(ispell-change-dictionary): Doc fix.
[bpt/emacs.git] / lispref / elisp.texi
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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c %**start of header
3@setfilename elisp
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4@settitle GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
5@c %**end of header
6
cdd76925 7@c Versino of the manual.
1919bf4d 8@set VERSION 2.9
cdd76925 9
140cc574 10@dircategory Emacs
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11@direntry
12* Elisp: (elisp). The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
13@end direntry
14
a9f0a989 15@smallbook
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16@setchapternewpage odd
17@finalout
18
19@c Combine indices.
20@synindex cp fn
21@syncodeindex vr fn
22@syncodeindex ky fn
23@syncodeindex pg fn
24@c We use the "type index" to index new functions and variables.
25@c @syncodeindex tp fn
a9f0a989 26
37680279 27@ifnottex
cdd76925 28This Info file contains edition @value{VERSION} of the GNU Emacs Lisp
1919bf4d 29Reference Manual, corresponding to Emacs version 21.3.
a44af9f2 30@c Please REMEMBER to update edition number in *four* places in this file
d2fc6ed8 31@c and also in *one* place in intro.texi and *one* in README.
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32
33Published by the Free Software Foundation
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3459 Temple Place, Suite 330
35Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
a44af9f2 36
7ff50d3f 37Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2005,@*
177c0ea7 38 2000, 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
a44af9f2 39
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40Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
41under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
42any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
dde745c3 43Invariant Sections being ``GNU General Public License'', with the Front-Cover texts being
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44``A GNU Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy
45of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free
46Documentation License''.
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47
48(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
49this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
50Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
37680279 51@end ifnottex
a44af9f2 52
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53@titlepage
54@title GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
a40d4712 55@subtitle For Emacs Version 21
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56@c The edition number appears in several places in this file
57@c and also in the file intro.texi.
1919bf4d 58@subtitle Revision @value{VERSION}, January 2002
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59
60@author by Bil Lewis, Dan LaLiberte, Richard Stallman
61@author and the GNU Manual Group
62@page
63@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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64Copyright @copyright{} 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,@*
651999, 2000, 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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66
67@sp 2
cdd76925 68Edition @value{VERSION} @*
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69Revised for Emacs Version 21.3,@*
70January 2002.@*
a44af9f2 71@sp 2
8241495d 72ISBN 1-882114-73-6
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73
74@sp 2
75Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
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7659 Temple Place, Suite 330@*
77Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
a44af9f2 78
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79Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
80under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
81any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
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82Invariant Sections being ``Copying'', with the Front-Cover texts being
83``A GNU Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy
84of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free
85Documentation License''.
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86
87(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
88this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
89Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
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90
91Cover art by Etienne Suvasa.
92@end titlepage
93@page
94
e4a29e5a 95@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
a44af9f2 96
37680279 97@ifnottex
cdd76925 98This Info file contains edition @value{VERSION} of the GNU Emacs Lisp
1919bf4d 99Reference Manual, corresponding to GNU Emacs version 21.3.
37680279 100@end ifnottex
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101
102@menu
a44af9f2 103* Introduction:: Introduction and conventions used.
e4a29e5a 104* Standards: Coding Conventions. Coding conventions for Emacs Lisp.
a44af9f2 105
3e099569 106* Lisp Data Types:: Data types of objects in Emacs Lisp.
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107* Numbers:: Numbers and arithmetic functions.
108* Strings and Characters:: Strings, and functions that work on them.
109* Lists:: Lists, cons cells, and related functions.
110* Sequences Arrays Vectors:: Lists, strings and vectors are called sequences.
111 Certain functions act on any kind of sequence.
112 The description of vectors is here as well.
8241495d 113* Hash Tables:: Very fast lookup-tables.
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114* Symbols:: Symbols represent names, uniquely.
115
116* Evaluation:: How Lisp expressions are evaluated.
117* Control Structures:: Conditionals, loops, nonlocal exits.
118* Variables:: Using symbols in programs to stand for values.
119* Functions:: A function is a Lisp program
120 that can be invoked from other functions.
121* Macros:: Macros are a way to extend the Lisp language.
f9f59935 122* Customization:: Writing customization declarations.
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123
124* Loading:: Reading files of Lisp code into Lisp.
125* Byte Compilation:: Compilation makes programs run faster.
cc236dfe 126* Advising Functions:: Adding to the definition of a function.
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127* Debugging:: Tools and tips for debugging Lisp programs.
128
3e099569 129* Read and Print:: Converting Lisp objects to text and back.
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130* Minibuffers:: Using the minibuffer to read input.
131* Command Loop:: How the editor command loop works,
132 and how you can call its subroutines.
133* Keymaps:: Defining the bindings from keys to commands.
134* Modes:: Defining major and minor modes.
135* Documentation:: Writing and using documentation strings.
136
137* Files:: Accessing files.
138* Backups and Auto-Saving:: Controlling how backups and auto-save
139 files are made.
140* Buffers:: Creating and using buffer objects.
141* Windows:: Manipulating windows and displaying buffers.
