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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001,
4 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
5 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
6 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
7 @setfilename ../../info/frames
8 @node Frames, Positions, Windows, Top
9 @chapter Frames
10 @cindex frame
11
12 A @dfn{frame} is a screen object that contains one or more Emacs
13 windows (@pxref{Windows}). It is the kind of object called a
14 ``window'' in the terminology of graphical environments; but we can't
15 call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
16 way. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp object that
17 represents a frame on the screen. @xref{Frame Type}.
18
19 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
20 window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
21 into smaller windows. @xref{Splitting Windows}.
22
23 @cindex terminal
24 A @dfn{terminal} is a display device capable of displaying one or
25 more Emacs frames. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{terminal object} is a Lisp
26 object that represents a terminal. @xref{Terminal Type}.
27
28 @cindex terminal frame
29 @cindex window frame
30 There are two classes of terminals: text-only terminals and
31 graphical terminals. Text-only terminals are non-graphics-capable
32 display devices, including ``terminal emulators'' such as xterm. On
33 text-only terminals, each frame occupies the entire terminal screen;
34 although you can create additional frames and switch between them,
35 only one frame can be shown at any given time. We refer to frames on
36 text-only terminals as @dfn{terminal frames}. Graphical terminals, on
37 the other hand, are graphics-capable windowing systems, such as the X
38 Window System. On a graphical terminal, Emacs can display multiple
39 frames simultaneously. We refer to such frames as @dfn{window
40 frames}.
41
42 On GNU and Unix systems, you can create additional frames on any
43 available terminal, within a single Emacs session, regardless of
44 whether Emacs was started on a text-only or graphical terminal. Emacs
45 can display on both graphical and text-only terminals simultaneously.
46 This comes in handy, for instance, when you connect to the same
47 session from several remote locations. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
48
49 @defun framep object
50 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
51 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
52 kind of display the frame uses:
53
54 @table @code
55 @item x
56 The frame is displayed in an X window.
57 @item t
58 A terminal frame on a character display.
59 @item w32
60 The frame is displayed on MS-Windows 9X/NT.
61 @item ns
62 The frame is displayed on a GNUstep or Macintosh Cocoa display.
63 @item pc
64 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
65 @end table
66 @end defun
67
68 @defun frame-terminal &optional frame
69 This function returns the terminal object that displays @var{frame}.
70 If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or unspecified, it defaults to the
71 selected frame.
72 @end defun
73
74 @defun terminal-live-p object
75 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
76 terminal that is alive (i.e.@: was not deleted), and @code{nil}
77 otherwise. For live terminals, the return value indicates what kind
78 of frames are displayed on that terminal; the list of possible values
79 is the same as for @code{framep} above.
80 @end defun
81
82 @menu
83 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
84 * Multiple Terminals:: Displaying on several different devices.
85 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
86 * Terminal Parameters:: Parameters common for all frames on terminal.
87 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
88 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
89 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
90 * Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
91 display of text always works through windows.
92 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
93 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
94 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
95 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
96 lowering it makes the others hide it.
97 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
98 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
99 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
100 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
101 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
102 * Pointer Shape:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
103 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
104 * Drag and Drop:: Internals of Drag-and-Drop implementation.
105 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
106 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text-only terminals.
107 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
108 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
109 @end menu
110
111 @node Creating Frames
112 @section Creating Frames
113
114 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
115
116 @defun make-frame &optional alist
117 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
118 buffer.
119
120 The @var{alist} argument is an alist that specifies frame parameters
121 for the new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}. If you specify the
122 @code{terminal} parameter in @var{alist}, the new frame is created on
123 that terminal. Otherwise, if you specify the @code{window-system}
124 frame parameter in @var{alist}, that determines whether the frame
125 should be displayed on a text-only or graphical terminal.
126 @xref{Window Systems}. If neither is specified, the new frame is
127 created in the same terminal as the selected frame.
128
129 Any parameters not mentioned in @var{alist} default to the values in
130 the alist @code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Initial Parameters});
131 parameters not specified there default from the X resources or its
132 equivalent on your operating system (@pxref{X Resources,, X Resources,
133 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). After the frame is created, Emacs
134 applies any parameters listed in @code{frame-inherited-parameters}
135 (see below) and not present in the argument, taking the values from
136 the frame that was selected when @code{make-frame} was called.
137
138 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
139 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
140 On graphical terminals, however, the windowing system may select the
141 new frame for its own reasons.
142 @end defun
143
144 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
145 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it creates the frame.
146 @end defvar
147
148 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
149 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
150 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
151 frame just created.
152 @end defvar
153
154 @defvar frame-inherited-parameters
155 This variable specifies the list of frame parameters that a newly
156 created frame inherits from the currently selected frame. For each
157 parameter (a symbol) that is an element in the list and is not present
158 in the argument to @code{make-frame}, the function sets the value of
159 that parameter in the created frame to its value in the selected
160 frame.
161 @end defvar
162
163 @node Multiple Terminals
164 @section Multiple Terminals
165 @cindex multiple terminals
166 @cindex multi-tty
167 @cindex multiple X displays
168 @cindex displays, multiple
169
170 Emacs represents each terminal, whether graphical or text-only, as a
171 @dfn{terminal object} data type (@pxref{Terminal Type}). On GNU and
172 Unix systems, Emacs can use multiple terminals simultaneously in each
173 session. On other systems, it can only use a single terminal. Each
174 terminal object has the following attributes:
175
176 @itemize @bullet
177 @item
178 The name of the device used by the terminal (e.g., @samp{:0.0} or
179 @file{/dev/tty}).
180
181 @item
182 The terminal and keyboard coding systems used on the terminal.
183 @xref{Terminal I/O Encoding}.
184
185 @item
186 The kind of display associated with the terminal. This is the symbol
187 returned by the function @code{terminal-live-p} (i.e., @code{x},
188 @code{t}, @code{w32}, @code{ns}, or @code{pc}). @xref{Frames}.
189
190 @item
191 A list of terminal parameters. @xref{Terminal Parameters}.
192 @end itemize
193
194 There is no primitive for creating terminal objects. Emacs creates
195 them as needed, such as when you call @code{make-frame-on-display}
196 (which is described below).
197
198 @defun terminal-name &optional terminal
199 This function returns the file name of the device used by
200 @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it
201 defaults to the selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be
202 a frame, meaning that frame's terminal.
