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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, 2001,
4 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @setfilename ../../info/frames
7 @node Frames, Positions, Windows, Top
8 @chapter Frames
9 @cindex frame
10
11 In Emacs editing, A @dfn{frame} is a screen object that contains one
12 or more Emacs windows. It's the kind of object that is called a
13 ``window'' in the terminology of graphical environments; but we can't
14 call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
15 way.
16
17 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
18 window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
19 into smaller windows. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp
20 object that represents a frame on the screen.
21
22 @cindex terminal frame
23 When Emacs runs on a text-only terminal, it starts with one
24 @dfn{terminal frame}. If you create additional ones, Emacs displays
25 one and only one at any given time---on the terminal screen, of course.
26
27 @cindex window frame
28 When Emacs communicates directly with a supported window system, such
29 as X, it does not have a terminal frame; instead, it starts with
30 a single @dfn{window frame}, but you can create more, and Emacs can
31 display several such frames at once as is usual for window systems.
32
33 @defun framep object
34 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
35 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
36 kind of display the frame uses:
37
38 @table @code
39 @item x
40 The frame is displayed in an X window.
41 @item t
42 A terminal frame on a character display.
43 @item mac
44 The frame is displayed on a Macintosh.
45 @item w32
46 The frame is displayed on MS-Windows 9X/NT.
47 @item pc
48 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
49 @end table
50 @end defun
51
52 @menu
53 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
54 * Multiple Displays:: Creating frames on other displays.
55 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
56 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
57 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
58 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
59 * Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
60 display of text always works through windows.
61 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
62 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
63 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
64 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
65 lowering it makes the others hide it.
66 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
67 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
68 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
69 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
70 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
71 * Pointer Shape:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
72 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
73 * Drag and Drop:: Internals of Drag-and-Drop implementation.
74 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
75 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text-only terminals.
76 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
77 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
78 @end menu
79
80 @xref{Display}, for information about the related topic of
81 controlling Emacs redisplay.
82
83 @node Creating Frames
84 @section Creating Frames
85
86 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
87
88 @defun make-frame &optional alist
89 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
90 buffer. If you are using a supported window system, it makes a window
91 frame; otherwise, it makes a terminal frame.
92
93 The argument is an alist specifying frame parameters. Any parameters
94 not mentioned in @var{alist} default according to the value of the
95 variable @code{default-frame-alist}; parameters not specified even there
96 default from the standard X resources or whatever is used instead on
97 your system.
98
99 The set of possible parameters depends in principle on what kind of
100 window system Emacs uses to display its frames. @xref{Window Frame
101 Parameters}, for documentation of individual parameters you can specify.
102
103 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
104 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
105 However, the window system may select the new frame for its own reasons,
106 for instance if the frame appears under the mouse pointer and your
107 setup is for focus to follow the pointer.
108 @end defun
109
110 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
111 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it actually creates the
112 frame.
113 @end defvar
114
115 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
116 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
117 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
118 frame just created.
119 @end defvar
120
121 @node Multiple Displays
122 @section Multiple Displays
123 @cindex multiple X displays
124 @cindex displays, multiple
125
126 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display.
127 Initially, Emacs uses just one display---the one chosen with the
128 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option
129 (@pxref{Initial Options,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). To connect to
130 another display, use the command @code{make-frame-on-display} or specify
131 the @code{display} frame parameter when you create the frame.
132
133 Emacs treats each X server as a separate terminal, giving each one its
134 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows. However, only one of
135 those frames is ``@emph{the} selected frame'' at any given moment, see
136 @ref{Input Focus}.
137
138 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
139 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
140 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
141 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
142 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
143 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can never
144 be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}) or frame-local.
145
146 A single X server can handle more than one screen. A display name
147 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}} has three parts; the last
148 part specifies the screen number for a given server. When you use two
149 screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their
150 names that they share a single keyboard, and it treats them as a single
151 terminal.
152
153 Note that some graphical terminals can output to more than a one
154 monitor (or other output device) at the same time. On these
155 ``multi-monitor'' setups, a single @var{display} value controls the
156 output to all the physical monitors. In this situation, there is
157 currently no platform-independent way for Emacs to distinguish between
158 the different physical monitors.
159
160 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
161 This creates and returns a new frame on display @var{display}, taking
162 the other frame parameters from @var{parameters}. Aside from the
163 @var{display} argument, it is like @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating
164 Frames}).
165 @end deffn
166
167 @defun x-display-list
168 This returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has a
169 connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one is
170 a display name.
171 @end defun
172
173 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
174 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display}. It
175 does not create a frame on that display, but it permits you to check
176 that communication can be established with that display.
177
178 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a
179 string of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
180 @file{.Xresources} file. The values you specify override the resource
181 values recorded in the X server itself; they apply to all Emacs frames
182 created on this display. Here's an example of what this string might
183 look like:
184
185 @example
186 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
187 @end example
188
189 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
190
191 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
192 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
193 @end defun
194
195 @defun x-close-connection display
196 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
197 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open on
198 that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
199 @end defun
200
201 @node Frame Parameters
202 @section Frame Parameters
203 @cindex frame parameters
204
205 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
206 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
207 uses.
