* display.texi (Refresh Screen): Note that a passage about screen
[bpt/emacs.git] / doc / lispref / display.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, 2000, 2001,
6ed161e1 4@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
b8d4c8d0 5@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6336d8c3 6@setfilename ../../info/display
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7@node Display, System Interface, Processes, Top
8@chapter Emacs Display
9
10 This chapter describes a number of features related to the display
11that Emacs presents to the user.
12
13@menu
14* Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
15* Forcing Redisplay:: Forcing redisplay.
16* Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
17* The Echo Area:: Displaying messages at the bottom of the screen.
18* Warnings:: Displaying warning messages for the user.
19* Invisible Text:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
20* Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text (the old way).
21* Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
22* Overlays:: Use overlays to highlight parts of the buffer.
23* Width:: How wide a character or string is on the screen.
24* Line Height:: Controlling the height of lines.
25* Faces:: A face defines a graphics style for text characters:
26 font, colors, etc.
27* Fringes:: Controlling window fringes.
28* Scroll Bars:: Controlling vertical scroll bars.
29* Display Property:: Enabling special display features.
30* Images:: Displaying images in Emacs buffers.
31* Buttons:: Adding clickable buttons to Emacs buffers.
32* Abstract Display:: Emacs' Widget for Object Collections.
33* Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
34* Usual Display:: The usual conventions for displaying nonprinting chars.
35* Display Tables:: How to specify other conventions.
36* Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
37* Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
38@end menu
39
40@node Refresh Screen
41@section Refreshing the Screen
42
43 The function @code{redraw-frame} clears and redisplays the entire
44contents of a given frame (@pxref{Frames}). This is useful if the
45screen is corrupted.
46
47@c Emacs 19 feature
48@defun redraw-frame frame
49This function clears and redisplays frame @var{frame}.
50@end defun
51
52 Even more powerful is @code{redraw-display}:
53
54@deffn Command redraw-display
55This function clears and redisplays all visible frames.
56@end deffn
57
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58 In Emacs, processing user input takes priority over redisplay. If
59you call these functions when input is available, they don't redisplay
60immediately, but the requested redisplay does happen
61eventually---after all the input has been processed.
b8d4c8d0 62
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63 On text-only terminals, suspending and resuming Emacs normally also
64refreshes the screen. Some terminal emulators record separate
65contents for display-oriented programs such as Emacs and for ordinary
66sequential display. If you are using such a terminal, you might want
67to inhibit the redisplay on resumption.
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68
69@defvar no-redraw-on-reenter
70@cindex suspend (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
71@cindex resume (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
72This variable controls whether Emacs redraws the entire screen after it
73has been suspended and resumed. Non-@code{nil} means there is no need
74to redraw, @code{nil} means redrawing is needed. The default is @code{nil}.
75@end defvar
76
77@node Forcing Redisplay
78@section Forcing Redisplay
79@cindex forcing redisplay
80
20c63e44 81 Emacs normally tries to redisplay the screen whenever it waits for
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82input. With the following function, you can request an immediate
83attempt to redisplay, in the middle of Lisp code, without actually
84waiting for input.
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85
86@defun redisplay &optional force
87This function tries immediately to redisplay, provided there are no
c4adeee0 88pending input events.
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89
90If the optional argument @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, it does all
91pending redisplay work even if input is available, with no
92pre-emption.
93
94The function returns @code{t} if it actually tried to redisplay, and
95@code{nil} otherwise. A value of @code{t} does not mean that
96redisplay proceeded to completion; it could have been pre-empted by
97newly arriving terminal input.
98@end defun
99
100 @code{redisplay} with no argument tries immediately to redisplay,
101but has no effect on the usual rules for what parts of the screen to
102redisplay. By contrast, the following function adds certain windows
103to the pending redisplay work (as if their contents had completely
104changed), but doesn't immediately try to do any redisplay work.
105
106@defun force-window-update &optional object
107This function forces some or all windows to be updated on next
108redisplay. If @var{object} is a window, it requires eventual
109redisplay of that window. If @var{object} is a buffer or buffer name,
110it requires eventual redisplay of all windows displaying that buffer.
111If @var{object} is @code{nil} (or omitted), it requires eventual
112redisplay of all windows.
113@end defun
114
115 @code{force-window-update} does not do a redisplay immediately.
116(Emacs will do that when it waits for input.) Rather, its effect is
117to put more work on the queue to be done by redisplay whenever there
118is a chance.
119
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120 Emacs redisplay normally stops if input arrives, and does not happen
121at all if input is available before it starts. Most of the time, this
122is exactly what you want. However, you can prevent preemption by
123binding @code{redisplay-dont-pause} to a non-@code{nil} value.
124
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125@defvar redisplay-dont-pause
126If this variable is non-@code{nil}, pending input does not
127prevent or halt redisplay; redisplay occurs, and finishes,
128regardless of whether input is available.
129@end defvar
130
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131@defvar redisplay-preemption-period
132This variable specifies how many seconds Emacs waits between checks
133for new input during redisplay. (The default is 0.1 seconds.) If
134input has arrived when Emacs checks, it pre-empts redisplay and
135processes the available input before trying again to redisplay.
136
137If this variable is @code{nil}, Emacs does not check for input during
138redisplay, and redisplay cannot be preempted by input.
139
140This variable is only obeyed on graphical terminals. For
141text terminals, see @ref{Terminal Output}.
142@end defvar
143
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144@node Truncation
145@section Truncation
146@cindex line wrapping
147@cindex line truncation
148@cindex continuation lines
149@cindex @samp{$} in display
150@cindex @samp{\} in display
151
152 When a line of text extends beyond the right edge of a window, Emacs
153can @dfn{continue} the line (make it ``wrap'' to the next screen
154line), or @dfn{truncate} the line (limit it to one screen line). The
155additional screen lines used to display a long text line are called
156@dfn{continuation} lines. Continuation is not the same as filling;
157continuation happens on the screen only, not in the buffer contents,
158and it breaks a line precisely at the right margin, not at a word
159boundary. @xref{Filling}.
160
161 On a graphical display, tiny arrow images in the window fringes
162indicate truncated and continued lines (@pxref{Fringes}). On a text
163terminal, a @samp{$} in the rightmost column of the window indicates
164truncation; a @samp{\} on the rightmost column indicates a line that
165``wraps.'' (The display table can specify alternate characters to use
166for this; @pxref{Display Tables}).
167
168@defopt truncate-lines
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169If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, lines that extend
170beyond the right edge of the window are truncated; otherwise, they are
171continued. As a special exception, the variable
172@code{truncate-partial-width-windows} takes precedence in
173@dfn{partial-width} windows (i.e., windows that do not occupy the
174entire frame width).
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175@end defopt
176
177@defopt default-truncate-lines
178This variable is the default value for @code{truncate-lines}, for
179buffers that do not have buffer-local values for it.
180@end defopt
181
182@defopt truncate-partial-width-windows
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183This variable controls line truncation in @dfn{partial-width} windows.
184A partial-width window is one that does not occupy the entire frame
185width (@pxref{Splitting Windows}). If the value is @code{nil}, line
186truncation is determined by the variable @code{truncate-lines} (see
187above). If the value is an integer @var{n}, lines are truncated if
188the partial-width window has fewer than @var{n} columns, regardless of
189the value of @code{truncate-lines}; if the partial-width window has
190@var{n} or more columns, line truncation is determined by
191@code{truncate-lines}. For any other non-@code{nil} value, lines are
192truncated in every partial-width window, regardless of the value of
193@code{truncate-lines}.
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194@end defopt
195
196 When horizontal scrolling (@pxref{Horizontal Scrolling}) is in use in
197a window, that forces truncation.
198
c4f4682b 199@defvar wrap-prefix
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200If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, it defines a
201``prefix'' that is added at display-time to the beginning of every
202continuation line. (If lines are truncated, the wrap-prefix is never
203used.) It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph, as used by
204the @code{display} text property. @xref{Display Property}.
205
206A wrap-prefix may also be specified for regions of text, using the
207@code{wrap-prefix} text property. This takes precedence over the
208value of the @code{wrap-prefix} variable. @xref{Special Properties}.
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209@end defvar
210
211@defvar line-prefix
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212If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, it defines a
213``prefix'' that is added at display-time to the beginning of every
214non-continuation line. It may be a string, an image, or a
215stretch-glyph, as used by the @code{display} text property.
216@xref{Display Property}.
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217
218A line-prefix may also be specified for regions of text using the
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219@code{line-prefix} text property. This takes precedence over the
220value of the @code{line-prefix} variable. @xref{Special Properties}.
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221@end defvar
222
b8d4c8d0 223 If your buffer contains @emph{very} long lines, and you use
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224continuation to display them, computing the continuation lines can
225make Emacs redisplay slow. The column computation and indentation
226functions also become slow. Then you might find it advisable to set
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227@code{cache-long-line-scans} to @code{t}.
228
229@defvar cache-long-line-scans
230If this variable is non-@code{nil}, various indentation and motion
231functions, and Emacs redisplay, cache the results of scanning the
232buffer, and consult the cache to avoid rescanning regions of the buffer
233unless they are modified.
234
235Turning on the cache slows down processing of short lines somewhat.
236
237This variable is automatically buffer-local in every buffer.
238@end defvar
239
240@node The Echo Area
241@section The Echo Area
242@cindex error display
243@cindex echo area
244
245 The @dfn{echo area} is used for displaying error messages
246(@pxref{Errors}), for messages made with the @code{message} primitive,
247and for echoing keystrokes. It is not the same as the minibuffer,
248despite the fact that the minibuffer appears (when active) in the same
249place on the screen as the echo area. The @cite{GNU Emacs Manual}
250specifies the rules for resolving conflicts between the echo area and
251the minibuffer for use of that screen space (@pxref{Minibuffer,, The
252Minibuffer, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
253
254 You can write output in the echo area by using the Lisp printing
255functions with @code{t} as the stream (@pxref{Output Functions}), or
256explicitly.
257
258@menu
259* Displaying Messages:: Explicitly displaying text in the echo area.
260* Progress:: Informing user about progress of a long operation.
261* Logging Messages:: Echo area messages are logged for the user.
262* Echo Area Customization:: Controlling the echo area.
263@end menu
264
265@node Displaying Messages
266@subsection Displaying Messages in the Echo Area
267@cindex display message in echo area
268
269 This section describes the functions for explicitly producing echo
270area messages. Many other Emacs features display messages there, too.
