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1@c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
73b0cd50 3@c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
b8d4c8d0 4@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6336d8c3 5@setfilename ../../info/display
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6@node Display, System Interface, Processes, Top
7@chapter Emacs Display
8
9 This chapter describes a number of features related to the display
10that Emacs presents to the user.
11
12@menu
13* Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
14* Forcing Redisplay:: Forcing redisplay.
15* Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
16* The Echo Area:: Displaying messages at the bottom of the screen.
17* Warnings:: Displaying warning messages for the user.
18* Invisible Text:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
19* Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text (the old way).
20* Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
21* Overlays:: Use overlays to highlight parts of the buffer.
22* Width:: How wide a character or string is on the screen.
23* Line Height:: Controlling the height of lines.
24* Faces:: A face defines a graphics style for text characters:
25 font, colors, etc.
26* Fringes:: Controlling window fringes.
27* Scroll Bars:: Controlling vertical scroll bars.
28* Display Property:: Enabling special display features.
29* Images:: Displaying images in Emacs buffers.
30* Buttons:: Adding clickable buttons to Emacs buffers.
31* Abstract Display:: Emacs' Widget for Object Collections.
32* Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
33* Usual Display:: The usual conventions for displaying nonprinting chars.
34* Display Tables:: How to specify other conventions.
35* Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
36* Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
37@end menu
38
39@node Refresh Screen
40@section Refreshing the Screen
41
42 The function @code{redraw-frame} clears and redisplays the entire
43contents of a given frame (@pxref{Frames}). This is useful if the
44screen is corrupted.
45
46@c Emacs 19 feature
47@defun redraw-frame frame
48This function clears and redisplays frame @var{frame}.
49@end defun
50
51 Even more powerful is @code{redraw-display}:
52
53@deffn Command redraw-display
54This function clears and redisplays all visible frames.
55@end deffn
56
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57 In Emacs, processing user input takes priority over redisplay. If
58you call these functions when input is available, they don't redisplay
59immediately, but the requested redisplay does happen
60eventually---after all the input has been processed.
b8d4c8d0 61
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62 On text-only terminals, suspending and resuming Emacs normally also
63refreshes the screen. Some terminal emulators record separate
64contents for display-oriented programs such as Emacs and for ordinary
65sequential display. If you are using such a terminal, you might want
66to inhibit the redisplay on resumption.
b8d4c8d0 67
01f17ae2 68@defopt no-redraw-on-reenter
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69@cindex suspend (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
70@cindex resume (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
71This variable controls whether Emacs redraws the entire screen after it
72has been suspended and resumed. Non-@code{nil} means there is no need
73to redraw, @code{nil} means redrawing is needed. The default is @code{nil}.
01f17ae2 74@end defopt
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75
76@node Forcing Redisplay
77@section Forcing Redisplay
78@cindex forcing redisplay
79
20c63e44 80 Emacs normally tries to redisplay the screen whenever it waits for
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81input. With the following function, you can request an immediate
82attempt to redisplay, in the middle of Lisp code, without actually
83waiting for input.
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84
85@defun redisplay &optional force
86This function tries immediately to redisplay, provided there are no
c4adeee0 87pending input events.
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88
89If the optional argument @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, it does all
90pending redisplay work even if input is available, with no
91pre-emption.
92
93The function returns @code{t} if it actually tried to redisplay, and
94@code{nil} otherwise. A value of @code{t} does not mean that
95redisplay proceeded to completion; it could have been pre-empted by
96newly arriving terminal input.
97@end defun
98
99 @code{redisplay} with no argument tries immediately to redisplay,
100but has no effect on the usual rules for what parts of the screen to
101redisplay. By contrast, the following function adds certain windows
102to the pending redisplay work (as if their contents had completely
103changed), but doesn't immediately try to do any redisplay work.
104
105@defun force-window-update &optional object
106This function forces some or all windows to be updated on next
107redisplay. If @var{object} is a window, it requires eventual
108redisplay of that window. If @var{object} is a buffer or buffer name,
109it requires eventual redisplay of all windows displaying that buffer.
110If @var{object} is @code{nil} (or omitted), it requires eventual
111redisplay of all windows.
112@end defun
113
114 @code{force-window-update} does not do a redisplay immediately.
115(Emacs will do that when it waits for input.) Rather, its effect is
116to put more work on the queue to be done by redisplay whenever there
117is a chance.
118
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119 Emacs redisplay normally stops if input arrives, and does not happen
120at all if input is available before it starts. Most of the time, this
121is exactly what you want. However, you can prevent preemption by
122binding @code{redisplay-dont-pause} to a non-@code{nil} value.
123
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124@defvar redisplay-dont-pause
125If this variable is non-@code{nil}, pending input does not
126prevent or halt redisplay; redisplay occurs, and finishes,
127regardless of whether input is available.
128@end defvar
129
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130@defvar redisplay-preemption-period
131This variable specifies how many seconds Emacs waits between checks
132for new input during redisplay. (The default is 0.1 seconds.) If
133input has arrived when Emacs checks, it pre-empts redisplay and
134processes the available input before trying again to redisplay.
135
136If this variable is @code{nil}, Emacs does not check for input during
137redisplay, and redisplay cannot be preempted by input.
138
139This variable is only obeyed on graphical terminals. For
140text terminals, see @ref{Terminal Output}.
141@end defvar
142
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143@node Truncation
144@section Truncation
145@cindex line wrapping
146@cindex line truncation
147@cindex continuation lines
148@cindex @samp{$} in display
149@cindex @samp{\} in display
150
151 When a line of text extends beyond the right edge of a window, Emacs
152can @dfn{continue} the line (make it ``wrap'' to the next screen
153line), or @dfn{truncate} the line (limit it to one screen line). The
154additional screen lines used to display a long text line are called
155@dfn{continuation} lines. Continuation is not the same as filling;
156continuation happens on the screen only, not in the buffer contents,
157and it breaks a line precisely at the right margin, not at a word
158boundary. @xref{Filling}.
159
160 On a graphical display, tiny arrow images in the window fringes
161indicate truncated and continued lines (@pxref{Fringes}). On a text
162terminal, a @samp{$} in the rightmost column of the window indicates
163truncation; a @samp{\} on the rightmost column indicates a line that
164``wraps.'' (The display table can specify alternate characters to use
165for this; @pxref{Display Tables}).
166
167@defopt truncate-lines
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168If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, lines that extend
169beyond the right edge of the window are truncated; otherwise, they are
170continued. As a special exception, the variable
171@code{truncate-partial-width-windows} takes precedence in
172@dfn{partial-width} windows (i.e., windows that do not occupy the
173entire frame width).
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174@end defopt
175
b8d4c8d0 176@defopt truncate-partial-width-windows
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177This variable controls line truncation in @dfn{partial-width} windows.
178A partial-width window is one that does not occupy the entire frame
179width (@pxref{Splitting Windows}). If the value is @code{nil}, line
180truncation is determined by the variable @code{truncate-lines} (see
181above). If the value is an integer @var{n}, lines are truncated if
182the partial-width window has fewer than @var{n} columns, regardless of
183the value of @code{truncate-lines}; if the partial-width window has
184@var{n} or more columns, line truncation is determined by
185@code{truncate-lines}. For any other non-@code{nil} value, lines are
186truncated in every partial-width window, regardless of the value of
187@code{truncate-lines}.
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188@end defopt
189
190 When horizontal scrolling (@pxref{Horizontal Scrolling}) is in use in
191a window, that forces truncation.
192
c4f4682b 193@defvar wrap-prefix
c4adeee0 194If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, it defines a
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195``prefix'' that is prepended to every continuation line at
196display-time. (If lines are truncated, the wrap-prefix is never
197used.) It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph; the value is
198interpreted in the same way as a @code{display} text property.
199@xref{Display Property}.
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200
201A wrap-prefix may also be specified for regions of text, using the
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202@code{wrap-prefix} text or overlay property. This takes precedence
203over the @code{wrap-prefix} variable. @xref{Special Properties}.
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204@end defvar
205
206@defvar line-prefix
c4adeee0 207If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, it defines a
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208``prefix'' that is prepended to every non-continuation line at
209display-time. It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph; the
210value is interpreted in the same way as a @code{display} text
211property. @xref{Display Property}.
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212
213A line-prefix may also be specified for regions of text using the
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214@code{line-prefix} text or overlay property. This takes precedence
215over the @code{line-prefix} variable. @xref{Special Properties}.
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216@end defvar
217
b8d4c8d0 218 If your buffer contains @emph{very} long lines, and you use
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219continuation to display them, computing the continuation lines can
220make Emacs redisplay slow. The column computation and indentation
221functions also become slow. Then you might find it advisable to set
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222@code{cache-long-line-scans} to @code{t}.
223
224@defvar cache-long-line-scans
225If this variable is non-@code{nil}, various indentation and motion
226functions, and Emacs redisplay, cache the results of scanning the
227buffer, and consult the cache to avoid rescanning regions of the buffer
228unless they are modified.
229
230Turning on the cache slows down processing of short lines somewhat.
231
232This variable is automatically buffer-local in every buffer.
233@end defvar
234
235@node The Echo Area
236@section The Echo Area
237@cindex error display
238@cindex echo area
239
240 The @dfn{echo area} is used for displaying error messages
241(@pxref{Errors}), for messages made with the @code{message} primitive,
242and for echoing keystrokes. It is not the same as the minibuffer,
243despite the fact that the minibuffer appears (when active) in the same
244place on the screen as the echo area. The @cite{GNU Emacs Manual}
245specifies the rules for resolving conflicts between the echo area and
246the minibuffer for use of that screen space (@pxref{Minibuffer,, The
247Minibuffer, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
248
249 You can write output in the echo area by using the Lisp printing
250functions with @code{t} as the stream (@pxref{Output Functions}), or
251explicitly.
252
253@menu
254* Displaying Messages:: Explicitly displaying text in the echo area.
255* Progress:: Informing user about progress of a long operation.
256* Logging Messages:: Echo area messages are logged for the user.
257* Echo Area Customization:: Controlling the echo area.
258@end menu
259
260@node Displaying Messages
261@subsection Displaying Messages in the Echo Area
262@cindex display message in echo area
263
264 This section describes the functions for explicitly producing echo
265area messages. Many other Emacs features display messages there, too.
266
267@defun message format-string &rest arguments
268This function displays a message in the echo area. The argument
269@var{format-string} is similar to a C language @code{printf} format
270string. See @code{format} in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for the details
271on the conversion specifications. @code{message} returns the
272constructed string.
273
274In batch mode, @code{message} prints the message text on the standard
275error stream, followed by a newline.
276
277If @var{format-string}, or strings among the @var{arguments}, have
278@code{face} text properties, these affect the way the message is displayed.
279
280@c Emacs 19 feature
281If @var{format-string} is @code{nil} or the empty string,
282@code{message} clears the echo area; if the echo area has been
283expanded automatically, this brings it back to its normal size.
284If the minibuffer is active, this brings the minibuffer contents back
285onto the screen immediately.
286
287@example
288@group
289(message "Minibuffer depth is %d."
290 (minibuffer-depth))
291 @print{} Minibuffer depth is 0.
292@result{} "Minibuffer depth is 0."
293@end group
294
295@group
296---------- Echo Area ----------
297Minibuffer depth is 0.
298---------- Echo Area ----------
299@end group
300@end example
301
302To automatically display a message in the echo area or in a pop-buffer,
303depending on its size, use @code{display-message-or-buffer} (see below).
304@end defun
305
306@defmac with-temp-message message &rest body
307This construct displays a message in the echo area temporarily, during
308the execution of @var{body}. It displays @var{message}, executes
309@var{body}, then returns the value of the last body form while restoring
310the previous echo area contents.
311@end defmac
312
313@defun message-or-box format-string &rest arguments
314This function displays a message like @code{message}, but may display it
315in a dialog box instead of the echo area. If this function is called in
316a command that was invoked using the mouse---more precisely, if
317@code{last-nonmenu-event} (@pxref{Command Loop Info}) is either
318@code{nil} or a list---then it uses a dialog box or pop-up menu to
319display the message. Otherwise, it uses the echo area. (This is the
320same criterion that @code{y-or-n-p} uses to make a similar decision; see
321@ref{Yes-or-No Queries}.)
322
323You can force use of the mouse or of the echo area by binding
324@code{last-nonmenu-event} to a suitable value around the call.
325@end defun
326
327@defun message-box format-string &rest arguments
328@anchor{message-box}
329This function displays a message like @code{message}, but uses a dialog
330box (or a pop-up menu) whenever that is possible. If it is impossible
331to use a dialog box or pop-up menu, because the terminal does not
332support them, then @code{message-box} uses the echo area, like
333@code{message}.
334@end defun
335
336@defun display-message-or-buffer message &optional buffer-name not-this-window frame
337This function displays the message @var{message}, which may be either a
338string or a buffer. If it is shorter than the maximum height of the
339echo area, as defined by @code{max-mini-window-height}, it is displayed
340in the echo area, using @code{message}. Otherwise,
341@code{display-buffer} is used to show it in a pop-up buffer.
342
343Returns either the string shown in the echo area, or when a pop-up
344buffer is used, the window used to display it.
345
346If @var{message} is a string, then the optional argument
347@var{buffer-name} is the name of the buffer used to display it when a
348pop-up buffer is used, defaulting to @samp{*Message*}. In the case
349where @var{message} is a string and displayed in the echo area, it is
350not specified whether the contents are inserted into the buffer anyway.
351
352The optional arguments @var{not-this-window} and @var{frame} are as for
353@code{display-buffer}, and only used if a buffer is displayed.
354@end defun
355
356@defun current-message
357This function returns the message currently being displayed in the
358echo area, or @code{nil} if there is none.
359@end defun
360
361@node Progress
362@subsection Reporting Operation Progress
363@cindex progress reporting
364
365 When an operation can take a while to finish, you should inform the
366user about the progress it makes. This way the user can estimate
367remaining time and clearly see that Emacs is busy working, not hung.
368
369 Functions listed in this section provide simple and efficient way of
370reporting operation progress. Here is a working example that does
371nothing useful:
372
373@smallexample
374(let ((progress-reporter
375 (make-progress-reporter "Collecting mana for Emacs..."
376 0 500)))
377 (dotimes (k 500)
378 (sit-for 0.01)
379 (progress-reporter-update progress-reporter k))
380 (progress-reporter-done progress-reporter))
381@end smallexample
382
383@defun make-progress-reporter message min-value max-value &optional current-value min-change min-time
384This function creates and returns a @dfn{progress reporter}---an
385object you will use as an argument for all other functions listed
386here. The idea is to precompute as much data as possible to make
387progress reporting very fast.
388
389When this progress reporter is subsequently used, it will display
390@var{message} in the echo area, followed by progress percentage.
391@var{message} is treated as a simple string. If you need it to depend
392on a filename, for instance, use @code{format} before calling this
393function.
394
395@var{min-value} and @var{max-value} arguments stand for starting and
396final states of your operation. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
397they should be the results of @code{point-min} and @code{point-max}
398correspondingly. It is required that @var{max-value} is greater than
399@var{min-value}. If you create progress reporter when some part of
400the operation has already been completed, then specify
401@var{current-value} argument. But normally you should omit it or set
402it to @code{nil}---it will default to @var{min-value} then.
403
404Remaining arguments control the rate of echo area updates. Progress
405reporter will wait for at least @var{min-change} more percents of the
406operation to be completed before printing next message.
407@var{min-time} specifies the minimum time in seconds to pass between
408successive prints. It can be fractional. Depending on Emacs and
409system capabilities, progress reporter may or may not respect this
410last argument or do it with varying precision. Default value for
411@var{min-change} is 1 (one percent), for @var{min-time}---0.2
412(seconds.)
413
414This function calls @code{progress-reporter-update}, so the first
415message is printed immediately.
416@end defun
417
418@defun progress-reporter-update reporter value
419This function does the main work of reporting progress of your
420operation. It displays the message of @var{reporter}, followed by
421progress percentage determined by @var{value}. If percentage is zero,
422or close enough according to the @var{min-change} and @var{min-time}
423arguments, then it is omitted from the output.
424
425@var{reporter} must be the result of a call to
426@code{make-progress-reporter}. @var{value} specifies the current
427state of your operation and must be between @var{min-value} and
428@var{max-value} (inclusive) as passed to
429@code{make-progress-reporter}. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
430then @var{value} should be the result of a call to @code{point}.
431
432This function respects @var{min-change} and @var{min-time} as passed
433to @code{make-progress-reporter} and so does not output new messages
434on every invocation. It is thus very fast and normally you should not
435try to reduce the number of calls to it: resulting overhead will most
436likely negate your effort.
437@end defun
438
439@defun progress-reporter-force-update reporter value &optional new-message
440This function is similar to @code{progress-reporter-update} except
441that it prints a message in the echo area unconditionally.
442
443The first two arguments have the same meaning as for
444@code{progress-reporter-update}. Optional @var{new-message} allows
445you to change the message of the @var{reporter}. Since this functions
446always updates the echo area, such a change will be immediately
447presented to the user.
448@end defun
449
450@defun progress-reporter-done reporter
451This function should be called when the operation is finished. It
452prints the message of @var{reporter} followed by word ``done'' in the
453echo area.
454
455You should always call this function and not hope for
456@code{progress-reporter-update} to print ``100%.'' Firstly, it may
457never print it, there are many good reasons for this not to happen.
458Secondly, ``done'' is more explicit.
459@end defun
460
461@defmac dotimes-with-progress-reporter (var count [result]) message body@dots{}
462This is a convenience macro that works the same way as @code{dotimes}
463does, but also reports loop progress using the functions described
464above. It allows you to save some typing.
465
466You can rewrite the example in the beginning of this node using
467this macro this way:
468
469@example
470(dotimes-with-progress-reporter
471 (k 500)
472 "Collecting some mana for Emacs..."
473 (sit-for 0.01))
474@end example
475@end defmac
476
477@node Logging Messages
478@subsection Logging Messages in @samp{*Messages*}
479@cindex logging echo-area messages
480
481 Almost all the messages displayed in the echo area are also recorded
482in the @samp{*Messages*} buffer so that the user can refer back to
483them. This includes all the messages that are output with
484@code{message}.
485
486@defopt message-log-max
487This variable specifies how many lines to keep in the @samp{*Messages*}
488buffer. The value @code{t} means there is no limit on how many lines to
489keep. The value @code{nil} disables message logging entirely. Here's
490how to display a message and prevent it from being logged:
491
492@example
493(let (message-log-max)
494 (message @dots{}))
495@end example
496@end defopt
497
498 To make @samp{*Messages*} more convenient for the user, the logging
499facility combines successive identical messages. It also combines
500successive related messages for the sake of two cases: question
501followed by answer, and a series of progress messages.
502
503 A ``question followed by an answer'' means two messages like the
504ones produced by @code{y-or-n-p}: the first is @samp{@var{question}},
505and the second is @samp{@var{question}...@var{answer}}. The first
506message conveys no additional information beyond what's in the second,
507so logging the second message discards the first from the log.
508
509 A ``series of progress messages'' means successive messages like
510those produced by @code{make-progress-reporter}. They have the form
511@samp{@var{base}...@var{how-far}}, where @var{base} is the same each
512time, while @var{how-far} varies. Logging each message in the series
513discards the previous one, provided they are consecutive.
514
515 The functions @code{make-progress-reporter} and @code{y-or-n-p}
516don't have to do anything special to activate the message log
517combination feature. It operates whenever two consecutive messages
518are logged that share a common prefix ending in @samp{...}.
519
520@node Echo Area Customization
521@subsection Echo Area Customization
522
523 These variables control details of how the echo area works.
524
525@defvar cursor-in-echo-area
526This variable controls where the cursor appears when a message is
527displayed in the echo area. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the cursor
528appears at the end of the message. Otherwise, the cursor appears at
529point---not in the echo area at all.
530
531The value is normally @code{nil}; Lisp programs bind it to @code{t}
532for brief periods of time.
533@end defvar
534
535@defvar echo-area-clear-hook
536This normal hook is run whenever the echo area is cleared---either by
537@code{(message nil)} or for any other reason.
538@end defvar
539
01f17ae2 540@defopt echo-keystrokes
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541This variable determines how much time should elapse before command
542characters echo. Its value must be an integer or floating point number,
543which specifies the
544number of seconds to wait before echoing. If the user types a prefix
545key (such as @kbd{C-x}) and then delays this many seconds before
546continuing, the prefix key is echoed in the echo area. (Once echoing
547begins in a key sequence, all subsequent characters in the same key
548sequence are echoed immediately.)
549
550If the value is zero, then command input is not echoed.
01f17ae2 551@end defopt
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552
553@defvar message-truncate-lines
554Normally, displaying a long message resizes the echo area to display
555the entire message. But if the variable @code{message-truncate-lines}
556is non-@code{nil}, the echo area does not resize, and the message is
557truncated to fit it, as in Emacs 20 and before.
558@end defvar
559
560 The variable @code{max-mini-window-height}, which specifies the
561maximum height for resizing minibuffer windows, also applies to the
562echo area (which is really a special use of the minibuffer window.
35539065 563@xref{Minibuffer Misc}.).
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564
565@node Warnings
566@section Reporting Warnings
567@cindex warnings
568
569 @dfn{Warnings} are a facility for a program to inform the user of a
570possible problem, but continue running.
571
572@menu
573* Warning Basics:: Warnings concepts and functions to report them.
574* Warning Variables:: Variables programs bind to customize their warnings.
575* Warning Options:: Variables users set to control display of warnings.
576@end menu
577
578@node Warning Basics
579@subsection Warning Basics
580@cindex severity level
581
582 Every warning has a textual message, which explains the problem for
583the user, and a @dfn{severity level} which is a symbol. Here are the
584possible severity levels, in order of decreasing severity, and their
585meanings:
586
587@table @code
588@item :emergency
589A problem that will seriously impair Emacs operation soon
590if you do not attend to it promptly.
591@item :error
592A report of data or circumstances that are inherently wrong.
593@item :warning
594A report of data or circumstances that are not inherently wrong, but
595raise suspicion of a possible problem.
596@item :debug
597A report of information that may be useful if you are debugging.
598@end table
599
600 When your program encounters invalid input data, it can either
601signal a Lisp error by calling @code{error} or @code{signal} or report
602a warning with severity @code{:error}. Signaling a Lisp error is the
603easiest thing to do, but it means the program cannot continue
604processing. If you want to take the trouble to implement a way to
605continue processing despite the bad data, then reporting a warning of
606severity @code{:error} is the right way to inform the user of the
607problem. For instance, the Emacs Lisp byte compiler can report an
608error that way and continue compiling other functions. (If the
609program signals a Lisp error and then handles it with
610@code{condition-case}, the user won't see the error message; it could
611show the message to the user by reporting it as a warning.)
612
613@cindex warning type
614 Each warning has a @dfn{warning type} to classify it. The type is a
615list of symbols. The first symbol should be the custom group that you
616use for the program's user options. For example, byte compiler
617warnings use the warning type @code{(bytecomp)}. You can also
618subcategorize the warnings, if you wish, by using more symbols in the
619list.
620
621@defun display-warning type message &optional level buffer-name
622This function reports a warning, using @var{message} as the message
623and @var{type} as the warning type. @var{level} should be the
624severity level, with @code{:warning} being the default.
625
626@var{buffer-name}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the name of the buffer
627for logging the warning. By default, it is @samp{*Warnings*}.
628@end defun
629
630@defun lwarn type level message &rest args
631This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
632@var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message. In other respects it is
633equivalent to @code{display-warning}.
634@end defun
635
636@defun warn message &rest args
637This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
638@var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message, @code{(emacs)} as the
639type, and @code{:warning} as the severity level. It exists for
640compatibility only; we recommend not using it, because you should
641specify a specific warning type.
642@end defun
643
644@node Warning Variables
645@subsection Warning Variables
646
647 Programs can customize how their warnings appear by binding
648the variables described in this section.
649
650@defvar warning-levels
651This list defines the meaning and severity order of the warning
652severity levels. Each element defines one severity level,
653and they are arranged in order of decreasing severity.
654
655Each element has the form @code{(@var{level} @var{string}
656@var{function})}, where @var{level} is the severity level it defines.
657@var{string} specifies the textual description of this level.
658@var{string} should use @samp{%s} to specify where to put the warning
659type information, or it can omit the @samp{%s} so as not to include
660that information.
661
662The optional @var{function}, if non-@code{nil}, is a function to call
663with no arguments, to get the user's attention.
664
665Normally you should not change the value of this variable.
666@end defvar
667
668@defvar warning-prefix-function
669If non-@code{nil}, the value is a function to generate prefix text for
670warnings. Programs can bind the variable to a suitable function.
671@code{display-warning} calls this function with the warnings buffer
672current, and the function can insert text in it. That text becomes
673the beginning of the warning message.
674
675The function is called with two arguments, the severity level and its
676entry in @code{warning-levels}. It should return a list to use as the
677entry (this value need not be an actual member of
678@code{warning-levels}). By constructing this value, the function can
679change the severity of the warning, or specify different handling for
680a given severity level.
681
682If the variable's value is @code{nil} then there is no function
683to call.
684@end defvar
685
686@defvar warning-series
687Programs can bind this variable to @code{t} to say that the next
688warning should begin a series. When several warnings form a series,
689that means to leave point on the first warning of the series, rather
690than keep moving it for each warning so that it appears on the last one.
691The series ends when the local binding is unbound and
692@code{warning-series} becomes @code{nil} again.
693
694The value can also be a symbol with a function definition. That is
695equivalent to @code{t}, except that the next warning will also call
696the function with no arguments with the warnings buffer current. The
697function can insert text which will serve as a header for the series
698of warnings.
699
700Once a series has begun, the value is a marker which points to the
701buffer position in the warnings buffer of the start of the series.
702
703The variable's normal value is @code{nil}, which means to handle
704each warning separately.
705@end defvar
706
707@defvar warning-fill-prefix
708When this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a fill prefix to
709use for filling each warning's text.
710@end defvar
711
712@defvar warning-type-format
713This variable specifies the format for displaying the warning type
714in the warning message. The result of formatting the type this way
715gets included in the message under the control of the string in the
716entry in @code{warning-levels}. The default value is @code{" (%s)"}.
717If you bind it to @code{""} then the warning type won't appear at
718all.
719@end defvar
720
721@node Warning Options
722@subsection Warning Options
723
724 These variables are used by users to control what happens
725when a Lisp program reports a warning.
726
727@defopt warning-minimum-level
728This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
729shown immediately to the user. The default is @code{:warning}, which
730means to immediately display all warnings except @code{:debug}
731warnings.
732@end defopt
733
734@defopt warning-minimum-log-level
735This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
736logged in the warnings buffer. The default is @code{:warning}, which
737means to log all warnings except @code{:debug} warnings.
738@end defopt
739
740@defopt warning-suppress-types
741This list specifies which warning types should not be displayed
742immediately for the user. Each element of the list should be a list
743of symbols. If its elements match the first elements in a warning
744type, then that warning is not displayed immediately.
745@end defopt
746
747@defopt warning-suppress-log-types
748This list specifies which warning types should not be logged in the
749warnings buffer. Each element of the list should be a list of
750symbols. If it matches the first few elements in a warning type, then
751that warning is not logged.
752@end defopt
753
754@node Invisible Text
755@section Invisible Text
756
757@cindex invisible text
758You can make characters @dfn{invisible}, so that they do not appear on
759the screen, with the @code{invisible} property. This can be either a
760text property (@pxref{Text Properties}) or a property of an overlay
761(@pxref{Overlays}). Cursor motion also partly ignores these
762characters; if the command loop finds point within them, it moves
763point to the other side of them.
764
765In the simplest case, any non-@code{nil} @code{invisible} property makes
766a character invisible. This is the default case---if you don't alter
767the default value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}, this is how the
768@code{invisible} property works. You should normally use @code{t}
769as the value of the @code{invisible} property if you don't plan
770to set @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} yourself.
