(Multiple Displays): Add note about "multi-monitor" setups.
[bpt/emacs.git] / lispref / frames.texi
1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001,
4 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @setfilename ../info/frames
7 @node Frames, Positions, Windows, Top
8 @chapter Frames
9 @cindex frame
10
11 In Emacs editing, A @dfn{frame} is a screen object that contains one
12 or more Emacs windows. It's the kind of object that is called a
13 ``window'' in the terminology of graphical environments; but we can't
14 call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
15 way.
16
17 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
18 window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
19 into smaller windows. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp
20 object that represents a frame on the screen.
21
22 @cindex terminal frame
23 When Emacs runs on a text-only terminal, it starts with one
24 @dfn{terminal frame}. If you create additional ones, Emacs displays
25 one and only one at any given time---on the terminal screen, of course.
26
27 @cindex window frame
28 When Emacs communicates directly with a supported window system, such
29 as X, it does not have a terminal frame; instead, it starts with
30 a single @dfn{window frame}, but you can create more, and Emacs can
31 display several such frames at once as is usual for window systems.
32
33 @defun framep object
34 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
35 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
36 kind of display the frame uses:
37
38 @table @code
39 @item x
40 The frame is displayed in an X window.
41 @item t
42 A terminal frame on a character display.
43 @item mac
44 The frame is displayed on a Macintosh.
45 @item w32
46 The frame is displayed on MS-Windows 9X/NT.
47 @item pc
48 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
49 @end table
50 @end defun
51
52 @menu
53 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
54 * Multiple Displays:: Creating frames on other displays.
55 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
56 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
57 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
58 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
59 * Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
60 display of text always works through windows.
61 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
62 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
63 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
64 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
65 lowering it makes the others hide it.
66 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
67 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
68 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
69 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
70 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
71 * Pointer Shape:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
72 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
73 * Drag and Drop:: Internals of Drag-and-Drop implementation.
74 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
75 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text-only terminals.
76 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
77 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
78 @end menu
79
80 @xref{Display}, for information about the related topic of
81 controlling Emacs redisplay.
82
83 @node Creating Frames
84 @section Creating Frames
85
86 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
87
88 @defun make-frame &optional alist
89 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
90 buffer. If you are using a supported window system, it makes a window
91 frame; otherwise, it makes a terminal frame.
92
93 The argument is an alist specifying frame parameters. Any parameters
94 not mentioned in @var{alist} default according to the value of the
95 variable @code{default-frame-alist}; parameters not specified even there
96 default from the standard X resources or whatever is used instead on
97 your system.
98
99 The set of possible parameters depends in principle on what kind of
100 window system Emacs uses to display its frames. @xref{Window Frame
101 Parameters}, for documentation of individual parameters you can specify.
102
103 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
104 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
105 However, the window system may select the new frame for its own reasons,
106 for instance if the frame appears under the mouse pointer and your
107 setup is for focus to follow the pointer.
108 @end defun
109
110 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
111 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it actually creates the
112 frame.
113 @end defvar
114
115 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
116 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
117 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
118 frame just created.
119 @end defvar
120
121 @node Multiple Displays
122 @section Multiple Displays
123 @cindex multiple X displays
124 @cindex displays, multiple
125
126 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display.
127 Initially, Emacs uses just one display---the one chosen with the
128 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option
129 (@pxref{Initial Options,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). To connect to
130 another display, use the command @code{make-frame-on-display} or specify
131 the @code{display} frame parameter when you create the frame.
132
133 Emacs treats each X server as a separate terminal, giving each one its
134 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows. However, only one of
135 those frames is ``@emph{the} selected frame'' at any given moment, see
136 @ref{Input Focus}.
137
138 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
139 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
140 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
141 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
142 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
143 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can never
144 be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}) or frame-local.
145
146 A single X server can handle more than one screen. A display name
147 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}} has three parts; the last
148 part specifies the screen number for a given server. When you use two
149 screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their
150 names that they share a single keyboard, and it treats them as a single
151 terminal.
152
153 Note that some graphical terminals can output to more than a one
154 monitor (or other output device) at the same time. On these
155 ``multi-monitor'' setups, a single @var{display} value controls the
156 output to all the physical monitors. In this situation, there is
157 currently no platform-independent way for Emacs to distinguish between
158 the different physical monitors.
159
160 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
161 This creates and returns a new frame on display @var{display}, taking
162 the other frame parameters from @var{parameters}. Aside from the
163 @var{display} argument, it is like @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating
164 Frames}).
165 @end deffn
166
167 @defun x-display-list
168 This returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has a
169 connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one is
170 a display name.
171 @end defun
172
173 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
174 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display}. It
175 does not create a frame on that display, but it permits you to check
176 that communication can be established with that display.
177
178 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a
179 string of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
180 @file{.Xresources} file. The values you specify override the resource
181 values recorded in the X server itself; they apply to all Emacs frames
182 created on this display. Here's an example of what this string might
183 look like:
184
185 @example
186 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
187 @end example
188
189 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
190
191 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
192 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
193 @end defun
194
195 @defun x-close-connection display
196 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
197 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open on
198 that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
199 @end defun
200
201 @node Frame Parameters
202 @section Frame Parameters
203 @cindex frame parameters
204
205 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
206 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
207 uses.
