(Coding Conventions): Minor fix.
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1@c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
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3@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999
4@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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5@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6@setfilename ../info/windows
7@node Windows, Frames, Buffers, Top
8@chapter Windows
9
10 This chapter describes most of the functions and variables related to
11Emacs windows. See @ref{Display}, for information on how text is
12displayed in windows.
13
14@menu
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15* Basic Windows:: Basic information on using windows.
16* Splitting Windows:: Splitting one window into two windows.
17* Deleting Windows:: Deleting a window gives its space to other windows.
18* Selecting Windows:: The selected window is the one that you edit in.
19* Cyclic Window Ordering:: Moving around the existing windows.
20* Buffers and Windows:: Each window displays the contents of a buffer.
21* Displaying Buffers:: Higher-lever functions for displaying a buffer
22 and choosing a window for it.
23* Choosing Window:: How to choose a window for displaying a buffer.
24* Window Point:: Each window has its own location of point.
25* Window Start:: The display-start position controls which text
26 is on-screen in the window.
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27* Textual Scrolling:: Moving text up and down through the window.
28* Vertical Scrolling:: Moving the contents up and down on the window.
29* Horizontal Scrolling:: Moving the contents sideways on the window.
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30* Size of Window:: Accessing the size of a window.
31* Resizing Windows:: Changing the size of a window.
32* Coordinates and Windows:: Converting coordinates to windows.
33* Window Configurations:: Saving and restoring the state of the screen.
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34* Window Hooks:: Hooks for scrolling, window size changes,
35 redisplay going past a certain point,
36 or window configuration changes.
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37@end menu
38
39@node Basic Windows
40@section Basic Concepts of Emacs Windows
41@cindex window
42@cindex selected window
43
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44 A @dfn{window} in Emacs is the physical area of the screen in which a
45buffer is displayed. The term is also used to refer to a Lisp object that
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46represents that screen area in Emacs Lisp. It should be
47clear from the context which is meant.
48
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49 Emacs groups windows into frames. A frame represents an area of
50screen available for Emacs to use. Each frame always contains at least
51one window, but you can subdivide it vertically or horizontally into
52multiple nonoverlapping Emacs windows.
53
54 In each frame, at any time, one and only one window is designated as
55@dfn{selected within the frame}. The frame's cursor appears in that
f9f59935 56window. At any time, one frame is the selected frame; and the window
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57selected within that frame is @dfn{the selected window}. The selected
58window's buffer is usually the current buffer (except when
59@code{set-buffer} has been used). @xref{Current Buffer}.
60
61 For practical purposes, a window exists only while it is displayed in
62a frame. Once removed from the frame, the window is effectively deleted
63and should not be used, @emph{even though there may still be references
64to it} from other Lisp objects. Restoring a saved window configuration
65is the only way for a window no longer on the screen to come back to
66life. (@xref{Deleting Windows}.)
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67
68 Each window has the following attributes:
69
70@itemize @bullet
71@item
72containing frame
73
3c29caa8 74@item
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75window height
76
3c29caa8 77@item
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78window width
79
3c29caa8 80@item
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81window edges with respect to the screen or frame
82
3c29caa8 83@item
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84the buffer it displays
85
3c29caa8 86@item
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87position within the buffer at the upper left of the window
88
3c29caa8 89@item
c638661f 90amount of horizontal scrolling, in columns
b1b12a8e 91
3c29caa8 92@item
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93point
94
3c29caa8 95@item
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96the mark
97
3c29caa8 98@item
b1b12a8e 99how recently the window was selected
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100
101@item
102fringe settings
103
104@item
105display margins
106
107@item
108scroll-bar settings
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109@end itemize
110
111@cindex multiple windows
112 Users create multiple windows so they can look at several buffers at
113once. Lisp libraries use multiple windows for a variety of reasons, but
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114most often to display related information. In Rmail, for example, you
115can move through a summary buffer in one window while the other window
116shows messages one at a time as they are reached.
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117
118 The meaning of ``window'' in Emacs is similar to what it means in the
c638661f 119context of general-purpose window systems such as X, but not identical.
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120The X Window System places X windows on the screen; Emacs uses one or
121more X windows as frames, and subdivides them into
122Emacs windows. When you use Emacs on a character-only terminal, Emacs
123treats the whole terminal screen as one frame.
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124
125@cindex terminal screen
126@cindex screen of terminal
127@cindex tiled windows
128 Most window systems support arbitrarily located overlapping windows.
129In contrast, Emacs windows are @dfn{tiled}; they never overlap, and
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130together they fill the whole screen or frame. Because of the way in
131which Emacs creates new windows and resizes them, not all conceivable
132tilings of windows on an Emacs frame are actually possible.
133@xref{Splitting Windows}, and @ref{Size of Window}.
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134
135 @xref{Display}, for information on how the contents of the
136window's buffer are displayed in the window.
137
138@defun windowp object
f9f59935 139This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a window.
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140@end defun
141
142@node Splitting Windows
143@section Splitting Windows
144@cindex splitting windows
145@cindex window splitting
146
147 The functions described here are the primitives used to split a window
148into two windows. Two higher level functions sometimes split a window,
149but not always: @code{pop-to-buffer} and @code{display-buffer}
150(@pxref{Displaying Buffers}).
151
152 The functions described here do not accept a buffer as an argument.
153The two ``halves'' of the split window initially display the same buffer
154previously visible in the window that was split.
155
156@deffn Command split-window &optional window size horizontal
157This function splits @var{window} into two windows. The original
158window @var{window} remains the selected window, but occupies only
159part of its former screen area. The rest is occupied by a newly created
160window which is returned as the value of this function.
27704b78 161This function returns the newly created window.
b1b12a8e 162
2726b68b 163If @var{horizontal} is non-@code{nil}, then @var{window} splits into
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164two side by side windows. The original window @var{window} keeps the
165leftmost @var{size} columns, and gives the rest of the columns to the
166new window. Otherwise, it splits into windows one above the other, and
167@var{window} keeps the upper @var{size} lines and gives the rest of the
168lines to the new window. The original window is therefore the
c638661f 169left-hand or upper of the two, and the new window is the right-hand or
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170lower.
171
2726b68b 172If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, then the selected window is
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173split. If @var{size} is omitted or @code{nil}, then @var{window} is
174divided evenly into two parts. (If there is an odd line, it is
175allocated to the new window.) When @code{split-window} is called
176interactively, all its arguments are @code{nil}.
177
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178If splitting would result in making a window that is smaller than
179@code{window-min-height} or @code{window-min-width}, the function
180signals an error and does not split the window at all.
181
182The following example starts with one window on a screen that is 50
926a5166 183lines high by 80 columns wide; then it splits the window.
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184
185@smallexample
186@group
187(setq w (selected-window))
188 @result{} #<window 8 on windows.texi>
189(window-edges) ; @r{Edges in order:}
190 @result{} (0 0 80 50) ; @r{left--top--right--bottom}
191@end group
192
193@group
194;; @r{Returns window created}
3c29caa8 195(setq w2 (split-window w 15))
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196 @result{} #<window 28 on windows.texi>
197@end group
198@group
199(window-edges w2)
200 @result{} (0 15 80 50) ; @r{Bottom window;}
201 ; @r{top is line 15}
202@end group
203@group
204(window-edges w)
205 @result{} (0 0 80 15) ; @r{Top window}
206@end group
207@end smallexample
208
209The screen looks like this:
210
211@smallexample
212@group
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213 __________
214 | | line 0
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215 | w |
216 |__________|
217 | | line 15
218 | w2 |
219 |__________|
220 line 50
221 column 0 column 80
222@end group
223@end smallexample
224
926a5166 225Next, split the top window horizontally:
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226
227@smallexample
228@group
229(setq w3 (split-window w 35 t))
230 @result{} #<window 32 on windows.texi>
231@end group
232@group
233(window-edges w3)
234 @result{} (35 0 80 15) ; @r{Left edge at column 35}
235@end group
236@group
237(window-edges w)
238 @result{} (0 0 35 15) ; @r{Right edge at column 35}
239@end group
240@group
241(window-edges w2)
242 @result{} (0 15 80 50) ; @r{Bottom window unchanged}
243@end group
244@end smallexample
245
bda144f4 246@need 3000
926a5166 247Now the screen looks like this:
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248
249@smallexample
250@group
251 column 35
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252 __________
253 | | | line 0
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254 | w | w3 |
255 |___|______|
256 | | line 15
257 | w2 |
258 |__________|
259 line 50
260 column 0 column 80
261@end group
262@end smallexample
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263
264Normally, Emacs indicates the border between two side-by-side windows
969fe9b5 265with a scroll bar (@pxref{Window Frame Parameters,Scroll Bars}) or @samp{|}
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266characters. The display table can specify alternative border
267characters; see @ref{Display Tables}.
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268@end deffn
269
8241495d 270@deffn Command split-window-vertically &optional size
1911e6e5 271This function splits the selected window into two windows, one above the
ebc6903b 272other, leaving the upper of the two windows selected, with @var{size}
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273lines. (If @var{size} is negative, then the lower of the two windows
274gets @minus{} @var{size} lines and the upper window gets the rest, but
275the upper window is still the one selected.)
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276@end deffn
277
2468d0c0 278@deffn Command split-window-horizontally &optional size
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279This function splits the selected window into two windows
280side-by-side, leaving the selected window with @var{size} columns.
281
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282This function is basically an interface to @code{split-window}.
283You could define a simplified version of the function like this:
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284
285@smallexample
286@group
287(defun split-window-horizontally (&optional arg)
288 "Split selected window into two windows, side by side..."
289 (interactive "P")
513331d3 290@end group
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291@group
292 (let ((size (and arg (prefix-numeric-value arg))))
293 (and size (< size 0)
294 (setq size (+ (window-width) size)))
295 (split-window nil size t)))
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296@end group
297@end smallexample
298@end deffn
299
300@defun one-window-p &optional no-mini all-frames
301This function returns non-@code{nil} if there is only one window. The
302argument @var{no-mini}, if non-@code{nil}, means don't count the
303minibuffer even if it is active; otherwise, the minibuffer window is
27704b78 304counted when it is active.
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305
306The argument @var{all-frames} specifies which frames to consider. Here
307are the possible values and their meanings:
308
309@table @asis
310@item @code{nil}
311Count the windows in the selected frame, plus the minibuffer used
312by that frame even if it lies in some other frame.
313
314@item @code{t}
315Count all windows in all existing frames.
316
317@item @code{visible}
318Count all windows in all visible frames.