771
772More generally, you can use the variable @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
773to control which values of the @code{invisible} property make text
774invisible. This permits you to classify the text into different subsets
775in advance, by giving them different @code{invisible} values, and
776subsequently make various subsets visible or invisible by changing the
777value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
778
779Controlling visibility with @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is
780especially useful in a program to display the list of entries in a
781database. It permits the implementation of convenient filtering
782commands to view just a part of the entries in the database. Setting
783this variable is very fast, much faster than scanning all the text in
784the buffer looking for properties to change.
785
786@defvar buffer-invisibility-spec
787This variable specifies which kinds of @code{invisible} properties
788actually make a character invisible. Setting this variable makes it
789buffer-local.
790
791@table @asis
792@item @code{t}
793A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property is
794non-@code{nil}. This is the default.
795
796@item a list
797Each element of the list specifies a criterion for invisibility; if a
798character's @code{invisible} property fits any one of these criteria,
799the character is invisible. The list can have two kinds of elements:
800
801@table @code
802@item @var{atom}
803A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value
804is @var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member.
805
806@item (@var{atom} . t)
807A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value is
808@var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member. Moreover,
809a sequence of such characters displays as an ellipsis.
810@end table
811@end table
812@end defvar
813
814 Two functions are specifically provided for adding elements to
815@code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and removing elements from it.
816
817@defun add-to-invisibility-spec element
818This function adds the element @var{element} to
819@code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. If @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
820was @code{t}, it changes to a list, @code{(t)}, so that text whose
821@code{invisible} property is @code{t} remains invisible.
822@end defun
823
824@defun remove-from-invisibility-spec element
825This removes the element @var{element} from
826@code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. This does nothing if @var{element}
827is not in the list.
828@end defun
829
830 A convention for use of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is that a
831major mode should use the mode's own name as an element of
832@code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and as the value of the
833@code{invisible} property:
834
835@example
836;; @r{If you want to display an ellipsis:}
837(add-to-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
838;; @r{If you don't want ellipsis:}
839(add-to-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
840
841(overlay-put (make-overlay beginning end)
842 'invisible 'my-symbol)
843
844;; @r{When done with the overlays:}
845(remove-from-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
846;; @r{Or respectively:}
847(remove-from-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
848@end example
849
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850 You can check for invisibility using the following function:
851
852@defun invisible-p pos-or-prop
853If @var{pos-or-prop} is a marker or number, this function returns a
854non-@code{nil} value if the text at that position is invisible.
855
856If @var{pos-or-prop} is any other kind of Lisp object, that is taken
857to mean a possible value of the @code{invisible} text or overlay
858property. In that case, this function returns a non-@code{nil} value
859if that value would cause text to become invisible, based on the
860current value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
861@end defun
862
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863@vindex line-move-ignore-invisible
864 Ordinarily, functions that operate on text or move point do not care
865whether the text is invisible. The user-level line motion commands
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866ignore invisible newlines if @code{line-move-ignore-invisible} is
867non-@code{nil} (the default), but only because they are explicitly
868programmed to do so.
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869
870 However, if a command ends with point inside or immediately before
871invisible text, the main editing loop moves point further forward or
872further backward (in the same direction that the command already moved
873it) until that condition is no longer true. Thus, if the command
874moved point back into an invisible range, Emacs moves point back to
875the beginning of that range, and then back one more character. If the
876command moved point forward into an invisible range, Emacs moves point
877forward up to the first visible character that follows the invisible
878text.
879
880 Incremental search can make invisible overlays visible temporarily
881and/or permanently when a match includes invisible text. To enable
882this, the overlay should have a non-@code{nil}
883@code{isearch-open-invisible} property. The property value should be a
884function to be called with the overlay as an argument. This function
885should make the overlay visible permanently; it is used when the match
886overlaps the overlay on exit from the search.
887
888 During the search, such overlays are made temporarily visible by
889temporarily modifying their invisible and intangible properties. If you
890want this to be done differently for a certain overlay, give it an
891@code{isearch-open-invisible-temporary} property which is a function.
892The function is called with two arguments: the first is the overlay, and
893the second is @code{nil} to make the overlay visible, or @code{t} to
894make it invisible again.
895
896@node Selective Display
897@section Selective Display
898@c @cindex selective display Duplicates selective-display
899
900 @dfn{Selective display} refers to a pair of related features for
901hiding certain lines on the screen.
902
903 The first variant, explicit selective display, is designed for use
904in a Lisp program: it controls which lines are hidden by altering the
905text. This kind of hiding in some ways resembles the effect of the
906@code{invisible} property (@pxref{Invisible Text}), but the two
907features are different and do not work the same way.
908
909 In the second variant, the choice of lines to hide is made
910automatically based on indentation. This variant is designed to be a
911user-level feature.
912
913 The way you control explicit selective display is by replacing a
914newline (control-j) with a carriage return (control-m). The text that
915was formerly a line following that newline is now hidden. Strictly
916speaking, it is temporarily no longer a line at all, since only
917newlines can separate lines; it is now part of the previous line.
918
919 Selective display does not directly affect editing commands. For
920example, @kbd{C-f} (@code{forward-char}) moves point unhesitatingly
921into hidden text. However, the replacement of newline characters with
922carriage return characters affects some editing commands. For
923example, @code{next-line} skips hidden lines, since it searches only
924for newlines. Modes that use selective display can also define
925commands that take account of the newlines, or that control which
926parts of the text are hidden.
927
928 When you write a selectively displayed buffer into a file, all the
929control-m's are output as newlines. This means that when you next read
930in the file, it looks OK, with nothing hidden. The selective display
931effect is seen only within Emacs.
932
933@defvar selective-display
934This buffer-local variable enables selective display. This means that
935lines, or portions of lines, may be made hidden.
936
937@itemize @bullet
938@item
939If the value of @code{selective-display} is @code{t}, then the character
940control-m marks the start of hidden text; the control-m, and the rest
941of the line following it, are not displayed. This is explicit selective
942display.
943
944@item
945If the value of @code{selective-display} is a positive integer, then
946lines that start with more than that many columns of indentation are not
947displayed.
948@end itemize
949
950When some portion of a buffer is hidden, the vertical movement
951commands operate as if that portion did not exist, allowing a single
952@code{next-line} command to skip any number of hidden lines.
953However, character movement commands (such as @code{forward-char}) do
954not skip the hidden portion, and it is possible (if tricky) to insert
955or delete text in an hidden portion.
956
957In the examples below, we show the @emph{display appearance} of the
958buffer @code{foo}, which changes with the value of
959@code{selective-display}. The @emph{contents} of the buffer do not
960change.
961
962@example
963@group
964(setq selective-display nil)
965 @result{} nil
966
967---------- Buffer: foo ----------
9681 on this column
969 2on this column
970 3n this column
971 3n this column
972 2on this column
9731 on this column
974---------- Buffer: foo ----------
975@end group
976
977@group
978(setq selective-display 2)
979 @result{} 2
980
981---------- Buffer: foo ----------
9821 on this column
983 2on this column
984 2on this column
9851 on this column
986---------- Buffer: foo ----------
987@end group
988@end example
989@end defvar
990
01f17ae2 991@defopt selective-display-ellipses
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992If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays
993@samp{@dots{}} at the end of a line that is followed by hidden text.
994This example is a continuation of the previous one.
995
996@example
997@group
998(setq selective-display-ellipses t)
999 @result{} t
1000
1001---------- Buffer: foo ----------
10021 on this column
1003 2on this column ...
1004 2on this column
10051 on this column
1006---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1007@end group
1008@end example
1009
1010You can use a display table to substitute other text for the ellipsis
1011(@samp{@dots{}}). @xref{Display Tables}.
01f17ae2 1012@end defopt
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1013
1014@node Temporary Displays
1015@section Temporary Displays
1016
1017 Temporary displays are used by Lisp programs to put output into a
1018buffer and then present it to the user for perusal rather than for
1019editing. Many help commands use this feature.
1020
1021@defspec with-output-to-temp-buffer buffer-name forms@dots{}
1022This function executes @var{forms} while arranging to insert any output
1023they print into the buffer named @var{buffer-name}, which is first
1024created if necessary, and put into Help mode. Finally, the buffer is
1025displayed in some window, but not selected.
1026
1027If the @var{forms} do not change the major mode in the output buffer,
1028so that it is still Help mode at the end of their execution, then
1029@code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} makes this buffer read-only at the
1030end, and also scans it for function and variable names to make them
1031into clickable cross-references. @xref{Docstring hyperlinks, , Tips
1032for Documentation Strings}, in particular the item on hyperlinks in
1033documentation strings, for more details.
1034
1035The string @var{buffer-name} specifies the temporary buffer, which
1036need not already exist. The argument must be a string, not a buffer.
1037The buffer is erased initially (with no questions asked), and it is
1038marked as unmodified after @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} exits.
1039
1040@code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} binds @code{standard-output} to the
1041temporary buffer, then it evaluates the forms in @var{forms}. Output
1042using the Lisp output functions within @var{forms} goes by default to
1043that buffer (but screen display and messages in the echo area, although
1044they are ``output'' in the general sense of the word, are not affected).
1045@xref{Output Functions}.
1046
1047Several hooks are available for customizing the behavior
1048of this construct; they are listed below.
1049
1050The value of the last form in @var{forms} is returned.
1051
1052@example
1053@group
1054---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1055 This is the contents of foo.
1056---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1057@end group
1058
1059@group
1060(with-output-to-temp-buffer "foo"
1061 (print 20)
1062 (print standard-output))
1063@result{} #<buffer foo>
1064
1065---------- Buffer: foo ----------
106620
1067
1068#<buffer foo>
1069
1070---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1071@end group
1072@end example
1073@end defspec
1074
01f17ae2 1075@defopt temp-buffer-show-function
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1076If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer}
1077calls it as a function to do the job of displaying a help buffer. The
1078function gets one argument, which is the buffer it should display.
1079
1080It is a good idea for this function to run @code{temp-buffer-show-hook}
1081just as @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} normally would, inside of
1082@code{save-selected-window} and with the chosen window and buffer
1083selected.
01f17ae2 1084@end defopt
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1085
1086@defvar temp-buffer-setup-hook
1087This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} before
1088evaluating @var{body}. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer is
1089current. This hook is normally set up with a function to put the
1090buffer in Help mode.
1091@end defvar
1092
1093@defvar temp-buffer-show-hook
1094This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} after
1095displaying the temporary buffer. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer
6733e827 1096is current, and the window it was displayed in is selected.
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1097@end defvar
1098
1099@defun momentary-string-display string position &optional char message
1100This function momentarily displays @var{string} in the current buffer at
1101@var{position}. It has no effect on the undo list or on the buffer's
1102modification status.
1103
1104The momentary display remains until the next input event. If the next
1105input event is @var{char}, @code{momentary-string-display} ignores it
1106and returns. Otherwise, that event remains buffered for subsequent use
1107as input. Thus, typing @var{char} will simply remove the string from
1108the display, while typing (say) @kbd{C-f} will remove the string from
1109the display and later (presumably) move point forward. The argument
1110@var{char} is a space by default.
1111
1112The return value of @code{momentary-string-display} is not meaningful.
1113
1114If the string @var{string} does not contain control characters, you can
1115do the same job in a more general way by creating (and then subsequently
1116deleting) an overlay with a @code{before-string} property.
1117@xref{Overlay Properties}.
1118
1119If @var{message} is non-@code{nil}, it is displayed in the echo area
1120while @var{string} is displayed in the buffer. If it is @code{nil}, a
1121default message says to type @var{char} to continue.
1122
1123In this example, point is initially located at the beginning of the
1124second line:
1125
1126@example
1127@group
1128---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1129This is the contents of foo.
1130@point{}Second line.
1131---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1132@end group
1133
1134@group
1135(momentary-string-display
1136 "**** Important Message! ****"
1137 (point) ?\r
1138 "Type RET when done reading")
1139@result{} t
1140@end group
1141
1142@group
1143---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1144This is the contents of foo.
1145**** Important Message! ****Second line.
1146---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1147
1148---------- Echo Area ----------
1149Type RET when done reading
1150---------- Echo Area ----------
1151@end group
1152@end example
1153@end defun
1154
1155@node Overlays
1156@section Overlays
1157@cindex overlays
1158
1159You can use @dfn{overlays} to alter the appearance of a buffer's text on
1160the screen, for the sake of presentation features. An overlay is an
1161object that belongs to a particular buffer, and has a specified
1162beginning and end. It also has properties that you can examine and set;
1163these affect the display of the text within the overlay.
1164
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1165@cindex scalability of overlays
1166The visual effect of an overlay is the same as of the corresponding
1167text property (@pxref{Text Properties}). However, due to a different
1168implementation, overlays generally don't scale well (many operations
1169take a time that is proportional to the number of overlays in the
1170buffer). If you need to affect the visual appearance of many portions
0c1cfe01 1171in the buffer, we recommend using text properties.
b20ecfa1 1172
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1173An overlay uses markers to record its beginning and end; thus,
1174editing the text of the buffer adjusts the beginning and end of each
1175overlay so that it stays with the text. When you create the overlay,
1176you can specify whether text inserted at the beginning should be
1177inside the overlay or outside, and likewise for the end of the overlay.
1178
1179@menu
1180* Managing Overlays:: Creating and moving overlays.
1181* Overlay Properties:: How to read and set properties.
d24880de 1182 What properties do to the screen display.
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1183* Finding Overlays:: Searching for overlays.
1184@end menu
1185
1186@node Managing Overlays
1187@subsection Managing Overlays
1188
1189 This section describes the functions to create, delete and move
1190overlays, and to examine their contents. Overlay changes are not
1191recorded in the buffer's undo list, since the overlays are not
1192part of the buffer's contents.
1193
1194@defun overlayp object
1195This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is an overlay.
1196@end defun
1197
1198@defun make-overlay start end &optional buffer front-advance rear-advance
1199This function creates and returns an overlay that belongs to
1200@var{buffer} and ranges from @var{start} to @var{end}. Both @var{start}
1201and @var{end} must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or
1202markers. If @var{buffer} is omitted, the overlay is created in the
1203current buffer.
1204
1205The arguments @var{front-advance} and @var{rear-advance} specify the
1206marker insertion type for the start of the overlay and for the end of
1207the overlay, respectively. @xref{Marker Insertion Types}. If they
1208are both @code{nil}, the default, then the overlay extends to include
1209any text inserted at the beginning, but not text inserted at the end.
1210If @var{front-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the
1211beginning of the overlay is excluded from the overlay. If
1212@var{rear-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the end of the
1213overlay is included in the overlay.
1214@end defun
1215
1216@defun overlay-start overlay
1217This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} starts,
1218as an integer.
1219@end defun
1220
1221@defun overlay-end overlay
1222This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} ends,
1223as an integer.
1224@end defun
1225
1226@defun overlay-buffer overlay
1227This function returns the buffer that @var{overlay} belongs to. It
1228returns @code{nil} if @var{overlay} has been deleted.
1229@end defun
1230
1231@defun delete-overlay overlay
1232This function deletes @var{overlay}. The overlay continues to exist as
1233a Lisp object, and its property list is unchanged, but it ceases to be
1234attached to the buffer it belonged to, and ceases to have any effect on
1235display.
1236
1237A deleted overlay is not permanently disconnected. You can give it a
1238position in a buffer again by calling @code{move-overlay}.
1239@end defun
1240
1241@defun move-overlay overlay start end &optional buffer
1242This function moves @var{overlay} to @var{buffer}, and places its bounds
1243at @var{start} and @var{end}. Both arguments @var{start} and @var{end}
1244must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or markers.
1245
1246If @var{buffer} is omitted, @var{overlay} stays in the same buffer it
1247was already associated with; if @var{overlay} was deleted, it goes into
1248the current buffer.
1249
1250The return value is @var{overlay}.
1251
1252This is the only valid way to change the endpoints of an overlay. Do
1253not try modifying the markers in the overlay by hand, as that fails to
1254update other vital data structures and can cause some overlays to be
1255``lost.''
1256@end defun
1257
1258@defun remove-overlays &optional start end name value
1259This function removes all the overlays between @var{start} and
1260@var{end} whose property @var{name} has the value @var{value}. It can
1261move the endpoints of the overlays in the region, or split them.
1262
1263If @var{name} is omitted or @code{nil}, it means to delete all overlays in
1264the specified region. If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are omitted or
1265@code{nil}, that means the beginning and end of the buffer respectively.
1266Therefore, @code{(remove-overlays)} removes all the overlays in the
1267current buffer.
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1268@end defun
1269
1270@defun copy-overlay overlay
1271This function returns a copy of @var{overlay}. The copy has the same
1272endpoints and properties as @var{overlay}. However, the marker
1273insertion type for the start of the overlay and for the end of the
1274overlay are set to their default values (@pxref{Marker Insertion
1275Types}).
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1276@end defun
1277
1278 Here are some examples:
1279
1280@example
1281;; @r{Create an overlay.}
1282(setq foo (make-overlay 1 10))
1283 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 10 in display.texi>
1284(overlay-start foo)
1285 @result{} 1
1286(overlay-end foo)
1287 @result{} 10
1288(overlay-buffer foo)
1289 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1290;; @r{Give it a property we can check later.}
1291(overlay-put foo 'happy t)
1292 @result{} t
1293;; @r{Verify the property is present.}
1294(overlay-get foo 'happy)
1295 @result{} t
1296;; @r{Move the overlay.}
1297(move-overlay foo 5 20)
1298 @result{} #<overlay from 5 to 20 in display.texi>
1299(overlay-start foo)
1300 @result{} 5
1301(overlay-end foo)
1302 @result{} 20
1303;; @r{Delete the overlay.}
1304(delete-overlay foo)
1305 @result{} nil
1306;; @r{Verify it is deleted.}
1307foo
1308 @result{} #<overlay in no buffer>
1309;; @r{A deleted overlay has no position.}
1310(overlay-start foo)
1311 @result{} nil
1312(overlay-end foo)
1313 @result{} nil
1314(overlay-buffer foo)
1315 @result{} nil
1316;; @r{Undelete the overlay.}
1317(move-overlay foo 1 20)
1318 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 20 in display.texi>
1319;; @r{Verify the results.}
1320(overlay-start foo)
1321 @result{} 1
1322(overlay-end foo)
1323 @result{} 20
1324(overlay-buffer foo)
1325 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1326;; @r{Moving and deleting the overlay does not change its properties.}
1327(overlay-get foo 'happy)
1328 @result{} t
1329@end example
1330
1331 Emacs stores the overlays of each buffer in two lists, divided
1332around an arbitrary ``center position.'' One list extends backwards
1333through the buffer from that center position, and the other extends
1334forwards from that center position. The center position can be anywhere
1335in the buffer.
1336
1337@defun overlay-recenter pos
1338This function recenters the overlays of the current buffer around
1339position @var{pos}. That makes overlay lookup faster for positions
1340near @var{pos}, but slower for positions far away from @var{pos}.
1341@end defun
1342
1343 A loop that scans the buffer forwards, creating overlays, can run
1344faster if you do @code{(overlay-recenter (point-max))} first.
1345
1346@node Overlay Properties
1347@subsection Overlay Properties
1348
1349 Overlay properties are like text properties in that the properties that
1350alter how a character is displayed can come from either source. But in
1351most respects they are different. @xref{Text Properties}, for comparison.
1352
1353 Text properties are considered a part of the text; overlays and
1354their properties are specifically considered not to be part of the
1355text. Thus, copying text between various buffers and strings
1356preserves text properties, but does not try to preserve overlays.
1357Changing a buffer's text properties marks the buffer as modified,
1358while moving an overlay or changing its properties does not. Unlike
1359text property changes, overlay property changes are not recorded in
1360the buffer's undo list.
1361
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1362 Since more than one overlay can specify a property value for the
1363same character, Emacs lets you specify a priority value of each
1364overlay. You should not make assumptions about which overlay will
1365prevail when there is a conflict and they have the same priority.
1366
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1367 These functions read and set the properties of an overlay:
1368
1369@defun overlay-get overlay prop
1370This function returns the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1371@var{overlay}, if any. If @var{overlay} does not record any value for
1372that property, but it does have a @code{category} property which is a
1373symbol, that symbol's @var{prop} property is used. Otherwise, the value
1374is @code{nil}.
1375@end defun
1376
1377@defun overlay-put overlay prop value
1378This function sets the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1379@var{overlay} to @var{value}. It returns @var{value}.
1380@end defun
1381
1382@defun overlay-properties overlay
1383This returns a copy of the property list of @var{overlay}.
1384@end defun
1385
1386 See also the function @code{get-char-property} which checks both
1387overlay properties and text properties for a given character.
1388@xref{Examining Properties}.
1389
1390 Many overlay properties have special meanings; here is a table
1391of them:
1392
1393@table @code
1394@item priority
1395@kindex priority @r{(overlay property)}
1396This property's value (which should be a nonnegative integer number)
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1397determines the priority of the overlay. No priority, or @code{nil},
1398means zero.
1399
1400The priority matters when two or more overlays cover the same
1401character and both specify the same property; the one whose
1402@code{priority} value is larger overrides the other. For the
1403@code{face} property, the higher priority overlay's value does not
1404completely override the other value; instead, its face attributes
1405override the face attributes of the lower priority @code{face}
1406property.
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1407
1408Currently, all overlays take priority over text properties. Please
1409avoid using negative priority values, as we have not yet decided just
1410what they should mean.
1411
1412@item window
1413@kindex window @r{(overlay property)}
1414If the @code{window} property is non-@code{nil}, then the overlay
1415applies only on that window.
1416
1417@item category
1418@kindex category @r{(overlay property)}
1419If an overlay has a @code{category} property, we call it the
1420@dfn{category} of the overlay. It should be a symbol. The properties
1421of the symbol serve as defaults for the properties of the overlay.
1422
1423@item face
1424@kindex face @r{(overlay property)}
1425This property controls the way text is displayed---for example, which
1426font and which colors. @xref{Faces}, for more information.
1427
1428In the simplest case, the value is a face name. It can also be a list;
1429then each element can be any of these possibilities:
1430
1431@itemize @bullet
1432@item
1433A face name (a symbol or string).
1434
1435@item
1436A property list of face attributes. This has the form (@var{keyword}
1437@var{value} @dots{}), where each @var{keyword} is a face attribute
1438name and @var{value} is a meaningful value for that attribute. With
1439this feature, you do not need to create a face each time you want to
1440specify a particular attribute for certain text. @xref{Face
1441Attributes}.
1442
1443@item
1444A cons cell, either of the form @code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} or
1445@code{(background-color . @var{color-name})}. These elements specify
1446just the foreground color or just the background color.
1447
1448@code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} has the same effect as
1449@code{(:foreground @var{color-name})}; likewise for the background.
1450@end itemize
1451
1452@item mouse-face
1453@kindex mouse-face @r{(overlay property)}
1454This property is used instead of @code{face} when the mouse is within
1455the range of the overlay.
1456
1457@item display
1458@kindex display @r{(overlay property)}
1459This property activates various features that change the
1460way text is displayed. For example, it can make text appear taller
1461or shorter, higher or lower, wider or narrower, or replaced with an image.
1462@xref{Display Property}.
1463
1464@item help-echo
1465@kindex help-echo @r{(overlay property)}
1466If an overlay has a @code{help-echo} property, then when you move the
1467mouse onto the text in the overlay, Emacs displays a help string in the
1468echo area, or in the tooltip window. For details see @ref{Text
1469help-echo}.
1470
1471@item modification-hooks
1472@kindex modification-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1473This property's value is a list of functions to be called if any
1474character within the overlay is changed or if text is inserted strictly
1475within the overlay.
1476
1477The hook functions are called both before and after each change.
1478If the functions save the information they receive, and compare notes
1479between calls, they can determine exactly what change has been made
1480in the buffer text.
1481
1482When called before a change, each function receives four arguments: the
1483overlay, @code{nil}, and the beginning and end of the text range to be
1484modified.
1485
1486When called after a change, each function receives five arguments: the
1487overlay, @code{t}, the beginning and end of the text range just
1488modified, and the length of the pre-change text replaced by that range.
1489(For an insertion, the pre-change length is zero; for a deletion, that
1490length is the number of characters deleted, and the post-change
1491beginning and end are equal.)
1492
1493If these functions modify the buffer, they should bind
1494@code{inhibit-modification-hooks} to @code{t} around doing so, to
1495avoid confusing the internal mechanism that calls these hooks.
1496
1497Text properties also support the @code{modification-hooks} property,
1498but the details are somewhat different (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1499
1500@item insert-in-front-hooks
1501@kindex insert-in-front-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1502This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1503after inserting text right at the beginning of the overlay. The calling
1504conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1505
1506@item insert-behind-hooks
1507@kindex insert-behind-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1508This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1509after inserting text right at the end of the overlay. The calling
1510conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1511
1512@item invisible
1513@kindex invisible @r{(overlay property)}
1514The @code{invisible} property can make the text in the overlay
1515invisible, which means that it does not appear on the screen.
1516@xref{Invisible Text}, for details.
1517
1518@item intangible
1519@kindex intangible @r{(overlay property)}
1520The @code{intangible} property on an overlay works just like the
1521@code{intangible} text property. @xref{Special Properties}, for details.
1522
1523@item isearch-open-invisible
1524This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1525visible, permanently, if the final match overlaps it. @xref{Invisible
1526Text}.
1527
1528@item isearch-open-invisible-temporary
1529This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1530visible, temporarily, during the search. @xref{Invisible Text}.
1531
1532@item before-string
1533@kindex before-string @r{(overlay property)}
1534This property's value is a string to add to the display at the beginning
1535of the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1536sense---only on the screen.
1537
1538@item after-string
1539@kindex after-string @r{(overlay property)}
1540This property's value is a string to add to the display at the end of
1541the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1542sense---only on the screen.
1543
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1544@item line-prefix
1545This property specifies a display spec to prepend to each
1546non-continuation line at display-time. @xref{Truncation}.
1547
1548@itemx wrap-prefix
1549This property specifies a display spec to prepend to each continuation
1550line at display-time. @xref{Truncation}.
1551
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1552@item evaporate
1553@kindex evaporate @r{(overlay property)}
1554If this property is non-@code{nil}, the overlay is deleted automatically
1555if it becomes empty (i.e., if its length becomes zero). If you give
1556an empty overlay a non-@code{nil} @code{evaporate} property, that deletes
1557it immediately.
1558
1559@item local-map
1560@cindex keymap of character (and overlays)
1561@kindex local-map @r{(overlay property)}
1562If this property is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a keymap for a portion
1563of the text. The property's value replaces the buffer's local map, when
1564the character after point is within the overlay. @xref{Active Keymaps}.
1565
1566@item keymap
1567@kindex keymap @r{(overlay property)}
1568The @code{keymap} property is similar to @code{local-map} but overrides the
1569buffer's local map (and the map specified by the @code{local-map}
1570property) rather than replacing it.
1571@end table
1572
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1573The @code{local-map} and @code{keymap} properties do not affect a
1574string displayed by the @code{before-string}, @code{after-string}, or
1575@code{display} properties. This is only relevant for mouse clicks and
1576other mouse events that fall on the string, since point is never on
1577the string. To bind special mouse events for the string, assign it a
1578@code{local-map} or @code{keymap} text property. @xref{Special
1579Properties}.
1580
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1581@node Finding Overlays
1582@subsection Searching for Overlays
1583
1584@defun overlays-at pos
1585This function returns a list of all the overlays that cover the
1586character at position @var{pos} in the current buffer. The list is in
1587no particular order. An overlay contains position @var{pos} if it
1588begins at or before @var{pos}, and ends after @var{pos}.
