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1\input texinfo.tex
2
3@c %**start of header
4@setfilename ../info/widget
5@settitle The Emacs Widget Library
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6@syncodeindex fn cp
7@syncodeindex vr cp
8@syncodeindex ky cp
9@afourpaper
10@c %**end of header
11
12@copying
6b61353c 13Copyright @copyright{} 2000, 2002, 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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18f952d5 15@quotation
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16Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
17under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
18any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
19Invariant Sections being ``The GNU Manifesto'', ``Distribution'' and
20``GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE'', with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
21Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
22license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
23License'' in the Emacs manual.
24
25This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
26Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
27separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
28license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
29
30(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
31this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
32Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
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33@end quotation
34@end copying
6f7f063d 35
4c2ca4f3 36@dircategory Emacs
6bf7aab6 37@direntry
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38* Widget: (widget). The "widget" package used by the Emacs Customization
39 facility.
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40@end direntry
41
42@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
43@comment node-name, next, previous, up
44@top The Emacs Widget Library
45
6bf7aab6 46@menu
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47* Introduction::
48* User Interface::
49* Programming Example::
50* Setting Up the Buffer::
51* Basic Types::
52* Sexp Types::
53* Widget Properties::
54* Defining New Widgets::
55* Widget Browser::
56* Widget Minor Mode::
57* Utilities::
58* Widget Wishlist::
6f7f063d 59* Index::
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60@end menu
61
62@node Introduction, User Interface, Top, Top
63@comment node-name, next, previous, up
64@section Introduction
65
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66Most graphical user interface toolkits provide a number of standard
67user interface controls (sometimes known as `widgets' or `gadgets').
68Emacs doesn't really support anything like this, except for an
69incredibly powerful text ``widget.'' On the other hand, Emacs does
70provide the necessary primitives to implement many other widgets
71within a text buffer. The @code{widget} package simplifies this task.
6bf7aab6 72
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73@cindex basic widgets
74@cindex widgets, basic types
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75The basic widgets are:
76
77@table @code
78@item link
79Areas of text with an associated action. Intended for hypertext links
80embedded in text.
177c0ea7 81@item push-button
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82Like link, but intended for stand-alone buttons.
83@item editable-field
84An editable text field. It can be either variable or fixed length.
85@item menu-choice
86Allows the user to choose one of multiple options from a menu, each
87option is itself a widget. Only the selected option will be visible in
88the buffer.
89@item radio-button-choice
90Allows the user to choose one of multiple options by activating radio
91buttons. The options are implemented as widgets. All options will be
92visible in the buffer.
93@item item
94A simple constant widget intended to be used in the @code{menu-choice} and
177c0ea7 95@code{radio-button-choice} widgets.
6bf7aab6 96@item choice-item
6f7f063d 97A button item only intended for use in choices. When invoked, the user
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98will be asked to select another option from the choice widget.
99@item toggle
100A simple @samp{on}/@samp{off} switch.
101@item checkbox
177c0ea7 102A checkbox (@samp{[ ]}/@samp{[X]}).
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103@item editable-list
104Create an editable list. The user can insert or delete items in the
105list. Each list item is itself a widget.
106@end table
107
6f7f063d 108Now, of what possible use can support for widgets be in a text editor?
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109I'm glad you asked. The answer is that widgets are useful for
110implementing forms. A @dfn{form} in Emacs is a buffer where the user is
111supposed to fill out a number of fields, each of which has a specific
112meaning. The user is not supposed to change or delete any of the text
113between the fields. Examples of forms in Emacs are the @file{forms}
114package (of course), the customize buffers, the mail and news compose
6b61353c 115modes, and the @acronym{HTML} form support in the @file{w3} browser.
6bf7aab6 116
6f7f063d 117@cindex widget library, why use it
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118The advantages for a programmer of using the @code{widget} package to
119implement forms are:
120
121@enumerate
122@item
177c0ea7 123More complex fields than just editable text are supported.
6bf7aab6 124@item
6f7f063d 125You can give the users immediate feedback if they enter invalid data in a
6bf7aab6 126text field, and sometimes prevent entering invalid data.
177c0ea7 127@item
6f7f063d 128You can have fixed sized fields, thus allowing multiple fields to be
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129lined up in columns.
130@item
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131It is simple to query or set the value of a field.
132@item
6f7f063d 133Editing happens in the buffer, not in the mini-buffer.
177c0ea7 134@item
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135Packages using the library get a uniform look, making them easier for
136the user to learn.
177c0ea7 137@item
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138As support for embedded graphics improve, the widget library will be
139extended to use the GUI features. This means that your code using the
140widget library will also use the new graphic features automatically.
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141@end enumerate
142
143In order to minimize the code that is loaded by users who does not
144create any widgets, the code has been split in two files:
145
6f7f063d 146@cindex widget library, files
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147@table @file
148@item widget.el
149This will declare the user variables, define the function
177c0ea7 150@code{define-widget}, and autoload the function @code{widget-create}.
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151@item wid-edit.el
152Everything else is here, there is no reason to load it explicitly, as
153it will be autoloaded when needed.
154@end table
155
156@node User Interface, Programming Example, Introduction, Top
157@comment node-name, next, previous, up
158@section User Interface
159
160A form consist of read only text for documentation and some fields,
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161where each field contains two parts, a tag and a value. The tags are
162used to identify the fields, so the documentation can refer to the
163@samp{foo field}, meaning the field tagged with @samp{Foo}. Here is an
164example form:
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165
166@example
167Here is some documentation.
168
169Name: @i{My Name} @strong{Choose}: This option
170Address: @i{Some Place
171In some City
172Some country.}
173
174See also @b{_other work_} for more information.
175
176Numbers: count to three below
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177@b{[INS]} @b{[DEL]} @i{One}
178@b{[INS]} @b{[DEL]} @i{Eh, two?}
179@b{[INS]} @b{[DEL]} @i{Five!}
177c0ea7 180@b{[INS]}
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181
182Select multiple:
183
184@b{[X]} This
185@b{[ ]} That
186@b{[X]} Thus
187
188Select one:
189
190@b{(*)} One
191@b{( )} Another One.
192@b{( )} A Final One.
193
194@b{[Apply Form]} @b{[Reset Form]}
195@end example
196
197The top level widgets in is example are tagged @samp{Name},
198@samp{Choose}, @samp{Address}, @samp{_other work_}, @samp{Numbers},
199@samp{Select multiple}, @samp{Select one}, @samp{[Apply Form]}, and
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200@samp{[Reset Form]}. There are basically two things the user can do
201within a form, namely editing the editable text fields and activating
202the buttons.
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203
204@subsection Editable Text Fields
205
206In the example, the value for the @samp{Name} is most likely displayed
207in an editable text field, and so are values for each of the members of
208the @samp{Numbers} list. All the normal Emacs editing operations are
209available for editing these fields. The only restriction is that each
210change you make must be contained within a single editable text field.
211For example, capitalizing all text from the middle of one field to the
212middle of another field is prohibited.
213
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214Editable text fields are created by the @code{editable-field} widget.
215
216An editable field must be surrounded by static text on both sides, that
217is, text that does not change in the lifetime of the widget. If the
218field extends to the end of the line, the terminating line-feed character
219will count as the necessary static text on that end, but you will have
220to provide the static text before the field yourself. The
221@code{:format} keyword is useful for generating the static text; for
222instance, if you give it a value of @code{"Name: %v"}, the "Name: " part
223will count as the static text.
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224
225The editing text fields are highlighted with the
226@code{widget-field-face} face, making them easy to find.
227
228@deffn Face widget-field-face
229Face used for other editing fields.
