1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 1999-2011
3 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @node Frames, International, Windows, Top
6 @chapter Frames and Graphical Displays
9 When using a graphical display, you can create multiple system-level
10 ``windows'' in a single Emacs session. We refer to these system-level
11 windows as @dfn{frames}. A frame initially contains a single Emacs
12 window; however, you can subdivide this Emacs window into smaller
13 windows, all fitting into the same frame. Each frame normally
14 contains its own echo area and minibuffer.
16 To avoid confusion, we reserve the word ``window'' for the
17 subdivisions that Emacs implements, and never use it to refer to a
20 Any editing you do in one frame affects the other frames. For
21 instance, if you put text in the kill ring in one frame, you can yank
22 it in another frame. If you exit Emacs through @kbd{C-x C-c} in one
23 frame, it terminates all the frames. To delete just one frame, use
24 @kbd{C-x 5 0} (that is zero, not @kbd{o}).
26 Emacs compiled for MS-DOS emulates some windowing functionality,
27 so that you can use many of the features described in this chapter.
29 @xref{MS-DOS Mouse,,,emacs-xtra,Specialized Emacs Features}.
36 * Mouse Commands:: Moving, cutting, and pasting, with the mouse.
37 * Word and Line Mouse:: Mouse commands for selecting whole words or lines.
38 * Mouse References:: Using the mouse to select an item from a list.
39 * Menu Mouse Clicks:: Mouse clicks that bring up menus.
40 * Mode Line Mouse:: Mouse clicks on the mode line.
41 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional Emacs frames with various contents.
42 * Frame Commands:: Iconifying, deleting, and switching frames.
43 * Fonts:: Changing the frame font.
44 * Speedbar:: How to make and use a speedbar frame.
45 * Multiple Displays:: How one Emacs job can talk to several displays.
46 * Special Buffer Frames:: You can make certain buffers have their own frames.
47 * Frame Parameters:: Changing the colors and other modes of frames.
48 * Scroll Bars:: How to enable and disable scroll bars; how to use them.
49 * Wheeled Mice:: Using mouse wheels for scrolling.
50 * Drag and Drop:: Using drag and drop to open files and insert text.
51 * Menu Bars:: Enabling and disabling the menu bar.
52 * Tool Bars:: Enabling and disabling the tool bar.
53 * Dialog Boxes:: Controlling use of dialog boxes.
54 * Tooltips:: Displaying information at the current mouse position.
55 * Mouse Avoidance:: Preventing the mouse pointer from obscuring text.
56 * Non-Window Terminals:: Multiple frames on terminals that show only one.
57 * Text-Only Mouse:: Using the mouse in text-only terminals.
61 @section Mouse Commands for Editing
62 @cindex mouse buttons (what they do)
69 Move point to where you click (@code{mouse-set-point}).
72 Activate the region around the text selected by dragging, and copy it
73 to the kill ring (@code{mouse-set-region}).
76 Yank the last killed text at the click position
77 (@code{mouse-yank-at-click}).
80 If the region is active, move the nearer end of the region to the
81 click position; otherwise, set mark at the current value of point and
82 point at the click position. Save the resulting region in the kill
83 ring; on a second click, kill it (@code{mouse-save-then-kill}).
86 @findex mouse-set-point
87 The most basic mouse command is @code{mouse-set-point}, which is
88 called by clicking with the left mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-1}, in the
89 text area of a window. This moves point to the position where you
92 @vindex x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position
93 Normally, Emacs does not distinguish between ordinary mouse clicks
94 and clicks that select a frame. When you click on a frame to select
95 it, that also changes the selected window and cursor position
96 according to the mouse click position. On the X window system, you
97 can change this behavior by setting the variable
98 @code{x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position} to @code{t}. Then the
99 first click selects the frame, but does not affect the selected window
100 or cursor position. If you click again in the same place, that click
101 will be in the selected frame, so it will change the window or cursor
104 @findex mouse-set-region
105 @vindex mouse-drag-copy-region
106 Holding down @kbd{Mouse-1} and ``dragging'' the mouse over a stretch
107 of text activates the region around that text
108 (@code{mouse-set-region}). @xref{Mark}. Emacs places the mark where
109 you started holding down the mouse button, and point where you release
110 it. In addition, the region is copied into the kill ring (@pxref{Kill
111 Ring}). If you don't want Emacs to copy the region, change the
112 variable @code{mouse-drag-copy-region} to @code{nil}.
114 @vindex mouse-scroll-min-lines
115 If you move the mouse off the top or bottom of the window while
116 dragging, the window scrolls at a steady rate until you move the mouse
117 back into the window. This way, you can select regions that don't fit
118 entirely on the screen. The number of lines scrolled per step depends
119 on how far away from the window edge the mouse has gone; the variable
120 @code{mouse-scroll-min-lines} specifies a minimum step size.
122 @findex mouse-yank-primary
123 @findex mouse-yank-at-click
124 Clicking with the middle mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-2}, moves point to
125 the position where you clicked and inserts the contents of the primary
126 selection (@code{mouse-yank-primary}). @xref{Primary Selection}.
127 This behavior is consistent with other X applications; alternatively,
128 you can rebind @kbd{Mouse-2} to @code{mouse-yank-at-click}, which
129 performs a yank at point.
131 @vindex mouse-yank-at-point
132 If you change the variable @code{mouse-yank-at-point} to a
133 non-@code{nil} value, @kbd{Mouse-2} does not move point; it inserts
134 the text at point, regardless of where you clicked or even which of
135 the frame's windows you clicked on. This variable affects both
136 @code{mouse-yank-primary} and @code{mouse-yank-at-click}.
138 @findex mouse-save-then-kill
139 Clicking with the right mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-3}, runs the
140 command @code{mouse-save-then-kill}. This performs several actions
141 depending on where you click and the status of the region:
145 If no region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} activates the region,
146 placing the mark where point was and point at the clicked position.