1589
1590To illustrate usage, here is a Lisp function that returns a list of the
1591overlays that specify property @var{prop} for the character at point:
1592
1593@smallexample
1594(defun find-overlays-specifying (prop)
1595 (let ((overlays (overlays-at (point)))
1596 found)
1597 (while overlays
1598 (let ((overlay (car overlays)))
1599 (if (overlay-get overlay prop)
1600 (setq found (cons overlay found))))
1601 (setq overlays (cdr overlays)))
1602 found))
1603@end smallexample
1604@end defun
1605
1606@defun overlays-in beg end
1607This function returns a list of the overlays that overlap the region
1608@var{beg} through @var{end}. ``Overlap'' means that at least one
1609character is contained within the overlay and also contained within the
1610specified region; however, empty overlays are included in the result if
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1611they are located at @var{beg}, strictly between @var{beg} and @var{end},
1612or at @var{end} when @var{end} denotes the position at the end of the
1613buffer.
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1614@end defun
1615
1616@defun next-overlay-change pos
1617This function returns the buffer position of the next beginning or end
1618of an overlay, after @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1619@code{(point-max)}.
1620@end defun
1621
1622@defun previous-overlay-change pos
1623This function returns the buffer position of the previous beginning or
1624end of an overlay, before @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1625@code{(point-min)}.
1626@end defun
1627
1628 As an example, here's a simplified (and inefficient) version of the
1629primitive function @code{next-single-char-property-change}
1630(@pxref{Property Search}). It searches forward from position
1631@var{pos} for the next position where the value of a given property
1632@code{prop}, as obtained from either overlays or text properties,
1633changes.
1634
1635@smallexample
1636(defun next-single-char-property-change (position prop)
1637 (save-excursion
1638 (goto-char position)
1639 (let ((propval (get-char-property (point) prop)))
1640 (while (and (not (eobp))
1641 (eq (get-char-property (point) prop) propval))
1642 (goto-char (min (next-overlay-change (point))
1643 (next-single-property-change (point) prop)))))
1644 (point)))
1645@end smallexample
1646
1647@node Width
1648@section Width
1649
1650Since not all characters have the same width, these functions let you
1651check the width of a character. @xref{Primitive Indent}, and
1652@ref{Screen Lines}, for related functions.
1653
1654@defun char-width char
1655This function returns the width in columns of the character @var{char},
1656if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1657@end defun
1658
1659@defun string-width string
1660This function returns the width in columns of the string @var{string},
1661if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1662@end defun
1663
1664@defun truncate-string-to-width string width &optional start-column padding ellipsis
1665This function returns the part of @var{string} that fits within
1666@var{width} columns, as a new string.
1667
1668If @var{string} does not reach @var{width}, then the result ends where
1669@var{string} ends. If one multi-column character in @var{string}
1670extends across the column @var{width}, that character is not included in
1671the result. Thus, the result can fall short of @var{width} but cannot
1672go beyond it.
1673
1674The optional argument @var{start-column} specifies the starting column.
1675If this is non-@code{nil}, then the first @var{start-column} columns of
1676the string are omitted from the value. If one multi-column character in
1677@var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}, that
1678character is not included.
1679
1680The optional argument @var{padding}, if non-@code{nil}, is a padding
1681character added at the beginning and end of the result string, to extend
1682it to exactly @var{width} columns. The padding character is used at the
1683end of the result if it falls short of @var{width}. It is also used at
1684the beginning of the result if one multi-column character in
1685@var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}.
1686
1687If @var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a string which will
1688replace the end of @var{str} (including any padding) if it extends
1689beyond @var{end-column}, unless the display width of @var{str} is
1690equal to or less than the display width of @var{ellipsis}. If
1691@var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil} and not a string, it stands for
1692@code{"..."}.
1693
1694@example
1695(truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4)
1696 @result{} "ab"
1697(truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4 ?\s)
1698 @result{} " ab "
1699@end example
1700@end defun
1701
1702@node Line Height
1703@section Line Height
1704@cindex line height
1705
1706 The total height of each display line consists of the height of the
1707contents of the line, plus optional additional vertical line spacing
1708above or below the display line.
1709
1710 The height of the line contents is the maximum height of any
1711character or image on that display line, including the final newline
1712if there is one. (A display line that is continued doesn't include a
1713final newline.) That is the default line height, if you do nothing to
1714specify a greater height. (In the most common case, this equals the
1715height of the default frame font.)
1716
1717 There are several ways to explicitly specify a larger line height,
1718either by specifying an absolute height for the display line, or by
1719specifying vertical space. However, no matter what you specify, the
1720actual line height can never be less than the default.
1721
1722@kindex line-height @r{(text property)}
1723 A newline can have a @code{line-height} text or overlay property
1724that controls the total height of the display line ending in that
1725newline.
1726
1727 If the property value is @code{t}, the newline character has no
1728effect on the displayed height of the line---the visible contents
1729alone determine the height. This is useful for tiling small images
1730(or image slices) without adding blank areas between the images.
1731
1732 If the property value is a list of the form @code{(@var{height}
1733@var{total})}, that adds extra space @emph{below} the display line.
1734First Emacs uses @var{height} as a height spec to control extra space
1735@emph{above} the line; then it adds enough space @emph{below} the line
1736to bring the total line height up to @var{total}. In this case, the
1737other ways to specify the line spacing are ignored.
1738
1739 Any other kind of property value is a height spec, which translates
1740into a number---the specified line height. There are several ways to
1741write a height spec; here's how each of them translates into a number:
1742
1743@table @code
1744@item @var{integer}
1745If the height spec is a positive integer, the height value is that integer.
1746@item @var{float}
1747If the height spec is a float, @var{float}, the numeric height value
1748is @var{float} times the frame's default line height.
1749@item (@var{face} . @var{ratio})
1750If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1751is @var{ratio} times the height of face @var{face}. @var{ratio} can
1752be any type of number, or @code{nil} which means a ratio of 1.
1753If @var{face} is @code{t}, it refers to the current face.
1754@item (nil . @var{ratio})
1755If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1756is @var{ratio} times the height of the contents of the line.
1757@end table
1758
1759 Thus, any valid height spec determines the height in pixels, one way
1760or another. If the line contents' height is less than that, Emacs
1761adds extra vertical space above the line to achieve the specified
1762total height.
1763
1764 If you don't specify the @code{line-height} property, the line's
1765height consists of the contents' height plus the line spacing.
1766There are several ways to specify the line spacing for different
1767parts of Emacs text.
1768
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1769 On graphical terminals, you can specify the line spacing for all
1770lines in a frame, using the @code{line-spacing} frame parameter
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1771(@pxref{Layout Parameters}). However, if the default value of
1772@code{line-spacing} is non-@code{nil}, it overrides the
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1773frame's @code{line-spacing} parameter. An integer value specifies the
1774number of pixels put below lines. A floating point number specifies
1775the spacing relative to the frame's default line height.
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1776
1777@vindex line-spacing
1778 You can specify the line spacing for all lines in a buffer via the
1779buffer-local @code{line-spacing} variable. An integer value specifies
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1780the number of pixels put below lines. A floating point number
1781specifies the spacing relative to the default frame line height. This
1782overrides line spacings specified for the frame.
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1783
1784@kindex line-spacing @r{(text property)}
1785 Finally, a newline can have a @code{line-spacing} text or overlay
1786property that overrides the default frame line spacing and the buffer
1787local @code{line-spacing} variable, for the display line ending in
1788that newline.
1789
1790 One way or another, these mechanisms specify a Lisp value for the
1791spacing of each line. The value is a height spec, and it translates
1792into a Lisp value as described above. However, in this case the
1793numeric height value specifies the line spacing, rather than the line
1794height.
1795
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1796 On text-only terminals, the line spacing cannot be altered.
1797
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1798@node Faces
1799@section Faces
1800@cindex faces
1801
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1802 A @dfn{face} is a collection of graphical attributes for displaying
1803text: font family, foreground color, background color, optional
1804underlining, and so on. Faces control how buffer text is displayed,
1805and how some parts of the frame, such as the mode-line, are displayed.
1806@xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for the list of
1807faces Emacs normally comes with.
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1808
1809@cindex face id
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1810 For most purposes, you refer to a face in Lisp programs using its
1811@dfn{face name}. This is either a string or (equivalently) a Lisp
1812symbol whose name is equal to that string.
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1813
1814@defun facep object
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1815This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a Lisp
1816symbol or string that names a face. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
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1817@end defun
1818
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1819 Each face name is meaningful for all frames, and by default it has
1820the same meaning in all frames. But you can arrange to give a
1821particular face name a special meaning in one frame if you wish.
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1822
1823@menu
1824* Defining Faces:: How to define a face with @code{defface}.
1825* Face Attributes:: What is in a face?
1826* Attribute Functions:: Functions to examine and set face attributes.
1827* Displaying Faces:: How Emacs combines the faces specified for a character.
d466a866 1828* Face Remapping:: Remapping faces to alternative definitions.
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1829* Face Functions:: How to define and examine faces.
1830* Auto Faces:: Hook for automatic face assignment.
9185bf49 1831* Font Selection:: Finding the best available font for a face.
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1832* Font Lookup:: Looking up the names of available fonts
1833 and information about them.
1834* Fontsets:: A fontset is a collection of fonts
1835 that handle a range of character sets.
c2aa555a 1836* Low-Level Font:: Lisp representation for character display fonts.
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1837@end menu
1838
1839@node Defining Faces
1840@subsection Defining Faces
1841
1842 The way to define a new face is with @code{defface}. This creates a
1843kind of customization item (@pxref{Customization}) which the user can
1844customize using the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy Customization,,,
1845emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
1846
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1847 People are sometimes tempted to create variables whose values specify
1848which faces to use (for example, Font-Lock does this). In the vast
1849majority of cases, this is not necessary, and simply using faces
1850directly is preferable.
1851
b8d4c8d0 1852@defmac defface face spec doc [keyword value]@dots{}
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1853This declares @var{face} as a customizable face whose default
1854attributes are given by @var{spec}. You should not quote the symbol
1855@var{face}, and it should not end in @samp{-face} (that would be
1856redundant). The argument @var{doc} specifies the face documentation.
1857The keywords you can use in @code{defface} are the same as in
1858@code{defgroup} and @code{defcustom} (@pxref{Common Keywords}).
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1859
1860When @code{defface} executes, it defines the face according to
1861@var{spec}, then uses any customizations that were read from the
1862init file (@pxref{Init File}) to override that specification.
1863
1864When you evaluate a @code{defface} form with @kbd{C-M-x} in Emacs
1865Lisp mode (@code{eval-defun}), a special feature of @code{eval-defun}
1866overrides any customizations of the face. This way, the face reflects
1867exactly what the @code{defface} says.
1868
1869The purpose of @var{spec} is to specify how the face should appear on
1870different kinds of terminals. It should be an alist whose elements
1871have the form @code{(@var{display} @var{atts})}. Each element's
1872@sc{car}, @var{display}, specifies a class of terminals. (The first
1873element, if its @sc{car} is @code{default}, is special---it specifies
1874defaults for the remaining elements). The element's @sc{cadr},
1875@var{atts}, is a list of face attributes and their values; it
1876specifies what the face should look like on that kind of terminal.
1877The possible attributes are defined in the value of
1878@code{custom-face-attributes}.
1879
1880The @var{display} part of an element of @var{spec} determines which
1881frames the element matches. If more than one element of @var{spec}
1882matches a given frame, the first element that matches is the one used
1883for that frame. There are three possibilities for @var{display}:
1884
1885@table @asis
1886@item @code{default}
1887This element of @var{spec} doesn't match any frames; instead, it
1888specifies defaults that apply to all frames. This kind of element, if
1889used, must be the first element of @var{spec}. Each of the following
1890elements can override any or all of these defaults.
1891
1892@item @code{t}
1893This element of @var{spec} matches all frames. Therefore, any
1894subsequent elements of @var{spec} are never used. Normally
1895@code{t} is used in the last (or only) element of @var{spec}.
1896
1897@item a list
1898If @var{display} is a list, each element should have the form
1899@code{(@var{characteristic} @var{value}@dots{})}. Here
1900@var{characteristic} specifies a way of classifying frames, and the
1901@var{value}s are possible classifications which @var{display} should
1902apply to. Here are the possible values of @var{characteristic}:
1903
1904@table @code
1905@item type
1906The kind of window system the frame uses---either @code{graphic} (any
1907graphics-capable display), @code{x}, @code{pc} (for the MS-DOS console),
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1908@code{w32} (for MS Windows 9X/NT/2K/XP), or @code{tty}
1909(a non-graphics-capable display).
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1910@xref{Window Systems, window-system}.
1911
1912@item class
1913What kinds of colors the frame supports---either @code{color},
1914@code{grayscale}, or @code{mono}.
1915
1916@item background
1917The kind of background---either @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1918
1919@item min-colors
1920An integer that represents the minimum number of colors the frame
1921should support. This matches a frame if its
1922@code{display-color-cells} value is at least the specified integer.
1923
1924@item supports
1925Whether or not the frame can display the face attributes given in
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1926@var{value}@dots{} (@pxref{Face Attributes}). @xref{Display Face
1927Attribute Testing}, for more information on exactly how this testing
1928is done.
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1929@end table
1930
1931If an element of @var{display} specifies more than one @var{value} for a
1932given @var{characteristic}, any of those values is acceptable. If
1933@var{display} has more than one element, each element should specify a
1934different @var{characteristic}; then @emph{each} characteristic of the
1935frame must match one of the @var{value}s specified for it in
1936@var{display}.
1937@end table
1938@end defmac
1939
1940 Here's how the standard face @code{region} is defined:
1941
1942@example
1943@group
1944(defface region
1945 '((((class color) (min-colors 88) (background dark))
1946 :background "blue3")
1947@end group
1948 (((class color) (min-colors 88) (background light))
1949 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1950 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background dark))
1951 :background "blue3")
1952 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background light))
1953 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1954 (((class color) (min-colors 8))
1955 :background "blue" :foreground "white")
1956 (((type tty) (class mono))
1957 :inverse-video t)
1958 (t :background "gray"))
1959@group
1960 "Basic face for highlighting the region."
1961 :group 'basic-faces)
1962@end group
1963@end example
1964
1965 Internally, @code{defface} uses the symbol property
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1966@code{face-defface-spec} to record the specified face attributes. The
1967attributes saved by the user with the customization buffer are
1968recorded in the symbol property @code{saved-face}; the attributes
1969customized by the user for the current session, but not saved, are
1970recorded in the symbol property @code{customized-face}. The
1971documentation string is recorded in the symbol property
1972@code{face-documentation}.
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1973
1974@defopt frame-background-mode
1975This option, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the background type to use for
1976interpreting face definitions. If it is @code{dark}, then Emacs treats
1977all frames as if they had a dark background, regardless of their actual
1978background colors. If it is @code{light}, then Emacs treats all frames
1979as if they had a light background.
1980@end defopt
1981
1982@node Face Attributes
1983@subsection Face Attributes
1984@cindex face attributes
1985
1986 The effect of using a face is determined by a fixed set of @dfn{face
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1987attributes}. This table lists all the face attributes, their possible
1988values, and their effects. You can specify more than one face for a
1989given piece of text; Emacs merges the attributes of all the faces to
1990determine how to display the text. @xref{Displaying Faces}.
1991
1992 In addition to the values given below, each face attribute can also
1993have the value @code{unspecified}. This special value means the face
1994doesn't specify that attribute. In face merging, when the first face
1995fails to specify a particular attribute, the next face gets a chance.
1996However, the @code{default} face must specify all attributes.
1997
1998 Some of these font attributes are meaningful only on certain kinds
1999of displays. If your display cannot handle a certain attribute, the
2000attribute is ignored.
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2001
2002@table @code
2003@item :family
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2004Font family name or fontset name (a string). If you specify a font
2005family name, the wild-card characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are
2006allowed. The function @code{font-family-list}, described below,
2007returns a list of available family names. @xref{Fontsets}, for
2008information about fontsets.
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2009
2010@item :foundry
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2011The name of the @dfn{font foundry} in which the font family specified
2012by the @code{:family} attribute is located (a string). The wild-card
2013characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are allowed.
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2014
2015@item :width
42a2a154 2016Relative proportionate character width, also known as the character
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2017set width. This should be one of the symbols @code{ultra-condensed},
2018@code{extra-condensed}, @code{condensed}, @code{semi-condensed},
2019@code{normal}, @code{semi-expanded}, @code{expanded},
2020@code{extra-expanded}, or @code{ultra-expanded}.
2021
2022@item :height
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2023The height of the font. In the simplest case, this is an integer in
2024units of 1/10 point.
2025
2026The value can also be a floating point number or a function, which
2027specifies the height relative to an @dfn{underlying face} (i.e., a
2028face that has a lower priority in the list described in
2029@ref{Displaying Faces}). If the value is a floating point number,
2030that specifies the amount by which to scale the height of the
2031underlying face. If the value is a function, that function is called
2032with one argument, the height of the underlying face, and returns the
2033height of the new face. If the function is passed an integer
2034argument, it must return an integer.
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2035
2036The height of the default face must be specified using an integer;
2037floating point and function values are not allowed.
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2038
2039@item :weight
42a2a154 2040Font weight---one of the symbols (from densest to faintest)
b8d4c8d0 2041@code{ultra-bold}, @code{extra-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{semi-bold},
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2042@code{normal}, @code{semi-light}, @code{light}, @code{extra-light}, or
2043@code{ultra-light}. On text-only terminals that support
2044variable-brightness text, any weight greater than normal is displayed
2045as extra bright, and any weight less than normal is displayed as
2046half-bright.
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2047
2048@item :slant
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2049Font slant---one of the symbols @code{italic}, @code{oblique},
2050@code{normal}, @code{reverse-italic}, or @code{reverse-oblique}. On
2051text-only terminals that support variable-brightness text, slanted
2052text is displayed as half-bright.
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2053
2054@item :foreground
2055Foreground color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
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2056name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}. On
2057black-and-white displays, certain shades of gray are implemented by
2058stipple patterns.
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2059
2060@item :background
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2061Background color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
2062name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}.
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2063
2064@item :underline
2065Whether or not characters should be underlined, and in what color. If
2066the value is @code{t}, underlining uses the foreground color of the
2067face. If the value is a string, underlining uses that color. The
2068value @code{nil} means do not underline.
2069
2070@item :overline
2071Whether or not characters should be overlined, and in what color.
2072The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2073
2074@item :strike-through
2075Whether or not characters should be strike-through, and in what
2076color. The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2077
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2078@item :box
2079Whether or not a box should be drawn around characters, its color, the
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2080width of the box lines, and 3D appearance. Here are the possible
2081values of the @code{:box} attribute, and what they mean:
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2082
2083@table @asis
2084@item @code{nil}
2085Don't draw a box.
2086
2087@item @code{t}
2088Draw a box with lines of width 1, in the foreground color.
2089
2090@item @var{color}
2091Draw a box with lines of width 1, in color @var{color}.
2092
2093@item @code{(:line-width @var{width} :color @var{color} :style @var{style})}
2094This way you can explicitly specify all aspects of the box. The value
2095@var{width} specifies the width of the lines to draw; it defaults to 1.
2096
2097The value @var{color} specifies the color to draw with. The default is
2098the foreground color of the face for simple boxes, and the background
2099color of the face for 3D boxes.
2100
2101The value @var{style} specifies whether to draw a 3D box. If it is
2102@code{released-button}, the box looks like a 3D button that is not being
2103pressed. If it is @code{pressed-button}, the box looks like a 3D button
2104that is being pressed. If it is @code{nil} or omitted, a plain 2D box
2105is used.
2106@end table
2107
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2108@item :inverse-video
2109Whether or not characters should be displayed in inverse video. The
2110value should be @code{t} (yes) or @code{nil} (no).
b8d4c8d0 2111
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2112@item :stipple
2113The background stipple, a bitmap.
b8d4c8d0 2114
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2115The value can be a string; that should be the name of a file containing
2116external-format X bitmap data. The file is found in the directories
2117listed in the variable @code{x-bitmap-file-path}.
b8d4c8d0 2118
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2119Alternatively, the value can specify the bitmap directly, with a list
2120of the form @code{(@var{width} @var{height} @var{data})}. Here,
2121@var{width} and @var{height} specify the size in pixels, and
2122@var{data} is a string containing the raw bits of the bitmap, row by
2123row. Each row occupies @math{(@var{width} + 7) / 8} consecutive bytes
2124in the string (which should be a unibyte string for best results).
2125This means that each row always occupies at least one whole byte.
b8d4c8d0 2126
42a2a154 2127If the value is @code{nil}, that means use no stipple pattern.
b8d4c8d0 2128
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2129Normally you do not need to set the stipple attribute, because it is
2130used automatically to handle certain shades of gray.
b8d4c8d0 2131
42a2a154 2132@item :font
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2133The font used to display the face. Its value should be a font object.
2134@xref{Font Selection}, for information about font objects.
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2135
2136When specifying this attribute using @code{set-face-attribute}
9185bf49 2137(@pxref{Attribute Functions}), you may also supply a font spec, a font
42a2a154 2138entity, or a string. Emacs converts such values to an appropriate
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2139font object, and stores that font object as the actual attribute
2140value. If you specify a string, the contents of the string should be
2141a font name (@pxref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The
2142GNU Emacs Manual}); if the font name is an XLFD containing wildcards,
2143Emacs chooses the first font matching those wildcards. Specifying
2144this attribute also changes the values of the @code{:family},
2145@code{:foundry}, @code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and
2146@code{:slant} attributes.
b8d4c8d0 2147
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2148@item :inherit
2149The name of a face from which to inherit attributes, or a list of face
2150names. Attributes from inherited faces are merged into the face like
2151an underlying face would be, with higher priority than underlying
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2152faces (@pxref{Displaying Faces}). If a list of faces is used,
2153attributes from faces earlier in the list override those from later
2154faces.
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2155@end table
2156
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2157For compatibility with Emacs 20, you can also specify values for two
2158``fake'' face attributes: @code{:bold} and @code{:italic}. Their
2159values must be either @code{t} or @code{nil}; a value of
2160@code{unspecified} is not allowed. Setting @code{:bold} to @code{t}
2161is equivalent to setting the @code{:weight} attribute to @code{bold},
2162and setting it to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:weight}
2163to @code{normal}. Setting @code{:italic} to @code{t} is equivalent to
2164setting the @code{:slant} attribute to @code{italic}, and setting it
2165to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:slant} to @code{normal}.
2166
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2167@defun font-family-list &optional frame
2168This function returns a list of available font family names. The
2169optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on which the text is
2170to be displayed; if it is @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2171@end defun
2172
01f17ae2 2173@defopt underline-minimum-offset
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2174This variable specifies the minimum distance between the baseline and
2175the underline, in pixels, when displaying underlined text.
01f17ae2 2176@end defopt
0c1cfe01 2177
01f17ae2 2178@defopt x-bitmap-file-path
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2179This variable specifies a list of directories for searching
2180for bitmap files, for the @code{:stipple} attribute.
01f17ae2 2181@end defopt
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2182
2183@defun bitmap-spec-p object
2184This returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a valid bitmap specification,
2185suitable for use with @code{:stipple} (see above). It returns
2186@code{nil} otherwise.
2187@end defun
2188
2189@node Attribute Functions
2190@subsection Face Attribute Functions
2191
2192 This section describes the functions for accessing and modifying the
2193attributes of an existing face.
2194
2195@defun set-face-attribute face frame &rest arguments
42a2a154 2196This function sets one or more attributes of @var{face} for
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2197@var{frame}. The attributes you specify this way override whatever
2198the @code{defface} says.
2199
2200The extra arguments @var{arguments} specify the attributes to set, and
2201the values for them. They should consist of alternating attribute names
2202(such as @code{:family} or @code{:underline}) and corresponding values.
2203Thus,
2204
2205@example
2206(set-face-attribute 'foo nil
2207 :width 'extended
2208 :weight 'bold
2209 :underline "red")
2210@end example
2211
2212@noindent
2213sets the attributes @code{:width}, @code{:weight} and @code{:underline}
2214to the corresponding values.
2215
2216If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this function sets the default attributes
2217for new frames. Default attribute values specified this way override
2218the @code{defface} for newly created frames.
2219
2220If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, this function sets the attributes for
2221all existing frames, and the default for new frames.
2222@end defun
2223
2224@defun face-attribute face attribute &optional frame inherit
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2225This returns the value of the @var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}
2226on @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, that means the selected
2227frame (@pxref{Input Focus}).
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2228
2229If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this returns whatever new-frames default
2230value you previously specified with @code{set-face-attribute} for the
2231@var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}. If you have not specified
2232one, it returns @code{nil}.
2233
2234If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only attributes directly defined by
2235@var{face} are considered, so the return value may be
2236@code{unspecified}, or a relative value. If @var{inherit} is
2237non-@code{nil}, @var{face}'s definition of @var{attribute} is merged
2238with the faces specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute; however the
2239return value may still be @code{unspecified} or relative. If
2240@var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then the result is further
2241merged with that face (or faces), until it becomes specified and
2242absolute.
2243
2244To ensure that the return value is always specified and absolute, use
2245a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}; this will resolve any
2246unspecified or relative values by merging with the @code{default} face
2247(which is always completely specified).
2248
2249For example,
2250
2251@example
2252(face-attribute 'bold :weight)
2253 @result{} bold
2254@end example
2255@end defun
2256
2257@defun face-attribute-relative-p attribute value
2258This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{value}, when used as the
2259value of the face attribute @var{attribute}, is relative. This means
2260it would modify, rather than completely override, any value that comes
2261from a subsequent face in the face list or that is inherited from
2262another face.
2263
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2264@code{unspecified} is a relative value for all attributes. For
2265@code{:height}, floating point and function values are also relative.
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2266
2267For example:
2268
2269@example
2270(face-attribute-relative-p :height 2.0)
2271 @result{} t
2272@end example
2273@end defun
2274
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2275@defun face-all-attributes face &optional frame
2276This function returns an alist of attributes of @var{face}. The
2277elements of the result are name-value pairs of the form
2278@w{@code{(@var{attr-name} . @var{attr-value})}}. Optional argument
2279@var{frame} specifies the frame whose definition of @var{face} to
2280return; if omitted or @code{nil}, the returned value describes the
2281default attributes of @var{face} for newly created frames.
2282@end defun
2283
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2284@defun merge-face-attribute attribute value1 value2
2285If @var{value1} is a relative value for the face attribute
2286@var{attribute}, returns it merged with the underlying value
2287@var{value2}; otherwise, if @var{value1} is an absolute value for the
2288face attribute @var{attribute}, returns @var{value1} unchanged.
2289@end defun
2290
42a2a154 2291 The following functions provide compatibility with Emacs 20 and
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2292below. They work by calling @code{set-face-attribute}. Values of
2293@code{t} and @code{nil} for their @var{frame} argument are handled
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2294just like @code{set-face-attribute} and @code{face-attribute}.
2295
2296@defun set-face-foreground face color &optional frame
2297@defunx set-face-background face color &optional frame
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2298These functions set the @code{:foreground} attribute (or
2299@code{:background} attribute, respectively) of @var{face} to
2300@var{color}.
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2301@end defun
2302
2303@defun set-face-stipple face pattern &optional frame
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2304This function sets the @code{:stipple} attribute of @var{face} to
2305@var{pattern}.
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2306@end defun
2307
2308@defun set-face-font face font &optional frame
d466a866 2309This function sets the @code{:font} attribute of @var{face} to
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2310@var{font}.
2311@end defun
2312
2313@defun set-face-bold-p face bold-p &optional frame
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2314This function sets the @code{:weight} attribute of @var{face} to
2315@var{normal} if @var{bold-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{bold}
2316otherwise.
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2317@end defun
2318
2319@defun set-face-italic-p face italic-p &optional frame
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2320This function sets the @code{:slant} attribute of @var{face} to
2321@var{normal} if @var{italic-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{italic}
2322otherwise.
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2323@end defun
2324
2325@defun set-face-underline-p face underline &optional frame
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2326This function sets the @code{:underline} attribute of @var{face} to
2327@var{underline}.
