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1;;; help-at-pt.el --- local help through the keyboard
2
409cc4a3 3;; Copyright (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4
5;; Author: Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
6;; Keywords: help
7
8;; This file is part of GNU Emacs.
9
10;; GNU Emacs is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
11;; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
b4aa6026 12;; the Free Software Foundation; either version 3, or (at your option)
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13;; any later version.
14
15;; GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
16;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
17;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
18;; GNU General Public License for more details.
19
20;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
21;; along with GNU Emacs; see the file COPYING. If not, write to the
086add15
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22;; Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
23;; Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
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24
25;;; Commentary:
26
27;; This file contains functionality to make the help provided by the
28;; help-echo text or overlay property available to the keyboard user.
29;; It also supports a more keyboard oriented alternative to
30;; `help-echo', namely a new text or overlay property `kbd-help'.
31;;
32;; It provides facilities to access the local help available at point
33;; either on demand, using the command `display-local-help', or
34;; automatically after a suitable idle time, through the customizable
35;; variable `help-at-pt-display-when-idle'.
36;;
37;; You can get a more global overview of the local help available in
38;; the buffer, using the commands `scan-buf-next-region' and
39;; `scan-buf-previous-region', which move to the start of the next or
40;; previous region with available local help and print the help found
41;; there.
42;;
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43;; Suggested key bindings:
44;;
45;; (global-set-key [C-tab] 'scan-buf-next-region)
46;; (global-set-key [C-M-tab] 'scan-buf-previous-region)
47;;
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48;; You do not have to do anything special to use the functionality
49;; provided by this file, because all important functions autoload.
50
51;;; Code:
52
53(defgroup help-at-pt nil
54 "Features for displaying local help."
55 :group 'help
bf247b6e 56 :version "22.1")
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57
58;;;###autoload
59(defun help-at-pt-string (&optional kbd)
60 "Return the help-echo string at point.
61Normally, the string produced by the `help-echo' text or overlay
62property, or nil, is returned.
63If KBD is non-nil, `kbd-help' is used instead, and any
64`help-echo' property is ignored. In this case, the return value
65can also be t, if that is the value of the `kbd-help' property."
66 (let* ((prop (if kbd 'kbd-help 'help-echo))
67 (pair (get-char-property-and-overlay (point) prop))
68 (val (car pair))
69 (ov (cdr pair)))
70 (if (functionp val)
71 (funcall val (selected-window) (if ov ov (current-buffer)) (point))
72 (eval val))))
73
74;;;###autoload
75(defun help-at-pt-kbd-string ()
76 "Return the keyboard help string at point.
77If the `kbd-help' text or overlay property at point produces a
78string, return it. Otherwise, use the `help-echo' property. If
79this produces no string either, return nil."
80 (let ((kbd (help-at-pt-string t))
81 (echo (help-at-pt-string)))
82 (if (and kbd (not (eq kbd t))) kbd echo)))
83
84;;;###autoload
85(defun display-local-help (&optional arg)
86 "Display local help in the echo area.
87This displays a short help message, namely the string produced by
88the `kbd-help' property at point. If `kbd-help' does not produce
89a string, but the `help-echo' property does, then that string is
90printed instead.
91
92A numeric argument ARG prevents display of a message in case
93there is no help. While ARG can be used interactively, it is
94mainly meant for use from Lisp."
95 (interactive "P")
96 (let ((help (help-at-pt-kbd-string)))
97 (if help
98 (message "%s" help)
99 (if (not arg) (message "No local help at point")))))
100
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101(defvar help-at-pt-timer nil
102 "Non-nil means that a timer is set that checks for local help.
103If non-nil, this is the value returned by the call of
104`run-with-idle-timer' that set that timer. This variable is used
105internally to enable `help-at-pt-display-when-idle'. Do not set it
106yourself.")
107
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108(defcustom help-at-pt-timer-delay 1
109 "*Delay before displaying local help.
110This is used if `help-at-pt-display-when-idle' is enabled.
111The value may be an integer or floating point number.
112
113If a timer is already active, there are two ways to make the new
114value take effect immediately. After setting the value, you can
115first call `help-at-pt-cancel-timer' and then set a new timer
e4ff63a2 116with `help-at-pt-set-timer'. Alternatively, you can set this
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117variable through Custom. This will not set a timer if none is
118active, but if one is already active, Custom will make it use the
119new value."
120 :group 'help-at-pt
121 :type 'number
be203836 122 :initialize 'custom-initialize-default
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123 :set (lambda (variable value)
124 (set-default variable value)
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125 (and (boundp 'help-at-pt-timer)
126 help-at-pt-timer
76515399 127 (timer-set-idle-time help-at-pt-timer value t))))
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128
129;;;###autoload
130(defun help-at-pt-cancel-timer ()
131 "Cancel any timer set by `help-at-pt-set-timer'.