147 In addition, the text in the region is copied to the kill ring.
150 If a region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} adjusts the nearer end
151 of the region by moving it to the clicked position. The adjusted
152 region's text is copied to the kill ring; if the text in the original
153 region was already on the kill ring, it replaces it there.
156 If you originally specified the region using a double or triple
157 @kbd{Mouse-1}, so that the region is defined to consist of entire
158 words or lines, then adjusting the region with @kbd{Mouse-3} also
159 proceeds by entire words or lines.
162 If you use @kbd{Mouse-3} a second time consecutively, at the same
163 place, that kills the region already selected. Thus, the simplest way
164 to kill text with the mouse is to click @kbd{Mouse-1} at one end, then
165 click @kbd{Mouse-3} twice at the other end. To copy the text into the
166 kill ring without deleting it from the buffer, press @kbd{Mouse-3}
167 just once---or just drag across the text with @kbd{Mouse-1}. Then you
168 can copy it elsewhere by yanking it.
171 Whenever you set the region using any of the mouse commands
172 described above, the mark will be deactivated by any subsequent
173 unshifted cursor motion command, in addition to the usual ways of
174 deactivating the mark. @xref{Shift Selection}. While the region
175 remains active, typing @key{Backspace} or @key{Delete} deletes the
176 text in that region and deactivates the mark; this behavior follows a
177 convention established by other graphical programs, and it does
178 @emph{not} apply when you set the region any other way, including
179 shift-selection (@pxref{Shift Selection}).
181 @cindex Delete Selection mode
182 @cindex mode, Delete Selection
183 @findex delete-selection-mode
184 Many graphical applications also follow the convention that
185 insertion while text is selected deletes the selected text. You can
186 make Emacs behave this way by enabling Delete Selection mode.
189 @node Word and Line Mouse
190 @section Mouse Commands for Words and Lines
192 These variants of @kbd{Mouse-1} select entire words or lines at a
193 time. Emacs activates the region around the selected text, which is
194 also copied to the kill ring.
198 Select the text around the word which you click on.
200 Double-clicking on a character with ``symbol'' syntax (such as
201 underscore, in C mode) selects the symbol surrounding that character.
202 Double-clicking on a character with open- or close-parenthesis syntax
203 selects the parenthetical grouping which that character starts or
204 ends. Double-clicking on a character with string-delimiter syntax
205 (such as a singlequote or doublequote in C) selects the string
206 constant (Emacs uses heuristics to figure out whether that character
207 is the beginning or the end of it).
209 @item Double-Drag-Mouse-1
210 Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole words.
213 Select the line you click on.
215 @item Triple-Drag-Mouse-1
216 Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole lines.
219 @node Mouse References
220 @section Following References with the Mouse
221 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(selection)}
222 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(selection)}
224 @vindex mouse-highlight
225 Some Emacs buffers include @dfn{buttons}. A button is a piece of
226 text that performs some action when you activate it, such as following
227 a reference. Usually, a button's text is visually highlighted: it is
228 underlined, or a box is drawn around it. If you move the mouse over a
229 button, the shape of the mouse cursor changes and the button lights up
230 (if you change the variable @code{mouse-highlight} to @code{nil},
231 Emacs disables this highlighting).
233 You can activate a button by moving point to it and typing
234 @key{RET}, or by clicking either @kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2} on the
235 button. For example, typing @key{RET} or clicking on a file name in a
236 Dired buffer visits that file (@pxref{Dired}). Doing it on an error
237 message in the @samp{*Compilation*} buffer goes to the source code for
238 that error message (@pxref{Compilation}). Doing it on a completion in
239 the @samp{*Completions*} buffer chooses that completion
240 (@pxref{Completion}).
242 Although clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button usually activates that
243 button, if you hold the mouse button down for a short period of time
244 before releasing it (specifically, for more than 450 milliseconds),
245 then Emacs moves point where you clicked instead. This behavior
246 allows you to use the mouse to move point over a button without
247 following it. Dragging---moving the mouse while it is held down---has
248 its usual behavior of setting the region, even if you drag from or
251 @vindex mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows
252 Normally, clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button activates the button
253 even if it is in a nonselected window. If you change the variable
254 @code{mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows} to @code{nil}, clicking
255 @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button in an un-selected window moves point to the
256 clicked position and selects that window, without activating the
259 @vindex mouse-1-click-follows-link
260 In Emacs versions before 22, only @kbd{Mouse-2} activates buttons
261 and @kbd{Mouse-1} always sets point. If you prefer this older
262 behavior, set the variable @code{mouse-1-click-follows-link} to
263 @code{nil}. This variable also lets you choose various other
264 alternatives for following links with the mouse. Type @kbd{C-h v
265 mouse-1-click-follows-link @key{RET}} for more details.
267 @node Menu Mouse Clicks
268 @section Mouse Clicks for Menus
270 Several mouse clicks with the @key{CTRL} and @key{SHIFT} modifiers
276 This menu is for selecting a buffer.
278 The MSB (``mouse select buffer'') global minor mode makes this
279 menu smarter and more customizable. @xref{Buffer Menus}.
283 This menu is for specifying faces and other text properties
284 for editing formatted text. @xref{Formatted Text}.
288 This menu is mode-specific. For most modes if Menu-bar mode is on,
289 this menu has the same items as all the mode-specific menu-bar menus
290 put together. Some modes may specify a different menu for this
291 button.@footnote{Some systems use @kbd{Mouse-3} for a mode-specific
292 menu. We took a survey of users, and found they preferred to keep
293 @kbd{Mouse-3} for selecting and killing regions. Hence the decision
294 to use @kbd{C-Mouse-3} for this menu. To use @kbd{Mouse-3} instead,
295 do @code{(global-set-key [mouse-3] 'mouse-popup-menubar-stuff)}.} If
296 Menu-bar mode is off, this menu contains all the items which would be
297 present in the menu bar---not just the mode-specific ones---so that
298 you can access them without having to display the menu bar.
301 This menu is for changing the default face within the window's buffer.
302 @xref{Temporary Face Changes}.