142* Frames:: Making multiple X windows.
143* Positions:: Buffer positions and motion functions.
144* Markers:: Markers represent positions and update
145 automatically when the text is changed.
146
147* Text:: Examining and changing text in buffers.
f9f59935 148* Non-ASCII Characters:: Non-ASCII text in buffers and strings.
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149* Searching and Matching:: Searching buffers for strings or regexps.
150* Syntax Tables:: The syntax table controls word and list parsing.
151* Abbrevs:: How Abbrev mode works, and its data structures.
152
153* Processes:: Running and communicating with subprocesses.
a40d4712 154* Display:: Features for controlling the screen display.
a44af9f2 155* Calendar:: Customizing the calendar and diary.
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156* System Interface:: Getting the user id, system type, environment
157 variables, and other such things.
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158
159Appendices
160
513331d3 161* Antinews:: Info for users downgrading to Emacs 20.
e23a63a5 162* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
879bde83 163* GPL:: Conditions for copying and changing GNU Emacs.
4356e9eb 164* Tips:: Advice and coding conventions for Emacs Lisp.
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165* GNU Emacs Internals:: Building and dumping Emacs;
166 internal data structures.
167* Standard Errors:: List of all error symbols.
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168* Standard Buffer-Local Variables::
169 List of variables buffer-local in all buffers.
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170* Standard Keymaps:: List of standard keymaps.
171* Standard Hooks:: List of standard hook variables.
172
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173* Index:: Index including concepts, functions, variables,
174 and other terms.
175
a40d4712 176* New Symbols:: New functions and variables in Emacs 21.
f9f59935 177
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178 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
179
180Here are other nodes that are inferiors of those already listed,
181mentioned here so you can get to them in one step:
182
183Introduction
184
185* Caveats:: Flaws and a request for help.
186* Lisp History:: Emacs Lisp is descended from Maclisp.
187* Conventions:: How the manual is formatted.
188* Acknowledgements:: The authors, editors, and sponsors of this manual.
189
190Conventions
191
192* Some Terms:: Explanation of terms we use in this manual.
193* nil and t:: How the symbols @code{nil} and @code{t} are used.
194* Evaluation Notation:: The format we use for examples of evaluation.
195* Printing Notation:: The format we use for examples that print output.
196* Error Messages:: The format we use for examples of errors.
197* Buffer Text Notation:: The format we use for buffer contents in examples.
198* Format of Descriptions:: Notation for describing functions, variables, etc.
199
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200Tips and Conventions
201
202* Coding Conventions:: Conventions for clean and robust programs.
203* Compilation Tips:: Making compiled code run fast.
204* Documentation Tips:: Writing readable documentation strings.
205* Comment Tips:: Conventions for writing comments.
206* Library Headers:: Standard headers for library packages.
207
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208Format of Descriptions
209
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210* A Sample Function Description::
211* A Sample Variable Description::
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212
213Lisp Data Types
214
215* Printed Representation:: How Lisp objects are represented as text.
216* Comments:: Comments and their formatting conventions.
217* Programming Types:: Types found in all Lisp systems.
218* Editing Types:: Types specific to Emacs.
219* Type Predicates:: Tests related to types.
220* Equality Predicates:: Tests of equality between any two objects.
221
222Programming Types
223
224* Integer Type:: Numbers without fractional parts.
225* Floating Point Type:: Numbers with fractional parts and with a large range.
226* Character Type:: The representation of letters, numbers and
a40d4712 227 control characters.
a44af9f2 228* Sequence Type:: Both lists and arrays are classified as sequences.
3e099569 229* Cons Cell Type:: Cons cells, and lists (which are made from cons cells).
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230* Array Type:: Arrays include strings and vectors.
231* String Type:: An (efficient) array of characters.
232* Vector Type:: One-dimensional arrays.
233* Symbol Type:: A multi-use object that refers to a function,
234 variable, property list, or itself.
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235* Function Type:: A piece of executable code you can call from elsewhere.
236* Macro Type:: A method of expanding an expression into another
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237 expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
238* Primitive Function Type:: A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
239* Byte-Code Type:: A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
240* Autoload Type:: A type used for automatically loading seldom-used
a40d4712 241 functions.
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242
243List Type
244
245* Dotted Pair Notation:: An alternative syntax for lists.
246* Association List Type:: A specially constructed list.
247
248Editing Types
249
250* Buffer Type:: The basic object of editing.
251* Window Type:: What makes buffers visible.
252* Window Configuration Type::Save what the screen looks like.
253* Marker Type:: A position in a buffer.
254* Process Type:: A process running on the underlying OS.
255* Stream Type:: Receive or send characters.
256* Keymap Type:: What function a keystroke invokes.
1911e6e5 257* Overlay Type:: How an overlay is represented.
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258
259Numbers
260
261* Integer Basics:: Representation and range of integers.
262* Float Basics:: Representation and range of floating point.
263* Predicates on Numbers:: Testing for numbers.
264* Comparison of Numbers:: Equality and inequality predicates.