230@end deffn
231
232@subsection Buttons
233
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234@cindex widget buttons
235@cindex button widgets
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236Some portions of the buffer have an associated @dfn{action}, which can
237be @dfn{invoked} by a standard key or mouse command. These portions
238are called @dfn{buttons}. The default commands for activating a button
239are:
240
241@table @kbd
242@item @key{RET}
243@deffn Command widget-button-press @var{pos} &optional @var{event}
244Invoke the button at @var{pos}, defaulting to point.
245If point is not located on a button, invoke the binding in
246@code{widget-global-map} (by default the global map).
247@end deffn
248
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249@kindex Mouse-2 @r{(on button widgets})
250@item Mouse-2
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251@deffn Command widget-button-click @var{event}
252Invoke the button at the location of the mouse pointer. If the mouse
253pointer is located in an editable text field, invoke the binding in
254@code{widget-global-map} (by default the global map).
255@end deffn
256@end table
257
258There are several different kind of buttons, all of which are present in
259the example:
260
261@table @emph
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262@cindex option field tag
263@item The Option Field Tags
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264When you invoke one of these buttons, you will be asked to choose
265between a number of different options. This is how you edit an option
266field. Option fields are created by the @code{menu-choice} widget. In
267the example, @samp{@b{Choose}} is an option field tag.
976e00f1 268@item The @samp{@b{[INS]}} and @samp{@b{[DEL]}} buttons
6f7f063d 269Activating these will insert or delete elements from an editable list.
177c0ea7 270The list is created by the @code{editable-list} widget.
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271@cindex embedded buttons
272@item Embedded Buttons
6bf7aab6 273The @samp{@b{_other work_}} is an example of an embedded
6f7f063d 274button. Embedded buttons are not associated with a fields, but can serve
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275any purpose, such as implementing hypertext references. They are
276usually created by the @code{link} widget.
6f7f063d 277@item The @samp{@b{[ ]}} and @samp{@b{[X]}} buttons
6bf7aab6 278Activating one of these will convert it to the other. This is useful
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279for implementing multiple-choice fields. You can create it with the
280@code{checkbox} widget.
281@item The @samp{@b{( )}} and @samp{@b{(*)}} buttons
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282Only one radio button in a @code{radio-button-choice} widget can be
283selected at any time. When you invoke one of the unselected radio
284buttons, it will be selected and the previous selected radio button will
285become unselected.
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286@item The @samp{@b{[Apply Form]}} @samp{@b{[Reset Form]}} buttons
287These are explicit buttons made with the @code{push-button} widget. The
288main difference from the @code{link} widget is that the buttons will be
6bf7aab6 289displayed as GUI buttons when possible.
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290@end table
291
177c0ea7 292To make them easier to locate, buttons are emphasized in the buffer.
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293
294@deffn Face widget-button-face
295Face used for buttons.
296@end deffn
297
298@defopt widget-mouse-face
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299Face used for highlighting a button when the mouse pointer moves across
300it.
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301@end defopt
302
303@subsection Navigation
304
305You can use all the normal Emacs commands to move around in a form
306buffer, plus you will have these additional commands:
307
308@table @kbd
309@item @key{TAB}
310@deffn Command widget-forward &optional count
311Move point @var{count} buttons or editing fields forward.
312@end deffn
313@item @key{M-TAB}
314@deffn Command widget-backward &optional count
315Move point @var{count} buttons or editing fields backward.
316@end deffn
317@end table
318
319@node Programming Example, Setting Up the Buffer, User Interface, Top
320@comment node-name, next, previous, up
321@section Programming Example
322
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323@cindex widgets, programming example
324@cindex example of using widgets
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325Here is the code to implement the user interface example (@pxref{User
326Interface}).
327
328@lisp
329(require 'widget)
330
331(eval-when-compile
332 (require 'wid-edit))
333
334(defvar widget-example-repeat)
335
336(defun widget-example ()
337 "Create the widgets from the Widget manual."
338 (interactive)
339 (switch-to-buffer "*Widget Example*")
340 (kill-all-local-variables)
341 (make-local-variable 'widget-example-repeat)
342 (let ((inhibit-read-only t))
343 (erase-buffer))
344 (widget-insert "Here is some documentation.\n\nName: ")
345 (widget-create 'editable-field
346 :size 13
347 "My Name")
348 (widget-create 'menu-choice
349 :tag "Choose"
350 :value "This"
351 :help-echo "Choose me, please!"
352 :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
353 (message "%s is a good choice!"
354 (widget-value widget)))
355 '(item :tag "This option" :value "This")
356 '(choice-item "That option")
357 '(editable-field :menu-tag "No option" "Thus option"))
358 (widget-insert "Address: ")
359 (widget-create 'editable-field
360 "Some Place\nIn some City\nSome country.")
361 (widget-insert "\nSee also ")
362 (widget-create 'link
363 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
177c0ea7 364 (widget-value-set widget-example-repeat
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365 '("En" "To" "Tre"))
366 (widget-setup))
367 "other work")
177c0ea7 368 (widget-insert
ec45fa10 369 " for more information.\n\nNumbers: count to three below\n")
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370 (setq widget-example-repeat
371 (widget-create 'editable-list
372 :entry-format "%i %d %v"
373 :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
374 (let ((old (widget-get widget
375 ':example-length))
376 (new (length (widget-value widget))))
377 (unless (eq old new)
378 (widget-put widget ':example-length new)
379 (message "You can count to %d." new))))
380 :value '("One" "Eh, two?" "Five!")
381 '(editable-field :value "three")))
382 (widget-insert "\n\nSelect multiple:\n\n")
383 (widget-create 'checkbox t)
384 (widget-insert " This\n")
385 (widget-create 'checkbox nil)
386 (widget-insert " That\n")
387 (widget-create 'checkbox
388 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore) (message "Tickle"))
389 t)
390 (widget-insert " Thus\n\nSelect one:\n\n")
391 (widget-create 'radio-button-choice
392 :value "One"
393 :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
394 (message "You selected %s"
395 (widget-value widget)))
396 '(item "One") '(item "Another One.") '(item "A Final One."))
397 (widget-insert "\n")
398 (widget-create 'push-button
177c0ea7 399 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
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400 (if (= (length (widget-value widget-example-repeat))
401 3)
402 (message "Congratulation!")
403 (error "Three was the count!")))
404 "Apply Form")
405 (widget-insert " ")
406 (widget-create 'push-button
407 :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
408 (widget-example))
409 "Reset Form")
410 (widget-insert "\n")
411 (use-local-map widget-keymap)
412 (widget-setup))
413@end lisp
414
415@node Setting Up the Buffer, Basic Types, Programming Example, Top
416@comment node-name, next, previous, up
417@section Setting Up the Buffer
418
419Widgets are created with @code{widget-create}, which returns a
420@dfn{widget} object. This object can be queried and manipulated by
421other widget functions, until it is deleted with @code{widget-delete}.
422After the widgets have been created, @code{widget-setup} must be called
423to enable them.
424
425@defun widget-create type [ keyword argument ]@dots{}
426Create and return a widget of type @var{type}.
427The syntax for the @var{type} argument is described in @ref{Basic Types}.
428
429The keyword arguments can be used to overwrite the keyword arguments
430that are part of @var{type}.
431@end defun
432
433@defun widget-delete widget
434Delete @var{widget} and remove it from the buffer.
435@end defun
436
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437@defun widget-setup
438Set up a buffer to support widgets.
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439
440This should be called after creating all the widgets and before allowing
441the user to edit them.
442@refill
443@end defun
444
445If you want to insert text outside the widgets in the form, the
446recommended way to do that is with @code{widget-insert}.
447
177c0ea7 448@defun widget-insert
6bf7aab6 449Insert the arguments, either strings or characters, at point.
6f7f063d 450The inserted text will be read-only.
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451@end defun
452
453There is a standard widget keymap which you might find useful.