305 @node Mode Line Mouse
306 @section Mode Line Mouse Commands
307 @cindex mode line, mouse
308 @cindex mouse on mode line
310 You can use mouse clicks on window mode lines to select and manipulate
313 Some areas of the mode line, such as the buffer name, and major and minor
314 mode names, have their own special mouse bindings. These areas are
315 highlighted when you hold the mouse over them, and information about
316 the special bindings will be displayed (@pxref{Tooltips}). This
317 section's commands do not apply in those areas.
321 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(mode line)}
322 @kbd{Mouse-1} on a mode line selects the window it belongs to. By
323 dragging @kbd{Mouse-1} on the mode line, you can move it, thus
324 changing the height of the windows above and below. Changing heights
325 with the mouse in this way never deletes windows, it just refuses to
326 make any window smaller than the minimum height.
329 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
330 @kbd{Mouse-2} on a mode line expands that window to fill its frame.
333 @kindex Mouse-3 @r{(mode line)}
334 @kbd{Mouse-3} on a mode line deletes the window it belongs to. If the
335 frame has only one window, it buries the current buffer instead, and
336 switches to another buffer.
339 @kindex C-mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
340 @kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a mode line splits the window above
341 horizontally, above the place in the mode line where you click.
344 @kindex C-Mouse-2 @r{(scroll bar)}
345 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(scroll bar)}
346 Using @kbd{Mouse-1} on the divider between two side-by-side mode
347 lines, you can move the vertical boundary left or right. Using
348 @kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a scroll bar splits the corresponding window
349 vertically. @xref{Split Window}.
351 @node Creating Frames
352 @section Creating Frames
353 @cindex creating frames
356 The prefix key @kbd{C-x 5} is analogous to @kbd{C-x 4}, with
357 parallel subcommands. The difference is that @kbd{C-x 5} commands
358 create a new frame rather than just a new window in the selected frame
359 (@pxref{Pop Up Window}). If an existing visible or iconified
360 (``minimized'') frame already displays the requested material, these
361 commands use the existing frame, after raising or deiconifying
362 (``un-minimizing'') as necessary.
364 The various @kbd{C-x 5} commands differ in how they find or create the
370 @findex make-frame-command
371 Create a new frame (@code{make-frame-command}).
372 @item C-x 5 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}
373 Select buffer @var{bufname} in another frame. This runs
374 @code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}.
375 @item C-x 5 f @var{filename} @key{RET}
376 Visit file @var{filename} and select its buffer in another frame. This
377 runs @code{find-file-other-frame}. @xref{Visiting}.
378 @item C-x 5 d @var{directory} @key{RET}
379 Select a Dired buffer for directory @var{directory} in another frame.
380 This runs @code{dired-other-frame}. @xref{Dired}.
382 Start composing a mail message in another frame. This runs
383 @code{mail-other-frame}. It is the other-frame variant of @kbd{C-x m}.
386 Find a tag in the current tag table in another frame. This runs
387 @code{find-tag-other-frame}, the multiple-frame variant of @kbd{M-.}.
389 @item C-x 5 r @var{filename} @key{RET}
391 @findex find-file-read-only-other-frame
392 Visit file @var{filename} read-only, and select its buffer in another
393 frame. This runs @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
397 @cindex default-frame-alist
398 @cindex initial-frame-alist
399 @cindex face customization, in init file
400 @cindex color customization, in init file
401 You can control the appearance of new frames you create by setting the
402 frame parameters in @code{default-frame-alist}. You can use the
403 variable @code{initial-frame-alist} to specify parameters that affect
404 only the initial frame. @xref{Initial Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs
405 Lisp Reference Manual}, for more information.
407 @cindex font (default)
408 Here is an example of using @code{default-frame-alist} to specify
409 the default foreground color and font:
412 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "10x20"))
413 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist
414 '(foreground-color . "blue"))
418 By putting such customizations in your init file, you can control the
419 appearance of all the frames Emacs creates, including the initial one
420 (@pxref{Init File}). @xref{Fonts}, for other ways to set the default
424 @section Frame Commands
426 The following commands let you create, delete and operate on frames:
430 @kindex C-z @r{(X windows)}
431 @findex suspend-frame
432 Minimize (or ``iconify) the selected Emacs frame
433 (@code{suspend-frame}). @xref{Exiting}.
438 Delete the selected frame (@code{delete-frame}). This is not allowed
439 if there is only one frame.
444 Select another frame, raise it, and warp the mouse to it. If you
445 repeat this command, it cycles through all the frames on your
450 @findex delete-other-frames
451 Delete all frames on the current terminal, except the selected one.
454 The @kbd{C-x 5 0} (@code{delete-frame}) command never deletes the
455 last frame. This prevents you from losing the ability to interact
456 with the Emacs process. Note that when Emacs is run as a daemon
457 (@pxref{Emacs Server}), there is always a ``virtual frame'' that
458 remains after all the ordinary, interactive frames are deleted. In
459 this case, @kbd{C-x 5 0} can delete the last interactive frame; you
460 can use @command{emacsclient} to reconnect to the Emacs session.
462 The @kbd{C-x 5 1} (@code{delete-other-frames}) command only deletes
463 frames on the current terminal. For example, if you call it from an X
464 frame, it deletes the other frames on that X display; if the Emacs
465 process has frames open on other X displays or text terminals, those
468 @vindex focus-follows-mouse
469 On X, you may have to tell Emacs how the window manager handles
470 focus-switching between windows, in order for @kbd{C-x 5 o}
471 (@code{other-frame}) to work properly. Unfortunately, there is no way
472 for Emacs to detect this automatically, so you should set the variable
473 @code{focus-follows-mouse}. The default is @code{nil}, meaning you
474 have to click on the window to select it (the default for most modern
475 window managers). You should change it to @code{t} if your window
476 manager selects a window and gives it focus anytime you move the mouse
479 The window manager that is part of MS-Windows always gives focus to
480 a frame that raises, so this variable has no effect in the native
481 MS-Windows build of Emacs. However, you may still wish to set this
482 variable to @code{t} to have Emacs automatically move the mouse
483 pointer to the raised frame.