265* Arithmetic Operations:: How to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
266* Bitwise Operations:: Logical and, or, not, shifting.
267* Numeric Conversions:: Converting float to integer and vice versa.
22697dac 268* Math Functions:: Trig, exponential and logarithmic functions.
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269* Random Numbers:: Obtaining random integers, predictable or not.
270
271Strings and Characters
272
273* String Basics:: Basic properties of strings and characters.
274* Predicates for Strings:: Testing whether an object is a string or char.
275* Creating Strings:: Functions to allocate new strings.
276* Text Comparison:: Comparing characters or strings.
277* String Conversion:: Converting characters or strings and vice versa.
1911e6e5 278* Formatting Strings:: @code{format}: Emacs's analogue of @code{printf}.
a9f0a989 279* Case Conversion:: Case conversion functions.
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280
281Lists
282
283* Cons Cells:: How lists are made out of cons cells.
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284* List-related Predicates:: Is this object a list? Comparing two lists.
285* List Elements:: Extracting the pieces of a list.
286* Building Lists:: Creating list structure.
287* Modifying Lists:: Storing new pieces into an existing list.
288* Sets And Lists:: A list can represent a finite mathematical set.
289* Association Lists:: A list can represent a finite relation or mapping.
290
291Modifying Existing List Structure
292
293* Setcar:: Replacing an element in a list.
294* Setcdr:: Replacing part of the list backbone.
295 This can be used to remove or add elements.
296* Rearrangement:: Reordering the elements in a list; combining lists.
297
298Sequences, Arrays, and Vectors
299
300* Sequence Functions:: Functions that accept any kind of sequence.
301* Arrays:: Characteristics of arrays in Emacs Lisp.
302* Array Functions:: Functions specifically for arrays.
303* Vectors:: Functions specifically for vectors.
304
305Symbols
306
307* Symbol Components:: Symbols have names, values, function definitions
308 and property lists.
309* Definitions:: A definition says how a symbol will be used.
310* Creating Symbols:: How symbols are kept unique.
311* Property Lists:: Each symbol has a property list
312 for recording miscellaneous information.
313
314Evaluation
315
316* Intro Eval:: Evaluation in the scheme of things.
317* Eval:: How to invoke the Lisp interpreter explicitly.
318* Forms:: How various sorts of objects are evaluated.
177c0ea7 319* Quoting:: Avoiding evaluation (to put constants in
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320 the program).
321
322Kinds of Forms
323
324* Self-Evaluating Forms:: Forms that evaluate to themselves.
325* Symbol Forms:: Symbols evaluate as variables.
326* Classifying Lists:: How to distinguish various sorts of list forms.
327* Function Forms:: Forms that call functions.
328* Macro Forms:: Forms that call macros.
329* Special Forms:: ``Special forms'' are idiosyncratic primitives,
330 most of them extremely important.
331* Autoloading:: Functions set up to load files
332 containing their real definitions.
333
334Control Structures
335
336* Sequencing:: Evaluation in textual order.
337* Conditionals:: @code{if}, @code{cond}.
338* Combining Conditions:: @code{and}, @code{or}, @code{not}.
339* Iteration:: @code{while} loops.
340* Nonlocal Exits:: Jumping out of a sequence.
341
342Nonlocal Exits
343
344* Catch and Throw:: Nonlocal exits for the program's own purposes.
345* Examples of Catch:: Showing how such nonlocal exits can be written.
346* Errors:: How errors are signaled and handled.
347* Cleanups:: Arranging to run a cleanup form if an
348 error happens.
349
350Errors
351
352* Signaling Errors:: How to report an error.
353* Processing of Errors:: What Emacs does when you report an error.
354* Handling Errors:: How you can trap errors and continue execution.
3e099569 355* Error Symbols:: How errors are classified for trapping them.
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356
357Variables
358
359* Global Variables:: Variable values that exist permanently, everywhere.
360* Constant Variables:: Certain "variables" have values that never change.
361* Local Variables:: Variable values that exist only temporarily.
362* Void Variables:: Symbols that lack values.
363* Defining Variables:: A definition says a symbol is used as a variable.
364* Accessing Variables:: Examining values of variables whose names
365 are known only at run time.
366* Setting Variables:: Storing new values in variables.
367* Variable Scoping:: How Lisp chooses among local and global values.
368* Buffer-Local Variables:: Variable values in effect only in one buffer.
369
370Scoping Rules for Variable Bindings
371
177c0ea7 372* Scope:: Scope means where in the program a value
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373 is visible. Comparison with other languages.
374* Extent:: Extent means how long in time a value exists.
375* Impl of Scope:: Two ways to implement dynamic scoping.
177c0ea7 376* Using Scoping:: How to use dynamic scoping carefully and
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377 avoid problems.
378
379Buffer-Local Variables
380
381* Intro to Buffer-Local:: Introduction and concepts.
382* Creating Buffer-Local:: Creating and destroying buffer-local bindings.
383* Default Value:: The default value is seen in buffers
cc236dfe 384 that don't have their own buffer-local values.