208
209 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of window systems. A
210 terminal frame has a few parameters, mostly for compatibility's sake;
211 only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name}, @code{title},
212 @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate}
213 parameters do something special. If the terminal supports colors, the
214 parameters @code{foreground-color}, @code{background-color},
215 @code{background-mode} and @code{display-type} are also meaningful.
216
217 @menu
218 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
219 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
220 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
221 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
222 * Geometry:: Parsing geometry specifications.
223 @end menu
224
225 @node Parameter Access
226 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
227
228 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
229 frame.
230
231 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
232 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
233 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
234 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
235 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
236 @end defun
237
238 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
239 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
240 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
241 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
242 @end defun
243
244 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
245 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
246 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
247 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
248 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
249 doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
250 frame.
251 @end defun
252
253 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
254 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
255 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
256 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
257 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
258 @end defun
259
260 @node Initial Parameters
261 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
262
263 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame
264 by setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}).
265
266 @defvar initial-frame-alist
267 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
268 the initial window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
269 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
270 Each element has the form:
271
272 @example
273 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
274 @end example
275
276 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
277 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
278 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
279 created initial frame.
280
281 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
282 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
283 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
284 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
285 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
286
287 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
288 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
289 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
290 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
291 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
292 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
293 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
294 @end defvar
295
296 If these parameters specify a separate minibuffer-only frame with
297 @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, and you have not created one, Emacs creates
298 one for you.
299
300 @defvar minibuffer-frame-alist
301 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
302 an initial minibuffer-only frame---if such a frame is needed, according
303 to the parameters for the main initial frame.
304 @end defvar
305
306 @defvar default-frame-alist
307 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
308 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
309 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
310 in many cases.
311
312 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames.
313 @end defvar
314
315 See also @code{special-display-frame-alist}. @xref{Definition of
316 special-display-frame-alist}.
317
318 If you use options that specify window appearance when you invoke Emacs,
319 they take effect by adding elements to @code{default-frame-alist}. One
320 exception is @samp{-geometry}, which adds the specified position to
321 @code{initial-frame-alist} instead. @xref{Emacs Invocation,, Command
322 Line Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
323
324 @node Window Frame Parameters
325 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
326
327 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism
328 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
329 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
330 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
331 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
332 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful @emph{only} in
333 terminal frames.
334
335 @menu
336 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
337 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
338 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
339 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
340 enabling or disabling some parts.
341 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
342 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
343 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
344 * Color Parameters:: Colors of various parts of the frame.
345 @end menu
346
347 @node Basic Parameters
348 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
349
350 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
351 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
352
353 @table @code
354 @item display
355 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
356 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
357 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
358
359 @item display-type
360 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
361 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
362 @code{mono}.
363
364 @item title
365 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window system's
366 border for the frame, and also in the mode line of windows in that frame
367 if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses @samp{%F}
368 (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when Emacs is not
369 using a window system, and can only display one frame at a time.
370 @xref{Frame Titles}.
371
372 @item name
373 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
374 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
375 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
376 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
377
378 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
379 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
380 looking up X resources for the frame.
381
382 @item display-environment-variable
383 The value of the @code{DISPLAY} environment variable for the frame. It
384 is passed to child processes.
385
386 @item term-environment-variable
387 The value of the @code{TERM} environment variable for the frame. It
388 is passed to child processes.
389 @end table
390
391 @node Position Parameters
392 @subsubsection Position Parameters
393
394 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
395 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
396
397 @table @code
398 @item left
399 The screen position of the left edge, in pixels, with respect to the
400 left edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
401 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
402 negative @var{pos} value.
403
404 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
405 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the right edge of the
406 window with respect to the right edge of the screen. A positive value
407 of @var{pos} counts toward the left. @strong{Reminder:} if the
408 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
409 positive.
410
411 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
412 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
413 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
414
415 @item top
416 The screen position of the top edge, in pixels, with respect to the
417 top edge of the screen. It works just like @code{left}, except vertically
418 instead of horizontally.
419
420 @item icon-left
421 The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
422 pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
423 and when the frame is iconified.
424
425 If you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify
426 a value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa. The window manager may
427 ignore these two parameters.
428
429 @item icon-top
430 The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
431 pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
432 and when the frame is iconified.
433
434 @item user-position
435 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
436 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
437 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
438 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
439 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
440
441 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
442 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
443 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
444 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
445 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
446 ignore them.
447
448 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
449 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
450 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
451 @code{nil}.
452 @end table
453
454 @node Size Parameters
455 @subsubsection Size Parameters
456
457 Size parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
458 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
459
460 @table @code
461 @item height
462 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
463 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
464
465 @item width
466 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
467 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
468
469 @item user-size
470 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
471 the @code{user-position} parameter (see above) does for the position
472 parameters @code{top} and @code{left}.
473
474 @item fullscreen
475 Specify that width, height or both shall be set to the size of the screen.
476 The value @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be the size of the
477 screen. The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be the
478 size of the screen. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the
479 width and the height shall be set to the size of the screen.
480 @end table
481
482 @node Layout Parameters
483 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
484
485 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
486 frame, or control their sizes.