489 By default, Emacs displays text in X using a 12-point monospace
490 font. There are several different ways to specify a different font:
494 Click on @samp{Set Default Font} in the @samp{Options} menu. To save
495 this for future sessions, click on @samp{Save Options} in the
499 Add a line to your init file (@pxref{Init File}), modifying the
500 variable @code{default-frame-alist} to specify the @code{font}
501 parameter (@pxref{Creating Frames}), like this:
504 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "DejaVu Sans Mono-12"))
507 @cindex X defaults file
508 @cindex X resources file
510 Add an @samp{emacs.font} X resource setting to your X resource file,
514 emacs.font: DejaVu Sans Mono-12
518 You must restart X, or use the @command{xrdb} command, for the X
519 resources file to take effect. @xref{Resources}. When specifying a
520 font in your X resources file, you should not quote it.
523 If you are running Emacs on the GNOME desktop, you can tell Emacs to
524 use the default system font by setting the variable
525 @code{font-use-system-font} to @code{t} (the default is @code{nil}).
526 For this to work, Emacs must be compiled with Gconf support; this is
527 done automatically if the libraries are present at compile time.
530 Use the command line option @samp{-fn} (or @samp{--font}). @xref{Font
534 To check what font you're currently using, the @kbd{C-u C-x =}
535 command can be helpful. It'll describe the character under point, and
536 also say what font it's rendered in, if the window system you're
537 running under supports that.
540 On X, there are four different ways to express a ``font name''. The
541 first is to use a @dfn{Fontconfig pattern}. Fontconfig patterns have
545 @var{fontname}[-@var{fontsize}][:@var{name1}=@var{values1}][:@var{name2}=@var{values2}]...
549 Within this format, any of the elements in braces may be omitted.
550 Here, @var{fontname} is the @dfn{family name} of the font, such as
551 @samp{Monospace} or @samp{DejaVu Serif}; @var{fontsize} is the
552 @dfn{point size} of the font (one @dfn{printer's point} is about 1/72
553 of an inch); and the @samp{@var{name}=@var{values}} entries specify
554 settings such as the slant and weight of the font. Each @var{values}
555 may be a single value, or a list of values separated by commas. In
556 addition, some property values are valid with only one kind of
557 property name, in which case the @samp{@var{name}=} part may be
560 Here is a list of common font properties:
564 One of @samp{italic}, @samp{oblique} or @samp{roman}.
567 One of @samp{light}, @samp{medium}, @samp{demibold}, @samp{bold} or
571 Some fonts define special styles which are a combination of slant and
572 weight. For instance, @samp{Dejavu Sans} defines the @samp{book}
573 style, which overrides the slant and weight properties.
576 One of @samp{condensed}, @samp{normal}, or @samp{expanded}.
579 One of @samp{monospace}, @samp{proportional}, @samp{dual-width}, or
584 Here are some examples of Fontconfig patterns:
590 DejaVu Sans Mono:bold:italic
591 Monospace-12:weight=bold:slant=italic
594 For a more detailed description of Fontconfig patterns, see the
595 Fontconfig manual, which is distributed with Fontconfig and available
596 online at @url{http://fontconfig.org/fontconfig-user.html}.
598 The second way to specify a font is to use a @dfn{GTK font
599 description}. These have the syntax
602 @var{fontname} [@var{properties}] [@var{fontsize}]
606 where @var{fontname} is the family name, @var{properties} is a list of
607 property values separated by spaces, and @var{fontsize} is the point
608 size. The properties that you may specify are as follows:
612 One of @samp{roman}, @samp{italic} or @samp{oblique}. If omitted, the
613 @samp{roman} style is used.
615 One of @samp{medium}, @samp{ultra-light}, @samp{light},
616 @samp{semi-bold}, or @samp{bold}. If omitted, @samp{medium} weight is
621 Here are some examples of GTK font descriptions:
625 Monospace Bold Italic 12
629 @cindex X Logical Font Description
630 The third way to specify a font is to use an @dfn{XLFD} (@dfn{X
631 Logical Font Description}). This is the traditional method for
632 specifying fonts under X. Each XLFD consists of fourteen words or
633 numbers, separated by dashes, like this:
636 -misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
640 A wildcard character (@samp{*}) in an XLFD matches any sequence of
641 characters (including none), and @samp{?} matches any single
642 character. However, matching is implementation-dependent, and can be
643 inaccurate when wildcards match dashes in a long name. For reliable
644 results, supply all 14 dashes and use wildcards only within a field.
645 Case is insignificant in an XLFD. The syntax for an XLFD is as
649 -@var{maker}-@var{family}-@var{weight}-@var{slant}-@var{widthtype}-@var{style}@dots{}
650 @dots{}-@var{pixels}-@var{height}-@var{horiz}-@var{vert}-@var{spacing}-@var{width}-@var{registry}-@var{encoding}
654 The entries have the following meanings:
658 The name of the font manufacturer.
660 The name of the font family (e.g. @samp{courier}).
662 The font weight---normally either @samp{bold}, @samp{medium} or
663 @samp{light}. Some font names support other values.
665 The font slant---normally @samp{r} (roman), @samp{i} (italic),
666 @samp{o} (oblique), @samp{ri} (reverse italic), or @samp{ot} (other).
667 Some font names support other values.
669 The font width---normally @samp{normal}, @samp{condensed},
670 @samp{extended}, or @samp{semicondensed} (some font names support
673 An optional additional style name. Usually it is empty---most long
674 font names have two hyphens in a row at this point.
676 The font height, in pixels.
678 The font height on the screen, measured in tenths of a printer's
679 point. This is the point size of the font, times ten. For a given
680 vertical resolution, @var{height} and @var{pixels} are proportional;
681 therefore, it is common to specify just one of them and use @samp{*}
684 The horizontal resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
685 the font is intended.