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385
386Functions
387
388* What Is a Function:: Lisp functions vs primitives; terminology.
389* Lambda Expressions:: How functions are expressed as Lisp objects.
390* Function Names:: A symbol can serve as the name of a function.
391* Defining Functions:: Lisp expressions for defining functions.
392* Calling Functions:: How to use an existing function.
393* Mapping Functions:: Applying a function to each element of a list, etc.
177c0ea7 394* Anonymous Functions:: Lambda-expressions are functions with no names.
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395* Function Cells:: Accessing or setting the function definition
396 of a symbol.
397* Related Topics:: Cross-references to specific Lisp primitives
177c0ea7 398 that have a special bearing on how
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399 functions work.
400
401Lambda Expressions
402
403* Lambda Components:: The parts of a lambda expression.
404* Simple Lambda:: A simple example.
405* Argument List:: Details and special features of argument lists.
406* Function Documentation:: How to put documentation in a function.
407
408Macros
409
410* Simple Macro:: A basic example.
411* Expansion:: How, when and why macros are expanded.
412* Compiling Macros:: How macros are expanded by the compiler.
413* Defining Macros:: How to write a macro definition.
414* Backquote:: Easier construction of list structure.
415* Problems with Macros:: Don't evaluate the macro arguments too many times.
416 Don't hide the user's variables.
ca99e358 417* Indenting Macros:: Specifying how to indent macro calls.
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418
419Loading
420
421* How Programs Do Loading:: The @code{load} function and others.
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422* Library Search:: Finding a library to load.
423* Loading Non-ASCII:: Non-@acronym{ASCII} characters in Emacs Lisp files.
a44af9f2 424* Autoload:: Setting up a function to autoload.
a44af9f2 425* Repeated Loading:: Precautions about loading a file twice.
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426* Named Features:: Loading a library if it isn't already loaded.
427* Where Defined:: Finding which file defined a certain symbol.
f7e28285 428* Unloading:: How to ``unload'' a library that was loaded.
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429* Hooks for Loading:: Providing code to be run when
430 particular libraries are loaded.
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431
432Byte Compilation
433
434* Compilation Functions:: Byte compilation functions.
435* Disassembly:: Disassembling byte-code; how to read byte-code.
436
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437Advising Functions
438
439* Simple Advice:: A simple example to explain the basics of advice.
440* Defining Advice:: Detailed description of @code{defadvice}.
441* Computed Advice:: ...is to @code{defadvice} as @code{fset} is to @code{defun}.
442* Activation of Advice:: Advice doesn't do anything until you activate it.
443* Enabling Advice:: You can enable or disable each piece of advice.
444* Preactivation:: Preactivation is a way of speeding up the
445 loading of compiled advice.
1911e6e5 446* Argument Access in Advice:: How advice can access the function's arguments.
583abbac 447* Advising Primitives:: Accessing arguments when advising a primitive.
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448* Combined Definition:: How advice is implemented.
449
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450Debugging Lisp Programs
451
452* Debugger:: How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented.
453* Syntax Errors:: How to find syntax errors.
177c0ea7 454* Compilation Errors:: How to find errors that show up in
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455 byte compilation.
456* Edebug:: A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger.
177c0ea7 457
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458The Lisp Debugger
459
460* Error Debugging:: Entering the debugger when an error happens.
461* Function Debugging:: Entering it when a certain function is called.
462* Explicit Debug:: Entering it at a certain point in the program.
463* Using Debugger:: What the debugger does; what you see while in it.
464* Debugger Commands:: Commands used while in the debugger.
465* Invoking the Debugger:: How to call the function @code{debug}.
466* Internals of Debugger:: Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables.
467
468Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax
469
470* Excess Open:: How to find a spurious open paren or missing close.
471* Excess Close:: How to find a spurious close paren or missing open.
472
473Reading and Printing Lisp Objects
474
475* Streams Intro:: Overview of streams, reading and printing.
177c0ea7 476* Input Streams:: Various data types that can be used as
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477 input streams.
478* Input Functions:: Functions to read Lisp objects from text.
177c0ea7 479* Output Streams:: Various data types that can be used as
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480 output streams.
481* Output Functions:: Functions to print Lisp objects as text.
482
483Minibuffers
484
485* Intro to Minibuffers:: Basic information about minibuffers.
486* Text from Minibuffer:: How to read a straight text string.
487* Object from Minibuffer:: How to read a Lisp object or expression.
488* Completion:: How to invoke and customize completion.
489* Yes-or-No Queries:: Asking a question with a simple answer.
490* Minibuffer Misc:: Various customization hooks and variables.
491
492Completion
493
494* Basic Completion:: Low-level functions for completing strings.
495 (These are too low level to use the minibuffer.)
496* Minibuffer Completion:: Invoking the minibuffer with completion.
497* Completion Commands:: Minibuffer commands that do completion.
498* High-Level Completion:: Convenient special cases of completion
499 (reading buffer name, file name, etc.)
500* Reading File Names:: Using completion to read file names.
501* Programmed Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name.
