@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000
+@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
@setfilename ../info/keymaps
@node Keymaps, Modes, Command Loop, Top
A keymap is a list whose @sc{car} is the symbol @code{keymap}. The
remaining elements of the list define the key bindings of the keymap.
-Use the function @code{keymapp} (see below) to test whether an object is
-a keymap.
+A symbol whose function definition is a keymap is also a keymap. Use
+the function @code{keymapp} (see below) to test whether an object is a
+keymap.
Several kinds of elements may appear in a keymap, after the symbol
@code{keymap} that begins it:
@item @var{vector}
If an element of a keymap is a vector, the vector counts as bindings for
-all the @sc{ASCII} characters, codes 0 through 127; vector element
+all the @sc{ascii} characters, codes 0 through 127; vector element
@var{n} is the binding for the character with code @var{n}. This is a
compact way to record lots of bindings. A keymap with such a vector is
called a @dfn{full keymap}. Other keymaps are called @dfn{sparse
keymaps}.
+A @code{nil} binding is used to mean that a key is explicitly not bound.
+Just like any other binding, it takes precedence over a default binding
+or a binding in the parent keymap, but on the other hand, it does not
+take precedence over keymaps of lower priority.
+
When a keymap contains a vector, it always defines a binding for each
-@sc{ASCII} character, even if the vector contains @code{nil} for that
+@sc{ascii} character, even if the vector contains @code{nil} for that
character. Such a binding of @code{nil} overrides any default key
-binding in the keymap. However, default bindings are still meaningful
-for events that are not @sc{ASCII} characters. A binding of @code{nil}
-does @emph{not} override lower-precedence keymaps; thus, if the local
-map gives a binding of @code{nil}, Emacs uses the binding from the
-global map.
+binding in the keymap, for @sc{ascii} characters. However, default
+bindings are still meaningful for events other than @sc{ascii}
+characters. A binding of @code{nil} does @emph{not} override
+lower-precedence keymaps; thus, if the local map gives a binding of
+@code{nil}, Emacs uses the binding from the global map.
@item @var{string}
@cindex keymap prompt string
@cindex prompt string of keymap
Aside from bindings, a keymap can also have a string as an element.
This is called the @dfn{overall prompt string} and makes it possible to
-use the keymap as a menu. @xref{Menu Keymaps}.
+use the keymap as a menu. @xref{Defining Menus}.
@end table
@cindex meta characters lookup
Keymaps do not directly record bindings for the meta characters.
-Instead, meta characters are regarded for
-purposes of key lookup as sequences of two characters, the first of
-which is @key{ESC} (or whatever is currently the value of
-@code{meta-prefix-char}). Thus, the key @kbd{M-a} is really represented
-as @kbd{@key{ESC} a}, and its global binding is found at the slot for
-@kbd{a} in @code{esc-map} (@pxref{Prefix Keys}).
+Instead, meta characters are regarded for purposes of key lookup as
+sequences of two characters, the first of which is @key{ESC} (or
+whatever is currently the value of @code{meta-prefix-char}). Thus, the
+key @kbd{M-a} is internally represented as @kbd{@key{ESC} a}, and its
+global binding is found at the slot for @kbd{a} in @code{esc-map}
+(@pxref{Prefix Keys}).
+
+ This conversion applies only to characters, not to function keys or
+other input events; thus, @kbd{M-@key{end}} has nothing to do with
+@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{end}}.
Here as an example is the local keymap for Lisp mode, a sparse
keymap. It defines bindings for @key{DEL} and @key{TAB}, plus @kbd{C-c
@example
@group
lisp-mode-map
-@result{}
+@result{}
@end group
@group
-(keymap
+(keymap
;; @key{TAB}
- (9 . lisp-indent-line)
+ (9 . lisp-indent-line)
@end group
@group
;; @key{DEL}
- (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
+ (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
@end group
@group
- (3 keymap
+ (3 keymap
;; @kbd{C-c C-l}
- (12 . run-lisp))
+ (12 . run-lisp))
@end group
@group
- (27 keymap
+ (27 keymap
;; @r{@kbd{M-C-q}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-q}}
- (17 . indent-sexp)
+ (17 . indent-sexp)
;; @r{@kbd{M-C-x}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-x}}
- (24 . lisp-send-defun)))
+ (24 . lisp-send-defun)))
@end group
@end example
@defun keymapp object
This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a keymap, @code{nil}
otherwise. More precisely, this function tests for a list whose
-@sc{car} is @code{keymap}.
+@sc{car} is @code{keymap}, or for a symbol whose function definition
+satisfies @code{keymapp}.
@example
@group
@result{} t
@end group
@group
+(fset 'foo '(keymap))
+(keymapp 'foo)
+ @result{} t
+@end group
+@group
(keymapp (current-global-map))
@result{} t
@end group
@c ??? This should come after make-sparse-keymap
@defun make-keymap &optional prompt
-This function creates and returns a new full keymap (i.e., one
-containing a vector of length 128 for defining all the @sc{ASCII}
-characters). The new keymap initially binds all @sc{ASCII} characters
-to @code{nil}, and does not bind any other kind of event.
+This function creates and returns a new full keymap. That keymap
+contains a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}) with 384 slots: the first
+128 slots are for defining all the @sc{ascii} characters, the next 128
+slots are for 8-bit European characters, and each one of the final 128
+slots is for one character set of non-@sc{ascii} characters supported by
+Emacs. The new keymap initially binds all these characters to
+@code{nil}, and does not bind any other kind of event.
@example
@group
@end example
If you specify @var{prompt}, that becomes the overall prompt string for
-the keymap. The prompt string is useful for menu keymaps (@pxref{Menu
-Keymaps}).
+the keymap. The prompt string should be provided for menu keymaps
+(@pxref{Defining Menus}).