203 @end defun
204
205 @defun terminal-list
206 This function returns a list of all terminal objects currently in use.
207 @end defun
208
209 @defun get-device-terminal device
210 This function returns a terminal whose device name is given by
211 @var{device}. If @var{device} is a string, it can be either the file
212 name of a terminal device, or the name of an X display of the form
213 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}}. If @var{device} is a
214 frame, this function returns that frame's terminal; @code{nil} means
215 the selected frame. Finally, if @var{device} is a terminal object
216 that represents a live terminal, that terminal is returned. The
217 function signals an error if its argument is none of the above.
218 @end defun
219
220 @defun delete-terminal &optional terminal force
221 This function deletes all frames on @var{terminal} and frees the
222 resources used by it. It runs the abnormal hook
223 @code{delete-terminal-functions}, passing @var{terminal} as the
224 argument to each function.
225
226 If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the
227 selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be a frame,
228 meaning that frame's terminal.
229
230 Normally, this function signals an error if you attempt to delete the
231 sole active terminal, but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, you are
232 allowed to do so. Emacs automatically calls this function when the
233 last frame on a terminal is deleted (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
234 @end defun
235
236 @defvar delete-terminal-functions
237 An abnormal hook run by @code{delete-terminal}. Each function
238 receives one argument, the @var{terminal} argument passed to
239 @code{delete-terminal}. Due to technical details, the functions may
240 be called either just before the terminal is deleted, or just
241 afterwards.
242 @end defvar
243
244 @cindex terminal-local variables
245 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
246 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
247 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
248 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
249 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
250 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can
251 never be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}).
252
253 On GNU and Unix systems, each X display is a separate graphical
254 terminal. When Emacs is started from within the X window system, it
255 uses the X display chosen with the @code{DISPLAY} environment
256 variable, or with the @samp{--display} option. @xref{Initial
257 Options,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. Emacs can connect to other X
258 displays via the command @code{make-frame-on-display}. Each X display
259 has its own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows; however,
260 only one of those frames is ``@emph{the} selected frame'' at any given
261 moment (@pxref{Input Focus}). Emacs can even connect to other
262 text-only terminals, by interacting with the @command{emacsclient}
263 program. @xref{Emacs Server,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
264
265 A single X server can handle more than one display. Each X display
266 has a three-part name, @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}}.
267 The first two parts, @var{host} and @var{server}, identify the X
268 server; the third part, @var{screen}, identifies a screen number on
269 that X server. When you use two or more screens belonging to one
270 server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their names that they share a
271 single keyboard.
272
273 On some ``multi-monitor'' setups, a single X display outputs to more
274 than one monitor. Currently, there is no way for Emacs to distinguish
275 between the different physical monitors.
276
277 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
278 This function creates and returns a new frame on @var{display}, taking
279 the other frame parameters from the alist @var{parameters}.
280 @var{display} should be the name of an X display (a string).
281
282 Before creating the frame, this function ensures that Emacs is ``set
283 up'' to display graphics. For instance, if Emacs has not processed X
284 resources (e.g., if it was started on a text-only terminal), it does
285 so at this time. In all other respects, this function behaves like
286 @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating Frames}).
287 @end deffn
288
289 @defun x-display-list
290 This function returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has
291 a connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one
292 is a display name.
293 @end defun
294
295 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
296 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display},
297 without creating a frame on that display. Normally, Emacs Lisp
298 programs need not call this function, as @code{make-frame-on-display}
299 calls it automatically. The only reason for calling it is to check
300 whether communication can be established with a given X display.
301
302 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a string
303 of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
304 @file{.Xresources} file. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The
305 GNU Emacs Manual}. These values apply to all Emacs frames created on
306 this display, overriding the resource values recorded in the X server.
307 Here's an example of what this string might look like:
308
309 @example
310 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
311 @end example
312
313 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
314 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
315 @end defun
316
317 @defun x-close-connection display
318 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
319 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open
320 on that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
321 @end defun
322
323 @node Frame Parameters
324 @section Frame Parameters
325 @cindex frame parameters
326
327 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
328 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
329 uses.
330
331 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of window systems. A
332 terminal frame has a few parameters, mostly for compatibility's sake;
333 only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name}, @code{title},
334 @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate}
335 parameters do something special. If the terminal supports colors, the
336 parameters @code{foreground-color}, @code{background-color},
337 @code{background-mode} and @code{display-type} are also meaningful.
338 If the terminal supports frame transparency, the parameter
339 @code{alpha} is also meaningful.
340
341 You can use frame parameters to define frame-local bindings for
342 variables. @xref{Frame-Local Variables}.
343
344 @menu
345 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
346 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
347 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
348 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
349 * Geometry:: Parsing geometry specifications.
350 @end menu
351
352 @node Parameter Access
353 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
354
355 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
356 frame.
357
358 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
359 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
360 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
361 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
362 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
363 @end defun
364
365 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
366 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
367 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
368 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
369 @end defun
370
371 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
372 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
373 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
374 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
375 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
376 doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
377 frame.
378
379 You can use this function to define frame-local bindings for
380 variables, see @ref{Frame-Local Variables}.
381 @end defun
382
383 @defun set-frame-parameter frame parm value
384 This function sets the frame parameter @var{parm} to the specified
385 @var{value}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the
386 selected frame.
387 @end defun
388
389 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
390 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
391 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
392 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
393 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
394 @end defun
395
396 @node Initial Parameters
397 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
398
399 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame
400 by setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}).
401
402 @defopt initial-frame-alist
403 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
404 the initial window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
405 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
406 Each element has the form:
407
408 @example
409 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
410 @end example
411
412 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
413 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
414 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
415 created initial frame.
416
417 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
418 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
419 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
420 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
421 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
422
423 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
424 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
425 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
426 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
427 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
428 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
429 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
430 @end defopt
431
432 If these parameters specify a separate minibuffer-only frame with
433 @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, and you have not created one, Emacs creates
434 one for you.
435
436 @defopt minibuffer-frame-alist
437 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
438 creating an initial minibuffer-only frame. This is the
439 minibuffer-only frame that Emacs creates if @code{initial-frame-alist}
440 specifies a frame with no minibuffer.
441 @end defopt
442
443 @defopt default-frame-alist
444 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
445 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
446 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
447 in many cases.
448
449 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames.