208
209 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of window systems. A
210 terminal frame has a few parameters, mostly for compatibility's sake;
211 only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name}, @code{title},
212 @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate}
213 parameters do something special. If the terminal supports colors, the
214 parameters @code{foreground-color}, @code{background-color},
215 @code{background-mode} and @code{display-type} are also meaningful.
216
217 @menu
218 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
219 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
220 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
221 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
222 * Geometry:: Parsing geometry specifications.
223 @end menu
224
225 @node Parameter Access
226 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
227
228 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
229 frame.
230
231 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
232 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
233 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
234 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
235 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
236 @end defun
237
238 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
239 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
240 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
241 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
242 @end defun
243
244 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
245 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
246 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
247 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
248 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
249 doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
250 frame.
251 @end defun
252
253 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
254 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
255 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
256 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
257 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
258 @end defun
259
260 @node Initial Parameters
261 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
262
263 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame
264 by setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}).
265
266 @defvar initial-frame-alist
267 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
268 the initial window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
269 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
270 Each element has the form:
271
272 @example
273 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
274 @end example
275
276 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
277 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
278 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
279 created initial frame.
280
281 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
282 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
283 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
284 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
285 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
286
287 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
288 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
289 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
290 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
291 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
292 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
293 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
294 @end defvar
295
296 If these parameters specify a separate minibuffer-only frame with
297 @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, and you have not created one, Emacs creates
298 one for you.
299
300 @defvar minibuffer-frame-alist
301 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
302 an initial minibuffer-only frame---if such a frame is needed, according
303 to the parameters for the main initial frame.
304 @end defvar
305
306 @defvar default-frame-alist
307 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
308 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
309 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
310 in many cases.
311
312 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames.
313 @end defvar
314
315 See also @code{special-display-frame-alist}. @xref{Definition of
316 special-display-frame-alist}.
317
318 If you use options that specify window appearance when you invoke Emacs,
319 they take effect by adding elements to @code{default-frame-alist}. One
320 exception is @samp{-geometry}, which adds the specified position to
321 @code{initial-frame-alist} instead. @xref{Emacs Invocation,, Command
322 Line Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
323
324 @node Window Frame Parameters
325 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
326
327 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism
328 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
329 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
330 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
331 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
332 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful @emph{only} in
333 terminal frames.
334
335 @menu
336 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
337 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
338 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
339 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
340 enabling or disabling some parts.
341 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
342 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
343 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
344 * Color Parameters:: Colors of various parts of the frame.
345 @end menu
346
347 @node Basic Parameters
348 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
349
350 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
351 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
352
353 @table @code
354 @item display
355 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
356 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
357 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
358
359 @item display-type
360 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
361 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
362 @code{mono}.
363
364 @item title
365 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window system's
366 border for the frame, and also in the mode line of windows in that frame
367 if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses @samp{%F}
368 (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when Emacs is not
369 using a window system, and can only display one frame at a time.
370 @xref{Frame Titles}.
371
372 @item name
373 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
374 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
375 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
376 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
377
378 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
379 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
380 looking up X resources for the frame.
381 @end table
382
383 @node Position Parameters
384 @subsubsection Position Parameters
385
386 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
387 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
388
389 @table @code
390 @item left
391 The screen position of the left edge, in pixels, with respect to the
392 left edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
393 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
394 negative @var{pos} value.
395
396 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
397 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the right edge of the
398 window with respect to the right edge of the screen. A positive value
399 of @var{pos} counts toward the left. @strong{Reminder:} if the
400 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
401 positive.
402
403 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
404 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
405 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
406
407 @item top
408 The screen position of the top edge, in pixels, with respect to the
409 top edge of the screen. It works just like @code{left}, except vertically
410 instead of horizontally.
411
412 @item icon-left
413 The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
414 pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
415 and when the frame is iconified.
416
417 If you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify
418 a value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa. The window manager may
419 ignore these two parameters.
420
421 @item icon-top
422 The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
423 pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
424 and when the frame is iconified.
425
426 @item user-position
427 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
428 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
429 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
430 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
431 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
432
433 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
434 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
435 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
436 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
437 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
438 ignore them.
439
440 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
441 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
442 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
443 @code{nil}.
444 @end table
445
446 @node Size Parameters
447 @subsubsection Size Parameters
448
449 Size parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
450 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
451
452 @table @code
453 @item height
454 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
455 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
456
457 @item width
458 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
459 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
460
461 @item user-size
462 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
463 the @code{user-position} parameter (see above) does for the position
464 parameters @code{top} and @code{left}.
465
466 @item fullscreen
467 Specify that width, height or both shall be set to the size of the screen.
468 The value @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be the size of the
469 screen. The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be the
470 size of the screen. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the
471 width and the height shall be set to the size of the screen.
472 @end table
473
474 @node Layout Parameters
475 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
476
477 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
478 frame, or control their sizes.
