]> code.delx.au - gnu-emacs/blob - doc/misc/widget.texi
Add 2012 to FSF copyright years for Emacs files
[gnu-emacs] / doc / misc / widget.texi
1 \input texinfo.tex
2 @c %**start of header
3 @setfilename ../../info/widget
4 @settitle The Emacs Widget Library
5 @syncodeindex fn cp
6 @syncodeindex vr cp
7 @syncodeindex ky cp
8 @c %**end of header
9
10 @copying
11 Copyright @copyright{} 2000-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
12
13 @quotation
14 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
15 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
16 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
17 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
18 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
19 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
20
21 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
22 modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
23 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
24 @end quotation
25 @end copying
26
27 @dircategory Emacs lisp libraries
28 @direntry
29 * Widget: (widget). The "widget" package used by the Emacs
30 Customization facility.
31 @end direntry
32
33 @contents
34
35 @node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
36 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
37 @top The Emacs Widget Library
38
39 @insertcopying
40
41 @menu
42 * Introduction::
43 * User Interface::
44 * Programming Example::
45 * Setting Up the Buffer::
46 * Basic Types::
47 * Sexp Types::
48 * Widget Properties::
49 * Defining New Widgets::
50 * Widget Browser::
51 * Widget Minor Mode::
52 * Utilities::
53 * Widget Wishlist::
54 * GNU Free Documentation License::
55 * Index::
56 @end menu
57
58 @node Introduction, User Interface, Top, Top
59 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
60 @section Introduction
61
62 Most graphical user interface toolkits provide a number of standard
63 user interface controls (sometimes known as `widgets' or `gadgets').
64 Emacs doesn't really support anything like this, except for an
65 incredibly powerful text ``widget.'' On the other hand, Emacs does
66 provide the necessary primitives to implement many other widgets
67 within a text buffer. The @code{widget} package simplifies this task.
68
69 @cindex basic widgets
70 @cindex widgets, basic types
71 The basic widgets are:
72
73 @table @code
74 @item link
75 Areas of text with an associated action. Intended for hypertext links
76 embedded in text.
77 @item push-button
78 Like link, but intended for stand-alone buttons.
79 @item editable-field
80 An editable text field. It can be either variable or fixed length.
81 @item menu-choice
82 Allows the user to choose one of multiple options from a menu, each
83 option is itself a widget. Only the selected option will be visible in
84 the buffer.
85 @item radio-button-choice
86 Allows the user to choose one of multiple options by activating radio
87 buttons. The options are implemented as widgets. All options will be
88 visible in the buffer.
89 @item item
90 A simple constant widget intended to be used in the @code{menu-choice} and
91 @code{radio-button-choice} widgets.
92 @item choice-item
93 A button item only intended for use in choices. When invoked, the user
94 will be asked to select another option from the choice widget.
95 @item toggle
96 A simple @samp{on}/@samp{off} switch.
97 @item checkbox
98 A checkbox (@samp{[ ]}/@samp{[X]}).
99 @item editable-list
100 Create an editable list. The user can insert or delete items in the
101 list. Each list item is itself a widget.
102 @end table
103
104 Now, of what possible use can support for widgets be in a text editor?
105 I'm glad you asked. The answer is that widgets are useful for
106 implementing forms. A @dfn{form} in Emacs is a buffer where the user is
107 supposed to fill out a number of fields, each of which has a specific
108 meaning. The user is not supposed to change or delete any of the text
109 between the fields. Examples of forms in Emacs are the @file{forms}
110 package (of course), the customize buffers, the mail and news compose
111 modes, and the @acronym{HTML} form support in the @file{w3} browser.
112
113 @cindex widget library, why use it
114 The advantages for a programmer of using the @code{widget} package to
115 implement forms are:
116
117 @enumerate
118 @item
119 More complex fields than just editable text are supported.
120 @item
121 You can give the users immediate feedback if they enter invalid data in a
122 text field, and sometimes prevent entering invalid data.
123 @item
124 You can have fixed sized fields, thus allowing multiple fields to be
125 lined up in columns.
126 @item
127 It is simple to query or set the value of a field.
128 @item
129 Editing happens in the buffer, not in the mini-buffer.
130 @item
131 Packages using the library get a uniform look, making them easier for
132 the user to learn.
133 @item
134 As support for embedded graphics improve, the widget library will be
135 extended to use the GUI features. This means that your code using the
136 widget library will also use the new graphic features automatically.
137 @end enumerate
138
139 @node User Interface, Programming Example, Introduction, Top
140 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
141 @section User Interface
142
143 A form consists of read only text for documentation and some fields,
144 where each field contains two parts, a tag and a value. The tags are
145 used to identify the fields, so the documentation can refer to the
146 @samp{foo field}, meaning the field tagged with @samp{Foo}. Here is an
147 example form:
148
149 @example
150 Here is some documentation.
151
152 Name: @i{My Name} @strong{Choose}: This option
153 Address: @i{Some Place
154 In some City
155 Some country.}
156
157 See also @b{_other work_} for more information.
158
159 Numbers: count to three below
160 @b{[INS]} @b{[DEL]} @i{One}
161 @b{[INS]} @b{[DEL]} @i{Eh, two?}
162 @b{[INS]} @b{[DEL]} @i{Five!}
163 @b{[INS]}
164
165 Select multiple:
166
167 @b{[X]} This
168 @b{[ ]} That
169 @b{[X]} Thus
170
171 Select one:
172
173 @b{(*)} One
174 @b{( )} Another One.
175 @b{( )} A Final One.
176
177 @b{[Apply Form]} @b{[Reset Form]}
178 @end example
179
180 The top level widgets in this example are tagged @samp{Name},
181 @samp{Choose}, @samp{Address}, @samp{_other work_}, @samp{Numbers},
182 @samp{Select multiple}, @samp{Select one}, @samp{[Apply Form]}, and
183 @samp{[Reset Form]}. There are basically two things the user can do
184 within a form, namely editing the editable text fields and activating
185 the buttons.
186
187 @subsection Editable Text Fields
188
189 In the example, the value for the @samp{Name} is most likely displayed
190 in an editable text field, and so are values for each of the members of
191 the @samp{Numbers} list. All the normal Emacs editing operations are
192 available for editing these fields. The only restriction is that each
193 change you make must be contained within a single editable text field.
194 For example, capitalizing all text from the middle of one field to the
195 middle of another field is prohibited.
196
197 Editable text fields are created by the @code{editable-field} widget.
198
199 @strong{Warning:} In an @code{editable-field} widget, the editable
200 field must not be adjacent to another widget---that won't work.
201 You must put some text in between. Either make this text part of
202 the @code{editable-field} widget itself, or insert it with
203 @code{widget-insert}.
204
205 The @code{:format} keyword is useful for generating the necessary
206 text; for instance, if you give it a value of @code{"Name: %v "},
207 the @samp{Name: } part will provide the necessary separating text
208 before the field and the trailing space will provide the
209 separating text after the field. If you don't include the
210 @code{:size} keyword, the field will extend to the end of the
211 line, and the terminating newline will provide separation after.
212
213 @strong{Warning:} In an @code{editable-field} widget, the @samp{%v} escape
214 must be preceded by some other text in the @code{:format} string
215 (if specified).
216
217 The editing text fields are highlighted with the
218 @code{widget-field-face} face, making them easy to find.