454
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455@findex widget-button-press
456@findex widget-button-click
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457@defvr Const widget-keymap
458A keymap with the global keymap as its parent.@*
459@key{TAB} and @kbd{C-@key{TAB}} are bound to @code{widget-forward} and
ce8abc78 460@code{widget-backward}, respectively. @key{RET} and @kbd{Mouse-2}
6bf7aab6 461are bound to @code{widget-button-press} and
6f7f063d 462@code{widget-button-click}.@refill
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463@end defvr
464
465@defvar widget-global-map
466Keymap used by @code{widget-button-press} and @code{widget-button-click}
467when not on a button. By default this is @code{global-map}.
468@end defvar
469
470@node Basic Types, Sexp Types, Setting Up the Buffer, Top
471@comment node-name, next, previous, up
472@section Basic Types
473
474The syntax of a type specification is given below:
475
476@example
477NAME ::= (NAME [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... ARGS)
478 | NAME
479@end example
480
481Where, @var{name} is a widget name, @var{keyword} is the name of a
482property, @var{argument} is the value of the property, and @var{args}
483are interpreted in a widget specific way.
484
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485@cindex keyword arguments
486The following keyword arguments that apply to all widgets:
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487
488@table @code
6f7f063d 489@vindex value@r{ keyword}
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490@item :value
491The initial value for widgets of this type.
492
6f7f063d 493@vindex format@r{ keyword}
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494@item :format
495This string will be inserted in the buffer when you create a widget.
496The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
497
498@table @samp
499@item %[
500@itemx %]
501The text inside will be marked as a button.
502
503By default, the text will be shown in @code{widget-button-face}, and
177c0ea7 504surrounded by brackets.
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505
506@defopt widget-button-prefix
507String to prefix buttons.
508@end defopt
509
510@defopt widget-button-suffix
511String to suffix buttons.
512@end defopt
513
514@item %@{
515@itemx %@}
516The text inside will be displayed with the face specified by
177c0ea7 517@code{:sample-face}.
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518
519@item %v
54438eb5 520This will be replaced with the buffer representation of the widget's
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521value. What this is depends on the widget type.
522
523@item %d
524Insert the string specified by @code{:doc} here.
525
526@item %h
527Like @samp{%d}, with the following modifications: If the documentation
528string is more than one line, it will add a button which will toggle
529between showing only the first line, and showing the full text.
530Furthermore, if there is no @code{:doc} property in the widget, it will
531instead examine the @code{:documentation-property} property. If it is a
532lambda expression, it will be called with the widget's value as an
533argument, and the result will be used as the documentation text.
534
535@item %t
536Insert the string specified by @code{:tag} here, or the @code{princ}
537representation of the value if there is no tag.
538
539@item %%
177c0ea7 540Insert a literal @samp{%}.
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541@end table
542
6f7f063d 543@vindex button-face@r{ keyword}
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544@item :button-face
545Face used to highlight text inside %[ %] in the format.
546
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547@vindex button-prefix@r{ keyword}
548@vindex button-suffix@r{ keyword}
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549@item :button-prefix
550@itemx :button-suffix
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551Text around %[ %] in the format.
552
553These can be
554@table @emph
555@item nil
556No text is inserted.
557
558@item a string
559The string is inserted literally.
560
561@item a symbol
562The value of the symbol is expanded according to this table.
563@end table
564
6f7f063d 565@vindex doc@r{ keyword}
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566@item :doc
567The string inserted by the @samp{%d} escape in the format
177c0ea7 568string.
6bf7aab6 569
6f7f063d 570@vindex tag@r{ keyword}
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571@item :tag
572The string inserted by the @samp{%t} escape in the format
177c0ea7 573string.
6bf7aab6 574
6f7f063d 575@vindex tag-glyph@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 576@item :tag-glyph
6f7f063d 577Name of image to use instead of the string specified by @code{:tag} on
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578Emacsen that supports it.
579
6f7f063d 580@vindex help-echo@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 581@item :help-echo
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582Specifies how to display a message whenever you move to the widget with
583either @code{widget-forward} or @code{widget-backward} or move the mouse
56600dfa 584over it (using the standard @code{help-echo} mechanism). The argument
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585is either a string to display, a function of one argument, the widget,
586which should return a string to display, or a form that evaluates to
587such a string.
6bf7aab6 588
6f7f063d 589@vindex indent@r{ keyword}
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590@item :indent
591An integer indicating the absolute number of spaces to indent children
592of this widget.
593
6f7f063d 594@vindex offset@r{ keyword}
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595@item :offset
596An integer indicating how many extra spaces to add to the widget's
597grandchildren compared to this widget.
598
6f7f063d 599@vindex extra-offset@r{ keyword}
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600@item :extra-offset
601An integer indicating how many extra spaces to add to the widget's
602children compared to this widget.
603
6f7f063d 604@vindex notify@r{ keyword}
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605@item :notify
606A function called each time the widget or a nested widget is changed.
607The function is called with two or three arguments. The first argument
608is the widget itself, the second argument is the widget that was
609changed, and the third argument is the event leading to the change, if
177c0ea7 610any.
6bf7aab6 611
6f7f063d 612@vindex menu-tag@r{ keyword}
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DL
613@item :menu-tag
614Tag used in the menu when the widget is used as an option in a
615@code{menu-choice} widget.
616
6f7f063d 617@vindex menu-tag-get@r{ keyword}
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DL
618@item :menu-tag-get
619Function used for finding the tag when the widget is used as an option
620in a @code{menu-choice} widget. By default, the tag used will be either the
621@code{:menu-tag} or @code{:tag} property if present, or the @code{princ}
622representation of the @code{:value} property if not.
623
6f7f063d 624@vindex match@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
625@item :match
626Should be a function called with two arguments, the widget and a value,
65247564 627and returning non-@code{nil} if the widget can represent the specified value.
6bf7aab6 628
6f7f063d 629@vindex validate@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 630@item :validate
6f7f063d
EZ
631A function which takes a widget as an argument, and returns @code{nil}
632if the widget's current value is valid for the widget. Otherwise it
633should return the widget containing the invalid data, and set that
634widget's @code{:error} property to a string explaining the error.
6bf7aab6
DL
635
636The following predefined function can be used:
637
638@defun widget-children-validate widget
639All the @code{:children} of @var{widget} must be valid.
640@end defun
641
6f7f063d 642@vindex tab-order@r{ keyword}
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643@item :tab-order
644Specify the order in which widgets are traversed with
645@code{widget-forward} or @code{widget-backward}. This is only partially
646implemented.
647
648@enumerate a
649@item
650Widgets with tabbing order @code{-1} are ignored.
651
177c0ea7 652@item
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653(Unimplemented) When on a widget with tabbing order @var{n}, go to the
654next widget in the buffer with tabbing order @var{n+1} or @code{nil},
655whichever comes first.
656
657@item
658When on a widget with no tabbing order specified, go to the next widget
659in the buffer with a positive tabbing order, or @code{nil}
660@end enumerate
661
6f7f063d 662@vindex parent@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 663@item :parent
a159375d 664The parent of a nested widget (e.g.@: a @code{menu-choice} item or an
6bf7aab6
DL
665element of a @code{editable-list} widget).
666
6f7f063d 667@vindex sibling-args@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
668@item :sibling-args
669This keyword is only used for members of a @code{radio-button-choice} or
670@code{checklist}. The value should be a list of extra keyword
671arguments, which will be used when creating the @code{radio-button} or
672@code{checkbox} associated with this item.
673
674@end table
675
676@deffn {User Option} widget-glyph-directory
177c0ea7 677Directory where glyphs are found.
6bf7aab6 678Widget will look here for a file with the same name as specified for the
6f7f063d 679image, with either a @file{.xpm} (if supported) or @file{.xbm} extension.