271
272@defun message format-string &rest arguments
273This function displays a message in the echo area. The argument
274@var{format-string} is similar to a C language @code{printf} format
275string. See @code{format} in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for the details
276on the conversion specifications. @code{message} returns the
277constructed string.
278
279In batch mode, @code{message} prints the message text on the standard
280error stream, followed by a newline.
281
282If @var{format-string}, or strings among the @var{arguments}, have
283@code{face} text properties, these affect the way the message is displayed.
284
285@c Emacs 19 feature
286If @var{format-string} is @code{nil} or the empty string,
287@code{message} clears the echo area; if the echo area has been
288expanded automatically, this brings it back to its normal size.
289If the minibuffer is active, this brings the minibuffer contents back
290onto the screen immediately.
291
292@example
293@group
294(message "Minibuffer depth is %d."
295 (minibuffer-depth))
296 @print{} Minibuffer depth is 0.
297@result{} "Minibuffer depth is 0."
298@end group
299
300@group
301---------- Echo Area ----------
302Minibuffer depth is 0.
303---------- Echo Area ----------
304@end group
305@end example
306
307To automatically display a message in the echo area or in a pop-buffer,
308depending on its size, use @code{display-message-or-buffer} (see below).
309@end defun
310
311@defmac with-temp-message message &rest body
312This construct displays a message in the echo area temporarily, during
313the execution of @var{body}. It displays @var{message}, executes
314@var{body}, then returns the value of the last body form while restoring
315the previous echo area contents.
316@end defmac
317
318@defun message-or-box format-string &rest arguments
319This function displays a message like @code{message}, but may display it
320in a dialog box instead of the echo area. If this function is called in
321a command that was invoked using the mouse---more precisely, if
322@code{last-nonmenu-event} (@pxref{Command Loop Info}) is either
323@code{nil} or a list---then it uses a dialog box or pop-up menu to
324display the message. Otherwise, it uses the echo area. (This is the
325same criterion that @code{y-or-n-p} uses to make a similar decision; see
326@ref{Yes-or-No Queries}.)
327
328You can force use of the mouse or of the echo area by binding
329@code{last-nonmenu-event} to a suitable value around the call.
330@end defun
331
332@defun message-box format-string &rest arguments
333@anchor{message-box}
334This function displays a message like @code{message}, but uses a dialog
335box (or a pop-up menu) whenever that is possible. If it is impossible
336to use a dialog box or pop-up menu, because the terminal does not
337support them, then @code{message-box} uses the echo area, like
338@code{message}.
339@end defun
340
341@defun display-message-or-buffer message &optional buffer-name not-this-window frame
342This function displays the message @var{message}, which may be either a
343string or a buffer. If it is shorter than the maximum height of the
344echo area, as defined by @code{max-mini-window-height}, it is displayed
345in the echo area, using @code{message}. Otherwise,
346@code{display-buffer} is used to show it in a pop-up buffer.
347
348Returns either the string shown in the echo area, or when a pop-up
349buffer is used, the window used to display it.
350
351If @var{message} is a string, then the optional argument
352@var{buffer-name} is the name of the buffer used to display it when a
353pop-up buffer is used, defaulting to @samp{*Message*}. In the case
354where @var{message} is a string and displayed in the echo area, it is
355not specified whether the contents are inserted into the buffer anyway.
356
357The optional arguments @var{not-this-window} and @var{frame} are as for
358@code{display-buffer}, and only used if a buffer is displayed.
359@end defun
360
361@defun current-message
362This function returns the message currently being displayed in the
363echo area, or @code{nil} if there is none.
364@end defun
365
366@node Progress
367@subsection Reporting Operation Progress
368@cindex progress reporting
369
370 When an operation can take a while to finish, you should inform the
371user about the progress it makes. This way the user can estimate
372remaining time and clearly see that Emacs is busy working, not hung.
373
374 Functions listed in this section provide simple and efficient way of
375reporting operation progress. Here is a working example that does
376nothing useful:
377
378@smallexample
379(let ((progress-reporter
380 (make-progress-reporter "Collecting mana for Emacs..."
381 0 500)))
382 (dotimes (k 500)
383 (sit-for 0.01)
384 (progress-reporter-update progress-reporter k))
385 (progress-reporter-done progress-reporter))
386@end smallexample
387
388@defun make-progress-reporter message min-value max-value &optional current-value min-change min-time
389This function creates and returns a @dfn{progress reporter}---an
390object you will use as an argument for all other functions listed
391here. The idea is to precompute as much data as possible to make
392progress reporting very fast.
393
394When this progress reporter is subsequently used, it will display
395@var{message} in the echo area, followed by progress percentage.
396@var{message} is treated as a simple string. If you need it to depend
397on a filename, for instance, use @code{format} before calling this
398function.
399
400@var{min-value} and @var{max-value} arguments stand for starting and
401final states of your operation. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
402they should be the results of @code{point-min} and @code{point-max}
403correspondingly. It is required that @var{max-value} is greater than
404@var{min-value}. If you create progress reporter when some part of
405the operation has already been completed, then specify
406@var{current-value} argument. But normally you should omit it or set
407it to @code{nil}---it will default to @var{min-value} then.
408
409Remaining arguments control the rate of echo area updates. Progress
410reporter will wait for at least @var{min-change} more percents of the
411operation to be completed before printing next message.
412@var{min-time} specifies the minimum time in seconds to pass between
413successive prints. It can be fractional. Depending on Emacs and
414system capabilities, progress reporter may or may not respect this
415last argument or do it with varying precision. Default value for
416@var{min-change} is 1 (one percent), for @var{min-time}---0.2
417(seconds.)
418
419This function calls @code{progress-reporter-update}, so the first
420message is printed immediately.
421@end defun
422
423@defun progress-reporter-update reporter value
424This function does the main work of reporting progress of your
425operation. It displays the message of @var{reporter}, followed by
426progress percentage determined by @var{value}. If percentage is zero,
427or close enough according to the @var{min-change} and @var{min-time}
428arguments, then it is omitted from the output.
429
430@var{reporter} must be the result of a call to
431@code{make-progress-reporter}. @var{value} specifies the current
432state of your operation and must be between @var{min-value} and
433@var{max-value} (inclusive) as passed to
434@code{make-progress-reporter}. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
435then @var{value} should be the result of a call to @code{point}.
436
437This function respects @var{min-change} and @var{min-time} as passed
438to @code{make-progress-reporter} and so does not output new messages
439on every invocation. It is thus very fast and normally you should not
440try to reduce the number of calls to it: resulting overhead will most
441likely negate your effort.
442@end defun
443
444@defun progress-reporter-force-update reporter value &optional new-message
445This function is similar to @code{progress-reporter-update} except
446that it prints a message in the echo area unconditionally.
447
448The first two arguments have the same meaning as for
449@code{progress-reporter-update}. Optional @var{new-message} allows
450you to change the message of the @var{reporter}. Since this functions
451always updates the echo area, such a change will be immediately
452presented to the user.
453@end defun
454
455@defun progress-reporter-done reporter
456This function should be called when the operation is finished. It
457prints the message of @var{reporter} followed by word ``done'' in the
458echo area.
459
460You should always call this function and not hope for
461@code{progress-reporter-update} to print ``100%.'' Firstly, it may
462never print it, there are many good reasons for this not to happen.
463Secondly, ``done'' is more explicit.
464@end defun
465
466@defmac dotimes-with-progress-reporter (var count [result]) message body@dots{}
467This is a convenience macro that works the same way as @code{dotimes}
468does, but also reports loop progress using the functions described
469above. It allows you to save some typing.
470
471You can rewrite the example in the beginning of this node using
472this macro this way:
473
474@example
475(dotimes-with-progress-reporter
476 (k 500)
477 "Collecting some mana for Emacs..."
478 (sit-for 0.01))
479@end example
480@end defmac
481
482@node Logging Messages
483@subsection Logging Messages in @samp{*Messages*}
484@cindex logging echo-area messages
485
486 Almost all the messages displayed in the echo area are also recorded
487in the @samp{*Messages*} buffer so that the user can refer back to
488them. This includes all the messages that are output with
489@code{message}.
490
491@defopt message-log-max
492This variable specifies how many lines to keep in the @samp{*Messages*}
493buffer. The value @code{t} means there is no limit on how many lines to
494keep. The value @code{nil} disables message logging entirely. Here's
495how to display a message and prevent it from being logged:
496
497@example
498(let (message-log-max)
499 (message @dots{}))
500@end example
501@end defopt
502
503 To make @samp{*Messages*} more convenient for the user, the logging
504facility combines successive identical messages. It also combines
505successive related messages for the sake of two cases: question
506followed by answer, and a series of progress messages.
507
508 A ``question followed by an answer'' means two messages like the
509ones produced by @code{y-or-n-p}: the first is @samp{@var{question}},
510and the second is @samp{@var{question}...@var{answer}}. The first
511message conveys no additional information beyond what's in the second,
512so logging the second message discards the first from the log.
513
514 A ``series of progress messages'' means successive messages like
515those produced by @code{make-progress-reporter}. They have the form
516@samp{@var{base}...@var{how-far}}, where @var{base} is the same each
517time, while @var{how-far} varies. Logging each message in the series
518discards the previous one, provided they are consecutive.
519
520 The functions @code{make-progress-reporter} and @code{y-or-n-p}
521don't have to do anything special to activate the message log
522combination feature. It operates whenever two consecutive messages
523are logged that share a common prefix ending in @samp{...}.
524
525@node Echo Area Customization
526@subsection Echo Area Customization
527
528 These variables control details of how the echo area works.
529
530@defvar cursor-in-echo-area
531This variable controls where the cursor appears when a message is
532displayed in the echo area. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the cursor
533appears at the end of the message. Otherwise, the cursor appears at
534point---not in the echo area at all.
535
536The value is normally @code{nil}; Lisp programs bind it to @code{t}
537for brief periods of time.
538@end defvar
539
540@defvar echo-area-clear-hook
541This normal hook is run whenever the echo area is cleared---either by
542@code{(message nil)} or for any other reason.
543@end defvar
544
545@defvar echo-keystrokes
546This variable determines how much time should elapse before command
547characters echo. Its value must be an integer or floating point number,
548which specifies the
549number of seconds to wait before echoing. If the user types a prefix
550key (such as @kbd{C-x}) and then delays this many seconds before
551continuing, the prefix key is echoed in the echo area. (Once echoing
552begins in a key sequence, all subsequent characters in the same key
553sequence are echoed immediately.)