479
480 @table @code
481 @item border-width
482 The width in pixels of the frame's border.
483
484 @item internal-border-width
485 The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
486
487 @item vertical-scroll-bars
488 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
489 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
490 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
491
492 @ignore
493 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
494 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
495 (non-@code{nil} means yes). Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
496 implemented.
497 @end ignore
498
499 @item scroll-bar-width
500 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
501 use the default width.
502
503 @item left-fringe
504 @itemx right-fringe
505 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
506 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
507 removes the corresponding fringe. A value of @code{nil} stands for
508 the standard fringe width, which is the width needed to display the
509 fringe bitmaps.
510
511 The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
512 columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame may be
513 larger than the specified values. The extra width needed to reach an
514 acceptable total is distributed evenly between the left and right
515 fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a precise
516 width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both widths are
517 negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
518
519 @item menu-bar-lines
520 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
521 bar. The default is 1. A value of @code{nil} means don't display a
522 menu bar. @xref{Menu Bar}. (The X toolkit and GTK allow at most one
523 menu bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
524
525 @item tool-bar-lines
526 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. A value of @code{nil}
527 means don't display a tool bar. (GTK allows at most one tool bar line;
528 it treats larger values as 1.)
529
530 @item line-spacing
531 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
532 integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
533 @end table
534
535 @node Buffer Parameters
536 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
537
538 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
539 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
540
541 @table @code
542 @item minibuffer
543 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
544 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
545 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other frame),
546 the new frame uses that minibuffer.
547
548 @item buffer-predicate
549 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
550 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
551 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
552 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
553 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
554 considers that buffer.
555
556 @item buffer-list
557 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
558 ordered most-recently-selected first.
559
560 @item unsplittable
561 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
562 @end table
563
564 @node Management Parameters
565 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
566 @cindex window manager, and frame parameters
567
568 These frame parameters, meaningful only on window system displays,
569 interact with the window manager.
570
571 @table @code
572 @item visibility
573 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
574 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
575 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
576
577 @item auto-raise
578 Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
579
580 @item auto-lower
581 Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
582
583 @item icon-type
584 The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
585 value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
586 Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
587 picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
588
589 @item icon-name
590 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
591 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
592
593 @item window-id
594 The number of the window-system window used by the frame
595 to contain the actual Emacs windows.
596
597 @item outer-window-id
598 The number of the outermost window-system window used for the whole frame.
599
600 @item wait-for-wm
601 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
602 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
603 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
604 prevent hanging with those window managers.
605
606 @ignore
607 @item parent-id
608 @c ??? Not yet working.
609 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
610 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
611 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
612 it and see if it works.)
613 @end ignore
614 @end table
615
616 @node Cursor Parameters
617 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
618
619 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
620
621 @table @code
622 @item cursor-type
623 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
624
625 @table @code
626 @item box
627 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
628 @item hollow
629 Display a hollow box.
630 @item nil
631 Don't display a cursor.
632 @item bar
633 Display a vertical bar between characters.
634 @item (bar . @var{width})
635 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
636 @item hbar
637 Display a horizontal bar.
638 @item (hbar . @var{height})
639 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
640 @end table
641 @end table
642
643 @vindex cursor-type
644 The buffer-local variable @code{cursor-type} overrides the value of
645 the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter, but if it is @code{t}, that
646 means to use the cursor specified for the frame.
647
648 @defvar blink-cursor-alist
649 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
650 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
651 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
652 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
653 when it blinks ``off.'' Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
654 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
655
656 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
657 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
658 variable do not take effect immediately, because the variable is
659 examined only when you specify the @code{cursor-type} parameter.
660 @end defvar
661
662 @node Color Parameters
663 @subsubsection Color Parameters
664
665 These frame parameters control the use of colors.
666
667 @table @code
668 @item background-mode
669 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
670 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
671
672 @item tty-color-mode
673 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
674 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
675 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
676 specifies the color mode to use in terminal frames. The value can be
677 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
678 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
679 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
680 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
681 off color support.
682
683 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
684 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
685 used instead.
686
687 @item screen-gamma
688 @cindex gamma correction
689 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
690 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
691 your display, a floating point number.
692
693 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
694 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
695 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
696 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
697 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
698 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
699 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
700
701 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
702 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
703 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
704 results for LCD color displays.
705 @end table
706
707 These frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are automatically
708 equivalent to particular face attributes of particular faces.
709
710 @table @code
711 @item font
712 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
713 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
714 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
715 attribute of the @code{default} face.
716
717 @item foreground-color
718 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
719 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
720
721 @item background-color
722 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
723 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
724
725 @item mouse-color
726 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
727 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
728
729 @item cursor-color
730 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
731 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
732
733 @item border-color
734 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
735 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
736
737 @item scroll-bar-foreground
738 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
739 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
740 @code{scroll-bar} face.
741
742 @item scroll-bar-background
743 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
744 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
745 @code{scroll-bar} face.
746 @end table
747
748 @node Size and Position
749 @subsection Frame Size And Position
750 @cindex size of frame
751 @cindex screen size
752 @cindex frame size
753 @cindex resize frame
754
755 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
756 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
757 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
758 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
759
760 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
761 (For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
762 see @ref{Input Focus}.)