487
488 @table @code
489 @item border-width
490 The width in pixels of the frame's border.
491
492 @item internal-border-width
493 The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
494
495 @item vertical-scroll-bars
496 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
497 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
498 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
499
500 @ignore
501 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
502 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
503 (non-@code{nil} means yes). Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
504 implemented.
505 @end ignore
506
507 @item scroll-bar-width
508 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
509 use the default width.
510
511 @item left-fringe
512 @itemx right-fringe
513 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
514 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
515 removes the corresponding fringe. A value of @code{nil} stands for
516 the standard fringe width, which is the width needed to display the
517 fringe bitmaps.
518
519 The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
520 columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame may be
521 larger than the specified values. The extra width needed to reach an
522 acceptable total is distributed evenly between the left and right
523 fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a precise
524 width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both widths are
525 negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
526
527 @item menu-bar-lines
528 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
529 bar. The default is 1. A value of @code{nil} means don't display a
530 menu bar. @xref{Menu Bar}. (The X toolkit and GTK allow at most one
531 menu bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
532
533 @item tool-bar-lines
534 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. A value of @code{nil}
535 means don't display a tool bar. (GTK allows at most one tool bar line;
536 it treats larger values as 1.)
537
538 @item line-spacing
539 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
540 integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
541 @end table
542
543 @node Buffer Parameters
544 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
545
546 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
547 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
548
549 @table @code
550 @item minibuffer
551 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
552 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
553 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other frame),
554 the new frame uses that minibuffer.
555
556 @item buffer-predicate
557 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
558 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
559 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
560 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
561 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
562 considers that buffer.
563
564 @item buffer-list
565 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
566 ordered most-recently-selected first.
567
568 @item unsplittable
569 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
570 @end table
571
572 @node Management Parameters
573 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
574 @cindex window manager, and frame parameters
575
576 These frame parameters, meaningful only on window system displays,
577 interact with the window manager.
578
579 @table @code
580 @item visibility
581 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
582 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
583 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
584
585 @item auto-raise
586 Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
587
588 @item auto-lower
589 Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
590
591 @item icon-type
592 The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
593 value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
594 Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
595 picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
596
597 @item icon-name
598 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
599 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
600
601 @item window-id
602 The number of the window-system window used by the frame
603 to contain the actual Emacs windows.
604
605 @item outer-window-id
606 The number of the outermost window-system window used for the whole frame.
607
608 @item wait-for-wm
609 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
610 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
611 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
612 prevent hanging with those window managers.
613
614 @ignore
615 @item parent-id
616 @c ??? Not yet working.
617 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
618 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
619 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
620 it and see if it works.)
621 @end ignore
622 @end table
623
624 @node Cursor Parameters
625 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
626
627 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
628
629 @table @code
630 @item cursor-type
631 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
632
633 @table @code
634 @item box
635 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
636 @item hollow
637 Display a hollow box.
638 @item nil
639 Don't display a cursor.
640 @item bar
641 Display a vertical bar between characters.
642 @item (bar . @var{width})
643 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
644 @item hbar
645 Display a horizontal bar.
646 @item (hbar . @var{height})
647 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
648 @end table
649 @end table
650
651 @vindex cursor-type
652 The buffer-local variable @code{cursor-type} overrides the value of
653 the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter, but if it is @code{t}, that
654 means to use the cursor specified for the frame.
655
656 @defvar blink-cursor-alist
657 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
658 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
659 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
660 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
661 when it blinks ``off.'' Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
662 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
663
664 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
665 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
666 variable do not take effect immediately, because the variable is
667 examined only when you specify the @code{cursor-type} parameter.
668 @end defvar
669
670 @node Color Parameters
671 @subsubsection Color Parameters
672
673 These frame parameters control the use of colors.
674
675 @table @code
676 @item background-mode
677 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
678 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
679
680 @item tty-color-mode
681 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
682 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
683 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
684 specifies the color mode to use in terminal frames. The value can be
685 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
686 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
687 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
688 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
689 off color support.
690
691 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
692 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
693 used instead.
694
695 @item screen-gamma
696 @cindex gamma correction
697 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
698 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
699 your display, a floating point number.
700
701 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
702 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
703 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
704 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
705 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
706 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
707 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
708
709 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
710 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
711 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
712 results for LCD color displays.
713 @end table
714
715 These frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are automatically
716 equivalent to particular face attributes of particular faces.
717 @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
718
719 @table @code
720 @item font
721 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
722 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
723 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
724 attribute of the @code{default} face.
725
726 @item foreground-color
727 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
728 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
729
730 @item background-color
731 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
732 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
733
734 @item mouse-color
735 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
736 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
737
738 @item cursor-color
739 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
740 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
741
742 @item border-color
743 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
744 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
745
746 @item scroll-bar-foreground
747 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
748 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
749 @code{scroll-bar} face.
750
751 @item scroll-bar-background
752 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
753 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
754 @code{scroll-bar} face.
755 @end table
756
757 @node Size and Position
758 @subsection Frame Size And Position
759 @cindex size of frame
760 @cindex screen size
761 @cindex frame size
762 @cindex resize frame
763
764 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
765 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
766 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
767 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
768
769 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
770 (For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
771 see @ref{Input Focus}.)