450 @end defopt
451
452 Functions that display a buffer in a separate frame can override the
453 default parameters by supplying their own parameters. @xref{Definition
454 of special-display-frame-alist}.
455
456 If you use options that specify window appearance when you invoke Emacs,
457 they take effect by adding elements to @code{default-frame-alist}. One
458 exception is @samp{-geometry}, which adds the specified position to
459 @code{initial-frame-alist} instead. @xref{Emacs Invocation,, Command
460 Line Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
461
462 @node Window Frame Parameters
463 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
464
465 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism
466 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
467 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
468 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
469 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
470 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful @emph{only} in
471 terminal frames.
472
473 @menu
474 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
475 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
476 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
477 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
478 enabling or disabling some parts.
479 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
480 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
481 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
482 * Font and Color Parameters:: Fonts and colors for the frame text.
483 @end menu
484
485 @node Basic Parameters
486 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
487
488 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
489 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
490
491 @table @code
492 @item display
493 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
494 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
495 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
496
497 @item display-type
498 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
499 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
500 @code{mono}.
501
502 @item title
503 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window
504 system's title bar at the top of the frame, and also in the mode line
505 of windows in that frame if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses
506 @samp{%F} (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when
507 Emacs is not using a window system, and can only display one frame at
508 a time. @xref{Frame Titles}.
509
510 @item name
511 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
512 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
513 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
514 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
515
516 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
517 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
518 looking up X resources for the frame.
519 @end table
520
521 @node Position Parameters
522 @subsubsection Position Parameters
523
524 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
525 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
526
527 @table @code
528 @item left
529 The position, in pixels, of the left (or right) edge of the frame with
530 respect to the left (or right) edge of the screen. The value may be:
531
532 @table @asis
533 @item an integer
534 A positive integer relates the left edge of the frame to the left edge
535 of the screen. A negative integer relates the right frame edge to the
536 right screen edge.
537
538 @item @code{(+ @var{pos})}
539 This specifies the position of the left frame edge relative to the left
540 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
541 negative value specifies a position outside the screen.
542
543 @item @code{(- @var{pos})}
544 This specifies the position of the right frame edge relative to the right
545 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
546 negative value specifies a position outside the screen.
547 @end table
548
549 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
550 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
551 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
552
553 @item top
554 The screen position of the top (or bottom) edge, in pixels, with respect
555 to the top (or bottom) edge of the screen. It works just like
556 @code{left}, except vertically instead of horizontally.
557
558 @item icon-left
559 The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
560 pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
561 and when the frame is iconified.
562
563 If you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify
564 a value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa. The window manager may
565 ignore these two parameters.
566
567 @item icon-top
568 The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
569 pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
570 and when the frame is iconified.
571
572 @item user-position
573 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
574 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
575 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
576 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
577 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
578
579 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
580 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
581 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
582 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
583 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
584 ignore them.
585
586 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
587 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
588 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
589 @code{nil}.
590 @end table
591
592 @node Size Parameters
593 @subsubsection Size Parameters
594
595 Size parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
596 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
597
598 @table @code
599 @item height
600 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
601 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
602
603 @item width
604 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the width in
605 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
606
607 @item user-size
608 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
609 the @code{user-position} parameter (see above) does for the position
610 parameters @code{top} and @code{left}.
611
612 @item fullscreen
613 Specify that width, height or both shall be maximized. The value
614 @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be as wide as possible.
615 The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be as tall as
616 possible. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the width and
617 the height shall be set to the size of the screen. The value
618 @code{maximized} specifies that the frame shall be maximized. The
619 difference between @code{maximized} and @code{fullboth} is that the
620 former still has window manager decorations while the latter really
621 covers the whole screen.
622 @end table
623
624 @node Layout Parameters
625 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
626
627 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
628 frame, or control their sizes.
629
630 @table @code
631 @item border-width
632 The width in pixels of the frame's border.
633
634 @item internal-border-width
635 The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
636
637 @item vertical-scroll-bars
638 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
639 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
640 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
641
642 @ignore
643 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
644 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
645 (non-@code{nil} means yes). Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
646 implemented.
647 @end ignore
648
649 @item scroll-bar-width
650 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
651 use the default width.
652
653 @item left-fringe
654 @itemx right-fringe
655 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
656 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
657 removes the corresponding fringe. A value of @code{nil} stands for
658 the standard fringe width, which is the width needed to display the
659 fringe bitmaps.
660
661 The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
662 columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame may be
663 larger than the specified values. The extra width needed to reach an
664 acceptable total is distributed evenly between the left and right
665 fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a precise
666 width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both widths are
667 negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
668
669 @item menu-bar-lines
670 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
671 bar. The default is 1. A value of @code{nil} means don't display a
672 menu bar. @xref{Menu Bar}. (The X toolkit and GTK allow at most one
673 menu bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
674
675 @item tool-bar-lines
676 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. A value of @code{nil}
677 means don't display a tool bar. (GTK and Nextstep allow at most one
678 tool bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
679
680 @item line-spacing
681 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
682 integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
683 @end table
684
685 @node Buffer Parameters
686 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
687
688 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
689 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
690
691 @table @code
692 @item minibuffer
693 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
694 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
695 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other
696 frame), the frame uses that minibuffer.
697
698 This frame parameter takes effect when the frame is created, and can
699 not be changed afterwards.
700
701 @item buffer-predicate
702 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
703 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
704 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
705 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
706 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
707 considers that buffer.
708
709 @item buffer-list
710 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
711 ordered most-recently-selected first.
712
713 @item unsplittable
714 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
715 @end table
716
717 @node Management Parameters
718 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
719 @cindex window manager, and frame parameters
720
721 These frame parameters, meaningful only on window system displays,
722 interact with the window manager.
723
724 @table @code
725 @item visibility
726 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
727 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
728 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
729
730 @item auto-raise
731 Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
732
733 @item auto-lower
734 Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
735
736 @item icon-type
737 The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
738 value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
739 Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
740 picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
741
742 @item icon-name
743 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
744 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
745
746 @item window-id
747 The number of the window-system window used by the frame
748 to contain the actual Emacs windows.
749
750 @item outer-window-id
751 The number of the outermost window-system window used for the whole frame.
752
753 @item wait-for-wm
754 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
755 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
756 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
757 prevent hanging with those window managers.
758
759 @item sticky
760 If non-@code{nil}, the frame is visible on all virtual desktops on systems
761 with virtual desktops.
