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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, 2000, 2001,
4 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
5 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
6 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
7 @setfilename ../../info/display
8 @node Display, System Interface, Processes, Top
9 @chapter Emacs Display
10
11 This chapter describes a number of features related to the display
12 that Emacs presents to the user.
13
14 @menu
15 * Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
16 * Forcing Redisplay:: Forcing redisplay.
17 * Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
18 * The Echo Area:: Displaying messages at the bottom of the screen.
19 * Warnings:: Displaying warning messages for the user.
20 * Invisible Text:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
21 * Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text (the old way).
22 * Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
23 * Overlays:: Use overlays to highlight parts of the buffer.
24 * Width:: How wide a character or string is on the screen.
25 * Line Height:: Controlling the height of lines.
26 * Faces:: A face defines a graphics style for text characters:
27 font, colors, etc.
28 * Fringes:: Controlling window fringes.
29 * Scroll Bars:: Controlling vertical scroll bars.
30 * Display Property:: Enabling special display features.
31 * Images:: Displaying images in Emacs buffers.
32 * Buttons:: Adding clickable buttons to Emacs buffers.
33 * Abstract Display:: Emacs' Widget for Object Collections.
34 * Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
35 * Usual Display:: The usual conventions for displaying nonprinting chars.
36 * Display Tables:: How to specify other conventions.
37 * Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
38 * Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
39 @end menu
40
41 @node Refresh Screen
42 @section Refreshing the Screen
43
44 The function @code{redraw-frame} clears and redisplays the entire
45 contents of a given frame (@pxref{Frames}). This is useful if the
46 screen is corrupted.
47
48 @c Emacs 19 feature
49 @defun redraw-frame frame
50 This function clears and redisplays frame @var{frame}.
51 @end defun
52
53 Even more powerful is @code{redraw-display}:
54
55 @deffn Command redraw-display
56 This function clears and redisplays all visible frames.
57 @end deffn
58
59 In Emacs, processing user input takes priority over redisplay. If
60 you call these functions when input is available, they don't redisplay
61 immediately, but the requested redisplay does happen
62 eventually---after all the input has been processed.
63
64 On text-only terminals, suspending and resuming Emacs normally also
65 refreshes the screen. Some terminal emulators record separate
66 contents for display-oriented programs such as Emacs and for ordinary
67 sequential display. If you are using such a terminal, you might want
68 to inhibit the redisplay on resumption.
69
70 @defopt no-redraw-on-reenter
71 @cindex suspend (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
72 @cindex resume (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
73 This variable controls whether Emacs redraws the entire screen after it
74 has been suspended and resumed. Non-@code{nil} means there is no need
75 to redraw, @code{nil} means redrawing is needed. The default is @code{nil}.
76 @end defopt
77
78 @node Forcing Redisplay
79 @section Forcing Redisplay
80 @cindex forcing redisplay
81
82 Emacs normally tries to redisplay the screen whenever it waits for
83 input. With the following function, you can request an immediate
84 attempt to redisplay, in the middle of Lisp code, without actually
85 waiting for input.
86
87 @defun redisplay &optional force
88 This function tries immediately to redisplay, provided there are no
89 pending input events.
90
91 If the optional argument @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, it does all
92 pending redisplay work even if input is available, with no
93 pre-emption.
94
95 The function returns @code{t} if it actually tried to redisplay, and
96 @code{nil} otherwise. A value of @code{t} does not mean that
97 redisplay proceeded to completion; it could have been pre-empted by
98 newly arriving terminal input.
99 @end defun
100
101 @code{redisplay} with no argument tries immediately to redisplay,
102 but has no effect on the usual rules for what parts of the screen to
103 redisplay. By contrast, the following function adds certain windows
104 to the pending redisplay work (as if their contents had completely
105 changed), but doesn't immediately try to do any redisplay work.
106
107 @defun force-window-update &optional object
108 This function forces some or all windows to be updated on next
109 redisplay. If @var{object} is a window, it requires eventual
110 redisplay of that window. If @var{object} is a buffer or buffer name,
111 it requires eventual redisplay of all windows displaying that buffer.
112 If @var{object} is @code{nil} (or omitted), it requires eventual
113 redisplay of all windows.
114 @end defun
115
116 @code{force-window-update} does not do a redisplay immediately.
117 (Emacs will do that when it waits for input.) Rather, its effect is
118 to put more work on the queue to be done by redisplay whenever there
119 is a chance.
120
121 Emacs redisplay normally stops if input arrives, and does not happen
122 at all if input is available before it starts. Most of the time, this
123 is exactly what you want. However, you can prevent preemption by
124 binding @code{redisplay-dont-pause} to a non-@code{nil} value.
125
126 @defvar redisplay-dont-pause
127 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, pending input does not
128 prevent or halt redisplay; redisplay occurs, and finishes,
129 regardless of whether input is available.
130 @end defvar
131
132 @defvar redisplay-preemption-period
133 This variable specifies how many seconds Emacs waits between checks
134 for new input during redisplay. (The default is 0.1 seconds.) If
135 input has arrived when Emacs checks, it pre-empts redisplay and
136 processes the available input before trying again to redisplay.
137
138 If this variable is @code{nil}, Emacs does not check for input during
139 redisplay, and redisplay cannot be preempted by input.
140
141 This variable is only obeyed on graphical terminals. For
142 text terminals, see @ref{Terminal Output}.
143 @end defvar
144
145 @node Truncation
146 @section Truncation
147 @cindex line wrapping
148 @cindex line truncation
149 @cindex continuation lines
150 @cindex @samp{$} in display
151 @cindex @samp{\} in display
152
153 When a line of text extends beyond the right edge of a window, Emacs
154 can @dfn{continue} the line (make it ``wrap'' to the next screen
155 line), or @dfn{truncate} the line (limit it to one screen line). The
156 additional screen lines used to display a long text line are called
157 @dfn{continuation} lines. Continuation is not the same as filling;
158 continuation happens on the screen only, not in the buffer contents,
159 and it breaks a line precisely at the right margin, not at a word
160 boundary. @xref{Filling}.
161
162 On a graphical display, tiny arrow images in the window fringes
163 indicate truncated and continued lines (@pxref{Fringes}). On a text
164 terminal, a @samp{$} in the rightmost column of the window indicates
165 truncation; a @samp{\} on the rightmost column indicates a line that
166 ``wraps.'' (The display table can specify alternate characters to use
167 for this; @pxref{Display Tables}).
168
169 @defopt truncate-lines
170 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, lines that extend
171 beyond the right edge of the window are truncated; otherwise, they are
172 continued. As a special exception, the variable
173 @code{truncate-partial-width-windows} takes precedence in
174 @dfn{partial-width} windows (i.e., windows that do not occupy the
175 entire frame width).
176 @end defopt
177
178 @defopt truncate-partial-width-windows
179 This variable controls line truncation in @dfn{partial-width} windows.
180 A partial-width window is one that does not occupy the entire frame
181 width (@pxref{Splitting Windows}). If the value is @code{nil}, line
182 truncation is determined by the variable @code{truncate-lines} (see
183 above). If the value is an integer @var{n}, lines are truncated if
184 the partial-width window has fewer than @var{n} columns, regardless of
185 the value of @code{truncate-lines}; if the partial-width window has
186 @var{n} or more columns, line truncation is determined by
187 @code{truncate-lines}. For any other non-@code{nil} value, lines are
188 truncated in every partial-width window, regardless of the value of
189 @code{truncate-lines}.
190 @end defopt
191
192 When horizontal scrolling (@pxref{Horizontal Scrolling}) is in use in
193 a window, that forces truncation.
194
195 @defvar wrap-prefix
196 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, it defines a
197 ``prefix'' that is prepended to every continuation line at
198 display-time. (If lines are truncated, the wrap-prefix is never
199 used.) It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph; the value is
200 interpreted in the same way as a @code{display} text property.
201 @xref{Display Property}.
202
203 A wrap-prefix may also be specified for regions of text, using the
204 @code{wrap-prefix} text or overlay property. This takes precedence
205 over the @code{wrap-prefix} variable. @xref{Special Properties}.
206 @end defvar
207
208 @defvar line-prefix
209 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, it defines a
210 ``prefix'' that is prepended to every non-continuation line at
211 display-time. It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph; the
212 value is interpreted in the same way as a @code{display} text
213 property. @xref{Display Property}.
214
215 A line-prefix may also be specified for regions of text using the
216 @code{line-prefix} text or overlay property. This takes precedence
217 over the @code{line-prefix} variable. @xref{Special Properties}.
218 @end defvar
219
220 If your buffer contains @emph{very} long lines, and you use
221 continuation to display them, computing the continuation lines can
222 make Emacs redisplay slow. The column computation and indentation
223 functions also become slow. Then you might find it advisable to set
224 @code{cache-long-line-scans} to @code{t}.
225
226 @defvar cache-long-line-scans
227 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, various indentation and motion
228 functions, and Emacs redisplay, cache the results of scanning the
229 buffer, and consult the cache to avoid rescanning regions of the buffer
230 unless they are modified.
231
232 Turning on the cache slows down processing of short lines somewhat.
233
234 This variable is automatically buffer-local in every buffer.
235 @end defvar
236
237 @node The Echo Area
238 @section The Echo Area
239 @cindex error display
240 @cindex echo area
241
242 The @dfn{echo area} is used for displaying error messages
243 (@pxref{Errors}), for messages made with the @code{message} primitive,
244 and for echoing keystrokes. It is not the same as the minibuffer,
245 despite the fact that the minibuffer appears (when active) in the same
246 place on the screen as the echo area. The @cite{GNU Emacs Manual}
247 specifies the rules for resolving conflicts between the echo area and
248 the minibuffer for use of that screen space (@pxref{Minibuffer,, The
249 Minibuffer, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
250
251 You can write output in the echo area by using the Lisp printing
252 functions with @code{t} as the stream (@pxref{Output Functions}), or
253 explicitly.
254
255 @menu
256 * Displaying Messages:: Explicitly displaying text in the echo area.
257 * Progress:: Informing user about progress of a long operation.
258 * Logging Messages:: Echo area messages are logged for the user.
259 * Echo Area Customization:: Controlling the echo area.
260 @end menu
261
262 @node Displaying Messages
263 @subsection Displaying Messages in the Echo Area
264 @cindex display message in echo area
265
266 This section describes the functions for explicitly producing echo
267 area messages. Many other Emacs features display messages there, too.
268
269 @defun message format-string &rest arguments
270 This function displays a message in the echo area. The argument
271 @var{format-string} is similar to a C language @code{printf} format
272 string. See @code{format} in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for the details
273 on the conversion specifications. @code{message} returns the
274 constructed string.
275
276 In batch mode, @code{message} prints the message text on the standard
277 error stream, followed by a newline.
278
279 If @var{format-string}, or strings among the @var{arguments}, have
280 @code{face} text properties, these affect the way the message is displayed.
281
282 @c Emacs 19 feature
283 If @var{format-string} is @code{nil} or the empty string,
284 @code{message} clears the echo area; if the echo area has been
285 expanded automatically, this brings it back to its normal size.
286 If the minibuffer is active, this brings the minibuffer contents back
287 onto the screen immediately.
288
289 @example
290 @group
291 (message "Minibuffer depth is %d."
292 (minibuffer-depth))
293 @print{} Minibuffer depth is 0.
294 @result{} "Minibuffer depth is 0."
295 @end group
296
297 @group
298 ---------- Echo Area ----------
299 Minibuffer depth is 0.
300 ---------- Echo Area ----------
301 @end group
302 @end example
303
304 To automatically display a message in the echo area or in a pop-buffer,
305 depending on its size, use @code{display-message-or-buffer} (see below).
306 @end defun
307
308 @defmac with-temp-message message &rest body
309 This construct displays a message in the echo area temporarily, during
310 the execution of @var{body}. It displays @var{message}, executes
311 @var{body}, then returns the value of the last body form while restoring
312 the previous echo area contents.
313 @end defmac
314
315 @defun message-or-box format-string &rest arguments
316 This function displays a message like @code{message}, but may display it
317 in a dialog box instead of the echo area. If this function is called in
318 a command that was invoked using the mouse---more precisely, if
319 @code{last-nonmenu-event} (@pxref{Command Loop Info}) is either
320 @code{nil} or a list---then it uses a dialog box or pop-up menu to
321 display the message. Otherwise, it uses the echo area. (This is the
322 same criterion that @code{y-or-n-p} uses to make a similar decision; see
323 @ref{Yes-or-No Queries}.)
324
325 You can force use of the mouse or of the echo area by binding
326 @code{last-nonmenu-event} to a suitable value around the call.
327 @end defun
328
329 @defun message-box format-string &rest arguments
330 @anchor{message-box}
331 This function displays a message like @code{message}, but uses a dialog
332 box (or a pop-up menu) whenever that is possible. If it is impossible
333 to use a dialog box or pop-up menu, because the terminal does not
334 support them, then @code{message-box} uses the echo area, like
335 @code{message}.
336 @end defun
337
338 @defun display-message-or-buffer message &optional buffer-name not-this-window frame
339 This function displays the message @var{message}, which may be either a
340 string or a buffer. If it is shorter than the maximum height of the
341 echo area, as defined by @code{max-mini-window-height}, it is displayed
342 in the echo area, using @code{message}. Otherwise,
343 @code{display-buffer} is used to show it in a pop-up buffer.
344
345 Returns either the string shown in the echo area, or when a pop-up
346 buffer is used, the window used to display it.
347
348 If @var{message} is a string, then the optional argument
349 @var{buffer-name} is the name of the buffer used to display it when a
350 pop-up buffer is used, defaulting to @samp{*Message*}. In the case
351 where @var{message} is a string and displayed in the echo area, it is
352 not specified whether the contents are inserted into the buffer anyway.
353
354 The optional arguments @var{not-this-window} and @var{frame} are as for
355 @code{display-buffer}, and only used if a buffer is displayed.
356 @end defun
357
358 @defun current-message
359 This function returns the message currently being displayed in the
360 echo area, or @code{nil} if there is none.
361 @end defun
362
363 @node Progress
364 @subsection Reporting Operation Progress
365 @cindex progress reporting
366
367 When an operation can take a while to finish, you should inform the
368 user about the progress it makes. This way the user can estimate
369 remaining time and clearly see that Emacs is busy working, not hung.
370
371 Functions listed in this section provide simple and efficient way of
372 reporting operation progress. Here is a working example that does
373 nothing useful:
374
375 @smallexample
376 (let ((progress-reporter
377 (make-progress-reporter "Collecting mana for Emacs..."
378 0 500)))
379 (dotimes (k 500)
380 (sit-for 0.01)
381 (progress-reporter-update progress-reporter k))
382 (progress-reporter-done progress-reporter))
383 @end smallexample
384
385 @defun make-progress-reporter message min-value max-value &optional current-value min-change min-time
386 This function creates and returns a @dfn{progress reporter}---an
387 object you will use as an argument for all other functions listed
388 here. The idea is to precompute as much data as possible to make
389 progress reporting very fast.
390
391 When this progress reporter is subsequently used, it will display
392 @var{message} in the echo area, followed by progress percentage.
393 @var{message} is treated as a simple string. If you need it to depend
394 on a filename, for instance, use @code{format} before calling this
395 function.
396
397 @var{min-value} and @var{max-value} arguments stand for starting and
398 final states of your operation. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
399 they should be the results of @code{point-min} and @code{point-max}
400 correspondingly. It is required that @var{max-value} is greater than
401 @var{min-value}. If you create progress reporter when some part of
402 the operation has already been completed, then specify
403 @var{current-value} argument. But normally you should omit it or set
404 it to @code{nil}---it will default to @var{min-value} then.
405
406 Remaining arguments control the rate of echo area updates. Progress
407 reporter will wait for at least @var{min-change} more percents of the
408 operation to be completed before printing next message.
409 @var{min-time} specifies the minimum time in seconds to pass between
410 successive prints. It can be fractional. Depending on Emacs and
411 system capabilities, progress reporter may or may not respect this
412 last argument or do it with varying precision. Default value for
413 @var{min-change} is 1 (one percent), for @var{min-time}---0.2
414 (seconds.)
415
416 This function calls @code{progress-reporter-update}, so the first
417 message is printed immediately.
418 @end defun
419
420 @defun progress-reporter-update reporter value
421 This function does the main work of reporting progress of your
422 operation. It displays the message of @var{reporter}, followed by
423 progress percentage determined by @var{value}. If percentage is zero,
424 or close enough according to the @var{min-change} and @var{min-time}
425 arguments, then it is omitted from the output.
426
427 @var{reporter} must be the result of a call to
428 @code{make-progress-reporter}. @var{value} specifies the current
429 state of your operation and must be between @var{min-value} and
430 @var{max-value} (inclusive) as passed to
431 @code{make-progress-reporter}. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
432 then @var{value} should be the result of a call to @code{point}.
433
434 This function respects @var{min-change} and @var{min-time} as passed
435 to @code{make-progress-reporter} and so does not output new messages
436 on every invocation. It is thus very fast and normally you should not
437 try to reduce the number of calls to it: resulting overhead will most
438 likely negate your effort.
439 @end defun
440
441 @defun progress-reporter-force-update reporter value &optional new-message
442 This function is similar to @code{progress-reporter-update} except
443 that it prints a message in the echo area unconditionally.
444
445 The first two arguments have the same meaning as for
446 @code{progress-reporter-update}. Optional @var{new-message} allows
447 you to change the message of the @var{reporter}. Since this functions
448 always updates the echo area, such a change will be immediately
449 presented to the user.
450 @end defun
451
452 @defun progress-reporter-done reporter
453 This function should be called when the operation is finished. It
454 prints the message of @var{reporter} followed by word ``done'' in the
455 echo area.
456
457 You should always call this function and not hope for
458 @code{progress-reporter-update} to print ``100%.'' Firstly, it may
459 never print it, there are many good reasons for this not to happen.
460 Secondly, ``done'' is more explicit.
461 @end defun
462
463 @defmac dotimes-with-progress-reporter (var count [result]) message body@dots{}
464 This is a convenience macro that works the same way as @code{dotimes}
465 does, but also reports loop progress using the functions described
466 above. It allows you to save some typing.
467
468 You can rewrite the example in the beginning of this node using
469 this macro this way:
470
471 @example
472 (dotimes-with-progress-reporter
473 (k 500)
474 "Collecting some mana for Emacs..."
475 (sit-for 0.01))
476 @end example
477 @end defmac
478
479 @node Logging Messages
480 @subsection Logging Messages in @samp{*Messages*}
481 @cindex logging echo-area messages
482
483 Almost all the messages displayed in the echo area are also recorded
484 in the @samp{*Messages*} buffer so that the user can refer back to
485 them. This includes all the messages that are output with
486 @code{message}.
487
488 @defopt message-log-max
489 This variable specifies how many lines to keep in the @samp{*Messages*}
490 buffer. The value @code{t} means there is no limit on how many lines to
491 keep. The value @code{nil} disables message logging entirely. Here's
492 how to display a message and prevent it from being logged:
493
494 @example
495 (let (message-log-max)
496 (message @dots{}))
497 @end example
498 @end defopt
499
500 To make @samp{*Messages*} more convenient for the user, the logging
501 facility combines successive identical messages. It also combines
502 successive related messages for the sake of two cases: question
503 followed by answer, and a series of progress messages.
504
505 A ``question followed by an answer'' means two messages like the
506 ones produced by @code{y-or-n-p}: the first is @samp{@var{question}},
507 and the second is @samp{@var{question}...@var{answer}}. The first
508 message conveys no additional information beyond what's in the second,
509 so logging the second message discards the first from the log.
510
511 A ``series of progress messages'' means successive messages like
512 those produced by @code{make-progress-reporter}. They have the form
513 @samp{@var{base}...@var{how-far}}, where @var{base} is the same each
514 time, while @var{how-far} varies. Logging each message in the series
515 discards the previous one, provided they are consecutive.
516
517 The functions @code{make-progress-reporter} and @code{y-or-n-p}
518 don't have to do anything special to activate the message log
519 combination feature. It operates whenever two consecutive messages
520 are logged that share a common prefix ending in @samp{...}.
521
522 @node Echo Area Customization
523 @subsection Echo Area Customization
524
525 These variables control details of how the echo area works.
526
527 @defvar cursor-in-echo-area
528 This variable controls where the cursor appears when a message is
529 displayed in the echo area. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the cursor
530 appears at the end of the message. Otherwise, the cursor appears at
531 point---not in the echo area at all.
532
533 The value is normally @code{nil}; Lisp programs bind it to @code{t}
534 for brief periods of time.
535 @end defvar
536
537 @defvar echo-area-clear-hook
538 This normal hook is run whenever the echo area is cleared---either by
539 @code{(message nil)} or for any other reason.
540 @end defvar
541
542 @defopt echo-keystrokes
543 This variable determines how much time should elapse before command
544 characters echo. Its value must be an integer or floating point number,
545 which specifies the
546 number of seconds to wait before echoing. If the user types a prefix
547 key (such as @kbd{C-x}) and then delays this many seconds before
548 continuing, the prefix key is echoed in the echo area. (Once echoing
549 begins in a key sequence, all subsequent characters in the same key
550 sequence are echoed immediately.)
551
552 If the value is zero, then command input is not echoed.
553 @end defopt
554
555 @defvar message-truncate-lines
556 Normally, displaying a long message resizes the echo area to display
557 the entire message. But if the variable @code{message-truncate-lines}
558 is non-@code{nil}, the echo area does not resize, and the message is
559 truncated to fit it, as in Emacs 20 and before.
560 @end defvar
561
562 The variable @code{max-mini-window-height}, which specifies the
563 maximum height for resizing minibuffer windows, also applies to the
564 echo area (which is really a special use of the minibuffer window.
565 @xref{Minibuffer Misc}.).
566
567 @node Warnings
568 @section Reporting Warnings
569 @cindex warnings
570
571 @dfn{Warnings} are a facility for a program to inform the user of a
572 possible problem, but continue running.
573
574 @menu
575 * Warning Basics:: Warnings concepts and functions to report them.
576 * Warning Variables:: Variables programs bind to customize their warnings.
577 * Warning Options:: Variables users set to control display of warnings.
578 @end menu
579
580 @node Warning Basics
581 @subsection Warning Basics
582 @cindex severity level
583
584 Every warning has a textual message, which explains the problem for
585 the user, and a @dfn{severity level} which is a symbol. Here are the
586 possible severity levels, in order of decreasing severity, and their
587 meanings:
588
589 @table @code
590 @item :emergency
591 A problem that will seriously impair Emacs operation soon
592 if you do not attend to it promptly.
593 @item :error
594 A report of data or circumstances that are inherently wrong.
595 @item :warning
596 A report of data or circumstances that are not inherently wrong, but
597 raise suspicion of a possible problem.
598 @item :debug
599 A report of information that may be useful if you are debugging.
600 @end table
601
602 When your program encounters invalid input data, it can either
603 signal a Lisp error by calling @code{error} or @code{signal} or report
604 a warning with severity @code{:error}. Signaling a Lisp error is the
605 easiest thing to do, but it means the program cannot continue
606 processing. If you want to take the trouble to implement a way to
607 continue processing despite the bad data, then reporting a warning of
608 severity @code{:error} is the right way to inform the user of the
609 problem. For instance, the Emacs Lisp byte compiler can report an
610 error that way and continue compiling other functions. (If the
611 program signals a Lisp error and then handles it with
612 @code{condition-case}, the user won't see the error message; it could
613 show the message to the user by reporting it as a warning.)
614
615 @cindex warning type
616 Each warning has a @dfn{warning type} to classify it. The type is a
617 list of symbols. The first symbol should be the custom group that you
618 use for the program's user options. For example, byte compiler
619 warnings use the warning type @code{(bytecomp)}. You can also
620 subcategorize the warnings, if you wish, by using more symbols in the
621 list.
622
623 @defun display-warning type message &optional level buffer-name
624 This function reports a warning, using @var{message} as the message
625 and @var{type} as the warning type. @var{level} should be the
626 severity level, with @code{:warning} being the default.
627
628 @var{buffer-name}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the name of the buffer
629 for logging the warning. By default, it is @samp{*Warnings*}.
630 @end defun
631
632 @defun lwarn type level message &rest args
633 This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
634 @var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message. In other respects it is
635 equivalent to @code{display-warning}.
636 @end defun
637
638 @defun warn message &rest args
639 This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
640 @var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message, @code{(emacs)} as the
641 type, and @code{:warning} as the severity level. It exists for
642 compatibility only; we recommend not using it, because you should
643 specify a specific warning type.
644 @end defun
645
646 @node Warning Variables
647 @subsection Warning Variables
648
649 Programs can customize how their warnings appear by binding
650 the variables described in this section.
651
652 @defvar warning-levels
653 This list defines the meaning and severity order of the warning
654 severity levels. Each element defines one severity level,
655 and they are arranged in order of decreasing severity.
656
657 Each element has the form @code{(@var{level} @var{string}
658 @var{function})}, where @var{level} is the severity level it defines.
659 @var{string} specifies the textual description of this level.
660 @var{string} should use @samp{%s} to specify where to put the warning
661 type information, or it can omit the @samp{%s} so as not to include
662 that information.
663
664 The optional @var{function}, if non-@code{nil}, is a function to call
665 with no arguments, to get the user's attention.
666
667 Normally you should not change the value of this variable.
668 @end defvar
669
670 @defvar warning-prefix-function
671 If non-@code{nil}, the value is a function to generate prefix text for
672 warnings. Programs can bind the variable to a suitable function.
673 @code{display-warning} calls this function with the warnings buffer
674 current, and the function can insert text in it. That text becomes
675 the beginning of the warning message.
676
677 The function is called with two arguments, the severity level and its
678 entry in @code{warning-levels}. It should return a list to use as the
679 entry (this value need not be an actual member of
680 @code{warning-levels}). By constructing this value, the function can
681 change the severity of the warning, or specify different handling for
682 a given severity level.
683
684 If the variable's value is @code{nil} then there is no function
685 to call.
686 @end defvar
687
688 @defvar warning-series
689 Programs can bind this variable to @code{t} to say that the next
690 warning should begin a series. When several warnings form a series,
691 that means to leave point on the first warning of the series, rather
692 than keep moving it for each warning so that it appears on the last one.
693 The series ends when the local binding is unbound and
694 @code{warning-series} becomes @code{nil} again.
695
696 The value can also be a symbol with a function definition. That is
697 equivalent to @code{t}, except that the next warning will also call
698 the function with no arguments with the warnings buffer current. The
699 function can insert text which will serve as a header for the series
700 of warnings.
701
702 Once a series has begun, the value is a marker which points to the
703 buffer position in the warnings buffer of the start of the series.
704
705 The variable's normal value is @code{nil}, which means to handle
706 each warning separately.
707 @end defvar
708
709 @defvar warning-fill-prefix
710 When this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a fill prefix to
711 use for filling each warning's text.
712 @end defvar
713
714 @defvar warning-type-format
715 This variable specifies the format for displaying the warning type
716 in the warning message. The result of formatting the type this way
717 gets included in the message under the control of the string in the
718 entry in @code{warning-levels}. The default value is @code{" (%s)"}.
719 If you bind it to @code{""} then the warning type won't appear at
720 all.
721 @end defvar
722
723 @node Warning Options
724 @subsection Warning Options
725
726 These variables are used by users to control what happens
727 when a Lisp program reports a warning.
728
729 @defopt warning-minimum-level
730 This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
731 shown immediately to the user. The default is @code{:warning}, which
732 means to immediately display all warnings except @code{:debug}
733 warnings.
734 @end defopt
735
736 @defopt warning-minimum-log-level
737 This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
738 logged in the warnings buffer. The default is @code{:warning}, which
739 means to log all warnings except @code{:debug} warnings.
740 @end defopt
741
742 @defopt warning-suppress-types
743 This list specifies which warning types should not be displayed
744 immediately for the user. Each element of the list should be a list
745 of symbols. If its elements match the first elements in a warning
746 type, then that warning is not displayed immediately.