763
764 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
765 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
766 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
767 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
768
769 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
770 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
771 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
772 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
773 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
774 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
775 @end defun
776
777 @defun frame-height &optional frame
778 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
779 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
780 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
781 selected frame.
782 @end defun
783
784 @defun screen-height
785 @defunx screen-width
786 These functions are old aliases for @code{frame-height} and
787 @code{frame-width}. When you are using a non-window terminal, the size
788 of the frame is normally the same as the size of the terminal screen.
789 @end defun
790
791 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
792 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
793 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
794 pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the selected frame.
795 @end defun
796
797 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
798 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
799 These functions return the height and width of a character in
800 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
801 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
802 frame.
803 @end defun
804
805 @defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
806 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
807 @var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
808
809 To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
810 @code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
811 them to units of characters.
812 @end defun
813
814 @defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
815 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
816 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
817 fit.
818
819 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
820 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
821 actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
822 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
823 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
824 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
825 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
826 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
827 terminal frame.
828 @end defun
829
830 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
831 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
832 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
833 @code{set-frame-height}.
834 @end defun
835
836 @findex set-screen-height
837 @findex set-screen-width
838 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
839 @code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
840 screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
841 are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
842
843 @node Geometry
844 @subsection Geometry
845
846 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
847 specification:
848
849 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
850 @cindex geometry specification
851 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
852 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
853 @code{make-frame}.
854
855 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
856 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
857 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
858 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
859
860 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
861 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
862 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
863 instead. These are the @var{value} possibilities for the position
864 parameters:
865
866 @table @asis
867 @item an integer
868 A positive integer relates the left edge or top edge of the window to
869 the left or top edge of the screen. A negative integer relates the
870 right or bottom edge of the window to the right or bottom edge of the
871 screen.
872
873 @item @code{(+ @var{position})}
874 This specifies the position of the left or top edge of the window
875 relative to the left or top edge of the screen. The integer
876 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
877 position outside the screen.
878
879 @item @code{(- @var{position})}
880 This specifies the position of the right or bottom edge of the window
881 relative to the right or bottom edge of the screen. The integer
882 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
883 position outside the screen.
884 @end table
885
886 Here is an example:
887
888 @example
889 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
890 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
891 (top - 0) (left . 0))
892 @end example
893 @end defun
894
895 @node Frame Titles
896 @section Frame Titles
897 @cindex frame title
898
899 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
900 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
901 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
902 frame property.
903
904 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
905 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
906 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
907 frame is redisplayed.
908
909 @defvar frame-title-format
910 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
911 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
912 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
913 @samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
914 Data}.
915 @end defvar
916
917 @defvar icon-title-format
918 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
919 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
920 appears in the icon itself.
921 @end defvar
922
923 @defvar multiple-frames
924 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
925 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
926 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
927 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
928 only when there is more than one frame.
929
930 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
931 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
932 @code{icon-title-format}.
933 @end defvar
934
935 @node Deleting Frames
936 @section Deleting Frames
937 @cindex deleting frames
938
939 Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
940 them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
941 exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it.
942
943 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
944 @vindex delete-frame-functions
945 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
946 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
947 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
948 the selected frame.
949
950 A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
951 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
952 but if the @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
953 @end deffn
954
955 @defun frame-live-p frame
956 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
957 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
958 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
959 @end defun
960
961 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
962 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
963 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
964 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
965 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
966
967 @node Finding All Frames
968 @section Finding All Frames
969 @cindex frames, scanning all
970
971 @defun frame-list
972 The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the frames that
973 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
974 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get is
975 newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
976 internals of Emacs.
977 @end defun
978
979 @defun visible-frame-list
980 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
981 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
982 ``visible,'' even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
983 @end defun
984
985 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
986 The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
987 the frames on the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It
988 returns the ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If
989 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame
990 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
991
992 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
993
994 @table @asis
995 @item @code{nil}
996 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
997 @item @code{visible}
998 Consider all visible frames.
999 @item 0
1000 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1001 @item a window
1002 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1003 minibuffer.
1004 @item anything else
1005 Consider all frames.
1006 @end table
1007 @end defun
1008
1009 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1010 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1011 direction.
1012 @end defun
1013
1014 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1015 Window Ordering}.
1016
1017 @node Frames and Windows
1018 @section Frames and Windows
1019
1020 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get the frame
1021 with @code{window-frame}.
1022
1023 @defun window-frame window
1024 This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
1025 @end defun
1026
1027 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
1028 order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
1029 upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
1030 the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
1031 one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
1032
1033 @defun frame-first-window &optional frame
1034 This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
1035 If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to the selected frame.
1036 @end defun
1037
1038 At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
1039 frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
1040 frame also selects this window. You can get the frame's current
1041 selected window with @code{frame-selected-window}.
1042
1043 @defun frame-selected-window &optional frame
1044 This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected
1045 within @var{frame}. If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to
1046 the selected frame.
1047 @end defun
1048
1049 @defun set-frame-selected-window frame window
1050 This sets the selected window of frame @var{frame} to @var{window}.
1051 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it operates on the selected frame. If
1052 @var{frame} is the selected frame, this makes @var{window} the
1053 selected window. This function returns @var{window}.