762
763 @ignore
764 @item parent-id
765 @c ??? Not yet working.
766 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
767 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
768 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
769 it and see if it works.)
770 @end ignore
771 @end table
772
773 @node Cursor Parameters
774 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
775
776 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
777
778 @table @code
779 @item cursor-type
780 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
781
782 @table @code
783 @item box
784 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
785 @item hollow
786 Display a hollow box.
787 @item nil
788 Don't display a cursor.
789 @item bar
790 Display a vertical bar between characters.
791 @item (bar . @var{width})
792 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
793 @item hbar
794 Display a horizontal bar.
795 @item (hbar . @var{height})
796 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
797 @end table
798 @end table
799
800 @vindex cursor-type
801 The buffer-local variable @code{cursor-type} overrides the value of
802 the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter, but if it is @code{t}, that
803 means to use the cursor specified for the frame.
804
805 @defopt blink-cursor-alist
806 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
807 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
808 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
809 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
810 when it blinks ``off.'' Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
811 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
812
813 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
814 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
815 variable do not take effect immediately, only when you specify the
816 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
817 @end defopt
818
819 @defopt cursor-in-non-selected-windows
820 This variable controls how the cursor looks in a window that is not
821 selected. It supports the same values as the @code{cursor-type} frame
822 parameter; also, @code{nil} means don't display a cursor in
823 nonselected windows, and @code{t} (the default) means use a standard
824 modificatoin of the usual cursor type (solid box becomes hollow box,
825 and bar becomes a narrower bar).
826 @end defopt
827
828 @node Font and Color Parameters
829 @subsubsection Font and Color Parameters
830
831 These frame parameters control the use of fonts and colors.
832
833 @table @code
834 @item font-backend
835 A list of symbols, specifying the @dfn{font backends} to use for
836 drawing fonts in the frame, in order of priority. On X, there are
837 currently two available font backends: @code{x} (the X core font
838 driver) and @code{xft} (the Xft font driver). On other systems, there
839 is only one available font backend, so it does not make sense to
840 modify this frame parameter.
841
842 @item background-mode
843 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
844 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
845
846 @item tty-color-mode
847 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
848 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
849 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
850 specifies the color mode to use in terminal frames. The value can be
851 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
852 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
853 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
854 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
855 off color support.
856
857 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
858 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
859 used instead.
860
861 @item screen-gamma
862 @cindex gamma correction
863 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
864 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
865 your display, a floating point number.
866
867 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
868 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
869 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
870 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
871 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
872 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
873 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
874
875 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
876 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
877 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
878 results for LCD color displays.
879
880 @item alpha
881 @cindex opacity, frame
882 @cindex transparency, frame
883 @vindex frame-alpha-lower-limit
884 This parameter specifies the opacity of the frame, on graphical
885 displays that support variable opacity. It should be an integer
886 between 0 and 100, where 0 means completely transparent and 100 means
887 completely opaque. It can also have a @code{nil} value, which tells
888 Emacs not to set the frame opacity (leaving it to the window manager).
889
890 To prevent the frame from disappearing completely from view, the
891 variable @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} defines a lower opacity limit.
892 If the value of the frame parameter is less than the value of this
893 variable, Emacs uses the latter. By default,
894 @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} is 20.
895
896 The @code{alpha} frame parameter can also be a cons cell
897 @code{(@samp{active} . @samp{inactive})}, where @samp{active} is the
898 opacity of the frame when it is selected, and @samp{inactive} is the
899 opactity when it is not selected.
900 @end table
901
902 The following frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are
903 automatically equivalent to particular face attributes of particular
904 faces (@pxref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}):
905
906 @table @code
907 @item font
908 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
909 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
910 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
911 attribute of the @code{default} face.
912
913 @item foreground-color
914 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
915 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
916
917 @item background-color
918 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
919 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
920
921 @item mouse-color
922 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
923 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
924
925 @item cursor-color
926 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
927 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
928
929 @item border-color
930 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
931 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
932
933 @item scroll-bar-foreground
934 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
935 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
936 @code{scroll-bar} face.
937
938 @item scroll-bar-background
939 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
940 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
941 @code{scroll-bar} face.
942 @end table
943
944 @node Size and Position
945 @subsection Frame Size And Position
946 @cindex size of frame
947 @cindex screen size
948 @cindex frame size
949 @cindex resize frame
950
951 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
952 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
953 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
954 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
955
956 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
957 (For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
958 see @ref{Input Focus}.)
959
960 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
961 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
962 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
963 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
964
965 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
966 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
967 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
968 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
969 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
970 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
971 @end defun
972
973 @defun frame-height &optional frame
974 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
975 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
976 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
977 selected frame.
978 @end defun
979
980 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
981 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
982 These functions return the height and width of the main display area
983 of @var{frame}, measured in pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame},
984 they use the selected frame. For a text-only terminal, the results are
985 in characters rather than pixels.
986
987 These values include the internal borders, and windows' scroll bars and
988 fringes (which belong to individual windows, not to the frame itself).
989 The exact value of the heights depends on the window-system and toolkit
990 in use. With Gtk+, the height does not include any tool bar or menu
991 bar. With the Motif or Lucid toolkits, it includes the tool bar but
992 not the menu bar. In a graphical version with no toolkit, it includes
993 both the tool bar and menu bar. For a text-only terminal, the result
994 includes the menu bar.
995 @end defun
996
997 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
998 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
999 These functions return the height and width of a character in
1000 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
1001 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
1002 frame.
1003 @end defun
1004
1005 @defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
1006 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
1007 @var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
1008
1009 To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
1010 @code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
1011 them to units of characters.
1012 @end defun
1013
1014 @defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
1015 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
1016 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
1017 fit.
1018
1019 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
1020 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
1021 actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
1022 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
1023 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
1024 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
1025 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
1026 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
1027 terminal frame.
1028 @end defun
1029
1030 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
1031 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
1032 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
1033 @code{set-frame-height}.
1034 @end defun
1035
1036 @findex set-screen-height
1037 @findex set-screen-width
1038 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
1039 @code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
1040 screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
1041 are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
1042
1043 @node Geometry
1044 @subsection Geometry
1045
1046 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
1047 specification:
1048
1049 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
1050 @cindex geometry specification
1051 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
1052 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
1053 @code{make-frame}.