747 @end defopt
748
749 @defopt warning-suppress-log-types
750 This list specifies which warning types should not be logged in the
751 warnings buffer. Each element of the list should be a list of
752 symbols. If it matches the first few elements in a warning type, then
753 that warning is not logged.
754 @end defopt
755
756 @node Invisible Text
757 @section Invisible Text
758
759 @cindex invisible text
760 You can make characters @dfn{invisible}, so that they do not appear on
761 the screen, with the @code{invisible} property. This can be either a
762 text property (@pxref{Text Properties}) or a property of an overlay
763 (@pxref{Overlays}). Cursor motion also partly ignores these
764 characters; if the command loop finds point within them, it moves
765 point to the other side of them.
766
767 In the simplest case, any non-@code{nil} @code{invisible} property makes
768 a character invisible. This is the default case---if you don't alter
769 the default value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}, this is how the
770 @code{invisible} property works. You should normally use @code{t}
771 as the value of the @code{invisible} property if you don't plan
772 to set @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} yourself.
773
774 More generally, you can use the variable @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
775 to control which values of the @code{invisible} property make text
776 invisible. This permits you to classify the text into different subsets
777 in advance, by giving them different @code{invisible} values, and
778 subsequently make various subsets visible or invisible by changing the
779 value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
780
781 Controlling visibility with @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is
782 especially useful in a program to display the list of entries in a
783 database. It permits the implementation of convenient filtering
784 commands to view just a part of the entries in the database. Setting
785 this variable is very fast, much faster than scanning all the text in
786 the buffer looking for properties to change.
787
788 @defvar buffer-invisibility-spec
789 This variable specifies which kinds of @code{invisible} properties
790 actually make a character invisible. Setting this variable makes it
791 buffer-local.
792
793 @table @asis
794 @item @code{t}
795 A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property is
796 non-@code{nil}. This is the default.
797
798 @item a list
799 Each element of the list specifies a criterion for invisibility; if a
800 character's @code{invisible} property fits any one of these criteria,
801 the character is invisible. The list can have two kinds of elements:
802
803 @table @code
804 @item @var{atom}
805 A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value
806 is @var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member.
807
808 @item (@var{atom} . t)
809 A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value is
810 @var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member. Moreover,
811 a sequence of such characters displays as an ellipsis.
812 @end table
813 @end table
814 @end defvar
815
816 Two functions are specifically provided for adding elements to
817 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and removing elements from it.
818
819 @defun add-to-invisibility-spec element
820 This function adds the element @var{element} to
821 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. If @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
822 was @code{t}, it changes to a list, @code{(t)}, so that text whose
823 @code{invisible} property is @code{t} remains invisible.
824 @end defun
825
826 @defun remove-from-invisibility-spec element
827 This removes the element @var{element} from
828 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. This does nothing if @var{element}
829 is not in the list.
830 @end defun
831
832 A convention for use of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is that a
833 major mode should use the mode's own name as an element of
834 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and as the value of the
835 @code{invisible} property:
836
837 @example
838 ;; @r{If you want to display an ellipsis:}
839 (add-to-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
840 ;; @r{If you don't want ellipsis:}
841 (add-to-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
842
843 (overlay-put (make-overlay beginning end)
844 'invisible 'my-symbol)
845
846 ;; @r{When done with the overlays:}
847 (remove-from-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
848 ;; @r{Or respectively:}
849 (remove-from-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
850 @end example
851
852 You can check for invisibility using the following function:
853
854 @defun invisible-p pos-or-prop
855 If @var{pos-or-prop} is a marker or number, this function returns a
856 non-@code{nil} value if the text at that position is invisible.
857
858 If @var{pos-or-prop} is any other kind of Lisp object, that is taken
859 to mean a possible value of the @code{invisible} text or overlay
860 property. In that case, this function returns a non-@code{nil} value
861 if that value would cause text to become invisible, based on the
862 current value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
863 @end defun
864
865 @vindex line-move-ignore-invisible
866 Ordinarily, functions that operate on text or move point do not care
867 whether the text is invisible. The user-level line motion commands
868 ignore invisible newlines if @code{line-move-ignore-invisible} is
869 non-@code{nil} (the default), but only because they are explicitly
870 programmed to do so.
871
872 However, if a command ends with point inside or immediately before
873 invisible text, the main editing loop moves point further forward or
874 further backward (in the same direction that the command already moved
875 it) until that condition is no longer true. Thus, if the command
876 moved point back into an invisible range, Emacs moves point back to
877 the beginning of that range, and then back one more character. If the
878 command moved point forward into an invisible range, Emacs moves point
879 forward up to the first visible character that follows the invisible
880 text.
881
882 Incremental search can make invisible overlays visible temporarily
883 and/or permanently when a match includes invisible text. To enable
884 this, the overlay should have a non-@code{nil}
885 @code{isearch-open-invisible} property. The property value should be a
886 function to be called with the overlay as an argument. This function
887 should make the overlay visible permanently; it is used when the match
888 overlaps the overlay on exit from the search.
889
890 During the search, such overlays are made temporarily visible by
891 temporarily modifying their invisible and intangible properties. If you
892 want this to be done differently for a certain overlay, give it an
893 @code{isearch-open-invisible-temporary} property which is a function.
894 The function is called with two arguments: the first is the overlay, and
895 the second is @code{nil} to make the overlay visible, or @code{t} to
896 make it invisible again.
897
898 @node Selective Display
899 @section Selective Display
900 @c @cindex selective display Duplicates selective-display
901
902 @dfn{Selective display} refers to a pair of related features for
903 hiding certain lines on the screen.
904
905 The first variant, explicit selective display, is designed for use
906 in a Lisp program: it controls which lines are hidden by altering the
907 text. This kind of hiding in some ways resembles the effect of the
908 @code{invisible} property (@pxref{Invisible Text}), but the two
909 features are different and do not work the same way.
910
911 In the second variant, the choice of lines to hide is made
912 automatically based on indentation. This variant is designed to be a
913 user-level feature.
914
915 The way you control explicit selective display is by replacing a
916 newline (control-j) with a carriage return (control-m). The text that
917 was formerly a line following that newline is now hidden. Strictly
918 speaking, it is temporarily no longer a line at all, since only
919 newlines can separate lines; it is now part of the previous line.
920
921 Selective display does not directly affect editing commands. For
922 example, @kbd{C-f} (@code{forward-char}) moves point unhesitatingly
923 into hidden text. However, the replacement of newline characters with
924 carriage return characters affects some editing commands. For
925 example, @code{next-line} skips hidden lines, since it searches only
926 for newlines. Modes that use selective display can also define
927 commands that take account of the newlines, or that control which
928 parts of the text are hidden.
929
930 When you write a selectively displayed buffer into a file, all the
931 control-m's are output as newlines. This means that when you next read
932 in the file, it looks OK, with nothing hidden. The selective display
933 effect is seen only within Emacs.
934
935 @defvar selective-display
936 This buffer-local variable enables selective display. This means that
937 lines, or portions of lines, may be made hidden.
938
939 @itemize @bullet
940 @item
941 If the value of @code{selective-display} is @code{t}, then the character
942 control-m marks the start of hidden text; the control-m, and the rest
943 of the line following it, are not displayed. This is explicit selective
944 display.
945
946 @item
947 If the value of @code{selective-display} is a positive integer, then
948 lines that start with more than that many columns of indentation are not
949 displayed.
950 @end itemize
951
952 When some portion of a buffer is hidden, the vertical movement
953 commands operate as if that portion did not exist, allowing a single
954 @code{next-line} command to skip any number of hidden lines.
955 However, character movement commands (such as @code{forward-char}) do
956 not skip the hidden portion, and it is possible (if tricky) to insert
957 or delete text in an hidden portion.
958
959 In the examples below, we show the @emph{display appearance} of the
960 buffer @code{foo}, which changes with the value of
961 @code{selective-display}. The @emph{contents} of the buffer do not
962 change.
963
964 @example
965 @group
966 (setq selective-display nil)
967 @result{} nil
968
969 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
970 1 on this column
971 2on this column
972 3n this column
973 3n this column
974 2on this column
975 1 on this column
976 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
977 @end group
978
979 @group
980 (setq selective-display 2)
981 @result{} 2
982
983 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
984 1 on this column
985 2on this column
986 2on this column
987 1 on this column
988 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
989 @end group
990 @end example
991 @end defvar
992
993 @defopt selective-display-ellipses
994 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays
995 @samp{@dots{}} at the end of a line that is followed by hidden text.
996 This example is a continuation of the previous one.
997
998 @example
999 @group
1000 (setq selective-display-ellipses t)
1001 @result{} t
1002
1003 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1004 1 on this column
1005 2on this column ...
1006 2on this column
1007 1 on this column
1008 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1009 @end group
1010 @end example
1011
1012 You can use a display table to substitute other text for the ellipsis
1013 (@samp{@dots{}}). @xref{Display Tables}.
1014 @end defopt
1015
1016 @node Temporary Displays
1017 @section Temporary Displays
1018
1019 Temporary displays are used by Lisp programs to put output into a
1020 buffer and then present it to the user for perusal rather than for
1021 editing. Many help commands use this feature.
1022
1023 @defspec with-output-to-temp-buffer buffer-name forms@dots{}
1024 This function executes @var{forms} while arranging to insert any output
1025 they print into the buffer named @var{buffer-name}, which is first
1026 created if necessary, and put into Help mode. Finally, the buffer is
1027 displayed in some window, but not selected.
1028
1029 If the @var{forms} do not change the major mode in the output buffer,
1030 so that it is still Help mode at the end of their execution, then
1031 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} makes this buffer read-only at the
1032 end, and also scans it for function and variable names to make them
1033 into clickable cross-references. @xref{Docstring hyperlinks, , Tips
1034 for Documentation Strings}, in particular the item on hyperlinks in
1035 documentation strings, for more details.
1036
1037 The string @var{buffer-name} specifies the temporary buffer, which
1038 need not already exist. The argument must be a string, not a buffer.
1039 The buffer is erased initially (with no questions asked), and it is
1040 marked as unmodified after @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} exits.
1041
1042 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} binds @code{standard-output} to the
1043 temporary buffer, then it evaluates the forms in @var{forms}. Output
1044 using the Lisp output functions within @var{forms} goes by default to
1045 that buffer (but screen display and messages in the echo area, although
1046 they are ``output'' in the general sense of the word, are not affected).
1047 @xref{Output Functions}.
1048
1049 Several hooks are available for customizing the behavior
1050 of this construct; they are listed below.
1051
1052 The value of the last form in @var{forms} is returned.
1053
1054 @example
1055 @group
1056 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1057 This is the contents of foo.
1058 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1059 @end group
1060
1061 @group
1062 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "foo"
1063 (print 20)
1064 (print standard-output))
1065 @result{} #<buffer foo>
1066
1067 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1068 20
1069
1070 #<buffer foo>
1071
1072 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1073 @end group
1074 @end example
1075 @end defspec
1076
1077 @defopt temp-buffer-show-function
1078 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer}
1079 calls it as a function to do the job of displaying a help buffer. The
1080 function gets one argument, which is the buffer it should display.
1081
1082 It is a good idea for this function to run @code{temp-buffer-show-hook}
1083 just as @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} normally would, inside of
1084 @code{save-selected-window} and with the chosen window and buffer
1085 selected.
1086 @end defopt
1087
1088 @defvar temp-buffer-setup-hook
1089 This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} before
1090 evaluating @var{body}. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer is
1091 current. This hook is normally set up with a function to put the
1092 buffer in Help mode.
1093 @end defvar
1094
1095 @defvar temp-buffer-show-hook
1096 This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} after
1097 displaying the temporary buffer. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer
1098 is current, and the window it was displayed in is selected.
1099 @end defvar
1100
1101 @defun momentary-string-display string position &optional char message
1102 This function momentarily displays @var{string} in the current buffer at
1103 @var{position}. It has no effect on the undo list or on the buffer's
1104 modification status.
1105
1106 The momentary display remains until the next input event. If the next
1107 input event is @var{char}, @code{momentary-string-display} ignores it
1108 and returns. Otherwise, that event remains buffered for subsequent use
1109 as input. Thus, typing @var{char} will simply remove the string from
1110 the display, while typing (say) @kbd{C-f} will remove the string from
1111 the display and later (presumably) move point forward. The argument
1112 @var{char} is a space by default.
1113
1114 The return value of @code{momentary-string-display} is not meaningful.
1115
1116 If the string @var{string} does not contain control characters, you can
1117 do the same job in a more general way by creating (and then subsequently
1118 deleting) an overlay with a @code{before-string} property.
1119 @xref{Overlay Properties}.
1120
1121 If @var{message} is non-@code{nil}, it is displayed in the echo area
1122 while @var{string} is displayed in the buffer. If it is @code{nil}, a
1123 default message says to type @var{char} to continue.
1124
1125 In this example, point is initially located at the beginning of the
1126 second line:
1127
1128 @example
1129 @group
1130 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1131 This is the contents of foo.
1132 @point{}Second line.
1133 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1134 @end group
1135
1136 @group
1137 (momentary-string-display
1138 "**** Important Message! ****"
1139 (point) ?\r
1140 "Type RET when done reading")
1141 @result{} t
1142 @end group
1143
1144 @group
1145 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1146 This is the contents of foo.
1147 **** Important Message! ****Second line.
1148 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1149
1150 ---------- Echo Area ----------
1151 Type RET when done reading
1152 ---------- Echo Area ----------
1153 @end group
1154 @end example
1155 @end defun
1156
1157 @node Overlays
1158 @section Overlays
1159 @cindex overlays
1160
1161 You can use @dfn{overlays} to alter the appearance of a buffer's text on
1162 the screen, for the sake of presentation features. An overlay is an
1163 object that belongs to a particular buffer, and has a specified
1164 beginning and end. It also has properties that you can examine and set;
1165 these affect the display of the text within the overlay.
1166
1167 @cindex scalability of overlays
1168 The visual effect of an overlay is the same as of the corresponding
1169 text property (@pxref{Text Properties}). However, due to a different
1170 implementation, overlays generally don't scale well (many operations
1171 take a time that is proportional to the number of overlays in the
1172 buffer). If you need to affect the visual appearance of many portions
1173 in the buffer, we recommend using text properties.
1174
1175 An overlay uses markers to record its beginning and end; thus,
1176 editing the text of the buffer adjusts the beginning and end of each
1177 overlay so that it stays with the text. When you create the overlay,
1178 you can specify whether text inserted at the beginning should be
1179 inside the overlay or outside, and likewise for the end of the overlay.
1180
1181 @menu
1182 * Managing Overlays:: Creating and moving overlays.
1183 * Overlay Properties:: How to read and set properties.
1184 What properties do to the screen display.
1185 * Finding Overlays:: Searching for overlays.
1186 @end menu
1187
1188 @node Managing Overlays
1189 @subsection Managing Overlays
1190
1191 This section describes the functions to create, delete and move
1192 overlays, and to examine their contents. Overlay changes are not
1193 recorded in the buffer's undo list, since the overlays are not
1194 part of the buffer's contents.
1195
1196 @defun overlayp object
1197 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is an overlay.
1198 @end defun
1199
1200 @defun make-overlay start end &optional buffer front-advance rear-advance
1201 This function creates and returns an overlay that belongs to
1202 @var{buffer} and ranges from @var{start} to @var{end}. Both @var{start}
1203 and @var{end} must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or
1204 markers. If @var{buffer} is omitted, the overlay is created in the
1205 current buffer.
1206
1207 The arguments @var{front-advance} and @var{rear-advance} specify the
1208 marker insertion type for the start of the overlay and for the end of
1209 the overlay, respectively. @xref{Marker Insertion Types}. If they
1210 are both @code{nil}, the default, then the overlay extends to include
1211 any text inserted at the beginning, but not text inserted at the end.
1212 If @var{front-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the
1213 beginning of the overlay is excluded from the overlay. If
1214 @var{rear-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the end of the
1215 overlay is included in the overlay.
1216 @end defun
1217
1218 @defun overlay-start overlay
1219 This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} starts,
1220 as an integer.
1221 @end defun
1222
1223 @defun overlay-end overlay
1224 This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} ends,
1225 as an integer.
1226 @end defun
1227
1228 @defun overlay-buffer overlay
1229 This function returns the buffer that @var{overlay} belongs to. It
1230 returns @code{nil} if @var{overlay} has been deleted.
1231 @end defun
1232
1233 @defun delete-overlay overlay
1234 This function deletes @var{overlay}. The overlay continues to exist as
1235 a Lisp object, and its property list is unchanged, but it ceases to be
1236 attached to the buffer it belonged to, and ceases to have any effect on
1237 display.
1238
1239 A deleted overlay is not permanently disconnected. You can give it a
1240 position in a buffer again by calling @code{move-overlay}.
1241 @end defun
1242
1243 @defun move-overlay overlay start end &optional buffer
1244 This function moves @var{overlay} to @var{buffer}, and places its bounds
1245 at @var{start} and @var{end}. Both arguments @var{start} and @var{end}
1246 must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or markers.
1247
1248 If @var{buffer} is omitted, @var{overlay} stays in the same buffer it
1249 was already associated with; if @var{overlay} was deleted, it goes into
1250 the current buffer.
1251
1252 The return value is @var{overlay}.
1253
1254 This is the only valid way to change the endpoints of an overlay. Do
1255 not try modifying the markers in the overlay by hand, as that fails to
1256 update other vital data structures and can cause some overlays to be
1257 ``lost.''
1258 @end defun
1259
1260 @defun remove-overlays &optional start end name value
1261 This function removes all the overlays between @var{start} and
1262 @var{end} whose property @var{name} has the value @var{value}. It can
1263 move the endpoints of the overlays in the region, or split them.
1264
1265 If @var{name} is omitted or @code{nil}, it means to delete all overlays in
1266 the specified region. If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are omitted or
1267 @code{nil}, that means the beginning and end of the buffer respectively.
1268 Therefore, @code{(remove-overlays)} removes all the overlays in the
1269 current buffer.
1270 @end defun
1271
1272 Here are some examples:
1273
1274 @example
1275 ;; @r{Create an overlay.}
1276 (setq foo (make-overlay 1 10))
1277 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 10 in display.texi>
1278 (overlay-start foo)
1279 @result{} 1
1280 (overlay-end foo)
1281 @result{} 10
1282 (overlay-buffer foo)
1283 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1284 ;; @r{Give it a property we can check later.}
1285 (overlay-put foo 'happy t)
1286 @result{} t
1287 ;; @r{Verify the property is present.}
1288 (overlay-get foo 'happy)
1289 @result{} t
1290 ;; @r{Move the overlay.}
1291 (move-overlay foo 5 20)
1292 @result{} #<overlay from 5 to 20 in display.texi>
1293 (overlay-start foo)
1294 @result{} 5
1295 (overlay-end foo)
1296 @result{} 20
1297 ;; @r{Delete the overlay.}
1298 (delete-overlay foo)
1299 @result{} nil
1300 ;; @r{Verify it is deleted.}
1301 foo
1302 @result{} #<overlay in no buffer>
1303 ;; @r{A deleted overlay has no position.}
1304 (overlay-start foo)
1305 @result{} nil
1306 (overlay-end foo)
1307 @result{} nil
1308 (overlay-buffer foo)
1309 @result{} nil
1310 ;; @r{Undelete the overlay.}
1311 (move-overlay foo 1 20)
1312 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 20 in display.texi>
1313 ;; @r{Verify the results.}
1314 (overlay-start foo)
1315 @result{} 1
1316 (overlay-end foo)
1317 @result{} 20
1318 (overlay-buffer foo)
1319 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1320 ;; @r{Moving and deleting the overlay does not change its properties.}
1321 (overlay-get foo 'happy)
1322 @result{} t
1323 @end example
1324
1325 Emacs stores the overlays of each buffer in two lists, divided
1326 around an arbitrary ``center position.'' One list extends backwards
1327 through the buffer from that center position, and the other extends
1328 forwards from that center position. The center position can be anywhere
1329 in the buffer.
1330
1331 @defun overlay-recenter pos
1332 This function recenters the overlays of the current buffer around
1333 position @var{pos}. That makes overlay lookup faster for positions
1334 near @var{pos}, but slower for positions far away from @var{pos}.
1335 @end defun
1336
1337 A loop that scans the buffer forwards, creating overlays, can run
1338 faster if you do @code{(overlay-recenter (point-max))} first.
1339
1340 @node Overlay Properties
1341 @subsection Overlay Properties
1342
1343 Overlay properties are like text properties in that the properties that
1344 alter how a character is displayed can come from either source. But in
1345 most respects they are different. @xref{Text Properties}, for comparison.
1346
1347 Text properties are considered a part of the text; overlays and
1348 their properties are specifically considered not to be part of the
1349 text. Thus, copying text between various buffers and strings
1350 preserves text properties, but does not try to preserve overlays.
1351 Changing a buffer's text properties marks the buffer as modified,
1352 while moving an overlay or changing its properties does not. Unlike
1353 text property changes, overlay property changes are not recorded in
1354 the buffer's undo list.
1355
1356 Since more than one overlay can specify a property value for the
1357 same character, Emacs lets you specify a priority value of each
1358 overlay. You should not make assumptions about which overlay will
1359 prevail when there is a conflict and they have the same priority.
1360
1361 These functions read and set the properties of an overlay:
1362
1363 @defun overlay-get overlay prop
1364 This function returns the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1365 @var{overlay}, if any. If @var{overlay} does not record any value for
1366 that property, but it does have a @code{category} property which is a
1367 symbol, that symbol's @var{prop} property is used. Otherwise, the value
1368 is @code{nil}.
1369 @end defun
1370
1371 @defun overlay-put overlay prop value
1372 This function sets the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1373 @var{overlay} to @var{value}. It returns @var{value}.
1374 @end defun
1375
1376 @defun overlay-properties overlay
1377 This returns a copy of the property list of @var{overlay}.
1378 @end defun
1379
1380 See also the function @code{get-char-property} which checks both
1381 overlay properties and text properties for a given character.
1382 @xref{Examining Properties}.
1383
1384 Many overlay properties have special meanings; here is a table
1385 of them:
1386
1387 @table @code
1388 @item priority
1389 @kindex priority @r{(overlay property)}
1390 This property's value (which should be a nonnegative integer number)
1391 determines the priority of the overlay. No priority, or @code{nil},
1392 means zero.
1393
1394 The priority matters when two or more overlays cover the same
1395 character and both specify the same property; the one whose
1396 @code{priority} value is larger overrides the other. For the
1397 @code{face} property, the higher priority overlay's value does not
1398 completely override the other value; instead, its face attributes
1399 override the face attributes of the lower priority @code{face}
1400 property.
1401
1402 Currently, all overlays take priority over text properties. Please
1403 avoid using negative priority values, as we have not yet decided just
1404 what they should mean.
1405
1406 @item window
1407 @kindex window @r{(overlay property)}
1408 If the @code{window} property is non-@code{nil}, then the overlay
1409 applies only on that window.
1410
1411 @item category
1412 @kindex category @r{(overlay property)}
1413 If an overlay has a @code{category} property, we call it the
1414 @dfn{category} of the overlay. It should be a symbol. The properties
1415 of the symbol serve as defaults for the properties of the overlay.
1416
1417 @item face
1418 @kindex face @r{(overlay property)}
1419 This property controls the way text is displayed---for example, which
1420 font and which colors. @xref{Faces}, for more information.
1421
1422 In the simplest case, the value is a face name. It can also be a list;
1423 then each element can be any of these possibilities:
1424
1425 @itemize @bullet
1426 @item
1427 A face name (a symbol or string).
1428
1429 @item
1430 A property list of face attributes. This has the form (@var{keyword}
1431 @var{value} @dots{}), where each @var{keyword} is a face attribute
1432 name and @var{value} is a meaningful value for that attribute. With
1433 this feature, you do not need to create a face each time you want to
1434 specify a particular attribute for certain text. @xref{Face
1435 Attributes}.
1436
1437 @item
1438 A cons cell, either of the form @code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} or
1439 @code{(background-color . @var{color-name})}. These elements specify
1440 just the foreground color or just the background color.
1441
1442 @code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} has the same effect as
1443 @code{(:foreground @var{color-name})}; likewise for the background.
1444 @end itemize
1445
1446 @item mouse-face
1447 @kindex mouse-face @r{(overlay property)}
1448 This property is used instead of @code{face} when the mouse is within
1449 the range of the overlay.
1450
1451 @item display
1452 @kindex display @r{(overlay property)}
1453 This property activates various features that change the
1454 way text is displayed. For example, it can make text appear taller
1455 or shorter, higher or lower, wider or narrower, or replaced with an image.
1456 @xref{Display Property}.
1457
1458 @item help-echo
1459 @kindex help-echo @r{(overlay property)}
1460 If an overlay has a @code{help-echo} property, then when you move the
1461 mouse onto the text in the overlay, Emacs displays a help string in the
1462 echo area, or in the tooltip window. For details see @ref{Text
1463 help-echo}.
1464
1465 @item modification-hooks
1466 @kindex modification-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1467 This property's value is a list of functions to be called if any
1468 character within the overlay is changed or if text is inserted strictly
1469 within the overlay.
1470
1471 The hook functions are called both before and after each change.
1472 If the functions save the information they receive, and compare notes
1473 between calls, they can determine exactly what change has been made
1474 in the buffer text.
1475
1476 When called before a change, each function receives four arguments: the
1477 overlay, @code{nil}, and the beginning and end of the text range to be
1478 modified.
1479
1480 When called after a change, each function receives five arguments: the
1481 overlay, @code{t}, the beginning and end of the text range just
1482 modified, and the length of the pre-change text replaced by that range.
1483 (For an insertion, the pre-change length is zero; for a deletion, that
1484 length is the number of characters deleted, and the post-change
1485 beginning and end are equal.)
1486
1487 If these functions modify the buffer, they should bind
1488 @code{inhibit-modification-hooks} to @code{t} around doing so, to
1489 avoid confusing the internal mechanism that calls these hooks.
1490
1491 Text properties also support the @code{modification-hooks} property,
1492 but the details are somewhat different (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1493
1494 @item insert-in-front-hooks
1495 @kindex insert-in-front-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1496 This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1497 after inserting text right at the beginning of the overlay. The calling
1498 conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1499
1500 @item insert-behind-hooks
1501 @kindex insert-behind-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1502 This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1503 after inserting text right at the end of the overlay. The calling
1504 conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1505
1506 @item invisible
1507 @kindex invisible @r{(overlay property)}
1508 The @code{invisible} property can make the text in the overlay
1509 invisible, which means that it does not appear on the screen.
1510 @xref{Invisible Text}, for details.
1511
1512 @item intangible
1513 @kindex intangible @r{(overlay property)}
1514 The @code{intangible} property on an overlay works just like the
1515 @code{intangible} text property. @xref{Special Properties}, for details.
1516
1517 @item isearch-open-invisible
1518 This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1519 visible, permanently, if the final match overlaps it. @xref{Invisible
1520 Text}.
1521
1522 @item isearch-open-invisible-temporary
1523 This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1524 visible, temporarily, during the search. @xref{Invisible Text}.
1525
1526 @item before-string
1527 @kindex before-string @r{(overlay property)}
1528 This property's value is a string to add to the display at the beginning
1529 of the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1530 sense---only on the screen.
1531
1532 @item after-string
1533 @kindex after-string @r{(overlay property)}
1534 This property's value is a string to add to the display at the end of
1535 the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1536 sense---only on the screen.
1537
1538 @item line-prefix
1539 This property specifies a display spec to prepend to each
1540 non-continuation line at display-time. @xref{Truncation}.
1541
1542 @itemx wrap-prefix
1543 This property specifies a display spec to prepend to each continuation
1544 line at display-time. @xref{Truncation}.