319
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320@item 0
321Count all windows in all visible or iconified frames.
322
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323@item anything else
324Count precisely the windows in the selected frame, and no others.
325@end table
326@end defun
327
328@node Deleting Windows
329@section Deleting Windows
330@cindex deleting windows
331
332A window remains visible on its frame unless you @dfn{delete} it by
333calling certain functions that delete windows. A deleted window cannot
334appear on the screen, but continues to exist as a Lisp object until
335there are no references to it. There is no way to cancel the deletion
336of a window aside from restoring a saved window configuration
337(@pxref{Window Configurations}). Restoring a window configuration also
338deletes any windows that aren't part of that configuration.
339
340 When you delete a window, the space it took up is given to one
969fe9b5 341adjacent sibling.
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342
343@c Emacs 19 feature
344@defun window-live-p window
345This function returns @code{nil} if @var{window} is deleted, and
346@code{t} otherwise.
347
b22f3a19 348@strong{Warning:} Erroneous information or fatal errors may result from
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349using a deleted window as if it were live.
350@end defun
351
352@deffn Command delete-window &optional window
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353This function removes @var{window} from display, and returns @code{nil}.
354If @var{window} is omitted, then the selected window is deleted. An
355error is signaled if there is only one window when @code{delete-window}
356is called.
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357@end deffn
358
359@deffn Command delete-other-windows &optional window
360This function makes @var{window} the only window on its frame, by
361deleting the other windows in that frame. If @var{window} is omitted or
362@code{nil}, then the selected window is used by default.
363
969fe9b5 364The return value is @code{nil}.
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365@end deffn
366
367@deffn Command delete-windows-on buffer &optional frame
368This function deletes all windows showing @var{buffer}. If there are
369no windows showing @var{buffer}, it does nothing.
370
371@code{delete-windows-on} operates frame by frame. If a frame has
372several windows showing different buffers, then those showing
373@var{buffer} are removed, and the others expand to fill the space. If
374all windows in some frame are showing @var{buffer} (including the case
375where there is only one window), then the frame reverts to having a
376single window showing another buffer chosen with @code{other-buffer}.
377@xref{The Buffer List}.
378
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379The argument @var{frame} controls which frames to operate on. This
380function does not use it in quite the same way as the other functions
381which scan all windows; specifically, the values @code{t} and @code{nil}
382have the opposite of their meanings in other functions. Here are the
383full details:
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384
385@itemize @bullet
386@item
1911e6e5 387If it is @code{nil}, operate on all frames.
b1b12a8e 388@item
1911e6e5 389If it is @code{t}, operate on the selected frame.
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390@item
391If it is @code{visible}, operate on all visible frames.
1911e6e5 392@item
bfe721d1 393If it is 0, operate on all visible or iconified frames.
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394@item
395If it is a frame, operate on that frame.
396@end itemize
397
398This function always returns @code{nil}.
399@end deffn
400
401@node Selecting Windows
402@section Selecting Windows
403@cindex selecting windows
404
405 When a window is selected, the buffer in the window becomes the current
406buffer, and the cursor will appear in it.
407
408@defun selected-window
409This function returns the selected window. This is the window in
410which the cursor appears and to which many commands apply.
411@end defun
412
5a8a6af8 413@defun select-window window &optional norecord
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414This function makes @var{window} the selected window. The cursor then
415appears in @var{window} (on redisplay). The buffer being displayed in
416@var{window} is immediately designated the current buffer.
417
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418Normally @var{window}'s selected buffer is moved to the front of the
419buffer list, but if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, the buffer list
420order is unchanged.
421
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422The return value is @var{window}.
423
424@example
425@group
426(setq w (next-window))
427(select-window w)
428 @result{} #<window 65 on windows.texi>
429@end group
430@end example
431@end defun
432
bfe721d1 433@defmac save-selected-window forms@dots{}
27704b78 434This macro records the selected window of each frame, executes
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435@var{forms} in sequence, then restores the earlier selected windows.
436
437This macro does not save or restore anything about the sizes,
438arrangement or contents of windows; therefore, if the @var{forms}
439change them, the change persists. If the previously selected window
440of some frame is no longer live at the time of exit from this form,
441that frame's selected window is left alone.
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442@end defmac
443
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444@defmac with-selected-window window forms@dots{}
445This macro selects @var{window} (without changing the buffer list),
446executes @var{forms} in sequence, then restores the previously
447selected window (unless that window is no longer alive). It is similar
448to @code{save-selected-window} except that it explicitly selects
449@var{window} and that it does not alter the buffer list sequence.
450@end defmac
451
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452@cindex finding windows
453 The following functions choose one of the windows on the screen,
454offering various criteria for the choice.
455
456@defun get-lru-window &optional frame
457This function returns the window least recently ``used'' (that is,
458selected). The selected window is always the most recently used window.
459
460The selected window can be the least recently used window if it is the
461only window. A newly created window becomes the least recently used
462window until it is selected. A minibuffer window is never a candidate.
463
c638661f 464The argument @var{frame} controls which windows are considered.
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465
466@itemize @bullet
467@item
468If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
469@item
470If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
471@item
472If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
473@item
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474If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
475@item
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476If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
477@end itemize
478@end defun
479
480@defun get-largest-window &optional frame
481This function returns the window with the largest area (height times
482width). If there are no side-by-side windows, then this is the window
483with the most lines. A minibuffer window is never a candidate.
484
485If there are two windows of the same size, then the function returns
c638661f 486the window that is first in the cyclic ordering of windows (see
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487following section), starting from the selected window.
488
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489The argument @var{frame} controls which set of windows to
490consider. See @code{get-lru-window}, above.
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491@end defun
492
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493@cindex window that satisfies a predicate
494@cindex conditional selection of windows
495@defun get-window-with-predicate predicate &optional minibuf all-frames default
496This function returns a window satisfying @var{predicate}. It cycles
497through all visible windows using @code{walk-windows} (@pxref{Cyclic
b0d4743a 498Window Ordering}), calling @var{predicate} on each one of them
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499with that window as its argument. The function returns the first
500window for which @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value; if
501that never happens, it returns @var{default}.
502
503The optional arguments @var{minibuf} and @var{all-frames} specify the
504set of windows to include in the scan. See the description of
505@code{next-window} in @ref{Cyclic Window Ordering}, for details.
506@end defun
507
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508@node Cyclic Window Ordering
509@comment node-name, next, previous, up
510@section Cyclic Ordering of Windows
511@cindex cyclic ordering of windows
512@cindex ordering of windows, cyclic
3c29caa8 513@cindex window ordering, cyclic
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514
515 When you use the command @kbd{C-x o} (@code{other-window}) to select
516the next window, it moves through all the windows on the screen in a
517specific cyclic order. For any given configuration of windows, this
518order never varies. It is called the @dfn{cyclic ordering of windows}.
519
520 This ordering generally goes from top to bottom, and from left to
521right. But it may go down first or go right first, depending on the
522order in which the windows were split.
523
524 If the first split was vertical (into windows one above each other),
525and then the subwindows were split horizontally, then the ordering is
526left to right in the top of the frame, and then left to right in the
527next lower part of the frame, and so on. If the first split was
528horizontal, the ordering is top to bottom in the left part, and so on.
529In general, within each set of siblings at any level in the window tree,
530the order is left to right, or top to bottom.
531
532@defun next-window &optional window minibuf all-frames
533@cindex minibuffer window
534This function returns the window following @var{window} in the cyclic
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535ordering of windows. This is the window that @kbd{C-x o} would select
536if typed when @var{window} is selected. If @var{window} is the only
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537window visible, then this function returns @var{window}. If omitted,
538@var{window} defaults to the selected window.
539
540The value of the argument @var{minibuf} determines whether the
541minibuffer is included in the window order. Normally, when
542@var{minibuf} is @code{nil}, the minibuffer is included if it is
543currently active; this is the behavior of @kbd{C-x o}. (The minibuffer
544window is active while the minibuffer is in use. @xref{Minibuffers}.)
545
546If @var{minibuf} is @code{t}, then the cyclic ordering includes the
547minibuffer window even if it is not active.
548
549If @var{minibuf} is neither @code{t} nor @code{nil}, then the minibuffer
550window is not included even if it is active.
551
552The argument @var{all-frames} specifies which frames to consider. Here
553are the possible values and their meanings:
554
555@table @asis
556@item @code{nil}
557Consider all the windows in @var{window}'s frame, plus the minibuffer
558used by that frame even if it lies in some other frame.
559
560@item @code{t}
561Consider all windows in all existing frames.
562
563@item @code{visible}
564Consider all windows in all visible frames. (To get useful results, you
565must ensure @var{window} is in a visible frame.)
566
83abd543 567@item 0
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568Consider all windows in all visible or iconified frames.
569
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570@item a frame
571Consider all windows on that frame.
572
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573@item anything else
574Consider precisely the windows in @var{window}'s frame, and no others.
575@end table
576
3c29caa8 577This example assumes there are two windows, both displaying the
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578buffer @samp{windows.texi}:
579
580@example
581@group
582(selected-window)
583 @result{} #<window 56 on windows.texi>
584@end group
585@group
586(next-window (selected-window))
587 @result{} #<window 52 on windows.texi>
588@end group
589@group
590(next-window (next-window (selected-window)))
591 @result{} #<window 56 on windows.texi>
592@end group
593@end example
594@end defun
595
596@defun previous-window &optional window minibuf all-frames
597This function returns the window preceding @var{window} in the cyclic
598ordering of windows. The other arguments specify which windows to
599include in the cycle, as in @code{next-window}.
600@end defun
601
8241495d 602@deffn Command other-window count &optional all-frames
b1b12a8e 603This function selects the @var{count}th following window in the cyclic
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604order. If count is negative, then it moves back @minus{}@var{count}
605windows in the cycle, rather than forward. It returns @code{nil}.
b1b12a8e 606
75708135 607The argument @var{all-frames} has the same meaning as in
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608@code{next-window}, but the @var{minibuf} argument of @code{next-window}
609is always effectively @code{nil}.
610
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611In an interactive call, @var{count} is the numeric prefix argument.
612@end deffn
613
614@c Emacs 19 feature
615@defun walk-windows proc &optional minibuf all-frames
616This function cycles through all windows, calling @code{proc}
617once for each window with the window as its sole argument.
618
619The optional arguments @var{minibuf} and @var{all-frames} specify the
620set of windows to include in the scan. See @code{next-window}, above,
621for details.