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680@end deffn
681
682@deffn{User Option} widget-glyph-enable
683If non-nil, allow glyphs to appear on displays where they are supported.
684@end deffn
685
686
687@menu
177c0ea7
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688* link::
689* url-link::
690* info-link::
691* push-button::
692* editable-field::
693* text::
694* menu-choice::
695* radio-button-choice::
696* item::
697* choice-item::
698* toggle::
699* checkbox::
700* checklist::
701* editable-list::
702* group::
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703@end menu
704
705@node link, url-link, Basic Types, Basic Types
706@comment node-name, next, previous, up
707@subsection The @code{link} Widget
6f7f063d 708@findex link@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
709
710Syntax:
711
712@example
713TYPE ::= (link [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])
714@end example
715
716The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
717property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
177c0ea7 718buffer.
6bf7aab6
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719
720By default the link will be shown in brackets.
721
722@defopt widget-link-prefix
723String to prefix links.
724@end defopt
725
726@defopt widget-link-suffix
727String to suffix links.
728@end defopt
729
730@node url-link, info-link, link, Basic Types
731@comment node-name, next, previous, up
732@subsection The @code{url-link} Widget
6f7f063d 733@findex url-link@r{ widget}
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DL
734
735Syntax:
736
737@example
738TYPE ::= (url-link [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... URL)
739@end example
740
6f7f063d 741@findex browse-url-browser-function@r{, and @code{url-link} widget}
6b61353c 742When this link is invoked, the @acronym{WWW} browser specified by
177c0ea7 743@code{browse-url-browser-function} will be called with @var{url}.
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DL
744
745@node info-link, push-button, url-link, Basic Types
746@comment node-name, next, previous, up
747@subsection The @code{info-link} Widget
6f7f063d 748@findex info-link@r{ widget}
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749
750Syntax:
751
752@example
753TYPE ::= (info-link [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... ADDRESS)
754@end example
755
6f7f063d 756When this link is invoked, the built-in Info reader is started on
177c0ea7 757@var{address}.
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758
759@node push-button, editable-field, info-link, Basic Types
760@comment node-name, next, previous, up
761@subsection The @code{push-button} Widget
6f7f063d 762@findex push-button@r{ widget}
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763
764Syntax:
765
766@example
767TYPE ::= (push-button [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])
768@end example
769
770The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
6f7f063d 771property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
177c0ea7 772buffer.
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DL
773
774By default the tag will be shown in brackets.
775
776@defopt widget-push-button-prefix
777String to prefix push buttons.
778@end defopt
779
780@defopt widget-push-button-suffix
781String to suffix push buttons.
782@end defopt
783
784@node editable-field, text, push-button, Basic Types
785@comment node-name, next, previous, up
786@subsection The @code{editable-field} Widget
6f7f063d 787@findex editable-field@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
788
789Syntax:
790
791@example
792TYPE ::= (editable-field [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])
793@end example
794
795The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
796property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in
797field. This widget will match all string values.
798
6f7f063d 799The following extra properties are recognized:
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800
801@table @code
6f7f063d 802@vindex size@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
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803@item :size
804The width of the editable field.@*
805By default the field will reach to the end of the line.
806
6f7f063d 807@vindex value-face@r{ keyword}
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DL
808@item :value-face
809Face used for highlighting the editable field. Default is
177c0ea7 810@code{widget-field-face}, see @ref{User Interface}.
6bf7aab6 811
6f7f063d 812@vindex secret@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 813@item :secret
a159375d 814Character used to display the value. You can set this to e.g.@: @code{?*}
6bf7aab6 815if the field contains a password or other secret information. By
6f7f063d 816default, this is nil, and the value is not secret.
6bf7aab6 817
6f7f063d 818@vindex valid-regexp@r{ keyword}
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DL
819@item :valid-regexp
820By default the @code{:validate} function will match the content of the
821field with the value of this attribute. The default value is @code{""}
822which matches everything.
823
6f7f063d
EZ
824@vindex keymap@r{ keyword}
825@vindex widget-field-keymap
6bf7aab6
DL
826@item :keymap
827Keymap used in the editable field. The default value is
828@code{widget-field-keymap}, which allows you to use all the normal
6f7f063d
EZ
829editing commands, even if the buffer's major mode suppresses some of
830them. Pressing @key{RET} invokes the function specified by
831@code{:action}.
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DL
832@end table
833
834@node text, menu-choice, editable-field, Basic Types
835@comment node-name, next, previous, up
836@subsection The @code{text} Widget
6f7f063d 837@findex text@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6 838
6f7f063d 839@vindex widget-text-keymap
6bf7aab6
DL
840This is just like @code{editable-field}, but intended for multiline text
841fields. The default @code{:keymap} is @code{widget-text-keymap}, which
6f7f063d 842does not rebind the @key{RET} key.
6bf7aab6
DL
843
844@node menu-choice, radio-button-choice, text, Basic Types
845@comment node-name, next, previous, up
846@subsection The @code{menu-choice} Widget
6f7f063d 847@findex menu-choice@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
848
849Syntax:
850
851@example
852TYPE ::= (menu-choice [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE ... )
853@end example
854
54438eb5
DL
855The @var{type} argument represents each possible choice. The widget's
856value will be that of the chosen @var{type} argument. This widget will
857match any value matching at least one of the specified @var{type}
858arguments.
6bf7aab6
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859
860@table @code
6f7f063d 861@vindex void@r{ keyword}
177c0ea7 862@item :void
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DL
863Widget type used as a fallback when the value does not match any of the
864specified @var{type} arguments.
865
6f7f063d 866@vindex case-fold@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
867@item :case-fold
868Set this to nil if you don't want to ignore case when prompting for a
869choice through the minibuffer.
870
6f7f063d 871@vindex children@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 872@item :children
6f7f063d
EZ
873A list whose @code{car} is the widget representing the currently chosen
874type in the buffer.
6bf7aab6 875
6f7f063d 876@vindex choice@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 877@item :choice
6f7f063d 878The current chosen type.
6bf7aab6 879
6f7f063d 880@vindex args@r{ keyword}
177c0ea7
JB
881@item :args
882The list of types.
6bf7aab6
DL
883@end table
884
885@node radio-button-choice, item, menu-choice, Basic Types
886@comment node-name, next, previous, up
887@subsection The @code{radio-button-choice} Widget
6f7f063d 888@findex radio-button-choice@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
889
890Syntax:
891
892@example
893TYPE ::= (radio-button-choice [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE ... )
894@end example
895
54438eb5
DL
896The @var{type} argument represents each possible choice. The widget's
897value will be that of the chosen @var{type} argument. This widget will
898match any value matching at least one of the specified @var{type}
899arguments.
6bf7aab6
DL
900
901The following extra properties are recognized.
902
903@table @code
6f7f063d 904@vindex entry-format@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
905@item :entry-format
906This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.
907The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
908@table @samp
909@item %v
6f7f063d 910Replace with the buffer representation of the @var{type} widget.
6bf7aab6
DL
911@item %b
912Replace with the radio button.
913@item %%
177c0ea7 914Insert a literal @samp{%}.
6bf7aab6
DL
915@end table
916
6f7f063d
EZ
917@vindex button-args@r{ keyword}
918@item :button-args
6bf7aab6 919A list of keywords to pass to the radio buttons. Useful for setting
a159375d 920e.g.@: the @samp{:help-echo} for each button.
6bf7aab6 921
6f7f063d 922@vindex buttons@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
923@item :buttons
924The widgets representing the radio buttons.
925
6f7f063d 926@vindex children@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
927@item :children
928The widgets representing each type.
929
6f7f063d 930@vindex choice@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
931@item :choice
932The current chosen type
933
6f7f063d 934@vindex args@r{ keyword}
177c0ea7
JB
935@item :args
936The list of types.