1545
1546 @item evaporate
1547 @kindex evaporate @r{(overlay property)}
1548 If this property is non-@code{nil}, the overlay is deleted automatically
1549 if it becomes empty (i.e., if its length becomes zero). If you give
1550 an empty overlay a non-@code{nil} @code{evaporate} property, that deletes
1551 it immediately.
1552
1553 @item local-map
1554 @cindex keymap of character (and overlays)
1555 @kindex local-map @r{(overlay property)}
1556 If this property is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a keymap for a portion
1557 of the text. The property's value replaces the buffer's local map, when
1558 the character after point is within the overlay. @xref{Active Keymaps}.
1559
1560 @item keymap
1561 @kindex keymap @r{(overlay property)}
1562 The @code{keymap} property is similar to @code{local-map} but overrides the
1563 buffer's local map (and the map specified by the @code{local-map}
1564 property) rather than replacing it.
1565 @end table
1566
1567 The @code{local-map} and @code{keymap} properties do not affect a
1568 string displayed by the @code{before-string}, @code{after-string}, or
1569 @code{display} properties. This is only relevant for mouse clicks and
1570 other mouse events that fall on the string, since point is never on
1571 the string. To bind special mouse events for the string, assign it a
1572 @code{local-map} or @code{keymap} text property. @xref{Special
1573 Properties}.
1574
1575 @node Finding Overlays
1576 @subsection Searching for Overlays
1577
1578 @defun overlays-at pos
1579 This function returns a list of all the overlays that cover the
1580 character at position @var{pos} in the current buffer. The list is in
1581 no particular order. An overlay contains position @var{pos} if it
1582 begins at or before @var{pos}, and ends after @var{pos}.
1583
1584 To illustrate usage, here is a Lisp function that returns a list of the
1585 overlays that specify property @var{prop} for the character at point:
1586
1587 @smallexample
1588 (defun find-overlays-specifying (prop)
1589 (let ((overlays (overlays-at (point)))
1590 found)
1591 (while overlays
1592 (let ((overlay (car overlays)))
1593 (if (overlay-get overlay prop)
1594 (setq found (cons overlay found))))
1595 (setq overlays (cdr overlays)))
1596 found))
1597 @end smallexample
1598 @end defun
1599
1600 @defun overlays-in beg end
1601 This function returns a list of the overlays that overlap the region
1602 @var{beg} through @var{end}. ``Overlap'' means that at least one
1603 character is contained within the overlay and also contained within the
1604 specified region; however, empty overlays are included in the result if
1605 they are located at @var{beg}, strictly between @var{beg} and @var{end},
1606 or at @var{end} when @var{end} denotes the position at the end of the
1607 buffer.
1608 @end defun
1609
1610 @defun next-overlay-change pos
1611 This function returns the buffer position of the next beginning or end
1612 of an overlay, after @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1613 @code{(point-max)}.
1614 @end defun
1615
1616 @defun previous-overlay-change pos
1617 This function returns the buffer position of the previous beginning or
1618 end of an overlay, before @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1619 @code{(point-min)}.
1620 @end defun
1621
1622 As an example, here's a simplified (and inefficient) version of the
1623 primitive function @code{next-single-char-property-change}
1624 (@pxref{Property Search}). It searches forward from position
1625 @var{pos} for the next position where the value of a given property
1626 @code{prop}, as obtained from either overlays or text properties,
1627 changes.
1628
1629 @smallexample
1630 (defun next-single-char-property-change (position prop)
1631 (save-excursion
1632 (goto-char position)
1633 (let ((propval (get-char-property (point) prop)))
1634 (while (and (not (eobp))
1635 (eq (get-char-property (point) prop) propval))
1636 (goto-char (min (next-overlay-change (point))
1637 (next-single-property-change (point) prop)))))
1638 (point)))
1639 @end smallexample
1640
1641 @node Width
1642 @section Width
1643
1644 Since not all characters have the same width, these functions let you
1645 check the width of a character. @xref{Primitive Indent}, and
1646 @ref{Screen Lines}, for related functions.
1647
1648 @defun char-width char
1649 This function returns the width in columns of the character @var{char},
1650 if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1651 @end defun
1652
1653 @defun string-width string
1654 This function returns the width in columns of the string @var{string},
1655 if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1656 @end defun
1657
1658 @defun truncate-string-to-width string width &optional start-column padding ellipsis
1659 This function returns the part of @var{string} that fits within
1660 @var{width} columns, as a new string.
1661
1662 If @var{string} does not reach @var{width}, then the result ends where
1663 @var{string} ends. If one multi-column character in @var{string}
1664 extends across the column @var{width}, that character is not included in
1665 the result. Thus, the result can fall short of @var{width} but cannot
1666 go beyond it.
1667
1668 The optional argument @var{start-column} specifies the starting column.
1669 If this is non-@code{nil}, then the first @var{start-column} columns of
1670 the string are omitted from the value. If one multi-column character in
1671 @var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}, that
1672 character is not included.
1673
1674 The optional argument @var{padding}, if non-@code{nil}, is a padding
1675 character added at the beginning and end of the result string, to extend
1676 it to exactly @var{width} columns. The padding character is used at the
1677 end of the result if it falls short of @var{width}. It is also used at
1678 the beginning of the result if one multi-column character in
1679 @var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}.
1680
1681 If @var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a string which will
1682 replace the end of @var{str} (including any padding) if it extends
1683 beyond @var{end-column}, unless the display width of @var{str} is
1684 equal to or less than the display width of @var{ellipsis}. If
1685 @var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil} and not a string, it stands for
1686 @code{"..."}.
1687
1688 @example
1689 (truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4)
1690 @result{} "ab"
1691 (truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4 ?\s)
1692 @result{} " ab "
1693 @end example
1694 @end defun
1695
1696 @node Line Height
1697 @section Line Height
1698 @cindex line height
1699
1700 The total height of each display line consists of the height of the
1701 contents of the line, plus optional additional vertical line spacing
1702 above or below the display line.
1703
1704 The height of the line contents is the maximum height of any
1705 character or image on that display line, including the final newline
1706 if there is one. (A display line that is continued doesn't include a
1707 final newline.) That is the default line height, if you do nothing to
1708 specify a greater height. (In the most common case, this equals the
1709 height of the default frame font.)
1710
1711 There are several ways to explicitly specify a larger line height,
1712 either by specifying an absolute height for the display line, or by
1713 specifying vertical space. However, no matter what you specify, the
1714 actual line height can never be less than the default.
1715
1716 @kindex line-height @r{(text property)}
1717 A newline can have a @code{line-height} text or overlay property
1718 that controls the total height of the display line ending in that
1719 newline.
1720
1721 If the property value is @code{t}, the newline character has no
1722 effect on the displayed height of the line---the visible contents
1723 alone determine the height. This is useful for tiling small images
1724 (or image slices) without adding blank areas between the images.
1725
1726 If the property value is a list of the form @code{(@var{height}
1727 @var{total})}, that adds extra space @emph{below} the display line.
1728 First Emacs uses @var{height} as a height spec to control extra space
1729 @emph{above} the line; then it adds enough space @emph{below} the line
1730 to bring the total line height up to @var{total}. In this case, the
1731 other ways to specify the line spacing are ignored.
1732
1733 Any other kind of property value is a height spec, which translates
1734 into a number---the specified line height. There are several ways to
1735 write a height spec; here's how each of them translates into a number:
1736
1737 @table @code
1738 @item @var{integer}
1739 If the height spec is a positive integer, the height value is that integer.
1740 @item @var{float}
1741 If the height spec is a float, @var{float}, the numeric height value
1742 is @var{float} times the frame's default line height.
1743 @item (@var{face} . @var{ratio})
1744 If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1745 is @var{ratio} times the height of face @var{face}. @var{ratio} can
1746 be any type of number, or @code{nil} which means a ratio of 1.
1747 If @var{face} is @code{t}, it refers to the current face.
1748 @item (nil . @var{ratio})
1749 If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1750 is @var{ratio} times the height of the contents of the line.
1751 @end table
1752
1753 Thus, any valid height spec determines the height in pixels, one way
1754 or another. If the line contents' height is less than that, Emacs
1755 adds extra vertical space above the line to achieve the specified
1756 total height.
1757
1758 If you don't specify the @code{line-height} property, the line's
1759 height consists of the contents' height plus the line spacing.
1760 There are several ways to specify the line spacing for different
1761 parts of Emacs text.
1762
1763 @vindex default-line-spacing
1764 On graphical terminals, you can specify the line spacing for all
1765 lines in a frame, using the @code{line-spacing} frame parameter
1766 (@pxref{Layout Parameters}). However, if the default value of
1767 @code{line-spacing} is non-@code{nil}, it overrides the
1768 frame's @code{line-spacing} parameter. An integer value specifies the
1769 number of pixels put below lines. A floating point number specifies
1770 the spacing relative to the frame's default line height.
1771
1772 @vindex line-spacing
1773 You can specify the line spacing for all lines in a buffer via the
1774 buffer-local @code{line-spacing} variable. An integer value specifies
1775 the number of pixels put below lines. A floating point number
1776 specifies the spacing relative to the default frame line height. This
1777 overrides line spacings specified for the frame.
1778
1779 @kindex line-spacing @r{(text property)}
1780 Finally, a newline can have a @code{line-spacing} text or overlay
1781 property that overrides the default frame line spacing and the buffer
1782 local @code{line-spacing} variable, for the display line ending in
1783 that newline.
1784
1785 One way or another, these mechanisms specify a Lisp value for the
1786 spacing of each line. The value is a height spec, and it translates
1787 into a Lisp value as described above. However, in this case the
1788 numeric height value specifies the line spacing, rather than the line
1789 height.
1790
1791 On text-only terminals, the line spacing cannot be altered.
1792
1793 @node Faces
1794 @section Faces
1795 @cindex faces
1796
1797 A @dfn{face} is a collection of graphical attributes for displaying
1798 text: font family, foreground color, background color, optional
1799 underlining, and so on. Faces control how buffer text is displayed,
1800 and how some parts of the frame, such as the mode-line, are displayed.
1801 @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for the list of
1802 faces Emacs normally comes with.
1803
1804 @cindex face id
1805 For most purposes, you refer to a face in Lisp programs using its
1806 @dfn{face name}. This is either a string or (equivalently) a Lisp
1807 symbol whose name is equal to that string.
1808
1809 @defun facep object
1810 This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a Lisp
1811 symbol or string that names a face. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
1812 @end defun
1813
1814 Each face name is meaningful for all frames, and by default it has
1815 the same meaning in all frames. But you can arrange to give a
1816 particular face name a special meaning in one frame if you wish.
1817
1818 @menu
1819 * Defining Faces:: How to define a face with @code{defface}.
1820 * Face Attributes:: What is in a face?
1821 * Attribute Functions:: Functions to examine and set face attributes.
1822 * Displaying Faces:: How Emacs combines the faces specified for a character.
1823 * Face Remapping:: Remapping faces to alternative definitions.
1824 * Face Functions:: How to define and examine faces.
1825 * Auto Faces:: Hook for automatic face assignment.
1826 * Font Selection:: Finding the best available font for a face.
1827 * Font Lookup:: Looking up the names of available fonts
1828 and information about them.
1829 * Fontsets:: A fontset is a collection of fonts
1830 that handle a range of character sets.
1831 * Low-Level Font:: Lisp representation for character display fonts.
1832 @end menu
1833
1834 @node Defining Faces
1835 @subsection Defining Faces
1836
1837 The way to define a new face is with @code{defface}. This creates a
1838 kind of customization item (@pxref{Customization}) which the user can
1839 customize using the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy Customization,,,
1840 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
1841
1842 People are sometimes tempted to create variables whose values specify
1843 which faces to use (for example, Font-Lock does this). In the vast
1844 majority of cases, this is not necessary, and simply using faces
1845 directly is preferable.
1846
1847 @defmac defface face spec doc [keyword value]@dots{}
1848 This declares @var{face} as a customizable face whose default
1849 attributes are given by @var{spec}. You should not quote the symbol
1850 @var{face}, and it should not end in @samp{-face} (that would be
1851 redundant). The argument @var{doc} specifies the face documentation.
1852 The keywords you can use in @code{defface} are the same as in
1853 @code{defgroup} and @code{defcustom} (@pxref{Common Keywords}).
1854
1855 When @code{defface} executes, it defines the face according to
1856 @var{spec}, then uses any customizations that were read from the
1857 init file (@pxref{Init File}) to override that specification.
1858
1859 When you evaluate a @code{defface} form with @kbd{C-M-x} in Emacs
1860 Lisp mode (@code{eval-defun}), a special feature of @code{eval-defun}
1861 overrides any customizations of the face. This way, the face reflects
1862 exactly what the @code{defface} says.
1863
1864 The purpose of @var{spec} is to specify how the face should appear on
1865 different kinds of terminals. It should be an alist whose elements
1866 have the form @code{(@var{display} @var{atts})}. Each element's
1867 @sc{car}, @var{display}, specifies a class of terminals. (The first
1868 element, if its @sc{car} is @code{default}, is special---it specifies
1869 defaults for the remaining elements). The element's @sc{cadr},
1870 @var{atts}, is a list of face attributes and their values; it
1871 specifies what the face should look like on that kind of terminal.
1872 The possible attributes are defined in the value of
1873 @code{custom-face-attributes}.
1874
1875 The @var{display} part of an element of @var{spec} determines which
1876 frames the element matches. If more than one element of @var{spec}
1877 matches a given frame, the first element that matches is the one used
1878 for that frame. There are three possibilities for @var{display}:
1879
1880 @table @asis
1881 @item @code{default}
1882 This element of @var{spec} doesn't match any frames; instead, it
1883 specifies defaults that apply to all frames. This kind of element, if
1884 used, must be the first element of @var{spec}. Each of the following
1885 elements can override any or all of these defaults.
1886
1887 @item @code{t}
1888 This element of @var{spec} matches all frames. Therefore, any
1889 subsequent elements of @var{spec} are never used. Normally
1890 @code{t} is used in the last (or only) element of @var{spec}.
1891
1892 @item a list
1893 If @var{display} is a list, each element should have the form
1894 @code{(@var{characteristic} @var{value}@dots{})}. Here
1895 @var{characteristic} specifies a way of classifying frames, and the
1896 @var{value}s are possible classifications which @var{display} should
1897 apply to. Here are the possible values of @var{characteristic}:
1898
1899 @table @code
1900 @item type
1901 The kind of window system the frame uses---either @code{graphic} (any
1902 graphics-capable display), @code{x}, @code{pc} (for the MS-DOS console),
1903 @code{w32} (for MS Windows 9X/NT/2K/XP), or @code{tty}
1904 (a non-graphics-capable display).
1905 @xref{Window Systems, window-system}.
1906
1907 @item class
1908 What kinds of colors the frame supports---either @code{color},
1909 @code{grayscale}, or @code{mono}.
1910
1911 @item background
1912 The kind of background---either @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1913
1914 @item min-colors
1915 An integer that represents the minimum number of colors the frame
1916 should support. This matches a frame if its
1917 @code{display-color-cells} value is at least the specified integer.
1918
1919 @item supports
1920 Whether or not the frame can display the face attributes given in
1921 @var{value}@dots{} (@pxref{Face Attributes}). @xref{Display Face
1922 Attribute Testing}, for more information on exactly how this testing
1923 is done.
1924 @end table
1925
1926 If an element of @var{display} specifies more than one @var{value} for a
1927 given @var{characteristic}, any of those values is acceptable. If
1928 @var{display} has more than one element, each element should specify a
1929 different @var{characteristic}; then @emph{each} characteristic of the
1930 frame must match one of the @var{value}s specified for it in
1931 @var{display}.
1932 @end table
1933 @end defmac
1934
1935 Here's how the standard face @code{region} is defined:
1936
1937 @example
1938 @group
1939 (defface region
1940 '((((class color) (min-colors 88) (background dark))
1941 :background "blue3")
1942 @end group
1943 (((class color) (min-colors 88) (background light))
1944 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1945 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background dark))
1946 :background "blue3")
1947 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background light))
1948 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1949 (((class color) (min-colors 8))
1950 :background "blue" :foreground "white")
1951 (((type tty) (class mono))
1952 :inverse-video t)
1953 (t :background "gray"))
1954 @group
1955 "Basic face for highlighting the region."
1956 :group 'basic-faces)
1957 @end group
1958 @end example
1959
1960 Internally, @code{defface} uses the symbol property
1961 @code{face-defface-spec} to record the specified face attributes. The
1962 attributes saved by the user with the customization buffer are
1963 recorded in the symbol property @code{saved-face}; the attributes
1964 customized by the user for the current session, but not saved, are
1965 recorded in the symbol property @code{customized-face}. The
1966 documentation string is recorded in the symbol property
1967 @code{face-documentation}.
1968
1969 @defopt frame-background-mode
1970 This option, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the background type to use for
1971 interpreting face definitions. If it is @code{dark}, then Emacs treats
1972 all frames as if they had a dark background, regardless of their actual
1973 background colors. If it is @code{light}, then Emacs treats all frames
1974 as if they had a light background.
1975 @end defopt
1976
1977 @node Face Attributes
1978 @subsection Face Attributes
1979 @cindex face attributes
1980
1981 The effect of using a face is determined by a fixed set of @dfn{face
1982 attributes}. This table lists all the face attributes, their possible
1983 values, and their effects. You can specify more than one face for a
1984 given piece of text; Emacs merges the attributes of all the faces to
1985 determine how to display the text. @xref{Displaying Faces}.
1986
1987 In addition to the values given below, each face attribute can also
1988 have the value @code{unspecified}. This special value means the face
1989 doesn't specify that attribute. In face merging, when the first face
1990 fails to specify a particular attribute, the next face gets a chance.
1991 However, the @code{default} face must specify all attributes.
1992
1993 Some of these font attributes are meaningful only on certain kinds
1994 of displays. If your display cannot handle a certain attribute, the
1995 attribute is ignored.
1996
1997 @table @code
1998 @item :family
1999 Font family name or fontset name (a string). If you specify a font
2000 family name, the wild-card characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are
2001 allowed. The function @code{font-family-list}, described below,
2002 returns a list of available family names. @xref{Fontsets}, for
2003 information about fontsets.
2004
2005 @item :foundry
2006 The name of the @dfn{font foundry} in which the font family specified
2007 by the @code{:family} attribute is located (a string). The wild-card
2008 characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are allowed.
2009
2010 @item :width
2011 Relative proportionate character width, also known as the character
2012 set width. This should be one of the symbols @code{ultra-condensed},
2013 @code{extra-condensed}, @code{condensed}, @code{semi-condensed},
2014 @code{normal}, @code{semi-expanded}, @code{expanded},
2015 @code{extra-expanded}, or @code{ultra-expanded}.
2016
2017 @item :height
2018 The height of the font. In the simplest case, this is an integer in
2019 units of 1/10 point.
2020
2021 The value can also be a floating point number or a function, which
2022 specifies the height relative to an @dfn{underlying face} (i.e., a
2023 face that has a lower priority in the list described in
2024 @ref{Displaying Faces}). If the value is a floating point number,
2025 that specifies the amount by which to scale the height of the
2026 underlying face. If the value is a function, that function is called
2027 with one argument, the height of the underlying face, and returns the
2028 height of the new face. If the function is passed an integer
2029 argument, it must return an integer.
2030
2031 The height of the default face must be specified using an integer;
2032 floating point and function values are not allowed.
2033
2034 @item :weight
2035 Font weight---one of the symbols (from densest to faintest)
2036 @code{ultra-bold}, @code{extra-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{semi-bold},
2037 @code{normal}, @code{semi-light}, @code{light}, @code{extra-light}, or
2038 @code{ultra-light}. On text-only terminals that support
2039 variable-brightness text, any weight greater than normal is displayed
2040 as extra bright, and any weight less than normal is displayed as
2041 half-bright.
2042
2043 @item :slant
2044 Font slant---one of the symbols @code{italic}, @code{oblique},
2045 @code{normal}, @code{reverse-italic}, or @code{reverse-oblique}. On
2046 text-only terminals that support variable-brightness text, slanted
2047 text is displayed as half-bright.
2048
2049 @item :foreground
2050 Foreground color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
2051 name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}. On
2052 black-and-white displays, certain shades of gray are implemented by
2053 stipple patterns.
2054
2055 @item :background
2056 Background color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
2057 name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}.
2058
2059 @item :underline
2060 Whether or not characters should be underlined, and in what color. If
2061 the value is @code{t}, underlining uses the foreground color of the
2062 face. If the value is a string, underlining uses that color. The
2063 value @code{nil} means do not underline.
2064
2065 @item :overline
2066 Whether or not characters should be overlined, and in what color.
2067 The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2068
2069 @item :strike-through
2070 Whether or not characters should be strike-through, and in what
2071 color. The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2072
2073 @item :box
2074 Whether or not a box should be drawn around characters, its color, the
2075 width of the box lines, and 3D appearance. Here are the possible
2076 values of the @code{:box} attribute, and what they mean:
2077
2078 @table @asis
2079 @item @code{nil}
2080 Don't draw a box.
2081
2082 @item @code{t}
2083 Draw a box with lines of width 1, in the foreground color.
2084
2085 @item @var{color}
2086 Draw a box with lines of width 1, in color @var{color}.
2087
2088 @item @code{(:line-width @var{width} :color @var{color} :style @var{style})}
2089 This way you can explicitly specify all aspects of the box. The value
2090 @var{width} specifies the width of the lines to draw; it defaults to 1.
2091
2092 The value @var{color} specifies the color to draw with. The default is
2093 the foreground color of the face for simple boxes, and the background
2094 color of the face for 3D boxes.
2095
2096 The value @var{style} specifies whether to draw a 3D box. If it is
2097 @code{released-button}, the box looks like a 3D button that is not being
2098 pressed. If it is @code{pressed-button}, the box looks like a 3D button
2099 that is being pressed. If it is @code{nil} or omitted, a plain 2D box
2100 is used.
2101 @end table
2102
2103 @item :inverse-video
2104 Whether or not characters should be displayed in inverse video. The
2105 value should be @code{t} (yes) or @code{nil} (no).
2106
2107 @item :stipple
2108 The background stipple, a bitmap.
2109
2110 The value can be a string; that should be the name of a file containing
2111 external-format X bitmap data. The file is found in the directories
2112 listed in the variable @code{x-bitmap-file-path}.
2113
2114 Alternatively, the value can specify the bitmap directly, with a list
2115 of the form @code{(@var{width} @var{height} @var{data})}. Here,
2116 @var{width} and @var{height} specify the size in pixels, and
2117 @var{data} is a string containing the raw bits of the bitmap, row by
2118 row. Each row occupies @math{(@var{width} + 7) / 8} consecutive bytes
2119 in the string (which should be a unibyte string for best results).
2120 This means that each row always occupies at least one whole byte.
2121
2122 If the value is @code{nil}, that means use no stipple pattern.
2123
2124 Normally you do not need to set the stipple attribute, because it is
2125 used automatically to handle certain shades of gray.
2126
2127 @item :font
2128 The font used to display the face. Its value should be a font object.
2129 @xref{Font Selection}, for information about font objects.
2130
2131 When specifying this attribute using @code{set-face-attribute}
2132 (@pxref{Attribute Functions}), you may also supply a font spec, a font
2133 entity, or a string. Emacs converts such values to an appropriate
2134 font object, and stores that font object as the actual attribute
2135 value. If you specify a string, the contents of the string should be
2136 a font name (@pxref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The
2137 GNU Emacs Manual}); if the font name is an XLFD containing wildcards,
2138 Emacs chooses the first font matching those wildcards. Specifying
2139 this attribute also changes the values of the @code{:family},
2140 @code{:foundry}, @code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and
2141 @code{:slant} attributes.
2142
2143 @item :inherit
2144 The name of a face from which to inherit attributes, or a list of face
2145 names. Attributes from inherited faces are merged into the face like
2146 an underlying face would be, with higher priority than underlying
2147 faces (@pxref{Displaying Faces}). If a list of faces is used,
2148 attributes from faces earlier in the list override those from later
2149 faces.
2150 @end table
2151
2152 For compatibility with Emacs 20, you can also specify values for two
2153 ``fake'' face attributes: @code{:bold} and @code{:italic}. Their
2154 values must be either @code{t} or @code{nil}; a value of
2155 @code{unspecified} is not allowed. Setting @code{:bold} to @code{t}
2156 is equivalent to setting the @code{:weight} attribute to @code{bold},
2157 and setting it to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:weight}
2158 to @code{normal}. Setting @code{:italic} to @code{t} is equivalent to
2159 setting the @code{:slant} attribute to @code{italic}, and setting it
2160 to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:slant} to @code{normal}.
2161
2162 @defun font-family-list &optional frame
2163 This function returns a list of available font family names. The
2164 optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on which the text is
2165 to be displayed; if it is @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2166 @end defun
2167
2168 @defopt underline-minimum-offset
2169 This variable specifies the minimum distance between the baseline and
2170 the underline, in pixels, when displaying underlined text.
2171 @end defopt
2172
2173 @defopt x-bitmap-file-path
2174 This variable specifies a list of directories for searching
2175 for bitmap files, for the @code{:stipple} attribute.
2176 @end defopt
2177
2178 @defun bitmap-spec-p object
2179 This returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a valid bitmap specification,
2180 suitable for use with @code{:stipple} (see above). It returns
2181 @code{nil} otherwise.
2182 @end defun
2183
2184 @node Attribute Functions
2185 @subsection Face Attribute Functions
2186
2187 This section describes the functions for accessing and modifying the
2188 attributes of an existing face.
2189
2190 @defun set-face-attribute face frame &rest arguments
2191 This function sets one or more attributes of @var{face} for
2192 @var{frame}. The attributes you specify this way override whatever
2193 the @code{defface} says.
2194
2195 The extra arguments @var{arguments} specify the attributes to set, and
2196 the values for them. They should consist of alternating attribute names
2197 (such as @code{:family} or @code{:underline}) and corresponding values.
2198 Thus,
2199
2200 @example
2201 (set-face-attribute 'foo nil
2202 :width 'extended
2203 :weight 'bold
2204 :underline "red")
2205 @end example
2206
2207 @noindent
2208 sets the attributes @code{:width}, @code{:weight} and @code{:underline}
2209 to the corresponding values.
2210
2211 If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this function sets the default attributes
2212 for new frames. Default attribute values specified this way override
2213 the @code{defface} for newly created frames.
2214
2215 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, this function sets the attributes for
2216 all existing frames, and the default for new frames.
2217 @end defun
2218
2219 @defun face-attribute face attribute &optional frame inherit
2220 This returns the value of the @var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}
2221 on @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, that means the selected
2222 frame (@pxref{Input Focus}).
2223
2224 If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this returns whatever new-frames default
2225 value you previously specified with @code{set-face-attribute} for the
2226 @var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}. If you have not specified
2227 one, it returns @code{nil}.
2228
2229 If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only attributes directly defined by
2230 @var{face} are considered, so the return value may be
2231 @code{unspecified}, or a relative value. If @var{inherit} is
2232 non-@code{nil}, @var{face}'s definition of @var{attribute} is merged
2233 with the faces specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute; however the
2234 return value may still be @code{unspecified} or relative. If
2235 @var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then the result is further
2236 merged with that face (or faces), until it becomes specified and
2237 absolute.
2238
2239 To ensure that the return value is always specified and absolute, use
2240 a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}; this will resolve any
2241 unspecified or relative values by merging with the @code{default} face
2242 (which is always completely specified).
2243
2244 For example,
2245
2246 @example
2247 (face-attribute 'bold :weight)
2248 @result{} bold
2249 @end example
2250 @end defun
2251
2252 @defun face-attribute-relative-p attribute value
2253 This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{value}, when used as the
2254 value of the face attribute @var{attribute}, is relative. This means
2255 it would modify, rather than completely override, any value that comes
2256 from a subsequent face in the face list or that is inherited from
2257 another face.
2258
2259 @code{unspecified} is a relative value for all attributes. For
2260 @code{:height}, floating point and function values are also relative.
