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[bpt/emacs.git] / doc / lispref / frames.texi
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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,
57ebf0be 4@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
b8d4c8d0 5@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6336d8c3 6@setfilename ../../info/frames
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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
12or 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
14call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
15way.
16
17 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
18window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
19into smaller windows. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp
20object 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
25one 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
29as X, it does not have a terminal frame; instead, it starts with
30a single @dfn{window frame}, but you can create more, and Emacs can
31display several such frames at once as is usual for window systems.
32
33@defun framep object
34This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
35frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
36kind of display the frame uses:
37
38@table @code
39@item x
40The frame is displayed in an X window.
41@item t
42A terminal frame on a character display.
43@item mac
44The frame is displayed on a Macintosh.
45@item w32
46The frame is displayed on MS-Windows 9X/NT.
47@item pc
48The 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
81controlling Emacs redisplay.
82
83@node Creating Frames
84@section Creating Frames
85
86To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
87
88@defun make-frame &optional alist
89This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
90buffer. If you are using a supported window system, it makes a window
91frame; otherwise, it makes a terminal frame.
92
93The argument is an alist specifying frame parameters. Any parameters
94not mentioned in @var{alist} default according to the value of the
95variable @code{default-frame-alist}; parameters not specified even there
96default from the standard X resources or whatever is used instead on
97your system.
98
99The set of possible parameters depends in principle on what kind of
100window system Emacs uses to display its frames. @xref{Window Frame
101Parameters}, for documentation of individual parameters you can specify.
102
103This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
104@xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
105However, the window system may select the new frame for its own reasons,
106for instance if the frame appears under the mouse pointer and your
107setup is for focus to follow the pointer.
108@end defun
109
110@defvar before-make-frame-hook
111A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it actually creates the
112frame.
113@end defvar
114
115@defvar after-make-frame-functions
116An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
117Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
118frame 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.
127Initially, 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
130another display, use the command @code{make-frame-on-display} or specify
131the @code{display} frame parameter when you create the frame.
132
133 Emacs treats each X server as a separate terminal, giving each one its
134own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows. However, only one of
135those 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
139separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
140is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
141to. 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
56353e47 144be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}).
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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
148part specifies the screen number for a given server. When you use two
149screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their
150names that they share a single keyboard, and it treats them as a single
151terminal.
152
153 Note that some graphical terminals can output to more than a one
154monitor (or other output device) at the same time. On these
155``multi-monitor'' setups, a single @var{display} value controls the
156output to all the physical monitors. In this situation, there is
157currently no platform-independent way for Emacs to distinguish between
158the different physical monitors.
159
160@deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
161This creates and returns a new frame on display @var{display}, taking
162the other frame parameters from @var{parameters}. Aside from the
163@var{display} argument, it is like @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating
164Frames}).
165@end deffn
166
167@defun x-display-list
168This returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has a
169connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one is
170a display name.
171@end defun
172
173@defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
174This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display}. It
175does not create a frame on that display, but it permits you to check
176that communication can be established with that display.
177
178The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a
179string of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
180@file{.Xresources} file. The values you specify override the resource
181values recorded in the X server itself; they apply to all Emacs frames
182created on this display. Here's an example of what this string might
183look 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
191If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
192terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
193@end defun
194
195@defun x-close-connection display
196This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
197you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open on
198that 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.
206Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
207uses.
208
209 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of window systems. A
210terminal frame has a few parameters, mostly for compatibility's sake;
211only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name}, @code{title},
212@code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate}
213parameters do something special. If the terminal supports colors, the
214parameters @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
228These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
229frame.
230
231@defun frame-parameter frame parameter
232This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
233symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
234selected 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
239The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
240parameters 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
245This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
246elements 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
248parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
249doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
250frame.
251@end defun
252
253@defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
254This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
255according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
256(and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
257parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
258@end defun
259
260@node Initial Parameters
261@subsection Initial Frame Parameters
262
263You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame
264by setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}).
265
266@defvar initial-frame-alist
267This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
268the initial window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
269appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
270Each element has the form:
271
272@example
273(@var{parameter} . @var{value})
274@end example
275
276Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
277file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
278and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
279created initial frame.
280
281If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
282the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
283ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
284appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
285created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
286
287X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
288specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
289you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
290this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
291X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
292the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
293@code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
294@end defvar
295
296If these parameters specify a separate minibuffer-only frame with
297@code{(minibuffer . nil)}, and you have not created one, Emacs creates
298one for you.
299
300@defvar minibuffer-frame-alist
301This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
302an initial minibuffer-only frame---if such a frame is needed, according
303to the parameters for the main initial frame.
304@end defvar
305
306@defvar default-frame-alist
307This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
308Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
309Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
310in many cases.
311
312Setting this variable does not affect existing frames.
313@end defvar
314
315See also @code{special-display-frame-alist}. @xref{Definition of
316special-display-frame-alist}.