622@end defun
623
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624@defun window-list &optional frame minibuf window
625This function returns a list of the windows on @var{frame}, starting
626with @var{window}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or omitted, the
627selected frame is used instead; if @var{window} is @code{nil} or
628omitted, the selected window is used instead.
629
630The value of @var{minibuf} determines if the minibuffer window will be
631included in the result list. If @var{minibuf} is @code{t}, the
632minibuffer window will be included, even if it isn't active. If
429994d8 633@var{minibuf} is @code{nil} or omitted, the minibuffer window will
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634only be included in the list if it is active. If @var{minibuf} is
635neither @code{nil} nor @code{t}, the minibuffer window is not
636included, whether or not it is active.
429994d8 637@end defun
e258eedc 638
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639@node Buffers and Windows
640@section Buffers and Windows
641@cindex examining windows
642@cindex windows, controlling precisely
643@cindex buffers, controlled in windows
644
645 This section describes low-level functions to examine windows or to
646display buffers in windows in a precisely controlled fashion.
647@iftex
648See the following section for
649@end iftex
37680279 650@ifnottex
b1b12a8e 651@xref{Displaying Buffers}, for
37680279 652@end ifnottex
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653related functions that find a window to use and specify a buffer for it.
654The functions described there are easier to use than these, but they
655employ heuristics in choosing or creating a window; use these functions
656when you need complete control.
657
6ab4745b 658@defun set-window-buffer window buffer-or-name &optional keep-margins
b1b12a8e 659This function makes @var{window} display @var{buffer-or-name} as its
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660contents. It returns @code{nil}. This is the fundamental primitive
661for changing which buffer is displayed in a window, and all ways
662of doing that call this function.
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663
664@example
665@group
666(set-window-buffer (selected-window) "foo")
667 @result{} nil
668@end group
669@end example
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670
671Normally, displaying @var{buffer} in @var{window} resets the window's
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672display margins, fringe widths, scroll bar settings, and position
673based on the local variables of @var{buffer}. However, if
674@var{keep-margins} is non-@code{nil}, the display margins and fringe
675widths of @var{window} remain unchanged. @xref{Fringes}.
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676@end defun
677
678@defun window-buffer &optional window
679This function returns the buffer that @var{window} is displaying. If
680@var{window} is omitted, this function returns the buffer for the
681selected window.
682
683@example
684@group
685(window-buffer)
686 @result{} #<buffer windows.texi>
687@end group
688@end example
689@end defun
690
691@defun get-buffer-window buffer-or-name &optional all-frames
692This function returns a window currently displaying
693@var{buffer-or-name}, or @code{nil} if there is none. If there are
694several such windows, then the function returns the first one in the
695cyclic ordering of windows, starting from the selected window.
696@xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
697
698The argument @var{all-frames} controls which windows to consider.
699
700@itemize @bullet
701@item
702If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
703@item
704If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
705@item
706If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
707@item
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708If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
709@item
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710If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
711@end itemize
712@end defun
713
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714@defun get-buffer-window-list buffer-or-name &optional minibuf all-frames
715This function returns a list of all the windows currently displaying
716@var{buffer-or-name}.
717
718The two optional arguments work like the optional arguments of
719@code{next-window} (@pxref{Cyclic Window Ordering}); they are @emph{not}
720like the single optional argument of @code{get-buffer-window}. Perhaps
721we should change @code{get-buffer-window} in the future to make it
722compatible with the other functions.
723
724The argument @var{all-frames} controls which windows to consider.
725
726@itemize @bullet
727@item
728If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
729@item
730If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
731@item
732If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
733@item
734If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
735@item
736If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
737@end itemize
738@end defun
739
a9f0a989 740@defvar buffer-display-time
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741This variable records the time at which a buffer was last made visible
742in a window. It is always local in each buffer; each time
743@code{set-window-buffer} is called, it sets this variable to
744@code{(current-time)} in the specified buffer (@pxref{Time of Day}).
1911e6e5 745When a buffer is first created, @code{buffer-display-time} starts out
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746with the value @code{nil}.
747@end defvar
748
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749@node Displaying Buffers
750@section Displaying Buffers in Windows
751@cindex switching to a buffer
752@cindex displaying a buffer
753
754 In this section we describe convenient functions that choose a window
755automatically and use it to display a specified buffer. These functions
756can also split an existing window in certain circumstances. We also
757describe variables that parameterize the heuristics used for choosing a
758window.
759@iftex
760See the preceding section for
761@end iftex
37680279 762@ifnottex
b1b12a8e 763@xref{Buffers and Windows}, for
37680279 764@end ifnottex
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765low-level functions that give you more precise control. All of these
766functions work by calling @code{set-window-buffer}.
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767
768 Do not use the functions in this section in order to make a buffer
769current so that a Lisp program can access or modify it; they are too
770drastic for that purpose, since they change the display of buffers in
969fe9b5 771windows, which would be gratuitous and surprise the user. Instead, use
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772@code{set-buffer} and @code{save-current-buffer} (@pxref{Current
773Buffer}), which designate buffers as current for programmed access
774without affecting the display of buffers in windows.
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775
776@deffn Command switch-to-buffer buffer-or-name &optional norecord
777This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer, and also
778displays the buffer in the selected window. This means that a human can
779see the buffer and subsequent keyboard commands will apply to it.
780Contrast this with @code{set-buffer}, which makes @var{buffer-or-name}
781the current buffer but does not display it in the selected window.
782@xref{Current Buffer}.
783
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784If @var{buffer-or-name} does not identify an existing buffer, then a new
785buffer by that name is created. The major mode for the new buffer is
786set according to the variable @code{default-major-mode}. @xref{Auto
787Major Mode}.
b1b12a8e 788
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789Normally the specified buffer is put at the front of the buffer list
790(both the selected frame's buffer list and the frame-independent buffer
791list). This affects the operation of @code{other-buffer}. However, if
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792@var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, this is not done. @xref{The Buffer
793List}.
794
795The @code{switch-to-buffer} function is often used interactively, as
796the binding of @kbd{C-x b}. It is also used frequently in programs. It
996d82f8 797returns the buffer that it switched to.
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798@end deffn
799
f9f59935 800@deffn Command switch-to-buffer-other-window buffer-or-name &optional norecord
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801This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer and
802displays it in a window not currently selected. It then selects that
803window. The handling of the buffer is the same as in
804@code{switch-to-buffer}.
805
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806The currently selected window is absolutely never used to do the job.
807If it is the only window, then it is split to make a distinct window for
808this purpose. If the selected window is already displaying the buffer,
809then it continues to do so, but another window is nonetheless found to
810display it in as well.
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811
812This function updates the buffer list just like @code{switch-to-buffer}
813unless @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}.
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814@end deffn
815
f9f59935 816@defun pop-to-buffer buffer-or-name &optional other-window norecord
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817This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer and
818switches to it in some window, preferably not the window previously
819selected. The ``popped-to'' window becomes the selected window within
996d82f8 820its frame. The return value is the buffer that was switched to.
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821If @var{buffer-or-name} is @code{nil}, that means to choose some
822other buffer, but you don't specify which.
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823
824If the variable @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil},
825@code{pop-to-buffer} looks for a window in any visible frame already
826displaying the buffer; if there is one, it returns that window and makes
827it be selected within its frame. If there is none, it creates a new
828frame and displays the buffer in it.
829
830If @code{pop-up-frames} is @code{nil}, then @code{pop-to-buffer}
831operates entirely within the selected frame. (If the selected frame has
832just a minibuffer, @code{pop-to-buffer} operates within the most
833recently selected frame that was not just a minibuffer.)
834
835If the variable @code{pop-up-windows} is non-@code{nil}, windows may
836be split to create a new window that is different from the original
837window. For details, see @ref{Choosing Window}.
838
839If @var{other-window} is non-@code{nil}, @code{pop-to-buffer} finds or
840creates another window even if @var{buffer-or-name} is already visible
841in the selected window. Thus @var{buffer-or-name} could end up
842displayed in two windows. On the other hand, if @var{buffer-or-name} is
843already displayed in the selected window and @var{other-window} is
844@code{nil}, then the selected window is considered sufficient display
845for @var{buffer-or-name}, so that nothing needs to be done.
846
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847All the variables that affect @code{display-buffer} affect
848@code{pop-to-buffer} as well. @xref{Choosing Window}.
849
b1b12a8e 850If @var{buffer-or-name} is a string that does not name an existing
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851buffer, a buffer by that name is created. The major mode for the new
852buffer is set according to the variable @code{default-major-mode}.
853@xref{Auto Major Mode}.
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854
855This function updates the buffer list just like @code{switch-to-buffer}
856unless @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}.
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857@end defun
858
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859@deffn Command replace-buffer-in-windows buffer
860This function replaces @var{buffer} with some other buffer in all
861windows displaying it. The other buffer used is chosen with
862@code{other-buffer}. In the usual applications of this function, you
863don't care which other buffer is used; you just want to make sure that
864@var{buffer} is no longer displayed.
865
866This function returns @code{nil}.
867@end deffn
868
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869@node Choosing Window
870@section Choosing a Window for Display
871
c638661f 872 This section describes the basic facility that chooses a window to
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873display a buffer in---@code{display-buffer}. All the higher-level
874functions and commands use this subroutine. Here we describe how to use
875@code{display-buffer} and how to customize it.
876
f9f59935 877@deffn Command display-buffer buffer-or-name &optional not-this-window frame
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878This command makes @var{buffer-or-name} appear in some window, like
879@code{pop-to-buffer}, but it does not select that window and does not
880make the buffer current. The identity of the selected window is
881unaltered by this function.
882
883If @var{not-this-window} is non-@code{nil}, it means to display the
884specified buffer in a window other than the selected one, even if it is
885already on display in the selected window. This can cause the buffer to
886appear in two windows at once. Otherwise, if @var{buffer-or-name} is
887already being displayed in any window, that is good enough, so this
888function does nothing.
889
890@code{display-buffer} returns the window chosen to display
891@var{buffer-or-name}.
892
f9f59935 893If the argument @var{frame} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies which frames
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894to check when deciding whether the buffer is already displayed. If the
895buffer is already displayed in some window on one of these frames,
896@code{display-buffer} simply returns that window. Here are the possible
897values of @var{frame}:
898
899@itemize @bullet
900@item
901If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame.
902@item
903If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames.
904@item
905If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames.
906@item
907If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames.
908@item
909If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame.
910@end itemize
f9f59935 911
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912Precisely how @code{display-buffer} finds or creates a window depends on
913the variables described below.