2261
2262 For example:
2263
2264 @example
2265 (face-attribute-relative-p :height 2.0)
2266 @result{} t
2267 @end example
2268 @end defun
2269
2270 @defun face-all-attributes face &optional frame
2271 This function returns an alist of attributes of @var{face}. The
2272 elements of the result are name-value pairs of the form
2273 @w{@code{(@var{attr-name} . @var{attr-value})}}. Optional argument
2274 @var{frame} specifies the frame whose definition of @var{face} to
2275 return; if omitted or @code{nil}, the returned value describes the
2276 default attributes of @var{face} for newly created frames.
2277 @end defun
2278
2279 @defun merge-face-attribute attribute value1 value2
2280 If @var{value1} is a relative value for the face attribute
2281 @var{attribute}, returns it merged with the underlying value
2282 @var{value2}; otherwise, if @var{value1} is an absolute value for the
2283 face attribute @var{attribute}, returns @var{value1} unchanged.
2284 @end defun
2285
2286 The following functions provide compatibility with Emacs 20 and
2287 below. They work by calling @code{set-face-attribute}. Values of
2288 @code{t} and @code{nil} for their @var{frame} argument are handled
2289 just like @code{set-face-attribute} and @code{face-attribute}.
2290
2291 @defun set-face-foreground face color &optional frame
2292 @defunx set-face-background face color &optional frame
2293 These functions set the @code{:foreground} attribute (or
2294 @code{:background} attribute, respectively) of @var{face} to
2295 @var{color}.
2296 @end defun
2297
2298 @defun set-face-stipple face pattern &optional frame
2299 This function sets the @code{:stipple} attribute of @var{face} to
2300 @var{pattern}.
2301 @end defun
2302
2303 @defun set-face-font face font &optional frame
2304 This function sets the @code{:font} attribute of @var{face} to
2305 @var{font}.
2306 @end defun
2307
2308 @defun set-face-bold-p face bold-p &optional frame
2309 This function sets the @code{:weight} attribute of @var{face} to
2310 @var{normal} if @var{bold-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{bold}
2311 otherwise.
2312 @end defun
2313
2314 @defun set-face-italic-p face italic-p &optional frame
2315 This function sets the @code{:slant} attribute of @var{face} to
2316 @var{normal} if @var{italic-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{italic}
2317 otherwise.
2318 @end defun
2319
2320 @defun set-face-underline-p face underline &optional frame
2321 This function sets the @code{:underline} attribute of @var{face} to
2322 @var{underline}.
2323 @end defun
2324
2325 @defun set-face-inverse-video-p face inverse-video-p &optional frame
2326 This function sets the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of @var{face}
2327 to @var{inverse-video-p}.
2328 @end defun
2329
2330 @defun invert-face face &optional frame
2331 This function swaps the foreground and background colors of face
2332 @var{face}.
2333 @end defun
2334
2335 The following functions examine the attributes of a face. If you
2336 don't specify @var{frame}, they refer to the selected frame; @code{t}
2337 refers to the default data for new frames. They return the symbol
2338 @code{unspecified} if the face doesn't define any value for that
2339 attribute.
2340
2341 @defun face-foreground face &optional frame inherit
2342 @defunx face-background face &optional frame inherit
2343 These functions return the foreground color (or background color,
2344 respectively) of face @var{face}, as a string.
2345
2346 If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a color directly defined by the face is
2347 returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces specified by its
2348 @code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and if @var{inherit}
2349 is a face or a list of faces, then they are also considered, until a
2350 specified color is found. To ensure that the return value is always
2351 specified, use a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}.
2352 @end defun
2353
2354 @defun face-stipple face &optional frame inherit
2355 This function returns the name of the background stipple pattern of face
2356 @var{face}, or @code{nil} if it doesn't have one.
2357
2358 If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a stipple directly defined by the
2359 face is returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces
2360 specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and
2361 if @var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then they are also
2362 considered, until a specified stipple is found. To ensure that the
2363 return value is always specified, use a value of @code{default} for
2364 @var{inherit}.
2365 @end defun
2366
2367 @defun face-font face &optional frame
2368 This function returns the name of the font of face @var{face}.
2369 @end defun
2370
2371 @defun face-bold-p face &optional frame
2372 This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:weight}
2373 attribute of @var{face} is bolder than normal (i.e., one of
2374 @code{semi-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{extra-bold}, or
2375 @code{ultra-bold}). Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
2376 @end defun
2377
2378 @defun face-italic-p face &optional frame
2379 This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:slant}
2380 attribute of @var{face} is @code{italic} or @code{oblique}, and
2381 @code{nil} otherwise.
2382 @end defun
2383
2384 @defun face-underline-p face &optional frame
2385 This function returns the @code{:underline} attribute of face @var{face}.
2386 @end defun
2387
2388 @defun face-inverse-video-p face &optional frame
2389 This function returns the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of face @var{face}.
2390 @end defun
2391
2392 @node Displaying Faces
2393 @subsection Displaying Faces
2394
2395 Here is how Emacs determines the face to use for displaying any
2396 given piece of text:
2397
2398 @itemize @bullet
2399 @item
2400 If the text consists of a special glyph, the glyph can specify a
2401 particular face. @xref{Glyphs}.
2402
2403 @item
2404 If the text lies within an active region, Emacs highlights it using
2405 the @code{region} face. @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2406 Manual}.
2407
2408 @item
2409 If the text lies within an overlay with a non-@code{nil} @code{face}
2410 property, Emacs applies the face or face attributes specified by that
2411 property. If the overlay has a @code{mouse-face} property and the
2412 mouse is ``near enough'' to the overlay, Emacs applies the face or
2413 face attributes specified by the @code{mouse-face} property instead.
2414 @xref{Overlay Properties}.
2415
2416 When multiple overlays cover one character, an overlay with higher
2417 priority overrides those with lower priority. @xref{Overlays}.
2418
2419 @item
2420 If the text contains a @code{face} or @code{mouse-face} property,
2421 Emacs applies the specified faces and face attributes. @xref{Special
2422 Properties}. (This is how Font Lock mode faces are applied.
2423 @xref{Font Lock Mode}.)
2424
2425 @item
2426 If the text lies within the mode line of the selected window, Emacs
2427 applies the @code{mode-line} face. For the mode line of a
2428 non-selected window, Emacs applies the @code{mode-line-inactive} face.
2429 For a header line, Emacs applies the @code{header-line} face.
2430
2431 @item
2432 If any given attribute has not been specified during the preceding
2433 steps, Emacs applies the attribute of the @code{default} face.
2434 @end itemize
2435
2436 If these various sources together specify more than one face for a
2437 particular character, Emacs merges the attributes of the various faces
2438 specified. For each attribute, Emacs tries using the above order
2439 (i.e., first the face of any special glyph; then the face for region
2440 highlighting, if appropriate; then faces specified by overlays, then
2441 faces specified by text properties, then the @code{mode-line} or
2442 @code{mode-line-inactive} or @code{header-line} face, if appropriate,
2443 and finally the @code{default} face).
2444
2445 @node Face Remapping
2446 @subsection Face Remapping
2447
2448 The variable @code{face-remapping-alist} is used for buffer-local or
2449 global changes in the appearance of a face. For instance, it can be
2450 used to make the @code{default} face a variable-pitch face within a
2451 particular buffer.
2452
2453 @defvar face-remapping-alist
2454 An alist whose elements have the form @code{(@var{face}
2455 @var{remapping...})}. This causes Emacs to display text using the
2456 face @var{face} using @var{remapping...} instead of @var{face}'s
2457 ordinary definition. @var{remapping...} may be any face specification
2458 suitable for a @code{face} text property: either a face name, or a
2459 property list of attribute/value pairs. @xref{Special Properties}.
2460
2461 If @code{face-remapping-alist} is buffer-local, its local value takes
2462 effect only within that buffer.
2463
2464 Two points bear emphasizing:
2465
2466 @enumerate
2467 @item
2468 The new definition @var{remapping...} is the complete
2469 specification of how to display @var{face}---it entirely replaces,
2470 rather than augmenting or modifying, the normal definition of that
2471 face.
2472
2473 @item
2474 If @var{remapping...} recursively references the same face name
2475 @var{face}, either directly remapping entry, or via the
2476 @code{:inherit} attribute of some other face in @var{remapping...},
2477 then that reference uses the normal definition of @var{face} in the
2478 selected frame, instead of the ``remapped'' definition.
2479
2480 For instance, if the @code{mode-line} face is remapped using this
2481 entry in @code{face-remapping-alist}:
2482 @example
2483 (mode-line italic mode-line)
2484 @end example
2485 @noindent
2486 then the new definition of the @code{mode-line} face inherits from the
2487 @code{italic} face, and the @emph{normal} (non-remapped) definition of
2488 @code{mode-line} face.
2489 @end enumerate
2490 @end defvar
2491
2492 A typical use of the @code{face-remapping-alist} is to change a
2493 buffer's @code{default} face; for example, the following changes a
2494 buffer's @code{default} face to use the @code{variable-pitch} face,
2495 with the height doubled:
2496
2497 @example
2498 (set (make-local-variable 'face-remapping-alist)
2499 '((default variable-pitch :height 2.0)))
2500 @end example
2501
2502 The following functions implement a higher-level interface to
2503 @code{face-remapping-alist}, making it easier to use
2504 ``cooperatively''. They are mainly intended for buffer-local use, and
2505 so all make @code{face-remapping-alist} variable buffer-local as a
2506 side-effect. They use entries in @code{face-remapping-alist} which
2507 have the general form:
2508
2509 @example
2510 (@var{face} @var{relative_specs_1} @var{relative_specs_2} @var{...} @var{base_specs})
2511 @end example
2512
2513 Everything except @var{face} is a ``face spec'': a list of face names
2514 or face attribute-value pairs. All face specs are merged together,
2515 with earlier values taking precedence.
2516
2517 The @var{relative_specs_}n values are ``relative specs'', and are
2518 added by @code{face-remap-add-relative} (and removed by
2519 @code{face-remap-remove-relative}. These are intended for face
2520 modifications (such as increasing the size). Typical users of these
2521 relative specs would be minor modes.
2522
2523 @var{base_specs} is the lowest-priority value, and by default is just the
2524 face name, which causes the global definition of that face to be used.
2525
2526 A non-default value of @var{base_specs} may also be set using
2527 @code{face-remap-set-base}. Because this @emph{overwrites} the
2528 default base-spec value (which inherits the global face definition),
2529 it is up to the caller of @code{face-remap-set-base} to add such
2530 inheritance if it is desired. A typical use of
2531 @code{face-remap-set-base} would be a major mode adding a face
2532 remappings, e.g., of the default face.
2533
2534
2535 @defun face-remap-add-relative face &rest specs
2536 This functions adds a face remapping entry of @var{face} to @var{specs}
2537 in the current buffer.
2538
2539 It returns a ``cookie'' which can be used to later delete the remapping with
2540 @code{face-remap-remove-relative}.
2541
2542 @var{specs} can be any value suitable for the @code{face} text
2543 property, including a face name, a list of face names, or a
2544 face-attribute property list. The attributes given by @var{specs}
2545 will be merged with any other currently active face remappings of
2546 @var{face}, and with the global definition of @var{face} (by default;
2547 this may be changed using @code{face-remap-set-base}), with the most
2548 recently added relative remapping taking precedence.
2549 @end defun
2550
2551 @defun face-remap-remove-relative cookie
2552 This function removes a face remapping previously added by
2553 @code{face-remap-add-relative}. @var{cookie} should be a return value
2554 from that function.
2555 @end defun
2556
2557 @defun face-remap-set-base face &rest specs
2558 This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} in the current
2559 buffer to @var{specs}. If @var{specs} is empty, the default base
2560 remapping is restored, which inherits from the global definition of
2561 @var{face}; note that this is different from @var{specs} containing a
2562 single value @code{nil}, which has the opposite result (the global
2563 definition of @var{face} is ignored).
2564 @end defun
2565
2566 @defun face-remap-reset-base face
2567 This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} to its default
2568 value, which inherits from @var{face}'s global definition.
2569 @end defun
2570
2571 @node Face Functions
2572 @subsection Functions for Working with Faces
2573
2574 Here are additional functions for creating and working with faces.
2575
2576 @defun make-face name
2577 This function defines a new face named @var{name}, initially with all
2578 attributes @code{nil}. It does nothing if there is already a face named
2579 @var{name}.
2580 @end defun
2581
2582 @defun face-list
2583 This function returns a list of all defined face names.
2584 @end defun
2585
2586 @defun copy-face old-face new-name &optional frame new-frame
2587 This function defines a face named @var{new-name} as a copy of the existing
2588 face named @var{old-face}. It creates the face @var{new-name} if that
2589 doesn't already exist.
2590
2591 If the optional argument @var{frame} is given, this function applies
2592 only to that frame. Otherwise it applies to each frame individually,
2593 copying attributes from @var{old-face} in each frame to @var{new-face}
2594 in the same frame.
2595
2596 If the optional argument @var{new-frame} is given, then @code{copy-face}
2597 copies the attributes of @var{old-face} in @var{frame} to @var{new-name}
2598 in @var{new-frame}.
2599 @end defun
2600
2601 @defun face-id face
2602 This function returns the @dfn{face number} of face @var{face}. This
2603 is a number that uniquely identifies a face at low levels within
2604 Emacs. It is seldom necessary to refer to a face by its face number.
2605 @end defun
2606
2607 @defun face-documentation face
2608 This function returns the documentation string of face @var{face}, or
2609 @code{nil} if none was specified for it.
2610 @end defun
2611
2612 @defun face-equal face1 face2 &optional frame
2613 This returns @code{t} if the faces @var{face1} and @var{face2} have the
2614 same attributes for display.
2615 @end defun
2616
2617 @defun face-differs-from-default-p face &optional frame
2618 This returns non-@code{nil} if the face @var{face} displays
2619 differently from the default face.
2620 @end defun
2621
2622 @cindex face alias
2623 A @dfn{face alias} provides an equivalent name for a face. You can
2624 define a face alias by giving the alias symbol the @code{face-alias}
2625 property, with a value of the target face name. The following example
2626 makes @code{modeline} an alias for the @code{mode-line} face.
2627
2628 @example
2629 (put 'modeline 'face-alias 'mode-line)
2630 @end example
2631
2632 @defun define-obsolete-face-alias obsolete-face current-face &optional when
2633 This function defines a face alias and marks it as obsolete, indicating
2634 that it may be removed in future. The optional string @var{when}
2635 indicates when the face was made obsolete (for example, a release number).
2636 @end defun
2637
2638 @node Auto Faces
2639 @subsection Automatic Face Assignment
2640 @cindex automatic face assignment
2641 @cindex faces, automatic choice
2642
2643 This hook is used for automatically assigning faces to text in the
2644 buffer. It is part of the implementation of Jit-Lock mode, used by
2645 Font-Lock.
2646
2647 @defvar fontification-functions
2648 This variable holds a list of functions that are called by Emacs
2649 redisplay as needed to assign faces automatically to text in the buffer.
2650
2651 The functions are called in the order listed, with one argument, a
2652 buffer position @var{pos}. Each function should attempt to assign faces
2653 to the text in the current buffer starting at @var{pos}.
2654
2655 Each function should record the faces they assign by setting the
2656 @code{face} property. It should also add a non-@code{nil}
2657 @code{fontified} property for all the text it has assigned faces to.
2658 That property tells redisplay that faces have been assigned to that text
2659 already.
2660
2661 It is probably a good idea for each function to do nothing if the
2662 character after @var{pos} already has a non-@code{nil} @code{fontified}
2663 property, but this is not required. If one function overrides the
2664 assignments made by a previous one, the properties as they are
2665 after the last function finishes are the ones that really matter.
2666
2667 For efficiency, we recommend writing these functions so that they
2668 usually assign faces to around 400 to 600 characters at each call.
2669 @end defvar
2670
2671 @node Font Selection
2672 @subsection Font Selection
2673
2674 Before Emacs can draw a character on a particular display, it must
2675 select a @dfn{font} for that character@footnote{In this context, the
2676 term @dfn{font} has nothing to do with Font Lock (@pxref{Font Lock
2677 Mode}).}. Normally, Emacs automatically chooses a font based on the
2678 faces assigned to that character---specifically, the face attributes
2679 @code{:family}, @code{:weight}, @code{:slant}, and @code{:width}
2680 (@pxref{Face Attributes}). The choice of font also depends on the
2681 character to be displayed; some fonts can only display a limited set
2682 of characters. If no available font exactly fits the requirements,
2683 Emacs looks for the @dfn{closest matching font}. The variables in
2684 this section control how Emacs makes this selection.
2685
2686 @defopt face-font-family-alternatives
2687 If a given family is specified but does not exist, this variable
2688 specifies alternative font families to try. Each element should have
2689 this form:
2690
2691 @example
2692 (@var{family} @var{alternate-families}@dots{})
2693 @end example
2694
2695 If @var{family} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the other
2696 families given in @var{alternate-families}, one by one, until it finds a
2697 family that does exist.
2698 @end defopt
2699
2700 @defopt face-font-selection-order
2701 If there is no font that exactly matches all desired face attributes
2702 (@code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and @code{:slant}),
2703 this variable specifies the order in which these attributes should be
2704 considered when selecting the closest matching font. The value should
2705 be a list containing those four attribute symbols, in order of
2706 decreasing importance. The default is @code{(:width :height :weight
2707 :slant)}.
2708
2709 Font selection first finds the best available matches for the first
2710 attribute in the list; then, among the fonts which are best in that
2711 way, it searches for the best matches in the second attribute, and so
2712 on.
2713
2714 The attributes @code{:weight} and @code{:width} have symbolic values in
2715 a range centered around @code{normal}. Matches that are more extreme
2716 (farther from @code{normal}) are somewhat preferred to matches that are
2717 less extreme (closer to @code{normal}); this is designed to ensure that
2718 non-normal faces contrast with normal ones, whenever possible.
2719
2720 One example of a case where this variable makes a difference is when the
2721 default font has no italic equivalent. With the default ordering, the
2722 @code{italic} face will use a non-italic font that is similar to the
2723 default one. But if you put @code{:slant} before @code{:height}, the
2724 @code{italic} face will use an italic font, even if its height is not
2725 quite right.
2726 @end defopt
2727
2728 @defopt face-font-registry-alternatives
2729 This variable lets you specify alternative font registries to try, if a
2730 given registry is specified and doesn't exist. Each element should have
2731 this form:
2732
2733 @example
2734 (@var{registry} @var{alternate-registries}@dots{})
2735 @end example
2736
2737 If @var{registry} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the
2738 other registries given in @var{alternate-registries}, one by one,
2739 until it finds a registry that does exist.
2740 @end defopt
2741
2742 Emacs can make use of scalable fonts, but by default it does not use
2743 them.
2744
2745 @defopt scalable-fonts-allowed
2746 This variable controls which scalable fonts to use. A value of
2747 @code{nil}, the default, means do not use scalable fonts. @code{t}
2748 means to use any scalable font that seems appropriate for the text.
2749
2750 Otherwise, the value must be a list of regular expressions. Then a
2751 scalable font is enabled for use if its name matches any regular
2752 expression in the list. For example,
2753
2754 @example
2755 (setq scalable-fonts-allowed '("muleindian-2$"))
2756 @end example
2757
2758 @noindent
2759 allows the use of scalable fonts with registry @code{muleindian-2}.
2760 @end defopt
2761
2762 @defvar face-font-rescale-alist
2763 This variable specifies scaling for certain faces. Its value should
2764 be a list of elements of the form
2765
2766 @example
2767 (@var{fontname-regexp} . @var{scale-factor})
2768 @end example
2769
2770 If @var{fontname-regexp} matches the font name that is about to be
2771 used, this says to choose a larger similar font according to the
2772 factor @var{scale-factor}. You would use this feature to normalize
2773 the font size if certain fonts are bigger or smaller than their
2774 nominal heights and widths would suggest.
2775 @end defvar
2776
2777 @node Font Lookup
2778 @subsection Looking Up Fonts
2779
2780 @defun x-list-fonts name &optional reference-face frame maximum width
2781 This function returns a list of available font names that match
2782 @var{name}. @var{name} should be a string containing a font name in
2783 either the Fontconfig, GTK, or XLFD format (@pxref{Font X,, Font
2784 Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Within an XLFD
2785 string, wildcard characters may be used: the @samp{*} character
2786 matches any substring, and the @samp{?} character matches any single
2787 character. Case is ignored when matching font names.
2788
2789 If the optional arguments @var{reference-face} and @var{frame} are
2790 specified, the returned list includes only fonts that are the same
2791 size as @var{reference-face} (a face name) currently is on the frame
2792 @var{frame}.
2793
2794 The optional argument @var{maximum} sets a limit on how many fonts to
2795 return. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the return value is truncated
2796 after the first @var{maximum} matching fonts. Specifying a small
2797 value for @var{maximum} can make this function much faster, in cases
2798 where many fonts match the pattern.
2799
2800 The optional argument @var{width} specifies a desired font width. If
2801 it is non-@code{nil}, the function only returns those fonts whose
2802 characters are (on average) @var{width} times as wide as
2803 @var{reference-face}.
2804 @end defun
2805
2806 @defun x-family-fonts &optional family frame
2807 This function returns a list describing the available fonts for family
2808 @var{family} on @var{frame}. If @var{family} is omitted or @code{nil},
2809 this list applies to all families, and therefore, it contains all
2810 available fonts. Otherwise, @var{family} must be a string; it may
2811 contain the wildcards @samp{?} and @samp{*}.
2812
2813 The list describes the display that @var{frame} is on; if @var{frame} is
2814 omitted or @code{nil}, it applies to the selected frame's display
2815 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
2816
2817 Each element in the list is a vector of the following form:
2818
2819 @example
2820 [@var{family} @var{width} @var{point-size} @var{weight} @var{slant}
2821 @var{fixed-p} @var{full} @var{registry-and-encoding}]
2822 @end example
2823
2824 The first five elements correspond to face attributes; if you
2825 specify these attributes for a face, it will use this font.
2826
2827 The last three elements give additional information about the font.
2828 @var{fixed-p} is non-@code{nil} if the font is fixed-pitch.
2829 @var{full} is the full name of the font, and
2830 @var{registry-and-encoding} is a string giving the registry and
2831 encoding of the font.
2832 @end defun
2833
2834 @defvar font-list-limit
2835 This variable specifies maximum number of fonts to consider in font
2836 matching. The function @code{x-family-fonts} will not return more than
2837 that many fonts, and font selection will consider only that many fonts
2838 when searching a matching font for face attributes. The default is
2839 currently 100.
2840 @end defvar
2841
2842 @node Fontsets
2843 @subsection Fontsets
2844
2845 A @dfn{fontset} is a list of fonts, each assigned to a range of
2846 character codes. An individual font cannot display the whole range of
2847 characters that Emacs supports, but a fontset can. Fontsets have names,
2848 just as fonts do, and you can use a fontset name in place of a font name
2849 when you specify the ``font'' for a frame or a face. Here is
2850 information about defining a fontset under Lisp program control.
2851
2852 @defun create-fontset-from-fontset-spec fontset-spec &optional style-variant-p noerror
2853 This function defines a new fontset according to the specification
2854 string @var{fontset-spec}. The string should have this format:
2855
2856 @smallexample
2857 @var{fontpattern}, @r{[}@var{charset}:@var{font}@r{]@dots{}}
2858 @end smallexample
2859
2860 @noindent
2861 Whitespace characters before and after the commas are ignored.
2862
2863 The first part of the string, @var{fontpattern}, should have the form of
2864 a standard X font name, except that the last two fields should be
2865 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}}.
2866
2867 The new fontset has two names, one long and one short. The long name is
2868 @var{fontpattern} in its entirety. The short name is
2869 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}}. You can refer to the fontset by either
2870 name. If a fontset with the same name already exists, an error is
2871 signaled, unless @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}, in which case this
2872 function does nothing.
2873
2874 If optional argument @var{style-variant-p} is non-@code{nil}, that says
2875 to create bold, italic and bold-italic variants of the fontset as well.
2876 These variant fontsets do not have a short name, only a long one, which
2877 is made by altering @var{fontpattern} to indicate the bold or italic
2878 status.
2879
2880 The specification string also says which fonts to use in the fontset.
2881 See below for the details.
2882 @end defun
2883
2884 The construct @samp{@var{charset}:@var{font}} specifies which font to
2885 use (in this fontset) for one particular character set. Here,
2886 @var{charset} is the name of a character set, and @var{font} is the font
2887 to use for that character set. You can use this construct any number of
2888 times in the specification string.
2889
2890 For the remaining character sets, those that you don't specify
2891 explicitly, Emacs chooses a font based on @var{fontpattern}: it replaces
2892 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} with a value that names one character set.
2893 For the @acronym{ASCII} character set, @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} is replaced
2894 with @samp{ISO8859-1}.
2895
2896 In addition, when several consecutive fields are wildcards, Emacs
2897 collapses them into a single wildcard. This is to prevent use of
2898 auto-scaled fonts. Fonts made by scaling larger fonts are not usable
2899 for editing, and scaling a smaller font is not useful because it is
2900 better to use the smaller font in its own size, which Emacs does.
2901
2902 Thus if @var{fontpattern} is this,
2903
2904 @example
2905 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24
2906 @end example
2907
2908 @noindent
2909 the font specification for @acronym{ASCII} characters would be this:
2910
2911 @example
2912 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-ISO8859-1
2913 @end example
2914
2915 @noindent
2916 and the font specification for Chinese GB2312 characters would be this:
2917
2918 @example
2919 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2920 @end example
2921
2922 You may not have any Chinese font matching the above font
2923 specification. Most X distributions include only Chinese fonts that
2924 have @samp{song ti} or @samp{fangsong ti} in the @var{family} field. In
2925 such a case, @samp{Fontset-@var{n}} can be specified as below:
2926
2927 @smallexample
2928 Emacs.Fontset-0: -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24,\
2929 chinese-gb2312:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2930 @end smallexample
2931
2932 @noindent
2933 Then, the font specifications for all but Chinese GB2312 characters have
2934 @samp{fixed} in the @var{family} field, and the font specification for
2935 Chinese GB2312 characters has a wild card @samp{*} in the @var{family}
2936 field.
2937
2938 @defun set-fontset-font name character font-spec &optional frame add
2939 This function modifies the existing fontset @var{name} to use the font
2940 matching with @var{font-spec} for the character @var{character}.
2941
2942 If @var{name} is @code{nil}, this function modifies the fontset of the
2943 selected frame or that of @var{frame} if @var{frame} is not
2944 @code{nil}.
2945
2946 If @var{name} is @code{t}, this function modifies the default
2947 fontset, whose short name is @samp{fontset-default}.
2948
2949 @var{character} may be a cons; @code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, where
2950 @var{from} and @var{to} are character codepoints. In that case, use
2951 @var{font-spec} for all characters in the range @var{from} and @var{to}
2952 (inclusive).
2953
2954 @var{character} may be a charset. In that case, use
2955 @var{font-spec} for all character in the charsets.
2956
2957 @var{character} may be a script name. In that case, use
2958 @var{font-spec} for all character in the charsets.
2959
2960 @var{font-spec} may be a cons; @code{(@var{family} . @var{registry})},
2961 where @var{family} is a family name of a font (possibly including a
2962 foundry name at the head), @var{registry} is a registry name of a font
2963 (possibly including an encoding name at the tail).
2964
2965 @var{font-spec} may be a font name string.
2966
2967 The optional argument @var{add}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies how to
2968 add @var{font-spec} to the font specifications previously set. If it
2969 is @code{prepend}, @var{font-spec} is prepended. If it is
2970 @code{append}, @var{font-spec} is appended. By default,
2971 @var{font-spec} overrides the previous settings.
2972
2973 For instance, this changes the default fontset to use a font of which
2974 family name is @samp{Kochi Gothic} for all characters belonging to
2975 the charset @code{japanese-jisx0208}.