317
318If you use options that specify window appearance when you invoke Emacs,
319they take effect by adding elements to @code{default-frame-alist}. One
320exception is @samp{-geometry}, which adds the specified position to
321@code{initial-frame-alist} instead. @xref{Emacs Invocation,, Command
322Line 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
328it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
329meanings 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
332frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful @emph{only} in
333terminal 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
351frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
352
353@table @code
354@item display
355The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
356form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
357@code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
358
359@item display-type
360This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
361in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
362@code{mono}.
363
364@item title
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365If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window
366system's title bar at the top of the frame, and also in the mode line
367of windows in that frame if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses
368@samp{%F} (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when
369Emacs is not using a window system, and can only display one frame at
370a time. @xref{Frame Titles}.
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371
372@item name
373The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
374title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
375you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
376(@pxref{Frame Titles}).
377
378If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
379name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
380looking up X resources for the frame.
381
382@item display-environment-variable
383The value of the @code{DISPLAY} environment variable for the frame. It
384is passed to child processes.
385
386@item term-environment-variable
387The value of the @code{TERM} environment variable for the frame. It
388is passed to child processes.
389@end table
390
391@node Position Parameters
392@subsubsection Position Parameters
393
394 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
395text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
396
397@table @code
398@item left
399The screen position of the left edge, in pixels, with respect to the
400left edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
401or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
402negative @var{pos} value.
403
404A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
405@var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the right edge of the
406window with respect to the right edge of the screen. A positive value
407of @var{pos} counts toward the left. @strong{Reminder:} if the
408parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
409positive.
410
411Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
412be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
413non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
414
415@item top
416The screen position of the top edge, in pixels, with respect to the
417top edge of the screen. It works just like @code{left}, except vertically
418instead of horizontally.
419
420@item icon-left
421The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
422pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
423and when the frame is iconified.
424
425If you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify
426a value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa. The window manager may
427ignore these two parameters.
428
429@item icon-top
430The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
431pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
432and when the frame is iconified.
433
434@item user-position
435When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
436@code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
437the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
438way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
439A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
440
441Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
442program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
443positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
444place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
445let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
446ignore them.
447
448When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
449value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
450parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
451@code{nil}.
452@end table
453
454@node Size Parameters
455@subsubsection Size Parameters
456
457 Size parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
458text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
459
460@table @code
461@item height
462The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
463pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
464
465@item width
101a6cea 466The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the width in
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467pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
468
469@item user-size
470This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
471the @code{user-position} parameter (see above) does for the position
472parameters @code{top} and @code{left}.
473
474@item fullscreen
475Specify that width, height or both shall be set to the size of the screen.
476The value @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be the size of the
477screen. The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be the
478size of the screen. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the
479width and the height shall be set to the size of the screen.
480@end table
481
482@node Layout Parameters
483@subsubsection Layout Parameters
484
485 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
486frame, or control their sizes.
487
488@table @code
489@item border-width
490The width in pixels of the frame's border.
491
492@item internal-border-width
493The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
494
495@item vertical-scroll-bars
496Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
497of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
498@code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
499
500@ignore
501@item horizontal-scroll-bars
502Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
503(non-@code{nil} means yes). Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
504implemented.
505@end ignore
506
507@item scroll-bar-width
508The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
509use the default width.
510
511@item left-fringe
512@itemx right-fringe
513The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
514frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
515removes the corresponding fringe. A value of @code{nil} stands for
516the standard fringe width, which is the width needed to display the
517fringe bitmaps.
518
519The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
520columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame may be
521larger than the specified values. The extra width needed to reach an
522acceptable total is distributed evenly between the left and right
523fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a precise
524width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both widths are
525negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
526
527@item menu-bar-lines
528The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
529bar. The default is 1. A value of @code{nil} means don't display a
530menu bar. @xref{Menu Bar}. (The X toolkit and GTK allow at most one
531menu bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
532
533@item tool-bar-lines
534The number of lines to use for the tool bar. A value of @code{nil}
535means don't display a tool bar. (GTK allows at most one tool bar line;
536it treats larger values as 1.)
537
538@item line-spacing
539Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
540integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
541@end table
542
543@node Buffer Parameters
544@subsubsection Buffer Parameters
545
546 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
547with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
548
549@table @code
550@item minibuffer
551Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
552yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
553minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other frame),
554the new frame uses that minibuffer.
555
556@item buffer-predicate
557The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
558@code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
559decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
560@code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
561each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
562considers that buffer.
563
564@item buffer-list
565A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
566ordered most-recently-selected first.
567
568@item unsplittable
569If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
570@end table
571
572@node Management Parameters
573@subsubsection Window Management Parameters
574@cindex window manager, and frame parameters
575
576 These frame parameters, meaningful only on window system displays,
577interact with the window manager.