554
555If the value is zero, then command input is not echoed.
556@end defvar
557
558@defvar message-truncate-lines
559Normally, displaying a long message resizes the echo area to display
560the entire message. But if the variable @code{message-truncate-lines}
561is non-@code{nil}, the echo area does not resize, and the message is
562truncated to fit it, as in Emacs 20 and before.
563@end defvar
564
565 The variable @code{max-mini-window-height}, which specifies the
566maximum height for resizing minibuffer windows, also applies to the
567echo area (which is really a special use of the minibuffer window.
35539065 568@xref{Minibuffer Misc}.).
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569
570@node Warnings
571@section Reporting Warnings
572@cindex warnings
573
574 @dfn{Warnings} are a facility for a program to inform the user of a
575possible problem, but continue running.
576
577@menu
578* Warning Basics:: Warnings concepts and functions to report them.
579* Warning Variables:: Variables programs bind to customize their warnings.
580* Warning Options:: Variables users set to control display of warnings.
581@end menu
582
583@node Warning Basics
584@subsection Warning Basics
585@cindex severity level
586
587 Every warning has a textual message, which explains the problem for
588the user, and a @dfn{severity level} which is a symbol. Here are the
589possible severity levels, in order of decreasing severity, and their
590meanings:
591
592@table @code
593@item :emergency
594A problem that will seriously impair Emacs operation soon
595if you do not attend to it promptly.
596@item :error
597A report of data or circumstances that are inherently wrong.
598@item :warning
599A report of data or circumstances that are not inherently wrong, but
600raise suspicion of a possible problem.
601@item :debug
602A report of information that may be useful if you are debugging.
603@end table
604
605 When your program encounters invalid input data, it can either
606signal a Lisp error by calling @code{error} or @code{signal} or report
607a warning with severity @code{:error}. Signaling a Lisp error is the
608easiest thing to do, but it means the program cannot continue
609processing. If you want to take the trouble to implement a way to
610continue processing despite the bad data, then reporting a warning of
611severity @code{:error} is the right way to inform the user of the
612problem. For instance, the Emacs Lisp byte compiler can report an
613error that way and continue compiling other functions. (If the
614program signals a Lisp error and then handles it with
615@code{condition-case}, the user won't see the error message; it could
616show the message to the user by reporting it as a warning.)
617
618@cindex warning type
619 Each warning has a @dfn{warning type} to classify it. The type is a
620list of symbols. The first symbol should be the custom group that you
621use for the program's user options. For example, byte compiler
622warnings use the warning type @code{(bytecomp)}. You can also
623subcategorize the warnings, if you wish, by using more symbols in the
624list.
625
626@defun display-warning type message &optional level buffer-name
627This function reports a warning, using @var{message} as the message
628and @var{type} as the warning type. @var{level} should be the
629severity level, with @code{:warning} being the default.
630
631@var{buffer-name}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the name of the buffer
632for logging the warning. By default, it is @samp{*Warnings*}.
633@end defun
634
635@defun lwarn type level message &rest args
636This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
637@var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message. In other respects it is
638equivalent to @code{display-warning}.
639@end defun
640
641@defun warn message &rest args
642This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
643@var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message, @code{(emacs)} as the
644type, and @code{:warning} as the severity level. It exists for
645compatibility only; we recommend not using it, because you should
646specify a specific warning type.
647@end defun
648
649@node Warning Variables
650@subsection Warning Variables
651
652 Programs can customize how their warnings appear by binding
653the variables described in this section.
654
655@defvar warning-levels
656This list defines the meaning and severity order of the warning
657severity levels. Each element defines one severity level,
658and they are arranged in order of decreasing severity.
659
660Each element has the form @code{(@var{level} @var{string}
661@var{function})}, where @var{level} is the severity level it defines.
662@var{string} specifies the textual description of this level.
663@var{string} should use @samp{%s} to specify where to put the warning
664type information, or it can omit the @samp{%s} so as not to include
665that information.
666
667The optional @var{function}, if non-@code{nil}, is a function to call
668with no arguments, to get the user's attention.
669
670Normally you should not change the value of this variable.
671@end defvar
672
673@defvar warning-prefix-function
674If non-@code{nil}, the value is a function to generate prefix text for
675warnings. Programs can bind the variable to a suitable function.
676@code{display-warning} calls this function with the warnings buffer
677current, and the function can insert text in it. That text becomes
678the beginning of the warning message.
679
680The function is called with two arguments, the severity level and its
681entry in @code{warning-levels}. It should return a list to use as the
682entry (this value need not be an actual member of
683@code{warning-levels}). By constructing this value, the function can
684change the severity of the warning, or specify different handling for
685a given severity level.
686
687If the variable's value is @code{nil} then there is no function
688to call.
689@end defvar
690
691@defvar warning-series
692Programs can bind this variable to @code{t} to say that the next
693warning should begin a series. When several warnings form a series,
694that means to leave point on the first warning of the series, rather
695than keep moving it for each warning so that it appears on the last one.
696The series ends when the local binding is unbound and
697@code{warning-series} becomes @code{nil} again.
698
699The value can also be a symbol with a function definition. That is
700equivalent to @code{t}, except that the next warning will also call
701the function with no arguments with the warnings buffer current. The
702function can insert text which will serve as a header for the series
703of warnings.
704
705Once a series has begun, the value is a marker which points to the
706buffer position in the warnings buffer of the start of the series.
707
708The variable's normal value is @code{nil}, which means to handle
709each warning separately.
710@end defvar
711
712@defvar warning-fill-prefix
713When this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a fill prefix to
714use for filling each warning's text.
715@end defvar
716
717@defvar warning-type-format
718This variable specifies the format for displaying the warning type
719in the warning message. The result of formatting the type this way
720gets included in the message under the control of the string in the
721entry in @code{warning-levels}. The default value is @code{" (%s)"}.
722If you bind it to @code{""} then the warning type won't appear at
723all.
724@end defvar
725
726@node Warning Options
727@subsection Warning Options
728
729 These variables are used by users to control what happens
730when a Lisp program reports a warning.
731
732@defopt warning-minimum-level
733This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
734shown immediately to the user. The default is @code{:warning}, which
735means to immediately display all warnings except @code{:debug}
736warnings.
737@end defopt
738
739@defopt warning-minimum-log-level
740This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
741logged in the warnings buffer. The default is @code{:warning}, which
742means to log all warnings except @code{:debug} warnings.
743@end defopt
744
745@defopt warning-suppress-types
746This list specifies which warning types should not be displayed
747immediately for the user. Each element of the list should be a list
748of symbols. If its elements match the first elements in a warning
749type, then that warning is not displayed immediately.
750@end defopt
751
752@defopt warning-suppress-log-types
753This list specifies which warning types should not be logged in the
754warnings buffer. Each element of the list should be a list of
755symbols. If it matches the first few elements in a warning type, then
756that warning is not logged.
757@end defopt
758
759@node Invisible Text
760@section Invisible Text
761
762@cindex invisible text
763You can make characters @dfn{invisible}, so that they do not appear on
764the screen, with the @code{invisible} property. This can be either a
765text property (@pxref{Text Properties}) or a property of an overlay
766(@pxref{Overlays}). Cursor motion also partly ignores these
767characters; if the command loop finds point within them, it moves
768point to the other side of them.
769
770In the simplest case, any non-@code{nil} @code{invisible} property makes
771a character invisible. This is the default case---if you don't alter
772the default value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}, this is how the
773@code{invisible} property works. You should normally use @code{t}
774as the value of the @code{invisible} property if you don't plan
775to set @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} yourself.
776
777More generally, you can use the variable @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
778to control which values of the @code{invisible} property make text
779invisible. This permits you to classify the text into different subsets
780in advance, by giving them different @code{invisible} values, and
781subsequently make various subsets visible or invisible by changing the
782value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
783
784Controlling visibility with @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is
785especially useful in a program to display the list of entries in a
786database. It permits the implementation of convenient filtering
787commands to view just a part of the entries in the database. Setting
788this variable is very fast, much faster than scanning all the text in
789the buffer looking for properties to change.
790
791@defvar buffer-invisibility-spec
792This variable specifies which kinds of @code{invisible} properties
793actually make a character invisible. Setting this variable makes it
794buffer-local.
795
796@table @asis
797@item @code{t}
798A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property is
799non-@code{nil}. This is the default.
800
801@item a list
802Each element of the list specifies a criterion for invisibility; if a
803character's @code{invisible} property fits any one of these criteria,
804the character is invisible. The list can have two kinds of elements:
805
806@table @code
807@item @var{atom}
808A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value
809is @var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member.
810
811@item (@var{atom} . t)
812A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value is
813@var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member. Moreover,
814a sequence of such characters displays as an ellipsis.
815@end table
816@end table
817@end defvar
818
819 Two functions are specifically provided for adding elements to
820@code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and removing elements from it.
821
822@defun add-to-invisibility-spec element
823This function adds the element @var{element} to
824@code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. If @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
825was @code{t}, it changes to a list, @code{(t)}, so that text whose
826@code{invisible} property is @code{t} remains invisible.
827@end defun
828
829@defun remove-from-invisibility-spec element
830This removes the element @var{element} from
831@code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. This does nothing if @var{element}
832is not in the list.
833@end defun
834
835 A convention for use of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is that a
836major mode should use the mode's own name as an element of
837@code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and as the value of the
838@code{invisible} property:
839
840@example
841;; @r{If you want to display an ellipsis:}
842(add-to-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
843;; @r{If you don't want ellipsis:}
844(add-to-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
845
846(overlay-put (make-overlay beginning end)
847 'invisible 'my-symbol)
848
849;; @r{When done with the overlays:}
850(remove-from-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
851;; @r{Or respectively:}
852(remove-from-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
853@end example
854
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855 You can check for invisibility using the following function:
856
857@defun invisible-p pos-or-prop
858If @var{pos-or-prop} is a marker or number, this function returns a
859non-@code{nil} value if the text at that position is invisible.
860
861If @var{pos-or-prop} is any other kind of Lisp object, that is taken
862to mean a possible value of the @code{invisible} text or overlay
863property. In that case, this function returns a non-@code{nil} value
864if that value would cause text to become invisible, based on the
865current value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
866@end defun
867
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868@vindex line-move-ignore-invisible
869 Ordinarily, functions that operate on text or move point do not care
870whether the text is invisible. The user-level line motion commands
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871ignore invisible newlines if @code{line-move-ignore-invisible} is
872non-@code{nil} (the default), but only because they are explicitly
873programmed to do so.