219
220 @deffn Face widget-field-face
221 Face used for other editing fields.
222 @end deffn
223
224 @subsection Buttons
225
226 @cindex widget buttons
227 @cindex button widgets
228 Some portions of the buffer have an associated @dfn{action}, which can
229 be @dfn{invoked} by a standard key or mouse command. These portions
230 are called @dfn{buttons}. The default commands for activating a button
231 are:
232
233 @table @kbd
234 @item @key{RET}
235 @deffn Command widget-button-press @var{pos} &optional @var{event}
236 Invoke the button at @var{pos}, defaulting to point.
237 If point is not located on a button, invoke the binding in
238 @code{widget-global-map} (by default the global map).
239 @end deffn
240
241 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(on button widgets})
242 @item Mouse-2
243 @deffn Command widget-button-click @var{event}
244 Invoke the button at the location of the mouse pointer. If the mouse
245 pointer is located in an editable text field, invoke the binding in
246 @code{widget-global-map} (by default the global map).
247 @end deffn
248 @end table
249
250 There are several different kind of buttons, all of which are present in
251 the example:
252
253 @table @emph
254 @cindex option field tag
255 @item The Option Field Tags
256 When you invoke one of these buttons, you will be asked to choose
257 between a number of different options. This is how you edit an option
258 field. Option fields are created by the @code{menu-choice} widget. In
259 the example, @samp{@b{Choose}} is an option field tag.
260 @item The @samp{@b{[INS]}} and @samp{@b{[DEL]}} buttons
261 Activating these will insert or delete elements from an editable list.
262 The list is created by the @code{editable-list} widget.
263 @cindex embedded buttons
264 @item Embedded Buttons
265 The @samp{@b{_other work_}} is an example of an embedded
266 button. Embedded buttons are not associated with any fields, but can serve
267 any purpose, such as implementing hypertext references. They are
268 usually created by the @code{link} widget.
269 @item The @samp{@b{[ ]}} and @samp{@b{[X]}} buttons
270 Activating one of these will convert it to the other. This is useful
271 for implementing multiple-choice fields. You can create them with the
272 @code{checkbox} widget.
273 @item The @samp{@b{( )}} and @samp{@b{(*)}} buttons
274 Only one radio button in a @code{radio-button-choice} widget can be
275 selected at any time. When you invoke one of the unselected radio
276 buttons, it will be selected and the previous selected radio button will
277 become unselected.
278 @item The @samp{@b{[Apply Form]}} and @samp{@b{[Reset Form]}} buttons
279 These are explicit buttons made with the @code{push-button} widget. The
280 main difference from the @code{link} widget is that the buttons will be
281 displayed as GUI buttons when possible.
282 @end table
283
284 To make them easier to locate, buttons are emphasized in the buffer.
285
286 @deffn Face widget-button-face
287 Face used for buttons.
288 @end deffn
289
290 @defopt widget-mouse-face
291 Face used for highlighting a button when the mouse pointer moves across
292 it.
293 @end defopt
294
295 @subsection Navigation
296
297 You can use all the normal Emacs commands to move around in a form
298 buffer, plus you will have these additional commands:
299
300 @table @kbd
301 @item @key{TAB}
302 @deffn Command widget-forward &optional count
303 Move point @var{count} buttons or editing fields forward.
304 @end deffn
305 @item @kbd{M-@key{TAB}}
306 @itemx @kbd{S-@key{TAB}}
307 @deffn Command widget-backward &optional count
308 Move point @var{count} buttons or editing fields backward.
309 @end deffn
310 @end table
311
312 @node Programming Example, Setting Up the Buffer, User Interface, Top
313 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
314 @section Programming Example
315
316 @cindex widgets, programming example
317 @cindex example of using widgets
318 Here is the code to implement the user interface example (@pxref{User
319 Interface}).
320
321 @lisp
322 (require 'widget)
323
324 (eval-when-compile
325 (require 'wid-edit))
326
327 (defvar widget-example-repeat)
328
329 (defun widget-example ()
330 "Create the widgets from the Widget manual."
331 (interactive)
332 (switch-to-buffer "*Widget Example*")
333 (kill-all-local-variables)
334 (make-local-variable 'widget-example-repeat)
335 (let ((inhibit-read-only t))
336 (erase-buffer))
337 (remove-overlays)
338 (widget-insert "Here is some documentation.\n\n")
339 (widget-create 'editable-field
340 :size 13
341 :format "Name: %v " ; Text after the field!
342 "My Name")
343 (widget-create 'menu-choice
344 :tag "Choose"
345 :value "This"
346 :help-echo "Choose me, please!"
347 :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
348 (message "%s is a good choice!"
349 (widget-value widget)))
350 '(item :tag "This option" :value "This")
351 '(choice-item "That option")
352 '(editable-field :menu-tag "No option" "Thus option"))
353 (widget-create 'editable-field
354 :format "Address: %v"
355 "Some Place\nIn some City\nSome country.")
356 (widget-insert "\nSee also ")
357 (widget-create 'link
358 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
359 (widget-value-set widget-example-repeat
360 '("En" "To" "Tre"))
361 (widget-setup))
362 "other work")
363 (widget-insert
364 " for more information.\n\nNumbers: count to three below\n")
365 (setq widget-example-repeat
366 (widget-create 'editable-list
367 :entry-format "%i %d %v"
368 :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
369 (let ((old (widget-get widget
370 ':example-length))
371 (new (length (widget-value widget))))
372 (unless (eq old new)
373 (widget-put widget ':example-length new)
374 (message "You can count to %d." new))))
375 :value '("One" "Eh, two?" "Five!")
376 '(editable-field :value "three")))
377 (widget-insert "\n\nSelect multiple:\n\n")
378 (widget-create 'checkbox t)
379 (widget-insert " This\n")
380 (widget-create 'checkbox nil)
381 (widget-insert " That\n")
382 (widget-create 'checkbox
383 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore) (message "Tickle"))
384 t)
385 (widget-insert " Thus\n\nSelect one:\n\n")
386 (widget-create 'radio-button-choice
387 :value "One"
388 :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
389 (message "You selected %s"
390 (widget-value widget)))
391 '(item "One") '(item "Another One.") '(item "A Final One."))
392 (widget-insert "\n")
393 (widget-create 'push-button
394 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
395 (if (= (length (widget-value widget-example-repeat))
396 3)
397 (message "Congratulation!")
398 (error "Three was the count!")))
399 "Apply Form")
400 (widget-insert " ")
401 (widget-create 'push-button
402 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
403 (widget-example))
404 "Reset Form")
405 (widget-insert "\n")
406 (use-local-map widget-keymap)
407 (widget-setup))
408 @end lisp
409
410 @node Setting Up the Buffer, Basic Types, Programming Example, Top
411 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
412 @section Setting Up the Buffer
413
414 Widgets are created with @code{widget-create}, which returns a
415 @dfn{widget} object. This object can be queried and manipulated by
416 other widget functions, until it is deleted with @code{widget-delete}.
417 After the widgets have been created, @code{widget-setup} must be called
418 to enable them.
419
420 @defun widget-create type [ keyword argument ]@dots{}
421 Create and return a widget of type @var{type}.
422 The syntax for the @var{type} argument is described in @ref{Basic Types}.
423
424 The keyword arguments can be used to overwrite the keyword arguments
425 that are part of @var{type}.
426 @end defun
427
428 @defun widget-delete widget
429 Delete @var{widget} and remove it from the buffer.
430 @end defun
431
432 @defun widget-setup
433 Set up a buffer to support widgets.
434
435 This should be called after creating all the widgets and before allowing
436 the user to edit them.