578
579@table @code
580@item visibility
581The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
582@code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
583iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
584
585@item auto-raise
586Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
587
588@item auto-lower
589Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
590
591@item icon-type
592The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
593value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
594Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
595picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
596
597@item icon-name
598The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
599appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
600
601@item window-id
602The number of the window-system window used by the frame
603to contain the actual Emacs windows.
604
605@item outer-window-id
606The number of the outermost window-system window used for the whole frame.
607
608@item wait-for-wm
609If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
610geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
611and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
612prevent hanging with those window managers.
613
614@ignore
615@item parent-id
616@c ??? Not yet working.
617The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
618Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
619application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
620it and see if it works.)
621@end ignore
622@end table
623
624@node Cursor Parameters
625@subsubsection Cursor Parameters
626
627 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
628
629@table @code
630@item cursor-type
631How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
632
633@table @code
634@item box
635Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
636@item hollow
637Display a hollow box.
638@item nil
639Don't display a cursor.
640@item bar
641Display a vertical bar between characters.
642@item (bar . @var{width})
643Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
644@item hbar
645Display a horizontal bar.
646@item (hbar . @var{height})
647Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
648@end table
649@end table
650
651@vindex cursor-type
652The buffer-local variable @code{cursor-type} overrides the value of
653the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter, but if it is @code{t}, that
654means to use the cursor specified for the frame.
655
656@defvar blink-cursor-alist
657This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
658form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
659type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
660corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
661when it blinks ``off.'' Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
662should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
663
664There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
665the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
36c763fd
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666variable do not take effect immediately, only when you specify the
667@code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
668@end defvar
669
670@defvar cursor-in-non-selected-windows
671This variable controls how the cursor looks in a window that is not
672selected. It supports the same values as the @code{cursor-type} frame
673parameter; also, @code{nil} means don't display a cursor in
674nonselected windows, and @code{t} (the default) means use a standard
675modificatoin of the usual cursor type (solid box becomes hollow box,
676and bar becomes a narrower bar).
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677@end defvar
678
679@node Color Parameters
680@subsubsection Color Parameters
681
682 These frame parameters control the use of colors.
683
684@table @code
685@item background-mode
686This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
687to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
688
689@item tty-color-mode
690@cindex standard colors for character terminals
691This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
692system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
693specifies the color mode to use in terminal frames. The value can be
694either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
695to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
696color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
697ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
698off color support.
699
700If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
701the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
702used instead.
703
704@item screen-gamma
705@cindex gamma correction
706If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
707the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
708your display, a floating point number.
709
710Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
711Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
712on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
713@code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
714request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
715your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
716ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
717
718If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
719@code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
720that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
721results for LCD color displays.
722@end table
723
724These frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are automatically
725equivalent to particular face attributes of particular faces.
726@xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
727
728@table @code
729@item font
730The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
731string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
732fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
733attribute of the @code{default} face.
734
735@item foreground-color
736The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
737the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
738
739@item background-color
740The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
741the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
742
743@item mouse-color
744The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
745attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
746
747@item cursor-color
748The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
749@code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
750
751@item border-color
752The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
753@code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
754
755@item scroll-bar-foreground
756If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
757equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
758@code{scroll-bar} face.
759
760@item scroll-bar-background
761If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
762equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
763@code{scroll-bar} face.
764@end table
765
766@node Size and Position
767@subsection Frame Size And Position
768@cindex size of frame
769@cindex screen size
770@cindex frame size
771@cindex resize frame
772
773 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
774frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
775@code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
776by the window manager in its usual fashion.
777
778 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
779(For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
780see @ref{Input Focus}.)
781
782@defun set-frame-position frame left top
783This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
784@var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
785normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
786
787Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
788the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
789the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
790were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
791would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
792but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
793@end defun
794
795@defun frame-height &optional frame
796@defunx frame-width &optional frame
797These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
798lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
799selected frame.
800@end defun
801
802@defun screen-height
803@defunx screen-width
804These functions are old aliases for @code{frame-height} and
805@code{frame-width}. When you are using a non-window terminal, the size
806of the frame is normally the same as the size of the terminal screen.
807@end defun
808
809@defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
810@defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
041817a4
RS
811These functions return the height and width of the main display area
812of @var{frame}, measured in pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame},
813they use the selected frame.
814
815These values include the internal borders, and windows' scroll bars
816and fringes (which belong to individual windows, not to the frame
817itself), but do not include menu bars or tool bars (except when using
818X without an X toolkit).
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819@end defun
820
821@defun frame-char-height &optional frame
822@defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
823These functions return the height and width of a character in
824@var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
825font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
826frame.
827@end defun
828
829@defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
830This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
831@var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
832
833To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
834@code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
835them to units of characters.
836@end defun
837
838@defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
839This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
840sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
841fit.
842
843If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
844lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
845actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
846Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
847useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
848terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
849height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
850actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
851terminal frame.
852@end defun
853
854@defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
855This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
856The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
857@code{set-frame-height}.
