments: the window, and its new
2229 display-start position.
2230
2231 Displaying a different buffer in the window also runs these functions.
2232
2233 These functions must be careful in using @code{window-end}
2234 (@pxref{Window Start}); if you need an up-to-date value, you must use
2235 the @var{update} argument to ensure you get it.
2236 @end defvar
2237
2238 @defvar window-size-change-functions
2239 This variable holds a list of functions to be called if the size of any
2240 window changes for any reason. The functions are called just once per
2241 redisplay, and just once for each frame on which size changes have
2242 occurred.
2243
2244 Each function receives the frame as its sole argument. There is no
2245 direct way to find out which windows on that frame have changed size, or
2246 precisely how. However, if a size-change function records, at each
2247 call, the existing windows and their sizes, it can also compare the
2248 present sizes and the previous sizes.
2249
2250 Creating or deleting windows counts as a size change, and therefore
2251 causes these functions to be called. Changing the frame size also
2252 counts, because it changes the sizes of the existing windows.
2253
2254 It is not a good idea to use @code{save-window-excursion} (@pxref{Window
2255 Configurations}) in these functions, because that always counts as a
2256 size change, and it would cause these functions to be called over and
2257 over. In most cases, @code{save-selected-window} (@pxref{Selecting
2258 Windows}) is what you need here.
2259 @end defvar
2260
2261 @defvar redisplay-end-trigger-functions
2262 This abnormal hook is run whenever redisplay in a window uses text that
2263 extends past a specified end trigger position. You set the end trigger
2264 position with the function @code{set-window-redisplay-end-trigger}. The
2265 functions are called with two arguments: the window, and the end trigger
2266 position. Storing @code{nil} for the end trigger position turns off the
2267 feature, and the trigger value is automatically reset to @code{nil} just
2268 after the hook is run.
2269 @end defvar
2270
2271 @defun set-window-redisplay-end-trigger window position
2272 This function sets @var{window}'s end trigger position at
2273 @var{position}.
2274 @end defun
2275
2276 @defun window-redisplay-end-trigger &optional window
2277 This function returns @var{window}'s current end trigger position.
2278 @end defun
2279
2280 @defvar window-configuration-change-hook
2281 A normal hook that is run every time you change the window configuration
2282 of an existing frame. This includes splitting or deleting windows,
2283 changing the sizes of windows, or displaying a different buffer in a
2284 window. The frame whose window configuration has changed is the
2285 selected frame when this hook runs.
2286 @end defvar
2287
2288 @ignore
2289 arch-tag: 3f6c36e8-df49-4986-b757-417feed88be3
2290 @end ignore