437 @refill
438 @end defun
439
440 If you want to insert text outside the widgets in the form, the
441 recommended way to do that is with @code{widget-insert}.
442
443 @defun widget-insert
444 Insert the arguments, either strings or characters, at point.
445 The inserted text will be read-only.
446 @end defun
447
448 There is a standard widget keymap which you might find useful.
449
450 @findex widget-button-press
451 @findex widget-button-click
452 @defvr Const widget-keymap
453 @key{TAB} and @kbd{C-@key{TAB}} are bound to @code{widget-forward} and
454 @code{widget-backward}, respectively. @key{RET} and @kbd{Mouse-2}
455 are bound to @code{widget-button-press} and
456 @code{widget-button-click}.@refill
457 @end defvr
458
459 @defvar widget-global-map
460 Keymap used by @code{widget-button-press} and @code{widget-button-click}
461 when not on a button. By default this is @code{global-map}.
462 @end defvar
463
464 @node Basic Types, Sexp Types, Setting Up the Buffer, Top
465 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
466 @section Basic Types
467
468 This is the general syntax of a type specification:
469
470 @example
471 @var{name} ::= (@var{name} [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{args})
472 | @var{name}
473 @end example
474
475 Where, @var{name} is a widget name, @var{keyword} is the name of a
476 property, @var{argument} is the value of the property, and @var{args}
477 are interpreted in a widget specific way.
478
479 @cindex keyword arguments
480 The following keyword arguments apply to all widgets:
481
482 @table @code
483 @vindex value@r{ keyword}
484 @item :value
485 The initial value for widgets of this type.
486
487 @vindex format@r{ keyword}
488 @item :format
489 This string will be inserted in the buffer when you create a widget.
490 The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
491
492 @table @samp
493 @item %[
494 @itemx %]
495 The text inside will be marked as a button.
496
497 By default, the text will be shown in @code{widget-button-face}, and
498 surrounded by brackets.
499
500 @defopt widget-button-prefix
501 String to prefix buttons.
502 @end defopt
503
504 @defopt widget-button-suffix
505 String to suffix buttons.
506 @end defopt
507
508 @item %@{
509 @itemx %@}
510 The text inside will be displayed with the face specified by
511 @code{:sample-face}.
512
513 @item %v
514 This will be replaced with the buffer representation of the widget's
515 value. What this is depends on the widget type.
516
517 @strong{Warning:} In an @code{editable-field} widget, the @samp{%v} escape
518 must be preceded by some other text in the format string (if specified).
519
520 @item %d
521 Insert the string specified by @code{:doc} here.
522
523 @item %h
524 Like @samp{%d}, with the following modifications: If the documentation
525 string is more than one line, it will add a button which will toggle
526 between showing only the first line, and showing the full text.
527 Furthermore, if there is no @code{:doc} property in the widget, it will
528 instead examine the @code{:documentation-property} property. If it is a
529 lambda expression, it will be called with the widget's value as an
530 argument, and the result will be used as the documentation text.
531
532 @item %t
533 Insert the string specified by @code{:tag} here, or the @code{princ}
534 representation of the value if there is no tag.
535
536 @item %%
537 Insert a literal @samp{%}.
538 @end table
539
540 @vindex button-face@r{ keyword}
541 @item :button-face
542 Face used to highlight text inside %[ %] in the format.
543
544 @vindex button-prefix@r{ keyword}
545 @vindex button-suffix@r{ keyword}
546 @item :button-prefix
547 @itemx :button-suffix
548 Text around %[ %] in the format.
549
550 These can be
551 @table @emph
552 @item nil
553 No text is inserted.
554
555 @item a string
556 The string is inserted literally.
557
558 @item a symbol
559 The value of the symbol is expanded according to this table.
560 @end table
561
562 @vindex doc@r{ keyword}
563 @item :doc
564 The string inserted by the @samp{%d} escape in the format
565 string.
566
567 @vindex tag@r{ keyword}
568 @item :tag
569 The string inserted by the @samp{%t} escape in the format
570 string.
571
572 @vindex tag-glyph@r{ keyword}
573 @item :tag-glyph
574 Name of image to use instead of the string specified by @code{:tag} on
575 Emacsen that supports it.
576
577 @vindex help-echo@r{ keyword}
578 @item :help-echo
579 Specifies how to display a message whenever you move to the widget with
580 either @code{widget-forward} or @code{widget-backward} or move the mouse
581 over it (using the standard @code{help-echo} mechanism). The argument
582 is either a string to display, a function of one argument, the widget,
583 which should return a string to display, or a form that evaluates to
584 such a string.
585
586 @vindex follow-link@r{ keyword}
587 @item :follow-link
588 Specifies how to interpret a @key{mouse-1} click on the widget.
589 @xref{Clickable Text,, Defining Clickable Text, elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
590
591 @vindex indent@r{ keyword}
592 @item :indent
593 An integer indicating the absolute number of spaces to indent children
594 of this widget.
595
596 @vindex offset@r{ keyword}
597 @item :offset
598 An integer indicating how many extra spaces to add to the widget's
599 grandchildren compared to this widget.
600
601 @vindex extra-offset@r{ keyword}
602 @item :extra-offset
603 An integer indicating how many extra spaces to add to the widget's
604 children compared to this widget.
605
606 @vindex notify@r{ keyword}
607 @item :notify
608 A function called each time the widget or a nested widget is changed.
609 The function is called with two or three arguments. The first argument
610 is the widget itself, the second argument is the widget that was
611 changed, and the third argument is the event leading to the change, if
612 any.
613
614 @vindex menu-tag@r{ keyword}
615 @item :menu-tag
616 Tag used in the menu when the widget is used as an option in a
617 @code{menu-choice} widget.
618
619 @vindex menu-tag-get@r{ keyword}
620 @item :menu-tag-get
621 Function used for finding the tag when the widget is used as an option
622 in a @code{menu-choice} widget. By default, the tag used will be either the
623 @code{:menu-tag} or @code{:tag} property if present, or the @code{princ}
624 representation of the @code{:value} property if not.
625
626 @vindex match@r{ keyword}
627 @item :match
628 Should be a function called with two arguments, the widget and a value,
629 and returning non-@code{nil} if the widget can represent the specified value.
630
631 @vindex validate@r{ keyword}
632 @item :validate
633 A function which takes a widget as an argument, and returns @code{nil}
634 if the widget's current value is valid for the widget. Otherwise it
635 should return the widget containing the invalid data, and set that
636 widget's @code{:error} property to a string explaining the error.
637
638 The following predefined function can be used:
639
640 @defun widget-children-validate widget
641 All the @code{:children} of @var{widget} must be valid.
642 @end defun
643
644 @vindex tab-order@r{ keyword}
645 @item :tab-order
646 Specify the order in which widgets are traversed with
647 @code{widget-forward} or @code{widget-backward}. This is only partially
648 implemented.
649
650 @enumerate a
651 @item
652 Widgets with tabbing order @code{-1} are ignored.
653
654 @item
655 (Unimplemented) When on a widget with tabbing order @var{n}, go to the
656 next widget in the buffer with tabbing order @var{n+1} or @code{nil},
657 whichever comes first.
658
659 @item
660 When on a widget with no tabbing order specified, go to the next widget
661 in the buffer with a positive tabbing order, or @code{nil}
662 @end enumerate
663
664 @vindex parent@r{ keyword}
665 @item :parent
666 The parent of a nested widget (e.g.@: a @code{menu-choice} item or an
667 element of a @code{editable-list} widget).