132This disables `help-at-pt-display-when-idle'."
133 (interactive)
134 (let ((inhibit-quit t))
135 (when help-at-pt-timer
136 (cancel-timer help-at-pt-timer)
137 (setq help-at-pt-timer nil))))
138
139;;;###autoload
140(defun help-at-pt-set-timer ()
141 "Enable `help-at-pt-display-when-idle'.
142This is done by setting a timer, if none is currently active."
143 (interactive)
144 (unless help-at-pt-timer
145 (setq help-at-pt-timer
146 (run-with-idle-timer
147 help-at-pt-timer-delay t #'help-at-pt-maybe-display))))
148
fe860842 149;;;###autoload
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150(defcustom help-at-pt-display-when-idle 'never
151 "*Automatically show local help on point-over.
152If the value is t, the string obtained from any `kbd-help' or
153`help-echo' property at point is automatically printed in the
154echo area, if nothing else is already displayed there, or after a
155quit. If both `kbd-help' and `help-echo' produce help strings,
156`kbd-help' is used. If the value is a list, the help only gets
157printed if there is a text or overlay property at point that is
158included in this list. Suggested properties are `keymap',
159`local-map', `button' and `kbd-help'. Any value other than t or
160a non-empty list disables the feature.
161
162This variable only takes effect after a call to
163`help-at-pt-set-timer'. The help gets printed after Emacs has
164been idle for `help-at-pt-timer-delay' seconds. You can call
165`help-at-pt-cancel-timer' to cancel the timer set by, and the
166effect of, `help-at-pt-set-timer'.
167
168When this variable is set through Custom, `help-at-pt-set-timer'
169is called automatically, unless the value is `never', in which
170case `help-at-pt-cancel-timer' is called. Specifying an empty
171list of properties through Custom will set the timer, thus
172enabling buffer local values. It sets the actual value to nil.
173Thus, Custom distinguishes between a nil value and other values
174that disable the feature, which Custom identifies with `never'.
175The default is `never'."
176 :group 'help-at-pt
177 :type '(choice (const :tag "Always"
178 :format "%t\n%h"
179 :doc
180 "This choice can get noisy.
181The text printed from the `help-echo' property is often only
182relevant when using the mouse. If you mind about too many
183messages getting printed in the echo area, use \"In certain
184situations\". See the documentation there for more information."
185 t)
186 (repeat :tag "In certain situations"
187 ;; unless we specify 0 offset the doc string
188 ;; for this choice gets indented very
189 ;; differently than for the other two
190 ;; choices, when "More" is selected.
191 :offset 0
192 :format "%{%t%}:\n%v%i\n%h"
193 :doc
194 "This choice lets you specify a list of \
195text properties.
196Presence of any of these properties will trigger display of
197available local help on point-over.
198If you use this alternative through Custom without listing any
199properties, a timer will be set anyway. This will enable buffer
200local values. Use \"Never\" if you do not want a timer to be set.
201
202Suggested properties:
203The `keymap' and `local-map' properties change keybindings in
204parts of the buffer. Some of these keymaps are mode independent
205and are not mentioned in the mode documentation. Hence, the help
206text is likely to be useful.
207Specifying `button' is relevant in Custom and similar buffers.
208In these buffers, most, but not all, of the text shown this way is
209available by default when using tab, but not on regular point-over.
210The presence of a `kbd-help' property guarantees that non mouse
211specific help is available."
212 :value (keymap local-map button kbd-help)
213 symbol)
214 (other :tag "Never"
215 :format "%t\n%h"
216 :doc
217 "This choice normally disables buffer local values.
218If you choose this value through Custom and a timer checking for
219local help is currently active, it will be canceled. No new
220timer will be set. Call `help-at-pt-set-timer' after choosing
221this option, or use \"In certain situations\" and specify no text
222properties, to enable buffer local values."
223 never))
224 :initialize 'custom-initialize-default
225 :set #'(lambda (variable value)
226 (set-default variable value)
227 (if (eq value 'never)
228 (help-at-pt-cancel-timer)
229 (help-at-pt-set-timer)))
230 :set-after '(help-at-pt-timer-delay)
76515399 231 :require 'help-at-pt)
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232
233;; Function for use in `help-at-pt-set-timer'.
234(defun help-at-pt-maybe-display ()
235 (and (or (eq help-at-pt-display-when-idle t)
236 (and (consp help-at-pt-display-when-idle)
237 (catch 'found
238 (dolist (prop help-at-pt-display-when-idle)
239 (if (get-char-property (point) prop)
240 (throw 'found t))))))
241 (or (not (current-message))
242 (string= (current-message) "Quit"))
243 (display-local-help t)))
244
245;;;###autoload
246(defun scan-buf-move-to-region (prop &optional arg hook)
247 "Go to the start of the next region with non-nil PROP property.