6bf7aab6
DL
937@end table
938
939You can add extra radio button items to a @code{radio-button-choice}
940widget after it has been created with the function
177c0ea7 941@code{widget-radio-add-item}.
6bf7aab6
DL
942
943@defun widget-radio-add-item widget type
6f7f063d
EZ
944Add to @code{radio-button-choice} widget @var{widget} a new radio button
945item of type @var{type}.
6bf7aab6
DL
946@end defun
947
948Please note that such items added after the @code{radio-button-choice}
949widget has been created will @strong{not} be properly destructed when
950you call @code{widget-delete}.
951
952@node item, choice-item, radio-button-choice, Basic Types
953@comment node-name, next, previous, up
954@subsection The @code{item} Widget
6f7f063d 955@findex item@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
956
957Syntax:
958
959@example
960ITEM ::= (item [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... VALUE)
961@end example
962
963The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
964property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
965buffer. This widget will only match the specified value.
966
967@node choice-item, toggle, item, Basic Types
968@comment node-name, next, previous, up
969@subsection The @code{choice-item} Widget
6f7f063d 970@findex choice-item@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
971
972Syntax:
973
974@example
975ITEM ::= (choice-item [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... VALUE)
976@end example
977
978The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
979property. The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the
980buffer as a button. Activating the button of a @code{choice-item} is
981equivalent to activating the parent widget. This widget will only match
177c0ea7 982the specified value.
6bf7aab6
DL
983
984@node toggle, checkbox, choice-item, Basic Types
985@comment node-name, next, previous, up
986@subsection The @code{toggle} Widget
6f7f063d 987@findex toggle@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
988
989Syntax:
990
991@example
992TYPE ::= (toggle [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...)
993@end example
994
6f7f063d
EZ
995The widget has two possible states, @samp{on} and @samp{off}, which
996correspond to a @code{t} or @code{nil} value, respectively.
6bf7aab6 997
6f7f063d 998The following extra properties are recognized:
6bf7aab6
DL
999
1000@table @code
1001@item :on
6f7f063d
EZ
1002A string representing the @samp{on} state. By default the string
1003@samp{on}.
177c0ea7 1004@item :off
6f7f063d
EZ
1005A string representing the @samp{off} state. By default the string
1006@samp{off}.
1007@vindex on-glyph@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 1008@item :on-glyph
6f7f063d
EZ
1009Name of a glyph to be used instead of the @samp{:on} text string, on
1010emacsen that supports this.
1011@vindex off-glyph@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 1012@item :off-glyph
6f7f063d
EZ
1013Name of a glyph to be used instead of the @samp{:off} text string, on
1014emacsen that supports this.
6bf7aab6
DL
1015@end table
1016
1017@node checkbox, checklist, toggle, Basic Types
1018@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1019@subsection The @code{checkbox} Widget
6f7f063d 1020@findex checkbox@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6 1021
6f7f063d
EZ
1022This widget has two possible states, @samp{selected} and
1023@samp{unselected}, which corresponds to a @code{t} or @code{nil} value.
6bf7aab6
DL
1024
1025Syntax:
1026
1027@example
1028TYPE ::= (checkbox [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...)
1029@end example
1030
1031@node checklist, editable-list, checkbox, Basic Types
1032@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1033@subsection The @code{checklist} Widget
6f7f063d 1034@findex checklist@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
1035
1036Syntax:
1037
1038@example
1039TYPE ::= (checklist [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE ... )
1040@end example
1041
6f7f063d
EZ
1042The @var{type} arguments represent each checklist item. The widget's
1043value will be a list containing the values of all checked @var{type}
54438eb5
DL
1044arguments. The checklist widget will match a list whose elements all
1045match at least one of the specified @var{type} arguments.
6bf7aab6 1046
6f7f063d 1047The following extra properties are recognized:
6bf7aab6
DL
1048
1049@table @code
6f7f063d 1050@vindex entry-format@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1051@item :entry-format
1052This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.
1053The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
1054@table @samp
1055@item %v
1056Replaced with the buffer representation of the @var{type} widget.
1057@item %b
1058Replace with the checkbox.
1059@item %%
177c0ea7 1060Insert a literal @samp{%}.
6bf7aab6
DL
1061@end table
1062
6f7f063d 1063@vindex greedy@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 1064@item :greedy
54438eb5 1065Usually a checklist will only match if the items are in the exact
6bf7aab6
DL
1066sequence given in the specification. By setting @code{:greedy} to
1067non-nil, it will allow the items to come in any sequence. However, if
1068you extract the value they will be in the sequence given in the
a159375d 1069checklist, i.e.@: the original sequence is forgotten.
6bf7aab6 1070
6f7f063d 1071@vindex button-args@r{ keyword}
a159375d 1072@item :button-args
6bf7aab6 1073A list of keywords to pass to the checkboxes. Useful for setting
a159375d 1074e.g.@: the @samp{:help-echo} for each checkbox.
6bf7aab6 1075
6f7f063d 1076@vindex buttons@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1077@item :buttons
1078The widgets representing the checkboxes.
1079
6f7f063d 1080@vindex children@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1081@item :children
1082The widgets representing each type.
1083
6f7f063d 1084@vindex args@r{ keyword}
177c0ea7
JB
1085@item :args
1086The list of types.
6bf7aab6
DL
1087@end table
1088
1089@node editable-list, group, checklist, Basic Types
1090@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1091@subsection The @code{editable-list} Widget
6f7f063d 1092@findex editable-list@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6
DL
1093
1094Syntax:
1095
1096@example
1097TYPE ::= (editable-list [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE)
1098@end example
1099
1100The value is a list, where each member represents one widget of type
177c0ea7 1101@var{type}.
6bf7aab6 1102
6f7f063d 1103The following extra properties are recognized:
6bf7aab6
DL
1104
1105@table @code
6f7f063d 1106@vindex entry-format@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1107@item :entry-format
1108This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.
1109The following @samp{%} escapes are available:
1110@table @samp
1111@item %v
1112This will be replaced with the buffer representation of the @var{type}
1113widget.
1114@item %i
976e00f1 1115Insert the @b{[INS]} button.
6bf7aab6
DL
1116@item %d
1117Insert the @b{[DEL]} button.
1118@item %%
177c0ea7 1119Insert a literal @samp{%}.
6bf7aab6
DL
1120@end table
1121
976e00f1
DL
1122@vindex insert-button-args@r{ keyword}
1123@item :insert-button-args
6bf7aab6
DL
1124A list of keyword arguments to pass to the insert buttons.
1125
6f7f063d 1126@vindex delete-button-args@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1127@item :delete-button-args
1128A list of keyword arguments to pass to the delete buttons.
1129
6f7f063d 1130@vindex append-button-args@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1131@item :append-button-args
1132A list of keyword arguments to pass to the trailing insert button.
1133
6f7f063d 1134@vindex buttons@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1135@item :buttons
1136The widgets representing the insert and delete buttons.
1137
6f7f063d 1138@vindex children@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6
DL
1139@item :children
1140The widgets representing the elements of the list.
1141
6f7f063d 1142@vindex args@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 1143@item :args
6f7f063d 1144List whose @code{car} is the type of the list elements.
6bf7aab6
DL
1145@end table
1146
1147@node group, , editable-list, Basic Types
1148@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1149@subsection The @code{group} Widget
6f7f063d 1150@findex group@r{ widget}
6bf7aab6 1151
6f7f063d 1152This widget simply group other widgets together.
6bf7aab6
DL
1153
1154Syntax:
1155
1156@example
1157TYPE ::= (group [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE...)
1158@end example
1159
177c0ea7 1160The value is a list, with one member for each @var{type}.