668
669 @vindex sibling-args@r{ keyword}
670 @item :sibling-args
671 This keyword is only used for members of a @code{radio-button-choice} or
672 @code{checklist}. The value should be a list of extra keyword
673 arguments, which will be used when creating the @code{radio-button} or
674 @code{checkbox} associated with this item.
675
676 @end table
677
678 @deffn {User Option} widget-glyph-directory
679 Directory where glyphs are found.
680 Widget will look here for a file with the same name as specified for the
681 image, with either a @file{.xpm} (if supported) or @file{.xbm} extension.
682 @end deffn
683
684 @deffn{User Option} widget-glyph-enable
685 If non-@code{nil}, allow glyphs to appear on displays where they are supported.
686 @end deffn
687
688
689 @menu
690 * link::
691 * url-link::
692 * info-link::
693 * push-button::
694 * editable-field::
695 * text::
696 * menu-choice::
697 * radio-button-choice::
698 * item::
699 * choice-item::
700 * toggle::
701 * checkbox::
702 * checklist::
703 * editable-list::
704 * group::
705 @end menu
706
707 @node link, url-link, Basic Types, Basic Types
708 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
709 @subsection The @code{link} Widget
710 @findex link@r{ widget}
711
712 Syntax:
713
714 @example
715 @var{type} ::= (link [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... [ @var{value} ])
716 @end example
717
718 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
719 property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
720 buffer.
721
722 By default the link will be shown in brackets.
723
724 @defopt widget-link-prefix
725 String to prefix links.
726 @end defopt
727
728 @defopt widget-link-suffix
729 String to suffix links.
730 @end defopt
731
732 @node url-link, info-link, link, Basic Types
733 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
734 @subsection The @code{url-link} Widget
735 @findex url-link@r{ widget}
736
737 Syntax:
738
739 @example
740 @var{type} ::= (url-link [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{url})
741 @end example
742
743 @findex browse-url-browser-function@r{, and @code{url-link} widget}
744 When this link is invoked, the @acronym{WWW} browser specified by
745 @code{browse-url-browser-function} will be called with @var{url}.
746
747 @node info-link, push-button, url-link, Basic Types
748 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
749 @subsection The @code{info-link} Widget
750 @findex info-link@r{ widget}
751
752 Syntax:
753
754 @example
755 @var{type} ::= (info-link [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{address})
756 @end example
757
758 When this link is invoked, the built-in Info reader is started on
759 @var{address}.
760
761 @node push-button, editable-field, info-link, Basic Types
762 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
763 @subsection The @code{push-button} Widget
764 @findex push-button@r{ widget}
765
766 Syntax:
767
768 @example
769 @var{type} ::= (push-button [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... [ @var{value} ])
770 @end example
771
772 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
773 property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
774 buffer.
775
776 By default the tag will be shown in brackets.
777
778 @defopt widget-push-button-prefix
779 String to prefix push buttons.
780 @end defopt
781
782 @defopt widget-push-button-suffix
783 String to suffix push buttons.
784 @end defopt
785
786 @node editable-field, text, push-button, Basic Types
787 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
788 @subsection The @code{editable-field} Widget
789 @findex editable-field@r{ widget}
790
791 Syntax:
792
793 @example
794 @var{type} ::= (editable-field [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... [ @var{value} ])
795 @end example
796
797 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
798 property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
799 field. This widget will match all string values.
800
801 The following extra properties are recognized:
802
803 @table @code
804 @vindex size@r{ keyword}
805 @item :size
806 The width of the editable field.@*
807 By default the field will reach to the end of the line.
808
809 @vindex value-face@r{ keyword}
810 @item :value-face
811 Face used for highlighting the editable field. Default is
812 @code{widget-field-face}, see @ref{User Interface}.
813
814 @vindex secret@r{ keyword}
815 @item :secret
816 Character used to display the value. You can set this to e.g.@: @code{?*}
817 if the field contains a password or other secret information. By
818 default, this is @code{nil}, and the value is not secret.
819
820 @vindex valid-regexp@r{ keyword}
821 @item :valid-regexp
822 By default the @code{:validate} function will match the content of the
823 field with the value of this attribute. The default value is @code{""}
824 which matches everything.
825
826 @vindex keymap@r{ keyword}
827 @vindex widget-field-keymap
828 @item :keymap
829 Keymap used in the editable field. The default value is
830 @code{widget-field-keymap}, which allows you to use all the normal
831 editing commands, even if the buffer's major mode suppresses some of
832 them. Pressing @key{RET} invokes the function specified by
833 @code{:action}.
834 @end table
835
836 @node text, menu-choice, editable-field, Basic Types
837 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
838 @subsection The @code{text} Widget
839 @findex text@r{ widget}
840
841 @vindex widget-text-keymap
842 This is just like @code{editable-field}, but intended for multiline text
843 fields. The default @code{:keymap} is @code{widget-text-keymap}, which
844 does not rebind the @key{RET} key.
845
846 @node menu-choice, radio-button-choice, text, Basic Types
847 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
848 @subsection The @code{menu-choice} Widget
849 @findex menu-choice@r{ widget}
850
851 Syntax:
852
853 @example
854 @var{type} ::= (menu-choice [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type} ... )
855 @end example
856
857 The @var{type} argument represents each possible choice. The widget's
858 value will be that of the chosen @var{type} argument. This widget will
859 match any value matching at least one of the specified @var{type}
860 arguments.
861
862 @table @code
863 @vindex void@r{ keyword}
864 @item :void
865 Widget type used as a fallback when the value does not match any of the
866 specified @var{type} arguments.
867
868 @vindex case-fold@r{ keyword}
869 @item :case-fold
870 Set this to @code{nil} if you don't want to ignore case when prompting for a
871 choice through the minibuffer.
872
873 @vindex children@r{ keyword}
874 @item :children
875 A list whose @sc{car} is the widget representing the currently chosen
876 type in the buffer.
877
878 @vindex choice@r{ keyword}
879 @item :choice
880 The current chosen type.
881
882 @vindex args@r{ keyword}
883 @item :args
884 The list of types.
885 @end table
886
887 @node radio-button-choice, item, menu-choice, Basic Types
888 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
889 @subsection The @code{radio-button-choice} Widget
890 @findex radio-button-choice@r{ widget}
891
892 Syntax:
893
894 @example
895 @var{type} ::= (radio-button-choice [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type} ... )
896 @end example
897
898 The component types specify the choices, with one radio button for
899 each. The widget's value will be that of the chosen @var{type}
900 argument. This widget matches any value that matches at least one of
901 the specified @var{type} arguments.
902
903 The following extra properties are recognized.
904
905 @table @code
906 @vindex entry-format@r{ keyword}
907 @item :entry-format
908 This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.
909 The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
910 @table @samp
911 @item %v
912 Replace with the buffer representation of the @var{type} widget.
913 @item %b
914 Replace with the radio button.
915 @item %%
916 Insert a literal @samp{%}.
917 @end table
918
919 @vindex button-args@r{ keyword}
920 @item :button-args
921 A list of keywords to pass to the radio buttons. Useful for setting
922 e.g.@: the @samp{:help-echo} for each button.
923
924 @vindex buttons@r{ keyword}
925 @item :buttons
926 The widgets representing the radio buttons.
927
928 @vindex children@r{ keyword}
929 @item :children
930 The widgets representing each type.
931
932 @vindex choice@r{ keyword}
933 @item :choice
934 The current chosen type
935
936 @vindex args@r{ keyword}
937 @item :args
938 The list of types.
939 @end table
940
941 You can add extra radio button items to a @code{radio-button-choice}
942 widget after it has been created with the function
943 @code{widget-radio-add-item}.