858@end defun
859
860@findex set-screen-height
861@findex set-screen-width
862 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
863@code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
864screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
865are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
866
867@node Geometry
868@subsection Geometry
869
870 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
871specification:
872
873@defun x-parse-geometry geom
874@cindex geometry specification
875The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
876geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
877@code{make-frame}.
878
879The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
880gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
881@code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
882values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
883
884For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
885parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
886because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
887instead. These are the @var{value} possibilities for the position
888parameters:
889
890@table @asis
891@item an integer
892A positive integer relates the left edge or top edge of the window to
893the left or top edge of the screen. A negative integer relates the
894right or bottom edge of the window to the right or bottom edge of the
895screen.
896
897@item @code{(+ @var{position})}
898This specifies the position of the left or top edge of the window
899relative to the left or top edge of the screen. The integer
900@var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
901position outside the screen.
902
903@item @code{(- @var{position})}
904This specifies the position of the right or bottom edge of the window
905relative to the right or bottom edge of the screen. The integer
906@var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
907position outside the screen.
908@end table
909
910Here is an example:
911
912@example
913(x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
914 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
915 (top - 0) (left . 0))
916@end example
917@end defun
918
919@node Frame Titles
920@section Frame Titles
921@cindex frame title
922
923 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
924for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
925the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
926frame property.
927
928 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
929frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
930@code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
931frame is redisplayed.
932
933@defvar frame-title-format
934This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
935not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
936line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
937@samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
938Data}.
939@end defvar
940
941@defvar icon-title-format
942This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
943when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
944appears in the icon itself.
945@end defvar
946
947@defvar multiple-frames
948This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
949there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
950invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
951@code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
952only when there is more than one frame.
953
954The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
955while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
956@code{icon-title-format}.
957@end defvar
958
959@node Deleting Frames
960@section Deleting Frames
961@cindex deleting frames
962
963Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
964them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
965exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it.
966
967@deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
968@vindex delete-frame-functions
969This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
970tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
971function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
972the selected frame.
973
974A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
975Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
976but if the @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
977@end deffn
978
979@defun frame-live-p frame
980The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
981@var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
982values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
983@end defun
984
985 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
986by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
987When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
988@code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
989calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
990
991@node Finding All Frames
992@section Finding All Frames
993@cindex frames, scanning all
994
995@defun frame-list
996The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the frames that
997have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
998buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get is
999newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
1000internals of Emacs.
1001@end defun
1002
1003@defun visible-frame-list
1004This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
1005@xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
1006``visible,'' even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
1007@end defun
1008
1009@defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
1010The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
1011the frames on the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It
1012returns the ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If
1013@var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame
1014(@pxref{Input Focus}).
1015
1016The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
1017
1018@table @asis
1019@item @code{nil}
1020Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
1021@item @code{visible}
1022Consider all visible frames.
1023@item 0
1024Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1025@item a window
1026Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1027minibuffer.
1028@item anything else
1029Consider all frames.
1030@end table
1031@end defun
1032
1033@defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1034Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1035direction.
1036@end defun
1037
1038 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1039Window Ordering}.
1040
1041@node Frames and Windows
1042@section Frames and Windows
1043
1044 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get the frame
1045with @code{window-frame}.
1046
1047@defun window-frame window
1048This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
1049@end defun
1050
1051 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
1052order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
1053upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
1054the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
1055one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
1056
1057@defun frame-first-window &optional frame
1058This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
1059If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to the selected frame.
1060@end defun
1061
1062At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
1063frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
1064frame also selects this window. You can get the frame's current
1065selected window with @code{frame-selected-window}.
1066
1067@defun frame-selected-window &optional frame
1068This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected
1069within @var{frame}. If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to
1070the selected frame.
1071@end defun
1072
1073@defun set-frame-selected-window frame window
1074This sets the selected window of frame @var{frame} to @var{window}.
1075If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it operates on the selected frame. If
1076@var{frame} is the selected frame, this makes @var{window} the
1077selected window. This function returns @var{window}.
1078@end defun
1079
1080 Conversely, selecting a window for Emacs with @code{select-window} also
1081makes that window selected within its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1082
1083 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
1084frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-window}.
1085
1086@node Minibuffers and Frames
1087@section Minibuffers and Frames
1088
1089Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1090is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1091you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1092minibuffer-window}).
1093
1094However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
1095must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
1096frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
1097other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
1098which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
1099value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
1100
1101If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1102when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1103@code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1104
1105@defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1106This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1107default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1108the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1109Displays}.
1110@end defvar
1111
1112@node Input Focus
1113@section Input Focus
1114@cindex input focus
1115@c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame
1116
1117At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1118window always resides on the selected frame.
1119
1120When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1121Displays}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one of
1122these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs to
1123the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when Emacs
1124runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected frame is
1125the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single command at any
1126given time, it needs to consider only one selected frame at a time; this
1127frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame} in this manual. The
1128display on which the selected frame is displayed is the @dfn{selected
1129frame's display}.