@end defun
@defun make-sparse-keymap &optional prompt
This function creates and returns a new sparse keymap with no entries.
-The new keymap does not bind any events. The argument @var{prompt}
-specifies a prompt string, as in @code{make-keymap}.
+The new keymap does not contain a char-table, unlike @code{make-keymap},
+and does not bind any events. The argument @var{prompt} specifies a
+prompt string, as in @code{make-keymap}.
@example
@group
@end group
@group
;; @r{(This implements meta characters.)}
- (27 keymap
+ (27 keymap
(83 . center-paragraph)
(115 . center-line))
(9 . tab-to-tab-stop))
prefix keys.
@end defun
-Here is an example showing how to make a keymap that inherits
+ Here is an example showing how to make a keymap that inherits
from @code{text-mode-map}:
@example
map)
@end example
+ A non-sparse keymap can have a parent too, but this is not very
+useful. A non-sparse keymap always specifies something as the binding
+for every numeric character code without modifier bits, even if it is
+@code{nil}, so these character's bindings are never inherited from
+the parent keymap.
+
@node Prefix Keys
@section Prefix Keys
@cindex prefix key
also stored in the variable @code{ctl-x-map}. This keymap defines
bindings for key sequences starting with @kbd{C-x}.
- Here is a list of the standard prefix keys of Emacs and their keymaps:
+ Some of the standard Emacs prefix keys use keymaps that are
+also found in Lisp variables:
@itemize @bullet
@item
@item
@cindex @kbd{C-h}
-@code{help-map} is the global definitions for the @kbd{C-h} prefix key.
+@code{help-map} is the global keymap for the @kbd{C-h} prefix key.
@item
@cindex @kbd{C-c}
@cindex @kbd{C-x}
@vindex ctl-x-map
@findex Control-X-prefix
-@code{ctl-x-map} is the global key map used for the @kbd{C-x} prefix
-key. This map is found via the function definition of the symbol
+@code{ctl-x-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x} prefix key.
+This map is found via the function cell of the symbol
@code{Control-X-prefix}.
+@item
+@cindex @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}
+@vindex mule-keymap
+@code{mule-keymap} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}
+prefix key.
+
@item
@cindex @kbd{C-x 4}
@vindex ctl-x-4-map
@c Emacs 19 feature
@item
-@cindex @kbd{C-x n}
-@cindex @kbd{C-x r}
-@cindex @kbd{C-x a}
-The prefix keys @kbd{C-x n}, @kbd{C-x r} and @kbd{C-x a} use keymaps
-that have no special names.
+@cindex @kbd{C-x 6}
+@vindex 2C-mode-map
+@code{2C-mode-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x 6} prefix
+key.
+
+@item
+@cindex @kbd{C-x v}
+@vindex vc-prefix-map
+@code{vc-prefix-map} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{C-x v} prefix
+key.
+
+@item
+@cindex @kbd{M-g}
+@vindex facemenu-keymap
+@code{facemenu-keymap} is the global keymap used for the @kbd{M-g}
+prefix key.
+
+@c Emacs 19 feature
+@item
+The other Emacs prefix keys are @kbd{C-x @@}, @kbd{C-x a i}, @kbd{C-x
+@key{ESC}} and @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{ESC}}. They use keymaps that have no
+special names.
@end itemize
The keymap binding of a prefix key is used for looking up the event
that follows the prefix key. (It may instead be a symbol whose function
definition is a keymap. The effect is the same, but the symbol serves
as a name for the prefix key.) Thus, the binding of @kbd{C-x} is the
-symbol @code{Control-X-prefix}, whose function definition is the keymap
+symbol @code{Control-X-prefix}, whose function cell holds the keymap
for @kbd{C-x} commands. (The same keymap is also the value of
@code{ctl-x-map}.)
@end group
@end example
-@defun define-prefix-command symbol
+@defun define-prefix-command symbol &optional mapvar prompt
@cindex prefix command
This function prepares @var{symbol} for use as a prefix key's binding:
-it creates a full keymap and stores it as @var{symbol}'s function
+it creates a sparse keymap and stores it as @var{symbol}'s function
definition. Subsequently binding a key sequence to @var{symbol} will
-make that key sequence into a prefix key.
+make that key sequence into a prefix key. The return value is @code{symbol}.
This function also sets @var{symbol} as a variable, with the keymap as
-its value. It returns @var{symbol}.
+its value. But if @var{mapvar} is non-@code{nil}, it sets @var{mapvar}
+as a variable instead.
-@c In Emacs version 18, only the function definition of @var{symbol} was
-@c set, not the value as a variable.
+If @var{prompt} is non-@code{nil}, that becomes the overall prompt
+string for the keymap. The prompt string should be given for menu keymaps
+(@pxref{Defining Menus}).
@end defun
@node Active Keymaps
overrides it. Text properties can specify an alternative local map for
certain parts of the buffer; see @ref{Special Properties}.
- Each minor mode may have a keymap; if it does, the keymap is active
+ Each minor mode can have a keymap; if it does, the keymap is active
when the minor mode is enabled.
The variable @code{overriding-local-map}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies
-another local keymap that overrides the buffer's local map and all the
+another local keymap that overrides the buffer's local map and all the
minor mode keymaps.
All the active keymaps are used together to determine what command to
maps. The procedure for searching a single keymap is called @dfn{key
lookup}; see @ref{Key Lookup}.
-Normally, Emacs first searches for the key in the minor mode
-maps (one map at a time); if they do not supply a binding for the key,
-Emacs searches the local map; if that too has no binding, Emacs then
-searches the global map. However, if @code{overriding-local-map} is
-non-@code{nil}, Emacs searches that map first, before the global map.