1054
1055 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
1056 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
1057 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
1058 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
1059
1060 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
1061 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
1062 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
1063 instead. The @var{value} possibilities for the position parameters are:
1064 an integer, a list @code{(+ @var{pos})}, or a list @code{(- @var{pos})};
1065 as previously described (@pxref{Position Parameters}).
1066
1067 Here is an example:
1068
1069 @example
1070 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
1071 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
1072 (top - 0) (left . 0))
1073 @end example
1074 @end defun
1075
1076 @node Terminal Parameters
1077 @section Terminal Parameters
1078 @cindex terminal parameters
1079
1080 Each terminal has a list of associated parameters. These
1081 @dfn{terminal parameters} are mostly a convenient way of storage for
1082 terminal-local variables, but some terminal parameters have a special
1083 meaning.
1084
1085 This section describes functions to read and change the parameter values
1086 of a terminal. They all accept as their argument either a terminal or
1087 a frame; the latter means use that frame's terminal. An argument of
1088 @code{nil} means the selected frame's terminal.
1089
1090 @defun terminal-parameters &optional terminal
1091 This function returns an alist listing all the parameters of
1092 @var{terminal} and their values.
1093 @end defun
1094
1095 @defun terminal-parameter terminal parameter
1096 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
1097 symbol) of @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} has no setting for
1098 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
1099 @end defun
1100
1101 @defun set-terminal-parameter terminal parameter value
1102 This function sets the parameter @var{parm} of @var{terminal} to the
1103 specified @var{value}, and returns the previous value of that
1104 parameter.
1105 @end defun
1106
1107 Here's a list of a few terminal parameters that have a special
1108 meaning:
1109
1110 @table @code
1111 @item background-mode
1112 The classification of the terminal's background color, either
1113 @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1114 @item normal-erase-is-backspace
1115 Value is either 1 or 0, depending on whether
1116 @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode} is turned on or off on this
1117 terminal. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
1118 @item terminal-initted
1119 After the terminal is initialized, this is set to the
1120 terminal-specific initialization function.
1121 @end table
1122
1123 @node Frame Titles
1124 @section Frame Titles
1125 @cindex frame title
1126
1127 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
1128 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
1129 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
1130 frame property.
1131
1132 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
1133 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
1134 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
1135 frame is redisplayed.
1136
1137 @defvar frame-title-format
1138 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
1139 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
1140 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
1141 @samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
1142 Data}.
1143 @end defvar
1144
1145 @defvar icon-title-format
1146 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
1147 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
1148 appears in the icon itself.
1149 @end defvar
1150
1151 @defvar multiple-frames
1152 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
1153 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
1154 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
1155 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
1156 only when there is more than one frame.
1157
1158 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
1159 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
1160 @code{icon-title-format}.
1161 @end defvar
1162
1163 @node Deleting Frames
1164 @section Deleting Frames
1165 @cindex deleting frames
1166
1167 Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
1168 them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
1169 exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it.
1170
1171 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
1172 @vindex delete-frame-functions
1173 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
1174 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
1175 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
1176 the selected frame.
1177
1178 A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
1179 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
1180 but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
1181 @end deffn
1182
1183 @defun frame-live-p frame
1184 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
1185 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
1186 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
1187 @end defun
1188
1189 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
1190 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
1191 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
1192 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
1193 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
1194
1195 @node Finding All Frames
1196 @section Finding All Frames
1197 @cindex frames, scanning all
1198
1199 @defun frame-list
1200 The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the live frames,
1201 i.e.@: those that have not been deleted. It is analogous to
1202 @code{buffer-list} for buffers, and includes frames on all terminals.
1203 The list that you get is newly created, so modifying the list doesn't
1204 have any effect on the internals of Emacs.
1205 @end defun
1206
1207 @defun visible-frame-list
1208 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
1209 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
1210 ``visible,'' even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
1211 @end defun
1212
1213 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
1214 The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
1215 the frames on the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It
1216 returns the ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If
1217 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame
1218 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
1219
1220 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
1221
1222 @table @asis
1223 @item @code{nil}
1224 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
1225 @item @code{visible}
1226 Consider all visible frames.
1227 @item 0
1228 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1229 @item a window
1230 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1231 minibuffer.
1232 @item anything else
1233 Consider all frames.
1234 @end table
1235 @end defun
1236
1237 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1238 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1239 direction.
1240 @end defun
1241
1242 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1243 Window Ordering}.
1244
1245 @node Frames and Windows
1246 @section Frames and Windows
1247
1248 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get that frame
1249 with @code{window-frame}.
1250
1251 @defun window-frame window
1252 This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
1253 @end defun
1254
1255 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
1256 order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
1257 upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
1258 the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
1259 one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
1260
1261 @defun frame-first-window &optional frame
1262 This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
1263 If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to the selected frame.
1264 @end defun
1265
1266 At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
1267 frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
1268 frame also selects this window. Conversely, selecting a window for
1269 Emacs with @code{select-window} also makes that window selected within
1270 its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1271
1272 @defun frame-selected-window &optional frame
1273 This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected
1274 within @var{frame}. If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to
1275 the selected frame.
1276 @end defun
1277
1278 @defun set-frame-selected-window frame window &optional norecord
1279 This sets the selected window of frame @var{frame} to @var{window}.
1280 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it operates on the selected frame. If
1281 @var{frame} is the selected frame, this makes @var{window} the
1282 selected window. This function returns @var{window}.
1283
1284 Optional argument @var{norecord} non-@code{nil} means to neither change
1285 the order of recently selected windows nor the buffer list (@pxref{The
1286 Buffer List}).
1287 @end defun
1288
1289 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
1290 frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-window}.
1291
1292 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1293 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1294
1295 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1296 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1297 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1298 minibuffer-window}).
1299
1300 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
1301 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
1302 frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
1303 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
1304 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
1305 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
1306
1307 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1308 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1309 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1310
1311 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1312 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1313 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1314 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1315 Terminals}.
1316 @end defvar
1317
1318 @node Input Focus
1319 @section Input Focus
1320 @cindex input focus
1321 @c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame
1322
1323 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1324 window always resides on the selected frame.
1325
1326 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1327 Terminals}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one
1328 of these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs
1329 to the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when
1330 Emacs runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected
1331 frame is the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single
1332 command at any given time, it needs to consider only one selected
1333 frame at a time; this frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame}
1334 in this manual. The display on which the selected frame is shown is
1335 the @dfn{selected frame's display}.