6bf7aab6
DL
1161
1162@node Sexp Types, Widget Properties, Basic Types, Top
1163@comment
1164@section Sexp Types
6f7f063d 1165@cindex sexp types
6bf7aab6 1166
6f7f063d
EZ
1167A number of widgets for editing @dfn{s-expressions} (lisp types), sexp
1168for short, are also available. These basically fall in several
1169categories described in this section.
6bf7aab6
DL
1170
1171@menu
177c0ea7
JB
1172* constants::
1173* generic::
1174* atoms::
1175* composite::
6bf7aab6
DL
1176@end menu
1177
1178@node constants, generic, Sexp Types, Sexp Types
1179@comment node-name, next, previous, up
6f7f063d
EZ
1180@subsection The Constant Widgets
1181@cindex constant widgets
6bf7aab6
DL
1182
1183The @code{const} widget can contain any lisp expression, but the user is
6f7f063d
EZ
1184prohibited from editing it, which is mainly useful as a component of one
1185of the composite widgets.
6bf7aab6 1186
6f7f063d 1187The syntax for the @code{const} widget is:
6bf7aab6
DL
1188
1189@example
1190TYPE ::= (const [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])
1191@end example
1192
1193The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
1194property and can be any s-expression.
1195
1196@deffn Widget const
1197This will display any valid s-expression in an immutable part of the
177c0ea7 1198buffer.
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1199@end deffn
1200
1201There are two variations of the @code{const} widget, namely
1202@code{variable-item} and @code{function-item}. These should contain a
1203symbol with a variable or function binding. The major difference from
1204the @code{const} widget is that they will allow the user to see the
1205variable or function documentation for the symbol.
1206
1207@deffn Widget variable-item
1208An immutable symbol that is bound as a variable.
1209@end deffn
1210
1211@deffn Widget function-item
1212An immutable symbol that is bound as a function.
1213@end deffn
1214
1215@node generic, atoms, constants, Sexp Types
1216@comment node-name, next, previous, up
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1217@subsection Generic Sexp Widget
1218@cindex generic sexp widget
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1219
1220The @code{sexp} widget can contain any lisp expression, and allows the
1221user to edit it inline in the buffer.
1222
6f7f063d 1223The syntax for the @code{sexp} widget is:
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1224
1225@example
1226TYPE ::= (sexp [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])
1227@end example
1228
1229@deffn Widget sexp
1230This will allow you to edit any valid s-expression in an editable buffer
177c0ea7 1231field.
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1232
1233The @code{sexp} widget takes the same keyword arguments as the
6f7f063d 1234@code{editable-field} widget. @xref{editable-field}.
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1235@end deffn
1236
1237@node atoms, composite, generic, Sexp Types
1238@comment node-name, next, previous, up
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1239@subsection Atomic Sexp Widgets
1240@cindex atomic sexp widget
6bf7aab6 1241
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1242The atoms are s-expressions that do not consist of other s-expressions.
1243For example, a string, a file name, or a symbol are atoms, while a list
1244is a composite type. You can edit the value of an atom with the
1245following widgets.
6bf7aab6 1246
6f7f063d 1247The syntax for all the atoms are:
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1248
1249@example
1250TYPE ::= (NAME [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])
1251@end example
1252
1253The @var{value}, if present, is used to initialize the @code{:value}
1254property and must be an expression of the same type as the widget.
6f7f063d 1255That is, the string widget can only be initialized with a string.
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1256
1257All the atom widgets take the same keyword arguments as the
6f7f063d 1258@code{editable-field} widget. @xref{editable-field}.
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1259
1260@deffn Widget string
1261Allows you to edit a string in an editable field.
1262@end deffn
1263
1264@deffn Widget regexp
1265Allows you to edit a regular expression in an editable field.
1266@end deffn
1267
1268@deffn Widget character
1269Allows you to enter a character in an editable field.
1270@end deffn
1271
1272@deffn Widget file
1273Allows you to edit a file name in an editable field. If you invoke
1274the tag button, you can edit the file name in the mini-buffer with
177c0ea7 1275completion.
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1276
1277Keywords:
1278@table @code
6f7f063d 1279@vindex must-match@r{ keyword}
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1280@item :must-match
1281If this is set to non-nil, only existing file names will be allowed in
1282the minibuffer.
1283@end table
1284@end deffn
1285
1286@deffn Widget directory
1287Allows you to edit a directory name in an editable field.
1288Similar to the @code{file} widget.
1289@end deffn
1290
1291@deffn Widget symbol
1292Allows you to edit a lisp symbol in an editable field.
1293@end deffn
1294
1295@deffn Widget function
1296Allows you to edit a lambda expression, or a function name with completion.
1297@end deffn
1298
1299@deffn Widget variable
1300Allows you to edit a variable name, with completion.
1301@end deffn
1302
1303@deffn Widget integer
1304Allows you to edit an integer in an editable field.
1305@end deffn
1306
1307@deffn Widget number
1308Allows you to edit a number in an editable field.
1309@end deffn
1310
1311@deffn Widget boolean
1312Allows you to edit a boolean. In lisp this means a variable which is
1313either nil meaning false, or non-nil meaning true.
1314@end deffn
1315
1316
1317@node composite, , atoms, Sexp Types
1318@comment node-name, next, previous, up
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1319@subsection Composite Sexp Widgets
1320@cindex composite sexp widgets
6bf7aab6 1321
6f7f063d 1322The syntax for the composite widget is:
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1323
1324@example
1325TYPE ::= (NAME [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... COMPONENT...)
1326@end example
1327
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1328@noindent
1329where each @var{component} must be a widget type. Each component widget
1330will be displayed in the buffer, and will be editable by the user.
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1331
1332@deffn Widget cons
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1333The value of a @code{cons} widget is a cons-cell where the @code{car} is
1334the value of the first component and the @code{cdr} is the value of the
1335second component. There must be exactly two components.
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1336@end deffn
1337
1338@deffn Widget list
1339The value of a @code{list} widget is a list containing the value of
1340each of its component.
1341@end deffn
1342
1343@deffn Widget vector
1344The value of a @code{vector} widget is a vector containing the value of
1345each of its component.
1346@end deffn
1347
1348The above suffice for specifying fixed size lists and vectors. To get
1349variable length lists and vectors, you can use a @code{choice},
6f7f063d 1350@code{set}, or @code{repeat} widgets together with the @code{:inline}
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1351keywords. If any component of a composite widget has the @code{:inline}
1352keyword set, its value must be a list which will then be spliced into
1353the composite. For example, to specify a list whose first element must
1354be a file name, and whose remaining arguments should either by the
1355symbol @code{t} or two files, you can use the following widget
1356specification:
1357
1358@example
1359(list file
1360 (choice (const t)
1361 (list :inline t
1362 :value ("foo" "bar")
1363 string string)))
1364@end example
1365
177c0ea7 1366The value of a widget of this type will either have the form
6f7f063d 1367@code{(file t)} or @code{(file string string)}.
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1368
1369This concept of inline is probably hard to understand. It was certainly
6f7f063d 1370hard to implement, so instead of confusing you more by trying to explain
54438eb5 1371it here, I'll just suggest you meditate over it for a while.
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1372
1373@deffn Widget choice
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1374Allows you to edit a sexp which may have one of a fixed set of types.
1375It is currently implemented with the @code{choice-menu} basic widget,
1376and has a similar syntax.
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1377@end deffn
1378
1379@deffn Widget set
1380Allows you to specify a type which must be a list whose elements all
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1381belong to given set. The elements of the list are not significant.
1382This is implemented on top of the @code{checklist} basic widget, and has
1383a similar syntax.
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1384@end deffn
1385
1386@deffn Widget repeat
1387Allows you to specify a variable length list whose members are all of
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1388the same type. Implemented on top of the @code{editable-list} basic
1389widget, and has a similar syntax.