+ Normally, Emacs first searches for the key in the minor mode maps, in
+the order specified by @code{minor-mode-map-alist}; if they do not
+supply a binding for the key, Emacs searches the local map; if that too
+has no binding, Emacs then searches the global map. However, if
+@code{overriding-local-map} is non-@code{nil}, Emacs searches that map
+first, before the global map.
@cindex major mode keymap
Since every buffer that uses the same major mode normally uses the
The minibuffer has local keymaps, too; they contain various completion
and exit commands. @xref{Intro to Minibuffers}.
+ Emacs has other keymaps that are used in a different way---translating
+events within @code{read-key-sequence}. @xref{Translating Input}.
+
@xref{Standard Keymaps}, for a list of standard keymaps.
@defvar global-map
@example
@group
(current-global-map)
-@result{} (keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{}
+@result{} (keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{}
delete-backward-char])
@end group
@end example
This function returns the current buffer's local keymap, or @code{nil}
if it has none. In the following example, the keymap for the
@samp{*scratch*} buffer (using Lisp Interaction mode) is a sparse keymap
-in which the entry for @key{ESC}, @sc{ASCII} code 27, is another sparse
+in which the entry for @key{ESC}, @sc{ascii} code 27, is another sparse
keymap.
@example
@group
(current-local-map)
-@result{} (keymap
- (10 . eval-print-last-sexp)
- (9 . lisp-indent-line)
- (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
+@result{} (keymap
+ (10 . eval-print-last-sexp)
+ (9 . lisp-indent-line)
+ (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify)
@end group
@group
- (27 keymap
- (24 . eval-defun)
+ (27 keymap
+ (24 . eval-defun)
(17 . indent-sexp)))
@end group
@end example
Note that elements of @code{minor-mode-map-alist} do not have the same
structure as elements of @code{minor-mode-alist}. The map must be the
-@sc{cdr} of the element; a list with the map as the @sc{cadr} will not
-do. The @sc{cadr} can be either a keymap (a list) or a symbol
-whose function definition is a keymap.
+@sc{cdr} of the element; a list with the map as the second element will
+not do. The @sc{cdr} can be either a keymap (a list) or a symbol whose
+function definition is a keymap.
When more than one minor mode keymap is active, their order of priority
is the order of @code{minor-mode-map-alist}. But you should design
Lookup}).
@end defvar
-@tindex minor-mode-overriding-map-alist
@defvar minor-mode-overriding-map-alist
This variable allows major modes to override the key bindings for
particular minor modes. The elements of this alist look like the
elements of @code{minor-mode-map-alist}: @code{(@var{variable}
-. @var{keymap})}. If a variable appears an element
-@code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist}, that element overrides any
-element for the same variable in @code{minor-mode-map-alist}.
+. @var{keymap})}.
+
+If a variable appears as an element of
+@code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist}, the map specified by that
+element totally replaces any map specified for the same variable in
+@code{minor-mode-map-alist}.
@code{minor-mode-overriding-map-alist} is automatically buffer-local in
all buffers.
you explicitly ask about them. (To do this, supply @code{t} as an
element of @var{key}; see @ref{Format of Keymaps}.)
-If @var{key} contains a meta character, that character is implicitly
-replaced by a two-character sequence: the value of
-@code{meta-prefix-char}, followed by the corresponding non-meta
+If @var{key} contains a meta character (not a function key), that
+character is implicitly replaced by a two-character sequence: the value
+of @code{meta-prefix-char}, followed by the corresponding non-meta
character. Thus, the first example below is handled by conversion into
the second example.
translating a meta character to a two-character sequence so it can be
looked up in a keymap. For useful results, the value should be a prefix
event (@pxref{Prefix Keys}). The default value is 27, which is the
-@sc{ASCII} code for @key{ESC}.
+@sc{ascii} code for @key{ESC}.
-As long as the value of @code{meta-prefix-char} remains 27, key
-lookup translates @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{@key{ESC} b}, which is normally
-defined as the @code{backward-word} command. However, if you set
+As long as the value of @code{meta-prefix-char} remains 27, key lookup
+translates @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{@key{ESC} b}, which is normally defined
+as the @code{backward-word} command. However, if you were to set
@code{meta-prefix-char} to 24, the code for @kbd{C-x}, then Emacs will
translate @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{C-x b}, whose standard binding is the
-@code{switch-to-buffer} command. Here is an illustration:
+@code{switch-to-buffer} command. (Don't actually do this!) Here is an
+illustration of what would happen:
@smallexample
@group
@end group
@group
(setq meta-prefix-char 24)
- @result{} 24
+ @result{} 24
@end group
@group
(key-binding "\M-b")
@result{} 27 ; @r{Restore the default value!}
@end group
@end smallexample
+
+This translation of one event into two happens only for characters, not
+for other kinds of input events. Thus, @kbd{M-@key{F1}}, a function
+key, is not converted into @kbd{@key{ESC} @key{F1}}.
@end defvar
@node Changing Key Bindings
meaningful. (For a list of meaningful types, see @ref{Key Lookup}.)
The value returned by @code{define-key} is @var{binding}.
+If @var{key} is @code{[t]}, this sets the default binding in
+@var{keymap}. When an event has no binding of its own, the Emacs
+command loop uses the keymap's default binding, if there is one.
+
@cindex invalid prefix key error
@cindex key sequence error
Every prefix of @var{key} must be a prefix key (i.e., bound to a keymap)
If there was previously no binding for @var{key} in @var{keymap}, the
new binding is added at the beginning of @var{keymap}. The order of
-bindings in a keymap makes no difference in most cases, but it does
-matter for menu keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}).
+bindings in a keymap makes no difference for keyboard input, but it
+does matter for menu keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}).