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874
875 However, if a command ends with point inside or immediately before
876invisible text, the main editing loop moves point further forward or
877further backward (in the same direction that the command already moved
878it) until that condition is no longer true. Thus, if the command
879moved point back into an invisible range, Emacs moves point back to
880the beginning of that range, and then back one more character. If the
881command moved point forward into an invisible range, Emacs moves point
882forward up to the first visible character that follows the invisible
883text.
884
885 Incremental search can make invisible overlays visible temporarily
886and/or permanently when a match includes invisible text. To enable
887this, the overlay should have a non-@code{nil}
888@code{isearch-open-invisible} property. The property value should be a
889function to be called with the overlay as an argument. This function
890should make the overlay visible permanently; it is used when the match
891overlaps the overlay on exit from the search.
892
893 During the search, such overlays are made temporarily visible by
894temporarily modifying their invisible and intangible properties. If you
895want this to be done differently for a certain overlay, give it an
896@code{isearch-open-invisible-temporary} property which is a function.
897The function is called with two arguments: the first is the overlay, and
898the second is @code{nil} to make the overlay visible, or @code{t} to
899make it invisible again.
900
901@node Selective Display
902@section Selective Display
903@c @cindex selective display Duplicates selective-display
904
905 @dfn{Selective display} refers to a pair of related features for
906hiding certain lines on the screen.
907
908 The first variant, explicit selective display, is designed for use
909in a Lisp program: it controls which lines are hidden by altering the
910text. This kind of hiding in some ways resembles the effect of the
911@code{invisible} property (@pxref{Invisible Text}), but the two
912features are different and do not work the same way.
913
914 In the second variant, the choice of lines to hide is made
915automatically based on indentation. This variant is designed to be a
916user-level feature.
917
918 The way you control explicit selective display is by replacing a
919newline (control-j) with a carriage return (control-m). The text that
920was formerly a line following that newline is now hidden. Strictly
921speaking, it is temporarily no longer a line at all, since only
922newlines can separate lines; it is now part of the previous line.
923
924 Selective display does not directly affect editing commands. For
925example, @kbd{C-f} (@code{forward-char}) moves point unhesitatingly
926into hidden text. However, the replacement of newline characters with
927carriage return characters affects some editing commands. For
928example, @code{next-line} skips hidden lines, since it searches only
929for newlines. Modes that use selective display can also define
930commands that take account of the newlines, or that control which
931parts of the text are hidden.
932
933 When you write a selectively displayed buffer into a file, all the
934control-m's are output as newlines. This means that when you next read
935in the file, it looks OK, with nothing hidden. The selective display
936effect is seen only within Emacs.
937
938@defvar selective-display
939This buffer-local variable enables selective display. This means that
940lines, or portions of lines, may be made hidden.
941
942@itemize @bullet
943@item
944If the value of @code{selective-display} is @code{t}, then the character
945control-m marks the start of hidden text; the control-m, and the rest
946of the line following it, are not displayed. This is explicit selective
947display.
948
949@item
950If the value of @code{selective-display} is a positive integer, then
951lines that start with more than that many columns of indentation are not
952displayed.
953@end itemize
954
955When some portion of a buffer is hidden, the vertical movement
956commands operate as if that portion did not exist, allowing a single
957@code{next-line} command to skip any number of hidden lines.
958However, character movement commands (such as @code{forward-char}) do
959not skip the hidden portion, and it is possible (if tricky) to insert
960or delete text in an hidden portion.
961
962In the examples below, we show the @emph{display appearance} of the
963buffer @code{foo}, which changes with the value of
964@code{selective-display}. The @emph{contents} of the buffer do not
965change.
966
967@example
968@group
969(setq selective-display nil)
970 @result{} nil
971
972---------- Buffer: foo ----------
9731 on this column
974 2on this column
975 3n this column
976 3n this column
977 2on this column
9781 on this column
979---------- Buffer: foo ----------
980@end group
981
982@group
983(setq selective-display 2)
984 @result{} 2
985
986---------- Buffer: foo ----------
9871 on this column
988 2on this column
989 2on this column
9901 on this column
991---------- Buffer: foo ----------
992@end group
993@end example
994@end defvar
995
996@defvar selective-display-ellipses
997If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays
998@samp{@dots{}} at the end of a line that is followed by hidden text.
999This example is a continuation of the previous one.
1000
1001@example
1002@group
1003(setq selective-display-ellipses t)
1004 @result{} t
1005
1006---------- Buffer: foo ----------
10071 on this column
1008 2on this column ...
1009 2on this column
10101 on this column
1011---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1012@end group
1013@end example
1014
1015You can use a display table to substitute other text for the ellipsis
1016(@samp{@dots{}}). @xref{Display Tables}.
1017@end defvar
1018
1019@node Temporary Displays
1020@section Temporary Displays
1021
1022 Temporary displays are used by Lisp programs to put output into a
1023buffer and then present it to the user for perusal rather than for
1024editing. Many help commands use this feature.
1025
1026@defspec with-output-to-temp-buffer buffer-name forms@dots{}
1027This function executes @var{forms} while arranging to insert any output
1028they print into the buffer named @var{buffer-name}, which is first
1029created if necessary, and put into Help mode. Finally, the buffer is
1030displayed in some window, but not selected.
1031
1032If the @var{forms} do not change the major mode in the output buffer,
1033so that it is still Help mode at the end of their execution, then
1034@code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} makes this buffer read-only at the
1035end, and also scans it for function and variable names to make them
1036into clickable cross-references. @xref{Docstring hyperlinks, , Tips
1037for Documentation Strings}, in particular the item on hyperlinks in
1038documentation strings, for more details.
1039
1040The string @var{buffer-name} specifies the temporary buffer, which
1041need not already exist. The argument must be a string, not a buffer.
1042The buffer is erased initially (with no questions asked), and it is
1043marked as unmodified after @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} exits.
1044
1045@code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} binds @code{standard-output} to the
1046temporary buffer, then it evaluates the forms in @var{forms}. Output
1047using the Lisp output functions within @var{forms} goes by default to
1048that buffer (but screen display and messages in the echo area, although
1049they are ``output'' in the general sense of the word, are not affected).
1050@xref{Output Functions}.
1051
1052Several hooks are available for customizing the behavior
1053of this construct; they are listed below.
1054
1055The value of the last form in @var{forms} is returned.
1056
1057@example
1058@group
1059---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1060 This is the contents of foo.
1061---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1062@end group
1063
1064@group
1065(with-output-to-temp-buffer "foo"
1066 (print 20)
1067 (print standard-output))
1068@result{} #<buffer foo>
1069
1070---------- Buffer: foo ----------
107120
1072
1073#<buffer foo>
1074
1075---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1076@end group
1077@end example
1078@end defspec
1079
1080@defvar temp-buffer-show-function
1081If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer}
1082calls it as a function to do the job of displaying a help buffer. The
1083function gets one argument, which is the buffer it should display.
1084
1085It is a good idea for this function to run @code{temp-buffer-show-hook}
1086just as @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} normally would, inside of
1087@code{save-selected-window} and with the chosen window and buffer
1088selected.
1089@end defvar
1090
1091@defvar temp-buffer-setup-hook
1092This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} before
1093evaluating @var{body}. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer is
1094current. This hook is normally set up with a function to put the
1095buffer in Help mode.
1096@end defvar
1097
1098@defvar temp-buffer-show-hook
1099This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} after
1100displaying the temporary buffer. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer
6733e827 1101is current, and the window it was displayed in is selected.
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1102@end defvar
1103
1104@defun momentary-string-display string position &optional char message
1105This function momentarily displays @var{string} in the current buffer at
1106@var{position}. It has no effect on the undo list or on the buffer's
1107modification status.
1108
1109The momentary display remains until the next input event. If the next
1110input event is @var{char}, @code{momentary-string-display} ignores it
1111and returns. Otherwise, that event remains buffered for subsequent use
1112as input. Thus, typing @var{char} will simply remove the string from
1113the display, while typing (say) @kbd{C-f} will remove the string from
1114the display and later (presumably) move point forward. The argument
1115@var{char} is a space by default.
1116
1117The return value of @code{momentary-string-display} is not meaningful.
1118
1119If the string @var{string} does not contain control characters, you can
1120do the same job in a more general way by creating (and then subsequently
1121deleting) an overlay with a @code{before-string} property.
1122@xref{Overlay Properties}.
1123
1124If @var{message} is non-@code{nil}, it is displayed in the echo area
1125while @var{string} is displayed in the buffer. If it is @code{nil}, a
1126default message says to type @var{char} to continue.
1127
1128In this example, point is initially located at the beginning of the
1129second line:
1130
1131@example
1132@group
1133---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1134This is the contents of foo.
1135@point{}Second line.
1136---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1137@end group
1138
1139@group
1140(momentary-string-display
1141 "**** Important Message! ****"
1142 (point) ?\r
1143 "Type RET when done reading")
1144@result{} t
1145@end group
1146
1147@group
1148---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1149This is the contents of foo.
1150**** Important Message! ****Second line.
1151---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1152
1153---------- Echo Area ----------
1154Type RET when done reading
1155---------- Echo Area ----------
1156@end group
1157@end example
1158@end defun
1159
1160@node Overlays
1161@section Overlays
1162@cindex overlays
1163
1164You can use @dfn{overlays} to alter the appearance of a buffer's text on
1165the screen, for the sake of presentation features. An overlay is an
1166object that belongs to a particular buffer, and has a specified
1167beginning and end. It also has properties that you can examine and set;
1168these affect the display of the text within the overlay.
1169
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1170@cindex scalability of overlays
1171The visual effect of an overlay is the same as of the corresponding
1172text property (@pxref{Text Properties}). However, due to a different
1173implementation, overlays generally don't scale well (many operations
1174take a time that is proportional to the number of overlays in the
1175buffer). If you need to affect the visual appearance of many portions
1176in the buffer, we recommend to use text properties.
1177
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1178An overlay uses markers to record its beginning and end; thus,
1179editing the text of the buffer adjusts the beginning and end of each
1180overlay so that it stays with the text. When you create the overlay,
1181you can specify whether text inserted at the beginning should be
1182inside the overlay or outside, and likewise for the end of the overlay.
1183
1184@menu
1185* Managing Overlays:: Creating and moving overlays.