1054 @end defun
1055
1056 Conversely, selecting a window for Emacs with @code{select-window} also
1057 makes that window selected within its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1058
1059 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
1060 frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-window}.
1061
1062 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1063 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1064
1065 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1066 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1067 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1068 minibuffer-window}).
1069
1070 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
1071 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
1072 frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
1073 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
1074 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
1075 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
1076
1077 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1078 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1079 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1080
1081 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1082 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1083 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1084 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1085 Displays}.
1086 @end defvar
1087
1088 @node Input Focus
1089 @section Input Focus
1090 @cindex input focus
1091 @c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame
1092
1093 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1094 window always resides on the selected frame.
1095
1096 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1097 Displays}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one of
1098 these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs to
1099 the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when Emacs
1100 runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected frame is
1101 the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single command at any
1102 given time, it needs to consider only one selected frame at a time; this
1103 frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame} in this manual. The
1104 display on which the selected frame is displayed is the @dfn{selected
1105 frame's display}.
1106
1107 @defun selected-frame
1108 This function returns the selected frame.
1109 @end defun
1110
1111 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1112 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1113 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1114 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1115 switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1116 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1117
1118 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1119 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1120 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1121 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1122
1123 When using a text-only terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a
1124 time on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1125 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1126 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame} or
1127 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}. Each terminal frame has a number
1128 which appears in the mode line before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode
1129 Line Variables}).
1130
1131 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame
1132 This function makes @var{frame} the selected frame, raises it (should
1133 it happen to be obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X
1134 server's focus. On a text-only terminal, the next redisplay displays
1135 the new frame on the entire terminal screen. The return value of this
1136 function is not significant.
1137 @end defun
1138
1139 @c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
1140 @defun select-frame frame
1141 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1142 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1143 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1144 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1145 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1146 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1147 have the window system's input focus.) The specified @var{frame}
1148 becomes the selected frame, as explained above, and the terminal that
1149 @var{frame} is on becomes the selected terminal. This function
1150 returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has been deleted.
1151
1152 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that could
1153 switch to a different terminal without switching back when you're done.
1154 @end defun
1155
1156 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1157 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1158 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1159 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1160 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1161
1162 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1163 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1164
1165 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1166 Don't call it for any other reason.
1167 @end deffn
1168
1169 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1170 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1171 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1172 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1173 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1174 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1175
1176 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1177 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1178 events.
1179
1180 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1181 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1182 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1183 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1184 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1185
1186 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1187 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1188 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1189 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1190 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1191
1192 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1193 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1194 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1195
1196 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1197 change it.
1198 @end defun
1199
1200 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1201 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1202 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1203 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1204 position consistent with the new selected frame. (This option has no
1205 effect on MS-Windows, where the mouse pointer is always automatically
1206 moved by the OS to the selected frame.)
1207 @end defopt
1208
1209 @node Visibility of Frames
1210 @section Visibility of Frames
1211 @cindex visible frame
1212 @cindex invisible frame
1213 @cindex iconified frame
1214 @cindex frame visibility
1215
1216 A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
1217 @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents, unless
1218 other windows cover it. If it is iconified, the frame's contents do
1219 not appear on the screen, but an icon does. If the frame is
1220 invisible, it doesn't show on the screen, not even as an icon.
1221
1222 Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
1223 one is actually displayed in any case.
1224
1225 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1226 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
1227 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
1228 the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
1229 (@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
1230 @end deffn
1231
1232 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1233 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1234 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1235
1236 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1237 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1238 @end deffn
1239
1240 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1241 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1242 iconifies the selected frame.
1243 @end deffn
1244
1245 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1246 This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
1247 @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
1248 @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1249
1250 On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
1251 they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns
1252 @code{t} for all frames.
1253 @end defun
1254
1255 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1256 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1257 Parameters}.
1258
1259 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
1260 This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
1261 Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
1262 changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1263
1264 @node Raising and Lowering
1265 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1266
1267 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
1268 the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
1269 perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
1270 to ``lowest.'' Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
1271 the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
1272 seen if no other window overlaps it.
1273
1274 @c @cindex raising a frame redundant with raise-frame
1275 @cindex lowering a frame
1276 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
1277 to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
1278 it ``up,'' to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
1279 moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
1280 third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
1281 on the screen.
1282
1283 You can raise and lower Emacs frame Windows with these functions:
1284
1285 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1286 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1287 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1288 @end deffn
1289
1290 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1291 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1292 @end deffn
1293
1294 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1295 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1296 that the minibuffer window is in.
1297 @end defopt
1298
1299 You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
1300 selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
1301 for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1302
1303 @node Frame Configurations
1304 @section Frame Configurations
1305 @cindex frame configuration
1306
1307 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1308 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1309 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1310
1311 @defun current-frame-configuration
1312 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1313 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1314 @end defun
1315
1316 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1317 This function restores the state of frames described in
1318 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1319 frames.