687 The vertical resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
688 the font is intended. Normally the resolution of the fonts on your
689 system is the right value for your screen; therefore, you normally
690 specify @samp{*} for this and @var{horiz}.
692 This is @samp{m} (monospace), @samp{p} (proportional) or @samp{c}
695 The average character width, in pixels, multiplied by ten.
698 The X font character set that the font depicts. (X font character
699 sets are not the same as Emacs character sets, but they are similar.)
700 You can use the @command{xfontsel} program to check which choices you
701 have. Normally you should use @samp{iso8859} for @var{registry} and
702 @samp{1} for @var{encoding}.
705 The fourth and final method of specifying a font is to use a ``font
706 nickname''. Certain fonts have shorter nicknames, which you can use
707 instead of a normal font specification. For instance, @samp{6x13} is
711 -misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
714 @cindex client-side fonts
715 @cindex server-side fonts
716 On X, Emacs recognizes two types of fonts: @dfn{client-side} fonts,
717 which are provided by the Xft and Fontconfig libraries, and
718 @dfn{server-side} fonts, which are provided by the X server itself.
719 Most client-side fonts support advanced font features such as
720 antialiasing and subpixel hinting, while server-side fonts do not.
721 Fontconfig and GTK patterns match only client-side fonts.
723 @cindex listing system fonts
724 You will probably want to use a fixed-width default font---that is,
725 a font in which all characters have the same width. For Xft and
726 Fontconfig fonts, you can use the @command{fc-list} command to list
727 the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
730 fc-list :spacing=mono fc-list :spacing=charcell
734 For server-side X fonts, you can use the @command{xlsfonts} program to
735 list the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
738 xlsfonts -fn '*x*' | egrep "^[0-9]+x[0-9]+"
739 xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-m*'
740 xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-c*'
744 Any font with @samp{m} or @samp{c} in the @var{spacing} field of the
745 XLFD is a fixed-width font. To see what a particular font looks like,
746 use the @command{xfd} command. For example:
753 displays the entire font @samp{6x13}.
755 While running Emacs, you can also set the font of a specific kind of
756 text (@pxref{Faces}), or a particular frame (@pxref{Frame
760 @section Speedbar Frames
763 @cindex attached frame (of speedbar)
764 The @dfn{speedbar} is a special frame for conveniently navigating in
765 or operating on another frame. The speedbar, when it exists, is
766 always associated with a specific frame, called its @dfn{attached
767 frame}; all speedbar operations act on that frame.
769 Type @kbd{M-x speedbar} to create the speedbar and associate it with
770 the current frame. To dismiss the speedbar, type @kbd{M-x speedbar}
771 again, or select the speedbar and type @kbd{q}. (You can also delete
772 the speedbar frame like any other Emacs frame.) If you wish to
773 associate the speedbar with a different frame, dismiss it and call
774 @kbd{M-x speedbar} from that frame.
776 The speedbar can operate in various modes. Its default mode is
777 @dfn{File Display} mode, which shows the files in the current
778 directory of the selected window of the attached frame, one file per
779 line. Clicking on a file name visits that file in the selected window
780 of the attached frame, and clicking on a directory name shows that
781 directory in the speedbar (@pxref{Mouse References}). Each line also
782 has a box, @samp{[+]} or @samp{<+>}, that you can click on to
783 @dfn{expand} the contents of that item. Expanding a directory adds
784 the contents of that directory to the speedbar display, underneath the
785 directory's own line. Expanding an ordinary file adds a list of the
786 tags in that file to the speedbar display; you can click on a tag name
787 to jump to that tag in the selected window of the attached frame.
788 When a file or directory is expanded, the @samp{[+]} changes to
789 @samp{[-]}; you can click on that box to @dfn{contract} the item,
792 You navigate through the speedbar using the keyboard, too. Typing
793 @kbd{RET} while point is on a line in the speedbar is equivalent to
794 clicking the item on the current line, and @kbd{SPC} expands or
795 contracts the item. @kbd{U} displays the parent directory of the
796 current directory. To copy, delete, or rename the file on the current
797 line, type @kbd{C}, @kbd{D}, and @kbd{R} respectively. To create a
798 new directory, type @kbd{M}.
800 Another general-purpose speedbar mode is @dfn{Buffer Display} mode;
801 in this mode, the speedbar displays a list of Emacs buffers. To
802 switch to this mode, type @kbd{b} in the speedbar. To return to File
803 Display mode, type @kbd{f}. You can also change the display mode by
804 clicking @kbd{mouse-3} anywhere in the speedbar window (or
805 @kbd{mouse-1} on the mode-line) and selecting @samp{Displays} in the
808 Some major modes, including Rmail mode, Info, and GUD, have
809 specialized ways of putting useful items into the speedbar for you to
810 select. For example, in Rmail mode, the speedbar shows a list of Rmail
811 files, and lets you move the current message to another Rmail file by
812 clicking on its @samp{<M>} box.
814 For more details on using and programming the speedbar, @xref{Top,
815 Speedbar,,speedbar, Speedbar Manual}.
817 @node Multiple Displays
818 @section Multiple Displays
819 @cindex multiple displays
821 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display. Initially, Emacs
822 uses just one display---the one specified with the @env{DISPLAY}
823 environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial
824 Options}). To connect to another display, use the command
825 @code{make-frame-on-display}:
827 @findex make-frame-on-display
829 @item M-x make-frame-on-display @key{RET} @var{display} @key{RET}
830 Create a new frame on display @var{display}.
833 A single X server can handle more than one screen. When you open
834 frames on two screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows they share a
835 single keyboard, and it treats all the commands arriving from these
836 screens as a single stream of input.
838 When you open frames on different X servers, Emacs makes a separate
839 input stream for each server. Each server also has its own selected
840 frame. The commands you enter with a particular X server apply to
841 that server's selected frame.
843 It is even possible to use this feature to let two or more users
844 type simultaneously on the two displays, within the same Emacs job.