914@end deffn
915
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916@defopt display-buffer-reuse-frames
917If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer} searches
918existing frames for a window displaying the buffer. If the buffer is
919already displayed in a window in some frame, @code{display-buffer} makes
920the frame visible and raises it, to use that window. If the buffer is
921not already displayed, or if @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is
922@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer}'s behavior is determined by other
923variables, described below.
924@end defopt
925
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926@defopt pop-up-windows
927This variable controls whether @code{display-buffer} makes new windows.
928If it is non-@code{nil} and there is only one window, then that window
929is split. If it is @code{nil}, then @code{display-buffer} does not
930split the single window, but uses it whole.
931@end defopt
932
933@defopt split-height-threshold
934This variable determines when @code{display-buffer} may split a window,
935if there are multiple windows. @code{display-buffer} always splits the
936largest window if it has at least this many lines. If the largest
937window is not this tall, it is split only if it is the sole window and
938@code{pop-up-windows} is non-@code{nil}.
939@end defopt
940
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941@defopt even-window-heights
942This variable determines if @code{display-buffer} should even out window
943heights if the buffer gets displayed in an existing window, above or
944beneath another existing window. If @code{even-window-heights} is
945@code{t}, the default, window heights will be evened out. If
5fe3b9bc 946@code{even-window-heights} is @code{nil}, the original window heights
4f0308e1 947will be left alone.
fbd9f276 948@end defopt
4f0308e1 949
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950@c Emacs 19 feature
951@defopt pop-up-frames
952This variable controls whether @code{display-buffer} makes new frames.
953If it is non-@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer} looks for an existing
954window already displaying the desired buffer, on any visible frame. If
955it finds one, it returns that window. Otherwise it makes a new frame.
956The variables @code{pop-up-windows} and @code{split-height-threshold} do
957not matter if @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil}.
958
959If @code{pop-up-frames} is @code{nil}, then @code{display-buffer} either
960splits a window or reuses one.
961
962@xref{Frames}, for more information.
963@end defopt
964
965@c Emacs 19 feature
27704b78 966@defopt pop-up-frame-function
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967This variable specifies how to make a new frame if @code{pop-up-frames}
968is non-@code{nil}.
969
970Its value should be a function of no arguments. When
971@code{display-buffer} makes a new frame, it does so by calling that
972function, which should return a frame. The default value of the
c638661f 973variable is a function that creates a frame using parameters from
b1b12a8e 974@code{pop-up-frame-alist}.
b52a26fb 975@end defopt
b1b12a8e 976
8241495d 977@defopt pop-up-frame-alist
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978This variable holds an alist specifying frame parameters used when
979@code{display-buffer} makes a new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}, for
980more information about frame parameters.
8241495d 981@end defopt
b1b12a8e 982
1911e6e5 983@defopt special-display-buffer-names
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984A list of buffer names for buffers that should be displayed specially.
985If the buffer's name is in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the
986buffer specially.
987
988By default, special display means to give the buffer a dedicated frame.
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989
990If an element is a list, instead of a string, then the @sc{car} of the
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991list is the buffer name, and the rest of the list says how to create
992the frame. There are two possibilities for the rest of the list (its
993@sc{cdr}). It can be an alist, specifying frame parameters, or it can
994contain a function and arguments to give to it. (The function's first
995argument is always the buffer to be displayed; the arguments from the
996list come after that.)
997
998For example:
999
1000@example
1001(("myfile" (minibuffer) (menu-bar-lines . 0)))
1002@end example
1003
1004@noindent
1005specifies to display a buffer named @samp{myfile} in a dedicated frame
1006with specified @code{minibuffer} and @code{menu-bar-lines} parameters.
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1007
1008The list of frame parameters can also use the phony frame parameters
1009@code{same-frame} and @code{same-window}. If the specified frame
1010parameters include @code{(same-window . @var{value})} and @var{value}
1011is non-@code{nil}, that means to display the buffer in the current
1012selected window. Otherwise, if they include @code{(same-frame .
1013@var{value})} and @var{value} is non-@code{nil}, that means to display
1014the buffer in a new window in the currently selected frame.
1911e6e5 1015@end defopt
c2264295 1016
1911e6e5 1017@defopt special-display-regexps
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1018A list of regular expressions that specify buffers that should be
1019displayed specially. If the buffer's name matches any of the regular
1020expressions in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer
1021specially.
1022
1023By default, special display means to give the buffer a dedicated frame.
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1024
1025If an element is a list, instead of a string, then the @sc{car} of the
1026list is the regular expression, and the rest of the list says how to
1027create the frame. See above, under @code{special-display-buffer-names}.
1911e6e5 1028@end defopt
c2264295 1029
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1030@defun special-display-p buffer-name
1031This function returns non-@code{nil} if displaying a buffer
1032named @var{buffer-name} with @code{display-buffer} would
1033create a special frame. The value is @code{t} if it would
1034use the default frame paramaters, or else the specified list
1035of frame parameters.
1036@end defun
1037
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1038@defvar special-display-function
1039This variable holds the function to call to display a buffer specially.
1040It receives the buffer as an argument, and should return the window in
1041which it is displayed.
1042
1043The default value of this variable is
1044@code{special-display-popup-frame}.
1045@end defvar
1046
8241495d 1047@defun special-display-popup-frame buffer &rest args
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1048This function makes @var{buffer} visible in a frame of its own. If
1049@var{buffer} is already displayed in a window in some frame, it makes
1050the frame visible and raises it, to use that window. Otherwise, it
1051creates a frame that will be dedicated to @var{buffer}.
c638661f 1052
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1053If @var{args} is an alist, it specifies frame parameters for the new
1054frame.
1055
1056If @var{args} is a list whose @sc{car} is a symbol, then @code{(car
1057@var{args})} is called as a function to actually create and set up the
1058frame; it is called with @var{buffer} as first argument, and @code{(cdr
1059@var{args})} as additional arguments.
1060
1061This function always uses an existing window displaying @var{buffer},
1062whether or not it is in a frame of its own; but if you set up the above
1063variables in your init file, before @var{buffer} was created, then
1064presumably the window was previously made by this function.
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1065@end defun
1066
1067@defopt special-display-frame-alist
1068This variable holds frame parameters for
1069@code{special-display-popup-frame} to use when it creates a frame.
1070@end defopt
1071
864bd34b 1072@defopt same-window-buffer-names
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1073A list of buffer names for buffers that should be displayed in the
1074selected window. If the buffer's name is in this list,
1075@code{display-buffer} handles the buffer by switching to it in the
1076selected window.
864bd34b 1077@end defopt
bfe721d1 1078
864bd34b 1079@defopt same-window-regexps
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1080A list of regular expressions that specify buffers that should be
1081displayed in the selected window. If the buffer's name matches any of
1082the regular expressions in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the
1083buffer by switching to it in the selected window.
864bd34b 1084@end defopt
bfe721d1 1085
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1086@defun same-window-p buffer-name
1087This function returns @code{t} if displaying a buffer
1088named @var{buffer-name} with @code{display-buffer} would
1089put it in the selected window.
1090@end defun
1091
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1092@c Emacs 19 feature
1093@defvar display-buffer-function
1094This variable is the most flexible way to customize the behavior of
1095@code{display-buffer}. If it is non-@code{nil}, it should be a function
1096that @code{display-buffer} calls to do the work. The function should
1097accept two arguments, the same two arguments that @code{display-buffer}
1098received. It should choose or create a window, display the specified
1099buffer, and then return the window.
1100
1101This hook takes precedence over all the other options and hooks
1102described above.
1103@end defvar
1104
1105@c Emacs 19 feature
1106@cindex dedicated window
1107A window can be marked as ``dedicated'' to its buffer. Then
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1108@code{display-buffer} will not try to use that window to display any
1109other buffer.
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1110
1111@defun window-dedicated-p window
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1112This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{window} is marked as
1113dedicated; otherwise @code{nil}.
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1114@end defun
1115
1116@defun set-window-dedicated-p window flag
1117This function marks @var{window} as dedicated if @var{flag} is
1118non-@code{nil}, and nondedicated otherwise.
1119@end defun
1120
1121@node Window Point
1122@section Windows and Point
1123@cindex window position
1124@cindex window point
1125@cindex position in window
1126@cindex point in window
1127
1128 Each window has its own value of point, independent of the value of
1129point in other windows displaying the same buffer. This makes it useful
1130to have multiple windows showing one buffer.
1131
1132@itemize @bullet
1133@item
1134The window point is established when a window is first created; it is
1135initialized from the buffer's point, or from the window point of another
1136window opened on the buffer if such a window exists.
1137
1138@item
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1139Selecting a window sets the value of point in its buffer from the
1140window's value of point. Conversely, deselecting a window sets the
1141window's value of point from that of the buffer. Thus, when you switch
1142between windows that display a given buffer, the point value for the
1143selected window is in effect in the buffer, while the point values for
1144the other windows are stored in those windows.
b1b12a8e
RS
1145
1146@item
1147As long as the selected window displays the current buffer, the window's
1148point and the buffer's point always move together; they remain equal.
1149
1150@item
1151@xref{Positions}, for more details on buffer positions.
1152@end itemize
1153
1154 As far as the user is concerned, point is where the cursor is, and
1155when the user switches to another buffer, the cursor jumps to the
1156position of point in that buffer.
1157
8241495d 1158@defun window-point &optional window
b1b12a8e
RS
1159This function returns the current position of point in @var{window}.
1160For a nonselected window, this is the value point would have (in that
8241495d
RS
1161window's buffer) if that window were selected. If @var{window} is
1162@code{nil}, the selected window is used.
b1b12a8e
RS
1163
1164When @var{window} is the selected window and its buffer is also the
1165current buffer, the value returned is the same as point in that buffer.
1166
1167Strictly speaking, it would be more correct to return the
1168``top-level'' value of point, outside of any @code{save-excursion}
1169forms. But that value is hard to find.
1170@end defun
1171
1172@defun set-window-point window position
1173This function positions point in @var{window} at position
1174@var{position} in @var{window}'s buffer.
1175@end defun
1176
1177@node Window Start
1178@section The Window Start Position
1179
1180 Each window contains a marker used to keep track of a buffer position
c638661f 1181that specifies where in the buffer display should start. This position
b1b12a8e
RS
1182is called the @dfn{display-start} position of the window (or just the
1183@dfn{start}). The character after this position is the one that appears
1184at the upper left corner of the window. It is usually, but not
1185inevitably, at the beginning of a text line.