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2328@end defun
2329
2330@defun set-face-inverse-video-p face inverse-video-p &optional frame
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2331This function sets the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of @var{face}
2332to @var{inverse-video-p}.
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2333@end defun
2334
2335@defun invert-face face &optional frame
2336This function swaps the foreground and background colors of face
2337@var{face}.
2338@end defun
2339
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2340 The following functions examine the attributes of a face. If you
2341don't specify @var{frame}, they refer to the selected frame; @code{t}
2342refers to the default data for new frames. They return the symbol
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2343@code{unspecified} if the face doesn't define any value for that
2344attribute.
2345
2346@defun face-foreground face &optional frame inherit
2347@defunx face-background face &optional frame inherit
2348These functions return the foreground color (or background color,
2349respectively) of face @var{face}, as a string.
2350
2351If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a color directly defined by the face is
2352returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces specified by its
2353@code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and if @var{inherit}
2354is a face or a list of faces, then they are also considered, until a
2355specified color is found. To ensure that the return value is always
2356specified, use a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}.
2357@end defun
2358
2359@defun face-stipple face &optional frame inherit
2360This function returns the name of the background stipple pattern of face
2361@var{face}, or @code{nil} if it doesn't have one.
2362
2363If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a stipple directly defined by the
2364face is returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces
2365specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and
2366if @var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then they are also
2367considered, until a specified stipple is found. To ensure that the
2368return value is always specified, use a value of @code{default} for
2369@var{inherit}.
2370@end defun
2371
2372@defun face-font face &optional frame
2373This function returns the name of the font of face @var{face}.
2374@end defun
2375
2376@defun face-bold-p face &optional frame
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2377This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:weight}
2378attribute of @var{face} is bolder than normal (i.e., one of
2379@code{semi-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{extra-bold}, or
2380@code{ultra-bold}). Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
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2381@end defun
2382
2383@defun face-italic-p face &optional frame
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2384This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:slant}
2385attribute of @var{face} is @code{italic} or @code{oblique}, and
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2386@code{nil} otherwise.
2387@end defun
2388
2389@defun face-underline-p face &optional frame
2390This function returns the @code{:underline} attribute of face @var{face}.
2391@end defun
2392
2393@defun face-inverse-video-p face &optional frame
2394This function returns the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of face @var{face}.
2395@end defun
2396
2397@node Displaying Faces
2398@subsection Displaying Faces
2399
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2400 Here is how Emacs determines the face to use for displaying any
2401given piece of text:
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2402
2403@itemize @bullet
2404@item
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2405If the text consists of a special glyph, the glyph can specify a
2406particular face. @xref{Glyphs}.
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2407
2408@item
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2409If the text lies within an active region, Emacs highlights it using
2410the @code{region} face. @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2411Manual}.
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2412
2413@item
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2414If the text lies within an overlay with a non-@code{nil} @code{face}
2415property, Emacs applies the face or face attributes specified by that
2416property. If the overlay has a @code{mouse-face} property and the
2417mouse is ``near enough'' to the overlay, Emacs applies the face or
2418face attributes specified by the @code{mouse-face} property instead.
2419@xref{Overlay Properties}.
b8d4c8d0 2420
d466a866
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2421When multiple overlays cover one character, an overlay with higher
2422priority overrides those with lower priority. @xref{Overlays}.
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2423
2424@item
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2425If the text contains a @code{face} or @code{mouse-face} property,
2426Emacs applies the specified faces and face attributes. @xref{Special
2427Properties}. (This is how Font Lock mode faces are applied.
2428@xref{Font Lock Mode}.)
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2429
2430@item
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2431If the text lies within the mode line of the selected window, Emacs
2432applies the @code{mode-line} face. For the mode line of a
2433non-selected window, Emacs applies the @code{mode-line-inactive} face.
2434For a header line, Emacs applies the @code{header-line} face.
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2435
2436@item
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2437If any given attribute has not been specified during the preceding
2438steps, Emacs applies the attribute of the @code{default} face.
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2439@end itemize
2440
2441 If these various sources together specify more than one face for a
2442particular character, Emacs merges the attributes of the various faces
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2443specified. For each attribute, Emacs tries using the above order
2444(i.e., first the face of any special glyph; then the face for region
2445highlighting, if appropriate; then faces specified by overlays, then
2446faces specified by text properties, then the @code{mode-line} or
2447@code{mode-line-inactive} or @code{header-line} face, if appropriate,
2448and finally the @code{default} face).
b8d4c8d0 2449
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2450@node Face Remapping
2451@subsection Face Remapping
f2cec7a9 2452
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2453 The variable @code{face-remapping-alist} is used for buffer-local or
2454global changes in the appearance of a face. For instance, it can be
2455used to make the @code{default} face a variable-pitch face within a
2456particular buffer.
f2cec7a9 2457
d466a866
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2458@defvar face-remapping-alist
2459An alist whose elements have the form @code{(@var{face}
2460@var{remapping...})}. This causes Emacs to display text using the
2461face @var{face} using @var{remapping...} instead of @var{face}'s
2462ordinary definition. @var{remapping...} may be any face specification
2463suitable for a @code{face} text property: either a face name, or a
2464property list of attribute/value pairs. @xref{Special Properties}.
2465
2466If @code{face-remapping-alist} is buffer-local, its local value takes
2467effect only within that buffer.
f2cec7a9
MB
2468
2469Two points bear emphasizing:
2470
2471@enumerate
2472@item
2473The new definition @var{remapping...} is the complete
2474specification of how to display @var{face}---it entirely replaces,
2475rather than augmenting or modifying, the normal definition of that
2476face.
2477
2478@item
2479If @var{remapping...} recursively references the same face name
2480@var{face}, either directly remapping entry, or via the
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2481@code{:inherit} attribute of some other face in @var{remapping...},
2482then that reference uses the normal definition of @var{face} in the
2483selected frame, instead of the ``remapped'' definition.
f2cec7a9
MB
2484
2485For instance, if the @code{mode-line} face is remapped using this
2486entry in @code{face-remapping-alist}:
2487@example
2488(mode-line italic mode-line)
2489@end example
2490@noindent
2491then the new definition of the @code{mode-line} face inherits from the
2492@code{italic} face, and the @emph{normal} (non-remapped) definition of
2493@code{mode-line} face.
2494@end enumerate
d466a866 2495@end defvar
f2cec7a9
MB
2496
2497 A typical use of the @code{face-remapping-alist} is to change a
2498buffer's @code{default} face; for example, the following changes a
2499buffer's @code{default} face to use the @code{variable-pitch} face,
2500with the height doubled:
2501
2502@example
2503(set (make-local-variable 'face-remapping-alist)
2504 '((default variable-pitch :height 2.0)))
2505@end example
2506
d466a866 2507 The following functions implement a higher-level interface to
9d3d42fb
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2508@code{face-remapping-alist}, making it easier to use
2509``cooperatively''. They are mainly intended for buffer-local use, and
2510so all make @code{face-remapping-alist} variable buffer-local as a
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2511side-effect. They use entries in @code{face-remapping-alist} which
2512have the general form:
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2513
2514@example
2515 (@var{face} @var{relative_specs_1} @var{relative_specs_2} @var{...} @var{base_specs})
2516@end example
2517
0c1cfe01
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2518Everything except @var{face} is a ``face spec'': a list of face names
2519or face attribute-value pairs. All face specs are merged together,
2520with earlier values taking precedence.
9d3d42fb
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2521
2522The @var{relative_specs_}n values are ``relative specs'', and are
e40a85cd
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2523added by @code{face-remap-add-relative} (and removed by
2524@code{face-remap-remove-relative}. These are intended for face
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2525modifications (such as increasing the size). Typical users of these
2526relative specs would be minor modes.
2527
2528@var{base_specs} is the lowest-priority value, and by default is just the
2529face name, which causes the global definition of that face to be used.
2530
2531A non-default value of @var{base_specs} may also be set using
e40a85cd 2532@code{face-remap-set-base}. Because this @emph{overwrites} the
9d3d42fb 2533default base-spec value (which inherits the global face definition),
e40a85cd 2534it is up to the caller of @code{face-remap-set-base} to add such
9d3d42fb 2535inheritance if it is desired. A typical use of
e40a85cd 2536@code{face-remap-set-base} would be a major mode adding a face
9d3d42fb
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2537remappings, e.g., of the default face.
2538
2539
e40a85cd 2540@defun face-remap-add-relative face &rest specs
9d3d42fb
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2541This functions adds a face remapping entry of @var{face} to @var{specs}
2542in the current buffer.
2543
2544It returns a ``cookie'' which can be used to later delete the remapping with
e40a85cd 2545@code{face-remap-remove-relative}.
9d3d42fb
MB
2546
2547@var{specs} can be any value suitable for the @code{face} text
2548property, including a face name, a list of face names, or a
2549face-attribute property list. The attributes given by @var{specs}
2550will be merged with any other currently active face remappings of
2551@var{face}, and with the global definition of @var{face} (by default;
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2552this may be changed using @code{face-remap-set-base}), with the most
2553recently added relative remapping taking precedence.
9d3d42fb
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2554@end defun
2555
e40a85cd 2556@defun face-remap-remove-relative cookie
9d3d42fb 2557This function removes a face remapping previously added by
e40a85cd
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2558@code{face-remap-add-relative}. @var{cookie} should be a return value
2559from that function.
9d3d42fb
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2560@end defun
2561
e40a85cd 2562@defun face-remap-set-base face &rest specs
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2563This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} in the current
2564buffer to @var{specs}. If @var{specs} is empty, the default base
2565remapping is restored, which inherits from the global definition of
2566@var{face}; note that this is different from @var{specs} containing a
2567single value @code{nil}, which has the opposite result (the global
2568definition of @var{face} is ignored).
2569@end defun
2570
e40a85cd 2571@defun face-remap-reset-base face
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2572This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} to its default
2573value, which inherits from @var{face}'s global definition.
2574@end defun
2575
9185bf49
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2576@node Face Functions
2577@subsection Functions for Working with Faces
2578
2579 Here are additional functions for creating and working with faces.
2580
2581@defun make-face name
2582This function defines a new face named @var{name}, initially with all
2583attributes @code{nil}. It does nothing if there is already a face named
2584@var{name}.
2585@end defun
2586
2587@defun face-list
2588This function returns a list of all defined face names.
2589@end defun
2590
2591@defun copy-face old-face new-name &optional frame new-frame
2592This function defines a face named @var{new-name} as a copy of the existing
2593face named @var{old-face}. It creates the face @var{new-name} if that
2594doesn't already exist.
2595
2596If the optional argument @var{frame} is given, this function applies
2597only to that frame. Otherwise it applies to each frame individually,
2598copying attributes from @var{old-face} in each frame to @var{new-face}
2599in the same frame.
2600
2601If the optional argument @var{new-frame} is given, then @code{copy-face}
2602copies the attributes of @var{old-face} in @var{frame} to @var{new-name}
2603in @var{new-frame}.
2604@end defun
2605
2606@defun face-id face
2607This function returns the @dfn{face number} of face @var{face}. This
2608is a number that uniquely identifies a face at low levels within
2609Emacs. It is seldom necessary to refer to a face by its face number.
2610@end defun
2611
2612@defun face-documentation face
2613This function returns the documentation string of face @var{face}, or
2614@code{nil} if none was specified for it.
2615@end defun
2616
2617@defun face-equal face1 face2 &optional frame
2618This returns @code{t} if the faces @var{face1} and @var{face2} have the
2619same attributes for display.
2620@end defun
2621
2622@defun face-differs-from-default-p face &optional frame
2623This returns non-@code{nil} if the face @var{face} displays
2624differently from the default face.
2625@end defun
2626
2627@cindex face alias
2628A @dfn{face alias} provides an equivalent name for a face. You can
2629define a face alias by giving the alias symbol the @code{face-alias}
2630property, with a value of the target face name. The following example
2631makes @code{modeline} an alias for the @code{mode-line} face.
2632
2633@example
2634(put 'modeline 'face-alias 'mode-line)
2635@end example
2636
e7e2f529
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2637@defun define-obsolete-face-alias obsolete-face current-face &optional when
2638This function defines a face alias and marks it as obsolete, indicating
2639that it may be removed in future. The optional string @var{when}
2640indicates when the face was made obsolete (for example, a release number).
2641@end defun
2642
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2643@node Auto Faces
2644@subsection Automatic Face Assignment
2645@cindex automatic face assignment
2646@cindex faces, automatic choice
2647
2648 This hook is used for automatically assigning faces to text in the
2649buffer. It is part of the implementation of Jit-Lock mode, used by
2650Font-Lock.
2651
2652@defvar fontification-functions
2653This variable holds a list of functions that are called by Emacs
c02f8fe2
AM
2654redisplay as needed, just before doing redisplay. They are called even
2655when Font Lock Mode isn't enabled. When Font Lock Mode is enabled, this
2656variable usually holds just one function, @code{jit-lock-function}.
9185bf49
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2657
2658The functions are called in the order listed, with one argument, a
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2659buffer position @var{pos}. Collectively they should attempt to assign
2660faces to the text in the current buffer starting at @var{pos}.
9185bf49 2661
c02f8fe2
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2662The functions should record the faces they assign by setting the
2663@code{face} property. They should also add a non-@code{nil}
2664@code{fontified} property to all the text they have assigned faces to.
9185bf49
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2665That property tells redisplay that faces have been assigned to that text
2666already.
2667
c02f8fe2 2668It is probably a good idea for the functions to do nothing if the
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2669character after @var{pos} already has a non-@code{nil} @code{fontified}
2670property, but this is not required. If one function overrides the
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2671assignments made by a previous one, the properties after the last
2672function finishes are the ones that really matter.
9185bf49
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2673
2674For efficiency, we recommend writing these functions so that they
2675usually assign faces to around 400 to 600 characters at each call.
2676@end defvar
2677
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2678@node Font Selection
2679@subsection Font Selection
9185bf49
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2680
2681 Before Emacs can draw a character on a particular display, it must
2682select a @dfn{font} for that character@footnote{In this context, the
2683term @dfn{font} has nothing to do with Font Lock (@pxref{Font Lock
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2684Mode}).}. Normally, Emacs automatically chooses a font based on the
2685faces assigned to that character---specifically, the face attributes
2686@code{:family}, @code{:weight}, @code{:slant}, and @code{:width}
2687(@pxref{Face Attributes}). The choice of font also depends on the
2688character to be displayed; some fonts can only display a limited set
2689of characters. If no available font exactly fits the requirements,
2690Emacs looks for the @dfn{closest matching font}. The variables in
2691this section control how Emacs makes this selection.
9185bf49 2692
01f17ae2 2693@defopt face-font-family-alternatives
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2694If a given family is specified but does not exist, this variable
2695specifies alternative font families to try. Each element should have
2696this form:
9185bf49 2697
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2698@example
2699(@var{family} @var{alternate-families}@dots{})
2700@end example
b8d4c8d0 2701
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2702If @var{family} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the other
2703families given in @var{alternate-families}, one by one, until it finds a
2704family that does exist.
01f17ae2 2705@end defopt
b8d4c8d0 2706
01f17ae2 2707@defopt face-font-selection-order
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2708If there is no font that exactly matches all desired face attributes
2709(@code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and @code{:slant}),
2710this variable specifies the order in which these attributes should be
2711considered when selecting the closest matching font. The value should
2712be a list containing those four attribute symbols, in order of
2713decreasing importance. The default is @code{(:width :height :weight
2714:slant)}.
b8d4c8d0
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2715
2716Font selection first finds the best available matches for the first
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2717attribute in the list; then, among the fonts which are best in that
2718way, it searches for the best matches in the second attribute, and so
2719on.
b8d4c8d0
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2720
2721The attributes @code{:weight} and @code{:width} have symbolic values in
2722a range centered around @code{normal}. Matches that are more extreme
2723(farther from @code{normal}) are somewhat preferred to matches that are
2724less extreme (closer to @code{normal}); this is designed to ensure that
2725non-normal faces contrast with normal ones, whenever possible.
2726
b8d4c8d0
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2727One example of a case where this variable makes a difference is when the
2728default font has no italic equivalent. With the default ordering, the
2729@code{italic} face will use a non-italic font that is similar to the
2730default one. But if you put @code{:slant} before @code{:height}, the
2731@code{italic} face will use an italic font, even if its height is not
2732quite right.
01f17ae2 2733@end defopt
b8d4c8d0 2734
01f17ae2 2735@defopt face-font-registry-alternatives
b8d4c8d0
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2736This variable lets you specify alternative font registries to try, if a
2737given registry is specified and doesn't exist. Each element should have
2738this form:
2739
2740@example
2741(@var{registry} @var{alternate-registries}@dots{})
2742@end example
2743
2744If @var{registry} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the
2745other registries given in @var{alternate-registries}, one by one,
2746until it finds a registry that does exist.
01f17ae2 2747@end defopt
b8d4c8d0
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2748
2749 Emacs can make use of scalable fonts, but by default it does not use
c2aa555a 2750them.
b8d4c8d0 2751
01f17ae2 2752@defopt scalable-fonts-allowed
b8d4c8d0
GM
2753This variable controls which scalable fonts to use. A value of
2754@code{nil}, the default, means do not use scalable fonts. @code{t}
2755means to use any scalable font that seems appropriate for the text.
2756
2757Otherwise, the value must be a list of regular expressions. Then a
2758scalable font is enabled for use if its name matches any regular
2759expression in the list. For example,
2760
2761@example
2762(setq scalable-fonts-allowed '("muleindian-2$"))
2763@end example
2764
2765@noindent
2766allows the use of scalable fonts with registry @code{muleindian-2}.
01f17ae2 2767@end defopt
b8d4c8d0
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2768
2769@defvar face-font-rescale-alist
2770This variable specifies scaling for certain faces. Its value should
2771be a list of elements of the form
2772
2773@example
2774(@var{fontname-regexp} . @var{scale-factor})
2775@end example
2776
2777If @var{fontname-regexp} matches the font name that is about to be
2778used, this says to choose a larger similar font according to the
2779factor @var{scale-factor}. You would use this feature to normalize
2780the font size if certain fonts are bigger or smaller than their
2781nominal heights and widths would suggest.
2782@end defvar
2783
b8d4c8d0
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2784@node Font Lookup
2785@subsection Looking Up Fonts
2786
803ee7b9 2787@defun x-list-fonts name &optional reference-face frame maximum width
b8d4c8d0 2788This function returns a list of available font names that match
c2aa555a
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2789@var{name}. @var{name} should be a string containing a font name in
2790either the Fontconfig, GTK, or XLFD format (@pxref{Font X,, Font
2791Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Within an XLFD
2792string, wildcard characters may be used: the @samp{*} character
2793matches any substring, and the @samp{?} character matches any single
2794character. Case is ignored when matching font names.
2795
2796If the optional arguments @var{reference-face} and @var{frame} are
2797specified, the returned list includes only fonts that are the same
2798size as @var{reference-face} (a face name) currently is on the frame
2799@var{frame}.
b8d4c8d0
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2800
2801The optional argument @var{maximum} sets a limit on how many fonts to
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2802return. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the return value is truncated
2803after the first @var{maximum} matching fonts. Specifying a small
2804value for @var{maximum} can make this function much faster, in cases
2805where many fonts match the pattern.
803ee7b9
CY
2806
2807The optional argument @var{width} specifies a desired font width. If
2808it is non-@code{nil}, the function only returns those fonts whose
2809characters are (on average) @var{width} times as wide as
2810@var{reference-face}.
b8d4c8d0
GM
2811@end defun
2812
2813@defun x-family-fonts &optional family frame
2814This function returns a list describing the available fonts for family
2815@var{family} on @var{frame}. If @var{family} is omitted or @code{nil},
2816this list applies to all families, and therefore, it contains all
2817available fonts. Otherwise, @var{family} must be a string; it may
2818contain the wildcards @samp{?} and @samp{*}.
2819
2820The list describes the display that @var{frame} is on; if @var{frame} is
2821omitted or @code{nil}, it applies to the selected frame's display
2822(@pxref{Input Focus}).
2823
c2aa555a 2824Each element in the list is a vector of the following form:
b8d4c8d0
GM
2825
2826@example
2827[@var{family} @var{width} @var{point-size} @var{weight} @var{slant}
2828 @var{fixed-p} @var{full} @var{registry-and-encoding}]
2829@end example
2830
2831The first five elements correspond to face attributes; if you
2832specify these attributes for a face, it will use this font.
2833
2834The last three elements give additional information about the font.
2835@var{fixed-p} is non-@code{nil} if the font is fixed-pitch.
2836@var{full} is the full name of the font, and
2837@var{registry-and-encoding} is a string giving the registry and
2838encoding of the font.
b8d4c8d0
GM
2839@end defun
2840
2841@defvar font-list-limit
2842This variable specifies maximum number of fonts to consider in font
2843matching. The function @code{x-family-fonts} will not return more than
2844that many fonts, and font selection will consider only that many fonts
2845when searching a matching font for face attributes. The default is
2846currently 100.
2847@end defvar
2848
2849@node Fontsets
2850@subsection Fontsets
2851
2852 A @dfn{fontset} is a list of fonts, each assigned to a range of
2853character codes. An individual font cannot display the whole range of
2854characters that Emacs supports, but a fontset can. Fontsets have names,
2855just as fonts do, and you can use a fontset name in place of a font name
2856when you specify the ``font'' for a frame or a face. Here is
2857information about defining a fontset under Lisp program control.
2858
2859@defun create-fontset-from-fontset-spec fontset-spec &optional style-variant-p noerror
2860This function defines a new fontset according to the specification
2861string @var{fontset-spec}. The string should have this format:
2862
2863@smallexample
7b753744 2864@var{fontpattern}, @r{[}@var{charset}:@var{font}@r{]@dots{}}
b8d4c8d0
GM
2865@end smallexample
2866
2867@noindent
2868Whitespace characters before and after the commas are ignored.
2869
2870The first part of the string, @var{fontpattern}, should have the form of
2871a standard X font name, except that the last two fields should be
2872@samp{fontset-@var{alias}}.
2873
2874The new fontset has two names, one long and one short. The long name is
2875@var{fontpattern} in its entirety. The short name is
2876@samp{fontset-@var{alias}}. You can refer to the fontset by either
2877name. If a fontset with the same name already exists, an error is
2878signaled, unless @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}, in which case this
2879function does nothing.
2880
2881If optional argument @var{style-variant-p} is non-@code{nil}, that says
2882to create bold, italic and bold-italic variants of the fontset as well.
2883These variant fontsets do not have a short name, only a long one, which
2884is made by altering @var{fontpattern} to indicate the bold or italic
2885status.
2886
2887The specification string also says which fonts to use in the fontset.
2888See below for the details.
2889@end defun
2890
2891 The construct @samp{@var{charset}:@var{font}} specifies which font to
2892use (in this fontset) for one particular character set. Here,
2893@var{charset} is the name of a character set, and @var{font} is the font
2894to use for that character set. You can use this construct any number of
2895times in the specification string.
2896
2897 For the remaining character sets, those that you don't specify
2898explicitly, Emacs chooses a font based on @var{fontpattern}: it replaces
2899@samp{fontset-@var{alias}} with a value that names one character set.
2900For the @acronym{ASCII} character set, @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} is replaced
2901with @samp{ISO8859-1}.
2902
2903 In addition, when several consecutive fields are wildcards, Emacs
2904collapses them into a single wildcard. This is to prevent use of
2905auto-scaled fonts. Fonts made by scaling larger fonts are not usable
2906for editing, and scaling a smaller font is not useful because it is
2907better to use the smaller font in its own size, which Emacs does.
2908
2909 Thus if @var{fontpattern} is this,
2910
2911@example
2912-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24
2913@end example
2914
2915@noindent
2916the font specification for @acronym{ASCII} characters would be this:
2917
2918@example
2919-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-ISO8859-1
2920@end example
2921
2922@noindent
2923and the font specification for Chinese GB2312 characters would be this:
2924
2925@example
2926-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2927@end example
2928
2929 You may not have any Chinese font matching the above font
2930specification. Most X distributions include only Chinese fonts that
2931have @samp{song ti} or @samp{fangsong ti} in the @var{family} field. In
2932such a case, @samp{Fontset-@var{n}} can be specified as below:
2933
2934@smallexample
2935Emacs.Fontset-0: -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24,\
2936 chinese-gb2312:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2937@end smallexample
2938
2939@noindent
2940Then, the font specifications for all but Chinese GB2312 characters have
2941@samp{fixed} in the @var{family} field, and the font specification for
2942Chinese GB2312 characters has a wild card @samp{*} in the @var{family}
2943field.
2944
d6eb4e25
KH
2945@defun set-fontset-font name character font-spec &optional frame add
2946This function modifies the existing fontset @var{name} to use the font
2947matching with @var{font-spec} for the character @var{character}.
b8d4c8d0 2948
d6eb4e25
KH
2949If @var{name} is @code{nil}, this function modifies the fontset of the
2950selected frame or that of @var{frame} if @var{frame} is not
2951@code{nil}.
2952
2953If @var{name} is @code{t}, this function modifies the default
b8d4c8d0
GM
2954fontset, whose short name is @samp{fontset-default}.
2955
2956@var{character} may be a cons; @code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, where
d15c8cce 2957@var{from} and @var{to} are character codepoints. In that case, use
d6eb4e25 2958@var{font-spec} for all characters in the range @var{from} and @var{to}
b8d4c8d0
GM
2959(inclusive).
2960
2961@var{character} may be a charset. In that case, use
d6eb4e25
KH
2962@var{font-spec} for all character in the charsets.
2963
664d56b8 2964@var{character} may be a script name. In that case, use
d6eb4e25 2965@var{font-spec} for all character in the charsets.
b8d4c8d0 2966
d6eb4e25 2967@var{font-spec} may be a cons; @code{(@var{family} . @var{registry})},
b8d4c8d0
GM
2968where @var{family} is a family name of a font (possibly including a
2969foundry name at the head), @var{registry} is a registry name of a font
2970(possibly including an encoding name at the tail).
2971
d6eb4e25
KH
2972@var{font-spec} may be a font name string.
2973
2974The optional argument @var{add}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies how to
2975add @var{font-spec} to the font specifications previously set. If it
2976is @code{prepend}, @var{font-spec} is prepended. If it is
2977@code{append}, @var{font-spec} is appended. By default,
2978@var{font-spec} overrides the previous settings.
2979
b8d4c8d0 2980For instance, this changes the default fontset to use a font of which
d6eb4e25 2981family name is @samp{Kochi Gothic} for all characters belonging to
b8d4c8d0
GM
2982the charset @code{japanese-jisx0208}.
2983
2984@smallexample
d6eb4e25
KH
2985(set-fontset-font t 'japanese-jisx0208
2986 (font-spec :family "Kochi Gothic"))
b8d4c8d0
GM
2987@end smallexample
2988@end defun
2989
2990@defun char-displayable-p char
2991This function returns @code{t} if Emacs ought to be able to display
2992@var{char}. More precisely, if the selected frame's fontset has a
2993font to display the character set that @var{char} belongs to.
2994
2995Fontsets can specify a font on a per-character basis; when the fontset
2996does that, this function's value may not be accurate.
2997@end defun
2998
c2aa555a
CY
2999@node Low-Level Font
3000@subsection Low-Level Font Representation
3001
3002 Normally, it is not necessary to manipulate fonts directly. In case
3003you need to do so, this section explains how.
3004
3005 In Emacs Lisp, fonts are represented using three different Lisp
f19fea97 3006object types: @dfn{font objects}, @dfn{font specs}, and @dfn{font
c2aa555a
CY
3007entities}.
3008
3009@defun fontp object &optional type
3010Return @code{t} if @var{object} is a font object, font spec, or font
3011entity. Otherwise, return @code{nil}.
3012
3013The optional argument @var{type}, if non-@code{nil}, determines the
3014exact type of Lisp object to check for. In that case, @var{type}
3015should be one of @code{font-object}, @code{font-spec}, or
3016@code{font-entity}.