2976
2977 @smallexample
2978 (set-fontset-font t 'japanese-jisx0208
2979 (font-spec :family "Kochi Gothic"))
2980 @end smallexample
2981 @end defun
2982
2983 @defun char-displayable-p char
2984 This function returns @code{t} if Emacs ought to be able to display
2985 @var{char}. More precisely, if the selected frame's fontset has a
2986 font to display the character set that @var{char} belongs to.
2987
2988 Fontsets can specify a font on a per-character basis; when the fontset
2989 does that, this function's value may not be accurate.
2990 @end defun
2991
2992 @node Low-Level Font
2993 @subsection Low-Level Font Representation
2994
2995 Normally, it is not necessary to manipulate fonts directly. In case
2996 you need to do so, this section explains how.
2997
2998 In Emacs Lisp, fonts are represented using three different Lisp
2999 object types: @dfn{font objects}, @dfn{font specs}, and @dfn{font
3000 entities}.
3001
3002 @defun fontp object &optional type
3003 Return @code{t} if @var{object} is a font object, font spec, or font
3004 entity. Otherwise, return @code{nil}.
3005
3006 The optional argument @var{type}, if non-@code{nil}, determines the
3007 exact type of Lisp object to check for. In that case, @var{type}
3008 should be one of @code{font-object}, @code{font-spec}, or
3009 @code{font-entity}.
3010 @end defun
3011
3012 A font object is a Lisp object that represents a font that Emacs has
3013 @dfn{opened}. Font objects cannot be modified in Lisp, but they can
3014 be inspected.
3015
3016 @defun font-at position &optional window string
3017 Return the font object that is being used to display the character at
3018 position @var{position} in the window @var{window}. If @var{window}
3019 is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected window. If @var{string} is
3020 @code{nil}, @var{position} specifies a position in the current buffer;
3021 otherwise, @var{string} should be a string, and @var{position}
3022 specifies a position in that string.
3023 @end defun
3024
3025 A font spec is a Lisp object that contains a set of specifications
3026 that can be used to find a font. More than one font may match the
3027 specifications in a font spec.
3028
3029 @defun font-spec &rest arguments
3030 Return a new font spec using the specifications in @var{arguments},
3031 which should come in @code{property}-@code{value} pairs. The possible
3032 specifications are as follows:
3033
3034 @table @code
3035 @item :name
3036 The font name (a string), in either XLFD, Fontconfig, or GTK format.
3037 @xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs
3038 Manual}.
3039
3040 @item :family
3041 @itemx :foundry
3042 @itemx :weight
3043 @itemx :slant
3044 @itemx :width
3045 These have the same meanings as the face attributes of the same name.
3046 @xref{Face Attributes}.
3047
3048 @item :size
3049 The font size---either a non-negative integer that specifies the pixel
3050 size, or a floating point number that specifies the point size.
3051
3052 @item :adstyle
3053 Additional typographic style information for the font, such as
3054 @samp{sans}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
3055
3056 @item :registry
3057 The charset registry and encoding of the font, such as
3058 @samp{iso8859-1}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
3059
3060 @item :script
3061 The script that the font must support (a symbol).
3062 @end table
3063 @end defun
3064
3065 @defun font-put font-spec property value
3066 Set the font property @var{property} in the font-spec @var{font-spec}
3067 to @var{value}.
3068 @end defun
3069
3070 A font entity is a reference to a font that need not be open. Its
3071 properties are intermediate between a font object and a font spec:
3072 like a font object, and unlike a font spec, it refers to a single,
3073 specific font. Unlike a font object, creating a font entity does not
3074 load the contents of that font into computer memory.
3075
3076 @defun find-font font-spec &optional frame
3077 This function returns a font entity that best matches the font spec
3078 @var{font-spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil},
3079 it defaults to the selected frame.
3080 @end defun
3081
3082 @defun list-fonts font-spec &optional frame num prefer
3083 This function returns a list of all font entities that match the font
3084 spec @var{font-spec}.
3085
3086 The optional argument @var{frame}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the
3087 frame on which the fonts are to be displayed. The optional argument
3088 @var{num}, if non-@code{nil}, should be an integer that specifies the
3089 maximum length of the returned list. The optional argument
3090 @var{prefer}, if non-@code{nil}, should be another font spec, which is
3091 used to control the order of the returned list; the returned font
3092 entities are sorted in order of decreasing ``closeness'' to that font
3093 spec.
3094 @end defun
3095
3096 If you call @code{set-face-attribute} and pass a font spec, font
3097 entity, or font name string as the value of the @code{:font}
3098 attribute, Emacs opens the best ``matching'' font that is available
3099 for display. It then stores the corresponding font object as the
3100 actual value of the @code{:font} attribute for that face.
3101
3102 The following functions can be used to obtain information about a
3103 font. For these functions, the @var{font} argument can be a font
3104 object, a font entity, or a font spec.
3105
3106 @defun font-get font property
3107 This function returns the value of the font property @var{property}
3108 for @var{font}.
3109
3110 If @var{font} is a font spec and the font spec does not specify
3111 @var{property}, the return value is @code{nil}. If @var{font} is a
3112 font object or font entity, the value for the @var{:script} property
3113 may be a list of scripts supported by the font.
3114 @end defun
3115
3116 @defun font-face-attributes font &optional frame
3117 This function returns a list of face attributes corresponding to
3118 @var{font}. The optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on
3119 which the font is to be displayed. If it is @code{nil}, the selected
3120 frame is used. The return value has the form
3121
3122 @smallexample
3123 (:family @var{family} :height @var{height} :weight @var{weight}
3124 :slant @var{slant} :width @var{width})
3125 @end smallexample
3126
3127 where the values of @var{family}, @var{height}, @var{weight},
3128 @var{slant}, and @var{width} are face attribute values. Some of these
3129 key-attribute pairs may be omitted from the list if they are not
3130 specified by @var{font}.
3131 @end defun
3132
3133 @defun font-xlfd-name font &optional fold-wildcards
3134 This function returns the XLFD (X Logical Font Descriptor), a string,
3135 matching @var{font}. @xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options,
3136 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for information about XLFDs. If the
3137 name is too long for an XLFD (which can contain at most 255
3138 characters), the function returns @code{nil}.
3139
3140 If the optional argument @var{fold-wildcards} is non-@code{nil},
3141 consecutive wildcards in the XLFD are folded into one.
3142 @end defun
3143
3144 @node Fringes
3145 @section Fringes
3146 @cindex fringes
3147
3148 The @dfn{fringes} of a window are thin vertical strips down the
3149 sides that are used for displaying bitmaps that indicate truncation,
3150 continuation, horizontal scrolling, and the overlay arrow.
3151
3152 @menu
3153 * Fringe Size/Pos:: Specifying where to put the window fringes.
3154 * Fringe Indicators:: Displaying indicator icons in the window fringes.
3155 * Fringe Cursors:: Displaying cursors in the right fringe.
3156 * Fringe Bitmaps:: Specifying bitmaps for fringe indicators.
3157 * Customizing Bitmaps:: Specifying your own bitmaps to use in the fringes.
3158 * Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
3159 @end menu
3160
3161 @node Fringe Size/Pos
3162 @subsection Fringe Size and Position
3163
3164 The following buffer-local variables control the position and width
3165 of the window fringes.
3166
3167 @defvar fringes-outside-margins
3168 The fringes normally appear between the display margins and the window
3169 text. If the value is non-@code{nil}, they appear outside the display
3170 margins. @xref{Display Margins}.
3171 @end defvar
3172
3173 @defvar left-fringe-width
3174 This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the left
3175 fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the left fringe
3176 width from the window's frame.
3177 @end defvar
3178
3179 @defvar right-fringe-width
3180 This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the right
3181 fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the right fringe
3182 width from the window's frame.
3183 @end defvar
3184
3185 The values of these variables take effect when you display the
3186 buffer in a window. If you change them while the buffer is visible,
3187 you can call @code{set-window-buffer} to display it once again in the
3188 same window, to make the changes take effect.
3189
3190 @defun set-window-fringes window left &optional right outside-margins
3191 This function sets the fringe widths of window @var{window}.
3192 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3193
3194 The argument @var{left} specifies the width in pixels of the left
3195 fringe, and likewise @var{right} for the right fringe. A value of
3196 @code{nil} for either one stands for the default width. If
3197 @var{outside-margins} is non-@code{nil}, that specifies that fringes
3198 should appear outside of the display margins.
3199 @end defun
3200
3201 @defun window-fringes &optional window
3202 This function returns information about the fringes of a window
3203 @var{window}. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected
3204 window is used. The value has the form @code{(@var{left-width}
3205 @var{right-width} @var{outside-margins})}.
3206 @end defun
3207
3208
3209 @node Fringe Indicators
3210 @subsection Fringe Indicators
3211 @cindex fringe indicators
3212 @cindex indicators, fringe
3213
3214 The @dfn{fringe indicators} are tiny icons Emacs displays in the
3215 window fringe (on a graphic display) to indicate truncated or
3216 continued lines, buffer boundaries, overlay arrow, etc.
3217
3218 @defopt indicate-empty-lines
3219 @cindex fringes, and empty line indication
3220 When this is non-@code{nil}, Emacs displays a special glyph in the
3221 fringe of each empty line at the end of the buffer, on graphical
3222 displays. @xref{Fringes}. This variable is automatically
3223 buffer-local in every buffer.
3224 @end defopt
3225
3226 @defopt indicate-buffer-boundaries
3227 This buffer-local variable controls how the buffer boundaries and
3228 window scrolling are indicated in the window fringes.
3229
3230 Emacs can indicate the buffer boundaries---that is, the first and last
3231 line in the buffer---with angle icons when they appear on the screen.
3232 In addition, Emacs can display an up-arrow in the fringe to show
3233 that there is text above the screen, and a down-arrow to show
3234 there is text below the screen.
3235
3236 There are three kinds of basic values:
3237
3238 @table @asis
3239 @item @code{nil}
3240 Don't display any of these fringe icons.
3241 @item @code{left}
3242 Display the angle icons and arrows in the left fringe.
3243 @item @code{right}
3244 Display the angle icons and arrows in the right fringe.
3245 @item any non-alist
3246 Display the angle icons in the left fringe
3247 and don't display the arrows.
3248 @end table
3249
3250 Otherwise the value should be an alist that specifies which fringe
3251 indicators to display and where. Each element of the alist should
3252 have the form @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{position})}. Here,
3253 @var{indicator} is one of @code{top}, @code{bottom}, @code{up},
3254 @code{down}, and @code{t} (which covers all the icons not yet
3255 specified), while @var{position} is one of @code{left}, @code{right}
3256 and @code{nil}.
3257
3258 For example, @code{((top . left) (t . right))} places the top angle
3259 bitmap in left fringe, and the bottom angle bitmap as well as both
3260 arrow bitmaps in right fringe. To show the angle bitmaps in the left
3261 fringe, and no arrow bitmaps, use @code{((top . left) (bottom . left))}.
3262 @end defopt
3263
3264 @defvar fringe-indicator-alist
3265 This buffer-local variable specifies the mapping from logical fringe
3266 indicators to the actual bitmaps displayed in the window fringes.
3267
3268 These symbols identify the logical fringe indicators:
3269
3270 @table @asis
3271 @item Truncation and continuation line indicators:
3272 @code{truncation}, @code{continuation}.
3273
3274 @item Buffer position indicators:
3275 @code{up}, @code{down},
3276 @code{top}, @code{bottom},
3277 @code{top-bottom}.
3278
3279 @item Empty line indicator:
3280 @code{empty-line}.
3281
3282 @item Overlay arrow indicator:
3283 @code{overlay-arrow}.
3284
3285 @item Unknown bitmap indicator:
3286 @code{unknown}.
3287 @end table
3288
3289 The value is an alist where each element @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{bitmaps})}
3290 specifies the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical
3291 fringe indicator.
3292
3293 Here, @var{indicator} specifies the logical indicator type, and
3294 @var{bitmaps} is list of symbols @code{(@var{left} @var{right}
3295 [@var{left1} @var{right1}])} which specifies the actual bitmap shown
3296 in the left or right fringe for the logical indicator.
3297
3298 The @var{left} and @var{right} symbols specify the bitmaps shown in
3299 the left and/or right fringe for the specific indicator. The
3300 @var{left1} or @var{right1} bitmaps are used only for the `bottom' and
3301 `top-bottom indicators when the last (only) line in has no final
3302 newline. Alternatively, @var{bitmaps} may be a single symbol which is
3303 used in both left and right fringes.
3304
3305 When @code{fringe-indicator-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there
3306 is no bitmap defined for a logical indicator, or the bitmap is
3307 @code{t}, the corresponding value from the default value of
3308 @code{fringe-indicator-alist} is used.
3309
3310 To completely hide a specific indicator, set the bitmap to @code{nil}.
3311 @end defvar
3312
3313 Standard fringe bitmaps for indicators:
3314 @example
3315 left-arrow right-arrow up-arrow down-arrow
3316 left-curly-arrow right-curly-arrow
3317 left-triangle right-triangle
3318 top-left-angle top-right-angle
3319 bottom-left-angle bottom-right-angle
3320 left-bracket right-bracket
3321 filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle
3322 filled-square hollow-square
3323 vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3324 empty-line question-mark
3325 @end example
3326
3327 @node Fringe Cursors
3328 @subsection Fringe Cursors
3329 @cindex fringe cursors
3330 @cindex cursor, fringe
3331
3332 When a line is exactly as wide as the window, Emacs displays the
3333 cursor in the right fringe instead of using two lines. Different
3334 bitmaps are used to represent the cursor in the fringe depending on
3335 the current buffer's cursor type.
3336
3337 @table @asis
3338 @item Logical cursor types:
3339 @code{box} , @code{hollow}, @code{bar},
3340 @code{hbar}, @code{hollow-small}.
3341 @end table
3342
3343 The @code{hollow-small} type is used instead of @code{hollow} when the
3344 normal @code{hollow-rectangle} bitmap is too tall to fit on a specific
3345 display line.
3346
3347 @defopt overflow-newline-into-fringe
3348 If this is non-@code{nil}, lines exactly as wide as the window (not
3349 counting the final newline character) are not continued. Instead,
3350 when point is at the end of the line, the cursor appears in the right
3351 fringe.
3352 @end defopt
3353
3354 @defvar fringe-cursor-alist
3355 This variable specifies the mapping from logical cursor type to the
3356 actual fringe bitmaps displayed in the right fringe. The value is an
3357 alist where each element @code{(@var{cursor} . @var{bitmap})} specifies
3358 the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical cursor type in
3359 the fringe. Here, @var{cursor} specifies the logical cursor type and
3360 @var{bitmap} is a symbol specifying the fringe bitmap to be displayed
3361 for that logical cursor type.
3362
3363 When @code{fringe-cursor-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there is
3364 no bitmap defined for a cursor type, the corresponding value from the
3365 default value of @code{fringes-indicator-alist} is used.
3366 @end defvar
3367
3368 Standard bitmaps for displaying the cursor in right fringe:
3369 @example
3370 filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle filled-square hollow-square
3371 vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3372 @end example
3373
3374
3375 @node Fringe Bitmaps
3376 @subsection Fringe Bitmaps
3377 @cindex fringe bitmaps
3378 @cindex bitmaps, fringe
3379
3380 The @dfn{fringe bitmaps} are the actual bitmaps which represent the
3381 logical fringe indicators for truncated or continued lines, buffer
3382 boundaries, overlay arrow, etc. Fringe bitmap symbols have their own
3383 name space. The fringe bitmaps are shared by all frames and windows.
3384 You can redefine the built-in fringe bitmaps, and you can define new
3385 fringe bitmaps.
3386
3387 The way to display a bitmap in the left or right fringes for a given
3388 line in a window is by specifying the @code{display} property for one
3389 of the characters that appears in it. Use a display specification of
3390 the form @code{(left-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} or
3391 @code{(right-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} (@pxref{Display
3392 Property}). Here, @var{bitmap} is a symbol identifying the bitmap you
3393 want, and @var{face} (which is optional) is the name of the face whose
3394 colors should be used for displaying the bitmap, instead of the
3395 default @code{fringe} face. @var{face} is automatically merged with
3396 the @code{fringe} face, so normally @var{face} need only specify the
3397 foreground color for the bitmap.
3398
3399 @defun fringe-bitmaps-at-pos &optional pos window
3400 This function returns the fringe bitmaps of the display line
3401 containing position @var{pos} in window @var{window}. The return
3402 value has the form @code{(@var{left} @var{right} @var{ov})}, where @var{left}
3403 is the symbol for the fringe bitmap in the left fringe (or @code{nil}
3404 if no bitmap), @var{right} is similar for the right fringe, and @var{ov}
3405 is non-@code{nil} if there is an overlay arrow in the left fringe.
3406
3407 The value is @code{nil} if @var{pos} is not visible in @var{window}.
3408 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, that stands for the selected window.
3409 If @var{pos} is @code{nil}, that stands for the value of point in
3410 @var{window}.
3411 @end defun
3412
3413 @node Customizing Bitmaps
3414 @subsection Customizing Fringe Bitmaps
3415
3416 @defun define-fringe-bitmap bitmap bits &optional height width align
3417 This function defines the symbol @var{bitmap} as a new fringe bitmap,
3418 or replaces an existing bitmap with that name.
3419
3420 The argument @var{bits} specifies the image to use. It should be
3421 either a string or a vector of integers, where each element (an
3422 integer) corresponds to one row of the bitmap. Each bit of an integer
3423 corresponds to one pixel of the bitmap, where the low bit corresponds
3424 to the rightmost pixel of the bitmap.
3425
3426 The height is normally the length of @var{bits}. However, you
3427 can specify a different height with non-@code{nil} @var{height}. The width
3428 is normally 8, but you can specify a different width with non-@code{nil}
3429 @var{width}. The width must be an integer between 1 and 16.
3430
3431 The argument @var{align} specifies the positioning of the bitmap
3432 relative to the range of rows where it is used; the default is to
3433 center the bitmap. The allowed values are @code{top}, @code{center},
3434 or @code{bottom}.
3435
3436 The @var{align} argument may also be a list @code{(@var{align}
3437 @var{periodic})} where @var{align} is interpreted as described above.
3438 If @var{periodic} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies that the rows in
3439 @code{bits} should be repeated enough times to reach the specified
3440 height.
3441 @end defun
3442
3443 @defun destroy-fringe-bitmap bitmap
3444 This function destroy the fringe bitmap identified by @var{bitmap}.
3445 If @var{bitmap} identifies a standard fringe bitmap, it actually
3446 restores the standard definition of that bitmap, instead of
3447 eliminating it entirely.
3448 @end defun
3449
3450 @defun set-fringe-bitmap-face bitmap &optional face
3451 This sets the face for the fringe bitmap @var{bitmap} to @var{face}.
3452 If @var{face} is @code{nil}, it selects the @code{fringe} face. The
3453 bitmap's face controls the color to draw it in.
3454
3455 @var{face} is merged with the @code{fringe} face, so normally
3456 @var{face} should specify only the foreground color.
3457 @end defun
3458
3459 @node Overlay Arrow
3460 @subsection The Overlay Arrow
3461 @c @cindex overlay arrow Duplicates variable names
3462
3463 The @dfn{overlay arrow} is useful for directing the user's attention
3464 to a particular line in a buffer. For example, in the modes used for
3465 interface to debuggers, the overlay arrow indicates the line of code
3466 about to be executed. This feature has nothing to do with
3467 @dfn{overlays} (@pxref{Overlays}).
3468
3469 @defvar overlay-arrow-string
3470 This variable holds the string to display to call attention to a
3471 particular line, or @code{nil} if the arrow feature is not in use.
3472 On a graphical display the contents of the string are ignored; instead a
3473 glyph is displayed in the fringe area to the left of the display area.
3474 @end defvar
3475
3476 @defvar overlay-arrow-position
3477 This variable holds a marker that indicates where to display the overlay
3478 arrow. It should point at the beginning of a line. On a non-graphical
3479 display the arrow text
3480 appears at the beginning of that line, overlaying any text that would
3481 otherwise appear. Since the arrow is usually short, and the line
3482 usually begins with indentation, normally nothing significant is
3483 overwritten.
3484
3485 The overlay-arrow string is displayed in any given buffer if the value
3486 of @code{overlay-arrow-position} in that buffer points into that
3487 buffer. Thus, it is possible to display multiple overlay arrow strings
3488 by creating buffer-local bindings of @code{overlay-arrow-position}.
3489 However, it is usually cleaner to use
3490 @code{overlay-arrow-variable-list} to achieve this result.
3491 @c !!! overlay-arrow-position: but the overlay string may remain in the display
3492 @c of some other buffer until an update is required. This should be fixed
3493 @c now. Is it?
3494 @end defvar
3495
3496 You can do a similar job by creating an overlay with a
3497 @code{before-string} property. @xref{Overlay Properties}.
3498
3499 You can define multiple overlay arrows via the variable
3500 @code{overlay-arrow-variable-list}.
3501
3502 @defvar overlay-arrow-variable-list
3503 This variable's value is a list of variables, each of which specifies
3504 the position of an overlay arrow. The variable
3505 @code{overlay-arrow-position} has its normal meaning because it is on
3506 this list.
3507 @end defvar
3508
3509 Each variable on this list can have properties
3510 @code{overlay-arrow-string} and @code{overlay-arrow-bitmap} that
3511 specify an overlay arrow string (for text-only terminals) or fringe
3512 bitmap (for graphical terminals) to display at the corresponding
3513 overlay arrow position. If either property is not set, the default
3514 @code{overlay-arrow-string} or @code{overlay-arrow} fringe indicator
3515 is used.
3516
3517 @node Scroll Bars
3518 @section Scroll Bars
3519 @cindex scroll bars
3520
3521 Normally the frame parameter @code{vertical-scroll-bars} controls
3522 whether the windows in the frame have vertical scroll bars, and
3523 whether they are on the left or right. The frame parameter
3524 @code{scroll-bar-width} specifies how wide they are (@code{nil}
3525 meaning the default). @xref{Layout Parameters}.
3526
3527 @defun frame-current-scroll-bars &optional frame
3528 This function reports the scroll bar type settings for frame
3529 @var{frame}. The value is a cons cell
3530 @code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}, where
3531 @var{vertical-type} is either @code{left}, @code{right}, or @code{nil}
3532 (which means no scroll bar.) @var{horizontal-type} is meant to
3533 specify the horizontal scroll bar type, but since they are not
3534 implemented, it is always @code{nil}.
3535 @end defun
3536
3537 @vindex vertical-scroll-bar
3538 You can enable or disable scroll bars for a particular buffer,
3539 by setting the variable @code{vertical-scroll-bar}. This variable
3540 automatically becomes buffer-local when set. The possible values are
3541 @code{left}, @code{right}, @code{t}, which means to use the
3542 frame's default, and @code{nil} for no scroll bar.
3543
3544 You can also control this for individual windows. Call the function
3545 @code{set-window-scroll-bars} to specify what to do for a specific window:
3546
3547 @defun set-window-scroll-bars window width &optional vertical-type horizontal-type
3548 This function sets the width and type of scroll bars for window
3549 @var{window}.
3550
3551 @var{width} specifies the scroll bar width in pixels (@code{nil} means
3552 use the width specified for the frame). @var{vertical-type} specifies
3553 whether to have a vertical scroll bar and, if so, where. The possible
3554 values are @code{left}, @code{right} and @code{nil}, just like the
3555 values of the @code{vertical-scroll-bars} frame parameter.
3556
3557 The argument @var{horizontal-type} is meant to specify whether and
3558 where to have horizontal scroll bars, but since they are not
3559 implemented, it has no effect. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the
3560 selected window is used.
3561 @end defun
3562
3563 @defun window-scroll-bars &optional window
3564 Report the width and type of scroll bars specified for @var{window}.
3565 If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3566 The value is a list of the form @code{(@var{width}
3567 @var{cols} @var{vertical-type} @var{horizontal-type})}. The value
3568 @var{width} is the value that was specified for the width (which may
3569 be @code{nil}); @var{cols} is the number of columns that the scroll
3570 bar actually occupies.
3571
3572 @var{horizontal-type} is not actually meaningful.
3573 @end defun
3574
3575 If you don't specify these values for a window with
3576 @code{set-window-scroll-bars}, the buffer-local variables
3577 @code{scroll-bar-mode} and @code{scroll-bar-width} in the buffer being
3578 displayed control the window's vertical scroll bars. The function
3579 @code{set-window-buffer} examines these variables. If you change them
3580 in a buffer that is already visible in a window, you can make the
3581 window take note of the new values by calling @code{set-window-buffer}
3582 specifying the same buffer that is already displayed.
3583
3584 @defopt scroll-bar-mode
3585 This variable, always local in all buffers, controls whether and where
3586 to put scroll bars in windows displaying the buffer. The possible values
3587 are @code{nil} for no scroll bar, @code{left} to put a scroll bar on
3588 the left, and @code{right} to put a scroll bar on the right.
3589 @end defopt
3590
3591 @defun window-current-scroll-bars &optional window
3592 This function reports the scroll bar type for window @var{window}.
3593 If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3594 The value is a cons cell
3595 @code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}. Unlike
3596 @code{window-scroll-bars}, this reports the scroll bar type actually
3597 used, once frame defaults and @code{scroll-bar-mode} are taken into
3598 account.
3599 @end defun
3600
3601 @defvar scroll-bar-width
3602 This variable, always local in all buffers, specifies the width of the
3603 buffer's scroll bars, measured in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means
3604 to use the value specified by the frame.
3605 @end defvar
3606
3607 @node Display Property
3608 @section The @code{display} Property
3609 @cindex display specification
3610 @kindex display @r{(text property)}
3611
3612 The @code{display} text property (or overlay property) is used to
3613 insert images into text, and also control other aspects of how text
3614 displays. The value of the @code{display} property should be a
3615 display specification, or a list or vector containing several display
3616 specifications. Display specifications in the same @code{display}
3617 property value generally apply in parallel to the text they cover.
3618
3619 If several sources (overlays and/or a text property) specify values
3620 for the @code{display} property, only one of the values takes effect,
3621 following the rules of @code{get-char-property}. @xref{Examining
3622 Properties}.
3623
3624 The rest of this section describes several kinds of
3625 display specifications and what they mean.
3626
3627 @menu
3628 * Replacing Specs:: Display specs that replace the text.
3629 * Specified Space:: Displaying one space with a specified width.
3630 * Pixel Specification:: Specifying space width or height in pixels.
3631 * Other Display Specs:: Displaying an image; magnifying text; moving it
3632 up or down on the page; adjusting the width
3633 of spaces within text.
3634 * Display Margins:: Displaying text or images to the side of the main text.
3635 @end menu
3636
3637 @node Replacing Specs
3638 @subsection Display Specs That Replace The Text
3639
3640 Some kinds of @code{display} specifications specify something to
3641 display instead of the text that has the property. These are called
3642 @dfn{replacing} display specifications. Emacs does not allow the user
3643 to interactively move point into the middle of buffer text that is
3644 replaced in this way.
3645
3646 If a list of display specifications includes more than one replacing
3647 display specification, the first overrides the rest. Replacing
3648 display specifications make most other display specifications
3649 irrelevant, since those don't apply to the replacement.
3650
3651 For replacing display specifications, ``the text that has the
3652 property'' means all the consecutive characters that have the same
3653 Lisp object as their @code{display} property; these characters are
3654 replaced as a single unit. By contrast, characters that have similar
3655 but distinct Lisp objects as their @code{display} properties are
3656 handled separately. Here's a function that illustrates this point:
3657
3658 @smallexample
3659 (defun foo ()
3660 (goto-char (point-min))
3661 (dotimes (i 5)
3662 (let ((string (concat "A")))
3663 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3664 (forward-char 1)
3665 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3666 (forward-char 1))))
3667 @end smallexample
3668
3669 @noindent
3670 It gives each of the first ten characters in the buffer string
3671 @code{"A"} as the @code{display} property, but they don't all get the
3672 same string. The first two characters get the same string, so they
3673 together are replaced with one @samp{A}. The next two characters get
3674 a second string, so they together are replaced with one @samp{A}.