@end defun
Here is an example that creates a sparse keymap and makes a number of
@end group
@group
map
-@result{} (keymap
+@result{} (keymap
(24 keymap ; @kbd{C-x}
(102 . forward-word)) ; @kbd{f}
(6 . forward-char)) ; @kbd{C-f}
;; @r{Bind @kbd{C-p} to the @code{ctl-x-map}.}
(define-key map "\C-p" ctl-x-map)
;; @code{ctl-x-map}
-@result{} [nil @dots{} find-file @dots{} backward-kill-sentence]
+@result{} [nil @dots{} find-file @dots{} backward-kill-sentence]
@end group
@group
map
@result{} (keymap ; @r{Note @code{foo} in @code{ctl-x-map}.}
(16 keymap [nil @dots{} foo @dots{} backward-kill-sentence])
- (24 keymap
+ (24 keymap
(102 . forward-word))
(6 . forward-char))
@end group
@smallexample
@group
-(substitute-key-definition
+(substitute-key-definition
'find-file 'find-file-read-only (current-global-map))
@end group
@end smallexample
@c Emacs 19 feature
-If @var{oldmap} is non-@code{nil}, then its bindings determine which
-keys to rebind. The rebindings still happen in @var{keymap}, not in
-@var{oldmap}. Thus, you can change one map under the control of the
+If @var{oldmap} is non-@code{nil}, that changes the behavior of
+@code{substitute-key-definition}: the bindings in @var{oldmap} determine
+which keys to rebind. The rebindings still happen in @var{keymap}, not
+in @var{oldmap}. Thus, you can change one map under the control of the
bindings in another. For example,
@smallexample
@smallexample
@group
-(setq map '(keymap
- (?1 . olddef-1)
- (?2 . olddef-2)
+(setq map '(keymap
+ (?1 . olddef-1)
+ (?2 . olddef-2)
(?3 . olddef-1)))
@result{} (keymap (49 . olddef-1) (50 . olddef-2) (51 . olddef-1))
@end group
@code{negative-argument}. Otherwise it makes them undefined like the
rest of the printing characters.
-@cindex yank suppression
-@cindex @code{quoted-insert} suppression
+@cindex yank suppression
+@cindex @code{quoted-insert} suppression
The @code{suppress-keymap} function does not make it impossible to
modify a buffer, as it does not suppress commands such as @code{yank}
and @code{quoted-insert}. To prevent any modification of a buffer, make
@smallexample
@group
- @dots{}
- (setq dired-mode-map (make-keymap))
- (suppress-keymap dired-mode-map)
- (define-key dired-mode-map "r" 'dired-rename-file)
- (define-key dired-mode-map "\C-d" 'dired-flag-file-deleted)
- (define-key dired-mode-map "d" 'dired-flag-file-deleted)
- (define-key dired-mode-map "v" 'dired-view-file)
- (define-key dired-mode-map "e" 'dired-find-file)
- (define-key dired-mode-map "f" 'dired-find-file)
- @dots{}
+(setq dired-mode-map (make-keymap))
+(suppress-keymap dired-mode-map)
+(define-key dired-mode-map "r" 'dired-rename-file)
+(define-key dired-mode-map "\C-d" 'dired-flag-file-deleted)
+(define-key dired-mode-map "d" 'dired-flag-file-deleted)
+(define-key dired-mode-map "v" 'dired-view-file)
+(define-key dired-mode-map "e" 'dired-find-file)
+(define-key dired-mode-map "f" 'dired-find-file)
+@dots{}
@end group
@end smallexample
@end defun
This section describes some convenient interactive interfaces for
changing key bindings. They work by calling @code{define-key}.
- People often use @code{global-set-key} in their @file{.emacs} file for
-simple customization. For example,
+ People often use @code{global-set-key} in their init files
+(@pxref{Init File}) for simple customization. For example,
@smallexample
(global-set-key "\C-x\C-\\" 'next-line)
redefines the first (leftmost) mouse button, typed with the Meta key, to
set point where you click.
+@cindex non-@sc{ascii} text in keybindings
+ Be careful when using non-@sc{ascii} text characters in Lisp
+specifications of keys to bind. If these are read as multibyte text, as
+they usually will be in a Lisp file (@pxref{Loading Non-ASCII}), you
+must type the keys as multibyte too. For instance, if you use this:
+
+@smallexample
+(global-set-key "@"o" 'my-function) ; bind o-umlaut
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+or
+
+@smallexample
+(global-set-key ?@"o 'my-function) ; bind o-umlaut
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+and your language environment is multibyte Latin-1, these commands
+actually bind the multibyte character with code 2294, not the unibyte
+Latin-1 character with code 246 (@kbd{M-v}). In order to use this
+binding, you need to enter the multibyte Latin-1 character as keyboard
+input. One way to do this is by using an appropriate input method
+(@pxref{Input Methods, , Input Methods, emacs,The GNU Emacs Manual}).
+
+ If you want to use a unibyte character in the key binding, you can
+construct the key sequence string using @code{multibyte-char-to-unibyte}
+or @code{string-make-unibyte} (@pxref{Converting Representations}).
+
@deffn Command global-set-key key definition
This function sets the binding of @var{key} in the current global map
to @var{definition}.
@smallexample
@group
(accessible-keymaps (current-local-map))
-@result{}(("" keymap
+@result{}(("" keymap
(27 keymap ; @r{Note this keymap for @key{ESC} is repeated below.}
(83 . center-paragraph)
(115 . center-line))
@end group
@group
- ("^[" keymap
- (83 . center-paragraph)
+ ("^[" keymap
+ (83 . center-paragraph)
(115 . foo)))
@end group
@end smallexample
@smallexample
@group
(accessible-keymaps (current-global-map))
-@result{} (("" keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{}
+@result{} (("" keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{}
delete-backward-char])
@end group
@group
If @var{keymap} is @code{nil}, then the maps used are the current active
keymaps, disregarding @code{overriding-local-map} (that is, pretending
its value is @code{nil}). If @var{keymap} is non-@code{nil}, then the
-maps searched are @var{keymap} and the global keymap.