3017@end defun
3018
3019 A font object is a Lisp object that represents a font that Emacs has
3020@dfn{opened}. Font objects cannot be modified in Lisp, but they can
0c1cfe01 3021be inspected.
c2aa555a
CY
3022
3023@defun font-at position &optional window string
3024Return the font object that is being used to display the character at
3025position @var{position} in the window @var{window}. If @var{window}
3026is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected window. If @var{string} is
3027@code{nil}, @var{position} specifies a position in the current buffer;
3028otherwise, @var{string} should be a string, and @var{position}
3029specifies a position in that string.
3030@end defun
3031
3032 A font spec is a Lisp object that contains a set of specifications
3033that can be used to find a font. More than one font may match the
3034specifications in a font spec.
3035
3036@defun font-spec &rest arguments
3037Return a new font spec using the specifications in @var{arguments},
3038which should come in @code{property}-@code{value} pairs. The possible
3039specifications are as follows:
3040
3041@table @code
3042@item :name
3043The font name (a string), in either XLFD, Fontconfig, or GTK format.
3044@xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs
3045Manual}.
3046
3047@item :family
3048@itemx :foundry
3049@itemx :weight
3050@itemx :slant
3051@itemx :width
3052These have the same meanings as the face attributes of the same name.
3053@xref{Face Attributes}.
3054
3055@item :size
3056The font size---either a non-negative integer that specifies the pixel
3057size, or a floating point number that specifies the point size.
3058
3059@item :adstyle
3060Additional typographic style information for the font, such as
3061@samp{sans}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
3062
3063@item :registry
3064The charset registry and encoding of the font, such as
3065@samp{iso8859-1}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
3066
3067@item :script
3068The script that the font must support (a symbol).
a908c79a
CY
3069
3070@item :otf
3071The font must be an OpenType font that supports these OpenType
3072features, provided Emacs is compiled with support for @samp{libotf} (a
3073library for performing complex text layout in certain scripts). The
3074value must be a list of the form
3075
3076@smallexample
3077@code{(@var{script-tag} @var{langsys-tag} @var{gsub} @var{gpos})}
3078@end smallexample
3079
3080where @var{script-tag} is the OpenType script tag symbol;
3081@var{langsys-tag} is the OpenType language system tag symbol, or
3082@code{nil} to use the default language system; @code{gsub} is a list
3083of OpenType GSUB feature tag symbols, or @code{nil} if none is
3084required; and @code{gpos} is a list of OpenType GPOS feature tag
3085symbols, or @code{nil} if none is required. If @code{gsub} or
3086@code{gpos} is a list, a @code{nil} element in that list means that
3087the font must not match any of the remaining tag symbols. The
3088@code{gpos} element may be omitted.
c2aa555a
CY
3089@end table
3090@end defun
3091
3092@defun font-put font-spec property value
3093Set the font property @var{property} in the font-spec @var{font-spec}
3094to @var{value}.
3095@end defun
3096
3097 A font entity is a reference to a font that need not be open. Its
3098properties are intermediate between a font object and a font spec:
3099like a font object, and unlike a font spec, it refers to a single,
3100specific font. Unlike a font object, creating a font entity does not
3101load the contents of that font into computer memory.
3102
3103@defun find-font font-spec &optional frame
3104This function returns a font entity that best matches the font spec
3105@var{font-spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil},
3106it defaults to the selected frame.
3107@end defun
3108
3109@defun list-fonts font-spec &optional frame num prefer
3110This function returns a list of all font entities that match the font
3111spec @var{font-spec}.
3112
3113The optional argument @var{frame}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the
3114frame on which the fonts are to be displayed. The optional argument
3115@var{num}, if non-@code{nil}, should be an integer that specifies the
3116maximum length of the returned list. The optional argument
3117@var{prefer}, if non-@code{nil}, should be another font spec, which is
3118used to control the order of the returned list; the returned font
3119entities are sorted in order of decreasing ``closeness'' to that font
3120spec.
3121@end defun
3122
0c1cfe01
CY
3123 If you call @code{set-face-attribute} and pass a font spec, font
3124entity, or font name string as the value of the @code{:font}
3125attribute, Emacs opens the best ``matching'' font that is available
3126for display. It then stores the corresponding font object as the
3127actual value of the @code{:font} attribute for that face.
3128
c2aa555a
CY
3129 The following functions can be used to obtain information about a
3130font. For these functions, the @var{font} argument can be a font
3131object, a font entity, or a font spec.
3132
3133@defun font-get font property
3134This function returns the value of the font property @var{property}
3135for @var{font}.
3136
3137If @var{font} is a font spec and the font spec does not specify
3138@var{property}, the return value is @code{nil}. If @var{font} is a
3139font object or font entity, the value for the @var{:script} property
3140may be a list of scripts supported by the font.
3141@end defun
3142
3143@defun font-face-attributes font &optional frame
3144This function returns a list of face attributes corresponding to
3145@var{font}. The optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on
3146which the font is to be displayed. If it is @code{nil}, the selected
3147frame is used. The return value has the form
3148
3149@smallexample
3150(:family @var{family} :height @var{height} :weight @var{weight}
3151 :slant @var{slant} :width @var{width})
3152@end smallexample
3153
3154where the values of @var{family}, @var{height}, @var{weight},
3155@var{slant}, and @var{width} are face attribute values. Some of these
3156key-attribute pairs may be omitted from the list if they are not
3157specified by @var{font}.
3158@end defun
3159
3160@defun font-xlfd-name font &optional fold-wildcards
3161This function returns the XLFD (X Logical Font Descriptor), a string,
3162matching @var{font}. @xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options,
3163emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for information about XLFDs. If the
3164name is too long for an XLFD (which can contain at most 255
3165characters), the function returns @code{nil}.
3166
3167If the optional argument @var{fold-wildcards} is non-@code{nil},
3168consecutive wildcards in the XLFD are folded into one.
3169@end defun
3170
b8d4c8d0
GM
3171@node Fringes
3172@section Fringes
3173@cindex fringes
3174
3175 The @dfn{fringes} of a window are thin vertical strips down the
3176sides that are used for displaying bitmaps that indicate truncation,
3177continuation, horizontal scrolling, and the overlay arrow.
3178
3179@menu
3180* Fringe Size/Pos:: Specifying where to put the window fringes.
3181* Fringe Indicators:: Displaying indicator icons in the window fringes.
3182* Fringe Cursors:: Displaying cursors in the right fringe.
3183* Fringe Bitmaps:: Specifying bitmaps for fringe indicators.
3184* Customizing Bitmaps:: Specifying your own bitmaps to use in the fringes.
3185* Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
3186@end menu
3187
3188@node Fringe Size/Pos
3189@subsection Fringe Size and Position
3190
3191 The following buffer-local variables control the position and width
3192of the window fringes.
3193
3194@defvar fringes-outside-margins
3195The fringes normally appear between the display margins and the window
3196text. If the value is non-@code{nil}, they appear outside the display
3197margins. @xref{Display Margins}.
3198@end defvar
3199
3200@defvar left-fringe-width
3201This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the left
3202fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the left fringe
3203width from the window's frame.
3204@end defvar
3205
3206@defvar right-fringe-width
3207This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the right
3208fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the right fringe
3209width from the window's frame.
3210@end defvar
3211
3212 The values of these variables take effect when you display the
3213buffer in a window. If you change them while the buffer is visible,
3214you can call @code{set-window-buffer} to display it once again in the
4abe5bf6
EZ
3215same window, to make the changes take effect. A buffer that does not
3216specify values for these variables will use the default values
3217specified for the frame; see @ref{Layout Parameters}.
b8d4c8d0
GM
3218
3219@defun set-window-fringes window left &optional right outside-margins
3220This function sets the fringe widths of window @var{window}.
3221If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3222
3223The argument @var{left} specifies the width in pixels of the left
3224fringe, and likewise @var{right} for the right fringe. A value of
3225@code{nil} for either one stands for the default width. If
3226@var{outside-margins} is non-@code{nil}, that specifies that fringes
3227should appear outside of the display margins.
3228@end defun
3229
3230@defun window-fringes &optional window
3231This function returns information about the fringes of a window
3232@var{window}. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected
3233window is used. The value has the form @code{(@var{left-width}
3234@var{right-width} @var{outside-margins})}.
3235@end defun
3236
3237
3238@node Fringe Indicators
3239@subsection Fringe Indicators
3240@cindex fringe indicators
3241@cindex indicators, fringe
3242
3243 The @dfn{fringe indicators} are tiny icons Emacs displays in the
3244window fringe (on a graphic display) to indicate truncated or
3245continued lines, buffer boundaries, overlay arrow, etc.
3246
3247@defopt indicate-empty-lines
3248@cindex fringes, and empty line indication
3249When this is non-@code{nil}, Emacs displays a special glyph in the
3250fringe of each empty line at the end of the buffer, on graphical
3251displays. @xref{Fringes}. This variable is automatically
3252buffer-local in every buffer.
3253@end defopt
3254
01f17ae2 3255@defopt indicate-buffer-boundaries
b8d4c8d0
GM
3256This buffer-local variable controls how the buffer boundaries and
3257window scrolling are indicated in the window fringes.
3258
3259Emacs can indicate the buffer boundaries---that is, the first and last
3260line in the buffer---with angle icons when they appear on the screen.
3261In addition, Emacs can display an up-arrow in the fringe to show
3262that there is text above the screen, and a down-arrow to show
3263there is text below the screen.
3264
3265There are three kinds of basic values:
3266
3267@table @asis
3268@item @code{nil}
3269Don't display any of these fringe icons.
3270@item @code{left}
3271Display the angle icons and arrows in the left fringe.
3272@item @code{right}
3273Display the angle icons and arrows in the right fringe.
3274@item any non-alist
3275Display the angle icons in the left fringe
3276and don't display the arrows.
3277@end table
3278
3279Otherwise the value should be an alist that specifies which fringe
3280indicators to display and where. Each element of the alist should
3281have the form @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{position})}. Here,
3282@var{indicator} is one of @code{top}, @code{bottom}, @code{up},
3283@code{down}, and @code{t} (which covers all the icons not yet
3284specified), while @var{position} is one of @code{left}, @code{right}
3285and @code{nil}.
3286
3287For example, @code{((top . left) (t . right))} places the top angle
3288bitmap in left fringe, and the bottom angle bitmap as well as both
3289arrow bitmaps in right fringe. To show the angle bitmaps in the left
3290fringe, and no arrow bitmaps, use @code{((top . left) (bottom . left))}.
01f17ae2 3291@end defopt
b8d4c8d0 3292
b8d4c8d0
GM
3293@defvar fringe-indicator-alist
3294This buffer-local variable specifies the mapping from logical fringe
3295indicators to the actual bitmaps displayed in the window fringes.
3296
3297These symbols identify the logical fringe indicators:
3298
3299@table @asis
3300@item Truncation and continuation line indicators:
3301@code{truncation}, @code{continuation}.
3302
3303@item Buffer position indicators:
3304@code{up}, @code{down},
3305@code{top}, @code{bottom},
3306@code{top-bottom}.
3307
3308@item Empty line indicator:
3309@code{empty-line}.
3310
3311@item Overlay arrow indicator:
3312@code{overlay-arrow}.
3313
3314@item Unknown bitmap indicator:
3315@code{unknown}.
3316@end table
3317
3318 The value is an alist where each element @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{bitmaps})}
3319specifies the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical
3320fringe indicator.
3321
3322Here, @var{indicator} specifies the logical indicator type, and
3323@var{bitmaps} is list of symbols @code{(@var{left} @var{right}
3324[@var{left1} @var{right1}])} which specifies the actual bitmap shown
3325in the left or right fringe for the logical indicator.
3326
3327The @var{left} and @var{right} symbols specify the bitmaps shown in
3328the left and/or right fringe for the specific indicator. The
3329@var{left1} or @var{right1} bitmaps are used only for the `bottom' and
3330`top-bottom indicators when the last (only) line in has no final
3331newline. Alternatively, @var{bitmaps} may be a single symbol which is
3332used in both left and right fringes.
3333
3334When @code{fringe-indicator-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there
3335is no bitmap defined for a logical indicator, or the bitmap is
4e3b4528
SM
3336@code{t}, the corresponding value from the default value of
3337@code{fringe-indicator-alist} is used.
b8d4c8d0
GM
3338
3339To completely hide a specific indicator, set the bitmap to @code{nil}.
3340@end defvar
3341
b8d4c8d0
GM
3342Standard fringe bitmaps for indicators:
3343@example
3344left-arrow right-arrow up-arrow down-arrow
3345left-curly-arrow right-curly-arrow
3346left-triangle right-triangle
3347top-left-angle top-right-angle
3348bottom-left-angle bottom-right-angle
3349left-bracket right-bracket
3350filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle
3351filled-square hollow-square
3352vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3353empty-line question-mark
3354@end example
3355
3356@node Fringe Cursors
3357@subsection Fringe Cursors
3358@cindex fringe cursors
3359@cindex cursor, fringe
3360
3361 When a line is exactly as wide as the window, Emacs displays the
3362cursor in the right fringe instead of using two lines. Different
3363bitmaps are used to represent the cursor in the fringe depending on
3364the current buffer's cursor type.
3365
3366@table @asis
3367@item Logical cursor types:
3368@code{box} , @code{hollow}, @code{bar},
3369@code{hbar}, @code{hollow-small}.
3370@end table
3371
3372The @code{hollow-small} type is used instead of @code{hollow} when the
3373normal @code{hollow-rectangle} bitmap is too tall to fit on a specific
3374display line.
3375
01f17ae2 3376@defopt overflow-newline-into-fringe
b8d4c8d0
GM
3377If this is non-@code{nil}, lines exactly as wide as the window (not
3378counting the final newline character) are not continued. Instead,
3379when point is at the end of the line, the cursor appears in the right
3380fringe.
01f17ae2 3381@end defopt
b8d4c8d0
GM
3382
3383@defvar fringe-cursor-alist
3384This variable specifies the mapping from logical cursor type to the
3385actual fringe bitmaps displayed in the right fringe. The value is an
3386alist where each element @code{(@var{cursor} . @var{bitmap})} specifies
3387the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical cursor type in
3388the fringe. Here, @var{cursor} specifies the logical cursor type and
3389@var{bitmap} is a symbol specifying the fringe bitmap to be displayed
3390for that logical cursor type.
3391
3392When @code{fringe-cursor-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there is
3393no bitmap defined for a cursor type, the corresponding value from the
4e3b4528 3394default value of @code{fringes-indicator-alist} is used.
b8d4c8d0
GM
3395@end defvar
3396
3397Standard bitmaps for displaying the cursor in right fringe:
3398@example
3399filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle filled-square hollow-square
3400vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3401@end example
3402
3403
3404@node Fringe Bitmaps
3405@subsection Fringe Bitmaps
3406@cindex fringe bitmaps
3407@cindex bitmaps, fringe
3408
3409 The @dfn{fringe bitmaps} are the actual bitmaps which represent the
3410logical fringe indicators for truncated or continued lines, buffer
3411boundaries, overlay arrow, etc. Fringe bitmap symbols have their own
3412name space. The fringe bitmaps are shared by all frames and windows.
3413You can redefine the built-in fringe bitmaps, and you can define new
3414fringe bitmaps.
3415
3416 The way to display a bitmap in the left or right fringes for a given
3417line in a window is by specifying the @code{display} property for one
3418of the characters that appears in it. Use a display specification of
3419the form @code{(left-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} or
3420@code{(right-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} (@pxref{Display
3421Property}). Here, @var{bitmap} is a symbol identifying the bitmap you
3422want, and @var{face} (which is optional) is the name of the face whose
3423colors should be used for displaying the bitmap, instead of the
3424default @code{fringe} face. @var{face} is automatically merged with
3425the @code{fringe} face, so normally @var{face} need only specify the
3426foreground color for the bitmap.
3427
3428@defun fringe-bitmaps-at-pos &optional pos window
3429This function returns the fringe bitmaps of the display line
3430containing position @var{pos} in window @var{window}. The return
3431value has the form @code{(@var{left} @var{right} @var{ov})}, where @var{left}
3432is the symbol for the fringe bitmap in the left fringe (or @code{nil}
3433if no bitmap), @var{right} is similar for the right fringe, and @var{ov}
3434is non-@code{nil} if there is an overlay arrow in the left fringe.
3435
3436The value is @code{nil} if @var{pos} is not visible in @var{window}.
3437If @var{window} is @code{nil}, that stands for the selected window.
3438If @var{pos} is @code{nil}, that stands for the value of point in
3439@var{window}.
3440@end defun
3441
3442@node Customizing Bitmaps
3443@subsection Customizing Fringe Bitmaps
3444
3445@defun define-fringe-bitmap bitmap bits &optional height width align
3446This function defines the symbol @var{bitmap} as a new fringe bitmap,
3447or replaces an existing bitmap with that name.
3448
3449The argument @var{bits} specifies the image to use. It should be
3450either a string or a vector of integers, where each element (an
3451integer) corresponds to one row of the bitmap. Each bit of an integer
3452corresponds to one pixel of the bitmap, where the low bit corresponds
3453to the rightmost pixel of the bitmap.
3454
3455The height is normally the length of @var{bits}. However, you
3456can specify a different height with non-@code{nil} @var{height}. The width
3457is normally 8, but you can specify a different width with non-@code{nil}
3458@var{width}. The width must be an integer between 1 and 16.
3459
3460The argument @var{align} specifies the positioning of the bitmap
3461relative to the range of rows where it is used; the default is to
3462center the bitmap. The allowed values are @code{top}, @code{center},
3463or @code{bottom}.
3464
3465The @var{align} argument may also be a list @code{(@var{align}
3466@var{periodic})} where @var{align} is interpreted as described above.
3467If @var{periodic} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies that the rows in
3468@code{bits} should be repeated enough times to reach the specified
3469height.
3470@end defun
3471
3472@defun destroy-fringe-bitmap bitmap
3473This function destroy the fringe bitmap identified by @var{bitmap}.
3474If @var{bitmap} identifies a standard fringe bitmap, it actually
3475restores the standard definition of that bitmap, instead of
3476eliminating it entirely.
3477@end defun
3478
3479@defun set-fringe-bitmap-face bitmap &optional face
3480This sets the face for the fringe bitmap @var{bitmap} to @var{face}.
3481If @var{face} is @code{nil}, it selects the @code{fringe} face. The
3482bitmap's face controls the color to draw it in.
3483
3484@var{face} is merged with the @code{fringe} face, so normally
3485@var{face} should specify only the foreground color.
3486@end defun
3487
3488@node Overlay Arrow
3489@subsection The Overlay Arrow
3490@c @cindex overlay arrow Duplicates variable names
3491
3492 The @dfn{overlay arrow} is useful for directing the user's attention
3493to a particular line in a buffer. For example, in the modes used for
3494interface to debuggers, the overlay arrow indicates the line of code
3495about to be executed. This feature has nothing to do with
3496@dfn{overlays} (@pxref{Overlays}).
3497
3498@defvar overlay-arrow-string
3499This variable holds the string to display to call attention to a
3500particular line, or @code{nil} if the arrow feature is not in use.
3501On a graphical display the contents of the string are ignored; instead a
3502glyph is displayed in the fringe area to the left of the display area.
3503@end defvar
3504
3505@defvar overlay-arrow-position
3506This variable holds a marker that indicates where to display the overlay
3507arrow. It should point at the beginning of a line. On a non-graphical
3508display the arrow text
3509appears at the beginning of that line, overlaying any text that would
3510otherwise appear. Since the arrow is usually short, and the line
3511usually begins with indentation, normally nothing significant is
3512overwritten.
3513
3514The overlay-arrow string is displayed in any given buffer if the value
3515of @code{overlay-arrow-position} in that buffer points into that
3516buffer. Thus, it is possible to display multiple overlay arrow strings
3517by creating buffer-local bindings of @code{overlay-arrow-position}.
3518However, it is usually cleaner to use
3519@code{overlay-arrow-variable-list} to achieve this result.
3520@c !!! overlay-arrow-position: but the overlay string may remain in the display
3521@c of some other buffer until an update is required. This should be fixed
3522@c now. Is it?
3523@end defvar
3524
3525 You can do a similar job by creating an overlay with a
3526@code{before-string} property. @xref{Overlay Properties}.
3527
3528 You can define multiple overlay arrows via the variable
3529@code{overlay-arrow-variable-list}.
3530
3531@defvar overlay-arrow-variable-list
3532This variable's value is a list of variables, each of which specifies
3533the position of an overlay arrow. The variable
3534@code{overlay-arrow-position} has its normal meaning because it is on
3535this list.
3536@end defvar
3537
3538Each variable on this list can have properties
3539@code{overlay-arrow-string} and @code{overlay-arrow-bitmap} that
3540specify an overlay arrow string (for text-only terminals) or fringe
3541bitmap (for graphical terminals) to display at the corresponding
3542overlay arrow position. If either property is not set, the default
3543@code{overlay-arrow-string} or @code{overlay-arrow} fringe indicator
3544is used.
3545
3546@node Scroll Bars
3547@section Scroll Bars
3548@cindex scroll bars
3549
3550Normally the frame parameter @code{vertical-scroll-bars} controls
3551whether the windows in the frame have vertical scroll bars, and
3552whether they are on the left or right. The frame parameter
3553@code{scroll-bar-width} specifies how wide they are (@code{nil}
3554meaning the default). @xref{Layout Parameters}.
3555
3556@defun frame-current-scroll-bars &optional frame
3557This function reports the scroll bar type settings for frame
3558@var{frame}. The value is a cons cell
3559@code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}, where
3560@var{vertical-type} is either @code{left}, @code{right}, or @code{nil}
3561(which means no scroll bar.) @var{horizontal-type} is meant to
3562specify the horizontal scroll bar type, but since they are not
3563implemented, it is always @code{nil}.
3564@end defun
3565
3566@vindex vertical-scroll-bar
3567 You can enable or disable scroll bars for a particular buffer,
3568by setting the variable @code{vertical-scroll-bar}. This variable
3569automatically becomes buffer-local when set. The possible values are
3570@code{left}, @code{right}, @code{t}, which means to use the
3571frame's default, and @code{nil} for no scroll bar.
3572
3573 You can also control this for individual windows. Call the function
3574@code{set-window-scroll-bars} to specify what to do for a specific window:
3575
3576@defun set-window-scroll-bars window width &optional vertical-type horizontal-type
3577This function sets the width and type of scroll bars for window
3578@var{window}.
3579
3580@var{width} specifies the scroll bar width in pixels (@code{nil} means
3581use the width specified for the frame). @var{vertical-type} specifies
3582whether to have a vertical scroll bar and, if so, where. The possible
3583values are @code{left}, @code{right} and @code{nil}, just like the
3584values of the @code{vertical-scroll-bars} frame parameter.
3585
3586The argument @var{horizontal-type} is meant to specify whether and
3587where to have horizontal scroll bars, but since they are not
3588implemented, it has no effect. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the
3589selected window is used.
3590@end defun
3591
3592@defun window-scroll-bars &optional window
3593Report the width and type of scroll bars specified for @var{window}.
3594If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3595The value is a list of the form @code{(@var{width}
3596@var{cols} @var{vertical-type} @var{horizontal-type})}. The value
3597@var{width} is the value that was specified for the width (which may
3598be @code{nil}); @var{cols} is the number of columns that the scroll
3599bar actually occupies.
3600
3601@var{horizontal-type} is not actually meaningful.
3602@end defun
3603
3604If you don't specify these values for a window with
3605@code{set-window-scroll-bars}, the buffer-local variables
3606@code{scroll-bar-mode} and @code{scroll-bar-width} in the buffer being
3607displayed control the window's vertical scroll bars. The function
3608@code{set-window-buffer} examines these variables. If you change them
3609in a buffer that is already visible in a window, you can make the
3610window take note of the new values by calling @code{set-window-buffer}
3611specifying the same buffer that is already displayed.
3612
01f17ae2 3613@defopt scroll-bar-mode
b8d4c8d0
GM
3614This variable, always local in all buffers, controls whether and where
3615to put scroll bars in windows displaying the buffer. The possible values
3616are @code{nil} for no scroll bar, @code{left} to put a scroll bar on
3617the left, and @code{right} to put a scroll bar on the right.
01f17ae2 3618@end defopt
b8d4c8d0
GM
3619
3620@defun window-current-scroll-bars &optional window
3621This function reports the scroll bar type for window @var{window}.
3622If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3623The value is a cons cell
3624@code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}. Unlike
3625@code{window-scroll-bars}, this reports the scroll bar type actually
3626used, once frame defaults and @code{scroll-bar-mode} are taken into
3627account.
3628@end defun
3629
3630@defvar scroll-bar-width
3631This variable, always local in all buffers, specifies the width of the
3632buffer's scroll bars, measured in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means
3633to use the value specified by the frame.
3634@end defvar
3635
3636@node Display Property
3637@section The @code{display} Property
3638@cindex display specification
3639@kindex display @r{(text property)}
3640
3641 The @code{display} text property (or overlay property) is used to
3642insert images into text, and also control other aspects of how text
3643displays. The value of the @code{display} property should be a
3644display specification, or a list or vector containing several display
fb33e6a9
RS
3645specifications. Display specifications in the same @code{display}
3646property value generally apply in parallel to the text they cover.
3647
3648 If several sources (overlays and/or a text property) specify values
3649for the @code{display} property, only one of the values takes effect,
3650following the rules of @code{get-char-property}. @xref{Examining
3651Properties}.
3652
3653 The rest of this section describes several kinds of
3654display specifications and what they mean.
3655
3656@menu
3657* Replacing Specs:: Display specs that replace the text.
3658* Specified Space:: Displaying one space with a specified width.
3659* Pixel Specification:: Specifying space width or height in pixels.
3660* Other Display Specs:: Displaying an image; magnifying text; moving it
3661 up or down on the page; adjusting the width
3662 of spaces within text.
3663* Display Margins:: Displaying text or images to the side of the main text.
3664@end menu
3665
3666@node Replacing Specs
3667@subsection Display Specs That Replace The Text
4db6da64 3668
9600ac7c 3669 Some kinds of @code{display} specifications specify something to
fb33e6a9
RS
3670display instead of the text that has the property. These are called
3671@dfn{replacing} display specifications. Emacs does not allow the user
3672to interactively move point into the middle of buffer text that is
3673replaced in this way.
3674
3675 If a list of display specifications includes more than one replacing
3676display specification, the first overrides the rest. Replacing
3677display specifications make most other display specifications
3678irrelevant, since those don't apply to the replacement.
3679
3680 For replacing display specifications, ``the text that has the
3681property'' means all the consecutive characters that have the same
3682Lisp object as their @code{display} property; these characters are
3683replaced as a single unit. By contrast, characters that have similar
3684but distinct Lisp objects as their @code{display} properties are
3685handled separately. Here's a function that illustrates this point:
b8d4c8d0
GM
3686
3687@smallexample
3688(defun foo ()
3689 (goto-char (point-min))
3690 (dotimes (i 5)
3691 (let ((string (concat "A")))
3692 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3693 (forward-char 1)
3694 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3695 (forward-char 1))))
3696@end smallexample
3697
3698@noindent
3699It gives each of the first ten characters in the buffer string
3700@code{"A"} as the @code{display} property, but they don't all get the
3701same string. The first two characters get the same string, so they
3702together are replaced with one @samp{A}. The next two characters get
3703a second string, so they together are replaced with one @samp{A}.
3704Likewise for each following pair of characters. Thus, the ten
3705characters appear as five A's. This function would have the same
3706results:
3707
3708@smallexample
3709(defun foo ()
3710 (goto-char (point-min))
3711 (dotimes (i 5)
3712 (let ((string (concat "A")))
9600ac7c 3713 (put-text-property (point) (+ 2 (point)) 'display string)
b8d4c8d0
GM
3714 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3715 (forward-char 2))))
3716@end smallexample
3717
3718@noindent
3719This illustrates that what matters is the property value for
3720each character. If two consecutive characters have the same
3721object as the @code{display} property value, it's irrelevant
3722whether they got this property from a single call to
3723@code{put-text-property} or from two different calls.