1130
1131@defun selected-frame
1132This function returns the selected frame.
1133@end defun
1134
1135Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1136window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1137commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1138way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1139switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1140@code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1141
1142Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1143function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1144concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1145until that control is somehow reasserted.
1146
1147When using a text-only terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a
1148time on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1149redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1150remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame} or
1151@code{select-frame-set-input-focus}. Each terminal frame has a number
1152which appears in the mode line before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode
1153Line Variables}).
1154
1155@defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame
1156This function makes @var{frame} the selected frame, raises it (should
1157it happen to be obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X
1158server's focus. On a text-only terminal, the next redisplay displays
1159the new frame on the entire terminal screen. The return value of this
1160function is not significant.
1161@end defun
1162
1163@c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
1164@defun select-frame frame
1165This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1166focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1167the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1168until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1169window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1170selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1171have the window system's input focus.) The specified @var{frame}
1172becomes the selected frame, as explained above, and the terminal that
1173@var{frame} is on becomes the selected terminal. This function
1174returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has been deleted.
1175
1176In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that could
1177switch to a different terminal without switching back when you're done.
1178@end defun
1179
1180Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1181the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1182special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1183appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1184@code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1185
1186@deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1187This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1188
1189Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1190Don't call it for any other reason.
1191@end deffn
1192
1193@defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1194This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1195This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1196events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1197@code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1198events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1199
1200If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1201redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1202events.
1203
1204One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1205These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1206on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1207the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1208in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1209
1210Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1211@code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1212pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1213allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1214one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1215
1216This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1217differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1218@code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1219
1220The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1221change it.
1222@end defun
1223
1224@defopt focus-follows-mouse
1225This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1226focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1227When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1228position consistent with the new selected frame. (This option has no
1229effect on MS-Windows, where the mouse pointer is always automatically
1230moved by the OS to the selected frame.)
1231@end defopt
1232
1233@node Visibility of Frames
1234@section Visibility of Frames
1235@cindex visible frame
1236@cindex invisible frame
1237@cindex iconified frame
1238@cindex frame visibility
1239
1240A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
1241@dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents, unless
1242other windows cover it. If it is iconified, the frame's contents do
1243not appear on the screen, but an icon does. If the frame is
1244invisible, it doesn't show on the screen, not even as an icon.
1245
1246Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
1247one is actually displayed in any case.
1248
1249@deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1250This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
1251@var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
1252the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
1253(@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
1254@end deffn
1255
1256@deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1257This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1258@var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1259
1260Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1261@var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1262@end deffn
1263
1264@deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1265This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1266iconifies the selected frame.
1267@end deffn
1268
1269@defun frame-visible-p frame
1270This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
1271@code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
1272@code{icon} if it is iconified.
1273
1274On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
1275they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns
1276@code{t} for all frames.
1277@end defun
1278
1279 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1280parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1281Parameters}.
1282
1283 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
1284This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
1285Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
1286changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1287
1288@node Raising and Lowering
1289@section Raising and Lowering Frames
1290
1291 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
1292the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
1293perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
1294to ``lowest.'' Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
1295the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
1296seen if no other window overlaps it.
1297
1298@c @cindex raising a frame redundant with raise-frame
1299@cindex lowering a frame
1300 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
1301to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
1302it ``up,'' to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
1303moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
1304third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
1305on the screen.
1306
1307 You can raise and lower Emacs frame Windows with these functions:
1308
1309@deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1310This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1311If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1312@end deffn
1313
1314@deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1315This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1316@end deffn
1317
1318@defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1319If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1320that the minibuffer window is in.
1321@end defopt
1322
1323You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
1324selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
1325for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1326
1327@node Frame Configurations
1328@section Frame Configurations
1329@cindex frame configuration
1330
1331 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1332all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1333(@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1334
1335@defun current-frame-configuration
1336This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1337the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1338@end defun
1339
1340@defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1341This function restores the state of frames described in
1342@var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1343frames.
1344
1345Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1346@var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1347unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1348@end defun
1349
1350@node Mouse Tracking
1351@section Mouse Tracking
1352@cindex mouse tracking
1353@c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
1354
1355 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1356something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1357mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1358the mouse actually moves.
1359
1360 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1361mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1362addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1363occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1364mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1365button.
1366
1367@defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1368This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1369events enabled. Typically @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1370read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1371Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1372
1373The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1374You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1375indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1376it is time to stop tracking.
1377@end defspec
1378
1379The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1380the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1381position.
1382
1383In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1384the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1385That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1386Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1387
1388@ignore
1389@c These are not implemented yet.
1390
1391These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1392effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1393is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1394to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1395the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1396
1397@defun x-contour-region window beg end
1398This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1399to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1400@end defun
1401
1402@defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1403This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1404from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1405a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1406@end defun
1407
1408@defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1409This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1410specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1411left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1412location of point.