1336
1337 @defun selected-frame
1338 This function returns the selected frame.
1339 @end defun
1340
1341 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1342 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1343 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1344 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1345 explicitly switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1346 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1347
1348 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1349 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1350 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1351 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1352
1353 When using a text-only terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a
1354 time on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1355 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1356 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame}. Each
1357 terminal frame has a number which appears in the mode line before the
1358 buffer name (@pxref{Mode Line Variables}).
1359
1360 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame
1361 This function selects @var{frame}, raises it (should it happen to be
1362 obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X server's focus. On
1363 a text-only terminal, the next redisplay displays the new frame on the
1364 entire terminal screen. The return value of this function is not
1365 significant.
1366 @end defun
1367
1368 @c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
1369 @defun select-frame frame &optional norecord
1370 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1371 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1372 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1373 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1374 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1375 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1376 have the window system's input focus.)
1377
1378 The specified @var{frame} becomes the selected frame, as explained
1379 above, and the terminal that @var{frame} is on becomes the selected
1380 terminal. The window selected within @var{frame} becomes the selected
1381 window. This function returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame}
1382 has been deleted.
1383
1384 Optional argument @var{norecord} non-@code{nil} means to neither change
1385 the order of recently selected windows nor the buffer list. @xref{The
1386 Buffer List}.
1387
1388 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that could
1389 switch to a different terminal without switching back when you're done.
1390 @end defun
1391
1392 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1393 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1394 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1395 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1396 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1397
1398 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1399 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1400
1401 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1402 Don't call it for any other reason.
1403 @end deffn
1404
1405 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1406 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1407 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1408 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1409 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1410 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1411
1412 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1413 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1414 events.
1415
1416 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1417 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1418 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1419 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1420 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1421
1422 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1423 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1424 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1425 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1426 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1427
1428 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1429 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1430 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1431
1432 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1433 change it.
1434 @end defun
1435
1436 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1437 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1438 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1439 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1440 position consistent with the new selected frame.
1441 @end defopt
1442
1443 @node Visibility of Frames
1444 @section Visibility of Frames
1445 @cindex visible frame
1446 @cindex invisible frame
1447 @cindex iconified frame
1448 @cindex frame visibility
1449
1450 A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
1451 @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents, unless
1452 other windows cover it. If it is iconified, the frame's contents do
1453 not appear on the screen, but an icon does. (Note: because of the
1454 way in which some window managers implement the concept of multiple
1455 workspaces, or desktops, all frames on other workspaces may appear to
1456 Emacs to be iconified.) If the frame is invisible, it doesn't show on
1457 the screen, not even as an icon.
1458
1459 Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
1460 one is actually displayed in any case.
1461
1462 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1463 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
1464 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
1465 the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
1466 (@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
1467 @end deffn
1468
1469 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1470 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1471 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1472
1473 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1474 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1475 @end deffn
1476
1477 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1478 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1479 iconifies the selected frame.
1480 @end deffn
1481
1482 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1483 This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
1484 @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
1485 @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1486
1487 On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
1488 they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns
1489 @code{t} for all frames.
1490 @end defun
1491
1492 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1493 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1494 Parameters}.
1495
1496 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
1497 This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
1498 Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
1499 changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1500
1501 @node Raising and Lowering
1502 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1503
1504 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
1505 the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
1506 perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
1507 to ``lowest.'' Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
1508 the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
1509 seen if no other window overlaps it.
1510
1511 @c @cindex raising a frame redundant with raise-frame
1512 @cindex lowering a frame
1513 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
1514 to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
1515 it ``up,'' to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
1516 moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
1517 third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
1518 on the screen.
1519
1520 With Emacs, frames constitute the windows in the metaphor sketched
1521 above. You can raise and lower frames using these functions:
1522
1523 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1524 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1525 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1526 @end deffn
1527
1528 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1529 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1530 @end deffn
1531
1532 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1533 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1534 that the minibuffer window is in.
1535 @end defopt
1536
1537 You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
1538 selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
1539 for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1540
1541 @node Frame Configurations
1542 @section Frame Configurations
1543 @cindex frame configuration
1544
1545 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1546 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1547 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1548
1549 @defun current-frame-configuration
1550 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1551 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1552 @end defun
1553
1554 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1555 This function restores the state of frames described in
1556 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1557 frames.
1558
1559 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1560 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1561 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1562 @end defun
1563
1564 @node Mouse Tracking
1565 @section Mouse Tracking
1566 @cindex mouse tracking
1567 @c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
1568
1569 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1570 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1571 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1572 the mouse actually moves.
1573
1574 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1575 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1576 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1577 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1578 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1579 button.
1580
1581 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1582 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1583 events enabled. Typically, @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1584 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1585 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1586
1587 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1588 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1589 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1590 it is time to stop tracking.
1591 @end defspec
1592
1593 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1594 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1595 position.
1596
1597 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1598 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1599 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1600 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1601
1602 @ignore
1603 @c These are not implemented yet.
1604
1605 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1606 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1607 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1608 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1609 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1610
1611 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1612 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1613 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1614 @end defun
1615
1616 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1617 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1618 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1619 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1620 @end defun
1621
1622 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1623 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1624 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1625 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1626 location of point.
1627 @end defun
1628
1629 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1630 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1631 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1632 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1633 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1634 @end defun
1635 @end ignore
1636
1637 @node Mouse Position
1638 @section Mouse Position
1639 @cindex mouse position
1640 @cindex position of mouse
1641
1642 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1643 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1644
1645 @defun mouse-position
1646 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1647 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1648 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1649 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1650 @end defun
1651
1652 @defvar mouse-position-function
1653 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1654 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1655 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1656 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1657
1658 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1659 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1660 @end defvar
1661
1662 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1663 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1664 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1665 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1666 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1667 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1668 @end defun
1669
1670 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1671 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1672 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1673 @end defun
1674
1675 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1676 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1677 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1678 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1679
1680 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1681 value is not significant.
1682 @end defun
1683
1684 @need 3000
1685
1686 @node Pop-Up Menus
1687 @section Pop-Up Menus
1688
1689 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1690 the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1691
1692 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1693 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1694 what selection the user makes.
1695
1696 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1697 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1698 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1699 list of this form:
1700
1701 @example
1702 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1703 @end example
1704
1705 @noindent
1706 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1707 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1708 may be a window or a frame.