502
503Command Loop
504
505* Command Overview:: How the command loop reads commands.
506* Defining Commands:: Specifying how a function should read arguments.
507* Interactive Call:: Calling a command, so that it will read arguments.
508* Command Loop Info:: Variables set by the command loop for you to examine.
509* Input Events:: What input looks like when you read it.
510* Reading Input:: How to read input events from the keyboard or mouse.
511* Waiting:: Waiting for user input or elapsed time.
512* Quitting:: How @kbd{C-g} works. How to catch or defer quitting.
513* Prefix Command Arguments:: How the commands to set prefix args work.
514* Recursive Editing:: Entering a recursive edit,
515 and why you usually shouldn't.
516* Disabling Commands:: How the command loop handles disabled commands.
517* Command History:: How the command history is set up, and how accessed.
518* Keyboard Macros:: How keyboard macros are implemented.
519
520Defining Commands
521
522* Using Interactive:: General rules for @code{interactive}.
523* Interactive Codes:: The standard letter-codes for reading arguments
524 in various ways.
525* Interactive Examples:: Examples of how to read interactive arguments.
526
527Keymaps
528
529* Keymap Terminology:: Definitions of terms pertaining to keymaps.
530* Format of Keymaps:: What a keymap looks like as a Lisp object.
531* Creating Keymaps:: Functions to create and copy keymaps.
532* Inheritance and Keymaps:: How one keymap can inherit the bindings
533 of another keymap.
534* Prefix Keys:: Defining a key with a keymap as its definition.
e294b7f1 535* Menu Keymaps:: A keymap can define a menu for X
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536 or for use from the terminal.
537* Active Keymaps:: Each buffer has a local keymap
538 to override the standard (global) bindings.
a40d4712 539 Each minor mode can also override them.
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540* Key Lookup:: How extracting elements from keymaps works.
541* Functions for Key Lookup:: How to request key lookup.
542* Changing Key Bindings:: Redefining a key in a keymap.
3afe8e39 543* Remapping Commands:: Bindings that translate one command to another.
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544* Key Binding Commands:: Interactive interfaces for redefining keys.
545* Scanning Keymaps:: Looking through all keymaps, for printing help.
546
547Major and Minor Modes
548
549* Major Modes:: Defining major modes.
550* Minor Modes:: Defining minor modes.
551* Mode Line Format:: Customizing the text that appears in the mode line.
177c0ea7 552* Hooks:: How to use hooks; how to write code that
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553 provides hooks.
554
555Major Modes
556
557* Major Mode Conventions:: Coding conventions for keymaps, etc.
558* Example Major Modes:: Text mode and Lisp modes.
559* Auto Major Mode:: How Emacs chooses the major mode automatically.
560* Mode Help:: Finding out how to use a mode.
561
562Minor Modes
563
564* Minor Mode Conventions:: Tips for writing a minor mode.
565* Keymaps and Minor Modes:: How a minor mode can have its own keymap.
566
567Mode Line Format
568
569* Mode Line Data:: The data structure that controls the mode line.
570* Mode Line Variables:: Variables used in that data structure.
571* %-Constructs:: Putting information into a mode line.
572
573Documentation
574
575* Documentation Basics:: Good style for doc strings.
576 Where to put them. How Emacs stores them.
577* Accessing Documentation:: How Lisp programs can access doc strings.
578* Keys in Documentation:: Substituting current key bindings.
579* Describing Characters:: Making printable descriptions of
580 non-printing characters and key sequences.
581* Help Functions:: Subroutines used by Emacs help facilities.
582
583Files
584
585* Visiting Files:: Reading files into Emacs buffers for editing.
586* Saving Buffers:: Writing changed buffers back into files.
587* Reading from Files:: Reading files into other buffers.
588* Writing to Files:: Writing new files from parts of buffers.
589* File Locks:: Locking and unlocking files, to prevent
590 simultaneous editing by two people.
591* Information about Files:: Testing existence, accessibility, size of files.
592* Contents of Directories:: Getting a list of the files in a directory.
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593* Changing Files:: Renaming files, changing protection, etc.
594* File Names:: Decomposing and expanding file names.
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595
596Visiting Files
597
598* Visiting Functions:: The usual interface functions for visiting.
599* Subroutines of Visiting:: Lower-level subroutines that they use.
600
601Information about Files
602
603* Testing Accessibility:: Is a given file readable? Writable?
604* Kinds of Files:: Is it a directory? A link?
605* File Attributes:: How large is it? Any other names? Etc.
606
607File Names
608
609* File Name Components:: The directory part of a file name, and the rest.
610* Directory Names:: A directory's name as a directory
611 is different from its name as a file.
177c0ea7 612* Relative File Names:: Some file names are relative to a
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613 current directory.
614* File Name Expansion:: Converting relative file names to absolute ones.
615* Unique File Names:: Generating names for temporary files.
616* File Name Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name.
617
618Backups and Auto-Saving
619
177c0ea7 620* Backup Files:: How backup files are made; how their names
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621 are chosen.