944
945 @defun widget-radio-add-item widget type
946 Add to @code{radio-button-choice} widget @var{widget} a new radio button
947 item of type @var{type}.
948 @end defun
949
950 Please note that such items added after the @code{radio-button-choice}
951 widget has been created will @strong{not} be properly destructed when
952 you call @code{widget-delete}.
953
954 @node item, choice-item, radio-button-choice, Basic Types
955 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
956 @subsection The @code{item} Widget
957 @findex item@r{ widget}
958
959 Syntax:
960
961 @example
962 @var{item} ::= (item [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{value})
963 @end example
964
965 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
966 property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
967 buffer. This widget will only match the specified value.
968
969 @node choice-item, toggle, item, Basic Types
970 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
971 @subsection The @code{choice-item} Widget
972 @findex choice-item@r{ widget}
973
974 Syntax:
975
976 @example
977 @var{item} ::= (choice-item [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{value})
978 @end example
979
980 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
981 property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
982 buffer as a button. Activating the button of a @code{choice-item} is
983 equivalent to activating the parent widget. This widget will only match
984 the specified value.
985
986 @node toggle, checkbox, choice-item, Basic Types
987 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
988 @subsection The @code{toggle} Widget
989 @findex toggle@r{ widget}
990
991 Syntax:
992
993 @example
994 @var{type} ::= (toggle [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]...)
995 @end example
996
997 The widget has two possible states, @samp{on} and @samp{off}, which
998 correspond to a @code{t} or @code{nil} value, respectively.
999
1000 The following extra properties are recognized:
1001
1002 @table @code
1003 @item :on
1004 A string representing the @samp{on} state. By default the string
1005 @samp{on}.
1006 @item :off
1007 A string representing the @samp{off} state. By default the string
1008 @samp{off}.
1009 @vindex on-glyph@r{ keyword}
1010 @item :on-glyph
1011 Name of a glyph to be used instead of the @samp{:on} text string, on
1012 emacsen that supports this.
1013 @vindex off-glyph@r{ keyword}
1014 @item :off-glyph
1015 Name of a glyph to be used instead of the @samp{:off} text string, on
1016 emacsen that supports this.
1017 @end table
1018
1019 @node checkbox, checklist, toggle, Basic Types
1020 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1021 @subsection The @code{checkbox} Widget
1022 @findex checkbox@r{ widget}
1023
1024 This widget has two possible states, @samp{selected} and
1025 @samp{unselected}, which corresponds to a @code{t} or @code{nil} value.
1026
1027 Syntax:
1028
1029 @example
1030 @var{type} ::= (checkbox [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]...)
1031 @end example
1032
1033 @node checklist, editable-list, checkbox, Basic Types
1034 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1035 @subsection The @code{checklist} Widget
1036 @findex checklist@r{ widget}
1037
1038 Syntax:
1039
1040 @example
1041 @var{type} ::= (checklist [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type} ... )
1042 @end example
1043
1044 The @var{type} arguments represent each checklist item. The widget's
1045 value will be a list containing the values of all checked @var{type}
1046 arguments. The checklist widget will match a list whose elements all
1047 match at least one of the specified @var{type} arguments.
1048
1049 The following extra properties are recognized:
1050
1051 @table @code
1052 @vindex entry-format@r{ keyword}
1053 @item :entry-format
1054 This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.
1055 The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
1056 @table @samp
1057 @item %v
1058 Replaced with the buffer representation of the @var{type} widget.
1059 @item %b
1060 Replace with the checkbox.
1061 @item %%
1062 Insert a literal @samp{%}.
1063 @end table
1064
1065 @vindex greedy@r{ keyword}
1066 @item :greedy
1067 Usually a checklist will only match if the items are in the exact
1068 sequence given in the specification. By setting @code{:greedy} to
1069 non-@code{nil}, it will allow the items to come in any sequence.
1070 However, if you extract the value they will be in the sequence given
1071 in the checklist, i.e.@: the original sequence is forgotten.
1072
1073 @vindex button-args@r{ keyword}
1074 @item :button-args
1075 A list of keywords to pass to the checkboxes. Useful for setting
1076 e.g.@: the @samp{:help-echo} for each checkbox.
1077
1078 @vindex buttons@r{ keyword}
1079 @item :buttons
1080 The widgets representing the checkboxes.
1081
1082 @vindex children@r{ keyword}
1083 @item :children
1084 The widgets representing each type.
1085
1086 @vindex args@r{ keyword}
1087 @item :args
1088 The list of types.
1089 @end table
1090
1091 @node editable-list, group, checklist, Basic Types
1092 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1093 @subsection The @code{editable-list} Widget
1094 @findex editable-list@r{ widget}
1095
1096 Syntax:
1097
1098 @example
1099 @var{type} ::= (editable-list [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type})
1100 @end example
1101
1102 The value is a list, where each member represents one widget of type
1103 @var{type}.
1104
1105 The following extra properties are recognized:
1106
1107 @table @code
1108 @vindex entry-format@r{ keyword}
1109 @item :entry-format
1110 This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.
1111 The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
1112 @table @samp
1113 @item %v
1114 This will be replaced with the buffer representation of the @var{type}
1115 widget.
1116 @item %i
1117 Insert the @b{[INS]} button.
1118 @item %d
1119 Insert the @b{[DEL]} button.
1120 @item %%
1121 Insert a literal @samp{%}.
1122 @end table
1123
1124 @vindex insert-button-args@r{ keyword}
1125 @item :insert-button-args
1126 A list of keyword arguments to pass to the insert buttons.
1127
1128 @vindex delete-button-args@r{ keyword}
1129 @item :delete-button-args
1130 A list of keyword arguments to pass to the delete buttons.
1131
1132 @vindex append-button-args@r{ keyword}
1133 @item :append-button-args
1134 A list of keyword arguments to pass to the trailing insert button.
1135
1136 @vindex buttons@r{ keyword}
1137 @item :buttons
1138 The widgets representing the insert and delete buttons.
1139
1140 @vindex children@r{ keyword}
1141 @item :children
1142 The widgets representing the elements of the list.
1143
1144 @vindex args@r{ keyword}
1145 @item :args
1146 List whose @sc{car} is the type of the list elements.
1147 @end table
1148
1149 @node group, , editable-list, Basic Types
1150 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1151 @subsection The @code{group} Widget
1152 @findex group@r{ widget}
1153
1154 This widget simply group other widgets together.
1155
1156 Syntax:
1157
1158 @example
1159 @var{type} ::= (group [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type}...)
1160 @end example
1161
1162 The value is a list, with one member for each @var{type}.
1163
1164 @node Sexp Types, Widget Properties, Basic Types, Top
1165 @comment
1166 @section Sexp Types
1167 @cindex sexp types
1168
1169 A number of widgets for editing @dfn{s-expressions} (Lisp types), sexp
1170 for short, are also available. These basically fall in several
1171 categories described in this section.
1172
1173 @menu
1174 * constants::
1175 * generic::
1176 * atoms::
1177 * composite::
1178 @end menu
1179
1180 @node constants, generic, Sexp Types, Sexp Types
1181 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1182 @subsection The Constant Widgets
1183 @cindex constant widgets
1184
1185 The @code{const} widget can contain any Lisp expression, but the user is
1186 prohibited from editing it, which is mainly useful as a component of one
1187 of the composite widgets.