+maps searched are @var{keymap} and the global keymap. If @var{keymap}
+is a list of keymaps, only those keymaps are searched.
Usually it's best to use @code{overriding-local-map} as the expression
for @var{keymap}. Then @code{where-is-internal} searches precisely the
string representing the first key sequence found, rather than a list of
all possible key sequences. If @var{firstonly} is @code{t}, then the
value is the first key sequence, except that key sequences consisting
-entirely of @sc{ASCII} characters (or meta variants of @sc{ASCII}
+entirely of @sc{ascii} characters (or meta variants of @sc{ascii}
characters) are preferred to all other key sequences.
If @var{noindirect} is non-@code{nil}, @code{where-is-internal} doesn't
@end smallexample
@end defun
-@deffn Command describe-bindings prefix
+@deffn Command describe-bindings &optional prefix
This function creates a listing of all current key bindings, and
displays it in a buffer named @samp{*Help*}. The text is grouped by
modes---minor modes first, then the major mode, then global bindings.
The listing describes meta characters as @key{ESC} followed by the
corresponding non-meta character.
-When several characters with consecutive @sc{ASCII} codes have the
+When several characters with consecutive @sc{ascii} codes have the
same definition, they are shown together, as
@samp{@var{firstchar}..@var{lastchar}}. In this instance, you need to
-know the @sc{ASCII} codes to understand which characters this means.
+know the @sc{ascii} codes to understand which characters this means.
For example, in the default global map, the characters @samp{@key{SPC}
-..@: ~} are described by a single line. @key{SPC} is @sc{ASCII} 32,
-@kbd{~} is @sc{ASCII} 126, and the characters between them include all
+..@: ~} are described by a single line. @key{SPC} is @sc{ascii} 32,
+@kbd{~} is @sc{ascii} 126, and the characters between them include all
the normal printing characters, (e.g., letters, digits, punctuation,
etc.@:); all these characters are bound to @code{self-insert-command}.
@end deffn
* Keyboard Menus:: How they actuate it with the keyboard.
* Menu Example:: Making a simple menu.
* Menu Bar:: How to customize the menu bar.
+* Tool Bar:: A tool bar is a row of images.
* Modifying Menus:: How to add new items to a menu.
@end menu
A keymap is suitable for menu use if it has an @dfn{overall prompt
string}, which is a string that appears as an element of the keymap.
(@xref{Format of Keymaps}.) The string should describe the purpose of
-the menu. The easiest way to construct a keymap with a prompt string is
-to specify the string as an argument when you call @code{make-keymap} or
-@code{make-sparse-keymap} (@pxref{Creating Keymaps}).
+the menu's commands. Emacs displays the overall prompt string as the
+menu title in some cases, depending on the toolkit (if any) used for
+displaying menus.@footnote{It is required for menus which do not use a
+toolkit, e.g.@: under MS-DOS.} Keyboard menus also display the overall
+prompt string.
+
+The easiest way to construct a keymap with a prompt string is to specify
+the string as an argument when you call @code{make-keymap},
+@code{make-sparse-keymap} or @code{define-prefix-command}
+(@pxref{Creating Keymaps}).
The order of items in the menu is the same as the order of bindings in
the keymap. Since @code{define-key} puts new bindings at the front, you
@code{define-key-after} (@pxref{Modifying Menus}).
@menu
-* Simple Menu Items::
-* Extended Menu Items::
+* Simple Menu Items:: A simple kind of menu key binding,
+ limited in capabilities.
+* Extended Menu Items:: More powerful menu item definitions
+ let you specify keywords to enable
+ various features.
+* Menu Separators:: Drawing a horizontal line through a menu.
+* Alias Menu Items:: Using command aliases in menu items.
@end menu
@node Simple Menu Items
(@var{item-string} . @var{real-binding})
@end example
+@noindent
The @sc{car}, @var{item-string}, is the string to be displayed in the
menu. It should be short---preferably one to three words. It should
describe the action of the command it corresponds to.
You can also supply a second string, called the help string, as follows:
@example
-(@var{item-string} @var{help-string} . @var{real-binding})
+(@var{item-string} @var{help} . @var{real-binding})
@end example
-Currently Emacs does not actually use @var{help-string}; it knows only
-how to ignore @var{help-string} in order to extract @var{real-binding}.
-In the future we may use @var{help-string} as extended documentation for
-the menu item, available on request.
+@var{help} specifies a ``help-echo'' string to display while the mouse
+is on that item in the same way as @code{help-echo} text properties
+(@pxref{Help display}).
As far as @code{define-key} is concerned, @var{item-string} and
@var{help-string} are part of the event's binding. However,
calculates them automatically. Don't mention keyboard equivalents in
the item strings themselves, since that is redundant.
-Sometimes it is useful to make menu items that use the ``same'' command
-but with different enable conditions. You can do this by defining alias
-commands. Here's an example that makes two aliases for
-@code{toggle-read-only} and gives them different enable conditions:
-
-@example
-(defalias 'make-read-only 'toggle-read-only)
-(put 'make-read-only 'menu-enable '(not buffer-read-only))
-(defalias 'make-writable 'toggle-read-only)
-(put 'make-writable 'menu-enable 'buffer-read-only)
-@end example
-
-When using aliases in menus, often it is useful to display the
-equivalent key bindings for the ``real'' command name, not the aliases
-(which typically don't have any key bindings except for the menu
-itself). To request this, give the alias symbol a non-@code{nil}
-@code{menu-alias} property. Thus,
-
-@example
-(put 'make-read-only 'menu-alias t)
-(put 'make-writable 'menu-alias t)
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-causes menu items for @code{make-read-only} and @code{make-writable} to
-show the keyboard bindings for @code{toggle-read-only}.