622* Auto-Saving:: How auto-save files are made; how their
623 names are chosen.
177c0ea7 624* Reverting:: @code{revert-buffer}, and how to customize
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625 what it does.
626
627Backup Files
628
629* Making Backups:: How Emacs makes backup files, and when.
177c0ea7 630* Rename or Copy:: Two alternatives: renaming the old file
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631 or copying it.
632* Numbered Backups:: Keeping multiple backups for each source file.
633* Backup Names:: How backup file names are computed; customization.
634
635Buffers
636
637* Buffer Basics:: What is a buffer?
638* Buffer Names:: Accessing and changing buffer names.
639* Buffer File Name:: The buffer file name indicates which file
640 is visited.
641* Buffer Modification:: A buffer is @dfn{modified} if it needs to be saved.
642* Modification Time:: Determining whether the visited file was changed
643 ``behind Emacs's back''.
644* Read Only Buffers:: Modifying text is not allowed in a
645 read-only buffer.
646* The Buffer List:: How to look at all the existing buffers.
647* Creating Buffers:: Functions that create buffers.
648* Killing Buffers:: Buffers exist until explicitly killed.
649* Current Buffer:: Designating a buffer as current
650 so primitives will access its contents.
651
652Windows
653
654* Basic Windows:: Basic information on using windows.
655* Splitting Windows:: Splitting one window into two windows.
656* Deleting Windows:: Deleting a window gives its space to other windows.
657* Selecting Windows:: The selected window is the one that you edit in.
658* Cyclic Window Ordering:: Moving around the existing windows.
659* Buffers and Windows:: Each window displays the contents of a buffer.
660* Displaying Buffers:: Higher-lever functions for displaying a buffer
661 and choosing a window for it.
662* Window Point:: Each window has its own location of point.
663* Window Start:: The display-start position controls which text
177c0ea7 664 is on-screen in the window.
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665* Vertical Scrolling:: Moving text up and down in the window.
666* Horizontal Scrolling:: Moving text sideways on the window.
667* Size of Window:: Accessing the size of a window.
668* Resizing Windows:: Changing the size of a window.
669* Window Configurations:: Saving and restoring the state of the screen.
670
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671Frames
672
673* Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
674* Multiple Displays:: Creating frames on other X displays.
675* Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
676* Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
677* Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
678* Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
679* Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
680 display of text always works through windows.
681* Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
682* Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
683* Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
684* Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other X windows;
1911e6e5 685 lowering it puts it underneath the others.
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686* Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
687* Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
688* Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
689* Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
690* Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
691* Pointer Shapes:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
ebc6903b 692* Window System Selections::Transferring text to and from other windows.
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693* Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
694* Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
e79a8eb2 695* Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
bfe721d1 696
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697Positions
698
699* Point:: The special position where editing takes place.
700* Motion:: Changing point.
701* Excursions:: Temporary motion and buffer changes.
702* Narrowing:: Restricting editing to a portion of the buffer.
703
704Motion
705
706* Character Motion:: Moving in terms of characters.
707* Word Motion:: Moving in terms of words.
708* Buffer End Motion:: Moving to the beginning or end of the buffer.
709* Text Lines:: Moving in terms of lines of text.
710* Screen Lines:: Moving in terms of lines as displayed.
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711* List Motion:: Moving by parsing lists and sexps.
712* Skipping Characters:: Skipping characters belonging to a certain set.
713
714Markers
715
716* Overview of Markers:: The components of a marker, and how it relocates.
717* Predicates on Markers:: Testing whether an object is a marker.
718* Creating Markers:: Making empty markers or markers at certain places.
719* Information from Markers:: Finding the marker's buffer or character
177c0ea7 720 position.
f9f59935 721* Moving Markers:: Moving the marker to a new buffer or position.
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722* The Mark:: How ``the mark'' is implemented with a marker.
723* The Region:: How to access ``the region''.
724
725Text
726
727* Near Point:: Examining text in the vicinity of point.
728* Buffer Contents:: Examining text in a general fashion.
729* Insertion:: Adding new text to a buffer.
730* Commands for Insertion:: User-level commands to insert text.
731* Deletion:: Removing text from a buffer.
732* User-Level Deletion:: User-level commands to delete text.
733* The Kill Ring:: Where removed text sometimes is saved for
734 later use.
735* Undo:: Undoing changes to the text of a buffer.
736* Auto Filling:: How auto-fill mode is implemented to break lines.
737* Filling:: Functions for explicit filling.
bfe721d1 738* Margins:: How to specify margins for filling commands.
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739* Sorting:: Functions for sorting parts of the buffer.
740* Indentation:: Functions to insert or adjust indentation.
741* Columns:: Computing horizontal positions, and using them.
742* Case Changes:: Case conversion of parts of the buffer.
840797ee 743* Text Properties:: Assigning Lisp property lists to text characters.
a44af9f2 744* Substitution:: Replacing a given character wherever it appears.
840797ee 745* Transposition:: Swapping two portions of a buffer.
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746* Registers:: How registers are implemented. Accessing
747 the text or position stored in a register.
bb3c26a9 748* Atomic Changes:: Installing several buffer changes ``atomically''.