3675 Likewise for each following pair of characters. Thus, the ten
3676 characters appear as five A's. This function would have the same
3677 results:
3678
3679 @smallexample
3680 (defun foo ()
3681 (goto-char (point-min))
3682 (dotimes (i 5)
3683 (let ((string (concat "A")))
3684 (put-text-property (point) (+ 2 (point)) 'display string)
3685 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3686 (forward-char 2))))
3687 @end smallexample
3688
3689 @noindent
3690 This illustrates that what matters is the property value for
3691 each character. If two consecutive characters have the same
3692 object as the @code{display} property value, it's irrelevant
3693 whether they got this property from a single call to
3694 @code{put-text-property} or from two different calls.
3695
3696 @node Specified Space
3697 @subsection Specified Spaces
3698 @cindex spaces, specified height or width
3699 @cindex variable-width spaces
3700
3701 To display a space of specified width and/or height, use a display
3702 specification of the form @code{(space . @var{props})}, where
3703 @var{props} is a property list (a list of alternating properties and
3704 values). You can put this property on one or more consecutive
3705 characters; a space of the specified height and width is displayed in
3706 place of @emph{all} of those characters. These are the properties you
3707 can use in @var{props} to specify the weight of the space:
3708
3709 @table @code
3710 @item :width @var{width}
3711 If @var{width} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3712 that the space width should be @var{width} times the normal character
3713 width. @var{width} can also be a @dfn{pixel width} specification
3714 (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3715
3716 @item :relative-width @var{factor}
3717 Specifies that the width of the stretch should be computed from the
3718 first character in the group of consecutive characters that have the
3719 same @code{display} property. The space width is the width of that
3720 character, multiplied by @var{factor}.
3721
3722 @item :align-to @var{hpos}
3723 Specifies that the space should be wide enough to reach @var{hpos}.
3724 If @var{hpos} is a number, it is measured in units of the normal
3725 character width. @var{hpos} can also be a @dfn{pixel width}
3726 specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3727 @end table
3728
3729 You should use one and only one of the above properties. You can
3730 also specify the height of the space, with these properties:
3731
3732 @table @code
3733 @item :height @var{height}
3734 Specifies the height of the space.
3735 If @var{height} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3736 that the space height should be @var{height} times the normal character
3737 height. The @var{height} may also be a @dfn{pixel height} specification
3738 (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3739
3740 @item :relative-height @var{factor}
3741 Specifies the height of the space, multiplying the ordinary height
3742 of the text having this display specification by @var{factor}.
3743
3744 @item :ascent @var{ascent}
3745 If the value of @var{ascent} is a non-negative number no greater than
3746 100, it specifies that @var{ascent} percent of the height of the space
3747 should be considered as the ascent of the space---that is, the part
3748 above the baseline. The ascent may also be specified in pixel units
3749 with a @dfn{pixel ascent} specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3750
3751 @end table
3752
3753 Don't use both @code{:height} and @code{:relative-height} together.
3754
3755 The @code{:width} and @code{:align-to} properties are supported on
3756 non-graphic terminals, but the other space properties in this section
3757 are not.
3758
3759 @node Pixel Specification
3760 @subsection Pixel Specification for Spaces
3761 @cindex spaces, pixel specification
3762
3763 The value of the @code{:width}, @code{:align-to}, @code{:height},
3764 and @code{:ascent} properties can be a special kind of expression that
3765 is evaluated during redisplay. The result of the evaluation is used
3766 as an absolute number of pixels.
3767
3768 The following expressions are supported:
3769
3770 @smallexample
3771 @group
3772 @var{expr} ::= @var{num} | (@var{num}) | @var{unit} | @var{elem} | @var{pos} | @var{image} | @var{form}
3773 @var{num} ::= @var{integer} | @var{float} | @var{symbol}
3774 @var{unit} ::= in | mm | cm | width | height
3775 @end group
3776 @group
3777 @var{elem} ::= left-fringe | right-fringe | left-margin | right-margin
3778 | scroll-bar | text
3779 @var{pos} ::= left | center | right
3780 @var{form} ::= (@var{num} . @var{expr}) | (@var{op} @var{expr} ...)
3781 @var{op} ::= + | -
3782 @end group
3783 @end smallexample
3784
3785 The form @var{num} specifies a fraction of the default frame font
3786 height or width. The form @code{(@var{num})} specifies an absolute
3787 number of pixels. If @var{num} is a symbol, @var{symbol}, its
3788 buffer-local variable binding is used.
3789
3790 The @code{in}, @code{mm}, and @code{cm} units specify the number of
3791 pixels per inch, millimeter, and centimeter, respectively. The
3792 @code{width} and @code{height} units correspond to the default width
3793 and height of the current face. An image specification @code{image}
3794 corresponds to the width or height of the image.
3795
3796 The @code{left-fringe}, @code{right-fringe}, @code{left-margin},
3797 @code{right-margin}, @code{scroll-bar}, and @code{text} elements
3798 specify to the width of the corresponding area of the window.
3799
3800 The @code{left}, @code{center}, and @code{right} positions can be
3801 used with @code{:align-to} to specify a position relative to the left
3802 edge, center, or right edge of the text area.
3803
3804 Any of the above window elements (except @code{text}) can also be
3805 used with @code{:align-to} to specify that the position is relative to
3806 the left edge of the given area. Once the base offset for a relative
3807 position has been set (by the first occurrence of one of these
3808 symbols), further occurrences of these symbols are interpreted as the
3809 width of the specified area. For example, to align to the center of
3810 the left-margin, use
3811
3812 @example
3813 :align-to (+ left-margin (0.5 . left-margin))
3814 @end example
3815
3816 If no specific base offset is set for alignment, it is always relative
3817 to the left edge of the text area. For example, @samp{:align-to 0} in a
3818 header-line aligns with the first text column in the text area.
3819
3820 A value of the form @code{(@var{num} . @var{expr})} stands for the
3821 product of the values of @var{num} and @var{expr}. For example,
3822 @code{(2 . in)} specifies a width of 2 inches, while @code{(0.5 .
3823 @var{image})} specifies half the width (or height) of the specified
3824 image.
3825
3826 The form @code{(+ @var{expr} ...)} adds up the value of the
3827 expressions. The form @code{(- @var{expr} ...)} negates or subtracts
3828 the value of the expressions.
3829
3830 @node Other Display Specs
3831 @subsection Other Display Specifications
3832
3833 Here are the other sorts of display specifications that you can use
3834 in the @code{display} text property.
3835
3836 @table @code
3837 @item @var{string}
3838 Display @var{string} instead of the text that has this property.
3839
3840 Recursive display specifications are not supported---@var{string}'s
3841 @code{display} properties, if any, are not used.
3842
3843 @item (image . @var{image-props})
3844 This kind of display specification is an image descriptor (@pxref{Images}).
3845 When used as a display specification, it means to display the image
3846 instead of the text that has the display specification.
3847
3848 @item (slice @var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})
3849 This specification together with @code{image} specifies a @dfn{slice}
3850 (a partial area) of the image to display. The elements @var{y} and
3851 @var{x} specify the top left corner of the slice, within the image;
3852 @var{width} and @var{height} specify the width and height of the
3853 slice. Integer values are numbers of pixels. A floating point number
3854 in the range 0.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height
3855 of the entire image.
3856
3857 @item ((margin nil) @var{string})
3858 A display specification of this form means to display @var{string}
3859 instead of the text that has the display specification, at the same
3860 position as that text. It is equivalent to using just @var{string},
3861 but it is done as a special case of marginal display (@pxref{Display
3862 Margins}).
3863
3864 @item (space-width @var{factor})
3865 This display specification affects all the space characters within the
3866 text that has the specification. It displays all of these spaces
3867 @var{factor} times as wide as normal. The element @var{factor} should
3868 be an integer or float. Characters other than spaces are not affected
3869 at all; in particular, this has no effect on tab characters.
3870
3871 @item (height @var{height})
3872 This display specification makes the text taller or shorter.
3873 Here are the possibilities for @var{height}:
3874
3875 @table @asis
3876 @item @code{(+ @var{n})}
3877 This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps larger. A ``step'' is
3878 defined by the set of available fonts---specifically, those that match
3879 what was otherwise specified for this text, in all attributes except
3880 height. Each size for which a suitable font is available counts as
3881 another step. @var{n} should be an integer.
3882
3883 @item @code{(- @var{n})}
3884 This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps smaller.
3885
3886 @item a number, @var{factor}
3887 A number, @var{factor}, means to use a font that is @var{factor} times
3888 as tall as the default font.
3889
3890 @item a symbol, @var{function}
3891 A symbol is a function to compute the height. It is called with the
3892 current height as argument, and should return the new height to use.
3893
3894 @item anything else, @var{form}
3895 If the @var{height} value doesn't fit the previous possibilities, it is
3896 a form. Emacs evaluates it to get the new height, with the symbol
3897 @code{height} bound to the current specified font height.
3898 @end table
3899
3900 @item (raise @var{factor})
3901 This kind of display specification raises or lowers the text
3902 it applies to, relative to the baseline of the line.
3903
3904 @var{factor} must be a number, which is interpreted as a multiple of the
3905 height of the affected text. If it is positive, that means to display
3906 the characters raised. If it is negative, that means to display them
3907 lower down.
3908
3909 If the text also has a @code{height} display specification, that does
3910 not affect the amount of raising or lowering, which is based on the
3911 faces used for the text.
3912 @end table
3913
3914 @c We put all the `@code{(when ...)}' on one line to encourage
3915 @c makeinfo's end-of-sentence heuristics to DTRT. Previously, the dot
3916 @c was at eol; the info file ended up w/ two spaces rendered after it.
3917 You can make any display specification conditional. To do that,
3918 package it in another list of the form
3919 @code{(when @var{condition} . @var{spec})}.
3920 Then the specification @var{spec} applies only when
3921 @var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value. During the
3922 evaluation, @code{object} is bound to the string or buffer having the
3923 conditional @code{display} property. @code{position} and
3924 @code{buffer-position} are bound to the position within @code{object}
3925 and the buffer position where the @code{display} property was found,
3926 respectively. Both positions can be different when @code{object} is a
3927 string.
3928
3929 @node Display Margins
3930 @subsection Displaying in the Margins
3931 @cindex display margins
3932 @cindex margins, display
3933
3934 A buffer can have blank areas called @dfn{display margins} on the
3935 left and on the right. Ordinary text never appears in these areas,
3936 but you can put things into the display margins using the
3937 @code{display} property. There is currently no way to make text or
3938 images in the margin mouse-sensitive.
3939
3940 The way to display something in the margins is to specify it in a
3941 margin display specification in the @code{display} property of some
3942 text. This is a replacing display specification, meaning that the
3943 text you put it on does not get displayed; the margin display appears,
3944 but that text does not.
3945
3946 A margin display specification looks like @code{((margin
3947 right-margin) @var{spec})} or @code{((margin left-margin) @var{spec})}.
3948 Here, @var{spec} is another display specification that says what to
3949 display in the margin. Typically it is a string of text to display,
3950 or an image descriptor.
3951
3952 To display something in the margin @emph{in association with}
3953 certain buffer text, without altering or preventing the display of
3954 that text, put a @code{before-string} property on the text and put the
3955 margin display specification on the contents of the before-string.
3956
3957 Before the display margins can display anything, you must give
3958 them a nonzero width. The usual way to do that is to set these
3959 variables:
3960
3961 @defvar left-margin-width
3962 This variable specifies the width of the left margin.
3963 It is buffer-local in all buffers.
3964 @end defvar
3965
3966 @defvar right-margin-width
3967 This variable specifies the width of the right margin.
3968 It is buffer-local in all buffers.
3969 @end defvar
3970
3971 Setting these variables does not immediately affect the window. These
3972 variables are checked when a new buffer is displayed in the window.
3973 Thus, you can make changes take effect by calling
3974 @code{set-window-buffer}.
3975
3976 You can also set the margin widths immediately.
3977
3978 @defun set-window-margins window left &optional right
3979 This function specifies the margin widths for window @var{window}.
3980 The argument @var{left} controls the left margin and
3981 @var{right} controls the right margin (default @code{0}).
3982 @end defun
3983
3984 @defun window-margins &optional window
3985 This function returns the left and right margins of @var{window}
3986 as a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{left} . @var{right})}.
3987 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3988 @end defun
3989
3990 @node Images
3991 @section Images
3992 @cindex images in buffers
3993
3994 To display an image in an Emacs buffer, you must first create an image
3995 descriptor, then use it as a display specifier in the @code{display}
3996 property of text that is displayed (@pxref{Display Property}).
3997
3998 Emacs is usually able to display images when it is run on a
3999 graphical terminal. Images cannot be displayed in a text terminal, on
4000 certain graphical terminals that lack the support for this, or if
4001 Emacs is compiled without image support. You can use the function
4002 @code{display-images-p} to determine if images can in principle be
4003 displayed (@pxref{Display Feature Testing}).
4004
4005 @menu
4006 * Image Formats:: Supported image formats.
4007 * Image Descriptors:: How to specify an image for use in @code{:display}.
4008 * XBM Images:: Special features for XBM format.
4009 * XPM Images:: Special features for XPM format.
4010 * GIF Images:: Special features for GIF format.
4011 * TIFF Images:: Special features for TIFF format.
4012 * PostScript Images:: Special features for PostScript format.
4013 * Other Image Types:: Various other formats are supported.
4014 * Defining Images:: Convenient ways to define an image for later use.
4015 * Showing Images:: Convenient ways to display an image once it is defined.
4016 * Image Cache:: Internal mechanisms of image display.
4017 @end menu
4018
4019 @node Image Formats
4020 @subsection Image Formats
4021 @cindex image formats
4022 @cindex image types
4023
4024 Emacs can display a number of different image formats; some of them
4025 are supported only if particular support libraries are installed on
4026 your machine. In some environments, Emacs can load image
4027 libraries on demand; if so, the variable @code{image-library-alist}
4028 can be used to modify the set of known names for these dynamic
4029 libraries (though it is not possible to add new image formats).
4030
4031 The supported image formats include XBM, XPM (this requires the
4032 libraries @code{libXpm} version 3.4k and @code{libz}), GIF (requiring
4033 @code{libungif} 4.1.0), PostScript, PBM, JPEG (requiring the
4034 @code{libjpeg} library version v6a), TIFF (requiring @code{libtiff}
4035 v3.4), PNG (requiring @code{libpng} 1.0.2), and SVG (requiring
4036 @code{librsvg} 2.0.0).
4037
4038 You specify one of these formats with an image type symbol. The image
4039 type symbols are @code{xbm}, @code{xpm}, @code{gif}, @code{postscript},
4040 @code{pbm}, @code{jpeg}, @code{tiff}, @code{png}, and @code{svg}.
4041
4042 @defvar image-types
4043 This variable contains a list of those image type symbols that are
4044 potentially supported in the current configuration.
4045 @emph{Potentially} here means that Emacs knows about the image types,
4046 not necessarily that they can be loaded (they could depend on
4047 unavailable dynamic libraries, for example).
4048
4049 To know which image types are really available, use
4050 @code{image-type-available-p}.
4051 @end defvar
4052
4053 @defvar image-library-alist
4054 This in an alist of image types vs external libraries needed to
4055 display them.
4056
4057 Each element is a list @code{(@var{image-type} @var{library}...)},
4058 where the car is a supported image format from @code{image-types}, and
4059 the rest are strings giving alternate filenames for the corresponding
4060 external libraries to load.
4061
4062 Emacs tries to load the libraries in the order they appear on the
4063 list; if none is loaded, the running session of Emacs won't support
4064 the image type. @code{pbm} and @code{xbm} don't need to be listed;
4065 they're always supported.
4066
4067 This variable is ignored if the image libraries are statically linked
4068 into Emacs.
4069 @end defvar
4070
4071 @defun image-type-available-p type
4072 This function returns non-@code{nil} if image type @var{type} is
4073 available, i.e., if images of this type can be loaded and displayed in
4074 Emacs. @var{type} should be one of the types contained in
4075 @code{image-types}.
4076
4077 For image types whose support libraries are statically linked, this
4078 function always returns @code{t}; for other image types, it returns
4079 @code{t} if the dynamic library could be loaded, @code{nil} otherwise.
4080 @end defun
4081
4082 @node Image Descriptors
4083 @subsection Image Descriptors
4084 @cindex image descriptor
4085
4086 An image description is a list of the form @code{(image . @var{props})},
4087 where @var{props} is a property list containing alternating keyword
4088 symbols (symbols whose names start with a colon) and their values.
4089 You can use any Lisp object as a property, but the only properties
4090 that have any special meaning are certain symbols, all of them keywords.
4091
4092 Every image descriptor must contain the property @code{:type
4093 @var{type}} to specify the format of the image. The value of @var{type}
4094 should be an image type symbol; for example, @code{xpm} for an image in
4095 XPM format.
4096
4097 Here is a list of other properties that are meaningful for all image
4098 types:
4099
4100 @table @code
4101 @item :file @var{file}
4102 The @code{:file} property says to load the image from file
4103 @var{file}. If @var{file} is not an absolute file name, it is expanded
4104 in @code{data-directory}.
4105
4106 @item :data @var{data}
4107 The @code{:data} property says the actual contents of the image.
4108 Each image must use either @code{:data} or @code{:file}, but not both.
4109 For most image types, the value of the @code{:data} property should be a
4110 string containing the image data; we recommend using a unibyte string.
4111
4112 Before using @code{:data}, look for further information in the section
4113 below describing the specific image format. For some image types,
4114 @code{:data} may not be supported; for some, it allows other data types;
4115 for some, @code{:data} alone is not enough, so you need to use other
4116 image properties along with @code{:data}.
4117
4118 @item :margin @var{margin}
4119 The @code{:margin} property specifies how many pixels to add as an
4120 extra margin around the image. The value, @var{margin}, must be a
4121 non-negative number, or a pair @code{(@var{x} . @var{y})} of such
4122 numbers. If it is a pair, @var{x} specifies how many pixels to add
4123 horizontally, and @var{y} specifies how many pixels to add vertically.
4124 If @code{:margin} is not specified, the default is zero.
4125
4126 @item :ascent @var{ascent}
4127 The @code{:ascent} property specifies the amount of the image's
4128 height to use for its ascent---that is, the part above the baseline.
4129 The value, @var{ascent}, must be a number in the range 0 to 100, or
4130 the symbol @code{center}.
4131
4132 If @var{ascent} is a number, that percentage of the image's height is
4133 used for its ascent.
4134
4135 If @var{ascent} is @code{center}, the image is vertically centered
4136 around a centerline which would be the vertical centerline of text drawn
4137 at the position of the image, in the manner specified by the text
4138 properties and overlays that apply to the image.
4139
4140 If this property is omitted, it defaults to 50.
4141
4142 @item :relief @var{relief}
4143 The @code{:relief} property, if non-@code{nil}, adds a shadow rectangle
4144 around the image. The value, @var{relief}, specifies the width of the
4145 shadow lines, in pixels. If @var{relief} is negative, shadows are drawn
4146 so that the image appears as a pressed button; otherwise, it appears as
4147 an unpressed button.
4148
4149 @item :conversion @var{algorithm}
4150 The @code{:conversion} property, if non-@code{nil}, specifies a
4151 conversion algorithm that should be applied to the image before it is
4152 displayed; the value, @var{algorithm}, specifies which algorithm.
4153
4154 @table @code
4155 @item laplace
4156 @itemx emboss
4157 Specifies the Laplace edge detection algorithm, which blurs out small
4158 differences in color while highlighting larger differences. People
4159 sometimes consider this useful for displaying the image for a
4160 ``disabled'' button.
4161
4162 @item (edge-detection :matrix @var{matrix} :color-adjust @var{adjust})
4163 Specifies a general edge-detection algorithm. @var{matrix} must be
4164 either a nine-element list or a nine-element vector of numbers. A pixel
4165 at position @math{x/y} in the transformed image is computed from
4166 original pixels around that position. @var{matrix} specifies, for each
4167 pixel in the neighborhood of @math{x/y}, a factor with which that pixel
4168 will influence the transformed pixel; element @math{0} specifies the
4169 factor for the pixel at @math{x-1/y-1}, element @math{1} the factor for
4170 the pixel at @math{x/y-1} etc., as shown below:
4171 @iftex
4172 @tex
4173 $$\pmatrix{x-1/y-1 & x/y-1 & x+1/y-1 \cr
4174 x-1/y & x/y & x+1/y \cr
4175 x-1/y+1& x/y+1 & x+1/y+1 \cr}$$
4176 @end tex
4177 @end iftex
4178 @ifnottex
4179 @display
4180 (x-1/y-1 x/y-1 x+1/y-1
4181 x-1/y x/y x+1/y
4182 x-1/y+1 x/y+1 x+1/y+1)
4183 @end display
4184 @end ifnottex
4185
4186 The resulting pixel is computed from the color intensity of the color
4187 resulting from summing up the RGB values of surrounding pixels,
4188 multiplied by the specified factors, and dividing that sum by the sum
4189 of the factors' absolute values.
4190
4191 Laplace edge-detection currently uses a matrix of
4192 @iftex
4193 @tex
4194 $$\pmatrix{1 & 0 & 0 \cr
4195 0& 0 & 0 \cr
4196 9 & 9 & -1 \cr}$$
4197 @end tex
4198 @end iftex
4199 @ifnottex
4200 @display
4201 (1 0 0
4202 0 0 0
4203 9 9 -1)
4204 @end display
4205 @end ifnottex
4206
4207 Emboss edge-detection uses a matrix of
4208 @iftex
4209 @tex
4210 $$\pmatrix{ 2 & -1 & 0 \cr
4211 -1 & 0 & 1 \cr
4212 0 & 1 & -2 \cr}$$
4213 @end tex
4214 @end iftex
4215 @ifnottex
4216 @display
4217 ( 2 -1 0
4218 -1 0 1
4219 0 1 -2)
4220 @end display
4221 @end ifnottex
4222
4223 @item disabled
4224 Specifies transforming the image so that it looks ``disabled.''
4225 @end table
4226
4227 @item :mask @var{mask}
4228 If @var{mask} is @code{heuristic} or @code{(heuristic @var{bg})}, build
4229 a clipping mask for the image, so that the background of a frame is
4230 visible behind the image. If @var{bg} is not specified, or if @var{bg}
4231 is @code{t}, determine the background color of the image by looking at
4232 the four corners of the image, assuming the most frequently occurring
4233 color from the corners is the background color of the image. Otherwise,
4234 @var{bg} must be a list @code{(@var{red} @var{green} @var{blue})}
4235 specifying the color to assume for the background of the image.
4236
4237 If @var{mask} is @code{nil}, remove a mask from the image, if it has
4238 one. Images in some formats include a mask which can be removed by
4239 specifying @code{:mask nil}.
4240
4241 @item :pointer @var{shape}
4242 This specifies the pointer shape when the mouse pointer is over this
4243 image. @xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4244
4245 @item :map @var{map}
4246 This associates an image map of @dfn{hot spots} with this image.
4247
4248 An image map is an alist where each element has the format
4249 @code{(@var{area} @var{id} @var{plist})}. An @var{area} is specified
4250 as either a rectangle, a circle, or a polygon.
4251
4252 A rectangle is a cons
4253 @code{(rect . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . (@var{x1} . @var{y1})))}
4254 which specifies the pixel coordinates of the upper left and bottom right
4255 corners of the rectangle area.
4256
4257 A circle is a cons
4258 @code{(circle . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . @var{r}))}
4259 which specifies the center and the radius of the circle; @var{r} may
4260 be a float or integer.
4261
4262 A polygon is a cons
4263 @code{(poly . [@var{x0} @var{y0} @var{x1} @var{y1} ...])}
4264 where each pair in the vector describes one corner in the polygon.
4265
4266 When the mouse pointer lies on a hot-spot area of an image, the
4267 @var{plist} of that hot-spot is consulted; if it contains a @code{help-echo}
4268 property, that defines a tool-tip for the hot-spot, and if it contains
4269 a @code{pointer} property, that defines the shape of the mouse cursor when
4270 it is on the hot-spot.
4271 @xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4272
4273 When you click the mouse when the mouse pointer is over a hot-spot, an
4274 event is composed by combining the @var{id} of the hot-spot with the
4275 mouse event; for instance, @code{[area4 mouse-1]} if the hot-spot's
4276 @var{id} is @code{area4}.
4277 @end table
4278
4279 @defun image-mask-p spec &optional frame
4280 This function returns @code{t} if image @var{spec} has a mask bitmap.
4281 @var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4282 @var{frame} @code{nil} or omitted means to use the selected frame
4283 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
4284 @end defun
4285
4286 @node XBM Images
4287 @subsection XBM Images
4288 @cindex XBM
4289
4290 To use XBM format, specify @code{xbm} as the image type. This image
4291 format doesn't require an external library, so images of this type are
4292 always supported.
4293
4294 Additional image properties supported for the @code{xbm} image type are:
4295
4296 @table @code
4297 @item :foreground @var{foreground}
4298 The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4299 foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4300 used for each pixel in the XBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
4301 foreground color.
4302
4303 @item :background @var{background}
4304 The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4305 background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4306 used for each pixel in the XBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
4307 background color.
4308 @end table
4309
4310 If you specify an XBM image using data within Emacs instead of an
4311 external file, use the following three properties:
4312
4313 @table @code
4314 @item :data @var{data}
4315 The value, @var{data}, specifies the contents of the image.
4316 There are three formats you can use for @var{data}:
4317
4318 @itemize @bullet
4319 @item
4320 A vector of strings or bool-vectors, each specifying one line of the
4321 image. Do specify @code{:height} and @code{:width}.
4322
4323 @item
4324 A string containing the same byte sequence as an XBM file would contain.
4325 You must not specify @code{:height} and @code{:width} in this case,
4326 because omitting them is what indicates the data has the format of an
4327 XBM file. The file contents specify the height and width of the image.
4328
4329 @item
4330 A string or a bool-vector containing the bits of the image (plus perhaps
4331 some extra bits at the end that will not be used). It should contain at
4332 least @var{width} * @code{height} bits. In this case, you must specify
4333 @code{:height} and @code{:width}, both to indicate that the string
4334 contains just the bits rather than a whole XBM file, and to specify the
4335 size of the image.
4336 @end itemize
4337
4338 @item :width @var{width}
4339 The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image, in pixels.
4340
4341 @item :height @var{height}
4342 The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image, in pixels.
4343 @end table
4344
4345 @node XPM Images
4346 @subsection XPM Images
4347 @cindex XPM
4348
4349 To use XPM format, specify @code{xpm} as the image type. The
4350 additional image property @code{:color-symbols} is also meaningful with
4351 the @code{xpm} image type:
4352
4353 @table @code
4354 @item :color-symbols @var{symbols}
4355 The value, @var{symbols}, should be an alist whose elements have the
4356 form @code{(@var{name} . @var{color})}. In each element, @var{name} is
4357 the name of a color as it appears in the image file, and @var{color}
4358 specifies the actual color to use for displaying that name.
4359 @end table
4360
4361 @node GIF Images
4362 @subsection GIF Images
4363 @cindex GIF
4364
4365 For GIF images, specify image type @code{gif}.
4366
4367 @table @code
4368 @item :index @var{index}
4369 You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a GIF file that
4370 contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4371 number @var{index} from the file. If the GIF file doesn't contain an
4372 image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4373 @end table
4374
4375 @ignore
4376 This could be used to implement limited support for animated GIFs.
4377 For example, the following function displays a multi-image GIF file
4378 at point-min in the current buffer, switching between sub-images
4379 every 0.1 seconds.
4380
4381 (defun show-anim (file max)
4382 "Display multi-image GIF file FILE which contains MAX subimages."