1320
1321 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1322 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1323 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1324 @end defun
1325
1326 @node Mouse Tracking
1327 @section Mouse Tracking
1328 @cindex mouse tracking
1329 @c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
1330
1331 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1332 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1333 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1334 the mouse actually moves.
1335
1336 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1337 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1338 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1339 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1340 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1341 button.
1342
1343 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1344 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1345 events enabled. Typically @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1346 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1347 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1348
1349 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1350 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1351 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1352 it is time to stop tracking.
1353 @end defspec
1354
1355 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1356 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1357 position.
1358
1359 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1360 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1361 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1362 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1363
1364 @ignore
1365 @c These are not implemented yet.
1366
1367 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1368 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1369 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1370 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1371 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1372
1373 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1374 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1375 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1376 @end defun
1377
1378 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1379 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1380 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1381 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1382 @end defun
1383
1384 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1385 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1386 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1387 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1388 location of point.
1389 @end defun
1390
1391 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1392 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1393 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1394 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1395 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1396 @end defun
1397 @end ignore
1398
1399 @node Mouse Position
1400 @section Mouse Position
1401 @cindex mouse position
1402 @cindex position of mouse
1403
1404 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1405 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1406
1407 @defun mouse-position
1408 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1409 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1410 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1411 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1412 @end defun
1413
1414 @defvar mouse-position-function
1415 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1416 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1417 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1418 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1419
1420 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1421 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1422 @end defvar
1423
1424 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1425 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1426 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1427 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1428 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1429 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1430 @end defun
1431
1432 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1433 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1434 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1435 @end defun
1436
1437 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1438 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1439 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1440 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1441
1442 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1443 value is not significant.
1444 @end defun
1445
1446 @need 3000
1447
1448 @node Pop-Up Menus
1449 @section Pop-Up Menus
1450
1451 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1452 the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1453
1454 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1455 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1456 what selection the user makes.
1457
1458 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1459 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1460 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1461 list of this form:
1462
1463 @example
1464 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1465 @end example
1466
1467 @noindent
1468 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1469 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1470 may be a window or a frame.
1471
1472 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1473 position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1474 key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1475 without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1476
1477 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1478 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1479 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1480 (This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1481 submenu.) Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1482 command bound to that sequence of events.
1483
1484 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1485
1486 @example
1487 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1488 @end example
1489
1490 @noindent
1491 where each pane is a list of form
1492
1493 @example
1494 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1495 @end example
1496
1497 Each item should normally be a cons cell @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1498 where @var{line} is a string, and @var{value} is the value to return if
1499 that @var{line} is chosen. An item can also be a string; this makes a
1500 non-selectable line in the menu.
1501
1502 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1503 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1504 keyboard input, then this normally results in a quit and
1505 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1506 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1507 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1508 @end defun
1509
1510 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1511 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1512 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1513 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1514 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1515 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1516 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1517
1518 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1519 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1520 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1521 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1522 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1523 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1524 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1525
1526 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1527 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1528 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1529 the menu keymap as necessary.
1530
1531 @node Dialog Boxes
1532 @section Dialog Boxes
1533 @cindex dialog boxes
1534
1535 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1536 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1537 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1538 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes,'' ``no,''
1539 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1540 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1541 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1542 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1543
1544 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1545 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1546 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1547 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1548
1549 @example
1550 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1551 @end example
1552
1553 @noindent
1554 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1555 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1556
1557 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1558
1559 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
1560 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
1561 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
1562
1563 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1564 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1565 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1566 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1567 items appear on each side.
1568
1569 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1570 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1571 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
1572 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
1573
1574 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
1575 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
1576 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}).
1577
1578 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1579 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1580 frame.
1581
1582 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
1583 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
1584 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
1585 @end defun
1586
1587 @node Pointer Shape
1588 @section Pointer Shape
1589 @cindex pointer shape
1590 @cindex mouse pointer shape
1591
1592 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
1593 images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
1594 @code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
1595 use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
1596 @code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
1597 @code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
1598 style used over text.
1599
1600 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
1601 of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
1602 @code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
1603 those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
1604
1605 @defvar void-text-area-pointer
1606 This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
1607 These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
1608 in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
1609 pointer style.
1610 @end defvar
1611
1612 You can specify what the @code{text} pointer style really looks like
1613 by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
1614
1615 @defvar x-pointer-shape
1616 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
1617 Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
1618 @end defvar
1619
1620 @defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1621 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1622 is over mouse-sensitive text.
1623 @end defvar
1624
1625 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1626 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
1627 frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
1628 @xref{Color Parameters}.
1629
1630 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1631 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1632 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1633
1634 @node Window System Selections
1635 @section Window System Selections
1636 @cindex selection (for window systems)
1637
1638 The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1639 data between application programs. The various selections are
1640 distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1641 symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1642 any given type.
1643
1644 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
1645 This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1646 arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1647 @var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1648 selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1649 (or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1650 cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1651 of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1652
1653 The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1654 selection values.
1655
1656 Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1657 independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY},
1658 @code{SECONDARY} and @code{CLIPBOARD}; these are symbols with upper-case
1659 names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If @var{type} is
1660 @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
1661
1662 This function returns @var{data}.
1663 @end deffn
1664
1665 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1666 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1667 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1668 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1669 @code{PRIMARY}.