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749* Base 64:: Conversion to or from base 64 encoding.
750* MD5 Checksum:: Compute the MD5 ``message digest''/``checksum''.
840797ee 751* Change Hooks:: Supplying functions to be run when text is changed.
177c0ea7 752
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753The Kill Ring
754
755* Kill Ring Concepts:: What text looks like in the kill ring.
756* Kill Functions:: Functions that kill text.
3afe8e39 757* Yanking:: How yanking is done.
a44af9f2 758* Yank Commands:: Commands that access the kill ring.
22697dac 759* Low-Level Kill Ring:: Functions and variables for kill ring access.
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760* Internals of Kill Ring:: Variables that hold kill-ring data.
761
762Indentation
763
764* Primitive Indent:: Functions used to count and insert indentation.
765* Mode-Specific Indent:: Customize indentation for different modes.
766* Region Indent:: Indent all the lines in a region.
767* Relative Indent:: Indent the current line based on previous lines.
768* Indent Tabs:: Adjustable, typewriter-like tab stops.
769* Motion by Indent:: Move to first non-blank character.
770
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771Text Properties
772
773* Examining Properties:: Looking at the properties of one character.
774* Changing Properties:: Setting the properties of a range of text.
775* Property Search:: Searching for where a property changes value.
776* Special Properties:: Particular properties with special meanings.
777* Format Properties:: Properties for representing formatting of text.
778* Sticky Properties:: How inserted text gets properties from
779 neighboring text.
780* Saving Properties:: Saving text properties in files, and reading
781 them back.
782* Lazy Properties:: Computing text properties in a lazy fashion
783 only when text is examined.
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784* Clickable Text:: Using text properties to make regions of text
785 do something when you click on them.
786* Fields:: The @code{field} property defines
787 fields within the buffer.
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788* Not Intervals:: Why text properties do not use
789 Lisp-visible text intervals.
790
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791Non-ASCII Characters
792
793* Text Representations:: Unibyte and multibyte representations
794* Converting Representations:: Converting unibyte to multibyte and vice versa.
795* Selecting a Representation:: Treating a byte sequence as unibyte or multi.
796* Character Codes:: How unibyte and multibyte relate to
797 codes of individual characters.
798* Character Sets:: The space of possible characters codes
799 is divided into various character sets.
800* Chars and Bytes:: More information about multibyte encodings.
801* Splitting Characters:: Converting a character to its byte sequence.
802* Scanning Charsets:: Which character sets are used in a buffer?
803* Translation of Characters:: Translation tables are used for conversion.
804* Coding Systems:: Coding systems are conversions for saving files.
805* Input Methods:: Input methods allow users to enter various
8a9e355c 806 non-ASCII characters without special keyboards.
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807* Locales:: Interacting with the POSIX locale.
808
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809Searching and Matching
810
811* String Search:: Search for an exact match.
812* Regular Expressions:: Describing classes of strings.
813* Regexp Search:: Searching for a match for a regexp.
814* Match Data:: Finding out which part of the text matched
815 various parts of a regexp, after regexp search.
816* Saving Match Data:: Saving and restoring this information.
817* Standard Regexps:: Useful regexps for finding sentences, pages,...
818* Searching and Case:: Case-independent or case-significant searching.
819
820Regular Expressions
821
822* Syntax of Regexps:: Rules for writing regular expressions.
823* Regexp Example:: Illustrates regular expression syntax.
824
825Syntax Tables
826
827* Syntax Descriptors:: How characters are classified.
828* Syntax Table Functions:: How to create, examine and alter syntax tables.
829* Parsing Expressions:: Parsing balanced expressions
830 using the syntax table.
831* Standard Syntax Tables:: Syntax tables used by various major modes.
832* Syntax Table Internals:: How syntax table information is stored.
833
834Syntax Descriptors
835
836* Syntax Class Table:: Table of syntax classes.
837* Syntax Flags:: Additional flags each character can have.
838
839Abbrevs And Abbrev Expansion
840
841* Abbrev Mode:: Setting up Emacs for abbreviation.
842* Tables: Abbrev Tables. Creating and working with abbrev tables.
843* Defining Abbrevs:: Specifying abbreviations and their expansions.
844* Files: Abbrev Files. Saving abbrevs in files.
845* Expansion: Abbrev Expansion. Controlling expansion; expansion subroutines.
846* Standard Abbrev Tables:: Abbrev tables used by various major modes.
847
848Processes
849
850* Subprocess Creation:: Functions that start subprocesses.
851* Synchronous Processes:: Details of using synchronous subprocesses.
852* Asynchronous Processes:: Starting up an asynchronous subprocess.
853* Deleting Processes:: Eliminating an asynchronous subprocess.
854* Process Information:: Accessing run-status and other attributes.
855* Input to Processes:: Sending input to an asynchronous subprocess.
856* Signals to Processes:: Stopping, continuing or interrupting
857 an asynchronous subprocess.
858* Output from Processes:: Collecting output from an asynchronous subprocess.