1709
1710 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1711 position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1712 key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1713 without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1714
1715 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1716 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1717 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1718 (This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1719 submenu.) Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1720 command bound to that sequence of events.
1721
1722 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1723
1724 @example
1725 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1726 @end example
1727
1728 @noindent
1729 where each pane is a list of form
1730
1731 @example
1732 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1733 @end example
1734
1735 Each item should normally be a cons cell @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1736 where @var{line} is a string, and @var{value} is the value to return if
1737 that @var{line} is chosen. An item can also be a string; this makes a
1738 non-selectable line in the menu.
1739
1740 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1741 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1742 keyboard input, then this normally results in a quit and
1743 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1744 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1745 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1746 @end defun
1747
1748 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1749 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1750 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1751 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1752 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1753 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1754 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1755
1756 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1757 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1758 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1759 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1760 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1761 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1762 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1763
1764 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1765 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1766 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1767 the menu keymap as necessary.
1768
1769 @node Dialog Boxes
1770 @section Dialog Boxes
1771 @cindex dialog boxes
1772
1773 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1774 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1775 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1776 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes,'' ``no,''
1777 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1778 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1779 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1780 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1781
1782 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1783 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1784 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1785 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1786
1787 @example
1788 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1789 @end example
1790
1791 @noindent
1792 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1793 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1794
1795 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1796
1797 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
1798 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
1799 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
1800
1801 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1802 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1803 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1804 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1805 items appear on each side.
1806
1807 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1808 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1809 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
1810 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
1811
1812 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
1813 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
1814 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}).
1815
1816 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1817 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1818 frame.
1819
1820 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
1821 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
1822 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
1823 @end defun
1824
1825 @node Pointer Shape
1826 @section Pointer Shape
1827 @cindex pointer shape
1828 @cindex mouse pointer shape
1829
1830 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
1831 images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
1832 @code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
1833 use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
1834 @code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
1835 @code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
1836 style used over text.
1837
1838 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
1839 of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
1840 @code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
1841 those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
1842
1843 @defvar void-text-area-pointer
1844 This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
1845 These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
1846 in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
1847 pointer style.
1848 @end defvar
1849
1850 When using X, you can specify what the @code{text} pointer style
1851 really looks like by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
1852
1853 @defvar x-pointer-shape
1854 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
1855 Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
1856 @end defvar
1857
1858 @defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1859 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1860 is over mouse-sensitive text.
1861 @end defvar
1862
1863 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1864 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
1865 frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
1866 @xref{Font and Color Parameters}.
1867
1868 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1869 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1870 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1871
1872 @node Window System Selections
1873 @section Window System Selections
1874 @cindex selection (for window systems)
1875
1876 The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1877 data between application programs. The various selections are
1878 distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1879 symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1880 any given type.
1881
1882 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
1883 This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1884 arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1885 @var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1886 selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1887 (or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1888 cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1889 of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1890
1891 The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1892 selection values.
1893
1894 Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1895 independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY},
1896 @code{SECONDARY} and @code{CLIPBOARD}; these are symbols with upper-case
1897 names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If @var{type} is
1898 @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
1899
1900 This function returns @var{data}.
1901 @end deffn
1902
1903 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1904 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1905 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1906 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1907 @code{PRIMARY}.
1908
1909 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1910 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1911 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1912 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
1913 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
1914 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
1915 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
1916 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
1917 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
1918 @code{STRING}.
1919 @end defun
1920
1921 @cindex cut buffer
1922 The X server also has a set of eight numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1923 store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1924 are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1925 clients that still use them. Cut buffers are numbered from 0 to 7.
1926
1927 @defun x-get-cut-buffer &optional n
1928 This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1929 If omitted @var{n} defaults to 0.
1930 @end defun
1931
1932 @defun x-set-cut-buffer string &optional push
1933 @anchor{Definition of x-set-cut-buffer}
1934 This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
1935 0). If @var{push} is @code{nil}, only the first cut buffer is changed.
1936 If @var{push} is non-@code{nil}, that says to move the values down
1937 through the series of cut buffers, much like the way successive kills in
1938 Emacs move down the kill ring. In other words, the previous value of
1939 the first cut buffer moves into the second cut buffer, and the second to
1940 the third, and so on through all eight cut buffers.
1941 @end defun
1942
1943 @defopt selection-coding-system
1944 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1945 writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
1946 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
1947 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
1948 @end defopt
1949
1950 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
1951 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
1952 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
1953 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
1954 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
1955 clipboard as empty.
1956
1957 @defopt x-select-enable-clipboard
1958 If this is non-@code{nil}, the Emacs yank functions consult the
1959 clipboard before the primary selection, and the kill functions store in
1960 the clipboard as well as the primary selection. Otherwise they do not
1961 access the clipboard at all. The default is @code{nil} on most systems,
1962 but @code{t} on MS-Windows.
1963 @end defopt
1964
1965 @node Drag and Drop
1966 @section Drag and Drop
1967
1968 @vindex x-dnd-test-function
1969 @vindex x-dnd-known-types
1970 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
1971 application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
1972 dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
1973 what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
1974 which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
1975 @code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
1976 @code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
1977 on some other criteria.
1978
1979 @vindex x-dnd-types-alist
1980 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
1981 or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
1982 detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
1983 drop.
1984
1985 @vindex dnd-protocol-alist
1986 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
1987 another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
1988 @code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL. If
1989 there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
1990 an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
1991 text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
1992 you can customize these variables.
1993
1994 @node Color Names
1995 @section Color Names
1996
1997 @cindex color names
1998 @cindex specify color
1999 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
2000 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
2001 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
2002 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
2003 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
2004 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
2005 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
2006 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
2007 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
2008 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
2009 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
2010 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
2011 colors.)
2012
2013 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
2014 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
2015 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
2016 meaning of the term ``selected frame.''
2017
2018 To read user input of color names with completion, use
2019 @code{read-color} (@pxref{High-Level Completion, read-color}).