-
@node Extended Menu Items
@subsubsection Extended Menu Items
+@kindex menu-item
An extended-format menu item is a more flexible and also cleaner
alternative to the simple format. It consists of a list that starts
@end example
@noindent
-where a string consisting of two or more dashes specifies a separator line.
+A string starting with two or more dashes specifies a separator line;
+see @ref{Menu Separators}.
To define a real menu item which can be selected, the extended format
item looks like this:
other information. Here is a table of the properties that are supported:
@table @code
-@item :enable FORM
+@item :enable @var{form}
The result of evaluating @var{form} determines whether the item is
-enabled (non-@code{nil} means yes).
+enabled (non-@code{nil} means yes). If the item is not enabled,
+you can't really click on it.
-@item :visible FORM
+@item :visible @var{form}
The result of evaluating @var{form} determines whether the item should
actually appear in the menu (non-@code{nil} means yes). If the item
does not appear, then the menu is displayed as if this item were
not defined at all.
@item :help @var{help}
-The value of this property, @var{help}, is the extra help string (not
-currently used).
+The value of this property, @var{help}, specifies a ``help-echo'' string
+to display while the mouse is on that item. This is displayed in the
+same way as @code{help-echo} text properties (@pxref{Help display}).
+Note that this must be a constant string, unlike the @code{help-echo}
+property for text and overlays.
@item :button (@var{type} . @var{selected})
This property provides a way to define radio buttons and toggle buttons.
-The @sc{car}, @var{type}, says which: is should be @code{:toggle} or
+The @sc{car}, @var{type}, says which: it should be @code{:toggle} or
@code{:radio}. The @sc{cdr}, @var{selected}, should be a form; the
result of evaluating it says whether this button is currently selected.
+A @dfn{toggle} is a menu item which is labeled as either ``on'' or ``off''
+according to the value of @var{selected}. The command itself should
+toggle @var{selected}, setting it to @code{t} if it is @code{nil},
+and to @code{nil} if it is @code{t}. Here is how the menu item
+to toggle the @code{debug-on-error} flag is defined:
+
+@example
+(menu-item "Debug on Error" toggle-debug-on-error
+ :button (:toggle
+ . (and (boundp 'debug-on-error)
+ debug-on-error)))
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+This works because @code{toggle-debug-on-error} is defined as a command
+which toggles the variable @code{debug-on-error}.
+
+@dfn{Radio buttons} are a group of menu items, in which at any time one
+and only one is ``selected.'' There should be a variable whose value
+says which one is selected at any time. The @var{selected} form for
+each radio button in the group should check whether the variable has the
+right value for selecting that button. Clicking on the button should
+set the variable so that the button you clicked on becomes selected.
+
+@item :key-sequence @var{key-sequence}
+This property specifies which key sequence is likely to be bound to the
+same command invoked by this menu item. If you specify the right key
+sequence, that makes preparing the menu for display run much faster.
+
+If you specify the wrong key sequence, it has no effect; before Emacs
+displays @var{key-sequence} in the menu, it verifies that
+@var{key-sequence} is really equivalent to this menu item.
+
+@item :key-sequence nil
+This property indicates that there is normally no key binding which is
+equivalent to this menu item. Using this property saves time in
+preparing the menu for display, because Emacs does not need to search
+the keymaps for a keyboard equivalent for this menu item.
+
+However, if the user has rebound this item's definition to a key
+sequence, Emacs ignores the @code{:keys} property and finds the keyboard
+equivalent anyway.
+
+@item :keys @var{string}
+This property specifies that @var{string} is the string to display
+as the keyboard equivalent for this menu item. You can use
+the @samp{\\[...]} documentation construct in @var{string}.
+
@item :filter @var{filter-fn}
This property provides a way to compute the menu item dynamically.
The property value @var{filter-fn} should be a function of one argument;
function should return the binding to use instead.
@end table
+@node Menu Separators
+@subsubsection Menu Separators
+@cindex menu separators
+
+ A menu separator is a kind of menu item that doesn't display any
+text--instead, it divides the menu into subparts with a horizontal line.
+A separator looks like this in the menu keymap:
+
+@example
+(menu-item @var{separator-type})
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+where @var{separator-type} is a string starting with two or more dashes.
+
+ In the simplest case, @var{separator-type} consists of only dashes.
+That specifies the default kind of separator. (For compatibility,
+@code{""} and @code{-} also count as separators.)
+
+ Starting in Emacs 21, certain other values of @var{separator-type}
+specify a different style of separator. Here is a table of them:
+
+@table @code
+@item "--no-line"
+@itemx "--space"
+An extra vertical space, with no actual line.
+
+@item "--single-line"
+A single line in the menu's foreground color.
+
+@item "--double-line"
+A double line in the menu's foreground color.
+
+@item "--single-dashed-line"
+A single dashed line in the menu's foreground color.
+
+@item "--double-dashed-line"
+A double dashed line in the menu's foreground color.
+
+@item "--shadow-etched-in"
+A single line with a 3D sunken appearance. This is the default,
+used separators consisting of dashes only.
+
+@item "--shadow-etched-out"
+A single line with a 3D raised appearance.
+
+@item "--shadow-etched-in-dash"
+A single dashed line with a 3D sunken appearance.
+
+@item "--shadow-etched-out-dash"
+A single dashed line with a 3D raised appearance.
+
+@item "--shadow-double-etched-in"
+Two lines with a 3D sunken appearance.
+
+@item "--shadow-double-etched-out"
+Two lines with a 3D raised appearance.
+
+@item "--shadow-double-etched-in-dash"
+Two dashed lines with a 3D sunken appearance.
+
+@item "--shadow-double-etched-out-dash"
+Two dashed lines with a 3D raised appearance.