248Then run HOOK, which should be a quoted symbol that is a normal
a3545af4 249hook variable, or an expression evaluating to such a symbol.
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250Adjacent areas with different non-nil PROP properties are
251considered different regions.
252
253With numeric argument ARG, move to the start of the ARGth next
254such region, then run HOOK. If ARG is negative, move backward.
255If point is already in a region, then that region does not count
256toward ARG. If ARG is 0 and point is inside a region, move to
257the start of that region. If ARG is 0 and point is not in a
258region, print a message to that effect, but do not move point and
259do not run HOOK. If there are not enough regions to move over,
260an error results and the number of available regions is mentioned
261in the error message. Point is not moved and HOOK is not run."
262 (cond ((> arg 0)
263 (if (= (point) (point-max))
264 (error "No further `%s' regions" prop))
265 (let ((pos (point)))
266 (dotimes (x arg)
267 (setq pos (next-single-char-property-change pos prop))
268 (unless (get-char-property pos prop)
269 (setq pos (next-single-char-property-change pos prop))
270 (unless (get-char-property pos prop)
271 (cond ((= x 0)
272 (error "No further `%s' regions" prop))
273 ((= x 1)
274 (error "There is only one further `%s' region" prop))
275 (t
276 (error
277 "There are only %d further `%s' regions"
278 x prop))))))
279 (goto-char pos)
280 (run-hooks hook)))
281 ((= arg 0)
282 (let ((val (get-char-property (point) prop)))
283 (cond ((not val)
284 (message "Point is not in a `%s' region" prop))
285 ((eq val (get-char-property (1- (point)) prop))
286 (goto-char
287 (previous-single-char-property-change (point) prop))
288 (run-hooks hook))
289 (t (run-hooks hook)))))
290 ((< arg 0)
291 (let ((pos (point)) (val (get-char-property (point) prop)))
292 (and val
293 (eq val (get-char-property (1- pos) prop))
294 (setq pos
295 (previous-single-char-property-change pos prop)))
296 (if (= pos (point-min))
297 (error "No prior `%s' regions" prop))
298 (dotimes (x (- arg))
299 (setq pos (previous-single-char-property-change pos prop))
300 (unless (get-char-property pos prop)
301 (setq pos (previous-single-char-property-change pos prop))
302 (unless (get-char-property pos prop)
303 (cond ((= x 0)
304 (error "No prior `%s' regions" prop))
305 ((= x 1)
306 (error "There is only one prior `%s' region" prop))
307 (t
308 (error "There are only %d prior `%s' regions"
309 x prop))))))
310 (goto-char pos)
311 (run-hooks hook)))))
312
313;; To be moved to a different file and replaced by a defcustom in a
314;; future version.
315(defvar scan-buf-move-hook '(display-local-help)
316 "Normal hook run by `scan-buf-next-region'.
317Also used by `scan-buf-previous-region'. The hook is run after
318positioning point.")
319
320;;;###autoload
321(defun scan-buf-next-region (&optional arg)
322 "Go to the start of the next region with non-nil help-echo.
323Print the help found there using `display-local-help'. Adjacent
324areas with different non-nil help-echo properties are considered
325different regions.
326
327With numeric argument ARG, move to the start of the ARGth next
328help-echo region. If ARG is negative, move backward. If point
329is already in a help-echo region, then that region does not count
330toward ARG. If ARG is 0 and point is inside a help-echo region,
331move to the start of that region. If ARG is 0 and point is not
332in such a region, just print a message to that effect. If there
333are not enough regions to move over, an error results and the
334number of available regions is mentioned in the error message.
335
336A potentially confusing subtlety is that point can be in a
337help-echo region without any local help being available. This is
338because `help-echo' can be a function evaluating to nil. This
339rarely happens in practice."
340 (interactive "p")
341 (scan-buf-move-to-region 'help-echo arg 'scan-buf-move-hook))
342
343;;;###autoload
344(defun scan-buf-previous-region (&optional arg)
345 "Go to the start of the previous region with non-nil help-echo.
346Print the help found there using `display-local-help'. Adjacent
347areas with different non-nil help-echo properties are considered
348different regions. With numeric argument ARG, behaves like
349`scan-buf-next-region' with argument -ARG.."
350 (interactive "p")
351 (scan-buf-move-to-region 'help-echo (- arg) 'scan-buf-move-hook))
352
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353(provide 'help-at-pt)
354
cbee283d 355;; arch-tag: d0b8b86d-d23f-45d0-a82d-208d6205a583
cc531412 356;;; help-at-pt.el ends here