1186* Overlay Properties:: How to read and set properties.
1187 What properties do to the screen display.
1188* Finding Overlays:: Searching for overlays.
1189@end menu
1190
1191@node Managing Overlays
1192@subsection Managing Overlays
1193
1194 This section describes the functions to create, delete and move
1195overlays, and to examine their contents. Overlay changes are not
1196recorded in the buffer's undo list, since the overlays are not
1197part of the buffer's contents.
1198
1199@defun overlayp object
1200This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is an overlay.
1201@end defun
1202
1203@defun make-overlay start end &optional buffer front-advance rear-advance
1204This function creates and returns an overlay that belongs to
1205@var{buffer} and ranges from @var{start} to @var{end}. Both @var{start}
1206and @var{end} must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or
1207markers. If @var{buffer} is omitted, the overlay is created in the
1208current buffer.
1209
1210The arguments @var{front-advance} and @var{rear-advance} specify the
1211marker insertion type for the start of the overlay and for the end of
1212the overlay, respectively. @xref{Marker Insertion Types}. If they
1213are both @code{nil}, the default, then the overlay extends to include
1214any text inserted at the beginning, but not text inserted at the end.
1215If @var{front-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the
1216beginning of the overlay is excluded from the overlay. If
1217@var{rear-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the end of the
1218overlay is included in the overlay.
1219@end defun
1220
1221@defun overlay-start overlay
1222This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} starts,
1223as an integer.
1224@end defun
1225
1226@defun overlay-end overlay
1227This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} ends,
1228as an integer.
1229@end defun
1230
1231@defun overlay-buffer overlay
1232This function returns the buffer that @var{overlay} belongs to. It
1233returns @code{nil} if @var{overlay} has been deleted.
1234@end defun
1235
1236@defun delete-overlay overlay
1237This function deletes @var{overlay}. The overlay continues to exist as
1238a Lisp object, and its property list is unchanged, but it ceases to be
1239attached to the buffer it belonged to, and ceases to have any effect on
1240display.
1241
1242A deleted overlay is not permanently disconnected. You can give it a
1243position in a buffer again by calling @code{move-overlay}.
1244@end defun
1245
1246@defun move-overlay overlay start end &optional buffer
1247This function moves @var{overlay} to @var{buffer}, and places its bounds
1248at @var{start} and @var{end}. Both arguments @var{start} and @var{end}
1249must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or markers.
1250
1251If @var{buffer} is omitted, @var{overlay} stays in the same buffer it
1252was already associated with; if @var{overlay} was deleted, it goes into
1253the current buffer.
1254
1255The return value is @var{overlay}.
1256
1257This is the only valid way to change the endpoints of an overlay. Do
1258not try modifying the markers in the overlay by hand, as that fails to
1259update other vital data structures and can cause some overlays to be
1260``lost.''
1261@end defun
1262
1263@defun remove-overlays &optional start end name value
1264This function removes all the overlays between @var{start} and
1265@var{end} whose property @var{name} has the value @var{value}. It can
1266move the endpoints of the overlays in the region, or split them.
1267
1268If @var{name} is omitted or @code{nil}, it means to delete all overlays in
1269the specified region. If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are omitted or
1270@code{nil}, that means the beginning and end of the buffer respectively.
1271Therefore, @code{(remove-overlays)} removes all the overlays in the
1272current buffer.
1273@end defun
1274
1275 Here are some examples:
1276
1277@example
1278;; @r{Create an overlay.}
1279(setq foo (make-overlay 1 10))
1280 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 10 in display.texi>
1281(overlay-start foo)
1282 @result{} 1
1283(overlay-end foo)
1284 @result{} 10
1285(overlay-buffer foo)
1286 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1287;; @r{Give it a property we can check later.}
1288(overlay-put foo 'happy t)
1289 @result{} t
1290;; @r{Verify the property is present.}
1291(overlay-get foo 'happy)
1292 @result{} t
1293;; @r{Move the overlay.}
1294(move-overlay foo 5 20)
1295 @result{} #<overlay from 5 to 20 in display.texi>
1296(overlay-start foo)
1297 @result{} 5
1298(overlay-end foo)
1299 @result{} 20
1300;; @r{Delete the overlay.}
1301(delete-overlay foo)
1302 @result{} nil
1303;; @r{Verify it is deleted.}
1304foo
1305 @result{} #<overlay in no buffer>
1306;; @r{A deleted overlay has no position.}
1307(overlay-start foo)
1308 @result{} nil
1309(overlay-end foo)
1310 @result{} nil
1311(overlay-buffer foo)
1312 @result{} nil
1313;; @r{Undelete the overlay.}
1314(move-overlay foo 1 20)
1315 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 20 in display.texi>
1316;; @r{Verify the results.}
1317(overlay-start foo)
1318 @result{} 1
1319(overlay-end foo)
1320 @result{} 20
1321(overlay-buffer foo)
1322 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1323;; @r{Moving and deleting the overlay does not change its properties.}
1324(overlay-get foo 'happy)
1325 @result{} t
1326@end example
1327
1328 Emacs stores the overlays of each buffer in two lists, divided
1329around an arbitrary ``center position.'' One list extends backwards
1330through the buffer from that center position, and the other extends
1331forwards from that center position. The center position can be anywhere
1332in the buffer.
1333
1334@defun overlay-recenter pos
1335This function recenters the overlays of the current buffer around
1336position @var{pos}. That makes overlay lookup faster for positions
1337near @var{pos}, but slower for positions far away from @var{pos}.
1338@end defun
1339
1340 A loop that scans the buffer forwards, creating overlays, can run
1341faster if you do @code{(overlay-recenter (point-max))} first.
1342
1343@node Overlay Properties
1344@subsection Overlay Properties
1345
1346 Overlay properties are like text properties in that the properties that
1347alter how a character is displayed can come from either source. But in
1348most respects they are different. @xref{Text Properties}, for comparison.
1349
1350 Text properties are considered a part of the text; overlays and
1351their properties are specifically considered not to be part of the
1352text. Thus, copying text between various buffers and strings
1353preserves text properties, but does not try to preserve overlays.
1354Changing a buffer's text properties marks the buffer as modified,
1355while moving an overlay or changing its properties does not. Unlike
1356text property changes, overlay property changes are not recorded in
1357the buffer's undo list.
1358
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1359 Since more than one overlay can specify a property value for the
1360same character, Emacs lets you specify a priority value of each
1361overlay. You should not make assumptions about which overlay will
1362prevail when there is a conflict and they have the same priority.
1363
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1364 These functions read and set the properties of an overlay:
1365
1366@defun overlay-get overlay prop
1367This function returns the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1368@var{overlay}, if any. If @var{overlay} does not record any value for
1369that property, but it does have a @code{category} property which is a
1370symbol, that symbol's @var{prop} property is used. Otherwise, the value
1371is @code{nil}.
1372@end defun
1373
1374@defun overlay-put overlay prop value
1375This function sets the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1376@var{overlay} to @var{value}. It returns @var{value}.
1377@end defun
1378
1379@defun overlay-properties overlay
1380This returns a copy of the property list of @var{overlay}.
1381@end defun
1382
1383 See also the function @code{get-char-property} which checks both
1384overlay properties and text properties for a given character.
1385@xref{Examining Properties}.
1386
1387 Many overlay properties have special meanings; here is a table
1388of them:
1389
1390@table @code
1391@item priority
1392@kindex priority @r{(overlay property)}
1393This property's value (which should be a nonnegative integer number)
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1394determines the priority of the overlay. No priority, or @code{nil},
1395means zero.
1396
1397The priority matters when two or more overlays cover the same
1398character and both specify the same property; the one whose
1399@code{priority} value is larger overrides the other. For the
1400@code{face} property, the higher priority overlay's value does not
1401completely override the other value; instead, its face attributes
1402override the face attributes of the lower priority @code{face}
1403property.
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1404
1405Currently, all overlays take priority over text properties. Please
1406avoid using negative priority values, as we have not yet decided just
1407what they should mean.
1408
1409@item window
1410@kindex window @r{(overlay property)}
1411If the @code{window} property is non-@code{nil}, then the overlay
1412applies only on that window.
1413
1414@item category
1415@kindex category @r{(overlay property)}
1416If an overlay has a @code{category} property, we call it the
1417@dfn{category} of the overlay. It should be a symbol. The properties
1418of the symbol serve as defaults for the properties of the overlay.
1419
1420@item face
1421@kindex face @r{(overlay property)}
1422This property controls the way text is displayed---for example, which
1423font and which colors. @xref{Faces}, for more information.
1424
1425In the simplest case, the value is a face name. It can also be a list;
1426then each element can be any of these possibilities:
1427
1428@itemize @bullet
1429@item
1430A face name (a symbol or string).
1431
1432@item
1433A property list of face attributes. This has the form (@var{keyword}
1434@var{value} @dots{}), where each @var{keyword} is a face attribute
1435name and @var{value} is a meaningful value for that attribute. With
1436this feature, you do not need to create a face each time you want to
1437specify a particular attribute for certain text. @xref{Face
1438Attributes}.
1439
1440@item
1441A cons cell, either of the form @code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} or
1442@code{(background-color . @var{color-name})}. These elements specify
1443just the foreground color or just the background color.
1444
1445@code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} has the same effect as
1446@code{(:foreground @var{color-name})}; likewise for the background.
1447@end itemize
1448
1449@item mouse-face
1450@kindex mouse-face @r{(overlay property)}
1451This property is used instead of @code{face} when the mouse is within
1452the range of the overlay.
1453
1454@item display
1455@kindex display @r{(overlay property)}
1456This property activates various features that change the
1457way text is displayed. For example, it can make text appear taller
1458or shorter, higher or lower, wider or narrower, or replaced with an image.
1459@xref{Display Property}.
1460
1461@item help-echo
1462@kindex help-echo @r{(overlay property)}
1463If an overlay has a @code{help-echo} property, then when you move the
1464mouse onto the text in the overlay, Emacs displays a help string in the
1465echo area, or in the tooltip window. For details see @ref{Text
1466help-echo}.
1467
1468@item modification-hooks
1469@kindex modification-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1470This property's value is a list of functions to be called if any
1471character within the overlay is changed or if text is inserted strictly
1472within the overlay.
1473
1474The hook functions are called both before and after each change.
1475If the functions save the information they receive, and compare notes
1476between calls, they can determine exactly what change has been made
1477in the buffer text.