1413@end defun
1414
1415@defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1416This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1417specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1418left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1419normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1420@end defun
1421@end ignore
1422
1423@node Mouse Position
1424@section Mouse Position
1425@cindex mouse position
1426@cindex position of mouse
1427
1428 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1429give access to the current position of the mouse.
1430
1431@defun mouse-position
1432This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1433value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1434and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1435the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1436@end defun
1437
1438@defvar mouse-position-function
1439If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1440@code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1441function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1442sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1443
1444This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1445@file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1446@end defvar
1447
1448@defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1449This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1450frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1451giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1452inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1453does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1454@end defun
1455
1456@defun mouse-pixel-position
1457This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1458coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1459@end defun
1460
1461@defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1462This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1463@var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1464characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1465
1466If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1467value is not significant.
1468@end defun
1469
1470@need 3000
1471
1472@node Pop-Up Menus
1473@section Pop-Up Menus
1474
1475 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1476the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1477
1478@defun x-popup-menu position menu
1479This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1480what selection the user makes.
1481
1482The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1483top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1484(which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1485list of this form:
1486
1487@example
1488((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1489@end example
1490
1491@noindent
1492where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1493pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1494may be a window or a frame.
1495
1496If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1497position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1498key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1499without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1500
1501The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1502keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1503return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1504(This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1505submenu.) Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1506command bound to that sequence of events.
1507
1508Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1509
1510@example
1511(@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1512@end example
1513
1514@noindent
1515where each pane is a list of form
1516
1517@example
1518(@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1519@end example
1520
1521Each item should normally be a cons cell @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1522where @var{line} is a string, and @var{value} is the value to return if
1523that @var{line} is chosen. An item can also be a string; this makes a
1524non-selectable line in the menu.
1525
1526If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1527instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1528keyboard input, then this normally results in a quit and
1529@code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1530button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1531mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1532@end defun
1533
1534 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1535if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1536If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1537a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1538If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1539@code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1540that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1541
1542 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1543moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1544that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1545submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1546an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1547implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1548@code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1549
1550 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1551still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1552a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1553the menu keymap as necessary.
1554
1555@node Dialog Boxes
1556@section Dialog Boxes
1557@cindex dialog boxes
1558
1559 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1560different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1561one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1562for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes,'' ``no,''
1563and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1564force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1565@code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1566keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1567
1568@defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1569This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1570what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1571the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1572
1573@example
1574(@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1575@end example
1576
1577@noindent
1578which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1579@code{x-popup-menu}.
1580
1581The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1582
1583As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
1584string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
1585That makes a box that cannot be selected.
1586
1587If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1588the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1589left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1590don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1591items appear on each side.
1592
1593Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1594@var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1595@code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
1596window don't matter; only the frame matters.
1597
1598If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
1599@samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
1600for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}).
1601
1602In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1603instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1604frame.
1605
1606If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
1607for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
1608@code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
1609@end defun
1610
1611@node Pointer Shape
1612@section Pointer Shape
1613@cindex pointer shape
1614@cindex mouse pointer shape
1615
1616 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
1617images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
1618@code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
1619use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
1620@code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
1621@code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
1622style used over text.
1623
1624 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
1625of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
1626@code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
1627those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
1628
1629@defvar void-text-area-pointer
1630This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
1631These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
1632in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
1633pointer style.
1634@end defvar
1635
1636 You can specify what the @code{text} pointer style really looks like
1637by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
1638
1639@defvar x-pointer-shape
1640This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
1641Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
1642@end defvar
1643
1644@defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1645This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1646is over mouse-sensitive text.
1647@end defvar
1648
1649 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1650affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
1651frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
1652@xref{Color Parameters}.
1653
1654 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1655defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1656@key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1657
1658@node Window System Selections
1659@section Window System Selections
1660@cindex selection (for window systems)
1661
1662The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1663data between application programs. The various selections are
1664distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1665symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1666any given type.
1667
1668@deffn Command x-set-selection type data
1669This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1670arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1671@var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1672selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1673(or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1674cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1675of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1676
1677The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1678selection values.
1679
1680Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1681independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY},
1682@code{SECONDARY} and @code{CLIPBOARD}; these are symbols with upper-case
1683names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If @var{type} is
1684@code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
1685
1686This function returns @var{data}.
1687@end deffn
1688
1689@defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1690This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1691clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1692@var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1693@code{PRIMARY}.
1694
1695The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1696use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1697data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1698@code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
1699@code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
1700@code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
1701@code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
1702@code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
1703with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
1704@code{STRING}.
1705@end defun
1706
1707@cindex cut buffer
1708The X server also has a set of eight numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1709store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1710are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1711clients that still use them. Cut buffers are numbered from 0 to 7.
1712
1713@defun x-get-cut-buffer &optional n
1714This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1715If omitted @var{n} defaults to 0.