845 In practice, however, the different users can easily interfere with
846 each others' edits if they are not careful.
848 @node Special Buffer Frames
849 @section Special Buffer Frames
851 @vindex special-display-buffer-names
852 You can make certain chosen buffers, which Emacs normally displays
853 in ``some other window'' (@pxref{Displaying Buffers}), appear in
854 special frames of their own. To do this, set the variable
855 @code{special-display-buffer-names} to a list of buffer names; any
856 buffer whose name is in that list automatically gets a special frame.
857 @xref{Window Choice}, for how this fits in with the other ways for
858 Emacs to choose a window to display in.
860 For example, if you set the variable this way,
863 (setq special-display-buffer-names
864 '("*Completions*" "*grep*" "*tex-shell*"))
868 then completion lists, @code{grep} output and the @TeX{} mode shell
869 buffer get individual frames of their own. These frames, and the
870 windows in them, are never automatically split or reused for any other
871 buffers. They continue to show the buffers they were created for,
872 unless you alter them by hand. Killing the special buffer deletes its
875 @vindex special-display-regexps
876 More generally, you can set @code{special-display-regexps} to a list
877 of regular expressions; then a buffer gets its own frame if its name
878 matches any of those regular expressions. (Once again, this applies only
879 to buffers that normally get displayed for you in ``another window.'')
881 @vindex special-display-frame-alist
882 The variable @code{special-display-frame-alist} specifies the frame
883 parameters for these frames. It has a default value, so you don't need
886 For those who know Lisp, an element of
887 @code{special-display-buffer-names} or @code{special-display-regexps}
888 can also be a list. Then the first element is the buffer name or
889 regular expression; the rest of the list specifies how to create the
890 frame. It can be an association list specifying frame parameter
891 values; these values take precedence over parameter values specified
892 in @code{special-display-frame-alist}. If you specify the symbol
893 @code{same-window} as a ``frame parameter'' in this list, with a
894 non-@code{nil} value, that means to use the selected window if
895 possible. If you use the symbol @code{same-frame} as a ``frame
896 parameter'' in this list, with a non-@code{nil} value, that means to
897 use the selected frame if possible.
899 Alternatively, the value can have this form:
902 (@var{function} @var{args}...)
906 where @var{function} is a symbol. Then the frame is constructed by
907 calling @var{function}; its first argument is the buffer, and its
908 remaining arguments are @var{args}.
910 @node Frame Parameters
911 @section Setting Frame Parameters
912 @cindex Auto-Raise mode
913 @cindex Auto-Lower mode
915 These commands are available for controlling the window management
916 behavior of the selected frame:
919 @findex auto-raise-mode
920 @item M-x auto-raise-mode
921 Toggle whether or not the selected frame should auto-raise. Auto-raise
922 means that every time you move the mouse onto the frame, it raises the
925 Some window managers also implement auto-raise. If you enable
926 auto-raise for Emacs frames in your window manager, it will work, but
927 it is beyond Emacs' control, so @code{auto-raise-mode} has no effect
930 @findex auto-lower-mode
931 @item M-x auto-lower-mode
932 Toggle whether or not the selected frame should auto-lower.
933 Auto-lower means that every time you move the mouse off the frame,
934 the frame moves to the bottom of the stack on the screen.
936 The command @code{auto-lower-mode} has no effect on auto-lower
937 implemented by the window manager. To control that, you must use the
938 appropriate window manager features.
941 In Emacs versions that use an X toolkit, the color-setting and
942 font-setting functions don't affect menus and the menu bar, since they
943 are displayed by their own widget classes. To change the appearance of
944 the menus and menu bar, you must use X resources (@pxref{Resources}).
945 @xref{Colors}, regarding colors. @xref{Font X}, regarding choice of
948 Colors, fonts, and other attributes of the frame's display can also
949 be customized by setting frame parameters in the variable
950 @code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Creating Frames}). For a detailed
951 description of frame parameters and customization, see @ref{Frame
952 Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
956 @cindex Scroll Bar mode
957 @cindex mode, Scroll Bar
959 On graphical displays, Emacs normally makes a @dfn{scroll bar} at
960 the left of each Emacs window, running the height of the
961 window.@footnote{Placing it at the left is usually more useful with
962 overlapping frames with text starting at the left margin.}
964 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support on the X window system, or
965 in operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS, you can use
966 the scroll bar as you do in other graphical applications. If you
967 click @kbd{Mouse-1} on the scroll bar's up and down buttons, that
968 scrolls the window by one line at a time. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
969 above or below the scroll bar's inner box scrolls the window by nearly
970 the entire height of the window, like @kbd{M-v} and @kbd{C-v}
971 respectively (@pxref{Moving Point}). Dragging the inner box with
972 @kbd{Mouse-1} scrolls the window continuously.
974 If Emacs is compiled without GTK+ support on the X window system,
975 the scroll bar behaves differently. The scroll bar's inner box is
976 drawn to represent the portion of the buffer currently displayed, with
977 the entire height of the scroll bar representing the entire length of
978 the buffer. @kbd{Mouse-1} anywhere on the scroll bar scrolls forward
979 like @kbd{C-v}, and @kbd{Mouse-3} scrolls backward like @kbd{M-v}.
980 Clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} in the scroll bar lets you move or drag the
981 inner box up and down.
983 You can also click @kbd{C-Mouse-2} in the scroll bar to split a
984 window vertically. The split occurs on the line where you click.
986 @findex scroll-bar-mode
987 @vindex scroll-bar-mode
988 You can toggle the use of the scroll bar with the command @kbd{M-x
989 scroll-bar-mode}. With a prefix argument, this command turns use of
990 scroll bars on if and only if the argument is positive. This command
991 applies to all frames, including frames yet to be created. Customize
992 the variable @code{scroll-bar-mode} to control the use of scroll bars
993 at startup. You can use it to specify that they are placed at the
994 right of windows if you prefer that. You have to set this variable
995 through the @samp{Customize} interface (@pxref{Easy Customization}),
996 or it will not work properly. You can also use the X resource
997 @samp{verticalScrollBars} to control the initial setting of Scroll Bar
998 mode. @xref{Resources}.