3724
b8d4c8d0
GM
3725@node Specified Space
3726@subsection Specified Spaces
3727@cindex spaces, specified height or width
3728@cindex variable-width spaces
3729
3730 To display a space of specified width and/or height, use a display
3731specification of the form @code{(space . @var{props})}, where
3732@var{props} is a property list (a list of alternating properties and
3733values). You can put this property on one or more consecutive
3734characters; a space of the specified height and width is displayed in
3735place of @emph{all} of those characters. These are the properties you
3736can use in @var{props} to specify the weight of the space:
3737
3738@table @code
3739@item :width @var{width}
3740If @var{width} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3741that the space width should be @var{width} times the normal character
3742width. @var{width} can also be a @dfn{pixel width} specification
3743(@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3744
3745@item :relative-width @var{factor}
3746Specifies that the width of the stretch should be computed from the
3747first character in the group of consecutive characters that have the
3748same @code{display} property. The space width is the width of that
3749character, multiplied by @var{factor}.
3750
3751@item :align-to @var{hpos}
3752Specifies that the space should be wide enough to reach @var{hpos}.
3753If @var{hpos} is a number, it is measured in units of the normal
3754character width. @var{hpos} can also be a @dfn{pixel width}
3755specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3756@end table
3757
3758 You should use one and only one of the above properties. You can
3759also specify the height of the space, with these properties:
3760
3761@table @code
3762@item :height @var{height}
3763Specifies the height of the space.
3764If @var{height} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3765that the space height should be @var{height} times the normal character
3766height. The @var{height} may also be a @dfn{pixel height} specification
3767(@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3768
3769@item :relative-height @var{factor}
3770Specifies the height of the space, multiplying the ordinary height
3771of the text having this display specification by @var{factor}.
3772
3773@item :ascent @var{ascent}
3774If the value of @var{ascent} is a non-negative number no greater than
3775100, it specifies that @var{ascent} percent of the height of the space
3776should be considered as the ascent of the space---that is, the part
3777above the baseline. The ascent may also be specified in pixel units
3778with a @dfn{pixel ascent} specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3779
3780@end table
3781
3782 Don't use both @code{:height} and @code{:relative-height} together.
3783
3784 The @code{:width} and @code{:align-to} properties are supported on
3785non-graphic terminals, but the other space properties in this section
3786are not.
3787
3788@node Pixel Specification
3789@subsection Pixel Specification for Spaces
3790@cindex spaces, pixel specification
3791
3792 The value of the @code{:width}, @code{:align-to}, @code{:height},
3793and @code{:ascent} properties can be a special kind of expression that
3794is evaluated during redisplay. The result of the evaluation is used
3795as an absolute number of pixels.
3796
3797 The following expressions are supported:
3798
3799@smallexample
3800@group
3801 @var{expr} ::= @var{num} | (@var{num}) | @var{unit} | @var{elem} | @var{pos} | @var{image} | @var{form}
3802 @var{num} ::= @var{integer} | @var{float} | @var{symbol}
3803 @var{unit} ::= in | mm | cm | width | height
3804@end group
3805@group
3806 @var{elem} ::= left-fringe | right-fringe | left-margin | right-margin
3807 | scroll-bar | text
3808 @var{pos} ::= left | center | right
3809 @var{form} ::= (@var{num} . @var{expr}) | (@var{op} @var{expr} ...)
3810 @var{op} ::= + | -
3811@end group
3812@end smallexample
3813
3814 The form @var{num} specifies a fraction of the default frame font
3815height or width. The form @code{(@var{num})} specifies an absolute
3816number of pixels. If @var{num} is a symbol, @var{symbol}, its
3817buffer-local variable binding is used.
3818
3819 The @code{in}, @code{mm}, and @code{cm} units specify the number of
3820pixels per inch, millimeter, and centimeter, respectively. The
3821@code{width} and @code{height} units correspond to the default width
3822and height of the current face. An image specification @code{image}
3823corresponds to the width or height of the image.
3824
3825 The @code{left-fringe}, @code{right-fringe}, @code{left-margin},
3826@code{right-margin}, @code{scroll-bar}, and @code{text} elements
3827specify to the width of the corresponding area of the window.
3828
3829 The @code{left}, @code{center}, and @code{right} positions can be
3830used with @code{:align-to} to specify a position relative to the left
3831edge, center, or right edge of the text area.
3832
3833 Any of the above window elements (except @code{text}) can also be
3834used with @code{:align-to} to specify that the position is relative to
3835the left edge of the given area. Once the base offset for a relative
3836position has been set (by the first occurrence of one of these
3837symbols), further occurrences of these symbols are interpreted as the
3838width of the specified area. For example, to align to the center of
3839the left-margin, use
3840
3841@example
3842:align-to (+ left-margin (0.5 . left-margin))
3843@end example
3844
3845 If no specific base offset is set for alignment, it is always relative
3846to the left edge of the text area. For example, @samp{:align-to 0} in a
3847header-line aligns with the first text column in the text area.
3848
3849 A value of the form @code{(@var{num} . @var{expr})} stands for the
3850product of the values of @var{num} and @var{expr}. For example,
3851@code{(2 . in)} specifies a width of 2 inches, while @code{(0.5 .
3852@var{image})} specifies half the width (or height) of the specified
3853image.
3854
3855 The form @code{(+ @var{expr} ...)} adds up the value of the
3856expressions. The form @code{(- @var{expr} ...)} negates or subtracts
3857the value of the expressions.
3858
3859@node Other Display Specs
3860@subsection Other Display Specifications
3861
3862 Here are the other sorts of display specifications that you can use
3863in the @code{display} text property.
3864
3865@table @code
3866@item @var{string}
3867Display @var{string} instead of the text that has this property.
3868
3869Recursive display specifications are not supported---@var{string}'s
3870@code{display} properties, if any, are not used.
3871
3872@item (image . @var{image-props})
3873This kind of display specification is an image descriptor (@pxref{Images}).
3874When used as a display specification, it means to display the image
3875instead of the text that has the display specification.
3876
3877@item (slice @var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})
3878This specification together with @code{image} specifies a @dfn{slice}
3879(a partial area) of the image to display. The elements @var{y} and
3880@var{x} specify the top left corner of the slice, within the image;
3881@var{width} and @var{height} specify the width and height of the
3882slice. Integer values are numbers of pixels. A floating point number
3883in the range 0.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height
3884of the entire image.
3885
3886@item ((margin nil) @var{string})
3887A display specification of this form means to display @var{string}
3888instead of the text that has the display specification, at the same
3889position as that text. It is equivalent to using just @var{string},
3890but it is done as a special case of marginal display (@pxref{Display
3891Margins}).
3892
bdef6a77
EZ
3893@item (left-fringe @var{bitmap} @r{[}@var{face}@r{]})
3894@itemx (right-fringe @var{bitmap} @r{[}@var{face}@r{]})
3895This display specification on any character of a line of text causes
3896the specified @var{bitmap} be displayed in the left or right fringes
3897for that line. The optional @var{face} specifies the colors to be
3898used for the bitmap. @xref{Fringe Bitmaps}, for the details.
3899
b8d4c8d0
GM
3900@item (space-width @var{factor})
3901This display specification affects all the space characters within the
3902text that has the specification. It displays all of these spaces
3903@var{factor} times as wide as normal. The element @var{factor} should
3904be an integer or float. Characters other than spaces are not affected
3905at all; in particular, this has no effect on tab characters.
3906
3907@item (height @var{height})
3908This display specification makes the text taller or shorter.
3909Here are the possibilities for @var{height}:
3910
3911@table @asis
3912@item @code{(+ @var{n})}
3913This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps larger. A ``step'' is
3914defined by the set of available fonts---specifically, those that match
3915what was otherwise specified for this text, in all attributes except
3916height. Each size for which a suitable font is available counts as
3917another step. @var{n} should be an integer.
3918
3919@item @code{(- @var{n})}
3920This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps smaller.
3921
3922@item a number, @var{factor}
3923A number, @var{factor}, means to use a font that is @var{factor} times
3924as tall as the default font.
3925
3926@item a symbol, @var{function}
3927A symbol is a function to compute the height. It is called with the
3928current height as argument, and should return the new height to use.
3929
3930@item anything else, @var{form}
3931If the @var{height} value doesn't fit the previous possibilities, it is
3932a form. Emacs evaluates it to get the new height, with the symbol
3933@code{height} bound to the current specified font height.
3934@end table
3935
3936@item (raise @var{factor})
3937This kind of display specification raises or lowers the text
3938it applies to, relative to the baseline of the line.
3939
3940@var{factor} must be a number, which is interpreted as a multiple of the
3941height of the affected text. If it is positive, that means to display
3942the characters raised. If it is negative, that means to display them
3943lower down.
3944
3945If the text also has a @code{height} display specification, that does
3946not affect the amount of raising or lowering, which is based on the
3947faces used for the text.
3948@end table
3949
3950@c We put all the `@code{(when ...)}' on one line to encourage
3951@c makeinfo's end-of-sentence heuristics to DTRT. Previously, the dot
3952@c was at eol; the info file ended up w/ two spaces rendered after it.
3953 You can make any display specification conditional. To do that,
3954package it in another list of the form
3955@code{(when @var{condition} . @var{spec})}.
3956Then the specification @var{spec} applies only when
3957@var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value. During the
3958evaluation, @code{object} is bound to the string or buffer having the
3959conditional @code{display} property. @code{position} and
3960@code{buffer-position} are bound to the position within @code{object}
3961and the buffer position where the @code{display} property was found,
3962respectively. Both positions can be different when @code{object} is a
3963string.
3964
3965@node Display Margins
3966@subsection Displaying in the Margins
3967@cindex display margins
3968@cindex margins, display
3969
fb33e6a9
RS
3970 A buffer can have blank areas called @dfn{display margins} on the
3971left and on the right. Ordinary text never appears in these areas,
3972but you can put things into the display margins using the
3973@code{display} property. There is currently no way to make text or
3974images in the margin mouse-sensitive.
3975
3976 The way to display something in the margins is to specify it in a
3977margin display specification in the @code{display} property of some
3978text. This is a replacing display specification, meaning that the
3979text you put it on does not get displayed; the margin display appears,
3980but that text does not.
3981
3982 A margin display specification looks like @code{((margin
d25ed7db 3983right-margin) @var{spec})} or @code{((margin left-margin) @var{spec})}.
fb33e6a9
RS
3984Here, @var{spec} is another display specification that says what to
3985display in the margin. Typically it is a string of text to display,
3986or an image descriptor.
3987
3988 To display something in the margin @emph{in association with}
3989certain buffer text, without altering or preventing the display of
3990that text, put a @code{before-string} property on the text and put the
3991margin display specification on the contents of the before-string.
b8d4c8d0
GM
3992
3993 Before the display margins can display anything, you must give
3994them a nonzero width. The usual way to do that is to set these
3995variables:
3996
3997@defvar left-margin-width
3998This variable specifies the width of the left margin.
3999It is buffer-local in all buffers.
4000@end defvar
4001
4002@defvar right-margin-width
4003This variable specifies the width of the right margin.
4004It is buffer-local in all buffers.
4005@end defvar
4006
4007 Setting these variables does not immediately affect the window. These
4008variables are checked when a new buffer is displayed in the window.
4009Thus, you can make changes take effect by calling
4010@code{set-window-buffer}.
4011
4012 You can also set the margin widths immediately.
4013
4014@defun set-window-margins window left &optional right
4015This function specifies the margin widths for window @var{window}.
4016The argument @var{left} controls the left margin and
4017@var{right} controls the right margin (default @code{0}).
4018@end defun
4019
4020@defun window-margins &optional window
4021This function returns the left and right margins of @var{window}
4022as a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{left} . @var{right})}.
4023If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
4024@end defun
4025
4026@node Images
4027@section Images
4028@cindex images in buffers
4029
4030 To display an image in an Emacs buffer, you must first create an image
4031descriptor, then use it as a display specifier in the @code{display}
4032property of text that is displayed (@pxref{Display Property}).
4033
4034 Emacs is usually able to display images when it is run on a
4035graphical terminal. Images cannot be displayed in a text terminal, on
4036certain graphical terminals that lack the support for this, or if
4037Emacs is compiled without image support. You can use the function
4038@code{display-images-p} to determine if images can in principle be
4039displayed (@pxref{Display Feature Testing}).
4040
4041@menu
4042* Image Formats:: Supported image formats.
4043* Image Descriptors:: How to specify an image for use in @code{:display}.
4044* XBM Images:: Special features for XBM format.
4045* XPM Images:: Special features for XPM format.
4046* GIF Images:: Special features for GIF format.
905a9adb 4047* TIFF Images:: Special features for TIFF format.
2833b3ff 4048* PostScript Images:: Special features for PostScript format.
16a91140 4049* ImageMagick Images:: Special features available through ImageMagick.
b8d4c8d0
GM
4050* Other Image Types:: Various other formats are supported.
4051* Defining Images:: Convenient ways to define an image for later use.
4052* Showing Images:: Convenient ways to display an image once it is defined.
4053* Image Cache:: Internal mechanisms of image display.
4054@end menu
4055
4056@node Image Formats
4057@subsection Image Formats
4058@cindex image formats
4059@cindex image types
4060
4061 Emacs can display a number of different image formats; some of them
4062are supported only if particular support libraries are installed on
00f113eb
JB
4063your machine. In some environments, Emacs can load support libraries
4064on demand; if so, the variable @code{dynamic-library-alist}
4065(@pxref{Dynamic Libraries}) can be used to modify the set of known
4066names for these dynamic libraries (though it is not possible to add
4067new image formats). Note that image types @code{pbm} and @code{xbm}
4068do not depend on external libraries and are always available in Emacs.
b8d4c8d0
GM
4069
4070 The supported image formats include XBM, XPM (this requires the
4071libraries @code{libXpm} version 3.4k and @code{libz}), GIF (requiring
4072@code{libungif} 4.1.0), PostScript, PBM, JPEG (requiring the
4073@code{libjpeg} library version v6a), TIFF (requiring @code{libtiff}
4074v3.4), PNG (requiring @code{libpng} 1.0.2), and SVG (requiring
4075@code{librsvg} 2.0.0).
4076
4077 You specify one of these formats with an image type symbol. The image
4078type symbols are @code{xbm}, @code{xpm}, @code{gif}, @code{postscript},
4079@code{pbm}, @code{jpeg}, @code{tiff}, @code{png}, and @code{svg}.
4080
4081@defvar image-types
4082This variable contains a list of those image type symbols that are
4083potentially supported in the current configuration.
4084@emph{Potentially} here means that Emacs knows about the image types,
4085not necessarily that they can be loaded (they could depend on
4086unavailable dynamic libraries, for example).
4087
4088To know which image types are really available, use
4089@code{image-type-available-p}.
4090@end defvar
4091
b8d4c8d0
GM
4092@defun image-type-available-p type
4093This function returns non-@code{nil} if image type @var{type} is
4094available, i.e., if images of this type can be loaded and displayed in
4095Emacs. @var{type} should be one of the types contained in
4096@code{image-types}.
4097
4098For image types whose support libraries are statically linked, this
4099function always returns @code{t}; for other image types, it returns
4100@code{t} if the dynamic library could be loaded, @code{nil} otherwise.
4101@end defun
4102
4103@node Image Descriptors
4104@subsection Image Descriptors
4105@cindex image descriptor
4106
4107 An image description is a list of the form @code{(image . @var{props})},
4108where @var{props} is a property list containing alternating keyword
4109symbols (symbols whose names start with a colon) and their values.
4110You can use any Lisp object as a property, but the only properties
4111that have any special meaning are certain symbols, all of them keywords.
4112
4113 Every image descriptor must contain the property @code{:type
4114@var{type}} to specify the format of the image. The value of @var{type}
4115should be an image type symbol; for example, @code{xpm} for an image in
4116XPM format.
4117
4118 Here is a list of other properties that are meaningful for all image
4119types:
4120
4121@table @code
4122@item :file @var{file}
4123The @code{:file} property says to load the image from file
4124@var{file}. If @var{file} is not an absolute file name, it is expanded
4125in @code{data-directory}.
4126
4127@item :data @var{data}
4128The @code{:data} property says the actual contents of the image.
4129Each image must use either @code{:data} or @code{:file}, but not both.
4130For most image types, the value of the @code{:data} property should be a
4131string containing the image data; we recommend using a unibyte string.
4132
4133Before using @code{:data}, look for further information in the section
4134below describing the specific image format. For some image types,
4135@code{:data} may not be supported; for some, it allows other data types;
4136for some, @code{:data} alone is not enough, so you need to use other
4137image properties along with @code{:data}.
4138
4139@item :margin @var{margin}
4140The @code{:margin} property specifies how many pixels to add as an
4141extra margin around the image. The value, @var{margin}, must be a
4142non-negative number, or a pair @code{(@var{x} . @var{y})} of such
4143numbers. If it is a pair, @var{x} specifies how many pixels to add
4144horizontally, and @var{y} specifies how many pixels to add vertically.
4145If @code{:margin} is not specified, the default is zero.
4146
4147@item :ascent @var{ascent}
4148The @code{:ascent} property specifies the amount of the image's
4149height to use for its ascent---that is, the part above the baseline.
4150The value, @var{ascent}, must be a number in the range 0 to 100, or
4151the symbol @code{center}.
4152
4153If @var{ascent} is a number, that percentage of the image's height is
4154used for its ascent.
4155
4156If @var{ascent} is @code{center}, the image is vertically centered
4157around a centerline which would be the vertical centerline of text drawn
4158at the position of the image, in the manner specified by the text
4159properties and overlays that apply to the image.
4160
4161If this property is omitted, it defaults to 50.
4162
4163@item :relief @var{relief}
4164The @code{:relief} property, if non-@code{nil}, adds a shadow rectangle
4165around the image. The value, @var{relief}, specifies the width of the
4166shadow lines, in pixels. If @var{relief} is negative, shadows are drawn
4167so that the image appears as a pressed button; otherwise, it appears as
4168an unpressed button.
4169
4170@item :conversion @var{algorithm}
4171The @code{:conversion} property, if non-@code{nil}, specifies a
4172conversion algorithm that should be applied to the image before it is
4173displayed; the value, @var{algorithm}, specifies which algorithm.
4174
4175@table @code
4176@item laplace
4177@itemx emboss
4178Specifies the Laplace edge detection algorithm, which blurs out small
4179differences in color while highlighting larger differences. People
4180sometimes consider this useful for displaying the image for a
4181``disabled'' button.
4182
4183@item (edge-detection :matrix @var{matrix} :color-adjust @var{adjust})
4184Specifies a general edge-detection algorithm. @var{matrix} must be
4185either a nine-element list or a nine-element vector of numbers. A pixel
4186at position @math{x/y} in the transformed image is computed from
4187original pixels around that position. @var{matrix} specifies, for each
4188pixel in the neighborhood of @math{x/y}, a factor with which that pixel
4189will influence the transformed pixel; element @math{0} specifies the
4190factor for the pixel at @math{x-1/y-1}, element @math{1} the factor for
4191the pixel at @math{x/y-1} etc., as shown below:
4192@iftex
4193@tex
4194$$\pmatrix{x-1/y-1 & x/y-1 & x+1/y-1 \cr
4195 x-1/y & x/y & x+1/y \cr
4196 x-1/y+1& x/y+1 & x+1/y+1 \cr}$$
4197@end tex
4198@end iftex
4199@ifnottex
4200@display
4201 (x-1/y-1 x/y-1 x+1/y-1
4202 x-1/y x/y x+1/y
4203 x-1/y+1 x/y+1 x+1/y+1)
4204@end display
4205@end ifnottex
4206
4207The resulting pixel is computed from the color intensity of the color
4208resulting from summing up the RGB values of surrounding pixels,
4209multiplied by the specified factors, and dividing that sum by the sum
4210of the factors' absolute values.
4211
4212Laplace edge-detection currently uses a matrix of
4213@iftex
4214@tex
4215$$\pmatrix{1 & 0 & 0 \cr
4216 0& 0 & 0 \cr
4217 9 & 9 & -1 \cr}$$
4218@end tex
4219@end iftex
4220@ifnottex
4221@display
4222 (1 0 0
4223 0 0 0
4224 9 9 -1)
4225@end display
4226@end ifnottex
4227
4228Emboss edge-detection uses a matrix of
4229@iftex
4230@tex
4231$$\pmatrix{ 2 & -1 & 0 \cr
4232 -1 & 0 & 1 \cr
4233 0 & 1 & -2 \cr}$$
4234@end tex
4235@end iftex
4236@ifnottex
4237@display
4238 ( 2 -1 0
4239 -1 0 1
4240 0 1 -2)
4241@end display
4242@end ifnottex
4243
4244@item disabled
4245Specifies transforming the image so that it looks ``disabled.''
4246@end table
4247
4248@item :mask @var{mask}
4249If @var{mask} is @code{heuristic} or @code{(heuristic @var{bg})}, build
4250a clipping mask for the image, so that the background of a frame is
4251visible behind the image. If @var{bg} is not specified, or if @var{bg}
4252is @code{t}, determine the background color of the image by looking at
4253the four corners of the image, assuming the most frequently occurring
4254color from the corners is the background color of the image. Otherwise,
4255@var{bg} must be a list @code{(@var{red} @var{green} @var{blue})}
4256specifying the color to assume for the background of the image.
4257
4258If @var{mask} is @code{nil}, remove a mask from the image, if it has
4259one. Images in some formats include a mask which can be removed by
4260specifying @code{:mask nil}.
4261
4262@item :pointer @var{shape}
4263This specifies the pointer shape when the mouse pointer is over this
4264image. @xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4265
4266@item :map @var{map}
4267This associates an image map of @dfn{hot spots} with this image.
4268
4269An image map is an alist where each element has the format
4270@code{(@var{area} @var{id} @var{plist})}. An @var{area} is specified
4271as either a rectangle, a circle, or a polygon.
4272
4273A rectangle is a cons
4274@code{(rect . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . (@var{x1} . @var{y1})))}
4275which specifies the pixel coordinates of the upper left and bottom right
4276corners of the rectangle area.
4277
4278A circle is a cons
4279@code{(circle . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . @var{r}))}
4280which specifies the center and the radius of the circle; @var{r} may
4281be a float or integer.
4282
4283A polygon is a cons
4284@code{(poly . [@var{x0} @var{y0} @var{x1} @var{y1} ...])}
4285where each pair in the vector describes one corner in the polygon.
4286
4287When the mouse pointer lies on a hot-spot area of an image, the
4288@var{plist} of that hot-spot is consulted; if it contains a @code{help-echo}
4289property, that defines a tool-tip for the hot-spot, and if it contains
4290a @code{pointer} property, that defines the shape of the mouse cursor when
4291it is on the hot-spot.
4292@xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4293
4294When you click the mouse when the mouse pointer is over a hot-spot, an
4295event is composed by combining the @var{id} of the hot-spot with the
4296mouse event; for instance, @code{[area4 mouse-1]} if the hot-spot's
4297@var{id} is @code{area4}.
4298@end table
4299
4300@defun image-mask-p spec &optional frame
4301This function returns @code{t} if image @var{spec} has a mask bitmap.
4302@var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4303@var{frame} @code{nil} or omitted means to use the selected frame
4304(@pxref{Input Focus}).
4305@end defun
4306
4307@node XBM Images
4308@subsection XBM Images
4309@cindex XBM
4310
4311 To use XBM format, specify @code{xbm} as the image type. This image
4312format doesn't require an external library, so images of this type are
4313always supported.
4314
4315 Additional image properties supported for the @code{xbm} image type are:
4316
4317@table @code
4318@item :foreground @var{foreground}
4319The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4320foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4321used for each pixel in the XBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
4322foreground color.
4323
4324@item :background @var{background}
4325The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4326background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4327used for each pixel in the XBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
4328background color.
4329@end table
4330
4331 If you specify an XBM image using data within Emacs instead of an
4332external file, use the following three properties:
4333
4334@table @code
4335@item :data @var{data}
4336The value, @var{data}, specifies the contents of the image.
4337There are three formats you can use for @var{data}:
4338
4339@itemize @bullet
4340@item
4341A vector of strings or bool-vectors, each specifying one line of the
4342image. Do specify @code{:height} and @code{:width}.
4343
4344@item
4345A string containing the same byte sequence as an XBM file would contain.
4346You must not specify @code{:height} and @code{:width} in this case,
4347because omitting them is what indicates the data has the format of an
4348XBM file. The file contents specify the height and width of the image.
4349
4350@item
4351A string or a bool-vector containing the bits of the image (plus perhaps
4352some extra bits at the end that will not be used). It should contain at
4353least @var{width} * @code{height} bits. In this case, you must specify
4354@code{:height} and @code{:width}, both to indicate that the string
4355contains just the bits rather than a whole XBM file, and to specify the
4356size of the image.
4357@end itemize
4358
4359@item :width @var{width}
4360The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image, in pixels.
4361
4362@item :height @var{height}
4363The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image, in pixels.
4364@end table
4365
4366@node XPM Images
4367@subsection XPM Images
4368@cindex XPM
4369
4370 To use XPM format, specify @code{xpm} as the image type. The
4371additional image property @code{:color-symbols} is also meaningful with
4372the @code{xpm} image type:
4373
4374@table @code
4375@item :color-symbols @var{symbols}
4376The value, @var{symbols}, should be an alist whose elements have the
4377form @code{(@var{name} . @var{color})}. In each element, @var{name} is
4378the name of a color as it appears in the image file, and @var{color}
4379specifies the actual color to use for displaying that name.
4380@end table
4381
4382@node GIF Images
4383@subsection GIF Images
4384@cindex GIF
4385
4386 For GIF images, specify image type @code{gif}.
4387
4388@table @code
4389@item :index @var{index}
4390You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a GIF file that
4391contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4392number @var{index} from the file. If the GIF file doesn't contain an
4393image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4394@end table
4395
4396@ignore
4397This could be used to implement limited support for animated GIFs.
4398For example, the following function displays a multi-image GIF file
4399at point-min in the current buffer, switching between sub-images
4400every 0.1 seconds.
4401
4402(defun show-anim (file max)
4403 "Display multi-image GIF file FILE which contains MAX subimages."
4404 (display-anim (current-buffer) file 0 max t))
4405
4406(defun display-anim (buffer file idx max first-time)
4407 (when (= idx max)
4408 (setq idx 0))
4409 (let ((img (create-image file nil :image idx)))
c57008f6 4410 (with-current-buffer buffer
b8d4c8d0
GM
4411 (goto-char (point-min))
4412 (unless first-time (delete-char 1))
4413 (insert-image img))
4414 (run-with-timer 0.1 nil 'display-anim buffer file (1+ idx) max nil)))
4415@end ignore
4416
905a9adb
JR
4417@node TIFF Images
4418@subsection TIFF Images
4419@cindex TIFF
4420
4421 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4422
4423@table @code
4424@item :index @var{index}
4425You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a TIFF file that
4426contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4427number @var{index} from the file. If the TIFF file doesn't contain an
4428image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4429@end table
4430
2833b3ff
CY
4431@node PostScript Images
4432@subsection PostScript Images
4433@cindex postscript images
4434
4435 To use PostScript for an image, specify image type @code{postscript}.
4436This works only if you have Ghostscript installed. You must always use
4437these three properties:
4438
4439@table @code
4440@item :pt-width @var{width}
4441The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image measured in
4442points (1/72 inch). @var{width} must be an integer.
4443
4444@item :pt-height @var{height}
4445The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image in points
4446(1/72 inch). @var{height} must be an integer.
4447
4448@item :bounding-box @var{box}
4449The value, @var{box}, must be a list or vector of four integers, which
4450specifying the bounding box of the PostScript image, analogous to the
4451@samp{BoundingBox} comment found in PostScript files.