1716@end defun
1717
1718@defun x-set-cut-buffer string &optional push
1719@anchor{Definition of x-set-cut-buffer}
1720This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
17210). If @var{push} is @code{nil}, only the first cut buffer is changed.
1722If @var{push} is non-@code{nil}, that says to move the values down
1723through the series of cut buffers, much like the way successive kills in
1724Emacs move down the kill ring. In other words, the previous value of
1725the first cut buffer moves into the second cut buffer, and the second to
1726the third, and so on through all eight cut buffers.
1727@end defun
1728
1729@defvar selection-coding-system
1730This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1731writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
1732Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
1733converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
1734@end defvar
1735
1736@cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
1737When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
1738general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
1739and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
1740only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
1741clipboard as empty.
1742
1743@cindex scrap support (for Mac OS)
1744On Mac OS, selection-like data transfer between applications is
1745performed through a mechanism called @dfn{scraps}. The clipboard is a
1746particular scrap named @code{com.apple.scrap.clipboard}. Types of scrap
1747data are called @dfn{scrap flavor types}, which are identified by
1748four-char codes such as @code{TEXT}. Emacs associates a selection with
1749a scrap, and a selection type with a scrap flavor type via
1750@code{mac-scrap-name} and @code{mac-ostype} properties, respectively.
1751
1752@example
1753(get 'CLIPBOARD 'mac-scrap-name)
1754 @result{} "com.apple.scrap.clipboard"
1755(get 'com.apple.traditional-mac-plain-text 'mac-ostype)
1756 @result{} "TEXT"
1757@end example
1758
1759Conventionally, selection types for scrap flavor types on Mac OS have
1760the form of @acronym{UTI, Uniform Type Identifier} such as
1761@code{com.apple.traditional-mac-plain-text},
1762@code{public.utf16-plain-text}, and @code{public.file-url}.
1763
1764@defopt x-select-enable-clipboard
1765If this is non-@code{nil}, the Emacs yank functions consult the
1766clipboard before the primary selection, and the kill functions store in
1767the clipboard as well as the primary selection. Otherwise they do not
1768access the clipboard at all. The default is @code{nil} on most systems,
1769but @code{t} on MS-Windows and Mac.
1770@end defopt
1771
1772@node Drag and Drop
1773@section Drag and Drop
1774
1775@vindex x-dnd-test-function
1776@vindex x-dnd-known-types
1777 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
1778application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
1779dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
1780what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
1781which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
1782@code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
1783@code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
1784on some other criteria.
1785
1786@vindex x-dnd-types-alist
1787 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
1788or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
1789detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
1790drop.
1791
1792@vindex dnd-protocol-alist
1793 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
1794another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
1795@code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL. If
1796there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
1797an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
1798text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
1799you can customize these variables.
1800
1801@node Color Names
1802@section Color Names
1803
1804@cindex color names
1805@cindex specify color
1806@cindex numerical RGB color specification
1807 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
1808Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
1809are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
1810defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
1811as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
1812@var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
1813and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
1814three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
1815number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
1816either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
1817X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
1818colors.)
1819
1820 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
1821valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
1822@dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
1823meaning of the term ``selected frame.''
1824
1825@defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
1826This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
1827@code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
1828which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
1829@code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
1830
1831Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
1832really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
1833color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
1834the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
1835a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
1836
1837@findex x-color-defined-p
1838This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
1839and that name is still supported as an alias.
1840@end defun
1841
1842@defun defined-colors &optional frame
1843This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
1844and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1845If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
1846
1847@findex x-defined-colors
1848This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
1849and that name is still supported as an alias.
1850@end defun
1851
1852@defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
1853This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
1854@var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
1855omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
1856
1857Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
1858background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
1859asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
1860are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
1861
1862The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
1863@end defun
1864
1865@defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
1866This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
1867@var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
1868question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
1869color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
1870@end defun
1871
1872@defun color-values color &optional frame
1873@cindex rgb value
1874This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
1875ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
1876value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
1877amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
1878principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
1879range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
1880color.
1881
1882If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1883
1884@example
1885(color-values "black")
1886 @result{} (0 0 0)
1887(color-values "white")
1888 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
1889(color-values "red")
1890 @result{} (65280 0 0)
1891(color-values "pink")
1892 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
1893(color-values "hungry")
1894 @result{} nil
1895@end example
1896
1897The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
1898@var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
1899the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
1900value is @code{nil}.
1901
1902@findex x-color-values
1903This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
1904and that name is still supported as an alias.
1905@end defun
1906
1907@node Text Terminal Colors
1908@section Text Terminal Colors
1909@cindex colors on text-only terminals
1910
1911 Text-only terminals usually support only a small number of colors,
1912and the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
1913This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
1914color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
1915small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
1916the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
1917
1918 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
1919are used by Emacs.
1920
1921 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
1922in @ref{Color Names}.