1478
1479When called before a change, each function receives four arguments: the
1480overlay, @code{nil}, and the beginning and end of the text range to be
1481modified.
1482
1483When called after a change, each function receives five arguments: the
1484overlay, @code{t}, the beginning and end of the text range just
1485modified, and the length of the pre-change text replaced by that range.
1486(For an insertion, the pre-change length is zero; for a deletion, that
1487length is the number of characters deleted, and the post-change
1488beginning and end are equal.)
1489
1490If these functions modify the buffer, they should bind
1491@code{inhibit-modification-hooks} to @code{t} around doing so, to
1492avoid confusing the internal mechanism that calls these hooks.
1493
1494Text properties also support the @code{modification-hooks} property,
1495but the details are somewhat different (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1496
1497@item insert-in-front-hooks
1498@kindex insert-in-front-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1499This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1500after inserting text right at the beginning of the overlay. The calling
1501conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1502
1503@item insert-behind-hooks
1504@kindex insert-behind-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1505This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1506after inserting text right at the end of the overlay. The calling
1507conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1508
1509@item invisible
1510@kindex invisible @r{(overlay property)}
1511The @code{invisible} property can make the text in the overlay
1512invisible, which means that it does not appear on the screen.
1513@xref{Invisible Text}, for details.
1514
1515@item intangible
1516@kindex intangible @r{(overlay property)}
1517The @code{intangible} property on an overlay works just like the
1518@code{intangible} text property. @xref{Special Properties}, for details.
1519
1520@item isearch-open-invisible
1521This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1522visible, permanently, if the final match overlaps it. @xref{Invisible
1523Text}.
1524
1525@item isearch-open-invisible-temporary
1526This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1527visible, temporarily, during the search. @xref{Invisible Text}.
1528
1529@item before-string
1530@kindex before-string @r{(overlay property)}
1531This property's value is a string to add to the display at the beginning
1532of the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1533sense---only on the screen.
1534
1535@item after-string
1536@kindex after-string @r{(overlay property)}
1537This property's value is a string to add to the display at the end of
1538the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1539sense---only on the screen.
1540
1541@item evaporate
1542@kindex evaporate @r{(overlay property)}
1543If this property is non-@code{nil}, the overlay is deleted automatically
1544if it becomes empty (i.e., if its length becomes zero). If you give
1545an empty overlay a non-@code{nil} @code{evaporate} property, that deletes
1546it immediately.
1547
1548@item local-map
1549@cindex keymap of character (and overlays)
1550@kindex local-map @r{(overlay property)}
1551If this property is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a keymap for a portion
1552of the text. The property's value replaces the buffer's local map, when
1553the character after point is within the overlay. @xref{Active Keymaps}.
1554
1555@item keymap
1556@kindex keymap @r{(overlay property)}
1557The @code{keymap} property is similar to @code{local-map} but overrides the
1558buffer's local map (and the map specified by the @code{local-map}
1559property) rather than replacing it.
1560@end table
1561
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1562The @code{local-map} and @code{keymap} properties do not affect a
1563string displayed by the @code{before-string}, @code{after-string}, or
1564@code{display} properties. This is only relevant for mouse clicks and
1565other mouse events that fall on the string, since point is never on
1566the string. To bind special mouse events for the string, assign it a
1567@code{local-map} or @code{keymap} text property. @xref{Special
1568Properties}.
1569
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1570@node Finding Overlays
1571@subsection Searching for Overlays
1572
1573@defun overlays-at pos
1574This function returns a list of all the overlays that cover the
1575character at position @var{pos} in the current buffer. The list is in
1576no particular order. An overlay contains position @var{pos} if it
1577begins at or before @var{pos}, and ends after @var{pos}.
1578
1579To illustrate usage, here is a Lisp function that returns a list of the
1580overlays that specify property @var{prop} for the character at point:
1581
1582@smallexample
1583(defun find-overlays-specifying (prop)
1584 (let ((overlays (overlays-at (point)))
1585 found)
1586 (while overlays
1587 (let ((overlay (car overlays)))
1588 (if (overlay-get overlay prop)
1589 (setq found (cons overlay found))))
1590 (setq overlays (cdr overlays)))
1591 found))
1592@end smallexample
1593@end defun
1594
1595@defun overlays-in beg end
1596This function returns a list of the overlays that overlap the region
1597@var{beg} through @var{end}. ``Overlap'' means that at least one
1598character is contained within the overlay and also contained within the
1599specified region; however, empty overlays are included in the result if
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1600they are located at @var{beg}, strictly between @var{beg} and @var{end},
1601or at @var{end} when @var{end} denotes the position at the end of the
1602buffer.
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1603@end defun
1604
1605@defun next-overlay-change pos
1606This function returns the buffer position of the next beginning or end
1607of an overlay, after @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1608@code{(point-max)}.
1609@end defun
1610
1611@defun previous-overlay-change pos
1612This function returns the buffer position of the previous beginning or
1613end of an overlay, before @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1614@code{(point-min)}.
1615@end defun
1616
1617 As an example, here's a simplified (and inefficient) version of the
1618primitive function @code{next-single-char-property-change}
1619(@pxref{Property Search}). It searches forward from position
1620@var{pos} for the next position where the value of a given property
1621@code{prop}, as obtained from either overlays or text properties,
1622changes.
1623
1624@smallexample
1625(defun next-single-char-property-change (position prop)
1626 (save-excursion
1627 (goto-char position)
1628 (let ((propval (get-char-property (point) prop)))
1629 (while (and (not (eobp))
1630 (eq (get-char-property (point) prop) propval))
1631 (goto-char (min (next-overlay-change (point))
1632 (next-single-property-change (point) prop)))))
1633 (point)))
1634@end smallexample
1635
1636@node Width
1637@section Width
1638
1639Since not all characters have the same width, these functions let you
1640check the width of a character. @xref{Primitive Indent}, and
1641@ref{Screen Lines}, for related functions.
1642
1643@defun char-width char
1644This function returns the width in columns of the character @var{char},
1645if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1646@end defun
1647
1648@defun string-width string
1649This function returns the width in columns of the string @var{string},
1650if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1651@end defun
1652
1653@defun truncate-string-to-width string width &optional start-column padding ellipsis
1654This function returns the part of @var{string} that fits within
1655@var{width} columns, as a new string.
1656
1657If @var{string} does not reach @var{width}, then the result ends where
1658@var{string} ends. If one multi-column character in @var{string}
1659extends across the column @var{width}, that character is not included in
1660the result. Thus, the result can fall short of @var{width} but cannot
1661go beyond it.
1662
1663The optional argument @var{start-column} specifies the starting column.
1664If this is non-@code{nil}, then the first @var{start-column} columns of
1665the string are omitted from the value. If one multi-column character in
1666@var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}, that
1667character is not included.
1668
1669The optional argument @var{padding}, if non-@code{nil}, is a padding
1670character added at the beginning and end of the result string, to extend
1671it to exactly @var{width} columns. The padding character is used at the
1672end of the result if it falls short of @var{width}. It is also used at
1673the beginning of the result if one multi-column character in
1674@var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}.
1675
1676If @var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a string which will
1677replace the end of @var{str} (including any padding) if it extends
1678beyond @var{end-column}, unless the display width of @var{str} is
1679equal to or less than the display width of @var{ellipsis}. If
1680@var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil} and not a string, it stands for
1681@code{"..."}.
1682
1683@example
1684(truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4)
1685 @result{} "ab"
1686(truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4 ?\s)
1687 @result{} " ab "
1688@end example
1689@end defun
1690
1691@node Line Height
1692@section Line Height
1693@cindex line height
1694
1695 The total height of each display line consists of the height of the
1696contents of the line, plus optional additional vertical line spacing
1697above or below the display line.
1698
1699 The height of the line contents is the maximum height of any
1700character or image on that display line, including the final newline
1701if there is one. (A display line that is continued doesn't include a
1702final newline.) That is the default line height, if you do nothing to
1703specify a greater height. (In the most common case, this equals the
1704height of the default frame font.)
1705
1706 There are several ways to explicitly specify a larger line height,
1707either by specifying an absolute height for the display line, or by
1708specifying vertical space. However, no matter what you specify, the
1709actual line height can never be less than the default.
1710
1711@kindex line-height @r{(text property)}
1712 A newline can have a @code{line-height} text or overlay property
1713that controls the total height of the display line ending in that
1714newline.
1715
1716 If the property value is @code{t}, the newline character has no
1717effect on the displayed height of the line---the visible contents
1718alone determine the height. This is useful for tiling small images
1719(or image slices) without adding blank areas between the images.
1720
1721 If the property value is a list of the form @code{(@var{height}
1722@var{total})}, that adds extra space @emph{below} the display line.
1723First Emacs uses @var{height} as a height spec to control extra space
1724@emph{above} the line; then it adds enough space @emph{below} the line
1725to bring the total line height up to @var{total}. In this case, the
1726other ways to specify the line spacing are ignored.
1727
1728 Any other kind of property value is a height spec, which translates
1729into a number---the specified line height. There are several ways to
1730write a height spec; here's how each of them translates into a number:
1731
1732@table @code
1733@item @var{integer}
1734If the height spec is a positive integer, the height value is that integer.
1735@item @var{float}
1736If the height spec is a float, @var{float}, the numeric height value
1737is @var{float} times the frame's default line height.
1738@item (@var{face} . @var{ratio})
1739If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1740is @var{ratio} times the height of face @var{face}. @var{ratio} can
1741be any type of number, or @code{nil} which means a ratio of 1.
1742If @var{face} is @code{t}, it refers to the current face.
1743@item (nil . @var{ratio})
1744If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1745is @var{ratio} times the height of the contents of the line.
1746@end table
1747
1748 Thus, any valid height spec determines the height in pixels, one way
1749or another. If the line contents' height is less than that, Emacs
1750adds extra vertical space above the line to achieve the specified
1751total height.
1752
1753 If you don't specify the @code{line-height} property, the line's
1754height consists of the contents' height plus the line spacing.
1755There are several ways to specify the line spacing for different
1756parts of Emacs text.
1757
1758@vindex default-line-spacing
1759 You can specify the line spacing for all lines in a frame with the
1760@code{line-spacing} frame parameter (@pxref{Layout Parameters}).
1761However, if the variable @code{default-line-spacing} is
1762non-@code{nil}, it overrides the frame's @code{line-spacing}
1763parameter. An integer value specifies the number of pixels put below
1764lines on graphical displays. A floating point number specifies the
1765spacing relative to the frame's default line height.