1670
1671 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1672 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1673 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1674 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
1675 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
1676 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
1677 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
1678 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
1679 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
1680 @code{STRING}.
1681 @end defun
1682
1683 @cindex cut buffer
1684 The X server also has a set of eight numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1685 store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1686 are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1687 clients that still use them. Cut buffers are numbered from 0 to 7.
1688
1689 @defun x-get-cut-buffer &optional n
1690 This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1691 If omitted @var{n} defaults to 0.
1692 @end defun
1693
1694 @defun x-set-cut-buffer string &optional push
1695 @anchor{Definition of x-set-cut-buffer}
1696 This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
1697 0). If @var{push} is @code{nil}, only the first cut buffer is changed.
1698 If @var{push} is non-@code{nil}, that says to move the values down
1699 through the series of cut buffers, much like the way successive kills in
1700 Emacs move down the kill ring. In other words, the previous value of
1701 the first cut buffer moves into the second cut buffer, and the second to
1702 the third, and so on through all eight cut buffers.
1703 @end defun
1704
1705 @defvar selection-coding-system
1706 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1707 writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
1708 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
1709 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
1710 @end defvar
1711
1712 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
1713 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
1714 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
1715 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
1716 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
1717 clipboard as empty.
1718
1719 @cindex scrap support (for Mac OS)
1720 On Mac OS, selection-like data transfer between applications is
1721 performed through a mechanism called @dfn{scraps}. The clipboard is a
1722 particular scrap named @code{com.apple.scrap.clipboard}. Types of scrap
1723 data are called @dfn{scrap flavor types}, which are identified by
1724 four-char codes such as @code{TEXT}. Emacs associates a selection with
1725 a scrap, and a selection type with a scrap flavor type via
1726 @code{mac-scrap-name} and @code{mac-ostype} properties, respectively.
1727
1728 @example
1729 (get 'CLIPBOARD 'mac-scrap-name)
1730 @result{} "com.apple.scrap.clipboard"
1731 (get 'com.apple.traditional-mac-plain-text 'mac-ostype)
1732 @result{} "TEXT"
1733 @end example
1734
1735 Conventionally, selection types for scrap flavor types on Mac OS have
1736 the form of @acronym{UTI, Uniform Type Identifier} such as
1737 @code{com.apple.traditional-mac-plain-text},
1738 @code{public.utf16-plain-text}, and @code{public.file-url}.
1739
1740 @defopt x-select-enable-clipboard
1741 If this is non-@code{nil}, the Emacs yank functions consult the
1742 clipboard before the primary selection, and the kill functions store in
1743 the clipboard as well as the primary selection. Otherwise they do not
1744 access the clipboard at all. The default is @code{nil} on most systems,
1745 but @code{t} on MS-Windows and Mac.
1746 @end defopt
1747
1748 @node Drag and Drop
1749 @section Drag and Drop
1750
1751 @vindex x-dnd-test-function
1752 @vindex x-dnd-known-types
1753 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
1754 application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
1755 dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
1756 what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
1757 which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
1758 @code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
1759 @code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
1760 on some other criteria.
1761
1762 @vindex x-dnd-types-alist
1763 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
1764 or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
1765 detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
1766 drop.
1767
1768 @vindex dnd-protocol-alist
1769 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
1770 another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
1771 @code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL. If
1772 there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
1773 an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
1774 text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
1775 you can customize these variables.
1776
1777 @node Color Names
1778 @section Color Names
1779
1780 @cindex color names
1781 @cindex specify color
1782 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
1783 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
1784 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
1785 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
1786 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
1787 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
1788 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
1789 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
1790 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
1791 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
1792 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
1793 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
1794 colors.)
1795
1796 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
1797 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
1798 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
1799 meaning of the term ``selected frame.''
1800
1801 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
1802 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
1803 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
1804 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
1805 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
1806
1807 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
1808 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
1809 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
1810 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
1811 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
1812
1813 @findex x-color-defined-p
1814 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
1815 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1816 @end defun
1817
1818 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
1819 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
1820 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1821 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
1822
1823 @findex x-defined-colors
1824 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
1825 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1826 @end defun
1827
1828 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
1829 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
1830 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
1831 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
1832
1833 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
1834 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
1835 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
1836 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
1837
1838 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
1839 @end defun
1840
1841 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
1842 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
1843 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
1844 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
1845 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
1846 @end defun
1847
1848 @defun color-values color &optional frame
1849 @cindex rgb value
1850 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
1851 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
1852 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
1853 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
1854 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
1855 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
1856 color.
1857
1858 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1859
1860 @example
1861 (color-values "black")
1862 @result{} (0 0 0)
1863 (color-values "white")
1864 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
1865 (color-values "red")
1866 @result{} (65280 0 0)
1867 (color-values "pink")
1868 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
1869 (color-values "hungry")
1870 @result{} nil
1871 @end example
1872
1873 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
1874 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
1875 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
1876 value is @code{nil}.