2020
2021 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
2022 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
2023 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
2024 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
2025 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2026
2027 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
2028 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
2029 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
2030 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
2031 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
2032
2033 @findex x-color-defined-p
2034 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
2035 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2036 @end defun
2037
2038 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
2039 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
2040 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
2041 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
2042
2043 @findex x-defined-colors
2044 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
2045 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2046 @end defun
2047
2048 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
2049 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
2050 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
2051 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
2052
2053 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
2054 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
2055 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
2056 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
2057
2058 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
2059 @end defun
2060
2061 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
2062 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
2063 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
2064 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
2065 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
2066 @end defun
2067
2068 @defun color-values color &optional frame
2069 @cindex rgb value
2070 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
2071 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
2072 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
2073 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
2074 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
2075 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
2076 color.
2077
2078 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2079
2080 @example
2081 (color-values "black")
2082 @result{} (0 0 0)
2083 (color-values "white")
2084 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
2085 (color-values "red")
2086 @result{} (65280 0 0)
2087 (color-values "pink")
2088 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
2089 (color-values "hungry")
2090 @result{} nil
2091 @end example
2092
2093 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
2094 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
2095 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
2096 value is @code{nil}.
2097
2098 @findex x-color-values
2099 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
2100 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2101 @end defun
2102
2103 @node Text Terminal Colors
2104 @section Text Terminal Colors
2105 @cindex colors on text-only terminals
2106
2107 Text-only terminals usually support only a small number of colors,
2108 and the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
2109 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
2110 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
2111 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
2112 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
2113
2114 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
2115 are used by Emacs.
2116
2117 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
2118 in @ref{Color Names}.
2119
2120 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
2121 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make
2122 Emacs support different colors on different text-only terminals; then
2123 this argument will specify which terminal to operate on (the default
2124 being the selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At
2125 present, though, the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
2126
2127 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
2128 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
2129 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
2130
2131 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
2132 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
2133 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
2134 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
2135 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
2136 @end defun
2137
2138 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
2139 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text-only terminal.
2140 @end defun
2141
2142 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
2143 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by a
2144 text-only terminal.
2145
2146 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
2147 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
2148 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
2149 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
2150 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
2151 @end defun
2152
2153 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
2154 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
2155 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
2156 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
2157 @code{tty-color-alist}.
2158 @end defun
2159
2160 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
2161 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
2162 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
2163 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2164 @end defun
2165
2166 @node Resources
2167 @section X Resources
2168
2169 This section describes some of the functions and variables for
2170 querying and using X resources, or their equivalent on your operating
2171 system. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2172 Manual}, for more information about X resources.
2173
2174 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
2175 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
2176 Window defaults database.
2177
2178 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
2179 This function searches using a key of the form
2180 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
2181 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
2182 the class.
2183
2184 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
2185 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
2186 If you specify them, the key is
2187 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
2188 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
2189 @end defun
2190
2191 @defvar x-resource-class
2192 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
2193 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
2194 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
2195 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
2196 @end defvar
2197
2198 @defvar x-resource-name
2199 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
2200 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
2201 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
2202 @end defvar
2203
2204 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
2205
2206 @example
2207 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
2208 @end example
2209
2210 @noindent
2211 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
2212 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
2213
2214 @example
2215 @group
2216 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2217 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
2218 @result{} "yellow"
2219 @end group
2220 @group
2221 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2222 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
2223 @result{} "yellow"
2224 @end group
2225 @end example
2226
2227 @defvar inhibit-x-resources
2228 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not look up X
2229 resources, and X resources do not have any effect when creating new
2230 frames.
2231 @end defvar
2232
2233 @node Display Feature Testing
2234 @section Display Feature Testing
2235 @cindex display feature testing
2236
2237 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2238 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2239 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2240 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2241
2242 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2243 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2244 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2245 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2246
2247 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2248 obtain information about displays.
2249
2250 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2251 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2252 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires that
2253 the mouse be available, since the user cannot choose menu items without
2254 a mouse.
2255 @end defun
2256
2257 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2258 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2259 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2260 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X, and
2261 false for text-only terminals.
2262 @end defun
2263
2264 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
2265 @cindex mouse, availability
2266 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
2267 @code{nil} if not.
2268 @end defun
2269
2270 @defun display-color-p &optional display
2271 @findex x-display-color-p
2272 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
2273 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
2274 is still supported as an alias.
2275 @end defun
2276
2277 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
2278 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
2279 (All color displays can do this.)
2280 @end defun
2281
2282 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
2283 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
2284 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
2285 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
2286
2287 The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
2288 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
2289 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
2290 way that's
2291
2292 @enumerate
2293 @item
2294 different in appearance than the default face, and
2295
2296 @item
2297 `close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
2298 @end enumerate
2299
2300 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
2301 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
2302 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
2303 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
2304 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
2305 italic.
2306 @end defun
2307
2308 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
2309 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2310 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2311 supported in some other cases.
2312 @end defun
2313
2314 @defun display-images-p &optional display
2315 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2316 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2317 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2318 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2319 @end defun
2320
2321 @defun display-screens &optional display
2322 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2323 @end defun
2324
2325 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2326 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2327 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2328
2329 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2330 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2331 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2332 @end defun
2333
2334 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2335 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2336 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2337
2338 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2339 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2340 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2341 @end defun
2342
2343 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
2344 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2345 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2346 @end defun
2347
2348 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
2349 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2350 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2351 @end defun
2352
2353 @defopt display-mm-dimensions-alist
2354 This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
2355 displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
2356 @code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
2357 @end defopt
2358
2359 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
2360 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2361 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2362 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2363 displayed very quickly.
2364
2365 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2366 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2367 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2368 @end defun
2369
2370 @defun display-save-under &optional display
2371 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2372 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2373 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2374 quickly.
2375 @end defun
2376
2377 @defun display-planes &optional display
2378 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2379 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2380 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2381 @end defun
2382
2383 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2384 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
2385 of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
2386 @code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
2387 @code{direct-color}.
2388 @end defun
2389
2390 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2391 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2392 @end defun
2393
2394 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2395 about X displays.
2396
2397 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2398 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2399 running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2400 and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2401 distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2402 @end defun
2403
2404 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2405 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2406 software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2407 server.
2408
2409 When the developers of X labelled software distributors as
2410 ``vendors,'' they showed their false assumption that no system could
2411 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2412 @end defun
2413
2414 @ignore
2415 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2416 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2417 @end defvar
2418 @end ignore
2419
2420 @ignore
2421 @item
2422 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2423 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2424 @end ignore
2425
2426
2427 @ignore
2428 arch-tag: 94977df6-3dca-4730-b57b-c6329e9282ba
2429 @end ignore