772
773 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
774 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
775 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
776 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
777
778 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
779 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
780 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
781 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
782 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
783 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
784 @end defun
785
786 @defun frame-height &optional frame
787 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
788 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
789 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
790 selected frame.
791 @end defun
792
793 @defun screen-height
794 @defunx screen-width
795 These functions are old aliases for @code{frame-height} and
796 @code{frame-width}. When you are using a non-window terminal, the size
797 of the frame is normally the same as the size of the terminal screen.
798 @end defun
799
800 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
801 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
802 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
803 pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the selected frame.
804 @end defun
805
806 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
807 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
808 These functions return the height and width of a character in
809 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
810 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
811 frame.
812 @end defun
813
814 @defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
815 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
816 @var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
817
818 To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
819 @code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
820 them to units of characters.
821 @end defun
822
823 @defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
824 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
825 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
826 fit.
827
828 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
829 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
830 actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
831 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
832 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
833 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
834 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
835 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
836 terminal frame.
837 @end defun
838
839 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
840 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
841 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
842 @code{set-frame-height}.
843 @end defun
844
845 @findex set-screen-height
846 @findex set-screen-width
847 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
848 @code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
849 screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
850 are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
851
852 @node Geometry
853 @subsection Geometry
854
855 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
856 specification:
857
858 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
859 @cindex geometry specification
860 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
861 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
862 @code{make-frame}.
863
864 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
865 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
866 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
867 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
868
869 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
870 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
871 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
872 instead. These are the @var{value} possibilities for the position
873 parameters:
874
875 @table @asis
876 @item an integer
877 A positive integer relates the left edge or top edge of the window to
878 the left or top edge of the screen. A negative integer relates the
879 right or bottom edge of the window to the right or bottom edge of the
880 screen.
881
882 @item @code{(+ @var{position})}
883 This specifies the position of the left or top edge of the window
884 relative to the left or top edge of the screen. The integer
885 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
886 position outside the screen.
887
888 @item @code{(- @var{position})}
889 This specifies the position of the right or bottom edge of the window
890 relative to the right or bottom edge of the screen. The integer
891 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
892 position outside the screen.
893 @end table
894
895 Here is an example:
896
897 @example
898 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
899 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
900 (top - 0) (left . 0))
901 @end example
902 @end defun
903
904 @node Frame Titles
905 @section Frame Titles
906 @cindex frame title
907
908 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
909 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
910 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
911 frame property.
912
913 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
914 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
915 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
916 frame is redisplayed.
917
918 @defvar frame-title-format
919 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
920 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
921 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
922 @samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
923 Data}.
924 @end defvar
925
926 @defvar icon-title-format
927 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
928 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
929 appears in the icon itself.
930 @end defvar
931
932 @defvar multiple-frames
933 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
934 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
935 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
936 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
937 only when there is more than one frame.
938
939 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
940 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
941 @code{icon-title-format}.
942 @end defvar
943
944 @node Deleting Frames
945 @section Deleting Frames
946 @cindex deleting frames
947
948 Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
949 them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
950 exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it.
951
952 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
953 @vindex delete-frame-functions
954 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
955 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
956 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
957 the selected frame.
958
959 A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
960 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
961 but if the @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
962 @end deffn
963
964 @defun frame-live-p frame
965 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
966 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
967 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
968 @end defun
969
970 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
971 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
972 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
973 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
974 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
975
976 @node Finding All Frames
977 @section Finding All Frames
978 @cindex frames, scanning all
979
980 @defun frame-list
981 The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the frames that
982 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
983 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get is
984 newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
985 internals of Emacs.
986 @end defun
987
988 @defun visible-frame-list
989 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
990 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
991 ``visible,'' even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
992 @end defun
993
994 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
995 The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
996 the frames on the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It
997 returns the ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If
998 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame
999 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
1000
1001 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
1002
1003 @table @asis
1004 @item @code{nil}
1005 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
1006 @item @code{visible}
1007 Consider all visible frames.
1008 @item 0
1009 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1010 @item a window
1011 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1012 minibuffer.
1013 @item anything else
1014 Consider all frames.
1015 @end table
1016 @end defun
1017
1018 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1019 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1020 direction.
1021 @end defun
1022
1023 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1024 Window Ordering}.
1025
1026 @node Frames and Windows
1027 @section Frames and Windows
1028
1029 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get the frame
1030 with @code{window-frame}.
1031
1032 @defun window-frame window
1033 This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
1034 @end defun
1035
1036 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
1037 order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
1038 upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
1039 the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
1040 one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
1041
1042 @defun frame-first-window &optional frame
1043 This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
1044 If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to the selected frame.
1045 @end defun
1046
1047 At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
1048 frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
1049 frame also selects this window. You can get the frame's current
1050 selected window with @code{frame-selected-window}.
1051
1052 @defun frame-selected-window &optional frame
1053 This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected
1054 within @var{frame}. If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to
1055 the selected frame.