1188
1189 The syntax for the @code{const} widget is:
1190
1191 @example
1192 @var{type} ::= (const [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... [ @var{value} ])
1193 @end example
1194
1195 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
1196 property and can be any s-expression.
1197
1198 @deffn Widget const
1199 This will display any valid s-expression in an immutable part of the
1200 buffer.
1201 @end deffn
1202
1203 There are two variations of the @code{const} widget, namely
1204 @code{variable-item} and @code{function-item}. These should contain a
1205 symbol with a variable or function binding. The major difference from
1206 the @code{const} widget is that they will allow the user to see the
1207 variable or function documentation for the symbol.
1208
1209 @deffn Widget variable-item
1210 An immutable symbol that is bound as a variable.
1211 @end deffn
1212
1213 @deffn Widget function-item
1214 An immutable symbol that is bound as a function.
1215 @end deffn
1216
1217 @node generic, atoms, constants, Sexp Types
1218 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1219 @subsection Generic Sexp Widget
1220 @cindex generic sexp widget
1221
1222 The @code{sexp} widget can contain any Lisp expression, and allows the
1223 user to edit it inline in the buffer.
1224
1225 The syntax for the @code{sexp} widget is:
1226
1227 @example
1228 @var{type} ::= (sexp [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... [ @var{value} ])
1229 @end example
1230
1231 @deffn Widget sexp
1232 This will allow you to edit any valid s-expression in an editable buffer
1233 field.
1234
1235 The @code{sexp} widget takes the same keyword arguments as the
1236 @code{editable-field} widget. @xref{editable-field}.
1237 @end deffn
1238
1239 @node atoms, composite, generic, Sexp Types
1240 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1241 @subsection Atomic Sexp Widgets
1242 @cindex atomic sexp widget
1243
1244 The atoms are s-expressions that do not consist of other s-expressions.
1245 For example, a string, a file name, or a symbol are atoms, while a list
1246 is a composite type. You can edit the value of an atom with the
1247 following widgets.
1248
1249 The syntax for all the atoms are:
1250
1251 @example
1252 @var{type} ::= (@var{construct} [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... [ @var{value} ])
1253 @end example
1254
1255 The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
1256 property and must be an expression of the same type as the widget.
1257 That is, the string widget can only be initialized with a string.
1258
1259 All the atom widgets take the same keyword arguments as the
1260 @code{editable-field} widget. @xref{editable-field}.
1261
1262 @deffn Widget string
1263 Allows you to edit a string in an editable field.
1264 @end deffn
1265
1266 @deffn Widget regexp
1267 Allows you to edit a regular expression in an editable field.
1268 @end deffn
1269
1270 @deffn Widget character
1271 Allows you to enter a character in an editable field.
1272 @end deffn
1273
1274 @deffn Widget file
1275 Allows you to edit a file name in an editable field.
1276
1277 Keywords:
1278 @table @code
1279 @vindex must-match@r{ keyword}
1280 @item :must-match
1281 If this is set to non-@code{nil}, only existing file names will be
1282 allowed in the minibuffer.
1283 @end table
1284 @end deffn
1285
1286 @deffn Widget directory
1287 Allows you to edit a directory name in an editable field.
1288 Similar to the @code{file} widget.
1289 @end deffn
1290
1291 @deffn Widget symbol
1292 Allows you to edit a Lisp symbol in an editable field.
1293 @end deffn
1294
1295 @deffn Widget function
1296 Allows you to edit a lambda expression, or a function name with completion.
1297 @end deffn
1298
1299 @deffn Widget variable
1300 Allows you to edit a variable name, with completion.
1301 @end deffn
1302
1303 @deffn Widget integer
1304 Allows you to edit an integer in an editable field.
1305 @end deffn
1306
1307 @deffn Widget number
1308 Allows you to edit a number in an editable field.
1309 @end deffn
1310
1311 @deffn Widget boolean
1312 Allows you to edit a boolean. In Lisp this means a variable which is
1313 either @code{nil} meaning false, or non-@code{nil} meaning true.
1314 @end deffn
1315
1316
1317 @node composite, , atoms, Sexp Types
1318 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1319 @subsection Composite Sexp Widgets
1320 @cindex composite sexp widgets
1321
1322 The syntax for the composite widget construct is:
1323
1324 @example
1325 @var{type} ::= (@var{construct} [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{component}...)
1326 @end example
1327
1328 @noindent
1329 where each @var{component} must be a widget type. Each component widget
1330 will be displayed in the buffer, and will be editable by the user.
1331
1332 @deffn Widget cons
1333 The value of a @code{cons} widget must be a cons-cell whose @sc{car}
1334 and @sc{cdr} have two specified types. It uses this syntax:
1335
1336 @example
1337 @var{type} ::= (cons [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{car-type} @var{cdr-type})
1338 @end example
1339 @end deffn
1340
1341 @deffn Widget choice
1342 The value matched by a @code{choice} widget must have one of a fixed
1343 set of types. The widget's syntax is as follows:
1344
1345 @example
1346 @var{type} ::= (choice [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type} ... )
1347 @end example
1348
1349 The value of a @code{choice} widget can be anything that matches any of the
1350 @var{types}.
1351 @end deffn
1352
1353 @deffn Widget list
1354 The value of a @code{list} widget must be a list whose element types
1355 match the specified component types:
1356
1357 @example
1358 @var{type} ::= (list [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{component-type}...)
1359 @end example
1360
1361 Thus, @code{(list string number)} matches lists of two elements,
1362 the first being a string and the second being a number.
1363 @end deffn
1364
1365 @deffn Widget vector
1366 The @code{vector} widget is like the @code{list} widget but matches
1367 vectors instead of lists. Thus, @code{(vector string number)} matches
1368 vectors of two elements, the first being a string and the second being
1369 a number.
1370 @end deffn
1371
1372 The above suffice for specifying fixed size lists and vectors. To get
1373 variable length lists and vectors, you can use a @code{choice},
1374 @code{set}, or @code{repeat} widget together with the @code{:inline}
1375 keyword. If any component of a composite widget has the
1376 @code{:inline} keyword set, its value must be a list which will then
1377 be spliced into the composite. For example, to specify a list whose
1378 first element must be a file name, and whose remaining elements should
1379 either be the symbol @code{t} or two strings (file names), you can use
1380 the following widget specification:
1381
1382 @example
1383 (list file
1384 (choice (const t)
1385 (list :inline t
1386 :value ("foo" "bar")
1387 string string)))
1388 @end example
1389
1390 The value of a widget of this type will either have the form
1391 @code{(file t)} or @code{(file @var{string} @var{string})}.
1392
1393 This concept of @code{:inline} may be hard to understand. It was
1394 certainly hard to implement, so instead of confusing you more by
1395 trying to explain it here, I'll just suggest you meditate over it for
1396 a while.
1397
1398 @deffn Widget set
1399 Specifies a type whose values are the lists whose elements all belong
1400 to a given set. The order of elements of the list is not significant.
1401 Here's the syntax:
1402
1403 @example
1404 @var{type} ::= (set [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{permitted-element} ... )
1405 @end example
1406
1407 Use @code{const} to specify each permitted element, like this:
1408 @code{(set (const a) (const b))}.