4452
4453@example
4454%%BoundingBox: 22 171 567 738
4455@end example
4456@end table
4457
16a91140
JV
4458@node ImageMagick Images
4459@subsection ImageMagick Images
ca0d44e4
GM
4460@cindex ImageMagick images
4461@cindex images, support for more formats
4462
4463 If you build Emacs with ImageMagick (@url{http://www.imagemagick.org})
4464support, you can use the ImageMagick library to load many image formats.
4465
4466@findex imagemagick-types
4467The function @code{imagemagick-types} returns a list of image file
4468extensions that your installation of ImageMagick supports. To enable
4469support, you must call the function @code{imagemagick-register-types}.
4470
4471@vindex imagemagick-types-inhibit
4472The variable @code{imagemagick-types-inhibit} specifies a list of
4473image types that you do @emph{not} want ImageMagick to handle. There
4474may be overlap between image loaders in your Emacs installation, and
4475you may prefer to use a different one for a given image type (which
4476@c FIXME how is this priority determined?
4477loader will be used in practice depends on the priority of the loaders).
4478@c FIXME why are these uppercase when image-types is lower-case?
4479@c FIXME what are the possibe options? Are these actually file extensions?
4480For example, if you never want to use the ImageMagick loader to use
4481JPEG files, add @code{JPG} to this list.
4482
4483@vindex imagemagick-render-type
4484You can set the variable @code{imagemagick-render-type} to choose
4485between screen render methods for the ImageMagick loader. The options
4486are: @code{0}, a conservative method which works with older
4487@c FIXME details of this "newer method"?
4488@c Presumably it is faster but may be less "robust"?
4489ImageMagick versions (it is a bit slow, but robust); and @code{1},
4490a newer ImageMagick method.
4491
4492Images loaded with ImageMagick support a few new display specifications:
16a91140 4493
ca0d44e4
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4494@table @code
4495@item :width, :height
4496The @code{:width} and @code{:height} keywords are used for scaling the
4497image. If only one of them is specified, the other one will be
4498calculated so as to preserve the aspect ratio. If both are specified,
4499aspect ratio may not be preserved.
4500
4501@item :rotation
4502Specifies a rotation angle in degrees.
4503
4504@item :index
4505Specifies which image to view inside an image bundle file format, such
4506as TIFF or DJVM. You can use the @code{image-metadata} function to
4507retrieve the total number of images in an image bundle (this is
4508similar to how GIF files work).
4509@end table
16a91140
JV
4510
4511
b8d4c8d0
GM
4512@node Other Image Types
4513@subsection Other Image Types
4514@cindex PBM
4515
4516 For PBM images, specify image type @code{pbm}. Color, gray-scale and
4517monochromatic images are supported. For mono PBM images, two additional
4518image properties are supported.
4519
4520@table @code
4521@item :foreground @var{foreground}
4522The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4523foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
3696411e 4524used for each pixel in the PBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
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4525foreground color.
4526
4527@item :background @var{background}
4528The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4529background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
3696411e 4530used for each pixel in the PBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
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4531background color.
4532@end table
4533
4534 For JPEG images, specify image type @code{jpeg}.
4535
4536 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4537
4538 For PNG images, specify image type @code{png}.
4539
4540 For SVG images, specify image type @code{svg}.
4541
4542@node Defining Images
4543@subsection Defining Images
4544
4545 The functions @code{create-image}, @code{defimage} and
4546@code{find-image} provide convenient ways to create image descriptors.
4547
4548@defun create-image file-or-data &optional type data-p &rest props
4549This function creates and returns an image descriptor which uses the
4550data in @var{file-or-data}. @var{file-or-data} can be a file name or
4551a string containing the image data; @var{data-p} should be @code{nil}
4552for the former case, non-@code{nil} for the latter case.
4553
4554The optional argument @var{type} is a symbol specifying the image type.
4555If @var{type} is omitted or @code{nil}, @code{create-image} tries to
4556determine the image type from the file's first few bytes, or else
4557from the file's name.
4558
4559The remaining arguments, @var{props}, specify additional image
4560properties---for example,
4561
4562@example
4563(create-image "foo.xpm" 'xpm nil :heuristic-mask t)
4564@end example
4565
4566The function returns @code{nil} if images of this type are not
4567supported. Otherwise it returns an image descriptor.
4568@end defun
4569
4570@defmac defimage symbol specs &optional doc
4571This macro defines @var{symbol} as an image name. The arguments
4572@var{specs} is a list which specifies how to display the image.
4573The third argument, @var{doc}, is an optional documentation string.
4574
4575Each argument in @var{specs} has the form of a property list, and each
4576one should specify at least the @code{:type} property and either the
4577@code{:file} or the @code{:data} property. The value of @code{:type}
4578should be a symbol specifying the image type, the value of
4579@code{:file} is the file to load the image from, and the value of
4580@code{:data} is a string containing the actual image data. Here is an
4581example:
4582
4583@example
4584(defimage test-image
4585 ((:type xpm :file "~/test1.xpm")
4586 (:type xbm :file "~/test1.xbm")))
4587@end example
4588
4589@code{defimage} tests each argument, one by one, to see if it is
4590usable---that is, if the type is supported and the file exists. The
4591first usable argument is used to make an image descriptor which is
4592stored in @var{symbol}.
4593
4594If none of the alternatives will work, then @var{symbol} is defined
4595as @code{nil}.
4596@end defmac
4597
4598@defun find-image specs
4599This function provides a convenient way to find an image satisfying one
4600of a list of image specifications @var{specs}.
4601
4602Each specification in @var{specs} is a property list with contents
4603depending on image type. All specifications must at least contain the
4604properties @code{:type @var{type}} and either @w{@code{:file @var{file}}}
4605or @w{@code{:data @var{DATA}}}, where @var{type} is a symbol specifying
4606the image type, e.g.@: @code{xbm}, @var{file} is the file to load the
4607image from, and @var{data} is a string containing the actual image data.
4608The first specification in the list whose @var{type} is supported, and
4609@var{file} exists, is used to construct the image specification to be
4610returned. If no specification is satisfied, @code{nil} is returned.
4611
4612The image is looked for in @code{image-load-path}.
4613@end defun
4614
4615@defvar image-load-path
4616This variable's value is a list of locations in which to search for
4617image files. If an element is a string or a variable symbol whose
4618value is a string, the string is taken to be the name of a directory
4619to search. If an element is a variable symbol whose value is a list,
4620that is taken to be a list of directory names to search.
4621
4622The default is to search in the @file{images} subdirectory of the
4623directory specified by @code{data-directory}, then the directory
4624specified by @code{data-directory}, and finally in the directories in
4625@code{load-path}. Subdirectories are not automatically included in
4626the search, so if you put an image file in a subdirectory, you have to
4627supply the subdirectory name explicitly. For example, to find the
4628image @file{images/foo/bar.xpm} within @code{data-directory}, you
4629should specify the image as follows:
4630
4631@example
4632(defimage foo-image '((:type xpm :file "foo/bar.xpm")))
4633@end example
4634@end defvar
4635
4636@defun image-load-path-for-library library image &optional path no-error
4637This function returns a suitable search path for images used by the
4638Lisp package @var{library}.
4639
4640The function searches for @var{image} first using @code{image-load-path},
4641excluding @file{@code{data-directory}/images}, and then in
4642@code{load-path}, followed by a path suitable for @var{library}, which
4643includes @file{../../etc/images} and @file{../etc/images} relative to
4644the library file itself, and finally in
4645@file{@code{data-directory}/images}.
4646
4647Then this function returns a list of directories which contains first
4648the directory in which @var{image} was found, followed by the value of
4649@code{load-path}. If @var{path} is given, it is used instead of
4650@code{load-path}.
4651
4652If @var{no-error} is non-@code{nil} and a suitable path can't be
4653found, don't signal an error. Instead, return a list of directories as
4654before, except that @code{nil} appears in place of the image directory.
4655
4656Here is an example that uses a common idiom to provide compatibility
4657with versions of Emacs that lack the variable @code{image-load-path}:
4658
4659@example
4660(defvar image-load-path) ; shush compiler
4661(let* ((load-path (image-load-path-for-library
4662 "mh-e" "mh-logo.xpm"))
4663 (image-load-path (cons (car load-path)
4664 (when (boundp 'image-load-path)
4665 image-load-path))))
4666 (mh-tool-bar-folder-buttons-init))
4667@end example
4668@end defun
4669
4670@node Showing Images
4671@subsection Showing Images
4672
4673 You can use an image descriptor by setting up the @code{display}
4674property yourself, but it is easier to use the functions in this
4675section.
4676
4677@defun insert-image image &optional string area slice
4678This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point. The
4679value @var{image} should be an image descriptor; it could be a value
4680returned by @code{create-image}, or the value of a symbol defined with
4681@code{defimage}. The argument @var{string} specifies the text to put
4682in the buffer to hold the image. If it is omitted or @code{nil},
4683@code{insert-image} uses @code{" "} by default.
4684
4685The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4686If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4687@code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4688@code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4689buffer's text.
4690
4691The argument @var{slice} specifies a slice of the image to insert. If
4692@var{slice} is @code{nil} or omitted the whole image is inserted.
4693Otherwise, @var{slice} is a list @code{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width}
4694@var{height})} which specifies the @var{x} and @var{y} positions and
4695@var{width} and @var{height} of the image area to insert. Integer
4696values are in units of pixels. A floating point number in the range
46970.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height of the entire
4698image.
4699
4700Internally, this function inserts @var{string} in the buffer, and gives
4701it a @code{display} property which specifies @var{image}. @xref{Display
4702Property}.
4703@end defun
4704
4705@defun insert-sliced-image image &optional string area rows cols
4706This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point, like
4707@code{insert-image}, but splits the image into @var{rows}x@var{cols}
4708equally sized slices.
4709@end defun
4710
4711@defun put-image image pos &optional string area
4712This function puts image @var{image} in front of @var{pos} in the
4713current buffer. The argument @var{pos} should be an integer or a
4714marker. It specifies the buffer position where the image should appear.
4715The argument @var{string} specifies the text that should hold the image
4716as an alternative to the default.
4717
4718The argument @var{image} must be an image descriptor, perhaps returned
4719by @code{create-image} or stored by @code{defimage}.
4720
4721The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4722If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4723@code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4724@code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4725buffer's text.
4726
4727Internally, this function creates an overlay, and gives it a
4728@code{before-string} property containing text that has a @code{display}
4729property whose value is the image. (Whew!)
4730@end defun
4731
4732@defun remove-images start end &optional buffer
4733This function removes images in @var{buffer} between positions
4734@var{start} and @var{end}. If @var{buffer} is omitted or @code{nil},
4735images are removed from the current buffer.
4736
4737This removes only images that were put into @var{buffer} the way
4738@code{put-image} does it, not images that were inserted with
4739@code{insert-image} or in other ways.
4740@end defun
4741
4742@defun image-size spec &optional pixels frame
4743This function returns the size of an image as a pair
4744@w{@code{(@var{width} . @var{height})}}. @var{spec} is an image
4745specification. @var{pixels} non-@code{nil} means return sizes
4746measured in pixels, otherwise return sizes measured in canonical
4747character units (fractions of the width/height of the frame's default
4748font). @var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4749@var{frame} null or omitted means use the selected frame (@pxref{Input
4750Focus}).
4751@end defun
4752
4753@defvar max-image-size
4754This variable is used to define the maximum size of image that Emacs
4755will load. Emacs will refuse to load (and display) any image that is
4756larger than this limit.
4757
4758If the value is an integer, it directly specifies the maximum
4759image height and width, measured in pixels. If it is a floating
4760point number, it specifies the maximum image height and width
4761as a ratio to the frame height and width. If the value is
4762non-numeric, there is no explicit limit on the size of images.
4763
4764The purpose of this variable is to prevent unreasonably large images
4765from accidentally being loaded into Emacs. It only takes effect the
4766first time an image is loaded. Once an image is placed in the image
4767cache, it can always be displayed, even if the value of
4768@var{max-image-size} is subsequently changed (@pxref{Image Cache}).
4769@end defvar
4770
4771@node Image Cache
4772@subsection Image Cache
4773@cindex image cache
4774
0c1cfe01
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4775 Emacs caches images so that it can display them again more
4776efficiently. When Emacs displays an image, it searches the image
4777cache for an existing image specification @code{equal} to the desired
4778specification. If a match is found, the image is displayed from the
110683ad
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4779cache. Otherwise, Emacs loads the image normally.
4780
4781@defun image-flush spec &optional frame
4782This function removes the image with specification @var{spec} from the
4783image cache of frame @var{frame}. Image specifications are compared
4784using @code{equal}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the
4785selected frame. If @var{frame} is @code{t}, the image is flushed on
4786all existing frames.
4787
4788In Emacs' current implementation, each graphical terminal possesses an
4789image cache, which is shared by all the frames on that terminal
0c1cfe01
CY
4790(@pxref{Multiple Terminals}). Thus, refreshing an image in one frame
4791also refreshes it in all other frames on the same terminal.
b8d4c8d0
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4792@end defun
4793
110683ad
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4794 One use for @code{image-flush} is to tell Emacs about a change in an
4795image file. If an image specification contains a @code{:file}
4796property, the image is cached based on the file's contents when the
4797image is first displayed. Even if the file subsequently changes,
4798Emacs continues displaying the old version of the image. Calling
4799@code{image-flush} flushes the image from the cache, forcing Emacs to
4800re-read the file the next time it needs to display that image.
4801
4802 Another use for @code{image-flush} is for memory conservation. If
4803your Lisp program creates a large number of temporary images over a
4804period much shorter than @code{image-cache-eviction-delay} (see
4805below), you can opt to flush unused images yourself, instead of
4806waiting for Emacs to do it automatically.
4807
a2bc5bdd 4808@defun clear-image-cache &optional filter
0c1cfe01
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4809This function clears an image cache, removing all the images stored in
4810it. If @var{filter} is omitted or @code{nil}, it clears the cache for
4811the selected frame. If @var{filter} is a frame, it clears the cache
4812for that frame. If @var{filter} is @code{t}, all image caches are
4813cleared. Otherwise, @var{filter} is taken to be a file name, and all
4814images associated with that file name are removed from all image
4815caches.
b8d4c8d0
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4816@end defun
4817
4818If an image in the image cache has not been displayed for a specified
4819period of time, Emacs removes it from the cache and frees the
4820associated memory.
4821
4822@defvar image-cache-eviction-delay
110683ad
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4823This variable specifies the number of seconds an image can remain in
4824the cache without being displayed. When an image is not displayed for
4825this length of time, Emacs removes it from the image cache.
4826
4827Under some circumstances, if the number of images in the cache grows
4828too large, the actual eviction delay may be shorter than this.
b8d4c8d0
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4829
4830If the value is @code{nil}, Emacs does not remove images from the cache
4831except when you explicitly clear it. This mode can be useful for
4832debugging.
4833@end defvar
4834
4835@node Buttons
4836@section Buttons
4837@cindex buttons in buffers
4838@cindex clickable buttons in buffers
4839
4840 The @emph{button} package defines functions for inserting and
4841manipulating clickable (with the mouse, or via keyboard commands)
4842buttons in Emacs buffers, such as might be used for help hyper-links,
4843etc. Emacs uses buttons for the hyper-links in help text and the like.
4844
4845 A button is essentially a set of properties attached (via text
4846properties or overlays) to a region of text in an Emacs buffer. These
4847properties are called @dfn{button properties}.
4848
4849 One of these properties (@code{action}) is a function, which will
4850be called when the user invokes it using the keyboard or the mouse.
4851The invoked function may then examine the button and use its other
4852properties as desired.
4853
4854 In some ways the Emacs button package duplicates functionality offered
4855by the widget package (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, widget, The Emacs
4856Widget Library}), but the button package has the advantage that it is
4857much faster, much smaller, and much simpler to use (for elisp
4858programmers---for users, the result is about the same). The extra
4859speed and space savings are useful mainly if you need to create many
4860buttons in a buffer (for instance an @code{*Apropos*} buffer uses
4861buttons to make entries clickable, and may contain many thousands of
4862entries).
4863
4864@menu
4865* Button Properties:: Button properties with special meanings.
4866* Button Types:: Defining common properties for classes of buttons.
4867* Making Buttons:: Adding buttons to Emacs buffers.
4868* Manipulating Buttons:: Getting and setting properties of buttons.
4869* Button Buffer Commands:: Buffer-wide commands and bindings for buttons.
4870@end menu
4871
4872@node Button Properties
4873@subsection Button Properties
4874@cindex button properties
4875
4876 Buttons have an associated list of properties defining their
4877appearance and behavior, and other arbitrary properties may be used
4878for application specific purposes. Some properties that have special
4879meaning to the button package include:
4880
4881@table @code
4882@item action
4883@kindex action @r{(button property)}
4884The function to call when the user invokes the button, which is passed
4885the single argument @var{button}. By default this is @code{ignore},
4886which does nothing.
4887
4888@item mouse-action
4889@kindex mouse-action @r{(button property)}
4890This is similar to @code{action}, and when present, will be used
4891instead of @code{action} for button invocations resulting from
4892mouse-clicks (instead of the user hitting @key{RET}). If not
4893present, mouse-clicks use @code{action} instead.
4894
4895@item face
4896@kindex face @r{(button property)}
4897This is an Emacs face controlling how buttons of this type are
4898displayed; by default this is the @code{button} face.
4899
4900@item mouse-face
4901@kindex mouse-face @r{(button property)}
4902This is an additional face which controls appearance during
4903mouse-overs (merged with the usual button face); by default this is
4904the usual Emacs @code{highlight} face.
4905
4906@item keymap
4907@kindex keymap @r{(button property)}
4908The button's keymap, defining bindings active within the button
4909region. By default this is the usual button region keymap, stored
4910in the variable @code{button-map}, which defines @key{RET} and
4911@key{mouse-2} to invoke the button.
4912
4913@item type
4914@kindex type @r{(button property)}
4915The button-type of the button. When creating a button, this is
4916usually specified using the @code{:type} keyword argument.
4917@xref{Button Types}.
4918
4919@item help-echo
4920@kindex help-index @r{(button property)}
4921A string displayed by the Emacs tool-tip help system; by default,
4922@code{"mouse-2, RET: Push this button"}.
4923
4924@item follow-link
4925@kindex follow-link @r{(button property)}
4926The follow-link property, defining how a @key{Mouse-1} click behaves
2bad3299 4927on this button, @xref{Clickable Text}.
b8d4c8d0
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4928
4929@item button
4930@kindex button @r{(button property)}
4931All buttons have a non-@code{nil} @code{button} property, which may be useful
4932in finding regions of text that comprise buttons (which is what the
4933standard button functions do).
4934@end table
4935
4936 There are other properties defined for the regions of text in a
4937button, but these are not generally interesting for typical uses.
4938
4939@node Button Types
4940@subsection Button Types
4941@cindex button types
4942
4943 Every button has a button @emph{type}, which defines default values
4944for the button's properties. Button types are arranged in a
4945hierarchy, with specialized types inheriting from more general types,
4946so that it's easy to define special-purpose types of buttons for
4947specific tasks.
4948
4949@defun define-button-type name &rest properties
1a256502
TTN
4950Define a `button type' called @var{name} (a symbol).
4951The remaining arguments
b8d4c8d0
GM
4952form a sequence of @var{property value} pairs, specifying default
4953property values for buttons with this type (a button's type may be set
4954by giving it a @code{type} property when creating the button, using
4955the @code{:type} keyword argument).
4956
4957In addition, the keyword argument @code{:supertype} may be used to
4958specify a button-type from which @var{name} inherits its default
4959property values. Note that this inheritance happens only when
4960@var{name} is defined; subsequent changes to a supertype are not
4961reflected in its subtypes.
4962@end defun
4963
4964 Using @code{define-button-type} to define default properties for
4965buttons is not necessary---buttons without any specified type use the
4966built-in button-type @code{button}---but it is encouraged, since
4967doing so usually makes the resulting code clearer and more efficient.
4968
4969@node Making Buttons
4970@subsection Making Buttons
4971@cindex making buttons
4972
4973 Buttons are associated with a region of text, using an overlay or
4974text properties to hold button-specific information, all of which are
4975initialized from the button's type (which defaults to the built-in
4976button type @code{button}). Like all Emacs text, the appearance of
4977the button is governed by the @code{face} property; by default (via
4978the @code{face} property inherited from the @code{button} button-type)
4979this is a simple underline, like a typical web-page link.
4980
4981 For convenience, there are two sorts of button-creation functions,
4982those that add button properties to an existing region of a buffer,
4983called @code{make-...button}, and those that also insert the button
4984text, called @code{insert-...button}.
4985
4986 The button-creation functions all take the @code{&rest} argument
4987@var{properties}, which should be a sequence of @var{property value}
4988pairs, specifying properties to add to the button; see @ref{Button
4989Properties}. In addition, the keyword argument @code{:type} may be
4990used to specify a button-type from which to inherit other properties;
4991see @ref{Button Types}. Any properties not explicitly specified
4992during creation will be inherited from the button's type (if the type
4993defines such a property).
4994
4995 The following functions add a button using an overlay
4996(@pxref{Overlays}) to hold the button properties:
4997
4998@defun make-button beg end &rest properties
4999This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the
5000current buffer, and returns it.
5001@end defun
5002
5003@defun insert-button label &rest properties
5004This insert a button with the label @var{label} at point,
5005and returns it.
5006@end defun
5007
5008 The following functions are similar, but use Emacs text properties
5009(@pxref{Text Properties}) to hold the button properties, making the
5010button actually part of the text instead of being a property of the
5011buffer. Buttons using text properties do not create markers into the
5012buffer, which is important for speed when you use extremely large
4d265b4d
GM
5013numbers of buttons. (However, if there is an existing face text
5014property at the site of the button, the button face may not be visible.)
5015Both functions return the position of the start of the new button:
b8d4c8d0
GM
5016
5017@defun make-text-button beg end &rest properties
5018This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the current buffer, using
5019text properties.
5020@end defun
5021
5022@defun insert-text-button label &rest properties
5023This inserts a button with the label @var{label} at point, using text
5024properties.
5025@end defun
5026
5027@node Manipulating Buttons
5028@subsection Manipulating Buttons
5029@cindex manipulating buttons
5030
5031These are functions for getting and setting properties of buttons.
5032Often these are used by a button's invocation function to determine
5033what to do.
5034
5035Where a @var{button} parameter is specified, it means an object
5036referring to a specific button, either an overlay (for overlay
5037buttons), or a buffer-position or marker (for text property buttons).
5038Such an object is passed as the first argument to a button's
5039invocation function when it is invoked.
5040
5041@defun button-start button
5042Return the position at which @var{button} starts.
5043@end defun
5044
5045@defun button-end button
5046Return the position at which @var{button} ends.
5047@end defun
5048
5049@defun button-get button prop
5050Get the property of button @var{button} named @var{prop}.
5051@end defun
5052
5053@defun button-put button prop val
5054Set @var{button}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
5055@end defun
5056
5057@defun button-activate button &optional use-mouse-action
5058Call @var{button}'s @code{action} property (i.e., invoke it). If
5059@var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, try to invoke the button's
5060@code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
5061has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
5062@end defun
5063
5064@defun button-label button
5065Return @var{button}'s text label.
5066@end defun
5067
5068@defun button-type button
5069Return @var{button}'s button-type.
5070@end defun
5071
5072@defun button-has-type-p button type
5073Return @code{t} if @var{button} has button-type @var{type}, or one of
5074@var{type}'s subtypes.
5075@end defun
5076
5077@defun button-at pos
5078Return the button at position @var{pos} in the current buffer, or @code{nil}.
5079@end defun
5080
5081@defun button-type-put type prop val
5082Set the button-type @var{type}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
5083@end defun
5084
5085@defun button-type-get type prop
5086Get the property of button-type @var{type} named @var{prop}.
5087@end defun
5088
5089@defun button-type-subtype-p type supertype
5090Return @code{t} if button-type @var{type} is a subtype of @var{supertype}.
5091@end defun
5092
5093@node Button Buffer Commands
5094@subsection Button Buffer Commands
5095@cindex button buffer commands
5096
5097These are commands and functions for locating and operating on
5098buttons in an Emacs buffer.
5099
5100@code{push-button} is the command that a user uses to actually `push'
5101a button, and is bound by default in the button itself to @key{RET}
5102and to @key{mouse-2} using a region-specific keymap. Commands
5103that are useful outside the buttons itself, such as
5104@code{forward-button} and @code{backward-button} are additionally
5105available in the keymap stored in @code{button-buffer-map}; a mode
5106which uses buttons may want to use @code{button-buffer-map} as a
5107parent keymap for its keymap.
5108
5109If the button has a non-@code{nil} @code{follow-link} property, and
5110@var{mouse-1-click-follows-link} is set, a quick @key{Mouse-1} click
5111will also activate the @code{push-button} command.
2bad3299 5112@xref{Clickable Text}.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5113
5114@deffn Command push-button &optional pos use-mouse-action
5115Perform the action specified by a button at location @var{pos}.
5116@var{pos} may be either a buffer position or a mouse-event. If
5117@var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, or @var{pos} is a
5118mouse-event (@pxref{Mouse Events}), try to invoke the button's
5119@code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
5120has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
5121@var{pos} defaults to point, except when @code{push-button} is invoked
5122interactively as the result of a mouse-event, in which case, the mouse
5123event's position is used. If there's no button at @var{pos}, do
5124nothing and return @code{nil}, otherwise return @code{t}.
5125@end deffn
5126
5127@deffn Command forward-button n &optional wrap display-message
5128Move to the @var{n}th next button, or @var{n}th previous button if
5129@var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5130button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5131end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5132@var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5133is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5134is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5135@end deffn
5136
5137@deffn Command backward-button n &optional wrap display-message
5138Move to the @var{n}th previous button, or @var{n}th next button if
5139@var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5140button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5141end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5142@var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5143is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5144is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5145@end deffn
5146
5147@defun next-button pos &optional count-current
5148@defunx previous-button pos &optional count-current
5149Return the next button after (for @code{next-button} or before (for
5150@code{previous-button}) position @var{pos} in the current buffer. If
5151@var{count-current} is non-@code{nil}, count any button at @var{pos}
5152in the search, instead of starting at the next button.
5153@end defun
5154
5155@node Abstract Display
5156@section Abstract Display
5157@cindex ewoc
5158@cindex display, abstract
5159@cindex display, arbitrary objects
5160@cindex model/view/controller
5161@cindex view part, model/view/controller
5162
5163 The Ewoc package constructs buffer text that represents a structure
5164of Lisp objects, and updates the text to follow changes in that
5165structure. This is like the ``view'' component in the
5166``model/view/controller'' design paradigm.
5167
5168 An @dfn{ewoc} is a structure that organizes information required to
5169construct buffer text that represents certain Lisp data. The buffer
5170text of the ewoc has three parts, in order: first, fixed @dfn{header}
5171text; next, textual descriptions of a series of data elements (Lisp
5172objects that you specify); and last, fixed @dfn{footer} text.
5173Specifically, an ewoc contains information on:
5174
5175@itemize @bullet
5176@item
5177The buffer which its text is generated in.
5178
5179@item
5180The text's start position in the buffer.
5181
5182@item
5183The header and footer strings.
5184
5185@item
5186A doubly-linked chain of @dfn{nodes}, each of which contains:
5187
5188@itemize
5189@item
5190A @dfn{data element}, a single Lisp object.
5191
5192@item
5193Links to the preceding and following nodes in the chain.
5194@end itemize
5195
5196@item
5197A @dfn{pretty-printer} function which is responsible for
5198inserting the textual representation of a data
5199element value into the current buffer.