1877
1878 @findex x-color-values
1879 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
1880 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1881 @end defun
1882
1883 @node Text Terminal Colors
1884 @section Text Terminal Colors
1885 @cindex colors on text-only terminals
1886
1887 Text-only terminals usually support only a small number of colors,
1888 and the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
1889 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
1890 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
1891 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
1892 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
1893
1894 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
1895 are used by Emacs.
1896
1897 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
1898 in @ref{Color Names}.
1899
1900 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
1901 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make Emacs
1902 support more than one text-only terminal at one time; then this argument
1903 will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being the
1904 selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present, though,
1905 the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
1906
1907 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
1908 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
1909 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
1910
1911 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
1912 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
1913 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
1914 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
1915 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
1916 @end defun
1917
1918 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
1919 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text-only terminal.
1920 @end defun
1921
1922 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
1923 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by a
1924 text-only terminal.
1925
1926 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
1927 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
1928 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
1929 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
1930 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
1931 @end defun
1932
1933 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
1934 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
1935 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
1936 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
1937 @code{tty-color-alist}.
1938 @end defun
1939
1940 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
1941 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
1942 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
1943 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1944 @end defun
1945
1946 @node Resources
1947 @section X Resources
1948
1949 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
1950 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
1951 Window defaults database.
1952
1953 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
1954 This function searches using a key of the form
1955 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
1956 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
1957 the class.
1958
1959 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
1960 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
1961 If you specify them, the key is
1962 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
1963 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
1964 @end defun
1965
1966 @defvar x-resource-class
1967 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
1968 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
1969 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
1970 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
1971 @end defvar
1972
1973 @defvar x-resource-name
1974 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
1975 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
1976 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
1977 @end defvar
1978
1979 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
1980
1981 @example
1982 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
1983 @end example
1984
1985 @noindent
1986 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
1987 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
1988
1989 @example
1990 @group
1991 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
1992 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
1993 @result{} "yellow"
1994 @end group
1995 @group
1996 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
1997 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
1998 @result{} "yellow"
1999 @end group
2000 @end example
2001
2002 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
2003
2004 @node Display Feature Testing
2005 @section Display Feature Testing
2006 @cindex display feature testing
2007
2008 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2009 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2010 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2011 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2012
2013 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2014 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2015 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2016 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2017
2018 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2019 obtain information about displays.
2020
2021 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2022 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2023 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires that
2024 the mouse be available, since the user cannot choose menu items without
2025 a mouse.
2026 @end defun
2027
2028 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2029 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2030 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2031 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X, and
2032 false for text-only terminals.
2033 @end defun
2034
2035 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
2036 @cindex mouse, availability
2037 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
2038 @code{nil} if not.
2039 @end defun
2040
2041 @defun display-color-p &optional display
2042 @findex x-display-color-p
2043 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
2044 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
2045 is still supported as an alias.
2046 @end defun
2047
2048 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
2049 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
2050 (All color displays can do this.)
2051 @end defun
2052
2053 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
2054 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
2055 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
2056 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
2057
2058 The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
2059 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
2060 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
2061 way that's
2062
2063 @enumerate
2064 @item
2065 different in appearance than the default face, and
2066
2067 @item
2068 `close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
2069 @end enumerate
2070
2071 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
2072 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
2073 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
2074 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
2075 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
2076 italic.
2077 @end defun
2078
2079 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
2080 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2081 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2082 supported in some other cases.
2083 @end defun
2084
2085 @defun display-images-p &optional display
2086 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2087 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2088 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2089 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2090 @end defun
2091
2092 @defun display-screens &optional display
2093 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2094 @end defun
2095
2096 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2097 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2098 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2099
2100 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2101 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2102 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
2103 @end defun
2104
2105 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2106 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2107 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2108
2109 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2110 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2111 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
2112 @end defun
2113
2114 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
2115 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2116 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2117 @end defun
2118
2119 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
2120 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2121 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2122 @end defun
2123
2124 @defvar display-mm-dimensions-alist
2125 This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
2126 displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
2127 @code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
2128 @end defvar
2129
2130 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
2131 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2132 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2133 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2134 displayed very quickly.
2135
2136 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2137 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2138 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2139 @end defun
2140
2141 @defun display-save-under &optional display
2142 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2143 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2144 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2145 quickly.
2146 @end defun
2147
2148 @defun display-planes &optional display
2149 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2150 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2151 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2152 @end defun
2153
2154 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2155 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
2156 of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
2157 @code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
2158 @code{direct-color}.
2159 @end defun
2160
2161 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2162 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2163 @end defun
2164
2165 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2166 about X displays.
2167
2168 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2169 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2170 running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2171 and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2172 distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2173 @end defun
2174
2175 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2176 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2177 software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2178 server.
2179
2180 When the developers of X labelled software distributors as
2181 ``vendors,'' they showed their false assumption that no system could
2182 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2183 @end defun
2184
2185 @ignore
2186 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2187 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2188 @end defvar
2189 @end ignore
2190
2191 @ignore
2192 @item
2193 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2194 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2195 @end ignore
2196
2197 @ignore
2198 arch-tag: 94977df6-3dca-4730-b57b-c6329e9282ba
2199 @end ignore