X-Git-Url: https://code.delx.au/gnu-emacs/blobdiff_plain/7125ef59edf8964620830c295447623174d73a58..b110774acbba4db95baf6c666769f3bc2a0269b6:/man/mark.texi diff --git a/man/mark.texi b/man/mark.texi index f4308835e9..2736dccd29 100644 --- a/man/mark.texi +++ b/man/mark.texi @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ @c This is part of the Emacs manual. @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, -@c 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. @node Mark, Killing, Help, Top @chapter The Mark and the Region @@ -139,21 +139,23 @@ have a text terminal where typing @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} does not produce On a terminal that supports colors, Emacs has the ability to highlight the current region. But normally it does not. Why not? - Once you have set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a -region in that buffer. This is because every command that sets the -mark also activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Highlighting -the region all the time would be a nuisance. So normally Emacs -highlights the region only immediately after you have selected one -with the mouse. + In the normal mode of use, every command that sets the mark also +activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Thus, once you have +set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a region in that +buffer. Highlighting the region all the time would be a nuisance. So +normally Emacs highlights the region only immediately after you have +selected one with the mouse. If you want region highlighting, you can use Transient Mark mode. -This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region always -``lasts'' only until you use it; you explicitly must set up a region -for each command that uses one. In Transient Mark mode, most of the -time there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it -exists is useful and not annoying. When Transient Mark mode is -enabled, Emacs always highlights the region whenever there is a -region. +This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region ``lasts'' +only until you use it; operating on the region text deactivates the +mark, so there is no region any more. Therefore, you must explicitly +set up a region for each command that uses one. + + When Transient Mark mode is enabled, Emacs highlights the region, +whenever there is a region. In Transient Mark mode, most of the time +there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it exists +is useful and not annoying. @findex transient-mark-mode To enable Transient Mark mode, type @kbd{M-x transient-mark-mode}. @@ -367,7 +369,7 @@ negative) instead of the current page. Finally, @kbd{C-x h} (@code{mark-whole-buffer}) sets up the entire buffer as the region, by putting point at the beginning and the mark at -the end. +the end. (In some programs this is called ``select all.'') In Transient Mark mode, all of these commands activate the mark.