1409 @end deffn
1410
1411 @deffn Widget repeat
1412 Specifies a list of any number of elements that fit a certain type.
1413
1414 @example
1415 @var{type} ::= (repeat [@var{keyword} @var{argument}]... @var{type})
1416 @end example
1417 @end deffn
1418
1419 @node Widget Properties, Defining New Widgets, Sexp Types, Top
1420 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1421 @section Properties
1422 @cindex properties of widgets
1423 @cindex widget properties
1424
1425 You can examine or set the value of a widget by using the widget object
1426 that was returned by @code{widget-create}.
1427
1428 @defun widget-value widget
1429 Return the current value contained in @var{widget}.
1430 It is an error to call this function on an uninitialized widget.
1431 @end defun
1432
1433 @defun widget-value-set widget value
1434 Set the value contained in @var{widget} to @var{value}.
1435 It is an error to call this function with an invalid @var{value}.
1436 @end defun
1437
1438 @strong{Important:} You @emph{must} call @code{widget-setup} after
1439 modifying the value of a widget before the user is allowed to edit the
1440 widget again. It is enough to call @code{widget-setup} once if you
1441 modify multiple widgets. This is currently only necessary if the widget
1442 contains an editing field, but may be necessary for other widgets in the
1443 future.
1444
1445 If your application needs to associate some information with the widget
1446 objects, for example a reference to the item being edited, it can be
1447 done with @code{widget-put} and @code{widget-get}. The property names
1448 must begin with a @samp{:}.
1449
1450 @defun widget-put widget property value
1451 In @var{widget} set @var{property} to @var{value}.
1452 @var{property} should be a symbol, while @var{value} can be anything.
1453 @end defun
1454
1455 @defun widget-get widget property
1456 In @var{widget} return the value for @var{property}.
1457 @var{property} should be a symbol, the value is what was last set by
1458 @code{widget-put} for @var{property}.
1459 @end defun
1460
1461 @defun widget-member widget property
1462 Non-@code{nil} if @var{widget} has a value (even @code{nil}) for
1463 property @var{property}.
1464 @end defun
1465
1466 Occasionally it can be useful to know which kind of widget you have,
1467 i.e.@: the name of the widget type you gave when the widget was created.
1468
1469 @defun widget-type widget
1470 Return the name of @var{widget}, a symbol.
1471 @end defun
1472
1473 @cindex active widget
1474 @cindex inactive widget
1475 @cindex activate a widget
1476 @cindex deactivate a widget
1477 Widgets can be in two states: active, which means they are modifiable by
1478 the user, or inactive, which means they cannot be modified by the user.
1479 You can query or set the state with the following code:
1480
1481 @lisp
1482 ;; Examine if @var{widget} is active or not.
1483 (if (widget-apply @var{widget} :active)
1484 (message "Widget is active.")
1485 (message "Widget is inactive.")
1486
1487 ;; Make @var{widget} inactive.
1488 (widget-apply @var{widget} :deactivate)
1489
1490 ;; Make @var{widget} active.
1491 (widget-apply @var{widget} :activate)
1492 @end lisp
1493
1494 A widget is inactive if it, or any of its ancestors (found by
1495 following the @code{:parent} link), have been deactivated. To make sure
1496 a widget is really active, you must therefore activate both it and
1497 all its ancestors.
1498
1499 @lisp
1500 (while widget
1501 (widget-apply widget :activate)
1502 (setq widget (widget-get widget :parent)))
1503 @end lisp
1504
1505 You can check if a widget has been made inactive by examining the value
1506 of the @code{:inactive} keyword. If this is non-@code{nil}, the widget itself
1507 has been deactivated. This is different from using the @code{:active}
1508 keyword, in that the latter tells you if the widget @strong{or} any of
1509 its ancestors have been deactivated. Do not attempt to set the
1510 @code{:inactive} keyword directly. Use the @code{:activate}
1511 @code{:deactivate} keywords instead.
1512
1513
1514 @node Defining New Widgets, Widget Browser, Widget Properties, Top
1515 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1516 @section Defining New Widgets
1517 @cindex new widgets
1518 @cindex defining new widgets
1519
1520 You can define specialized widgets with @code{define-widget}. It allows
1521 you to create a shorthand for more complex widgets, including specifying
1522 component widgets and new default values for the keyword
1523 arguments.
1524
1525 @defun define-widget name class doc &rest args
1526 Define a new widget type named @var{name} from @code{class}.
1527
1528 @var{name} and class should both be symbols, @code{class} should be one
1529 of the existing widget types.
1530
1531 The third argument @var{doc} is a documentation string for the widget.
1532
1533 After the new widget has been defined, the following two calls will
1534 create identical widgets:
1535
1536 @itemize @bullet
1537 @item
1538 @lisp
1539 (widget-create @var{name})
1540 @end lisp
1541
1542 @item
1543 @lisp
1544 (apply widget-create @var{class} @var{args})
1545 @end lisp
1546 @end itemize
1547
1548 @end defun
1549
1550 Using @code{define-widget} just stores the definition of the widget type
1551 in the @code{widget-type} property of @var{name}, which is what
1552 @code{widget-create} uses.
1553
1554 If you only want to specify defaults for keywords with no complex
1555 conversions, you can use @code{identity} as your conversion function.
1556
1557 The following additional keyword arguments are useful when defining new
1558 widgets:
1559 @table @code
1560 @vindex convert-widget@r{ keyword}
1561 @item :convert-widget
1562 Function to convert a widget type before creating a widget of that
1563 type. It takes a widget type as an argument, and returns the converted
1564 widget type. When a widget is created, this function is called for the
1565 widget type and all the widget's parent types, most derived first.
1566
1567 The following predefined functions can be used here:
1568
1569 @defun widget-types-convert-widget widget
1570 Convert @code{:args} as widget types in @var{widget}.
1571 @end defun
1572
1573 @defun widget-value-convert-widget widget
1574 Initialize @code{:value} from @code{:args} in @var{widget}.
1575 @end defun
1576
1577 @vindex copy@r{ keyword}
1578 @item :copy
1579 Function to deep copy a widget type. It takes a shallow copy of the
1580 widget type as an argument (made by @code{copy-sequence}), and returns a
1581 deep copy. The purpose of this is to avoid having different instances
1582 of combined widgets share nested attributes.
1583
1584 The following predefined functions can be used here:
1585
1586 @defun widget-types-copy widget
1587 Copy @code{:args} as widget types in @var{widget}.
1588 @end defun
1589
1590 @vindex value-to-internal@r{ keyword}
1591 @item :value-to-internal
1592 Function to convert the value to the internal format. The function
1593 takes two arguments, a widget and an external value, and returns the
1594 internal value. The function is called on the present @code{:value}
1595 when the widget is created, and on any value set later with
1596 @code{widget-value-set}.
1597
1598 @vindex value-to-external@r{ keyword}
1599 @item :value-to-external
1600 Function to convert the value to the external format. The function
1601 takes two arguments, a widget and an internal value, and returns the
1602 external value. The function is called on the present @code{:value}
1603 when the widget is created, and on any value set later with
1604 @code{widget-value-set}.
1605
1606 @vindex create@r{ keyword}
1607 @item :create
1608 Function to create a widget from scratch. The function takes one
1609 argument, a widget type, and creates a widget of that type, inserts it
1610 in the buffer, and returns a widget object.
1611
1612 @vindex delete@r{ keyword}
1613 @item :delete
1614 Function to delete a widget. The function takes one argument, a widget,
1615 and should remove all traces of the widget from the buffer.