1056 @end defun
1057
1058 @defun set-frame-selected-window frame window
1059 This sets the selected window of frame @var{frame} to @var{window}.
1060 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it operates on the selected frame. If
1061 @var{frame} is the selected frame, this makes @var{window} the
1062 selected window. This function returns @var{window}.
1063 @end defun
1064
1065 Conversely, selecting a window for Emacs with @code{select-window} also
1066 makes that window selected within its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1067
1068 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
1069 frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-window}.
1070
1071 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1072 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1073
1074 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1075 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1076 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1077 minibuffer-window}).
1078
1079 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
1080 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
1081 frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
1082 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
1083 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
1084 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
1085
1086 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1087 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1088 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1089
1090 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1091 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1092 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1093 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1094 Displays}.
1095 @end defvar
1096
1097 @node Input Focus
1098 @section Input Focus
1099 @cindex input focus
1100 @c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame
1101
1102 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1103 window always resides on the selected frame.
1104
1105 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1106 Displays}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one of
1107 these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs to
1108 the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when Emacs
1109 runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected frame is
1110 the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single command at any
1111 given time, it needs to consider only one selected frame at a time; this
1112 frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame} in this manual. The
1113 display on which the selected frame is displayed is the @dfn{selected
1114 frame's display}.
1115
1116 @defun selected-frame
1117 This function returns the selected frame.
1118 @end defun
1119
1120 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1121 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1122 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1123 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1124 switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1125 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1126
1127 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1128 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1129 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1130 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1131
1132 When using a text-only terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a
1133 time on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1134 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1135 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame} or
1136 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}. Each terminal frame has a number
1137 which appears in the mode line before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode
1138 Line Variables}).
1139
1140 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame
1141 This function makes @var{frame} the selected frame, raises it (should
1142 it happen to be obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X
1143 server's focus. On a text-only terminal, the next redisplay displays
1144 the new frame on the entire terminal screen. The return value of this
1145 function is not significant.
1146 @end defun
1147
1148 @c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
1149 @defun select-frame frame
1150 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1151 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1152 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1153 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1154 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1155 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1156 have the window system's input focus.) The specified @var{frame}
1157 becomes the selected frame, as explained above, and the terminal that
1158 @var{frame} is on becomes the selected terminal. This function
1159 returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has been deleted.
1160
1161 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that could
1162 switch to a different terminal without switching back when you're done.
1163 @end defun
1164
1165 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1166 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1167 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1168 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1169 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1170
1171 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1172 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1173
1174 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1175 Don't call it for any other reason.
1176 @end deffn
1177
1178 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1179 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1180 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1181 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1182 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1183 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1184
1185 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1186 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1187 events.
1188
1189 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1190 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1191 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1192 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1193 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1194
1195 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1196 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1197 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1198 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1199 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1200
1201 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1202 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1203 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1204
1205 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1206 change it.
1207 @end defun
1208
1209 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1210 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1211 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1212 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1213 position consistent with the new selected frame. (This option has no
1214 effect on MS-Windows, where the mouse pointer is always automatically
1215 moved by the OS to the selected frame.)
1216 @end defopt
1217
1218 @node Visibility of Frames
1219 @section Visibility of Frames
1220 @cindex visible frame
1221 @cindex invisible frame
1222 @cindex iconified frame
1223 @cindex frame visibility
1224
1225 A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
1226 @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents, unless
1227 other windows cover it. If it is iconified, the frame's contents do
1228 not appear on the screen, but an icon does. If the frame is
1229 invisible, it doesn't show on the screen, not even as an icon.
1230
1231 Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
1232 one is actually displayed in any case.
1233
1234 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1235 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
1236 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
1237 the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
1238 (@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
1239 @end deffn
1240
1241 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1242 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1243 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1244
1245 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1246 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1247 @end deffn
1248
1249 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1250 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1251 iconifies the selected frame.
1252 @end deffn
1253
1254 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1255 This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
1256 @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
1257 @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1258
1259 On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
1260 they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns
1261 @code{t} for all frames.
1262 @end defun
1263
1264 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1265 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1266 Parameters}.
1267
1268 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
1269 This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
1270 Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
1271 changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1272
1273 @node Raising and Lowering
1274 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1275
1276 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
1277 the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
1278 perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
1279 to ``lowest.'' Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
1280 the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
1281 seen if no other window overlaps it.
1282
1283 @c @cindex raising a frame redundant with raise-frame
1284 @cindex lowering a frame
1285 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
1286 to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
1287 it ``up,'' to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
1288 moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
1289 third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
1290 on the screen.
1291
1292 You can raise and lower Emacs frame Windows with these functions:
1293
1294 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1295 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1296 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1297 @end deffn
1298
1299 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1300 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1301 @end deffn
1302
1303 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1304 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1305 that the minibuffer window is in.
1306 @end defopt
1307
1308 You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
1309 selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
1310 for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1311
1312 @node Frame Configurations
1313 @section Frame Configurations
1314 @cindex frame configuration
1315
1316 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1317 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1318 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1319
1320 @defun current-frame-configuration
1321 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1322 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1323 @end defun
1324
1325 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1326 This function restores the state of frames described in
1327 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1328 frames.