4383 (display-anim (current-buffer) file 0 max t))
4384
4385 (defun display-anim (buffer file idx max first-time)
4386 (when (= idx max)
4387 (setq idx 0))
4388 (let ((img (create-image file nil :image idx)))
4389 (save-excursion
4390 (set-buffer buffer)
4391 (goto-char (point-min))
4392 (unless first-time (delete-char 1))
4393 (insert-image img))
4394 (run-with-timer 0.1 nil 'display-anim buffer file (1+ idx) max nil)))
4395 @end ignore
4396
4397 @node TIFF Images
4398 @subsection TIFF Images
4399 @cindex TIFF
4400
4401 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4402
4403 @table @code
4404 @item :index @var{index}
4405 You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a TIFF file that
4406 contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4407 number @var{index} from the file. If the TIFF file doesn't contain an
4408 image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4409 @end table
4410
4411 @node PostScript Images
4412 @subsection PostScript Images
4413 @cindex postscript images
4414
4415 To use PostScript for an image, specify image type @code{postscript}.
4416 This works only if you have Ghostscript installed. You must always use
4417 these three properties:
4418
4419 @table @code
4420 @item :pt-width @var{width}
4421 The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image measured in
4422 points (1/72 inch). @var{width} must be an integer.
4423
4424 @item :pt-height @var{height}
4425 The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image in points
4426 (1/72 inch). @var{height} must be an integer.
4427
4428 @item :bounding-box @var{box}
4429 The value, @var{box}, must be a list or vector of four integers, which
4430 specifying the bounding box of the PostScript image, analogous to the
4431 @samp{BoundingBox} comment found in PostScript files.
4432
4433 @example
4434 %%BoundingBox: 22 171 567 738
4435 @end example
4436 @end table
4437
4438 @node Other Image Types
4439 @subsection Other Image Types
4440 @cindex PBM
4441
4442 For PBM images, specify image type @code{pbm}. Color, gray-scale and
4443 monochromatic images are supported. For mono PBM images, two additional
4444 image properties are supported.
4445
4446 @table @code
4447 @item :foreground @var{foreground}
4448 The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4449 foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4450 used for each pixel in the PBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
4451 foreground color.
4452
4453 @item :background @var{background}
4454 The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4455 background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4456 used for each pixel in the PBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
4457 background color.
4458 @end table
4459
4460 For JPEG images, specify image type @code{jpeg}.
4461
4462 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4463
4464 For PNG images, specify image type @code{png}.
4465
4466 For SVG images, specify image type @code{svg}.
4467
4468 @node Defining Images
4469 @subsection Defining Images
4470
4471 The functions @code{create-image}, @code{defimage} and
4472 @code{find-image} provide convenient ways to create image descriptors.
4473
4474 @defun create-image file-or-data &optional type data-p &rest props
4475 This function creates and returns an image descriptor which uses the
4476 data in @var{file-or-data}. @var{file-or-data} can be a file name or
4477 a string containing the image data; @var{data-p} should be @code{nil}
4478 for the former case, non-@code{nil} for the latter case.
4479
4480 The optional argument @var{type} is a symbol specifying the image type.
4481 If @var{type} is omitted or @code{nil}, @code{create-image} tries to
4482 determine the image type from the file's first few bytes, or else
4483 from the file's name.
4484
4485 The remaining arguments, @var{props}, specify additional image
4486 properties---for example,
4487
4488 @example
4489 (create-image "foo.xpm" 'xpm nil :heuristic-mask t)
4490 @end example
4491
4492 The function returns @code{nil} if images of this type are not
4493 supported. Otherwise it returns an image descriptor.
4494 @end defun
4495
4496 @defmac defimage symbol specs &optional doc
4497 This macro defines @var{symbol} as an image name. The arguments
4498 @var{specs} is a list which specifies how to display the image.
4499 The third argument, @var{doc}, is an optional documentation string.
4500
4501 Each argument in @var{specs} has the form of a property list, and each
4502 one should specify at least the @code{:type} property and either the
4503 @code{:file} or the @code{:data} property. The value of @code{:type}
4504 should be a symbol specifying the image type, the value of
4505 @code{:file} is the file to load the image from, and the value of
4506 @code{:data} is a string containing the actual image data. Here is an
4507 example:
4508
4509 @example
4510 (defimage test-image
4511 ((:type xpm :file "~/test1.xpm")
4512 (:type xbm :file "~/test1.xbm")))
4513 @end example
4514
4515 @code{defimage} tests each argument, one by one, to see if it is
4516 usable---that is, if the type is supported and the file exists. The
4517 first usable argument is used to make an image descriptor which is
4518 stored in @var{symbol}.
4519
4520 If none of the alternatives will work, then @var{symbol} is defined
4521 as @code{nil}.
4522 @end defmac
4523
4524 @defun find-image specs
4525 This function provides a convenient way to find an image satisfying one
4526 of a list of image specifications @var{specs}.
4527
4528 Each specification in @var{specs} is a property list with contents
4529 depending on image type. All specifications must at least contain the
4530 properties @code{:type @var{type}} and either @w{@code{:file @var{file}}}
4531 or @w{@code{:data @var{DATA}}}, where @var{type} is a symbol specifying
4532 the image type, e.g.@: @code{xbm}, @var{file} is the file to load the
4533 image from, and @var{data} is a string containing the actual image data.
4534 The first specification in the list whose @var{type} is supported, and
4535 @var{file} exists, is used to construct the image specification to be
4536 returned. If no specification is satisfied, @code{nil} is returned.
4537
4538 The image is looked for in @code{image-load-path}.
4539 @end defun
4540
4541 @defvar image-load-path
4542 This variable's value is a list of locations in which to search for
4543 image files. If an element is a string or a variable symbol whose
4544 value is a string, the string is taken to be the name of a directory
4545 to search. If an element is a variable symbol whose value is a list,
4546 that is taken to be a list of directory names to search.
4547
4548 The default is to search in the @file{images} subdirectory of the
4549 directory specified by @code{data-directory}, then the directory
4550 specified by @code{data-directory}, and finally in the directories in
4551 @code{load-path}. Subdirectories are not automatically included in
4552 the search, so if you put an image file in a subdirectory, you have to
4553 supply the subdirectory name explicitly. For example, to find the
4554 image @file{images/foo/bar.xpm} within @code{data-directory}, you
4555 should specify the image as follows:
4556
4557 @example
4558 (defimage foo-image '((:type xpm :file "foo/bar.xpm")))
4559 @end example
4560 @end defvar
4561
4562 @defun image-load-path-for-library library image &optional path no-error
4563 This function returns a suitable search path for images used by the
4564 Lisp package @var{library}.
4565
4566 The function searches for @var{image} first using @code{image-load-path},
4567 excluding @file{@code{data-directory}/images}, and then in
4568 @code{load-path}, followed by a path suitable for @var{library}, which
4569 includes @file{../../etc/images} and @file{../etc/images} relative to
4570 the library file itself, and finally in
4571 @file{@code{data-directory}/images}.
4572
4573 Then this function returns a list of directories which contains first
4574 the directory in which @var{image} was found, followed by the value of
4575 @code{load-path}. If @var{path} is given, it is used instead of
4576 @code{load-path}.
4577
4578 If @var{no-error} is non-@code{nil} and a suitable path can't be
4579 found, don't signal an error. Instead, return a list of directories as
4580 before, except that @code{nil} appears in place of the image directory.
4581
4582 Here is an example that uses a common idiom to provide compatibility
4583 with versions of Emacs that lack the variable @code{image-load-path}:
4584
4585 @example
4586 (defvar image-load-path) ; shush compiler
4587 (let* ((load-path (image-load-path-for-library
4588 "mh-e" "mh-logo.xpm"))
4589 (image-load-path (cons (car load-path)
4590 (when (boundp 'image-load-path)
4591 image-load-path))))
4592 (mh-tool-bar-folder-buttons-init))
4593 @end example
4594 @end defun
4595
4596 @node Showing Images
4597 @subsection Showing Images
4598
4599 You can use an image descriptor by setting up the @code{display}
4600 property yourself, but it is easier to use the functions in this
4601 section.
4602
4603 @defun insert-image image &optional string area slice
4604 This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point. The
4605 value @var{image} should be an image descriptor; it could be a value
4606 returned by @code{create-image}, or the value of a symbol defined with
4607 @code{defimage}. The argument @var{string} specifies the text to put
4608 in the buffer to hold the image. If it is omitted or @code{nil},
4609 @code{insert-image} uses @code{" "} by default.
4610
4611 The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4612 If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4613 @code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4614 @code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4615 buffer's text.
4616
4617 The argument @var{slice} specifies a slice of the image to insert. If
4618 @var{slice} is @code{nil} or omitted the whole image is inserted.
4619 Otherwise, @var{slice} is a list @code{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width}
4620 @var{height})} which specifies the @var{x} and @var{y} positions and
4621 @var{width} and @var{height} of the image area to insert. Integer
4622 values are in units of pixels. A floating point number in the range
4623 0.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height of the entire
4624 image.
4625
4626 Internally, this function inserts @var{string} in the buffer, and gives
4627 it a @code{display} property which specifies @var{image}. @xref{Display
4628 Property}.
4629 @end defun
4630
4631 @defun insert-sliced-image image &optional string area rows cols
4632 This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point, like
4633 @code{insert-image}, but splits the image into @var{rows}x@var{cols}
4634 equally sized slices.
4635 @end defun
4636
4637 @defun put-image image pos &optional string area
4638 This function puts image @var{image} in front of @var{pos} in the
4639 current buffer. The argument @var{pos} should be an integer or a
4640 marker. It specifies the buffer position where the image should appear.
4641 The argument @var{string} specifies the text that should hold the image
4642 as an alternative to the default.
4643
4644 The argument @var{image} must be an image descriptor, perhaps returned
4645 by @code{create-image} or stored by @code{defimage}.
4646
4647 The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4648 If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4649 @code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4650 @code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4651 buffer's text.
4652
4653 Internally, this function creates an overlay, and gives it a
4654 @code{before-string} property containing text that has a @code{display}
4655 property whose value is the image. (Whew!)
4656 @end defun
4657
4658 @defun remove-images start end &optional buffer
4659 This function removes images in @var{buffer} between positions
4660 @var{start} and @var{end}. If @var{buffer} is omitted or @code{nil},
4661 images are removed from the current buffer.
4662
4663 This removes only images that were put into @var{buffer} the way
4664 @code{put-image} does it, not images that were inserted with
4665 @code{insert-image} or in other ways.
4666 @end defun
4667
4668 @defun image-size spec &optional pixels frame
4669 This function returns the size of an image as a pair
4670 @w{@code{(@var{width} . @var{height})}}. @var{spec} is an image
4671 specification. @var{pixels} non-@code{nil} means return sizes
4672 measured in pixels, otherwise return sizes measured in canonical
4673 character units (fractions of the width/height of the frame's default
4674 font). @var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4675 @var{frame} null or omitted means use the selected frame (@pxref{Input
4676 Focus}).
4677 @end defun
4678
4679 @defvar max-image-size
4680 This variable is used to define the maximum size of image that Emacs
4681 will load. Emacs will refuse to load (and display) any image that is
4682 larger than this limit.
4683
4684 If the value is an integer, it directly specifies the maximum
4685 image height and width, measured in pixels. If it is a floating
4686 point number, it specifies the maximum image height and width
4687 as a ratio to the frame height and width. If the value is
4688 non-numeric, there is no explicit limit on the size of images.
4689
4690 The purpose of this variable is to prevent unreasonably large images
4691 from accidentally being loaded into Emacs. It only takes effect the
4692 first time an image is loaded. Once an image is placed in the image
4693 cache, it can always be displayed, even if the value of
4694 @var{max-image-size} is subsequently changed (@pxref{Image Cache}).
4695 @end defvar
4696
4697 @node Image Cache
4698 @subsection Image Cache
4699 @cindex image cache
4700
4701 Emacs caches images so that it can display them again more
4702 efficiently. When Emacs displays an image, it searches the image
4703 cache for an existing image specification @code{equal} to the desired
4704 specification. If a match is found, the image is displayed from the
4705 cache; otherwise, Emacs loads the image normally.
4706
4707 Occasionally, you may need to tell Emacs to refresh the images
4708 associated with a given image specification. For example, suppose you
4709 display an image using a specification that contains a @code{:file}
4710 property. The image is automatically cached, and subsequent displays
4711 of that image, with the same image specification, will use the image
4712 cache. If the image file changes in the meantime, Emacs would be
4713 displaying the old version of the image. In such a situation, you can
4714 ``refresh'' the image by calling @code{image-refresh}.
4715
4716 In Emacs' current implementation, each graphical terminal possesses
4717 an image cache, which is shared by all the frames on that terminal
4718 (@pxref{Multiple Terminals}). Thus, refreshing an image in one frame
4719 also refreshes it in all other frames on the same terminal.
4720
4721 @defun image-refresh spec &optional frame
4722 This function refreshes any images with image specifications
4723 @code{equal} to @var{spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is
4724 @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame. If @var{frame} is
4725 @code{t}, the refresh is applied to all existing frames.
4726 @end defun
4727
4728 @defun clear-image-cache &optional filter
4729 This function clears an image cache, removing all the images stored in
4730 it. If @var{filter} is omitted or @code{nil}, it clears the cache for
4731 the selected frame. If @var{filter} is a frame, it clears the cache
4732 for that frame. If @var{filter} is @code{t}, all image caches are
4733 cleared. Otherwise, @var{filter} is taken to be a file name, and all
4734 images associated with that file name are removed from all image
4735 caches.
4736 @end defun
4737
4738 If an image in the image cache has not been displayed for a specified
4739 period of time, Emacs removes it from the cache and frees the
4740 associated memory.
4741
4742 @defvar image-cache-eviction-delay
4743 This variable specifies the number of seconds an image can remain in the
4744 cache without being displayed. When an image is not displayed for this
4745 length of time, Emacs removes it from the image cache.
4746
4747 If the value is @code{nil}, Emacs does not remove images from the cache
4748 except when you explicitly clear it. This mode can be useful for
4749 debugging.
4750 @end defvar
4751
4752 @node Buttons
4753 @section Buttons
4754 @cindex buttons in buffers
4755 @cindex clickable buttons in buffers
4756
4757 The @emph{button} package defines functions for inserting and
4758 manipulating clickable (with the mouse, or via keyboard commands)
4759 buttons in Emacs buffers, such as might be used for help hyper-links,
4760 etc. Emacs uses buttons for the hyper-links in help text and the like.
4761
4762 A button is essentially a set of properties attached (via text
4763 properties or overlays) to a region of text in an Emacs buffer. These
4764 properties are called @dfn{button properties}.
4765
4766 One of these properties (@code{action}) is a function, which will
4767 be called when the user invokes it using the keyboard or the mouse.
4768 The invoked function may then examine the button and use its other
4769 properties as desired.
4770
4771 In some ways the Emacs button package duplicates functionality offered
4772 by the widget package (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, widget, The Emacs
4773 Widget Library}), but the button package has the advantage that it is
4774 much faster, much smaller, and much simpler to use (for elisp
4775 programmers---for users, the result is about the same). The extra
4776 speed and space savings are useful mainly if you need to create many
4777 buttons in a buffer (for instance an @code{*Apropos*} buffer uses
4778 buttons to make entries clickable, and may contain many thousands of
4779 entries).
4780
4781 @menu
4782 * Button Properties:: Button properties with special meanings.
4783 * Button Types:: Defining common properties for classes of buttons.
4784 * Making Buttons:: Adding buttons to Emacs buffers.
4785 * Manipulating Buttons:: Getting and setting properties of buttons.
4786 * Button Buffer Commands:: Buffer-wide commands and bindings for buttons.
4787 @end menu
4788
4789 @node Button Properties
4790 @subsection Button Properties
4791 @cindex button properties
4792
4793 Buttons have an associated list of properties defining their
4794 appearance and behavior, and other arbitrary properties may be used
4795 for application specific purposes. Some properties that have special
4796 meaning to the button package include:
4797
4798 @table @code
4799 @item action
4800 @kindex action @r{(button property)}
4801 The function to call when the user invokes the button, which is passed
4802 the single argument @var{button}. By default this is @code{ignore},
4803 which does nothing.
4804
4805 @item mouse-action
4806 @kindex mouse-action @r{(button property)}
4807 This is similar to @code{action}, and when present, will be used
4808 instead of @code{action} for button invocations resulting from
4809 mouse-clicks (instead of the user hitting @key{RET}). If not
4810 present, mouse-clicks use @code{action} instead.
4811
4812 @item face
4813 @kindex face @r{(button property)}
4814 This is an Emacs face controlling how buttons of this type are
4815 displayed; by default this is the @code{button} face.
4816
4817 @item mouse-face
4818 @kindex mouse-face @r{(button property)}
4819 This is an additional face which controls appearance during
4820 mouse-overs (merged with the usual button face); by default this is
4821 the usual Emacs @code{highlight} face.
4822
4823 @item keymap
4824 @kindex keymap @r{(button property)}
4825 The button's keymap, defining bindings active within the button
4826 region. By default this is the usual button region keymap, stored
4827 in the variable @code{button-map}, which defines @key{RET} and
4828 @key{mouse-2} to invoke the button.
4829
4830 @item type
4831 @kindex type @r{(button property)}
4832 The button-type of the button. When creating a button, this is
4833 usually specified using the @code{:type} keyword argument.
4834 @xref{Button Types}.
4835
4836 @item help-echo
4837 @kindex help-index @r{(button property)}
4838 A string displayed by the Emacs tool-tip help system; by default,
4839 @code{"mouse-2, RET: Push this button"}.
4840
4841 @item follow-link
4842 @kindex follow-link @r{(button property)}
4843 The follow-link property, defining how a @key{Mouse-1} click behaves
4844 on this button, @xref{Clickable Text}.
4845
4846 @item button
4847 @kindex button @r{(button property)}
4848 All buttons have a non-@code{nil} @code{button} property, which may be useful
4849 in finding regions of text that comprise buttons (which is what the
4850 standard button functions do).
4851 @end table
4852
4853 There are other properties defined for the regions of text in a
4854 button, but these are not generally interesting for typical uses.
4855
4856 @node Button Types
4857 @subsection Button Types
4858 @cindex button types
4859
4860 Every button has a button @emph{type}, which defines default values
4861 for the button's properties. Button types are arranged in a
4862 hierarchy, with specialized types inheriting from more general types,
4863 so that it's easy to define special-purpose types of buttons for
4864 specific tasks.
4865
4866 @defun define-button-type name &rest properties
4867 Define a `button type' called @var{name} (a symbol).
4868 The remaining arguments
4869 form a sequence of @var{property value} pairs, specifying default
4870 property values for buttons with this type (a button's type may be set
4871 by giving it a @code{type} property when creating the button, using
4872 the @code{:type} keyword argument).
4873
4874 In addition, the keyword argument @code{:supertype} may be used to
4875 specify a button-type from which @var{name} inherits its default
4876 property values. Note that this inheritance happens only when
4877 @var{name} is defined; subsequent changes to a supertype are not
4878 reflected in its subtypes.
4879 @end defun
4880
4881 Using @code{define-button-type} to define default properties for
4882 buttons is not necessary---buttons without any specified type use the
4883 built-in button-type @code{button}---but it is encouraged, since
4884 doing so usually makes the resulting code clearer and more efficient.
4885
4886 @node Making Buttons
4887 @subsection Making Buttons
4888 @cindex making buttons
4889
4890 Buttons are associated with a region of text, using an overlay or
4891 text properties to hold button-specific information, all of which are
4892 initialized from the button's type (which defaults to the built-in
4893 button type @code{button}). Like all Emacs text, the appearance of
4894 the button is governed by the @code{face} property; by default (via
4895 the @code{face} property inherited from the @code{button} button-type)
4896 this is a simple underline, like a typical web-page link.
4897
4898 For convenience, there are two sorts of button-creation functions,
4899 those that add button properties to an existing region of a buffer,
4900 called @code{make-...button}, and those that also insert the button
4901 text, called @code{insert-...button}.
4902
4903 The button-creation functions all take the @code{&rest} argument
4904 @var{properties}, which should be a sequence of @var{property value}
4905 pairs, specifying properties to add to the button; see @ref{Button
4906 Properties}. In addition, the keyword argument @code{:type} may be
4907 used to specify a button-type from which to inherit other properties;
4908 see @ref{Button Types}. Any properties not explicitly specified
4909 during creation will be inherited from the button's type (if the type
4910 defines such a property).
4911
4912 The following functions add a button using an overlay
4913 (@pxref{Overlays}) to hold the button properties:
4914
4915 @defun make-button beg end &rest properties
4916 This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the
4917 current buffer, and returns it.
4918 @end defun
4919
4920 @defun insert-button label &rest properties
4921 This insert a button with the label @var{label} at point,
4922 and returns it.
4923 @end defun
4924
4925 The following functions are similar, but use Emacs text properties
4926 (@pxref{Text Properties}) to hold the button properties, making the
4927 button actually part of the text instead of being a property of the
4928 buffer. Buttons using text properties do not create markers into the
4929 buffer, which is important for speed when you use extremely large
4930 numbers of buttons. Both functions return the position of the start
4931 of the new button:
4932
4933 @defun make-text-button beg end &rest properties
4934 This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the current buffer, using
4935 text properties.
4936 @end defun
4937
4938 @defun insert-text-button label &rest properties
4939 This inserts a button with the label @var{label} at point, using text
4940 properties.
4941 @end defun
4942
4943 @node Manipulating Buttons
4944 @subsection Manipulating Buttons
4945 @cindex manipulating buttons
4946
4947 These are functions for getting and setting properties of buttons.
4948 Often these are used by a button's invocation function to determine
4949 what to do.
4950
4951 Where a @var{button} parameter is specified, it means an object
4952 referring to a specific button, either an overlay (for overlay
4953 buttons), or a buffer-position or marker (for text property buttons).
4954 Such an object is passed as the first argument to a button's
4955 invocation function when it is invoked.
4956
4957 @defun button-start button
4958 Return the position at which @var{button} starts.
4959 @end defun
4960
4961 @defun button-end button
4962 Return the position at which @var{button} ends.
4963 @end defun
4964
4965 @defun button-get button prop
4966 Get the property of button @var{button} named @var{prop}.
4967 @end defun
4968
4969 @defun button-put button prop val
4970 Set @var{button}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
4971 @end defun
4972
4973 @defun button-activate button &optional use-mouse-action
4974 Call @var{button}'s @code{action} property (i.e., invoke it). If
4975 @var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, try to invoke the button's
4976 @code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
4977 has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
4978 @end defun
4979
4980 @defun button-label button
4981 Return @var{button}'s text label.
4982 @end defun
4983
4984 @defun button-type button
4985 Return @var{button}'s button-type.
4986 @end defun
4987
4988 @defun button-has-type-p button type
4989 Return @code{t} if @var{button} has button-type @var{type}, or one of
4990 @var{type}'s subtypes.
4991 @end defun
4992
4993 @defun button-at pos
4994 Return the button at position @var{pos} in the current buffer, or @code{nil}.
4995 @end defun
4996
4997 @defun button-type-put type prop val
4998 Set the button-type @var{type}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
4999 @end defun
5000
5001 @defun button-type-get type prop
5002 Get the property of button-type @var{type} named @var{prop}.
5003 @end defun
5004
5005 @defun button-type-subtype-p type supertype
5006 Return @code{t} if button-type @var{type} is a subtype of @var{supertype}.
5007 @end defun
5008
5009 @node Button Buffer Commands
5010 @subsection Button Buffer Commands
5011 @cindex button buffer commands
5012
5013 These are commands and functions for locating and operating on
5014 buttons in an Emacs buffer.
5015
5016 @code{push-button} is the command that a user uses to actually `push'
5017 a button, and is bound by default in the button itself to @key{RET}
5018 and to @key{mouse-2} using a region-specific keymap. Commands
5019 that are useful outside the buttons itself, such as
5020 @code{forward-button} and @code{backward-button} are additionally
5021 available in the keymap stored in @code{button-buffer-map}; a mode
5022 which uses buttons may want to use @code{button-buffer-map} as a
5023 parent keymap for its keymap.
5024
5025 If the button has a non-@code{nil} @code{follow-link} property, and
5026 @var{mouse-1-click-follows-link} is set, a quick @key{Mouse-1} click
5027 will also activate the @code{push-button} command.
5028 @xref{Clickable Text}.
5029
5030 @deffn Command push-button &optional pos use-mouse-action
5031 Perform the action specified by a button at location @var{pos}.
5032 @var{pos} may be either a buffer position or a mouse-event. If
5033 @var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, or @var{pos} is a
5034 mouse-event (@pxref{Mouse Events}), try to invoke the button's
5035 @code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
5036 has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
5037 @var{pos} defaults to point, except when @code{push-button} is invoked
5038 interactively as the result of a mouse-event, in which case, the mouse
5039 event's position is used. If there's no button at @var{pos}, do
5040 nothing and return @code{nil}, otherwise return @code{t}.
5041 @end deffn
5042
5043 @deffn Command forward-button n &optional wrap display-message
5044 Move to the @var{n}th next button, or @var{n}th previous button if
5045 @var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5046 button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5047 end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5048 @var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5049 is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5050 is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5051 @end deffn
5052
5053 @deffn Command backward-button n &optional wrap display-message
5054 Move to the @var{n}th previous button, or @var{n}th next button if
5055 @var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5056 button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5057 end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5058 @var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5059 is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5060 is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5061 @end deffn
5062
5063 @defun next-button pos &optional count-current
5064 @defunx previous-button pos &optional count-current
5065 Return the next button after (for @code{next-button} or before (for
5066 @code{previous-button}) position @var{pos} in the current buffer. If
5067 @var{count-current} is non-@code{nil}, count any button at @var{pos}
5068 in the search, instead of starting at the next button.
5069 @end defun
5070
5071 @node Abstract Display
5072 @section Abstract Display
5073 @cindex ewoc
5074 @cindex display, abstract
5075 @cindex display, arbitrary objects
5076 @cindex model/view/controller
5077 @cindex view part, model/view/controller
5078
5079 The Ewoc package constructs buffer text that represents a structure
5080 of Lisp objects, and updates the text to follow changes in that
5081 structure. This is like the ``view'' component in the
5082 ``model/view/controller'' design paradigm.
5083
5084 An @dfn{ewoc} is a structure that organizes information required to
5085 construct buffer text that represents certain Lisp data. The buffer
5086 text of the ewoc has three parts, in order: first, fixed @dfn{header}
5087 text; next, textual descriptions of a series of data elements (Lisp
5088 objects that you specify); and last, fixed @dfn{footer} text.
5089 Specifically, an ewoc contains information on:
5090
5091 @itemize @bullet
5092 @item
5093 The buffer which its text is generated in.
5094
5095 @item
5096 The text's start position in the buffer.
5097
5098 @item
5099 The header and footer strings.
5100
5101 @item
5102 A doubly-linked chain of @dfn{nodes}, each of which contains:
5103
5104 @itemize
5105 @item
5106 A @dfn{data element}, a single Lisp object.
5107
5108 @item
5109 Links to the preceding and following nodes in the chain.
5110 @end itemize
5111
5112 @item
5113 A @dfn{pretty-printer} function which is responsible for
5114 inserting the textual representation of a data
5115 element value into the current buffer.
5116 @end itemize
5117
5118 Typically, you define an ewoc with @code{ewoc-create}, and then pass
5119 the resulting ewoc structure to other functions in the Ewoc package to
5120 build nodes within it, and display it in the buffer. Once it is
5121 displayed in the buffer, other functions determine the correspondance
5122 between buffer positions and nodes, move point from one node's textual
5123 representation to another, and so forth. @xref{Abstract Display
5124 Functions}.
5125
5126 A node @dfn{encapsulates} a data element much the way a variable
5127 holds a value. Normally, encapsulation occurs as a part of adding a
5128 node to the ewoc. You can retrieve the data element value and place a
5129 new value in its place, like so:
5130
5131 @lisp
5132 (ewoc-data @var{node})
5133 @result{} value
5134
5135 (ewoc-set-data @var{node} @var{new-value})
5136 @result{} @var{new-value}
5137 @end lisp
5138
5139 @noindent
5140 You can also use, as the data element value, a Lisp object (list or
5141 vector) that is a container for the ``real'' value, or an index into
5142 some other structure. The example (@pxref{Abstract Display Example})
5143 uses the latter approach.