1766
1767@vindex line-spacing
1768 You can specify the line spacing for all lines in a buffer via the
1769buffer-local @code{line-spacing} variable. An integer value specifies
1770the number of pixels put below lines on graphical displays. A floating
1771point number specifies the spacing relative to the default frame line
1772height. This overrides line spacings specified for the frame.
1773
1774@kindex line-spacing @r{(text property)}
1775 Finally, a newline can have a @code{line-spacing} text or overlay
1776property that overrides the default frame line spacing and the buffer
1777local @code{line-spacing} variable, for the display line ending in
1778that newline.
1779
1780 One way or another, these mechanisms specify a Lisp value for the
1781spacing of each line. The value is a height spec, and it translates
1782into a Lisp value as described above. However, in this case the
1783numeric height value specifies the line spacing, rather than the line
1784height.
1785
1786@node Faces
1787@section Faces
1788@cindex faces
1789
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1790 A @dfn{face} is a collection of graphical attributes for displaying
1791text: font family, foreground color, background color, optional
1792underlining, and so on. Faces control how buffer text is displayed,
1793and how some parts of the frame, such as the mode-line, are displayed.
1794@xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for the list of
1795faces Emacs normally comes with.
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1796
1797@cindex face id
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1798 For most purposes, you refer to a face in Lisp programs using its
1799@dfn{face name}. This is either a string or (equivalently) a Lisp
1800symbol whose name is equal to that string.
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1801
1802@defun facep object
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1803This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a Lisp
1804symbol or string that names a face. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
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1805@end defun
1806
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1807 Each face name is meaningful for all frames, and by default it has
1808the same meaning in all frames. But you can arrange to give a
1809particular face name a special meaning in one frame if you wish.
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1810
1811@menu
1812* Defining Faces:: How to define a face with @code{defface}.
1813* Face Attributes:: What is in a face?
1814* Attribute Functions:: Functions to examine and set face attributes.
1815* Displaying Faces:: How Emacs combines the faces specified for a character.
d466a866 1816* Face Remapping:: Remapping faces to alternative definitions.
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1817* Face Functions:: How to define and examine faces.
1818* Auto Faces:: Hook for automatic face assignment.
9185bf49 1819* Font Selection:: Finding the best available font for a face.
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1820* Font Lookup:: Looking up the names of available fonts
1821 and information about them.
1822* Fontsets:: A fontset is a collection of fonts
1823 that handle a range of character sets.
c2aa555a 1824* Low-Level Font:: Lisp representation for character display fonts.
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1825@end menu
1826
1827@node Defining Faces
1828@subsection Defining Faces
1829
1830 The way to define a new face is with @code{defface}. This creates a
1831kind of customization item (@pxref{Customization}) which the user can
1832customize using the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy Customization,,,
1833emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
1834
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1835 People are sometimes tempted to create variables whose values specify
1836which faces to use (for example, Font-Lock does this). In the vast
1837majority of cases, this is not necessary, and simply using faces
1838directly is preferable.
1839
b8d4c8d0 1840@defmac defface face spec doc [keyword value]@dots{}
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1841This declares @var{face} as a customizable face whose default
1842attributes are given by @var{spec}. You should not quote the symbol
1843@var{face}, and it should not end in @samp{-face} (that would be
1844redundant). The argument @var{doc} specifies the face documentation.
1845The keywords you can use in @code{defface} are the same as in
1846@code{defgroup} and @code{defcustom} (@pxref{Common Keywords}).
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1847
1848When @code{defface} executes, it defines the face according to
1849@var{spec}, then uses any customizations that were read from the
1850init file (@pxref{Init File}) to override that specification.
1851
1852When you evaluate a @code{defface} form with @kbd{C-M-x} in Emacs
1853Lisp mode (@code{eval-defun}), a special feature of @code{eval-defun}
1854overrides any customizations of the face. This way, the face reflects
1855exactly what the @code{defface} says.
1856
1857The purpose of @var{spec} is to specify how the face should appear on
1858different kinds of terminals. It should be an alist whose elements
1859have the form @code{(@var{display} @var{atts})}. Each element's
1860@sc{car}, @var{display}, specifies a class of terminals. (The first
1861element, if its @sc{car} is @code{default}, is special---it specifies
1862defaults for the remaining elements). The element's @sc{cadr},
1863@var{atts}, is a list of face attributes and their values; it
1864specifies what the face should look like on that kind of terminal.
1865The possible attributes are defined in the value of
1866@code{custom-face-attributes}.
1867
1868The @var{display} part of an element of @var{spec} determines which
1869frames the element matches. If more than one element of @var{spec}
1870matches a given frame, the first element that matches is the one used
1871for that frame. There are three possibilities for @var{display}:
1872
1873@table @asis
1874@item @code{default}
1875This element of @var{spec} doesn't match any frames; instead, it
1876specifies defaults that apply to all frames. This kind of element, if
1877used, must be the first element of @var{spec}. Each of the following
1878elements can override any or all of these defaults.
1879
1880@item @code{t}
1881This element of @var{spec} matches all frames. Therefore, any
1882subsequent elements of @var{spec} are never used. Normally
1883@code{t} is used in the last (or only) element of @var{spec}.
1884
1885@item a list
1886If @var{display} is a list, each element should have the form
1887@code{(@var{characteristic} @var{value}@dots{})}. Here
1888@var{characteristic} specifies a way of classifying frames, and the
1889@var{value}s are possible classifications which @var{display} should
1890apply to. Here are the possible values of @var{characteristic}:
1891
1892@table @code
1893@item type
1894The kind of window system the frame uses---either @code{graphic} (any
1895graphics-capable display), @code{x}, @code{pc} (for the MS-DOS console),
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1896@code{w32} (for MS Windows 9X/NT/2K/XP), or @code{tty}
1897(a non-graphics-capable display).
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1898@xref{Window Systems, window-system}.
1899
1900@item class
1901What kinds of colors the frame supports---either @code{color},
1902@code{grayscale}, or @code{mono}.
1903
1904@item background
1905The kind of background---either @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1906
1907@item min-colors
1908An integer that represents the minimum number of colors the frame
1909should support. This matches a frame if its
1910@code{display-color-cells} value is at least the specified integer.
1911
1912@item supports
1913Whether or not the frame can display the face attributes given in
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1914@var{value}@dots{} (@pxref{Face Attributes}). @xref{Display Face
1915Attribute Testing}, for more information on exactly how this testing
1916is done.
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1917@end table
1918
1919If an element of @var{display} specifies more than one @var{value} for a
1920given @var{characteristic}, any of those values is acceptable. If
1921@var{display} has more than one element, each element should specify a
1922different @var{characteristic}; then @emph{each} characteristic of the
1923frame must match one of the @var{value}s specified for it in
1924@var{display}.
1925@end table
1926@end defmac
1927
1928 Here's how the standard face @code{region} is defined:
1929
1930@example
1931@group
1932(defface region
1933 '((((class color) (min-colors 88) (background dark))
1934 :background "blue3")
1935@end group
1936 (((class color) (min-colors 88) (background light))
1937 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1938 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background dark))
1939 :background "blue3")
1940 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background light))
1941 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1942 (((class color) (min-colors 8))
1943 :background "blue" :foreground "white")
1944 (((type tty) (class mono))
1945 :inverse-video t)
1946 (t :background "gray"))
1947@group
1948 "Basic face for highlighting the region."
1949 :group 'basic-faces)
1950@end group
1951@end example
1952
1953 Internally, @code{defface} uses the symbol property
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1954@code{face-defface-spec} to record the specified face attributes. The
1955attributes saved by the user with the customization buffer are
1956recorded in the symbol property @code{saved-face}; the attributes
1957customized by the user for the current session, but not saved, are
1958recorded in the symbol property @code{customized-face}. The
1959documentation string is recorded in the symbol property
1960@code{face-documentation}.
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1961
1962@defopt frame-background-mode
1963This option, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the background type to use for
1964interpreting face definitions. If it is @code{dark}, then Emacs treats
1965all frames as if they had a dark background, regardless of their actual
1966background colors. If it is @code{light}, then Emacs treats all frames
1967as if they had a light background.
1968@end defopt
1969
1970@node Face Attributes
1971@subsection Face Attributes
1972@cindex face attributes
1973
1974 The effect of using a face is determined by a fixed set of @dfn{face
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1975attributes}. This table lists all the face attributes, their possible
1976values, and their effects. You can specify more than one face for a
1977given piece of text; Emacs merges the attributes of all the faces to
1978determine how to display the text. @xref{Displaying Faces}.
1979
1980 In addition to the values given below, each face attribute can also
1981have the value @code{unspecified}. This special value means the face
1982doesn't specify that attribute. In face merging, when the first face
1983fails to specify a particular attribute, the next face gets a chance.
1984However, the @code{default} face must specify all attributes.
1985
1986 Some of these font attributes are meaningful only on certain kinds
1987of displays. If your display cannot handle a certain attribute, the
1988attribute is ignored.
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1989
1990@table @code
1991@item :family
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1992Font family name or fontset name (a string). If you specify a font
1993family name, the wild-card characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are
1994allowed. The function @code{font-family-list}, described below,
1995returns a list of available family names. @xref{Fontsets}, for
1996information about fontsets.
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1997
1998@item :foundry
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1999The name of the @dfn{font foundry} in which the font family specified
2000by the @code{:family} attribute is located (a string). The wild-card
2001characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are allowed.
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2002
2003@item :width
42a2a154 2004Relative proportionate character width, also known as the character
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2005set width. This should be one of the symbols @code{ultra-condensed},
2006@code{extra-condensed}, @code{condensed}, @code{semi-condensed},
2007@code{normal}, @code{semi-expanded}, @code{expanded},
2008@code{extra-expanded}, or @code{ultra-expanded}.
2009
2010@item :height
42a2a154 2011Font height---either an integer in units of 1/10 point, or a floating
b8d4c8d0 2012point number specifying the amount by which to scale the height of any
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2013underlying face, or a function that is called with one argument (the
2014height of the underlying face) and returns the height of the new face.
2015If the function is passed an integer argument, it must return an
2016integer.
2017
2018The height of the default face must be specified using an integer;
2019floating point and function values are not allowed.