1186
1187@defun window-start &optional window
1188@cindex window top line
1189This function returns the display-start position of window
1190@var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is
3c29caa8 1191used. For example,
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RS
1192
1193@example
1194@group
1195(window-start)
1196 @result{} 7058
1197@end group
1198@end example
1199
c638661f 1200When you create a window, or display a different buffer in it, the
b1b12a8e
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1201display-start position is set to a display-start position recently used
1202for the same buffer, or 1 if the buffer doesn't have any.
1203
ea951766 1204Redisplay updates the window-start position (if you have not specified
8241495d
RS
1205it explicitly since the previous redisplay)---for example, to make sure
1206point appears on the screen. Nothing except redisplay automatically
1207changes the window-start position; if you move point, do not expect the
1208window-start position to change in response until after the next
1209redisplay.
ea951766
RS
1210
1211For a realistic example of using @code{window-start}, see the
1212description of @code{count-lines} in @ref{Text Lines}.
b1b12a8e
RS
1213@end defun
1214
969fe9b5 1215@defun window-end &optional window update
b1b12a8e
RS
1216This function returns the position of the end of the display in window
1217@var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is
1218used.
c638661f 1219
6c7418db
RS
1220Simply changing the buffer text or moving point does not update the
1221value that @code{window-end} returns. The value is updated only when
969fe9b5 1222Emacs redisplays and redisplay completes without being preempted.
6c7418db 1223
c638661f 1224If the last redisplay of @var{window} was preempted, and did not finish,
a283f4a3 1225Emacs does not know the position of the end of display in that window.
969fe9b5 1226In that case, this function returns @code{nil}.
c638661f 1227
41448f63
RS
1228If @var{update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{window-end} always returns an
1229up-to-date value for where the window ends, based on the current
1230@code{window-start} value. If the saved value is valid,
1231@code{window-end} returns that; otherwise it computes the correct
969fe9b5 1232value by scanning the buffer text.
41448f63
RS
1233
1234Even if @var{update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{window-end} does not
1235attempt to scroll the display if point has moved off the screen, the
1236way real redisplay would do. It does not alter the
1237@code{window-start} value. In effect, it reports where the displayed
1238text will end if scrolling is not required.
b1b12a8e
RS
1239@end defun
1240
1241@defun set-window-start window position &optional noforce
1242This function sets the display-start position of @var{window} to
c638661f 1243@var{position} in @var{window}'s buffer. It returns @var{position}.
b1b12a8e
RS
1244
1245The display routines insist that the position of point be visible when a
1246buffer is displayed. Normally, they change the display-start position
1247(that is, scroll the window) whenever necessary to make point visible.
1248However, if you specify the start position with this function using
1249@code{nil} for @var{noforce}, it means you want display to start at
1250@var{position} even if that would put the location of point off the
1251screen. If this does place point off screen, the display routines move
1252point to the left margin on the middle line in the window.
1253
1254For example, if point @w{is 1} and you set the start of the window @w{to
12552}, then point would be ``above'' the top of the window. The display
1256routines will automatically move point if it is still 1 when redisplay
1257occurs. Here is an example:
1258
1259@example
1260@group
1261;; @r{Here is what @samp{foo} looks like before executing}
1262;; @r{the @code{set-window-start} expression.}
1263@end group
1264
1265@group
1266---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1267@point{}This is the contents of buffer foo.
12682
12693
12704
12715
12726
1273---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1274@end group
1275
1276@group
1277(set-window-start
1278 (selected-window)
1279 (1+ (window-start)))
1280@result{} 2
1281@end group
1282
1283@group
1284;; @r{Here is what @samp{foo} looks like after executing}
1285;; @r{the @code{set-window-start} expression.}
1286---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1287his is the contents of buffer foo.
12882
12893
1290@point{}4
12915
12926
1293---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1294@end group
1295@end example
1296
1297If @var{noforce} is non-@code{nil}, and @var{position} would place point
1298off screen at the next redisplay, then redisplay computes a new window-start
1299position that works well with point, and thus @var{position} is not used.
b1b12a8e
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1300@end defun
1301
00480554 1302@defun pos-visible-in-window-p &optional position window partially
601bda2e 1303This function returns @code{t} if @var{position} is within the range of
00480554
MB
1304text currently visible on the screen in @var{window}. It returns
1305@code{nil} if @var{position} is scrolled vertically or horizontally out
1306of view. Locations that are partially obscured are not considered
1307visible unless @var{partially} is non-@code{nil}. The argument
1308@var{position} defaults to the current position of point in
1309@var{window}; @var{window}, to the selected window.
1310
1311Here is an example:
b1b12a8e
RS
1312
1313@example
1314@group
1315(or (pos-visible-in-window-p
1316 (point) (selected-window))
1317 (recenter 0))
1318@end group
1319@end example
b1b12a8e
RS
1320@end defun
1321
8241495d
RS
1322@node Textual Scrolling
1323@section Textual Scrolling
1324@cindex textual scrolling
1325@cindex scrolling textually
1326
1327 @dfn{Textual scrolling} means moving the text up or down though a
1328window. It works by changing the value of the window's display-start
1329location. It may also change the value of @code{window-point} to keep
1330point on the screen.
b1b12a8e 1331
8241495d
RS
1332 Textual scrolling was formerly called ``vertical scrolling,'' but we
1333changed its name to distinguish it from the new vertical fractional
1334scrolling feature (@pxref{Vertical Scrolling}).
b1b12a8e
RS
1335
1336 In the commands @code{scroll-up} and @code{scroll-down}, the directions
1337``up'' and ``down'' refer to the motion of the text in the buffer at which
1338you are looking through the window. Imagine that the text is
1339written on a long roll of paper and that the scrolling commands move the
1340paper up and down. Thus, if you are looking at text in the middle of a
1341buffer and repeatedly call @code{scroll-down}, you will eventually see
1342the beginning of the buffer.
1343
1344 Some people have urged that the opposite convention be used: they
1345imagine that the window moves over text that remains in place. Then
1346``down'' commands would take you to the end of the buffer. This view is
1347more consistent with the actual relationship between windows and the
1348text in the buffer, but it is less like what the user sees. The
1349position of a window on the terminal does not move, and short scrolling
1350commands clearly move the text up or down on the screen. We have chosen
1351names that fit the user's point of view.
1352
8241495d
RS
1353 The textual scrolling functions (aside from
1354@code{scroll-other-window}) have unpredictable results if the current
1355buffer is different from the buffer that is displayed in the selected
1356window. @xref{Current Buffer}.
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RS
1357
1358@deffn Command scroll-up &optional count
1359This function scrolls the text in the selected window upward
1360@var{count} lines. If @var{count} is negative, scrolling is actually
1361downward.
1362
1363If @var{count} is @code{nil} (or omitted), then the length of scroll
1364is @code{next-screen-context-lines} lines less than the usable height of
1365the window (not counting its mode line).
1366
27704b78
RS
1367@code{scroll-up} returns @code{nil}, unless it gets an error
1368because it can't scroll any further.
b1b12a8e
RS
1369@end deffn
1370
1371@deffn Command scroll-down &optional count
1372This function scrolls the text in the selected window downward
1373@var{count} lines. If @var{count} is negative, scrolling is actually
1374upward.
1375
1376If @var{count} is omitted or @code{nil}, then the length of the scroll
1377is @code{next-screen-context-lines} lines less than the usable height of
c638661f 1378the window (not counting its mode line).
b1b12a8e 1379
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RS
1380@code{scroll-down} returns @code{nil}, unless it gets an error because
1381it can't scroll any further.
b1b12a8e
RS
1382@end deffn
1383
1384@deffn Command scroll-other-window &optional count
1385This function scrolls the text in another window upward @var{count}
1386lines. Negative values of @var{count}, or @code{nil}, are handled
1387as in @code{scroll-up}.
1388
8241495d
RS
1389You can specify which buffer to scroll by setting the variable
1390@code{other-window-scroll-buffer} to a buffer. If that buffer isn't
1391already displayed, @code{scroll-other-window} displays it in some
1392window.
1393
1394When the selected window is the minibuffer, the next window is normally
1395the one at the top left corner. You can specify a different window to
1396scroll, when the minibuffer is selected, by setting the variable
b1b12a8e
RS
1397@code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. This variable has no effect when any
1398other window is selected. @xref{Minibuffer Misc}.
1399
1400When the minibuffer is active, it is the next window if the selected
1401window is the one at the bottom right corner. In this case,
1402@code{scroll-other-window} attempts to scroll the minibuffer. If the
1403minibuffer contains just one line, it has nowhere to scroll to, so the
1404line reappears after the echo area momentarily displays the message
1405``Beginning of buffer''.
1406@end deffn
1407
1408@c Emacs 19 feature
1409@defvar other-window-scroll-buffer
1410If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it tells @code{scroll-other-window}
1411which buffer to scroll.
1412@end defvar
1413
1911e6e5
RS
1414@defopt scroll-margin
1415This option specifies the size of the scroll margin---a minimum number
1416of lines between point and the top or bottom of a window. Whenever
1417point gets within this many lines of the top or bottom of the window,
ac7845fd
RS
1418redisplay scrolls the text automatically (if possible) to move point
1419out of the margin, closer to the center of the window.
1911e6e5
RS
1420@end defopt
1421
1911e6e5 1422@defopt scroll-conservatively
b1b12a8e 1423This variable controls how scrolling is done automatically when point
ac7845fd
RS
1424moves off the screen (or into the scroll margin). If the value is a
1425positive integer @var{n}, then redisplay scrolls the text up to
1426@var{n} lines in either direction, if that will bring point back into
1427proper view. This action is called @dfn{conservative scrolling}.
1428Otherwise, scrolling happens in the usual way, under the control of
1429other variables such as @code{scroll-up-aggressively} and
1430@code{scroll-down-aggressively}.
1431
1432The default value is zero, which means that conservative scrolling
1433never happens.
1911e6e5
RS
1434@end defopt
1435
9db0af9e
RS
1436@defopt scroll-down-aggressively
1437@tindex scroll-down-aggressively
04c1025b
GM
1438The value of this variable should be either @code{nil} or a fraction
1439@var{f} between 0 and 1. If it is a fraction, that specifies where on
9db0af9e
RS
1440the screen to put point when scrolling down. More precisely, when a
1441window scrolls down because point is above the window start, the new
1442start position is chosen to put point @var{f} part of the window
1443height from the top. The larger @var{f}, the more aggressive the
1444scrolling.