+@end table
+
+ You can also give these names in another style, adding a colon after
+the double-dash and replacing each single dash with capitalization of
+the following word. Thus, @code{"--:singleLine"}, is equivalent to
+@code{"--single-line"}.
+
+ Some systems and display toolkits don't really handle all of these
+separator types. If you use a type that isn't supported, the menu
+displays a similar kind of separator that is supported.
+
+@node Alias Menu Items
+@subsubsection Alias Menu Items
+
+ Sometimes it is useful to make menu items that use the ``same''
+command but with different enable conditions. The best way to do this
+in Emacs now is with extended menu items; before that feature existed,
+it could be done by defining alias commands and using them in menu
+items. Here's an example that makes two aliases for
+@code{toggle-read-only} and gives them different enable conditions:
+
+@example
+(defalias 'make-read-only 'toggle-read-only)
+(put 'make-read-only 'menu-enable '(not buffer-read-only))
+(defalias 'make-writable 'toggle-read-only)
+(put 'make-writable 'menu-enable 'buffer-read-only)
+@end example
+
+When using aliases in menus, often it is useful to display the
+equivalent key bindings for the ``real'' command name, not the aliases
+(which typically don't have any key bindings except for the menu
+itself). To request this, give the alias symbol a non-@code{nil}
+@code{menu-alias} property. Thus,
+
+@example
+(put 'make-read-only 'menu-alias t)
+(put 'make-writable 'menu-alias t)
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+causes menu items for @code{make-read-only} and @code{make-writable} to
+show the keyboard bindings for @code{toggle-read-only}.
+
@node Mouse Menus
@subsection Menus and the Mouse
key) has a definition that is a menu keymap, the user can use the
keyboard to choose a menu item.
-Emacs displays the menu alternatives (the item strings of the bindings)
-in the echo area. If they don't all fit at once, the user can type
-@key{SPC} to see the next line of alternatives. Successive uses of
-@key{SPC} eventually get to the end of the menu and then cycle around to
-the beginning. (The variable @code{menu-prompt-more-char} specifies
-which character is used for this; @key{SPC} is the default.)
+Emacs displays the menu's overall prompt string followed by the
+alternatives (the item strings of the bindings) in the echo area. If
+the bindings don't all fit at once, the user can type @key{SPC} to see
+the next line of alternatives. Successive uses of @key{SPC} eventually
+get to the end of the menu and then cycle around to the beginning. (The
+variable @code{menu-prompt-more-char} specifies which character is used
+for this; @key{SPC} is the default.)
When the user has found the desired alternative from the menu, he or she
should type the corresponding character---the one whose binding is that
Here is a complete example of defining a menu keymap. It is the
definition of the @samp{Print} submenu in the @samp{Tools} menu in the
-menu bar. First we create the keymap, and give it a name:
+menu bar, and it uses the simple menu item format (@pxref{Simple Menu
+Items}). First we create the keymap, and give it a name:
@example
(defvar menu-bar-print-menu (make-sparse-keymap "Print"))
can do it this way:
@example
-(define-key global-map [C-S-down-mouse-1] menu-bar-print-menu)
+(define-key global-map [C-S-down-mouse-1]
+ menu-bar-print-menu)
+@end example
+
+ We could equally well use an extended menu item (@pxref{Extended Menu
+Items}) for @code{print-region}, like this:
+
+@example
+(define-key menu-bar-print-menu [print-region]
+ '(menu-item "Print Region" print-region
+ :enable mark-active))
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+With the extended menu item, the enable condition is specified
+inside the menu item itself. If we wanted to make this
+item disappear from the menu entirely when the mark is inactive,
+we could do it this way:
+
+@example
+(define-key menu-bar-print-menu [print-region]
+ '(menu-item "Print Region" print-region
+ :visible mark-active))
@end example
@node Menu Bar
should vary.
@end defvar
+@node Tool Bar
+@subsection Tool bars
+@cindex tool bar
+
+ A @dfn{tool bar} is a row of icons at the top of a frame, that execute
+commands when you click on them---in effect, a kind of graphical menu
+bar. Emacs supports tool bars starting with version 21.
+
+ The frame parameter @code{tool-bar-lines} (X resource @samp{toolBar})
+controls how many lines' worth of height to reserve for the tool bar. A
+zero value suppresses the tool bar. If the value is nonzero, and
+@code{auto-resize-tool-bars} is non-@code{nil}, the tool bar expands and
+contracts automatically as needed to hold the specified contents.
+
+ The tool bar contents are controlled by a menu keymap attached to a
+fake ``function key'' called @code{tool-bar} (much like the way the menu
+bar is controlled). So you define a tool bar item using
+@code{define-key}, like this:
+
+@example
+(define-key global-map [tool-bar @var{key}] @var{item})
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+where @var{key} is a fake ``function key'' to distinguish this item from
+other items, and @var{item} is a menu item key binding (@pxref{Extended
+Menu Items}), which says how to display this item and how it behaves.
+
+ The usual menu keymap item properties, @code{:visible},
+@code{:enable}, @code{:button}, and @code{:filter}, are useful in
+tool bar bindings and have their normal meanings. The @var{real-binding}
+in the item must be a command, not a keymap; in other words, it does not
+work to define a tool bar icon as a prefix key.
+
+ The @code{:help} property specifies a ``help-echo'' string to display
+while the mouse is on that item. This is displayed in the same way as
+@code{help-echo} text properties (@pxref{Help display}).
+
+ In addition, you should use the @code{:image} property;
+this is how you specify the image to display in the tool bar:
+
+@table @code
+@item :image @var{image}
+@var{images} is either a single image specification or a vector of four
+image specifications. If you use a vector of four,
+one of them is used, depending on circumstances:
+
+@table @asis
+@item item 0
+Used when the item is enabled and selected.
+@item item 1
+Used when the item is enabled and deselected.
+@item item 2
+Used when the item is disabled and selected.