1000 @findex toggle-scroll-bar
1001 To enable or disable scroll bars for just the selected frame, use the
1002 command @kbd{M-x toggle-scroll-bar}.
1004 @vindex scroll-bar-width
1005 @cindex width of the scroll bar
1006 You can control the scroll bar width by changing the value of the
1007 @code{scroll-bar-width} frame parameter.
1010 @section Scrolling With ``Wheeled'' Mice
1013 @cindex wheel, mouse
1014 @findex mouse-wheel-mode
1015 @cindex Mouse Wheel minor mode
1016 @cindex mode, Mouse Wheel
1017 Some mice have a ``wheel'' instead of a third button. You can
1018 usually click the wheel to act as either @kbd{Mouse-2} or
1019 @kbd{Mouse-3}, depending on the setup. You can also use the wheel to
1020 scroll windows instead of using the scroll bar or keyboard commands.
1021 Mouse wheel support only works if the system generates appropriate
1022 events; whenever possible, it is turned on by default. To toggle this
1023 feature, use @kbd{M-x mouse-wheel-mode}.
1025 @vindex mouse-wheel-follow-mouse
1026 @vindex mouse-wheel-scroll-amount
1027 @vindex mouse-wheel-progressive-speed
1028 The two variables @code{mouse-wheel-follow-mouse} and
1029 @code{mouse-wheel-scroll-amount} determine where and by how much
1030 buffers are scrolled. The variable
1031 @code{mouse-wheel-progressive-speed} determines whether the scroll
1032 speed is linked to how fast you move the wheel.
1035 @section Drag and Drop
1036 @cindex drag and drop
1038 Emacs supports @dfn{drag and drop} using the mouse. For instance,
1039 dropping text onto an Emacs frame inserts the text where it is dropped.
1040 Dropping a file onto an Emacs frame visits that file. As a special
1041 case, dropping the file on a Dired buffer moves or copies the file
1042 (according to the conventions of the application it came from) into the
1043 directory displayed in that buffer.
1045 @vindex dnd-open-file-other-window
1046 Dropping a file normally visits it in the window you drop it on. If
1047 you prefer to visit the file in a new window in such cases, customize
1048 the variable @code{dnd-open-file-other-window}.
1050 The XDND and Motif drag and drop protocols, and the old KDE 1.x
1051 protocol, are currently supported.
1055 @cindex Menu Bar mode
1056 @cindex mode, Menu Bar
1057 @findex menu-bar-mode
1058 @vindex menu-bar-mode
1060 You can turn display of menu bars on or off with @kbd{M-x
1061 menu-bar-mode} or by customizing the variable @code{menu-bar-mode}.
1062 With no argument, this command toggles Menu Bar mode, a
1063 minor mode. With an argument, the command turns Menu Bar mode on if the
1064 argument is positive, off if the argument is not positive. You can use
1065 the X resource @samp{menuBar} to control the initial setting of
1066 Menu Bar mode. @xref{Resources}.
1068 @kindex C-Mouse-3 @r{(when menu bar is disabled)}
1069 Expert users often turn off the menu bar, especially on text-only
1070 terminals, where this makes one additional line available for text.
1071 If the menu bar is off, you can still pop up a menu of its contents
1072 with @kbd{C-Mouse-3} on a display which supports pop-up menus.
1073 @xref{Menu Mouse Clicks}.
1075 @xref{Menu Bar}, for information on how to invoke commands with the
1076 menu bar. @xref{X Resources}, for how to customize the menu bar
1077 menus' visual appearance.
1081 @cindex Tool Bar mode
1082 @cindex mode, Tool Bar
1083 @cindex icons, toolbar
1085 The @dfn{tool bar} is a line (or lines) of icons at the top of the
1086 Emacs window, just below the menu bar. You can click on these icons
1087 with the mouse to do various jobs.
1089 The global tool bar contains general commands. Some major modes
1090 define their own tool bars to replace it. A few ``special'' modes
1091 that are not designed for ordinary editing remove some items from the
1094 Tool bars work only on a graphical display. The tool bar uses colored
1095 XPM icons if Emacs was built with XPM support. Otherwise, the tool
1096 bar uses monochrome icons (PBM or XBM format).
1098 @findex tool-bar-mode
1099 @vindex tool-bar-mode
1100 You can turn display of tool bars on or off with @kbd{M-x
1101 tool-bar-mode} or by customizing the option @code{tool-bar-mode}.
1103 @vindex tool-bar-style
1104 @cindex Tool Bar style
1105 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support, tool bars can have text and images.
1106 Customize @code{tool-bar-style} to select style. The default style is
1107 the same as for the desktop in the Gnome case. If no default is found,
1108 the tool bar uses just images.
1110 @cindex Tool Bar position
1111 You can also control the placement of the tool bar for the GTK+ tool bar
1112 with the frame parameter @code{tool-bar-position}.
1113 For a detailed description of frame parameters and customization,
1114 see @ref{Frame Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1117 @section Using Dialog Boxes
1118 @cindex dialog boxes
1120 @vindex use-dialog-box
1121 A dialog box is a special kind of menu for asking you a yes-or-no
1122 question or some other special question. Many Emacs commands use a
1123 dialog box to ask a yes-or-no question, if you used the mouse to
1124 invoke the command that led to the question.
1126 To disable the use of dialog boxes, change the variable
1127 @code{use-dialog-box} to @code{nil}. In that case, Emacs always
1128 performs yes-or-no prompts using the echo area and keyboard input.
1129 This variable also controls whether to use file selection windows (but
1130 those are not supported on all platforms).
1132 @vindex use-file-dialog
1133 @cindex file selection dialog, how to disable
1134 A file selection window is a special kind of dialog box for asking
1135 for file names. You can customize the variable @code{use-file-dialog}
1136 to suppress the use of file selection windows, even if you still want
1137 other kinds of dialogs. This variable has no effect if you have
1138 suppressed all dialog boxes with the variable @code{use-dialog-box}.