04c1025b 1445
2468d0c0
DL
1446A value of @code{nil} is equivalent to .5, since its effect is to center
1447point. This variable automatically becomes buffer-local when set in any
1448fashion.
04c1025b
GM
1449@end defopt
1450
9db0af9e
RS
1451@defopt scroll-up-aggressively
1452@tindex scroll-up-aggressively
1453Likewise, for scrolling up. The value, @var{f}, specifies how far
04c1025b
GM
1454point should be placed from the bottom of the window; thus, as with
1455@code{scroll-up-aggressively}, a larger value scrolls more aggressively.
1456@end defopt
1457
1911e6e5
RS
1458@defopt scroll-step
1459This variable is an older variant of @code{scroll-conservatively}. The
1460difference is that it if its value is @var{n}, that permits scrolling
1461only by precisely @var{n} lines, not a smaller number. This feature
1462does not work with @code{scroll-margin}. The default value is zero.
1463@end defopt
1464
1911e6e5
RS
1465@defopt scroll-preserve-screen-position
1466If this option is non-@code{nil}, the scroll functions move point so
1467that the vertical position of the cursor is unchanged, when that is
1468possible.
b1b12a8e
RS
1469@end defopt
1470
1471@defopt next-screen-context-lines
1472The value of this variable is the number of lines of continuity to
1473retain when scrolling by full screens. For example, @code{scroll-up}
1474with an argument of @code{nil} scrolls so that this many lines at the
1475bottom of the window appear instead at the top. The default value is
1476@code{2}.
1477@end defopt
1478
1479@deffn Command recenter &optional count
1480@cindex centering point
ac7845fd
RS
1481This function scrolls the text in the selected window so that point is
1482displayed at a specified vertical position within the window. It does
1483not ``move point'' with respect to the text.
1484
1485If @var{count} is a nonnegative number, that puts the line containing
1486point @var{count} lines down from the top of the window. If
1487@var{count} is a negative number, then it counts upward from the
1488bottom of the window, so that @minus{}1 stands for the last usable
1489line in the window. If @var{count} is a non-@code{nil} list, then it
1490stands for the line in the middle of the window.
b1b12a8e
RS
1491
1492If @var{count} is @code{nil}, @code{recenter} puts the line containing
1493point in the middle of the window, then clears and redisplays the entire
1494selected frame.
1495
1496When @code{recenter} is called interactively, @var{count} is the raw
1497prefix argument. Thus, typing @kbd{C-u} as the prefix sets the
1498@var{count} to a non-@code{nil} list, while typing @kbd{C-u 4} sets
1499@var{count} to 4, which positions the current line four lines from the
1500top.
1501
c638661f
RS
1502With an argument of zero, @code{recenter} positions the current line at
1503the top of the window. This action is so handy that some people make a
1504separate key binding to do this. For example,
b1b12a8e
RS
1505
1506@example
1507@group
1508(defun line-to-top-of-window ()
1509 "Scroll current line to top of window.
1510Replaces three keystroke sequence C-u 0 C-l."
3c29caa8 1511 (interactive)
b1b12a8e
RS
1512 (recenter 0))
1513
3c29caa8 1514(global-set-key [kp-multiply] 'line-to-top-of-window)
b1b12a8e
RS
1515@end group
1516@end example
1517@end deffn
1518
8241495d
RS
1519@node Vertical Scrolling
1520@section Vertical Fractional Scrolling
1521@cindex Vertical Fractional Scrolling
1522
1523 @dfn{Vertical fractional scrolling} means shifting the image in the
1524window up or down by a specified multiple or fraction of a line.
1525Starting in Emacs 21, each window has a @dfn{vertical scroll position},
1526which is a number, never less than zero. It specifies how far to raise
1527the contents of the window. Raising the window contents generally makes
1528all or part of some lines disappear off the top, and all or part of some
1529other lines appear at the bottom. The usual value is zero.
1530
1531 The vertical scroll position is measured in units of the normal line
1532height, which is the height of the default font. Thus, if the value is
1533.5, that means the window contents are scrolled up half the normal line
1534height. If it is 3.3, that means the window contents are scrolled up
1535somewhat over three times the normal line height.
1536
1537 What fraction of a line the vertical scrolling covers, or how many
1538lines, depends on what the lines contain. A value of .5 could scroll a
1539line whose height is very short off the screen, while a value of 3.3
1540could scroll just part of the way through a tall line or an image.
1541
1542@defun window-vscroll &optional window
1543This function returns the current vertical scroll position of
1544@var{window}, If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is
1545used.
1546
1547@example
1548@group
1549(window-vscroll)
1550 @result{} 0
1551@end group
1552@end example
1553@end defun
1554
1555@defun set-window-vscroll window lines
1556This function sets @var{window}'s vertical scroll position to
1557@var{lines}. The argument @var{lines} should be zero or positive; if
1558not, it is taken as zero.
1559
eb687116
EZ
1560If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1561
8241495d
RS
1562The actual vertical scroll position must always correspond
1563to an integral number of pixels, so the value you specify
1564is rounded accordingly.
1565
1566The return value is the result of this rounding.
1567
1568@example
1569@group
1570(set-window-vscroll (selected-window) 1.2)
1571 @result{} 1.13
1572@end group
1573@end example
1574@end defun
1575
b1b12a8e
RS
1576@node Horizontal Scrolling
1577@section Horizontal Scrolling
1578@cindex horizontal scrolling
1579
8241495d
RS
1580 @dfn{Horizontal scrolling} means shifting the image in the window left
1581or right by a specified multiple of the normal character width. Each
061967de 1582window has a @dfn{horizontal scroll position}, which is a number, never
8241495d
RS
1583less than zero. It specifies how far to shift the contents left.
1584Shifting the window contents left generally makes all or part of some
1585characters disappear off the left, and all or part of some other
1586characters appear at the right. The usual value is zero.
1587
1588 The horizontal scroll position is measured in units of the normal
1589character width, which is the width of space in the default font. Thus,
1590if the value is 5, that means the window contents are scrolled left by 5
c400241b 1591times the normal character width. How many characters actually
8241495d
RS
1592disappear off to the left depends on their width, and could vary from
1593line to line.
1594
1595 Because we read from side to side in the ``inner loop'', and from top
1596to bottom in the ``outer loop'', the effect of horizontal scrolling is
1597not like that of textual or vertical scrolling. Textual scrolling
1598involves selection of a portion of text to display, and vertical
1599scrolling moves the window contents contiguously; but horizontal
1600scrolling causes part of @emph{each line} to go off screen.
b1b12a8e
RS
1601
1602 Usually, no horizontal scrolling is in effect; then the leftmost
1603column is at the left edge of the window. In this state, scrolling to
8241495d
RS
1604the right is meaningless, since there is no data to the left of the edge
1605to be revealed by it; so this is not allowed. Scrolling to the left is
1606allowed; it scrolls the first columns of text off the edge of the window
1607and can reveal additional columns on the right that were truncated
1608before. Once a window has a nonzero amount of leftward horizontal
1609scrolling, you can scroll it back to the right, but only so far as to
1610reduce the net horizontal scroll to zero. There is no limit to how far
1611left you can scroll, but eventually all the text will disappear off the
1612left edge.
1613
0594fc7f 1614@vindex auto-hscroll-mode
27704b78
RS
1615 If @code{auto-hscroll-mode} is set, redisplay automatically alters
1616the horizontal scrolling of a window as necessary to ensure that point
1617is always visible. However, you can still set the horizontal
1618scrolling value explicitly. The value you specify serves as a lower
1619bound for automatic scrolling, i.e. automatic scrolling will not
1620scroll a window to a column less than the specified one.
8241495d
RS
1621
1622@deffn Command scroll-left &optional count
b1b12a8e 1623This function scrolls the selected window @var{count} columns to the
8241495d
RS
1624left (or to the right if @var{count} is negative). The default
1625for @var{count} is the window width, minus 2.
1626
1627The return value is the total amount of leftward horizontal scrolling in
1628effect after the change---just like the value returned by
1629@code{window-hscroll} (below).
b1b12a8e
RS
1630@end deffn
1631
8241495d 1632@deffn Command scroll-right &optional count
b1b12a8e 1633This function scrolls the selected window @var{count} columns to the
8241495d
RS
1634right (or to the left if @var{count} is negative). The default
1635for @var{count} is the window width, minus 2.
1636
1637The return value is the total amount of leftward horizontal scrolling in
1638effect after the change---just like the value returned by
1639@code{window-hscroll} (below).
b1b12a8e
RS
1640
1641Once you scroll a window as far right as it can go, back to its normal
1642position where the total leftward scrolling is zero, attempts to scroll
1643any farther right have no effect.
1644@end deffn
1645
1646@defun window-hscroll &optional window
1647This function returns the total leftward horizontal scrolling of
1648@var{window}---the number of columns by which the text in @var{window}
1649is scrolled left past the left margin.
1650
1651The value is never negative. It is zero when no horizontal scrolling
1652has been done in @var{window} (which is usually the case).
1653
1654If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1655
1656@example
1657@group
1658(window-hscroll)
1659 @result{} 0
1660@end group
1661@group
1662(scroll-left 5)
1663 @result{} 5
1664@end group
1665@group
1666(window-hscroll)
1667 @result{} 5
1668@end group
1669@end example
1670@end defun
1671
1672@defun set-window-hscroll window columns
27704b78
RS
1673This function sets horizontal scrolling of @var{window}. The value of
1674@var{columns} specifies the amount of scrolling, in terms of columns
1675from the left margin. The argument @var{columns} should be zero or
1676positive; if not, it is taken as zero. Fractional values of
1677@var{columns} are not supported at present.
b1b12a8e 1678
515a9a0f
RS
1679Note that @code{set-window-hscroll} may appear not to work if you test
1680it by evaluating a call with @kbd{M-:} in a simple way. What happens
1681is that the function sets the horizontal scroll value and returns, but
1682then redisplay adjusts the horizontal scrolling to make point visible,
1683and this overrides what the function did. You can observe the
1684function's effect if you call it while point is sufficiently far from
1685the left margin that it will remain visible.
1686
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1687The value returned is @var{columns}.