1923
1924 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
1925terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make Emacs
1926support more than one text-only terminal at one time; then this argument
1927will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being the
1928selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present, though,
1929the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
1930
1931@defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
1932This function associates the color name @var{name} with
1933color number @var{number} on the terminal.
1934
1935The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
1936of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
1937If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
1938@code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
1939Emacs will not know what it looks like.
1940@end defun
1941
1942@defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
1943This function clears the table of defined colors for a text-only terminal.
1944@end defun
1945
1946@defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
1947This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by a
1948text-only terminal.
1949
1950Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
1951or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
1952name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
1953If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
1954and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
1955@end defun
1956
1957@defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
1958This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
1959supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
1960@var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
1961@code{tty-color-alist}.
1962@end defun
1963
1964@defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
1965This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
1966colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
1967If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1968@end defun
1969
1970@node Resources
1971@section X Resources
1972
1973@defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
1974The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
1975Window defaults database.
1976
1977Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
1978This function searches using a key of the form
1979@samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
1980under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
1981the class.
1982
1983The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
1984and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
1985If you specify them, the key is
1986@samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
1987@samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
1988@end defun
1989
1990@defvar x-resource-class
1991This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
1992should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
1993resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
1994variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
1995@end defvar
1996
1997@defvar x-resource-name
1998This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
1999should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
2000or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
2001@end defvar
2002
2003To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
2004
2005@example
2006xterm.vt100.background: yellow
2007@end example
2008
2009@noindent
2010in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
2011or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
2012
2013@example
2014@group
2015(let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2016 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
2017 @result{} "yellow"
2018@end group
2019@group
2020(let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2021 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
2022 @result{} "yellow"
2023@end group
2024@end example
2025
2026 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
2027
2028@node Display Feature Testing
2029@section Display Feature Testing
2030@cindex display feature testing
2031
2032 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2033particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2034to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2035a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2036
2037 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2038display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2039(which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2040refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2041
2042 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2043obtain information about displays.
2044
2045@defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2046This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2047@var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires that
2048the mouse be available, since the user cannot choose menu items without
2049a mouse.
2050@end defun
2051
2052@defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2053This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2054capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2055once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X, and
2056false for text-only terminals.
2057@end defun
2058
2059@defun display-mouse-p &optional display
2060@cindex mouse, availability
2061This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
2062@code{nil} if not.
2063@end defun
2064
2065@defun display-color-p &optional display
2066@findex x-display-color-p
2067This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
2068It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
2069is still supported as an alias.
2070@end defun
2071
2072@defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
2073This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
2074(All color displays can do this.)
2075@end defun
2076
2077@defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
2078@anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
2079This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
2080@var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
2081
2082The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
2083means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
2084when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
2085way that's
2086
2087@enumerate
2088@item
2089different in appearance than the default face, and
2090
2091@item
2092`close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
2093@end enumerate
2094
2095Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
2096satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
2097@code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
2098displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
2099the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
2100italic.
2101@end defun
2102
2103@defun display-selections-p &optional display
2104This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2105Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2106supported in some other cases.
2107@end defun
2108
2109@defun display-images-p &optional display
2110This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2111Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2112systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2113images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2114@end defun
2115
2116@defun display-screens &optional display
2117This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2118@end defun
2119
2120@defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2121This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2122On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2123
2124For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2125refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2126@var{display}. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
2127@end defun
2128
2129@defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2130This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2131On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2132
2133For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2134refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2135@var{display}. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
2136@end defun
2137
2138@defun display-mm-height &optional display
2139This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2140or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2141@end defun
2142
2143@defun display-mm-width &optional display
2144This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2145or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2146@end defun
2147
2148@defvar display-mm-dimensions-alist
2149This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
2150displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
2151@code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
2152@end defvar
2153
2154@defun display-backing-store &optional display
2155This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2156Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2157windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2158displayed very quickly.
2159
2160Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2161@code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2162when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2163@end defun
2164
2165@defun display-save-under &optional display
2166This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2167SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2168to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2169quickly.
2170@end defun
2171
2172@defun display-planes &optional display
2173This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2174This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2175For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2176@end defun
2177
2178@defun display-visual-class &optional display
2179This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
2180of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
2181@code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
2182@code{direct-color}.
2183@end defun
2184
2185@defun display-color-cells &optional display
2186This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2187@end defun
2188
2189 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2190about X displays.
2191
2192@defun x-server-version &optional display
2193This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2194running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2195and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2196distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2197@end defun
2198
2199@defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2200This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2201software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2202server.
2203
2204When the developers of X labelled software distributors as
2205``vendors,'' they showed their false assumption that no system could
2206ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2207@end defun
2208
2209@ignore
2210@defvar x-no-window-manager
2211This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2212@end defvar
2213@end ignore
2214
2215@ignore
2216@item
2217The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2218width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2219@end ignore
2220
2221@ignore
2222 arch-tag: 94977df6-3dca-4730-b57b-c6329e9282ba
2223@end ignore