@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2014 Free Software
+@c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2015 Free Software
@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
@node Minibuffers
When Emacs is running in batch mode, any request to read from the
minibuffer actually reads a line from the standard input descriptor that
-was supplied when Emacs was started.
+was supplied when Emacs was started. This supports only basic input:
+none of the special minibuffer features (history, completion, etc.)
+are available in batch mode.
@node Text from Minibuffer
@section Reading Text Strings with the Minibuffer
+@cindex minibuffer input, reading text strings
The most basic primitive for minibuffer input is
@code{read-from-minibuffer}, which can be used to read either a string
@node Object from Minibuffer
@section Reading Lisp Objects with the Minibuffer
+@cindex minibuffer input, reading lisp objects
This section describes functions for reading Lisp objects with the
minibuffer.
@node Multiple Queries
@section Asking Multiple Y-or-N Questions
+@cindex multiple yes-or-no questions
When you have a series of similar questions to ask, such as ``Do you
want to save this buffer'' for each buffer in turn, you should use
@defun read-passwd prompt &optional confirm default
This function reads a password, prompting with @var{prompt}. It does
-not echo the password as the user types it; instead, it echoes @samp{.}
-for each character in the password.
+not echo the password as the user types it; instead, it echoes
+@samp{.} for each character in the password. If you want to apply
+another character to hide the password, let-bind the variable
+@code{read-hide-char} with that character.
The optional argument @var{confirm}, if non-@code{nil}, says to read the
password twice and insist it must be the same both times. If it isn't
@section Minibuffer Windows
@cindex minibuffer windows
- These functions access and select minibuffer windows
-and test whether they are active.
+These functions access and select minibuffer windows, test whether they
+are active and control how they get resized.
@defun active-minibuffer-window
This function returns the currently active minibuffer window, or
active minibuffer window.
@end defun
+The following two options control whether minibuffer windows are resized
+automatically and how large they can get in the process.
+
+@defopt resize-mini-windows
+This option specifies whether minibuffer windows are resized
+automatically. The default value is @code{grow-only}, which means that
+a minibuffer window by default expands automatically to accommodate the
+text it displays and shrinks back to one line as soon as the minibuffer
+gets empty. If the value is @code{t}, Emacs will always try to fit the
+height of a minibuffer window to the text it displays (with a minimum of
+one line). If the value is @code{nil}, a minibuffer window never
+changes size automatically. In that case the window resizing commands
+(@pxref{Resizing Windows}) can be used to adjust its height.
+@end defopt
+
+@defopt max-mini-window-height
+This option provides a maximum height for resizing minibuffer windows
+automatically. A floating-point number specifies a fraction of the
+frame's height; an integer specifies the maximum number of lines. The
+default value is 0.25.
+@end defopt
+
+
@node Minibuffer Contents
@section Minibuffer Contents
+@cindex access minibuffer contents
+@cindex minibuffer contents, accessing
These functions access the minibuffer prompt and contents.