1140 @vindex x-gtk-show-hidden-files
1141 @vindex x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text
1142 @cindex hidden files, in GTK+ file chooser
1143 @cindex help text, in GTK+ file chooser
1144 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support, it uses the GTK+ ``file
1145 chooser'' dialog. Emacs adds an additional toggle button to this
1146 dialog, which you can use to enable or disable the display of hidden
1147 files (files starting with a dot) in that dialog. If you want this
1148 toggle to be activated by default, change the variable
1149 @code{x-gtk-show-hidden-files} to @code{t}. In addition, Emacs adds
1150 help text to the GTK+ file chooser dialog; to disable this help text,
1151 change the variable @code{x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text} to @code{nil}.
1153 @vindex x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog
1154 In GTK+ versions 2.4 through 2.10, you can choose to use an older
1155 version of the GTK+ file dialog by setting the variable
1156 @code{x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog} to a non-@code{nil} value. If Emacs
1157 is built with a GTK+ version that has only one file dialog, this
1158 variable has no effect.
1164 @dfn{Tooltips} are small windows that display text information at the
1165 current mouse position. They activate when there is a pause in mouse
1166 movement. There are two types of tooltip: help tooltips and GUD
1169 @dfn{Help tooltips} typically display over text---including the mode
1170 line---but are also available for other parts of the Emacs frame, such
1171 as the tool bar and menu items.
1173 @findex tooltip-mode
1174 You can toggle display of help tooltips (Tooltip mode) with the
1175 command @kbd{M-x tooltip-mode}. When Tooltip mode is disabled, the
1176 help text is displayed in the echo area instead.
1178 @dfn{GUD tooltips} show values of variables. They are useful when
1179 you are debugging a program. @xref{Debugger Operation}.
1181 @vindex tooltip-delay
1182 The variables @code{tooltip-delay} specifies how long Emacs should
1183 wait before displaying a tooltip. For additional customization
1184 options for displaying tooltips, use @kbd{M-x customize-group
1185 @key{RET} tooltip @key{RET}}. @xref{X Resources}, for information on
1186 customizing the windows that display tooltips.
1188 @node Mouse Avoidance
1189 @section Mouse Avoidance
1190 @cindex avoiding mouse in the way of your typing
1191 @cindex mouse avoidance
1193 On graphical terminals, the mouse pointer may obscure the text in
1194 the Emacs frame. Emacs provides two methods to avoid this problem.
1196 @vindex make-pointer-invisible
1197 Firstly, Emacs hides the mouse pointer each time you type a
1198 self-inserting character, if the pointer lies inside an Emacs frame;
1199 moving the mouse pointer makes it visible again. To disable this
1200 feature, set the variable @code{make-pointer-invisible} to @code{nil}.
1202 @vindex mouse-avoidance-mode
1203 Secondly, you can use Mouse Avoidance mode, a minor mode, to keep
1204 the mouse pointer away from point. To use Mouse Avoidance mode,
1205 customize the variable @code{mouse-avoidance-mode}. You can set this
1206 to various values to move the mouse in several ways:
1210 Move the mouse to the upper-right corner on any key-press;
1212 Move the mouse to the corner only if the cursor gets too close,
1213 and allow it to return once the cursor is out of the way;
1215 If the cursor gets too close to the mouse, displace the mouse
1216 a random distance & direction;
1218 As @code{jump}, but shows steps along the way for illusion of motion;
1220 The same as @code{animate};
1222 As @code{animate}, but changes the shape of the mouse pointer too.
1225 @findex mouse-avoidance-mode
1226 You can also use the command @kbd{M-x mouse-avoidance-mode} to enable
1227 the mode. Whenever Mouse Avoidance mode moves the mouse, it also
1230 @node Non-Window Terminals
1231 @section Non-Window Terminals
1232 @cindex text-only terminal
1234 On a text-only terminal, Emacs can display only one Emacs frame at a
1235 time. However, you can still create multiple Emacs frames, and switch
1236 between them. Switching frames on these terminals is much like
1237 switching between different window configurations.
1239 Use @kbd{C-x 5 2} to create a new frame and switch to it; use @kbd{C-x
1240 5 o} to cycle through the existing frames; use @kbd{C-x 5 0} to delete
1243 Each frame has a number to distinguish it. If your terminal can
1244 display only one frame at a time, the selected frame's number @var{n}
1245 appears near the beginning of the mode line, in the form
1248 @findex set-frame-name
1249 @findex select-frame-by-name
1250 @samp{F@var{n}} is in fact the frame's initial name. You can give
1251 frames more meaningful names if you wish, and you can select a frame
1252 by its name. Use the command @kbd{M-x set-frame-name @key{RET}
1253 @var{name} @key{RET}} to specify a new name for the selected frame,
1254 and use @kbd{M-x select-frame-by-name @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET}}
1255 to select a frame according to its name. The name you specify appears
1256 in the mode line when the frame is selected.
1258 @node Text-Only Mouse
1259 @section Using a Mouse in Terminal Emulators
1260 @cindex mouse support
1261 @cindex terminal emulators, mouse support
1263 Some text-only terminals support mouse clicks in the terminal window.
1266 In a terminal emulator which is compatible with @code{xterm},
1267 you can use @kbd{M-x xterm-mouse-mode} to give Emacs control over
1268 simple use of the mouse---basically, only non-modified single clicks
1269 are supported. The normal @code{xterm} mouse functionality for such
1270 clicks is still available by holding down the @kbd{SHIFT} key when you
1271 press the mouse button. Xterm Mouse mode is a global minor mode
1272 (@pxref{Minor Modes}). Repeating the command turns the mode off
1275 @findex gpm-mouse-mode
1276 In the console on GNU/Linux, you can use @kbd{M-x gpm-mouse-mode} to
1277 enable terminal mouse support. You must have the gpm package
1278 installed and running on your system in order for this to work.