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1390@end deffn
1391
1392@node Widget Properties, Defining New Widgets, Sexp Types, Top
1393@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1394@section Properties
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1395@cindex properties of widgets
1396@cindex widget properties
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1397
1398You can examine or set the value of a widget by using the widget object
1399that was returned by @code{widget-create}.
1400
1401@defun widget-value widget
1402Return the current value contained in @var{widget}.
1403It is an error to call this function on an uninitialized widget.
1404@end defun
1405
1406@defun widget-value-set widget value
1407Set the value contained in @var{widget} to @var{value}.
1408It is an error to call this function with an invalid @var{value}.
1409@end defun
1410
1411@strong{Important:} You @emph{must} call @code{widget-setup} after
1412modifying the value of a widget before the user is allowed to edit the
1413widget again. It is enough to call @code{widget-setup} once if you
1414modify multiple widgets. This is currently only necessary if the widget
1415contains an editing field, but may be necessary for other widgets in the
177c0ea7 1416future.
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1417
1418If your application needs to associate some information with the widget
1419objects, for example a reference to the item being edited, it can be
1420done with @code{widget-put} and @code{widget-get}. The property names
1421must begin with a @samp{:}.
1422
1423@defun widget-put widget property value
1424In @var{widget} set @var{property} to @var{value}.
1425@var{property} should be a symbol, while @var{value} can be anything.
1426@end defun
1427
1428@defun widget-get widget property
1429In @var{widget} return the value for @var{property}.
1430@var{property} should be a symbol, the value is what was last set by
1431@code{widget-put} for @var{property}.
1432@end defun
1433
1434@defun widget-member widget property
1435Non-nil if @var{widget} has a value (even nil) for property @var{property}.
1436@end defun
1437
1438Occasionally it can be useful to know which kind of widget you have,
177c0ea7 1439i.e.@: the name of the widget type you gave when the widget was created.
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1440
1441@defun widget-type widget
1442Return the name of @var{widget}, a symbol.
1443@end defun
1444
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1445@cindex active widget
1446@cindex inactive widget
1447@cindex activate a widget
1448@cindex deactivate a widget
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1449Widgets can be in two states: active, which means they are modifiable by
1450the user, or inactive, which means they cannot be modified by the user.
1451You can query or set the state with the following code:
1452
1453@lisp
1454;; Examine if @var{widget} is active or not.
1455(if (widget-apply @var{widget} :active)
1456 (message "Widget is active.")
1457 (message "Widget is inactive.")
1458
1459;; Make @var{widget} inactive.
1460(widget-apply @var{widget} :deactivate)
1461
1462;; Make @var{widget} active.
1463(widget-apply @var{widget} :activate)
1464@end lisp
1465
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1466A widget is inactive if it, or any of its ancestors (found by
1467following the @code{:parent} link), have been deactivated. To make sure
1468a widget is really active, you must therefore activate both it and
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1469all its ancestors.
1470
1471@lisp
177c0ea7 1472(while widget
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1473 (widget-apply widget :activate)
1474 (setq widget (widget-get widget :parent)))
1475@end lisp
1476
1477You can check if a widget has been made inactive by examining the value
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1478of the @code{:inactive} keyword. If this is non-nil, the widget itself
1479has been deactivated. This is different from using the @code{:active}
1480keyword, in that the latter tells you if the widget @strong{or} any of
1481its ancestors have been deactivated. Do not attempt to set the
6bf7aab6 1482@code{:inactive} keyword directly. Use the @code{:activate}
54438eb5 1483@code{:deactivate} keywords instead.
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1484
1485
1486@node Defining New Widgets, Widget Browser, Widget Properties, Top
1487@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1488@section Defining New Widgets
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1489@cindex new widgets
1490@cindex defining new widgets
6bf7aab6 1491
75ba82a9 1492You can define specialized widgets with @code{define-widget}. It allows
6bf7aab6 1493you to create a shorthand for more complex widgets, including specifying
54438eb5 1494component widgets and new default values for the keyword
177c0ea7 1495arguments.
6bf7aab6 1496
75ba82a9 1497@defun define-widget name class doc &rest args
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1498Define a new widget type named @var{name} from @code{class}.
1499
1500@var{name} and class should both be symbols, @code{class} should be one
177c0ea7 1501of the existing widget types.
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1502
1503The third argument @var{DOC} is a documentation string for the widget.
1504
1505After the new widget has been defined, the following two calls will
1506create identical widgets:
1507
1508@itemize @bullet
1509@item
1510@lisp
1511(widget-create @var{name})
1512@end lisp
1513
1514@item
1515@lisp
1516(apply widget-create @var{class} @var{args})
1517@end lisp
1518@end itemize
1519
1520@end defun
1521
75ba82a9 1522Using @code{define-widget} just stores the definition of the widget type
54438eb5 1523in the @code{widget-type} property of @var{name}, which is what
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1524@code{widget-create} uses.
1525
6f7f063d 1526If you only want to specify defaults for keywords with no complex
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1527conversions, you can use @code{identity} as your conversion function.
1528
1529The following additional keyword arguments are useful when defining new
177c0ea7 1530widgets:
6bf7aab6 1531@table @code
6f7f063d 1532@vindex convert-widget@r{ keyword}
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1533@item :convert-widget
1534Function to convert a widget type before creating a widget of that
1535type. It takes a widget type as an argument, and returns the converted
1536widget type. When a widget is created, this function is called for the
177c0ea7 1537widget type and all the widget's parent types, most derived first.
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1538
1539The following predefined functions can be used here:
1540
1541@defun widget-types-convert-widget widget
1542Convert @code{:args} as widget types in @var{widget}.
1543@end defun
1544
1545@defun widget-value-convert-widget widget
1546Initialize @code{:value} from @code{:args} in @var{widget}.
1547@end defun
1548
4c2f559e
PA
1549@vindex copy@r{ keyword}
1550@item :copy
1551Function to deep copy a widget type. It takes a shallow copy of the
1552widget type as an argument (made by @code{copy-sequence}), and returns a
1553deep copy. The purpose of this is to avoid having different instances
1554of combined widgets share nested attributes.
1555
1556The following predefined functions can be used here:
1557
1558@defun widget-types-copy widget
1559Copy @code{:args} as widget types in @var{widget}.
1560@end defun
1561
6f7f063d 1562@vindex value-to-internal@r{ keyword}
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1563@item :value-to-internal
1564Function to convert the value to the internal format. The function
1565takes two arguments, a widget and an external value, and returns the
1566internal value. The function is called on the present @code{:value}
1567when the widget is created, and on any value set later with
1568@code{widget-value-set}.
1569
6f7f063d 1570@vindex value-to-external@r{ keyword}
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1571@item :value-to-external
1572Function to convert the value to the external format. The function
1573takes two arguments, a widget and an internal value, and returns the
6f7f063d 1574external value. The function is called on the present @code{:value}
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1575when the widget is created, and on any value set later with
1576@code{widget-value-set}.
1577
6f7f063d 1578@vindex create@r{ keyword}
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1579@item :create
1580Function to create a widget from scratch. The function takes one
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1581argument, a widget type, and creates a widget of that type, inserts it
1582in the buffer, and returns a widget object.
6bf7aab6 1583
6f7f063d 1584@vindex delete@r{ keyword}
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1585@item :delete
1586Function to delete a widget. The function takes one argument, a widget,
1587and should remove all traces of the widget from the buffer.
1588
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1589The default value is:
1590
1591@defun widget-default-delete widget
1592Remove @var{widget} from the buffer.
1593Delete all @code{:children} and @code{:buttons} in @var{widget}.
1594@end defun
1595
1596In most cases you should not change this value, but instead use
1597@code{:value-delete} to make any additional cleanup.