1688
1689@example
1690@group
1691(set-window-hscroll (selected-window) 10)
1692 @result{} 10
1693@end group
1694@end example
1695@end defun
1696
1697 Here is how you can determine whether a given position @var{position}
1698is off the screen due to horizontal scrolling:
1699
1700@example
1701@group
c638661f 1702(defun hscroll-on-screen (window position)
3c29caa8 1703 (save-excursion
c638661f 1704 (goto-char position)
3c29caa8 1705 (and
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1706 (>= (- (current-column) (window-hscroll window)) 0)
1707 (< (- (current-column) (window-hscroll window))
1708 (window-width window)))))
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1709@end group
1710@end example
1711
1712@node Size of Window
1713@section The Size of a Window
1714@cindex window size
1715@cindex size of window
1716
1717 An Emacs window is rectangular, and its size information consists of
1718the height (the number of lines) and the width (the number of character
1719positions in each line). The mode line is included in the height. But
1720the width does not count the scroll bar or the column of @samp{|}
c638661f 1721characters that separates side-by-side windows.
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1722
1723 The following three functions return size information about a window:
1724
1725@defun window-height &optional window
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1726This function returns the number of lines in @var{window}, including
1727its mode line and header line, if any. If @var{window} fills its
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1728entire frame except for the echo area, this is typically one less than
1729the value of @code{frame-height} on that frame.
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1730
1731If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the function uses the selected window.
1732
1733@example
1734@group
1735(window-height)
1736 @result{} 23
1737@end group
1738@group
1739(split-window-vertically)
1740 @result{} #<window 4 on windows.texi>
1741@end group
1742@group
1743(window-height)
1744 @result{} 11
1745@end group
1746@end example
1747@end defun
1748
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1749@tindex window-body-height
1750@defun window-body-height &optional window
177c0ea7 1751Like @code{window-height} but the value does not include the
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1752mode line (if any) or the header line (if any).
1753@end defun
1754
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1755@defun window-width &optional window
1756This function returns the number of columns in @var{window}. If
1757@var{window} fills its entire frame, this is the same as the value of
1758@code{frame-width} on that frame. The width does not include the
1759window's scroll bar or the column of @samp{|} characters that separates
1760side-by-side windows.
1761
1762If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the function uses the selected window.
1763
1764@example
1765@group
1766(window-width)
1767 @result{} 80
1768@end group
1769@end example
1770@end defun
1771
1772@defun window-edges &optional window
1773This function returns a list of the edge coordinates of @var{window}.
1774If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
1775
1776The order of the list is @code{(@var{left} @var{top} @var{right}
1777@var{bottom})}, all elements relative to 0, 0 at the top left corner of
1778the frame. The element @var{right} of the value is one more than the
1779rightmost column used by @var{window}, and @var{bottom} is one more than
1780the bottommost row used by @var{window} and its mode-line.
1781
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1782If a window has a scroll bar, the right edge value includes the width of
1783the scroll bar. Otherwise, if the window has a neighbor on the right,
1784its right edge value includes the width of the separator line between
1785the window and that neighbor. Since the width of the window does not
1786include this separator, the width does not usually equal the difference
1787between the right and left edges.
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1788@end defun
1789
1790@defun window-inside-edges window
1791This is similar to @code{window-edges}, but the edge values
1792it returns include only the text area of the window. They
1793do not include the header line, mode line, scroll bar or
1794vertical separator, fringes, or display margins.
1795@end defun
b1b12a8e 1796
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1797Here are the results obtained on a typical 24-line terminal with just
1798one window, with menu bar enabled:
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1799
1800@example
1801@group
1802(window-edges (selected-window))
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1803 @result{} (0 1 80 23)
1804@end group
1805@group
1806(window-inside-edges (selected-window))
1807 @result{} (0 1 80 22)
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1808@end group
1809@end example
1810
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1811@noindent
1812The bottom edge is at line 23 because the last line is the echo area.
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1813The bottom inside edge is at line 22, which is the window's mode line.
1814
1815If @var{window} is at the upper left corner of its frame, and there is
1816no menu bar, then @var{bottom} returned by @code{window-edges} is the
1817same as the value of @code{(window-height)}, @var{right} is almost the
1818same as the value of @code{(window-width)}, and @var{top} and
1819@var{left} are zero. For example, the edges of the following window
1820are @w{@samp{0 0 8 5}}. Assuming that the frame has more than 8
1821columns, the last column of the window (column 7) holds a border
1822rather than text. The last row (row 4) holds the mode line, shown
1823here with @samp{xxxxxxxxx}.
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1824
1825@example
1826@group
3c29caa8 1827 0
b1b12a8e 1828 _______
3c29caa8
DH
1829 0 | |
1830 | |
1831 | |
1832 | |
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1833 xxxxxxxxx 4
1834
3c29caa8 1835 7
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1836@end group
1837@end example
1838
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1839In the following example, let's suppose that the frame is 7
1840columns wide. Then the edges of the left window are @w{@samp{0 0 4 3}}
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1841and the edges of the right window are @w{@samp{4 0 7 3}}.
1842The inside edges of the left window are @w{@samp{0 0 3 2}},
1843and the inside edges of the right window are @w{@samp{4 0 7 2}},
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1844
1845@example
1846@group
1847 ___ ___
3c29caa8
DH
1848 | | |
1849 | | |
1850 xxxxxxxxx
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1851
1852 0 34 7
1853@end group
1854@end example
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1855
1856@defun window-pixel-edges window
1857This function is like @code{window-edges} except that, on a graphical
1858display, the edge values are measured in pixels instead of in
1859character lines and columns.
1860@end defun
1861
1862@defun window-inside-pixel-edges window
1863This function is like @code{window-inside-edges} except that, on a
1864graphical display, the edge values are measured in pixels instead of
1865in character lines and columns.
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1866@end defun
1867
1868@node Resizing Windows
1869@section Changing the Size of a Window
1870@cindex window resizing
1871@cindex changing window size
1872@cindex window size, changing
1873
1874 The window size functions fall into two classes: high-level commands
1875that change the size of windows and low-level functions that access
1876window size. Emacs does not permit overlapping windows or gaps between
1877windows, so resizing one window affects other windows.
1878
1879@deffn Command enlarge-window size &optional horizontal
c638661f 1880This function makes the selected window @var{size} lines taller,
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1881stealing lines from neighboring windows. It takes the lines from one
1882window at a time until that window is used up, then takes from another.
1883If a window from which lines are stolen shrinks below
1884@code{window-min-height} lines, that window disappears.
1885
1886If @var{horizontal} is non-@code{nil}, this function makes
1887@var{window} wider by @var{size} columns, stealing columns instead of
1888lines. If a window from which columns are stolen shrinks below
1889@code{window-min-width} columns, that window disappears.
1890
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1891If the requested size would exceed that of the window's frame, then the
1892function makes the window occupy the entire height (or width) of the
1893frame.
b1b12a8e 1894
8241495d
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1895If there are various other windows from which lines or columns can be
1896stolen, and some of them specify fixed size (using
1897@code{window-size-fixed}, see below), they are left untouched while
1898other windows are ``robbed.'' If it would be necessary to alter the
1899size of a fixed-size window, @code{enlarge-window} gets an error
1900instead.
1901
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1902If @var{size} is negative, this function shrinks the window by
1903@minus{}@var{size} lines or columns. If that makes the window smaller
1904than the minimum size (@code{window-min-height} and
1905@code{window-min-width}), @code{enlarge-window} deletes the window.
1906
3c29caa8 1907@code{enlarge-window} returns @code{nil}.
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1908@end deffn
1909
1910@deffn Command enlarge-window-horizontally columns
1911This function makes the selected window @var{columns} wider.
1912It could be defined as follows:
1913
1914@example
1915@group
1916(defun enlarge-window-horizontally (columns)
1917 (enlarge-window columns t))
1918@end group
1919@end example
1920@end deffn
1921
1922@deffn Command shrink-window size &optional horizontal
1923This function is like @code{enlarge-window} but negates the argument
1924@var{size}, making the selected window smaller by giving lines (or
1925columns) to the other windows. If the window shrinks below
1926@code{window-min-height} or @code{window-min-width}, then it disappears.
1927
1928If @var{size} is negative, the window is enlarged by @minus{}@var{size}
1929lines or columns.
1930@end deffn
1931
1932@deffn Command shrink-window-horizontally columns
1933This function makes the selected window @var{columns} narrower.
1934It could be defined as follows:
1935
1936@example
1937@group
1938(defun shrink-window-horizontally (columns)
1939 (shrink-window columns t))
1940@end group
1941@end example
1942@end deffn
1943
8241495d 1944@deffn Command shrink-window-if-larger-than-buffer &optional window
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1945This command shrinks @var{window} to be as small as possible while still
1946showing the full contents of its buffer---but not less than
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1947@code{window-min-height} lines. If @var{window} is not given,
1948it defaults to the selected window.
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1949
1950However, the command does nothing if the window is already too small to
1951display the whole text of the buffer, or if part of the contents are
1952currently scrolled off screen, or if the window is not the full width of
1953its frame, or if the window is the only window in its frame.
1954@end deffn
1955
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1956@tindex window-size-fixed
1957@defvar window-size-fixed
1958If this variable is non-@code{nil}, in any given buffer,
1959then the size of any window displaying the buffer remains fixed
1960unless you explicitly change it or Emacs has no other choice.
1961(This feature is new in Emacs 21.)
1962
1963If the value is @code{height}, then only the window's height is fixed;
1964if the value is @code{width}, then only the window's width is fixed.
1965Any other non-@code{nil} value fixes both the width and the height.
1966
1967The usual way to use this variable is to give it a buffer-local value in
1968a particular buffer. That way, the windows (but usually there is only
1969one) displaying that buffer have fixed size.
1970
1971Explicit size-change functions such as @code{enlarge-window}
1972get an error if they would have to change a window size which is fixed.
1973Therefore, when you want to change the size of such a window,
1974you should bind @code{window-size-fixed} to @code{nil}, like this:
1975
1976@example
1977(let ((window-size-fixed nil))
1978 (enlarge-window 10))
1979@end example
1980
1981Note that changing the frame size will change the size of a
1982fixed-size window, if there is no other alternative.
1983@end defvar
1984
b1b12a8e 1985@cindex minimum window size
926a5166 1986 The following two variables constrain the window-structure-changing
b1b12a8e
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1987functions to a minimum height and width.
1988
1989@defopt window-min-height
1990The value of this variable determines how short a window may become
1991before it is automatically deleted. Making a window smaller than
926a5166
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1992@code{window-min-height} automatically deletes it, and no window may
1993be created shorter than this. The default value is 4.
1994
1995The absolute minimum window height is one; actions that change window
1996sizes reset this variable to one if it is less than one.