+@item item 3
+Used when the item is disabled and deselected.
+@end table
+@end table
+
+If @var{image} is a single image specification, Emacs draws the tool bar
+button in disabled state by applying an edge-detection algorithm to the
+image.
+
+The default tool bar is defined so that items specific to editing do not
+appear for major modes whose command symbol has a @code{mode-class}
+property of @code{special} (@pxref{Major Mode Conventions}). Major
+modes may add items to the global bar by binding @code{[tool-bar
+@var{foo}]} in their local map. It makes sense for some major modes to
+replace the default tool bar items completely, since not many can be
+accommodated conveniently, and the default bindings make this easy by
+using an indirection through @code{tool-bar-map}.
+
+@defvar tool-bar-map
+@tindex tool-bar-map
+By default, the global map binds @code{[tool-bar]} as follows:
+@example
+(global-set-key [tool-bar]
+ '(menu-item "tool bar" ignore
+ :filter (lambda (ignore) tool-bar-map)))
+@end example
+@noindent
+Thus the tool bar map is derived dynamically from the value of variable
+@code{tool-bar-map} and you should normally adjust the default (global)
+tool bar by changing that map. Major modes may replace the global bar
+completely by making @code{tool-bar-map} buffer-local and set to a
+keymap containing only the desired items. Info mode provides an
+example.
+@end defvar
+
+There are two convenience functions for defining tool bar items, as
+follows.
+
+@defun tool-bar-add-item icon def key &rest props
+@tindex tool-bar-add-item
+This function adds an item to the tool bar by modifying
+@code{tool-bar-map}. The image to use is defined by @var{icon}, which
+is the base name of an XPM, XBM or PBM image file to located by
+@code{find-image}. Given a value @samp{"exit"}, say, @file{exit.xpm},
+@file{exit.pbm} and @file{exit.xbm} would be searched for in that order
+on a color display. On a monochrome display, the search order is
+@samp{.pbm}, @samp{.xbm} and @samp{.xpm}. The binding to use is the
+command @var{def}, and @var{key} is the fake function key symbol in the
+prefix keymap. The remaining arguments @var{props} are additional
+property list elements to add to the menu item specification.
+
+To define items in some local map, bind @code{`tool-bar-map} with
+@code{let} around calls of this function:
+@example
+(defvar foo-tool-bar-map
+ (let ((tool-bar-map (make-sparse-keymap)))
+ (tool-bar-add-item @dots{})
+ @dots{}
+ tool-bar-map))
+@end example
+@end defun
+
+@defun tool-bar-add-item-from-menu command icon &optional map &rest props
+@tindex tool-bar-add-item-from-menu
+This command is a convenience for defining tool bar items which are
+consistent with existing menu bar bindings. The binding of
+@var{command} is looked up in the menu bar in @var{map} (default
+@code{global-map}) and modified to add an image specification for
+@var{icon}, which is looked for in the same way as by
+@code{tool-bar-add-item}. The resulting binding is then placed in
+@code{tool-bar-map}. @var{map} must contain an appropriate keymap bound
+to @code{[menu-bar]}. The remaining arguments @var{props} are
+additional property list elements to add to the menu item specification.
+@end defun
+
+@tindex auto-resize-tool-bar
+@defvar auto-resize-tool-bar
+If this variable is non-@code{nil}, the tool bar automatically resizes to
+show all defined tool bar items---but not larger than a quarter of the
+frame's height.
+@end defvar
+
+@tindex auto-raise-tool-bar-items
+@defvar auto-raise-tool-bar-items
+If this variable is non-@code{nil}, tool bar items display
+in raised form when the mouse moves over them.
+@end defvar
+
+@tindex tool-bar-item-margin
+@defvar tool-bar-item-margin
+This variable specifies an extra margin to add around tool bar items.
+The value is an integer, a number of pixels. The default is 1.
+@end defvar
+
+@tindex tool-bar-item-relief
+@defvar tool-bar-item-relief
+This variable specifies the shadow width for tool bar items.
+The value is an integer, a number of pixels. The default is 3.
+@end defvar
+
+ You can define a special meaning for clicking on a tool bar item with
+the shift, control, meta, etc., modifiers. You do this by setting up
+additional items that relate to the original item through the fake
+function keys. Specifically, the additional items should use the
+modified versions of the same fake function key used to name the
+original item.
+
+ Thus, if the original item was defined this way,
+
+@example
+(define-key global-map [tool-bar shell]
+ '(menu-item "Shell" shell
+ :image (image :type xpm :file "shell.xpm")))
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+then here is how you can define clicking on the same tool bar image with
+the shift modifier:
+
+@example
+(define-key global-map [tool-bar S-shell] 'some-command)
+@end example
+
+@xref{Function Keys}, for more information about how to add modifiers to
+function keys.
+
@node Modifying Menus
@subsection Modifying Menus
use @code{define-key} to add the item, it normally goes at the front of
the menu. To put it elsewhere in the menu, use @code{define-key-after}:
-@defun define-key-after map key binding after
+@defun define-key-after map key binding &optional after
Define a binding in @var{map} for @var{key}, with value @var{binding},
just like @code{define-key}, but position the binding in @var{map} after
the binding for the event @var{after}. The argument @var{key} should be
of length one---a vector or string with just one element. But
@var{after} should be a single event type---a symbol or a character, not
a sequence. The new binding goes after the binding for @var{after}. If
-@var{after} is @code{t}, then the new binding goes last, at the end of
-the keymap.
+@var{after} is @code{t} or is omitted, then the new binding goes last, at
+the end of the keymap. However, new bindings are added before any
+inherited keymap.
Here is an example:
@example
(define-key-after my-menu [drink]
- '("Drink" . drink-command) 'eat)
+ '("Drink" . drink-command) 'eat)
@end example
@noindent