1329
1330 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1331 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1332 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1333 @end defun
1334
1335 @node Mouse Tracking
1336 @section Mouse Tracking
1337 @cindex mouse tracking
1338 @c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
1339
1340 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1341 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1342 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1343 the mouse actually moves.
1344
1345 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1346 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1347 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1348 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1349 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1350 button.
1351
1352 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1353 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1354 events enabled. Typically @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1355 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1356 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1357
1358 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1359 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1360 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1361 it is time to stop tracking.
1362 @end defspec
1363
1364 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1365 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1366 position.
1367
1368 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1369 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1370 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1371 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1372
1373 @ignore
1374 @c These are not implemented yet.
1375
1376 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1377 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1378 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1379 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1380 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1381
1382 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1383 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1384 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1385 @end defun
1386
1387 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1388 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1389 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1390 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1391 @end defun
1392
1393 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1394 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1395 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1396 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1397 location of point.
1398 @end defun
1399
1400 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1401 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1402 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1403 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1404 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1405 @end defun
1406 @end ignore
1407
1408 @node Mouse Position
1409 @section Mouse Position
1410 @cindex mouse position
1411 @cindex position of mouse
1412
1413 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1414 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1415
1416 @defun mouse-position
1417 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1418 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1419 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1420 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1421 @end defun
1422
1423 @defvar mouse-position-function
1424 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1425 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1426 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1427 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1428
1429 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1430 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1431 @end defvar
1432
1433 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1434 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1435 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1436 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1437 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1438 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1439 @end defun
1440
1441 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1442 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1443 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1444 @end defun
1445
1446 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1447 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1448 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1449 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1450
1451 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1452 value is not significant.
1453 @end defun
1454
1455 @need 3000
1456
1457 @node Pop-Up Menus
1458 @section Pop-Up Menus
1459
1460 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1461 the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1462
1463 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1464 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1465 what selection the user makes.
1466
1467 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1468 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1469 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1470 list of this form:
1471
1472 @example
1473 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1474 @end example
1475
1476 @noindent
1477 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1478 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1479 may be a window or a frame.
1480
1481 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1482 position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1483 key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1484 without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1485
1486 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1487 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1488 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1489 (This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1490 submenu.) Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1491 command bound to that sequence of events.
1492
1493 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1494
1495 @example
1496 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1497 @end example
1498
1499 @noindent
1500 where each pane is a list of form
1501
1502 @example
1503 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1504 @end example
1505
1506 Each item should normally be a cons cell @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1507 where @var{line} is a string, and @var{value} is the value to return if
1508 that @var{line} is chosen. An item can also be a string; this makes a
1509 non-selectable line in the menu.
1510
1511 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1512 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1513 keyboard input, then this normally results in a quit and
1514 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1515 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1516 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1517 @end defun
1518
1519 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1520 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1521 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1522 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1523 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1524 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1525 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1526
1527 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1528 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1529 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1530 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1531 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1532 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1533 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1534
1535 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1536 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1537 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1538 the menu keymap as necessary.
1539
1540 @node Dialog Boxes
1541 @section Dialog Boxes
1542 @cindex dialog boxes
1543
1544 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1545 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1546 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1547 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes,'' ``no,''
1548 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1549 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1550 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1551 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1552
1553 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1554 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1555 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1556 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1557
1558 @example
1559 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1560 @end example
1561
1562 @noindent
1563 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1564 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1565
1566 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1567
1568 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
1569 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
1570 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
1571
1572 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1573 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1574 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1575 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1576 items appear on each side.
1577
1578 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1579 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1580 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
1581 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
1582
1583 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
1584 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
1585 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}).
1586
1587 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1588 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1589 frame.
1590
1591 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
1592 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
1593 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
1594 @end defun
1595
1596 @node Pointer Shape
1597 @section Pointer Shape
1598 @cindex pointer shape
1599 @cindex mouse pointer shape
1600
1601 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
1602 images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
1603 @code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
1604 use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
1605 @code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
1606 @code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
1607 style used over text.
1608
1609 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
1610 of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
1611 @code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
1612 those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
1613
1614 @defvar void-text-area-pointer
1615 This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
1616 These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
1617 in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
1618 pointer style.
1619 @end defvar
1620
1621 You can specify what the @code{text} pointer style really looks like
1622 by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
1623
1624 @defvar x-pointer-shape
1625 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
1626 Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
1627 @end defvar
1628
1629 @defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1630 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1631 is over mouse-sensitive text.
1632 @end defvar
1633
1634 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1635 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
1636 frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
1637 @xref{Color Parameters}.
1638
1639 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1640 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1641 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1642
1643 @node Window System Selections
1644 @section Window System Selections
1645 @cindex selection (for window systems)
1646
1647 The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1648 data between application programs. The various selections are
1649 distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1650 symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1651 any given type.
1652
1653 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
1654 This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1655 arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1656 @var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1657 selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1658 (or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1659 cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1660 of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1661
1662 The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1663 selection values.
1664
1665 Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1666 independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY},
1667 @code{SECONDARY} and @code{CLIPBOARD}; these are symbols with upper-case
1668 names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If @var{type} is
1669 @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
1670
1671 This function returns @var{data}.
1672 @end deffn
1673
1674 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1675 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1676 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1677 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1678 @code{PRIMARY}.