1598
6f7f063d 1599@vindex value-create@r{ keyword}
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1600@item :value-create
1601Function to expand the @samp{%v} escape in the format string. It will
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1602be called with the widget as its argument and should insert a
1603representation of the widget's value in the buffer.
6bf7aab6 1604
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1605Nested widgets should be listed in @code{:children} or @code{:buttons}
1606to make sure they are automatically deleted.
1607
6f7f063d 1608@vindex value-delete@r{ keyword}
6bf7aab6 1609@item :value-delete
54438eb5 1610Should remove the representation of the widget's value from the buffer.
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1611It will be called with the widget as its argument. It doesn't have to
1612remove the text, but it should release markers and delete nested widgets
6b61353c 1613if these are not listed in @code{:children} or @code{:buttons}.
6bf7aab6 1614
6f7f063d 1615@vindex value-get@r{ keyword}
177c0ea7 1616@item :value-get
6bf7aab6 1617Function to extract the value of a widget, as it is displayed in the
177c0ea7 1618buffer.
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1619
1620The following predefined function can be used here:
1621
1622@defun widget-value-value-get widget
1623Return the @code{:value} property of @var{widget}.
1624@end defun
1625
6f7f063d 1626@vindex format-handler@r{ keyword}
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1627@item :format-handler
1628Function to handle unknown @samp{%} escapes in the format string. It
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1629will be called with the widget and the character that follows the
1630@samp{%} as arguments. You can set this to allow your widget to handle
1631non-standard escapes.
6bf7aab6 1632
6f7f063d 1633@findex widget-default-format-handler
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1634You should end up calling @code{widget-default-format-handler} to handle
1635unknown escape sequences, which will handle the @samp{%h} and any future
1636escape sequences, as well as give an error for unknown escapes.
1637
6f7f063d 1638@vindex action@r{ keyword}
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1639@item :action
1640Function to handle user initiated events. By default, @code{:notify}
177c0ea7 1641the parent.
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1642
1643The following predefined function can be used here:
1644
1645@defun widget-parent-action widget &optional event
1646Tell @code{:parent} of @var{widget} to handle the @code{:action}.
1647Optional @var{event} is the event that triggered the action.
1648@end defun
1649
6f7f063d 1650@vindex prompt-value@r{ keyword}
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1651@item :prompt-value
1652Function to prompt for a value in the minibuffer. The function should
1653take four arguments, @var{widget}, @var{prompt}, @var{value}, and
1654@var{unbound} and should return a value for widget entered by the user.
1655@var{prompt} is the prompt to use. @var{value} is the default value to
54438eb5 1656use, unless @var{unbound} is non-nil, in which case there is no default
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1657value. The function should read the value using the method most natural
1658for this widget, and does not have to check that it matches.
1659@end table
1660
1661If you want to define a new widget from scratch, use the @code{default}
1662widget as its base.
1663
177c0ea7
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1664@deffn Widget default
1665Widget used as a base for other widgets.
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1666
1667It provides most of the functionality that is referred to as ``by
177c0ea7 1668default'' in this text.
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1669@end deffn
1670
1671@node Widget Browser, Widget Minor Mode, Defining New Widgets, Top
1672@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1673@section Widget Browser
6f7f063d 1674@cindex widget browser
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1675
1676There is a separate package to browse widgets. This is intended to help
1677programmers who want to examine the content of a widget. The browser
1678shows the value of each keyword, but uses links for certain keywords
6f7f063d 1679such as @samp{:parent}, which avoids printing cyclic structures.
6bf7aab6 1680
49c24f48
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1681@deffn Command widget-browse @var{widget}
1682Create a widget browser for @var{widget}.
1683When called interactively, prompt for @var{widget}.
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1684@end deffn
1685
49c24f48
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1686@deffn Command widget-browse-other-window @var{widget}
1687Create a widget browser for @var{widget} and show it in another window.
1688When called interactively, prompt for @var{widget}.
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1689@end deffn
1690
49c24f48
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1691@deffn Command widget-browse-at @var{pos}
1692Create a widget browser for the widget at @var{pos}.
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1693When called interactively, use the position of point.
1694@end deffn
1695
1696@node Widget Minor Mode, Utilities, Widget Browser, Top
1697@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1698@section Widget Minor Mode
6f7f063d 1699@cindex widget minor mode
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1700
1701There is a minor mode for manipulating widgets in major modes that
6f7f063d 1702don't provide any support for widgets themselves. This is mostly
177c0ea7 1703intended to be useful for programmers doing experiments.
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1704
1705@deffn Command widget-minor-mode
1706Toggle minor mode for traversing widgets.
1707With arg, turn widget mode on if and only if arg is positive.
1708@end deffn
1709
1710@defvar widget-minor-mode-keymap
1711Keymap used in @code{widget-minor-mode}.
1712@end defvar
1713
1714@node Utilities, Widget Wishlist, Widget Minor Mode, Top
1715@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1716@section Utilities.
6f7f063d 1717@cindex utility functions for widgets
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1718
1719@defun widget-prompt-value widget prompt [ value unbound ]
1720Prompt for a value matching @var{widget}, using @var{prompt}.
1721The current value is assumed to be @var{value}, unless @var{unbound} is
1722non-nil.@refill
1723@end defun
1724
1725@defun widget-get-sibling widget
6f7f063d 1726Get the item which @var{widget} is assumed to toggle.
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1727This is only meaningful for radio buttons or checkboxes in a list.
1728@end defun
1729
6f7f063d 1730@node Widget Wishlist, Index, Utilities, Top
6bf7aab6
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1731@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1732@section Wishlist
6f7f063d 1733@cindex todo
6bf7aab6
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1734
1735@itemize @bullet
177c0ea7 1736@item
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1737It should be possible to add or remove items from a list with @kbd{C-k}
1738and @kbd{C-o} (suggested by @sc{rms}).
1739
177c0ea7 1740@item
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1741The @samp{[INS]} and @samp{[DEL]} buttons should be replaced by a single
1742dash (@samp{-}). The dash should be a button that, when invoked, asks
1743whether you want to add or delete an item (@sc{rms} wanted to git rid of
1744the ugly buttons, the dash is my idea).
1745
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1746@item
1747The @code{menu-choice} tag should be prettier, something like the abbreviated
1748menus in Open Look.
1749
1750@item
1751Finish @code{:tab-order}.
1752
1753@item
1754Make indentation work with glyphs and proportional fonts.
1755
1756@item
1757Add commands to show overview of object and class hierarchies to the
177c0ea7 1758browser.
6bf7aab6 1759
177c0ea7 1760@item
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1761Find a way to disable mouse highlight for inactive widgets.
1762
1763@item
1764Find a way to make glyphs look inactive.
1765
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1766@item
1767Add @code{property-list} widget.
1768
1769@item
1770Add @code{association-list} widget.
1771
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1772@item
1773Add @code{key-binding} widget.
1774
1775@item
1776Add @code{widget} widget for editing widget specifications.
1777
1778@item
1779Find clean way to implement variable length list.
1780See @code{TeX-printer-list} for an explanation.
1781
177c0ea7 1782@item
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1783@kbd{C-h} in @code{widget-prompt-value} should give type specific help.
1784
177c0ea7 1785@item
6f7f063d 1786Add a @code{mailto} widget.
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1787@end itemize
1788
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1789@node Index, , Widget Wishlist, Top
1790@comment node-name, next, previous, up
1791@unnumbered Index
1792
1793This is an alphabetical listing of all concepts, functions, commands,
1794variables, and widgets described in this manual.
1795@printindex cp
1796
56f7c94a 1797@setchapternewpage odd
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1798@contents
1799@bye
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1800
1801@ignore
1802 arch-tag: 2b427731-4c61-4e72-85de-5ccec9c623f0
1803@end ignore