859* Sentinels:: Sentinels run when process run-status changes.
bfe721d1 860* Network:: Opening network connections.
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861
862Receiving Output from Processes
863
864* Process Buffers:: If no filter, output is put in a buffer.
865* Filter Functions:: Filter functions accept output from the process.
e37769b1 866* Decoding Output:: Filters can get unibyte or multibyte strings.
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867* Accepting Output:: How to wait until process output arrives.
868
869Operating System Interface
870
871* Starting Up:: Customizing Emacs start-up processing.
872* Getting Out:: How exiting works (permanent or temporary).
873* System Environment:: Distinguish the name and kind of system.
874* Terminal Input:: Recording terminal input for debugging.
875* Terminal Output:: Recording terminal output for debugging.
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876* Batch Mode:: Running Emacs without terminal interaction.
877
878Starting Up Emacs
879
8241495d 880* Startup Summary:: Sequence of actions Emacs performs at start-up.
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881* Init File:: Details on reading the init file (@file{.emacs}).
882* Terminal-Specific:: How the terminal-specific Lisp file is read.
8241495d 883* Command-Line Arguments:: How command line arguments are processed,
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884 and how you can customize them.
885
886Getting out of Emacs
887
888* Killing Emacs:: Exiting Emacs irreversibly.
889* Suspending Emacs:: Exiting Emacs reversibly.
890
891Emacs Display
892
893* Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
894* Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
895* The Echo Area:: Where messages are displayed.
ca99e358 896* Warnings:: Displaying warning messages for the user.
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897* Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
898* Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
899* Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
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900* Overlays:: Use overlays to highlight parts of the buffer.
901* Width:: How wide a character or string is on the screen.
902* Faces:: A face defines a graphics style
903 for text characters: font, colors, etc.
904* Fringes:: Controlling window fringes.
905* Display Property:: Enabling special display features.
906* Images:: Displaying images in Emacs buffers.
a44af9f2 907* Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
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908* Inverse Video:: Specifying how the screen looks.
909* Usual Display:: The usual conventions for displaying nonprinting chars.
910* Display Tables:: How to specify other conventions.
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911* Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
912* Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
913
914GNU Emacs Internals
915
916* Building Emacs:: How to preload Lisp libraries into Emacs.
917* Pure Storage:: A kludge to make preloaded Lisp functions sharable.
918* Garbage Collection:: Reclaiming space for Lisp objects no longer used.
919* Object Internals:: Data formats of buffers, windows, processes.
920* Writing Emacs Primitives:: Writing C code for Emacs.
921
922Object Internals
923
924* Buffer Internals:: Components of a buffer structure.
925* Window Internals:: Components of a window structure.
926* Process Internals:: Components of a process structure.
927@end menu
928
929@include intro.texi
930@include objects.texi
931@include numbers.texi
932@include strings.texi
933
934@include lists.texi
935@include sequences.texi
8241495d 936@include hash.texi
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937@include symbols.texi
938@include eval.texi
939
940@include control.texi
941@include variables.texi
942@include functions.texi
943@include macros.texi
944
f9f59935 945@include customize.texi
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946@include loading.texi
947@include compile.texi
cc236dfe 948@include advice.texi
a44af9f2 949
cc236dfe 950@include debugging.texi
f9f59935 951@include streams.texi
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952@include minibuf.texi
953@include commands.texi
a44af9f2 954
cc236dfe 955@include keymaps.texi
f9f59935 956@include modes.texi
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957@include help.texi
958@include files.texi
a44af9f2 959
cc236dfe 960@include backups.texi
f9f59935 961@include buffers.texi
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962@include windows.texi
963@include frames.texi
f9f59935 964
cc236dfe 965@include positions.texi
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966@include markers.texi
967@include text.texi
f9f59935 968@include nonascii.texi
f9f59935 969
cc236dfe 970@include searching.texi
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971@include syntax.texi
972@include abbrevs.texi
a44af9f2 973@include processes.texi
f9f59935 974
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975@include display.texi
976@include calendar.texi
513331d3 977@include os.texi
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978
979@c MOVE to Emacs Manual: include misc-modes.texi
980
981@c appendices
982
983@c REMOVE this: include non-hacker.texi
984
a40d4712 985@include anti.texi
9695b783
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986@include doclicense.texi
987@include gpl.texi
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988@include tips.texi
989@include internals.texi
990@include errors.texi
991@include locals.texi
992@include maps.texi
993@include hooks.texi
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994
995@include index.texi
996
f9f59935 997@node New Symbols, , Index, Top
a9f0a989 998@unnumbered New Symbols Since the Previous Edition
f9f59935 999
cc236dfe 1000@printindex tp
f9f59935 1001
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1002@c Print the tables of contents
1003@summarycontents
1004@contents
1005@c That's all
1006
1007@bye
1008
1009\f
1010These words prevent "local variables" above from confusing Emacs.
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1011
1012@ignore
1013 arch-tag: f7e9a219-a0e1-4776-b631-08eaa1d49b34
1014@end ignore