5144
5145 When the data changes, you will want to update the text in the
5146 buffer. You can update all nodes by calling @code{ewoc-refresh}, or
5147 just specific nodes using @code{ewoc-invalidate}, or all nodes
5148 satisfying a predicate using @code{ewoc-map}. Alternatively, you can
5149 delete invalid nodes using @code{ewoc-delete} or @code{ewoc-filter},
5150 and add new nodes in their place. Deleting a node from an ewoc deletes
5151 its associated textual description from buffer, as well.
5152
5153 @menu
5154 * Abstract Display Functions:: Functions in the Ewoc package.
5155 * Abstract Display Example:: Example of using Ewoc.
5156 @end menu
5157
5158 @node Abstract Display Functions
5159 @subsection Abstract Display Functions
5160
5161 In this subsection, @var{ewoc} and @var{node} stand for the
5162 structures described above (@pxref{Abstract Display}), while
5163 @var{data} stands for an arbitrary Lisp object used as a data element.
5164
5165 @defun ewoc-create pretty-printer &optional header footer nosep
5166 This constructs and returns a new ewoc, with no nodes (and thus no data
5167 elements). @var{pretty-printer} should be a function that takes one
5168 argument, a data element of the sort you plan to use in this ewoc, and
5169 inserts its textual description at point using @code{insert} (and never
5170 @code{insert-before-markers}, because that would interfere with the
5171 Ewoc package's internal mechanisms).
5172
5173 Normally, a newline is automatically inserted after the header,
5174 the footer and every node's textual description. If @var{nosep}
5175 is non-@code{nil}, no newline is inserted. This may be useful for
5176 displaying an entire ewoc on a single line, for example, or for
5177 making nodes ``invisible'' by arranging for @var{pretty-printer}
5178 to do nothing for those nodes.
5179
5180 An ewoc maintains its text in the buffer that is current when
5181 you create it, so switch to the intended buffer before calling
5182 @code{ewoc-create}.
5183 @end defun
5184
5185 @defun ewoc-buffer ewoc
5186 This returns the buffer where @var{ewoc} maintains its text.
5187 @end defun
5188
5189 @defun ewoc-get-hf ewoc
5190 This returns a cons cell @code{(@var{header} . @var{footer})}
5191 made from @var{ewoc}'s header and footer.
5192 @end defun
5193
5194 @defun ewoc-set-hf ewoc header footer
5195 This sets the header and footer of @var{ewoc} to the strings
5196 @var{header} and @var{footer}, respectively.
5197 @end defun
5198
5199 @defun ewoc-enter-first ewoc data
5200 @defunx ewoc-enter-last ewoc data
5201 These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, putting it, respectively,
5202 at the beginning or end of @var{ewoc}'s chain of nodes.
5203 @end defun
5204
5205 @defun ewoc-enter-before ewoc node data
5206 @defunx ewoc-enter-after ewoc node data
5207 These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, adding it to
5208 @var{ewoc} before or after @var{node}, respectively.
5209 @end defun
5210
5211 @defun ewoc-prev ewoc node
5212 @defunx ewoc-next ewoc node
5213 These return, respectively, the previous node and the next node of @var{node}
5214 in @var{ewoc}.
5215 @end defun
5216
5217 @defun ewoc-nth ewoc n
5218 This returns the node in @var{ewoc} found at zero-based index @var{n}.
5219 A negative @var{n} means count from the end. @code{ewoc-nth} returns
5220 @code{nil} if @var{n} is out of range.
5221 @end defun
5222
5223 @defun ewoc-data node
5224 This extracts the data encapsulated by @var{node} and returns it.
5225 @end defun
5226
5227 @defun ewoc-set-data node data
5228 This sets the data encapsulated by @var{node} to @var{data}.
5229 @end defun
5230
5231 @defun ewoc-locate ewoc &optional pos guess
5232 This determines the node in @var{ewoc} which contains point (or
5233 @var{pos} if specified), and returns that node. If @var{ewoc} has no
5234 nodes, it returns @code{nil}. If @var{pos} is before the first node,
5235 it returns the first node; if @var{pos} is after the last node, it returns
5236 the last node. The optional third arg @var{guess}
5237 should be a node that is likely to be near @var{pos}; this doesn't
5238 alter the result, but makes the function run faster.
5239 @end defun
5240
5241 @defun ewoc-location node
5242 This returns the start position of @var{node}.
5243 @end defun
5244
5245 @defun ewoc-goto-prev ewoc arg
5246 @defunx ewoc-goto-next ewoc arg
5247 These move point to the previous or next, respectively, @var{arg}th node
5248 in @var{ewoc}. @code{ewoc-goto-prev} does not move if it is already at
5249 the first node or if @var{ewoc} is empty, whereas @code{ewoc-goto-next}
5250 moves past the last node, returning @code{nil}. Excepting this special
5251 case, these functions return the node moved to.
5252 @end defun
5253
5254 @defun ewoc-goto-node ewoc node
5255 This moves point to the start of @var{node} in @var{ewoc}.
5256 @end defun
5257
5258 @defun ewoc-refresh ewoc
5259 This function regenerates the text of @var{ewoc}. It works by
5260 deleting the text between the header and the footer, i.e., all the
5261 data elements' representations, and then calling the pretty-printer
5262 function for each node, one by one, in order.
5263 @end defun
5264
5265 @defun ewoc-invalidate ewoc &rest nodes
5266 This is similar to @code{ewoc-refresh}, except that only @var{nodes} in
5267 @var{ewoc} are updated instead of the entire set.
5268 @end defun
5269
5270 @defun ewoc-delete ewoc &rest nodes
5271 This deletes each node in @var{nodes} from @var{ewoc}.
5272 @end defun
5273
5274 @defun ewoc-filter ewoc predicate &rest args
5275 This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5276 deletes those nodes for which @var{predicate} returns @code{nil}.
5277 Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5278 @end defun
5279
5280 @defun ewoc-collect ewoc predicate &rest args
5281 This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc}
5282 and returns a list of those elements for which @var{predicate}
5283 returns non-@code{nil}. The elements in the list are ordered
5284 as in the buffer. Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5285 @end defun
5286
5287 @defun ewoc-map map-function ewoc &rest args
5288 This calls @var{map-function} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5289 updates those nodes for which @var{map-function} returns non-@code{nil}.
5290 Any @var{args} are passed to @var{map-function}.
5291 @end defun
5292
5293 @node Abstract Display Example
5294 @subsection Abstract Display Example
5295
5296 Here is a simple example using functions of the ewoc package to
5297 implement a ``color components display,'' an area in a buffer that
5298 represents a vector of three integers (itself representing a 24-bit RGB
5299 value) in various ways.
5300
5301 @example
5302 (setq colorcomp-ewoc nil
5303 colorcomp-data nil
5304 colorcomp-mode-map nil
5305 colorcomp-labels ["Red" "Green" "Blue"])
5306
5307 (defun colorcomp-pp (data)
5308 (if data
5309 (let ((comp (aref colorcomp-data data)))
5310 (insert (aref colorcomp-labels data) "\t: #x"
5311 (format "%02X" comp) " "
5312 (make-string (ash comp -2) ?#) "\n"))
5313 (let ((cstr (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5314 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5315 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5316 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5317 (samp " (sample text) "))
5318 (insert "Color\t: "
5319 (propertize samp 'face `(foreground-color . ,cstr))
5320 (propertize samp 'face `(background-color . ,cstr))
5321 "\n"))))
5322
5323 (defun colorcomp (color)
5324 "Allow fiddling with COLOR in a new buffer.
5325 The buffer is in Color Components mode."
5326 (interactive "sColor (name or #RGB or #RRGGBB): ")
5327 (when (string= "" color)
5328 (setq color "green"))
5329 (unless (color-values color)
5330 (error "No such color: %S" color))
5331 (switch-to-buffer
5332 (generate-new-buffer (format "originally: %s" color)))
5333 (kill-all-local-variables)
5334 (setq major-mode 'colorcomp-mode
5335 mode-name "Color Components")
5336 (use-local-map colorcomp-mode-map)
5337 (erase-buffer)
5338 (buffer-disable-undo)
5339 (let ((data (apply 'vector (mapcar (lambda (n) (ash n -8))
5340 (color-values color))))
5341 (ewoc (ewoc-create 'colorcomp-pp
5342 "\nColor Components\n\n"
5343 (substitute-command-keys
5344 "\n\\@{colorcomp-mode-map@}"))))
5345 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-data) data)
5346 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-ewoc) ewoc)
5347 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 0)
5348 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 1)
5349 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 2)
5350 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc nil)))
5351 @end example
5352
5353 @cindex controller part, model/view/controller
5354 This example can be extended to be a ``color selection widget'' (in
5355 other words, the controller part of the ``model/view/controller''
5356 design paradigm) by defining commands to modify @code{colorcomp-data}
5357 and to ``finish'' the selection process, and a keymap to tie it all
5358 together conveniently.
5359
5360 @smallexample
5361 (defun colorcomp-mod (index limit delta)
5362 (let ((cur (aref colorcomp-data index)))
5363 (unless (= limit cur)
5364 (aset colorcomp-data index (+ cur delta)))
5365 (ewoc-invalidate
5366 colorcomp-ewoc
5367 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc index)
5368 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc -1))))
5369
5370 (defun colorcomp-R-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 255 1))
5371 (defun colorcomp-G-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 255 1))
5372 (defun colorcomp-B-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 255 1))
5373 (defun colorcomp-R-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 0 -1))
5374 (defun colorcomp-G-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 0 -1))
5375 (defun colorcomp-B-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 0 -1))
5376
5377 (defun colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit ()
5378 "Copy the color components into the kill ring and kill the buffer.
5379 The string is formatted #RRGGBB (hash followed by six hex digits)."
5380 (interactive)
5381 (kill-new (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5382 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5383 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5384 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5385 (kill-buffer nil))
5386
5387 (setq colorcomp-mode-map
5388 (let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
5389 (suppress-keymap m)
5390 (define-key m "i" 'colorcomp-R-less)
5391 (define-key m "o" 'colorcomp-R-more)
5392 (define-key m "k" 'colorcomp-G-less)
5393 (define-key m "l" 'colorcomp-G-more)
5394 (define-key m "," 'colorcomp-B-less)
5395 (define-key m "." 'colorcomp-B-more)
5396 (define-key m " " 'colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit)
5397 m))
5398 @end smallexample
5399
5400 Note that we never modify the data in each node, which is fixed when the
5401 ewoc is created to be either @code{nil} or an index into the vector
5402 @code{colorcomp-data}, the actual color components.
5403
5404 @node Blinking
5405 @section Blinking Parentheses
5406 @cindex parenthesis matching
5407 @cindex blinking parentheses
5408 @cindex balancing parentheses
5409
5410 This section describes the mechanism by which Emacs shows a matching
5411 open parenthesis when the user inserts a close parenthesis.
5412
5413 @defvar blink-paren-function
5414 The value of this variable should be a function (of no arguments) to
5415 be called whenever a character with close parenthesis syntax is inserted.
5416 The value of @code{blink-paren-function} may be @code{nil}, in which
5417 case nothing is done.
5418 @end defvar
5419
5420 @defopt blink-matching-paren
5421 If this variable is @code{nil}, then @code{blink-matching-open} does
5422 nothing.
5423 @end defopt
5424
5425 @defopt blink-matching-paren-distance
5426 This variable specifies the maximum distance to scan for a matching
5427 parenthesis before giving up.
5428 @end defopt
5429
5430 @defopt blink-matching-delay
5431 This variable specifies the number of seconds for the cursor to remain
5432 at the matching parenthesis. A fraction of a second often gives
5433 good results, but the default is 1, which works on all systems.
5434 @end defopt
5435
5436 @deffn Command blink-matching-open
5437 This function is the default value of @code{blink-paren-function}. It
5438 assumes that point follows a character with close parenthesis syntax and
5439 moves the cursor momentarily to the matching opening character. If that
5440 character is not already on the screen, it displays the character's
5441 context in the echo area. To avoid long delays, this function does not
5442 search farther than @code{blink-matching-paren-distance} characters.
5443
5444 Here is an example of calling this function explicitly.
5445
5446 @smallexample
5447 @group
5448 (defun interactive-blink-matching-open ()
5449 @c Do not break this line! -- rms.
5450 @c The first line of a doc string
5451 @c must stand alone.
5452 "Indicate momentarily the start of sexp before point."
5453 (interactive)
5454 @end group
5455 @group
5456 (let ((blink-matching-paren-distance
5457 (buffer-size))
5458 (blink-matching-paren t))
5459 (blink-matching-open)))
5460 @end group
5461 @end smallexample
5462 @end deffn
5463
5464 @node Usual Display
5465 @section Usual Display Conventions
5466
5467 The usual display conventions define how to display each character
5468 code. You can override these conventions by setting up a display table
5469 (@pxref{Display Tables}). Here are the usual display conventions:
5470
5471 @itemize @bullet
5472 @item
5473 Character codes 32 through 126 map to glyph codes 32 through 126.
5474 Normally this means they display as themselves.
5475
5476 @item
5477 Character code 9 is a horizontal tab. It displays as whitespace
5478 up to a position determined by @code{tab-width}.
5479
5480 @item
5481 Character code 10 is a newline.
5482
5483 @item
5484 All other codes in the range 0 through 31, and code 127, display in one
5485 of two ways according to the value of @code{ctl-arrow}. If it is
5486 non-@code{nil}, these codes map to sequences of two glyphs, where the
5487 first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{^}. (A display table can
5488 specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{^}.) Otherwise, these codes map
5489 just like the codes in the range 128 to 255.
5490
5491 On MS-DOS terminals, Emacs arranges by default for the character code
5492 127 to be mapped to the glyph code 127, which normally displays as an
5493 empty polygon. This glyph is used to display non-@acronym{ASCII} characters
5494 that the MS-DOS terminal doesn't support. @xref{MS-DOS and MULE,,,
5495 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
5496
5497 @item
5498 Character codes 128 through 255 map to sequences of four glyphs, where
5499 the first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{\}, and the others are
5500 digit characters representing the character code in octal. (A display
5501 table can specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{\}.)
5502
5503 @item
5504 Multibyte character codes above 256 are displayed as themselves, or as a
5505 question mark or empty box if the terminal cannot display that
5506 character.
5507 @end itemize
5508
5509 The usual display conventions apply even when there is a display
5510 table, for any character whose entry in the active display table is
5511 @code{nil}. Thus, when you set up a display table, you need only
5512 specify the characters for which you want special behavior.
5513
5514 These display rules apply to carriage return (character code 13), when
5515 it appears in the buffer. But that character may not appear in the
5516 buffer where you expect it, if it was eliminated as part of end-of-line
5517 conversion (@pxref{Coding System Basics}).
5518
5519 These variables affect the way certain characters are displayed on the
5520 screen. Since they change the number of columns the characters occupy,
5521 they also affect the indentation functions. These variables also affect
5522 how the mode line is displayed; if you want to force redisplay of the
5523 mode line using the new values, call the function
5524 @code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5525
5526 @defopt ctl-arrow
5527 @cindex control characters in display
5528 This buffer-local variable controls how control characters are
5529 displayed. If it is non-@code{nil}, they are displayed as a caret
5530 followed by the character: @samp{^A}. If it is @code{nil}, they are
5531 displayed as a backslash followed by three octal digits: @samp{\001}.
5532 @end defopt
5533
5534 @defopt tab-width
5535 The value of this buffer-local variable is the spacing between tab
5536 stops used for displaying tab characters in Emacs buffers. The value
5537 is in units of columns, and the default is 8. Note that this feature
5538 is completely independent of the user-settable tab stops used by the
5539 command @code{tab-to-tab-stop}. @xref{Indent Tabs}.
5540 @end defopt
5541
5542 @node Display Tables
5543 @section Display Tables
5544
5545 @cindex display table
5546 You can use the @dfn{display table} feature to control how all possible
5547 character codes display on the screen. This is useful for displaying
5548 European languages that have letters not in the @acronym{ASCII} character
5549 set.
5550
5551 The display table maps each character code into a sequence of
5552 @dfn{glyphs}, each glyph being a graphic that takes up one character
5553 position on the screen. You can also define how to display each glyph
5554 on your terminal, using the @dfn{glyph table}.
5555
5556 Display tables affect how the mode line is displayed; if you want to
5557 force redisplay of the mode line using a new display table, call
5558 @code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5559
5560 @menu
5561 * Display Table Format:: What a display table consists of.
5562 * Active Display Table:: How Emacs selects a display table to use.
5563 * Glyphs:: How to define a glyph, and what glyphs mean.
5564 @end menu
5565
5566 @node Display Table Format
5567 @subsection Display Table Format
5568
5569 A display table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}) with
5570 @code{display-table} as its subtype.
5571
5572 @defun make-display-table
5573 This creates and returns a display table. The table initially has
5574 @code{nil} in all elements.
5575 @end defun
5576
5577 The ordinary elements of the display table are indexed by character
5578 codes; the element at index @var{c} says how to display the character
5579 code @var{c}. The value should be @code{nil} or a vector of the
5580 glyphs to be output (@pxref{Glyphs}). @code{nil} says to display the
5581 character @var{c} according to the usual display conventions
5582 (@pxref{Usual Display}).
5583
5584 @strong{Warning:} if you use the display table to change the display
5585 of newline characters, the whole buffer will be displayed as one long
5586 ``line.''
5587
5588 The display table also has six ``extra slots'' which serve special
5589 purposes. Here is a table of their meanings; @code{nil} in any slot
5590 means to use the default for that slot, as stated below.
5591
5592 @table @asis
5593 @item 0
5594 The glyph for the end of a truncated screen line (the default for this
5595 is @samp{$}). @xref{Glyphs}. On graphical terminals, Emacs uses
5596 arrows in the fringes to indicate truncation, so the display table has
5597 no effect.
5598
5599 @item 1
5600 The glyph for the end of a continued line (the default is @samp{\}).
5601 On graphical terminals, Emacs uses curved arrows in the fringes to
5602 indicate continuation, so the display table has no effect.
5603
5604 @item 2
5605 The glyph for indicating a character displayed as an octal character
5606 code (the default is @samp{\}).
5607
5608 @item 3
5609 The glyph for indicating a control character (the default is @samp{^}).
5610
5611 @item 4
5612 A vector of glyphs for indicating the presence of invisible lines (the
5613 default is @samp{...}). @xref{Selective Display}.
5614
5615 @item 5
5616 The glyph used to draw the border between side-by-side windows (the
5617 default is @samp{|}). @xref{Splitting Windows}. This takes effect only
5618 when there are no scroll bars; if scroll bars are supported and in use,
5619 a scroll bar separates the two windows.
5620 @end table
5621
5622 For example, here is how to construct a display table that mimics the
5623 effect of setting @code{ctl-arrow} to a non-@code{nil} value:
5624
5625 @example
5626 (setq disptab (make-display-table))
5627 (let ((i 0))
5628 (while (< i 32)
5629 (or (= i ?\t) (= i ?\n)
5630 (aset disptab i (vector ?^ (+ i 64))))
5631 (setq i (1+ i)))
5632 (aset disptab 127 (vector ?^ ??)))
5633 @end example
5634
5635 @defun display-table-slot display-table slot
5636 This function returns the value of the extra slot @var{slot} of
5637 @var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
5638 5 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5639 @code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5640 @code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5641 @end defun
5642
5643 @defun set-display-table-slot display-table slot value
5644 This function stores @var{value} in the extra slot @var{slot} of
5645 @var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
5646 5 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5647 @code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5648 @code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5649 @end defun
5650
5651 @defun describe-display-table display-table
5652 This function displays a description of the display table
5653 @var{display-table} in a help buffer.
5654 @end defun
5655
5656 @deffn Command describe-current-display-table
5657 This command displays a description of the current display table in a
5658 help buffer.
5659 @end deffn
5660
5661 @node Active Display Table
5662 @subsection Active Display Table
5663 @cindex active display table
5664
5665 Each window can specify a display table, and so can each buffer. When
5666 a buffer @var{b} is displayed in window @var{w}, display uses the
5667 display table for window @var{w} if it has one; otherwise, the display
5668 table for buffer @var{b} if it has one; otherwise, the standard display
5669 table if any. The display table chosen is called the @dfn{active}
5670 display table.
5671
5672 @defun window-display-table &optional window
5673 This function returns @var{window}'s display table, or @code{nil}
5674 if @var{window} does not have an assigned display table. The default
5675 for @var{window} is the selected window.
5676 @end defun
5677
5678 @defun set-window-display-table window table
5679 This function sets the display table of @var{window} to @var{table}.
5680 The argument @var{table} should be either a display table or
5681 @code{nil}.
5682 @end defun
5683
5684 @defvar buffer-display-table
5685 This variable is automatically buffer-local in all buffers; its value in
5686 a particular buffer specifies the display table for that buffer. If it
5687 is @code{nil}, that means the buffer does not have an assigned display
5688 table.
5689 @end defvar
5690
5691 @defvar standard-display-table
5692 This variable's value is the default display table, used whenever a
5693 window has no display table and neither does the buffer displayed in
5694 that window. This variable is @code{nil} by default.
5695 @end defvar
5696
5697 If there is no display table to use for a particular window---that is,
5698 if the window specifies none, its buffer specifies none, and
5699 @code{standard-display-table} is @code{nil}---then Emacs uses the usual
5700 display conventions for all character codes in that window. @xref{Usual
5701 Display}.
5702
5703 A number of functions for changing the standard display table
5704 are defined in the library @file{disp-table}.
5705
5706 @node Glyphs
5707 @subsection Glyphs
5708
5709 @cindex glyph
5710 A @dfn{glyph} is a generalization of a character; it stands for an
5711 image that takes up a single character position on the screen. Normally
5712 glyphs come from vectors in the display table (@pxref{Display Tables}).
5713
5714 A glyph is represented in Lisp as a @dfn{glyph code}. A glyph code
5715 can be @dfn{simple} or it can be defined by the @dfn{glyph table}. A
5716 simple glyph code is just a way of specifying a character and a face
5717 to output it in. @xref{Faces}.
5718
5719 The following functions are used to manipulate simple glyph codes:
5720
5721 @defun make-glyph-code char &optional face
5722 This function returns a simple glyph code representing char @var{char}
5723 with face @var{face}.
5724 @end defun
5725
5726 @defun glyph-char glyph
5727 This function returns the character of simple glyph code @var{glyph}.
5728 @end defun
5729
5730 @defun glyph-face glyph
5731 This function returns face of simple glyph code @var{glyph}, or
5732 @code{nil} if @var{glyph} has the default face (face-id 0).
5733 @xref{Face Functions}.
5734 @end defun
5735
5736 On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
5737 the meaning of glyph codes (represented as small integers).
5738
5739 @defvar glyph-table
5740 The value of this variable is the current glyph table. It should be
5741 @code{nil} or a vector whose @var{g}th element defines glyph code
5742 @var{g}.
5743
5744 If a glyph code is greater than or equal to the length of the glyph
5745 table, that code is automatically simple. If @code{glyph-table} is
5746 @code{nil} then all glyph codes are simple.
5747
5748 The glyph table is used only on character terminals. On graphical
5749 displays, all glyph codes are simple.
5750 @end defvar
5751
5752 Here are the meaningful types of elements in the glyph table:
5753
5754 @table @asis
5755 @item @var{string}
5756 Send the characters in @var{string} to the terminal to output
5757 this glyph code.
5758
5759 @item @var{code}
5760 Define this glyph code as an alias for glyph code @var{code} created
5761 by @code{make-glyph-code}. You can use such an alias to define a
5762 small-numbered glyph code which specifies a character with a face.
5763
5764 @item @code{nil}
5765 This glyph code is simple.
5766 @end table
5767
5768 @defun create-glyph string
5769 This function returns a newly-allocated glyph code which is set up to
5770 display by sending @var{string} to the terminal.
5771 @end defun
5772
5773 @node Beeping
5774 @section Beeping
5775 @c @cindex beeping "beep" is adjacent
5776 @cindex bell
5777
5778 This section describes how to make Emacs ring the bell (or blink the
5779 screen) to attract the user's attention. Be conservative about how
5780 often you do this; frequent bells can become irritating. Also be
5781 careful not to use just beeping when signaling an error is more
5782 appropriate. (@xref{Errors}.)
5783
5784 @defun ding &optional do-not-terminate
5785 @cindex keyboard macro termination
5786 This function beeps, or flashes the screen (see @code{visible-bell} below).
5787 It also terminates any keyboard macro currently executing unless
5788 @var{do-not-terminate} is non-@code{nil}.
5789 @end defun
5790
5791 @defun beep &optional do-not-terminate
5792 This is a synonym for @code{ding}.
5793 @end defun
5794
5795 @defopt visible-bell
5796 This variable determines whether Emacs should flash the screen to
5797 represent a bell. Non-@code{nil} means yes, @code{nil} means no. This
5798 is effective on graphical displays, and on text-only terminals
5799 provided the terminal's Termcap entry defines the visible bell
5800 capability (@samp{vb}).
5801 @end defopt
5802
5803 @defvar ring-bell-function
5804 If this is non-@code{nil}, it specifies how Emacs should ``ring the
5805 bell.'' Its value should be a function of no arguments. If this is
5806 non-@code{nil}, it takes precedence over the @code{visible-bell}
5807 variable.
5808 @end defvar
5809
5810 @node Window Systems
5811 @section Window Systems
5812
5813 Emacs works with several window systems, most notably the X Window
5814 System. Both Emacs and X use the term ``window,'' but use it
5815 differently. An Emacs frame is a single window as far as X is
5816 concerned; the individual Emacs windows are not known to X at all.
5817
5818 @defvar window-system
5819 This frame-local variable tells Lisp programs what window system Emacs is using
5820 for displaying the frame. The possible values are
5821
5822 @table @code
5823 @item x
5824 @cindex X Window System
5825 Emacs is displaying the frame using X.
5826 @item w32
5827 Emacs is displaying the frame using native MS-Windows GUI.
5828 @item ns
5829 Emacs is displaying the frame using the Nextstep interface (used on
5830 GNUstep and Mac OS X).
5831 @item pc
5832 Emacs is displaying the frame using MS-DOS direct screen writes.
5833 @item nil
5834 Emacs is displaying the frame on a character-based terminal.
5835 @end table
5836 @end defvar
5837
5838 @defvar initial-window-system
5839 This variable holds the value of @code{window-system} used for the
5840 first frame created by Emacs during startup. (When Emacs is invoked
5841 with the @option{--daemon} option, it does not create any initial
5842 frames, so @code{initial-window-system} is @code{nil}. @xref{Initial
5843 Options, daemon,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.)
5844 @end defvar
5845
5846 @defun window-system &optional frame
5847 This function returns a symbol whose name tells what window system is
5848 used for displaying @var{frame} (which defaults to the currently
5849 selected frame). The list of possible symbols it returns is the same
5850 one documented for the variable @code{window-system} above.
5851 @end defun
5852
5853 @defvar window-setup-hook
5854 This variable is a normal hook which Emacs runs after handling the
5855 initialization files. Emacs runs this hook after it has completed
5856 loading your init file, the default initialization file (if
5857 any), and the terminal-specific Lisp code, and running the hook
5858 @code{term-setup-hook}.
5859
5860 This hook is used for internal purposes: setting up communication with
5861 the window system, and creating the initial window. Users should not
5862 interfere with it.
5863 @end defvar
5864
5865 @ignore
5866 arch-tag: ffdf5714-7ecf-415b-9023-fbc6b409c2c6
5867 @end ignore