1616
1617 The default value is:
1618
1619 @defun widget-default-delete widget
1620 Remove @var{widget} from the buffer.
1621 Delete all @code{:children} and @code{:buttons} in @var{widget}.
1622 @end defun
1623
1624 In most cases you should not change this value, but instead use
1625 @code{:value-delete} to make any additional cleanup.
1626
1627 @vindex value-create@r{ keyword}
1628 @item :value-create
1629 Function to expand the @samp{%v} escape in the format string. It will
1630 be called with the widget as its argument and should insert a
1631 representation of the widget's value in the buffer.
1632
1633 Nested widgets should be listed in @code{:children} or @code{:buttons}
1634 to make sure they are automatically deleted.
1635
1636 @vindex value-delete@r{ keyword}
1637 @item :value-delete
1638 Should remove the representation of the widget's value from the buffer.
1639 It will be called with the widget as its argument. It doesn't have to
1640 remove the text, but it should release markers and delete nested widgets
1641 if these are not listed in @code{:children} or @code{:buttons}.
1642
1643 @vindex value-get@r{ keyword}
1644 @item :value-get
1645 Function to extract the value of a widget, as it is displayed in the
1646 buffer.
1647
1648 The following predefined function can be used here:
1649
1650 @defun widget-value-value-get widget
1651 Return the @code{:value} property of @var{widget}.
1652 @end defun
1653
1654 @vindex format-handler@r{ keyword}
1655 @item :format-handler
1656 Function to handle unknown @samp{%} escapes in the format string. It
1657 will be called with the widget and the character that follows the
1658 @samp{%} as arguments. You can set this to allow your widget to handle
1659 non-standard escapes.
1660
1661 @findex widget-default-format-handler
1662 You should end up calling @code{widget-default-format-handler} to handle
1663 unknown escape sequences, which will handle the @samp{%h} and any future
1664 escape sequences, as well as give an error for unknown escapes.
1665
1666 @vindex action@r{ keyword}
1667 @item :action
1668 Function to handle user initiated events. By default, @code{:notify}
1669 the parent.
1670
1671 The following predefined function can be used here:
1672
1673 @defun widget-parent-action widget &optional event
1674 Tell @code{:parent} of @var{widget} to handle the @code{:action}.
1675 Optional @var{event} is the event that triggered the action.
1676 @end defun
1677
1678 @vindex prompt-value@r{ keyword}
1679 @item :prompt-value
1680 Function to prompt for a value in the minibuffer. The function should
1681 take four arguments, @var{widget}, @var{prompt}, @var{value}, and
1682 @var{unbound} and should return a value for widget entered by the user.
1683 @var{prompt} is the prompt to use. @var{value} is the default value to
1684 use, unless @var{unbound} is non-@code{nil}, in which case there is no default
1685 value. The function should read the value using the method most natural
1686 for this widget, and does not have to check that it matches.
1687 @end table
1688
1689 If you want to define a new widget from scratch, use the @code{default}
1690 widget as its base.
1691
1692 @deffn Widget default
1693 Widget used as a base for other widgets.
1694
1695 It provides most of the functionality that is referred to as ``by
1696 default'' in this text.
1697 @end deffn
1698
1699 @node Widget Browser, Widget Minor Mode, Defining New Widgets, Top
1700 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1701 @section Widget Browser
1702 @cindex widget browser
1703
1704 There is a separate package to browse widgets. This is intended to help
1705 programmers who want to examine the content of a widget. The browser
1706 shows the value of each keyword, but uses links for certain keywords
1707 such as @samp{:parent}, which avoids printing cyclic structures.
1708
1709 @deffn Command widget-browse @var{widget}
1710 Create a widget browser for @var{widget}.
1711 When called interactively, prompt for @var{widget}.
1712 @end deffn
1713
1714 @deffn Command widget-browse-other-window @var{widget}
1715 Create a widget browser for @var{widget} and show it in another window.
1716 When called interactively, prompt for @var{widget}.
1717 @end deffn
1718
1719 @deffn Command widget-browse-at @var{pos}
1720 Create a widget browser for the widget at @var{pos}.
1721 When called interactively, use the position of point.
1722 @end deffn
1723
1724 @node Widget Minor Mode, Utilities, Widget Browser, Top
1725 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1726 @section Widget Minor Mode
1727 @cindex widget minor mode
1728
1729 There is a minor mode for manipulating widgets in major modes that
1730 don't provide any support for widgets themselves. This is mostly
1731 intended to be useful for programmers doing experiments.
1732
1733 @deffn Command widget-minor-mode
1734 Toggle minor mode for traversing widgets.
1735 With arg, turn widget mode on if and only if arg is positive.
1736 @end deffn
1737
1738 @defvar widget-minor-mode-keymap
1739 Keymap used in @code{widget-minor-mode}.
1740 @end defvar
1741
1742 @node Utilities, Widget Wishlist, Widget Minor Mode, Top
1743 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1744 @section Utilities.
1745 @cindex utility functions for widgets
1746
1747 @defun widget-prompt-value widget prompt [ value unbound ]
1748 Prompt for a value matching @var{widget}, using @var{prompt}.
1749 The current value is assumed to be @var{value}, unless @var{unbound} is
1750 non-@code{nil}.@refill
1751 @end defun
1752
1753 @defun widget-get-sibling widget
1754 Get the item which @var{widget} is assumed to toggle.
1755 This is only meaningful for radio buttons or checkboxes in a list.
1756 @end defun
1757
1758 @node Widget Wishlist, GNU Free Documentation License, Utilities, Top
1759 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1760 @section Wishlist
1761 @cindex todo
1762
1763 @itemize @bullet
1764 @item
1765 It should be possible to add or remove items from a list with @kbd{C-k}
1766 and @kbd{C-o} (suggested by @sc{rms}).
1767
1768 @item
1769 The @samp{[INS]} and @samp{[DEL]} buttons should be replaced by a single
1770 dash (@samp{-}). The dash should be a button that, when invoked, asks
1771 whether you want to add or delete an item (@sc{rms} wanted to git rid of
1772 the ugly buttons, the dash is my idea).
1773
1774 @item
1775 The @code{menu-choice} tag should be prettier, something like the abbreviated
1776 menus in Open Look.
1777
1778 @item
1779 Finish @code{:tab-order}.
1780
1781 @item
1782 Make indentation work with glyphs and proportional fonts.
1783
1784 @item
1785 Add commands to show overview of object and class hierarchies to the
1786 browser.
1787
1788 @item
1789 Find a way to disable mouse highlight for inactive widgets.
1790
1791 @item
1792 Find a way to make glyphs look inactive.
1793
1794 @item
1795 Add @code{property-list} widget.
1796
1797 @item
1798 Add @code{association-list} widget.
1799
1800 @item
1801 Add @code{key-binding} widget.
1802
1803 @item
1804 Add @code{widget} widget for editing widget specifications.
1805
1806 @item
1807 Find clean way to implement variable length list.
1808 See @code{TeX-printer-list} for an explanation.
1809
1810 @item
1811 @kbd{C-h} in @code{widget-prompt-value} should give type specific help.
1812
1813 @item
1814 Add a @code{mailto} widget.
1815 @end itemize
1816
1817 @node GNU Free Documentation License, Index, Widget Wishlist, Top
1818 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
1819 @include doclicense.texi
1820
1821 @node Index, , GNU Free Documentation License, Top
1822 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1823 @unnumbered Index
1824
1825 This is an alphabetical listing of all concepts, functions, commands,
1826 variables, and widgets described in this manual.
1827 @printindex cp
1828
1829 @bye