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