5200@end itemize
5201
5202 Typically, you define an ewoc with @code{ewoc-create}, and then pass
5203the resulting ewoc structure to other functions in the Ewoc package to
5204build nodes within it, and display it in the buffer. Once it is
5205displayed in the buffer, other functions determine the correspondance
5206between buffer positions and nodes, move point from one node's textual
5207representation to another, and so forth. @xref{Abstract Display
5208Functions}.
5209
5210 A node @dfn{encapsulates} a data element much the way a variable
5211holds a value. Normally, encapsulation occurs as a part of adding a
5212node to the ewoc. You can retrieve the data element value and place a
5213new value in its place, like so:
5214
5215@lisp
5216(ewoc-data @var{node})
5217@result{} value
5218
5219(ewoc-set-data @var{node} @var{new-value})
5220@result{} @var{new-value}
5221@end lisp
5222
5223@noindent
5224You can also use, as the data element value, a Lisp object (list or
5225vector) that is a container for the ``real'' value, or an index into
5226some other structure. The example (@pxref{Abstract Display Example})
5227uses the latter approach.
5228
5229 When the data changes, you will want to update the text in the
5230buffer. You can update all nodes by calling @code{ewoc-refresh}, or
5231just specific nodes using @code{ewoc-invalidate}, or all nodes
5232satisfying a predicate using @code{ewoc-map}. Alternatively, you can
5233delete invalid nodes using @code{ewoc-delete} or @code{ewoc-filter},
5234and add new nodes in their place. Deleting a node from an ewoc deletes
5235its associated textual description from buffer, as well.
5236
5237@menu
5b594a58
GM
5238* Abstract Display Functions:: Functions in the Ewoc package.
5239* Abstract Display Example:: Example of using Ewoc.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5240@end menu
5241
5242@node Abstract Display Functions
5243@subsection Abstract Display Functions
5244
5245 In this subsection, @var{ewoc} and @var{node} stand for the
5246structures described above (@pxref{Abstract Display}), while
5247@var{data} stands for an arbitrary Lisp object used as a data element.
5248
5249@defun ewoc-create pretty-printer &optional header footer nosep
5250This constructs and returns a new ewoc, with no nodes (and thus no data
5251elements). @var{pretty-printer} should be a function that takes one
5252argument, a data element of the sort you plan to use in this ewoc, and
5253inserts its textual description at point using @code{insert} (and never
5254@code{insert-before-markers}, because that would interfere with the
5255Ewoc package's internal mechanisms).
5256
5257Normally, a newline is automatically inserted after the header,
5258the footer and every node's textual description. If @var{nosep}
5259is non-@code{nil}, no newline is inserted. This may be useful for
5260displaying an entire ewoc on a single line, for example, or for
5261making nodes ``invisible'' by arranging for @var{pretty-printer}
5262to do nothing for those nodes.
5263
5264An ewoc maintains its text in the buffer that is current when
5265you create it, so switch to the intended buffer before calling
5266@code{ewoc-create}.
5267@end defun
5268
5269@defun ewoc-buffer ewoc
5270This returns the buffer where @var{ewoc} maintains its text.
5271@end defun
5272
5273@defun ewoc-get-hf ewoc
5274This returns a cons cell @code{(@var{header} . @var{footer})}
5275made from @var{ewoc}'s header and footer.
5276@end defun
5277
5278@defun ewoc-set-hf ewoc header footer
5279This sets the header and footer of @var{ewoc} to the strings
5280@var{header} and @var{footer}, respectively.
5281@end defun
5282
5283@defun ewoc-enter-first ewoc data
5284@defunx ewoc-enter-last ewoc data
5285These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, putting it, respectively,
5286at the beginning or end of @var{ewoc}'s chain of nodes.
5287@end defun
5288
5289@defun ewoc-enter-before ewoc node data
5290@defunx ewoc-enter-after ewoc node data
5291These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, adding it to
5292@var{ewoc} before or after @var{node}, respectively.
5293@end defun
5294
5295@defun ewoc-prev ewoc node
5296@defunx ewoc-next ewoc node
5297These return, respectively, the previous node and the next node of @var{node}
5298in @var{ewoc}.
5299@end defun
5300
5301@defun ewoc-nth ewoc n
5302This returns the node in @var{ewoc} found at zero-based index @var{n}.
5303A negative @var{n} means count from the end. @code{ewoc-nth} returns
5304@code{nil} if @var{n} is out of range.
5305@end defun
5306
5307@defun ewoc-data node
5308This extracts the data encapsulated by @var{node} and returns it.
5309@end defun
5310
5311@defun ewoc-set-data node data
5312This sets the data encapsulated by @var{node} to @var{data}.
5313@end defun
5314
5315@defun ewoc-locate ewoc &optional pos guess
5316This determines the node in @var{ewoc} which contains point (or
5317@var{pos} if specified), and returns that node. If @var{ewoc} has no
5318nodes, it returns @code{nil}. If @var{pos} is before the first node,
5319it returns the first node; if @var{pos} is after the last node, it returns
5320the last node. The optional third arg @var{guess}
5321should be a node that is likely to be near @var{pos}; this doesn't
5322alter the result, but makes the function run faster.
5323@end defun
5324
5325@defun ewoc-location node
5326This returns the start position of @var{node}.
5327@end defun
5328
5329@defun ewoc-goto-prev ewoc arg
5330@defunx ewoc-goto-next ewoc arg
5331These move point to the previous or next, respectively, @var{arg}th node
5332in @var{ewoc}. @code{ewoc-goto-prev} does not move if it is already at
5333the first node or if @var{ewoc} is empty, whereas @code{ewoc-goto-next}
5334moves past the last node, returning @code{nil}. Excepting this special
5335case, these functions return the node moved to.
5336@end defun
5337
5338@defun ewoc-goto-node ewoc node
5339This moves point to the start of @var{node} in @var{ewoc}.
5340@end defun
5341
5342@defun ewoc-refresh ewoc
5343This function regenerates the text of @var{ewoc}. It works by
5344deleting the text between the header and the footer, i.e., all the
5345data elements' representations, and then calling the pretty-printer
5346function for each node, one by one, in order.
5347@end defun
5348
5349@defun ewoc-invalidate ewoc &rest nodes
5350This is similar to @code{ewoc-refresh}, except that only @var{nodes} in
5351@var{ewoc} are updated instead of the entire set.
5352@end defun
5353
5354@defun ewoc-delete ewoc &rest nodes
5355This deletes each node in @var{nodes} from @var{ewoc}.
5356@end defun
5357
5358@defun ewoc-filter ewoc predicate &rest args
5359This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5360deletes those nodes for which @var{predicate} returns @code{nil}.
5361Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5362@end defun
5363
5364@defun ewoc-collect ewoc predicate &rest args
5365This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc}
5366and returns a list of those elements for which @var{predicate}
5367returns non-@code{nil}. The elements in the list are ordered
5368as in the buffer. Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5369@end defun
5370
5371@defun ewoc-map map-function ewoc &rest args
5372This calls @var{map-function} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5373updates those nodes for which @var{map-function} returns non-@code{nil}.
5374Any @var{args} are passed to @var{map-function}.
5375@end defun
5376
5377@node Abstract Display Example
5378@subsection Abstract Display Example
5379
5380 Here is a simple example using functions of the ewoc package to
5381implement a ``color components display,'' an area in a buffer that
5382represents a vector of three integers (itself representing a 24-bit RGB
5383value) in various ways.
5384
5385@example
5386(setq colorcomp-ewoc nil
5387 colorcomp-data nil
5388 colorcomp-mode-map nil
5389 colorcomp-labels ["Red" "Green" "Blue"])
5390
5391(defun colorcomp-pp (data)
5392 (if data
5393 (let ((comp (aref colorcomp-data data)))
5394 (insert (aref colorcomp-labels data) "\t: #x"
5395 (format "%02X" comp) " "
5396 (make-string (ash comp -2) ?#) "\n"))
5397 (let ((cstr (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5398 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5399 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5400 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5401 (samp " (sample text) "))
5402 (insert "Color\t: "
5403 (propertize samp 'face `(foreground-color . ,cstr))
5404 (propertize samp 'face `(background-color . ,cstr))
5405 "\n"))))
5406
5407(defun colorcomp (color)
5408 "Allow fiddling with COLOR in a new buffer.
5409The buffer is in Color Components mode."
5410 (interactive "sColor (name or #RGB or #RRGGBB): ")
5411 (when (string= "" color)
5412 (setq color "green"))
5413 (unless (color-values color)
5414 (error "No such color: %S" color))
5415 (switch-to-buffer
5416 (generate-new-buffer (format "originally: %s" color)))
5417 (kill-all-local-variables)
5418 (setq major-mode 'colorcomp-mode
5419 mode-name "Color Components")
5420 (use-local-map colorcomp-mode-map)
5421 (erase-buffer)
5422 (buffer-disable-undo)
5423 (let ((data (apply 'vector (mapcar (lambda (n) (ash n -8))
5424 (color-values color))))
5425 (ewoc (ewoc-create 'colorcomp-pp
5426 "\nColor Components\n\n"
5427 (substitute-command-keys
5428 "\n\\@{colorcomp-mode-map@}"))))
5429 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-data) data)
5430 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-ewoc) ewoc)
5431 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 0)
5432 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 1)
5433 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 2)
5434 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc nil)))
5435@end example
5436
5437@cindex controller part, model/view/controller
5438 This example can be extended to be a ``color selection widget'' (in
5439other words, the controller part of the ``model/view/controller''
5440design paradigm) by defining commands to modify @code{colorcomp-data}
5441and to ``finish'' the selection process, and a keymap to tie it all
5442together conveniently.
5443
5444@smallexample
5445(defun colorcomp-mod (index limit delta)
5446 (let ((cur (aref colorcomp-data index)))
5447 (unless (= limit cur)
5448 (aset colorcomp-data index (+ cur delta)))
5449 (ewoc-invalidate
5450 colorcomp-ewoc
5451 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc index)
5452 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc -1))))
5453
5454(defun colorcomp-R-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 255 1))
5455(defun colorcomp-G-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 255 1))
5456(defun colorcomp-B-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 255 1))
5457(defun colorcomp-R-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 0 -1))
5458(defun colorcomp-G-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 0 -1))
5459(defun colorcomp-B-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 0 -1))
5460
5461(defun colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit ()
5462 "Copy the color components into the kill ring and kill the buffer.
5463The string is formatted #RRGGBB (hash followed by six hex digits)."
5464 (interactive)
5465 (kill-new (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5466 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5467 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5468 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5469 (kill-buffer nil))
5470
5471(setq colorcomp-mode-map
5472 (let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
5473 (suppress-keymap m)
5474 (define-key m "i" 'colorcomp-R-less)
5475 (define-key m "o" 'colorcomp-R-more)
5476 (define-key m "k" 'colorcomp-G-less)
5477 (define-key m "l" 'colorcomp-G-more)
5478 (define-key m "," 'colorcomp-B-less)
5479 (define-key m "." 'colorcomp-B-more)
5480 (define-key m " " 'colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit)
5481 m))
5482@end smallexample
5483
5484Note that we never modify the data in each node, which is fixed when the
5485ewoc is created to be either @code{nil} or an index into the vector
5486@code{colorcomp-data}, the actual color components.
5487
5488@node Blinking
5489@section Blinking Parentheses
5490@cindex parenthesis matching
5491@cindex blinking parentheses
5492@cindex balancing parentheses
5493
5494 This section describes the mechanism by which Emacs shows a matching
5495open parenthesis when the user inserts a close parenthesis.
5496
5497@defvar blink-paren-function
5498The value of this variable should be a function (of no arguments) to
5499be called whenever a character with close parenthesis syntax is inserted.
5500The value of @code{blink-paren-function} may be @code{nil}, in which
5501case nothing is done.
5502@end defvar
5503
5504@defopt blink-matching-paren
5505If this variable is @code{nil}, then @code{blink-matching-open} does
5506nothing.
5507@end defopt
5508
5509@defopt blink-matching-paren-distance
5510This variable specifies the maximum distance to scan for a matching
5511parenthesis before giving up.
5512@end defopt
5513
5514@defopt blink-matching-delay
5515This variable specifies the number of seconds for the cursor to remain
5516at the matching parenthesis. A fraction of a second often gives
5517good results, but the default is 1, which works on all systems.
5518@end defopt
5519
5520@deffn Command blink-matching-open
5521This function is the default value of @code{blink-paren-function}. It
5522assumes that point follows a character with close parenthesis syntax and
5523moves the cursor momentarily to the matching opening character. If that
5524character is not already on the screen, it displays the character's
5525context in the echo area. To avoid long delays, this function does not
5526search farther than @code{blink-matching-paren-distance} characters.
5527
5528Here is an example of calling this function explicitly.
5529
5530@smallexample
5531@group
5532(defun interactive-blink-matching-open ()
5533@c Do not break this line! -- rms.
5534@c The first line of a doc string
5535@c must stand alone.
5536 "Indicate momentarily the start of sexp before point."
5537 (interactive)
5538@end group
5539@group
5540 (let ((blink-matching-paren-distance
5541 (buffer-size))
5542 (blink-matching-paren t))
5543 (blink-matching-open)))
5544@end group
5545@end smallexample
5546@end deffn
5547
5548@node Usual Display
5549@section Usual Display Conventions
5550
5551 The usual display conventions define how to display each character
5552code. You can override these conventions by setting up a display table
5553(@pxref{Display Tables}). Here are the usual display conventions:
5554
5555@itemize @bullet
5556@item
5557Character codes 32 through 126 map to glyph codes 32 through 126.
5558Normally this means they display as themselves.
5559
5560@item
5561Character code 9 is a horizontal tab. It displays as whitespace
5562up to a position determined by @code{tab-width}.
5563
5564@item
5565Character code 10 is a newline.
5566
5567@item
5568All other codes in the range 0 through 31, and code 127, display in one
5569of two ways according to the value of @code{ctl-arrow}. If it is
5570non-@code{nil}, these codes map to sequences of two glyphs, where the
5571first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{^}. (A display table can
5572specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{^}.) Otherwise, these codes map
5573just like the codes in the range 128 to 255.
5574
5575On MS-DOS terminals, Emacs arranges by default for the character code
5576127 to be mapped to the glyph code 127, which normally displays as an
5577empty polygon. This glyph is used to display non-@acronym{ASCII} characters
5578that the MS-DOS terminal doesn't support. @xref{MS-DOS and MULE,,,
5579emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
5580
5581@item
5582Character codes 128 through 255 map to sequences of four glyphs, where
5583the first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{\}, and the others are
5584digit characters representing the character code in octal. (A display
5585table can specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{\}.)
5586
5587@item
0eb025fb
EZ
5588Multibyte character codes above 256 are displayed as themselves, or as
5589a question mark or a hex code or an empty box if the terminal cannot
5590display that character.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5591@end itemize
5592
5593 The usual display conventions apply even when there is a display
5594table, for any character whose entry in the active display table is
5595@code{nil}. Thus, when you set up a display table, you need only
5596specify the characters for which you want special behavior.
5597
5598 These display rules apply to carriage return (character code 13), when
5599it appears in the buffer. But that character may not appear in the
5600buffer where you expect it, if it was eliminated as part of end-of-line
5601conversion (@pxref{Coding System Basics}).
5602
5603 These variables affect the way certain characters are displayed on the
5604screen. Since they change the number of columns the characters occupy,
5605they also affect the indentation functions. These variables also affect
5606how the mode line is displayed; if you want to force redisplay of the
5607mode line using the new values, call the function
5608@code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5609
5610@defopt ctl-arrow
5611@cindex control characters in display
5612This buffer-local variable controls how control characters are
5613displayed. If it is non-@code{nil}, they are displayed as a caret
5614followed by the character: @samp{^A}. If it is @code{nil}, they are
5615displayed as a backslash followed by three octal digits: @samp{\001}.
5616@end defopt
5617
b8d4c8d0
GM
5618@defopt tab-width
5619The value of this buffer-local variable is the spacing between tab
5620stops used for displaying tab characters in Emacs buffers. The value
5621is in units of columns, and the default is 8. Note that this feature
5622is completely independent of the user-settable tab stops used by the
5623command @code{tab-to-tab-stop}. @xref{Indent Tabs}.
5624@end defopt
5625
5626@node Display Tables
5627@section Display Tables
5628
5629@cindex display table
5630You can use the @dfn{display table} feature to control how all possible
5631character codes display on the screen. This is useful for displaying
5632European languages that have letters not in the @acronym{ASCII} character
5633set.
5634
5635The display table maps each character code into a sequence of
5636@dfn{glyphs}, each glyph being a graphic that takes up one character
5637position on the screen. You can also define how to display each glyph
5638on your terminal, using the @dfn{glyph table}.
5639
5640Display tables affect how the mode line is displayed; if you want to
5641force redisplay of the mode line using a new display table, call
5642@code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5643
5644@menu
5645* Display Table Format:: What a display table consists of.
5646* Active Display Table:: How Emacs selects a display table to use.
5647* Glyphs:: How to define a glyph, and what glyphs mean.
5648@end menu
5649
5650@node Display Table Format
5651@subsection Display Table Format
5652
5653 A display table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}) with
5654@code{display-table} as its subtype.
5655
5656@defun make-display-table
5657This creates and returns a display table. The table initially has
5658@code{nil} in all elements.
5659@end defun
5660
5661 The ordinary elements of the display table are indexed by character
5662codes; the element at index @var{c} says how to display the character
5663code @var{c}. The value should be @code{nil} or a vector of the
5664glyphs to be output (@pxref{Glyphs}). @code{nil} says to display the
5665character @var{c} according to the usual display conventions
5666(@pxref{Usual Display}).
5667
5668 @strong{Warning:} if you use the display table to change the display
5669of newline characters, the whole buffer will be displayed as one long
5670``line.''
5671
5672 The display table also has six ``extra slots'' which serve special
5673purposes. Here is a table of their meanings; @code{nil} in any slot
5674means to use the default for that slot, as stated below.
5675
5676@table @asis
5677@item 0
5678The glyph for the end of a truncated screen line (the default for this
5679is @samp{$}). @xref{Glyphs}. On graphical terminals, Emacs uses
5680arrows in the fringes to indicate truncation, so the display table has
5681no effect.
5682
5683@item 1
5684The glyph for the end of a continued line (the default is @samp{\}).
5685On graphical terminals, Emacs uses curved arrows in the fringes to
5686indicate continuation, so the display table has no effect.
5687
5688@item 2
5689The glyph for indicating a character displayed as an octal character
5690code (the default is @samp{\}).
5691
5692@item 3
5693The glyph for indicating a control character (the default is @samp{^}).
5694
5695@item 4
5696A vector of glyphs for indicating the presence of invisible lines (the
5697default is @samp{...}). @xref{Selective Display}.
5698
5699@item 5
5700The glyph used to draw the border between side-by-side windows (the
5701default is @samp{|}). @xref{Splitting Windows}. This takes effect only
5702when there are no scroll bars; if scroll bars are supported and in use,
5703a scroll bar separates the two windows.
5704@end table
5705
5706 For example, here is how to construct a display table that mimics the
5707effect of setting @code{ctl-arrow} to a non-@code{nil} value:
5708
5709@example
5710(setq disptab (make-display-table))
5711(let ((i 0))
5712 (while (< i 32)
5713 (or (= i ?\t) (= i ?\n)
5714 (aset disptab i (vector ?^ (+ i 64))))
5715 (setq i (1+ i)))
5716 (aset disptab 127 (vector ?^ ??)))
5717@end example
5718
5719@defun display-table-slot display-table slot
5720This function returns the value of the extra slot @var{slot} of
5721@var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
57225 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5723@code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5724@code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5725@end defun
5726
5727@defun set-display-table-slot display-table slot value
5728This function stores @var{value} in the extra slot @var{slot} of
5729@var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
57305 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5731@code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5732@code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5733@end defun
5734
5735@defun describe-display-table display-table
5736This function displays a description of the display table
5737@var{display-table} in a help buffer.
5738@end defun
5739
5740@deffn Command describe-current-display-table
5741This command displays a description of the current display table in a
5742help buffer.
5743@end deffn
5744
5745@node Active Display Table
5746@subsection Active Display Table
5747@cindex active display table
5748
5749 Each window can specify a display table, and so can each buffer. When
5750a buffer @var{b} is displayed in window @var{w}, display uses the
5751display table for window @var{w} if it has one; otherwise, the display
5752table for buffer @var{b} if it has one; otherwise, the standard display
5753table if any. The display table chosen is called the @dfn{active}
5754display table.
5755
5756@defun window-display-table &optional window
5757This function returns @var{window}'s display table, or @code{nil}
5758if @var{window} does not have an assigned display table. The default
5759for @var{window} is the selected window.
5760@end defun
5761
5762@defun set-window-display-table window table
5763This function sets the display table of @var{window} to @var{table}.
5764The argument @var{table} should be either a display table or
5765@code{nil}.
5766@end defun
5767
5768@defvar buffer-display-table
5769This variable is automatically buffer-local in all buffers; its value in
5770a particular buffer specifies the display table for that buffer. If it
5771is @code{nil}, that means the buffer does not have an assigned display
5772table.
5773@end defvar
5774
5775@defvar standard-display-table
5776This variable's value is the default display table, used whenever a
5777window has no display table and neither does the buffer displayed in
5778that window. This variable is @code{nil} by default.
5779@end defvar
5780
5781 If there is no display table to use for a particular window---that is,
5782if the window specifies none, its buffer specifies none, and
5783@code{standard-display-table} is @code{nil}---then Emacs uses the usual
5784display conventions for all character codes in that window. @xref{Usual
5785Display}.
5786
5787A number of functions for changing the standard display table
5788are defined in the library @file{disp-table}.
5789
5790@node Glyphs
5791@subsection Glyphs
5792
5793@cindex glyph
5794 A @dfn{glyph} is a generalization of a character; it stands for an
5795image that takes up a single character position on the screen. Normally
5796glyphs come from vectors in the display table (@pxref{Display Tables}).
5797
5798 A glyph is represented in Lisp as a @dfn{glyph code}. A glyph code
5799can be @dfn{simple} or it can be defined by the @dfn{glyph table}. A
5800simple glyph code is just a way of specifying a character and a face
5801to output it in. @xref{Faces}.
5802
5803 The following functions are used to manipulate simple glyph codes:
5804
5805@defun make-glyph-code char &optional face
5806This function returns a simple glyph code representing char @var{char}
5807with face @var{face}.
5808@end defun
5809
5810@defun glyph-char glyph
5811This function returns the character of simple glyph code @var{glyph}.
5812@end defun
5813
5814@defun glyph-face glyph
5815This function returns face of simple glyph code @var{glyph}, or
5816@code{nil} if @var{glyph} has the default face (face-id 0).
d466a866 5817@xref{Face Functions}.
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GM
5818@end defun
5819
5820 On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
5821the meaning of glyph codes (represented as small integers).
5822
5823@defvar glyph-table
5824The value of this variable is the current glyph table. It should be
5825@code{nil} or a vector whose @var{g}th element defines glyph code
5826@var{g}.
5827
5828If a glyph code is greater than or equal to the length of the glyph
5829table, that code is automatically simple. If @code{glyph-table} is
5830@code{nil} then all glyph codes are simple.
5831
5832The glyph table is used only on character terminals. On graphical
5833displays, all glyph codes are simple.
5834@end defvar
5835
5836 Here are the meaningful types of elements in the glyph table:
5837
5838@table @asis
5839@item @var{string}
5840Send the characters in @var{string} to the terminal to output
5841this glyph code.
5842
5843@item @var{code}
5844Define this glyph code as an alias for glyph code @var{code} created
5845by @code{make-glyph-code}. You can use such an alias to define a
5846small-numbered glyph code which specifies a character with a face.
5847
5848@item @code{nil}
5849This glyph code is simple.
5850@end table
5851
5852@defun create-glyph string
5853This function returns a newly-allocated glyph code which is set up to
5854display by sending @var{string} to the terminal.
5855@end defun
5856
5857@node Beeping
5858@section Beeping
5859@c @cindex beeping "beep" is adjacent
5860@cindex bell
5861
5862 This section describes how to make Emacs ring the bell (or blink the
5863screen) to attract the user's attention. Be conservative about how
5864often you do this; frequent bells can become irritating. Also be
5865careful not to use just beeping when signaling an error is more
5866appropriate. (@xref{Errors}.)
5867
5868@defun ding &optional do-not-terminate
5869@cindex keyboard macro termination
5870This function beeps, or flashes the screen (see @code{visible-bell} below).
5871It also terminates any keyboard macro currently executing unless
5872@var{do-not-terminate} is non-@code{nil}.
5873@end defun
5874
5875@defun beep &optional do-not-terminate
5876This is a synonym for @code{ding}.
5877@end defun
5878
5879@defopt visible-bell
5880This variable determines whether Emacs should flash the screen to
5881represent a bell. Non-@code{nil} means yes, @code{nil} means no. This
5882is effective on graphical displays, and on text-only terminals
5883provided the terminal's Termcap entry defines the visible bell
5884capability (@samp{vb}).
5885@end defopt
5886
5887@defvar ring-bell-function
5888If this is non-@code{nil}, it specifies how Emacs should ``ring the
5889bell.'' Its value should be a function of no arguments. If this is
5890non-@code{nil}, it takes precedence over the @code{visible-bell}
5891variable.
5892@end defvar
5893
5894@node Window Systems
5895@section Window Systems
5896
5897 Emacs works with several window systems, most notably the X Window
5898System. Both Emacs and X use the term ``window,'' but use it
5899differently. An Emacs frame is a single window as far as X is
5900concerned; the individual Emacs windows are not known to X at all.
5901
5902@defvar window-system
77bb0476
EZ
5903This frame-local variable tells Lisp programs what window system Emacs is using
5904for displaying the frame. The possible values are
b8d4c8d0
GM
5905
5906@table @code
5907@item x
5908@cindex X Window System
77bb0476 5909Emacs is displaying the frame using X.
b8d4c8d0 5910@item w32
77bb0476 5911Emacs is displaying the frame using native MS-Windows GUI.
ca27c21b
CY
5912@item ns
5913Emacs is displaying the frame using the Nextstep interface (used on
5914GNUstep and Mac OS X).
77bb0476
EZ
5915@item pc
5916Emacs is displaying the frame using MS-DOS direct screen writes.
b8d4c8d0 5917@item nil
77bb0476 5918Emacs is displaying the frame on a character-based terminal.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5919@end table
5920@end defvar
5921
4267d515
EZ
5922@defvar initial-window-system
5923This variable holds the value of @code{window-system} used for the
f721deda
EZ
5924first frame created by Emacs during startup. (When Emacs is invoked
5925with the @option{--daemon} option, it does not create any initial
5926frames, so @code{initial-window-system} is @code{nil}. @xref{Initial
5927Options, daemon,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.)
4267d515
EZ
5928@end defvar
5929
77bb0476
EZ
5930@defun window-system &optional frame
5931This function returns a symbol whose name tells what window system is
5932used for displaying @var{frame} (which defaults to the currently
5933selected frame). The list of possible symbols it returns is the same
5934one documented for the variable @code{window-system} above.
5935@end defun
5936
89baa1df
EZ
5937 Do @emph{not} use @code{window-system} and
5938@code{initial-window-system} as predicates or boolean flag variables,
5939if you want to write code that works differently on text terminals and
5940graphic displays. That is because @code{window-system} is not a good
5941indicator of Emacs capabilities on a given display type. Instead, use
5942@code{display-graphic-p} or any of the other @code{display-*-p}
5943predicates described in @ref{Display Feature Testing}.
5944
b8d4c8d0
GM
5945@defvar window-setup-hook
5946This variable is a normal hook which Emacs runs after handling the
5947initialization files. Emacs runs this hook after it has completed
5948loading your init file, the default initialization file (if
5949any), and the terminal-specific Lisp code, and running the hook
5950@code{term-setup-hook}.
5951
5952This hook is used for internal purposes: setting up communication with
5953the window system, and creating the initial window. Users should not
5954interfere with it.
5955@end defvar