1679
1680 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1681 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1682 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1683 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
1684 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
1685 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
1686 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
1687 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
1688 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
1689 @code{STRING}.
1690 @end defun
1691
1692 @cindex cut buffer
1693 The X server also has a set of eight numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1694 store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1695 are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1696 clients that still use them. Cut buffers are numbered from 0 to 7.
1697
1698 @defun x-get-cut-buffer &optional n
1699 This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1700 If omitted @var{n} defaults to 0.
1701 @end defun
1702
1703 @defun x-set-cut-buffer string &optional push
1704 @anchor{Definition of x-set-cut-buffer}
1705 This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
1706 0). If @var{push} is @code{nil}, only the first cut buffer is changed.
1707 If @var{push} is non-@code{nil}, that says to move the values down
1708 through the series of cut buffers, much like the way successive kills in
1709 Emacs move down the kill ring. In other words, the previous value of
1710 the first cut buffer moves into the second cut buffer, and the second to
1711 the third, and so on through all eight cut buffers.
1712 @end defun
1713
1714 @defvar selection-coding-system
1715 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1716 writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
1717 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
1718 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
1719 @end defvar
1720
1721 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
1722 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
1723 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
1724 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
1725 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
1726 clipboard as empty.
1727
1728 @cindex scrap support (for Mac OS)
1729 On Mac OS, selection-like data transfer between applications is
1730 performed through a mechanism called @dfn{scraps}. The clipboard is a
1731 particular scrap named @code{com.apple.scrap.clipboard}. Types of scrap
1732 data are called @dfn{scrap flavor types}, which are identified by
1733 four-char codes such as @code{TEXT}. Emacs associates a selection with
1734 a scrap, and a selection type with a scrap flavor type via
1735 @code{mac-scrap-name} and @code{mac-ostype} properties, respectively.
1736
1737 @example
1738 (get 'CLIPBOARD 'mac-scrap-name)
1739 @result{} "com.apple.scrap.clipboard"
1740 (get 'com.apple.traditional-mac-plain-text 'mac-ostype)
1741 @result{} "TEXT"
1742 @end example
1743
1744 Conventionally, selection types for scrap flavor types on Mac OS have
1745 the form of @acronym{UTI, Uniform Type Identifier} such as
1746 @code{com.apple.traditional-mac-plain-text},
1747 @code{public.utf16-plain-text}, and @code{public.file-url}.
1748
1749 @defopt x-select-enable-clipboard
1750 If this is non-@code{nil}, the Emacs yank functions consult the
1751 clipboard before the primary selection, and the kill functions store in
1752 the clipboard as well as the primary selection. Otherwise they do not
1753 access the clipboard at all. The default is @code{nil} on most systems,
1754 but @code{t} on MS-Windows and Mac.
1755 @end defopt
1756
1757 @node Drag and Drop
1758 @section Drag and Drop
1759
1760 @vindex x-dnd-test-function
1761 @vindex x-dnd-known-types
1762 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
1763 application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
1764 dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
1765 what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
1766 which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
1767 @code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
1768 @code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
1769 on some other criteria.
1770
1771 @vindex x-dnd-types-alist
1772 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
1773 or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
1774 detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
1775 drop.
1776
1777 @vindex dnd-protocol-alist
1778 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
1779 another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
1780 @code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL. If
1781 there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
1782 an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
1783 text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
1784 you can customize these variables.
1785
1786 @node Color Names
1787 @section Color Names
1788
1789 @cindex color names
1790 @cindex specify color
1791 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
1792 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
1793 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
1794 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
1795 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
1796 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
1797 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
1798 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
1799 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
1800 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
1801 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
1802 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
1803 colors.)
1804
1805 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
1806 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
1807 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
1808 meaning of the term ``selected frame.''
1809
1810 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
1811 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
1812 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
1813 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
1814 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
1815
1816 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
1817 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
1818 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
1819 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
1820 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
1821
1822 @findex x-color-defined-p
1823 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
1824 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1825 @end defun
1826
1827 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
1828 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
1829 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1830 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
1831
1832 @findex x-defined-colors
1833 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
1834 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1835 @end defun
1836
1837 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
1838 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
1839 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
1840 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
1841
1842 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
1843 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
1844 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
1845 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
1846
1847 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
1848 @end defun
1849
1850 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
1851 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
1852 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
1853 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
1854 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
1855 @end defun
1856
1857 @defun color-values color &optional frame
1858 @cindex rgb value
1859 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
1860 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
1861 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
1862 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
1863 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
1864 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
1865 color.
1866
1867 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1868
1869 @example
1870 (color-values "black")
1871 @result{} (0 0 0)
1872 (color-values "white")
1873 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
1874 (color-values "red")
1875 @result{} (65280 0 0)
1876 (color-values "pink")
1877 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
1878 (color-values "hungry")
1879 @result{} nil
1880 @end example
1881
1882 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
1883 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
1884 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
1885 value is @code{nil}.