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1997@end defopt
1998
1999@defopt window-min-width
2000The value of this variable determines how narrow a window may become
1911e6e5 2001before it is automatically deleted. Making a window smaller than
b1b12a8e 2002@code{window-min-width} automatically deletes it, and no window may be
926a5166
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2003created narrower than this. The default value is 10.
2004
2005The absolute minimum window width is two; actions that change window
2006sizes reset this variable to two if it is less than two.
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RS
2007@end defopt
2008
2009@node Coordinates and Windows
2010@section Coordinates and Windows
2011
c638661f 2012This section describes how to relate screen coordinates to windows.
b1b12a8e
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2013
2014@defun window-at x y &optional frame
2015This function returns the window containing the specified cursor
2016position in the frame @var{frame}. The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y}
2017are measured in characters and count from the top left corner of the
2018frame. If they are out of range, @code{window-at} returns @code{nil}.
2019
2020If you omit @var{frame}, the selected frame is used.
2021@end defun
2022
2023@defun coordinates-in-window-p coordinates window
2024This function checks whether a particular frame position falls within
2025the window @var{window}.
2026
969fe9b5
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2027The argument @var{coordinates} is a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{x}
2028. @var{y})}. The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y} are measured in
2029characters, and count from the top left corner of the screen or frame.
b1b12a8e 2030
f9f59935
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2031The value returned by @code{coordinates-in-window-p} is non-@code{nil}
2032if the coordinates are inside @var{window}. The value also indicates
2033what part of the window the position is in, as follows:
b1b12a8e
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2034
2035@table @code
2036@item (@var{relx} . @var{rely})
2037The coordinates are inside @var{window}. The numbers @var{relx} and
2038@var{rely} are the equivalent window-relative coordinates for the
2039specified position, counting from 0 at the top left corner of the
2040window.
2041
2042@item mode-line
2043The coordinates are in the mode line of @var{window}.
2044
8241495d
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2045@item header-line
2046The coordinates are in the header line of @var{window}.
2047
2048@item vertical-line
b1b12a8e 2049The coordinates are in the vertical line between @var{window} and its
3c29caa8 2050neighbor to the right. This value occurs only if the window doesn't
b1b12a8e 2051have a scroll bar; positions in a scroll bar are considered outside the
8241495d 2052window for these purposes.
b1b12a8e 2053
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2054@item left-fringe
2055@itemx right-fringe
2056The coordinates are in the left or right fringe of the window.
2057
2058@item left-margin
2059@itemx right-margin
2060The coordinates are in the left or right margin of the window.
2061
b1b12a8e
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2062@item nil
2063The coordinates are not in any part of @var{window}.
2064@end table
2065
2066The function @code{coordinates-in-window-p} does not require a frame as
2067argument because it always uses the frame that @var{window} is on.
2068@end defun
2069
2070@node Window Configurations
2071@section Window Configurations
2072@cindex window configurations
2073@cindex saving window information
2074
f9f59935 2075 A @dfn{window configuration} records the entire layout of one
c02dd51a
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2076frame---all windows, their sizes, which buffers they contain, what
2077part of each buffer is displayed, and the values of point and the
27704b78
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2078mark; also their fringes, margins, and scroll bar settings. It also
2079includes the values of @code{window-min-height},
c02dd51a
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2080@code{window-min-width} and @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. An
2081exception is made for point in the selected window for the current
2082buffer; its value is not saved in the window configuration.
2083
2084 You can bring back an entire previous layout by restoring a window
2085configuration previously saved. If you want to record all frames
2086instead of just one, use a frame configuration instead of a window
2087configuration. @xref{Frame Configurations}.
b1b12a8e 2088
8241495d 2089@defun current-window-configuration &optional frame
c02dd51a
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2090This function returns a new object representing @var{frame}'s current
2091window configuration. If @var{frame} is omitted, the selected frame
2092is used.
b1b12a8e
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2093@end defun
2094
2095@defun set-window-configuration configuration
f9f59935 2096This function restores the configuration of windows and buffers as
8241495d
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2097specified by @var{configuration}, for the frame that @var{configuration}
2098was created for.
2099
2100The argument @var{configuration} must be a value that was previously
2101returned by @code{current-window-configuration}. This configuration is
2102restored in the frame from which @var{configuration} was made, whether
2103that frame is selected or not. This always counts as a window size
2104change and triggers execution of the @code{window-size-change-functions}
969fe9b5
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2105(@pxref{Window Hooks}), because @code{set-window-configuration} doesn't
2106know how to tell whether the new configuration actually differs from the
2107old one.
2108
2109If the frame which @var{configuration} was saved from is dead, all this
2110function does is restore the three variables @code{window-min-height},
2111@code{window-min-width} and @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}.
bfe721d1 2112
b1b12a8e
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2113Here is a way of using this function to get the same effect
2114as @code{save-window-excursion}:
2115
2116@example
2117@group
2118(let ((config (current-window-configuration)))
2119 (unwind-protect
2120 (progn (split-window-vertically nil)
2121 @dots{})
2122 (set-window-configuration config)))
2123@end group
2124@end example
2125@end defun
2126
2127@defspec save-window-excursion forms@dots{}
2128This special form records the window configuration, executes @var{forms}
2129in sequence, then restores the earlier window configuration. The window
2130configuration includes the value of point and the portion of the buffer
c638661f 2131that is visible. It also includes the choice of selected window.
b1b12a8e 2132However, it does not include the value of point in the current buffer;
f9f59935 2133use @code{save-excursion} also, if you wish to preserve that.
b1b12a8e 2134
9258d604 2135Don't use this construct when @code{save-selected-window} is sufficient.
bfe721d1
KH
2136
2137Exit from @code{save-window-excursion} always triggers execution of the
2138@code{window-size-change-functions}. (It doesn't know how to tell
2139whether the restored configuration actually differs from the one in
2140effect at the end of the @var{forms}.)
2141
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2142The return value is the value of the final form in @var{forms}.
2143For example:
2144
2145@example
2146@group
2147(split-window)
2148 @result{} #<window 25 on control.texi>
2149@end group
2150@group
2151(setq w (selected-window))
2152 @result{} #<window 19 on control.texi>
2153@end group
2154@group
2155(save-window-excursion
2156 (delete-other-windows w)
2157 (switch-to-buffer "foo")
2158 'do-something)
2159 @result{} do-something
2160 ;; @r{The screen is now split again.}
2161@end group
2162@end example
2163@end defspec
2164
2165@defun window-configuration-p object
2166This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a window configuration.
969fe9b5
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2167@end defun
2168
2169@defun compare-window-configurations config1 config2
2170This function compares two window configurations as regards the
2171structure of windows, but ignores the values of point and mark and the
2172saved scrolling positions---it can return @code{t} even if those
2173aspects differ.
2174
2175The function @code{equal} can also compare two window configurations; it
2176regards configurations as unequal if they differ in any respect, even a
2177saved point or mark.
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2178@end defun
2179
4d25144d
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2180@defun window-configuration-frame config
2181This function returns the frame for which the window configuration
2182@var{config} was made.
2183@end defun
2184
2185 Other primitives to look inside of window configurations would make
2186sense, but are not implemented because we did not need them. See the
2187file @file{winner.el} for some more operations on windows
2188configurations.
f9f59935
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2189
2190@node Window Hooks
2191@section Hooks for Window Scrolling and Changes
2192
2193This section describes how a Lisp program can take action whenever a
2194window displays a different part of its buffer or a different buffer.
2195There are three actions that can change this: scrolling the window,
2196switching buffers in the window, and changing the size of the window.
2197The first two actions run @code{window-scroll-functions}; the last runs
2198@code{window-size-change-functions}. The paradigmatic use of these
333c5fc5 2199hooks is in the implementation of Lazy Lock mode; see @file{lazy-lock.el}.
f9f59935
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2200
2201@defvar window-scroll-functions
2202This variable holds a list of functions that Emacs should call before
2203redisplaying a window with scrolling. It is not a normal hook, because
2204each function is called with two arguments: the window, and its new
2205display-start position.
2206
2207Displaying a different buffer in the window also runs these functions.
2208
1911e6e5
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2209These functions must be careful in using @code{window-end}
2210(@pxref{Window Start}); if you need an up-to-date value, you must use
2211the @var{update} argument to ensure you get it.
f9f59935
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2212@end defvar
2213
2214@defvar window-size-change-functions
2215This variable holds a list of functions to be called if the size of any
2216window changes for any reason. The functions are called just once per
2217redisplay, and just once for each frame on which size changes have
2218occurred.
2219
2220Each function receives the frame as its sole argument. There is no
2221direct way to find out which windows on that frame have changed size, or
2222precisely how. However, if a size-change function records, at each
2223call, the existing windows and their sizes, it can also compare the
2224present sizes and the previous sizes.
2225
2226Creating or deleting windows counts as a size change, and therefore
2227causes these functions to be called. Changing the frame size also
2228counts, because it changes the sizes of the existing windows.
2229
2230It is not a good idea to use @code{save-window-excursion} (@pxref{Window
2231Configurations}) in these functions, because that always counts as a
2232size change, and it would cause these functions to be called over and
2233over. In most cases, @code{save-selected-window} (@pxref{Selecting
2234Windows}) is what you need here.
2235@end defvar
2236
f9f59935 2237@defvar redisplay-end-trigger-functions
1911e6e5 2238This abnormal hook is run whenever redisplay in a window uses text that
f9f59935
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2239extends past a specified end trigger position. You set the end trigger
2240position with the function @code{set-window-redisplay-end-trigger}. The
2241functions are called with two arguments: the window, and the end trigger
2242position. Storing @code{nil} for the end trigger position turns off the
2243feature, and the trigger value is automatically reset to @code{nil} just
2244after the hook is run.
2245@end defvar
2246
f9f59935
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2247@defun set-window-redisplay-end-trigger window position
2248This function sets @var{window}'s end trigger position at
2249@var{position}.
2250@end defun
2251
8241495d 2252@defun window-redisplay-end-trigger &optional window
f9f59935
RS
2253This function returns @var{window}'s current end trigger position.
2254@end defun
2255
f9f59935
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2256@defvar window-configuration-change-hook
2257A normal hook that is run every time you change the window configuration
2258of an existing frame. This includes splitting or deleting windows,
2259changing the sizes of windows, or displaying a different buffer in a
2260window. The frame whose window configuration has changed is the
2261selected frame when this hook runs.
2262@end defvar
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2263
2264@ignore
2265 arch-tag: 3f6c36e8-df49-4986-b757-417feed88be3
2266@end ignore