1886
1887 @findex x-color-values
1888 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
1889 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1890 @end defun
1891
1892 @node Text Terminal Colors
1893 @section Text Terminal Colors
1894 @cindex colors on text-only terminals
1895
1896 Text-only terminals usually support only a small number of colors,
1897 and the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
1898 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
1899 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
1900 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
1901 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
1902
1903 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
1904 are used by Emacs.
1905
1906 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
1907 in @ref{Color Names}.
1908
1909 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
1910 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make Emacs
1911 support more than one text-only terminal at one time; then this argument
1912 will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being the
1913 selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present, though,
1914 the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
1915
1916 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
1917 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
1918 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
1919
1920 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
1921 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
1922 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
1923 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
1924 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
1925 @end defun
1926
1927 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
1928 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text-only terminal.
1929 @end defun
1930
1931 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
1932 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by a
1933 text-only terminal.
1934
1935 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
1936 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
1937 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
1938 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
1939 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
1940 @end defun
1941
1942 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
1943 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
1944 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
1945 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
1946 @code{tty-color-alist}.
1947 @end defun
1948
1949 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
1950 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
1951 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
1952 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1953 @end defun
1954
1955 @node Resources
1956 @section X Resources
1957
1958 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
1959 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
1960 Window defaults database.
1961
1962 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
1963 This function searches using a key of the form
1964 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
1965 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
1966 the class.
1967
1968 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
1969 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
1970 If you specify them, the key is
1971 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
1972 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
1973 @end defun
1974
1975 @defvar x-resource-class
1976 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
1977 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
1978 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
1979 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
1980 @end defvar
1981
1982 @defvar x-resource-name
1983 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
1984 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
1985 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
1986 @end defvar
1987
1988 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
1989
1990 @example
1991 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
1992 @end example
1993
1994 @noindent
1995 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
1996 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
1997
1998 @example
1999 @group
2000 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2001 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
2002 @result{} "yellow"
2003 @end group
2004 @group
2005 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2006 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
2007 @result{} "yellow"
2008 @end group
2009 @end example
2010
2011 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
2012
2013 @node Display Feature Testing
2014 @section Display Feature Testing
2015 @cindex display feature testing
2016
2017 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2018 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2019 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2020 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2021
2022 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2023 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2024 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2025 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2026
2027 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2028 obtain information about displays.
2029
2030 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2031 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2032 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires that
2033 the mouse be available, since the user cannot choose menu items without
2034 a mouse.
2035 @end defun
2036
2037 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2038 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2039 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2040 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X, and
2041 false for text-only terminals.
2042 @end defun
2043
2044 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
2045 @cindex mouse, availability
2046 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
2047 @code{nil} if not.
2048 @end defun
2049
2050 @defun display-color-p &optional display
2051 @findex x-display-color-p
2052 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
2053 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
2054 is still supported as an alias.
2055 @end defun
2056
2057 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
2058 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
2059 (All color displays can do this.)
2060 @end defun
2061
2062 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
2063 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
2064 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
2065 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
2066
2067 The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
2068 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
2069 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
2070 way that's
2071
2072 @enumerate
2073 @item
2074 different in appearance than the default face, and
2075
2076 @item
2077 `close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
2078 @end enumerate
2079
2080 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
2081 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
2082 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
2083 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
2084 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
2085 italic.
2086 @end defun
2087
2088 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
2089 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2090 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2091 supported in some other cases.
2092 @end defun
2093
2094 @defun display-images-p &optional display
2095 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2096 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2097 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2098 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2099 @end defun
2100
2101 @defun display-screens &optional display
2102 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2103 @end defun
2104
2105 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2106 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2107 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2108
2109 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2110 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2111 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
2112 @end defun
2113
2114 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2115 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2116 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2117
2118 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2119 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2120 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
2121 @end defun
2122
2123 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
2124 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2125 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2126 @end defun
2127
2128 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
2129 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2130 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2131 @end defun
2132
2133 @defvar display-mm-dimensions-alist
2134 This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
2135 displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
2136 @code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
2137 @end defvar
2138
2139 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
2140 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2141 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2142 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2143 displayed very quickly.
2144
2145 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2146 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2147 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2148 @end defun
2149
2150 @defun display-save-under &optional display
2151 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2152 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2153 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2154 quickly.
2155 @end defun
2156
2157 @defun display-planes &optional display
2158 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2159 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2160 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2161 @end defun
2162
2163 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2164 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
2165 of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
2166 @code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
2167 @code{direct-color}.
2168 @end defun
2169
2170 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2171 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2172 @end defun
2173
2174 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2175 about X displays.
2176
2177 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2178 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2179 running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2180 and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2181 distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2182 @end defun
2183
2184 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2185 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2186 software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2187 server.
2188
2189 When the developers of X labelled software distributors as
2190 ``vendors,'' they showed their false assumption that no system could
2191 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2192 @end defun
2193
2194 @ignore
2195 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2196 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2197 @end defvar
2198 @end ignore
2199
2200 @ignore
2201 @item
2202 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2203 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2204 @end ignore
2205
2206 @ignore
2207 arch-tag: 94977df6-3dca-4730-b57b-c6329e9282ba
2208 @end ignore