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2020
2021@item :weight
42a2a154 2022Font weight---one of the symbols (from densest to faintest)
b8d4c8d0 2023@code{ultra-bold}, @code{extra-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{semi-bold},
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2024@code{normal}, @code{semi-light}, @code{light}, @code{extra-light}, or
2025@code{ultra-light}. On text-only terminals that support
2026variable-brightness text, any weight greater than normal is displayed
2027as extra bright, and any weight less than normal is displayed as
2028half-bright.
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2029
2030@item :slant
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2031Font slant---one of the symbols @code{italic}, @code{oblique},
2032@code{normal}, @code{reverse-italic}, or @code{reverse-oblique}. On
2033text-only terminals that support variable-brightness text, slanted
2034text is displayed as half-bright.
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2035
2036@item :foreground
2037Foreground color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
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2038name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}. On
2039black-and-white displays, certain shades of gray are implemented by
2040stipple patterns.
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2041
2042@item :background
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2043Background color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
2044name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}.
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2045
2046@item :underline
2047Whether or not characters should be underlined, and in what color. If
2048the value is @code{t}, underlining uses the foreground color of the
2049face. If the value is a string, underlining uses that color. The
2050value @code{nil} means do not underline.
2051
2052@item :overline
2053Whether or not characters should be overlined, and in what color.
2054The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2055
2056@item :strike-through
2057Whether or not characters should be strike-through, and in what
2058color. The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2059
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2060@item :box
2061Whether or not a box should be drawn around characters, its color, the
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2062width of the box lines, and 3D appearance. Here are the possible
2063values of the @code{:box} attribute, and what they mean:
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2064
2065@table @asis
2066@item @code{nil}
2067Don't draw a box.
2068
2069@item @code{t}
2070Draw a box with lines of width 1, in the foreground color.
2071
2072@item @var{color}
2073Draw a box with lines of width 1, in color @var{color}.
2074
2075@item @code{(:line-width @var{width} :color @var{color} :style @var{style})}
2076This way you can explicitly specify all aspects of the box. The value
2077@var{width} specifies the width of the lines to draw; it defaults to 1.
2078
2079The value @var{color} specifies the color to draw with. The default is
2080the foreground color of the face for simple boxes, and the background
2081color of the face for 3D boxes.
2082
2083The value @var{style} specifies whether to draw a 3D box. If it is
2084@code{released-button}, the box looks like a 3D button that is not being
2085pressed. If it is @code{pressed-button}, the box looks like a 3D button
2086that is being pressed. If it is @code{nil} or omitted, a plain 2D box
2087is used.
2088@end table
2089
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2090@item :inverse-video
2091Whether or not characters should be displayed in inverse video. The
2092value should be @code{t} (yes) or @code{nil} (no).
b8d4c8d0 2093
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2094@item :stipple
2095The background stipple, a bitmap.
b8d4c8d0 2096
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2097The value can be a string; that should be the name of a file containing
2098external-format X bitmap data. The file is found in the directories
2099listed in the variable @code{x-bitmap-file-path}.
b8d4c8d0 2100
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2101Alternatively, the value can specify the bitmap directly, with a list
2102of the form @code{(@var{width} @var{height} @var{data})}. Here,
2103@var{width} and @var{height} specify the size in pixels, and
2104@var{data} is a string containing the raw bits of the bitmap, row by
2105row. Each row occupies @math{(@var{width} + 7) / 8} consecutive bytes
2106in the string (which should be a unibyte string for best results).
2107This means that each row always occupies at least one whole byte.
b8d4c8d0 2108
42a2a154 2109If the value is @code{nil}, that means use no stipple pattern.
b8d4c8d0 2110
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2111Normally you do not need to set the stipple attribute, because it is
2112used automatically to handle certain shades of gray.
b8d4c8d0 2113
42a2a154 2114@item :font
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2115The font used to display the face. Its value should be a font object.
2116@xref{Font Selection}, for information about font objects.
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2117
2118When specifying this attribute using @code{set-face-attribute}
9185bf49 2119(@pxref{Attribute Functions}), you may also supply a font spec, a font
42a2a154 2120entity, or a string. Emacs converts such values to an appropriate
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2121font object, and stores that font object as the actual attribute
2122value. If you specify a string, the contents of the string should be
2123a font name (@pxref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The
2124GNU Emacs Manual}); if the font name is an XLFD containing wildcards,
2125Emacs chooses the first font matching those wildcards. Specifying
2126this attribute also changes the values of the @code{:family},
2127@code{:foundry}, @code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and
2128@code{:slant} attributes.
b8d4c8d0 2129
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2130@item :inherit
2131The name of a face from which to inherit attributes, or a list of face
2132names. Attributes from inherited faces are merged into the face like
2133an underlying face would be, with higher priority than underlying
2134faces. If a list of faces is used, attributes from faces earlier in
2135the list override those from later faces.
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2136@end table
2137
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2138For compatibility with Emacs 20, you can also specify values for two
2139``fake'' face attributes: @code{:bold} and @code{:italic}. Their
2140values must be either @code{t} or @code{nil}; a value of
2141@code{unspecified} is not allowed. Setting @code{:bold} to @code{t}
2142is equivalent to setting the @code{:weight} attribute to @code{bold},
2143and setting it to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:weight}
2144to @code{normal}. Setting @code{:italic} to @code{t} is equivalent to
2145setting the @code{:slant} attribute to @code{italic}, and setting it
2146to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:slant} to @code{normal}.
2147
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2148@defun font-family-list &optional frame
2149This function returns a list of available font family names. The
2150optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on which the text is
2151to be displayed; if it is @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2152@end defun
2153
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2154@defvar x-bitmap-file-path
2155This variable specifies a list of directories for searching
2156for bitmap files, for the @code{:stipple} attribute.
2157@end defvar
2158
2159@defun bitmap-spec-p object
2160This returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a valid bitmap specification,
2161suitable for use with @code{:stipple} (see above). It returns
2162@code{nil} otherwise.
2163@end defun
2164
2165@node Attribute Functions
2166@subsection Face Attribute Functions
2167
2168 This section describes the functions for accessing and modifying the
2169attributes of an existing face.
2170
2171@defun set-face-attribute face frame &rest arguments
42a2a154 2172This function sets one or more attributes of @var{face} for
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2173@var{frame}. The attributes you specify this way override whatever
2174the @code{defface} says.
2175
2176The extra arguments @var{arguments} specify the attributes to set, and
2177the values for them. They should consist of alternating attribute names
2178(such as @code{:family} or @code{:underline}) and corresponding values.
2179Thus,
2180
2181@example
2182(set-face-attribute 'foo nil
2183 :width 'extended
2184 :weight 'bold
2185 :underline "red")
2186@end example
2187
2188@noindent
2189sets the attributes @code{:width}, @code{:weight} and @code{:underline}
2190to the corresponding values.
2191
2192If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this function sets the default attributes
2193for new frames. Default attribute values specified this way override
2194the @code{defface} for newly created frames.
2195
2196If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, this function sets the attributes for
2197all existing frames, and the default for new frames.
2198@end defun
2199
2200@defun face-attribute face attribute &optional frame inherit
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2201This returns the value of the @var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}
2202on @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, that means the selected
2203frame (@pxref{Input Focus}).
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2204
2205If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this returns whatever new-frames default
2206value you previously specified with @code{set-face-attribute} for the
2207@var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}. If you have not specified
2208one, it returns @code{nil}.
2209
2210If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only attributes directly defined by
2211@var{face} are considered, so the return value may be
2212@code{unspecified}, or a relative value. If @var{inherit} is
2213non-@code{nil}, @var{face}'s definition of @var{attribute} is merged
2214with the faces specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute; however the
2215return value may still be @code{unspecified} or relative. If
2216@var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then the result is further
2217merged with that face (or faces), until it becomes specified and
2218absolute.
2219
2220To ensure that the return value is always specified and absolute, use
2221a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}; this will resolve any
2222unspecified or relative values by merging with the @code{default} face
2223(which is always completely specified).
2224
2225For example,
2226
2227@example
2228(face-attribute 'bold :weight)
2229 @result{} bold
2230@end example
2231@end defun
2232
2233@defun face-attribute-relative-p attribute value
2234This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{value}, when used as the
2235value of the face attribute @var{attribute}, is relative. This means
2236it would modify, rather than completely override, any value that comes
2237from a subsequent face in the face list or that is inherited from
2238another face.
2239
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2240@code{unspecified} is a relative value for all attributes. For
2241@code{:height}, floating point and function values are also relative.
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2242
2243For example:
2244
2245@example
2246(face-attribute-relative-p :height 2.0)
2247 @result{} t
2248@end example
2249@end defun
2250
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2251@defun face-all-attributes face &optional frame
2252This function returns an alist of attributes of @var{face}. The
2253elements of the result are name-value pairs of the form
2254@w{@code{(@var{attr-name} . @var{attr-value})}}. Optional argument
2255@var{frame} specifies the frame whose definition of @var{face} to
2256return; if omitted or @code{nil}, the returned value describes the
2257default attributes of @var{face} for newly created frames.
2258@end defun
2259
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2260@defun merge-face-attribute attribute value1 value2
2261If @var{value1} is a relative value for the face attribute
2262@var{attribute}, returns it merged with the underlying value
2263@var{value2}; otherwise, if @var{value1} is an absolute value for the
2264face attribute @var{attribute}, returns @var{value1} unchanged.
2265@end defun
2266
42a2a154 2267 The following functions provide compatibility with Emacs 20 and
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2268below. They work by calling @code{set-face-attribute}. Values of
2269@code{t} and @code{nil} for their @var{frame} argument are handled
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2270just like @code{set-face-attribute} and @code{face-attribute}.
2271
2272@defun set-face-foreground face color &optional frame
2273@defunx set-face-background face color &optional frame
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2274These functions set the @code{:foreground} attribute (or
2275@code{:background} attribute, respectively) of @var{face} to
2276@var{color}.
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2277@end defun
2278
2279@defun set-face-stipple face pattern &optional frame
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2280This function sets the @code{:stipple} attribute of @var{face} to
2281@var{pattern}.
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2282@end defun
2283
2284@defun set-face-font face font &optional frame
d466a866 2285This function sets the @code{:font} attribute of @var{face} to
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2286@var{font}.
2287@end defun
2288
2289@defun set-face-bold-p face bold-p &optional frame
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2290This function sets the @code{:weight} attribute of @var{face} to
2291@var{normal} if @var{bold-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{bold}
2292otherwise.
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2293@end defun
2294
2295@defun set-face-italic-p face italic-p &optional frame
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2296This function sets the @code{:slant} attribute of @var{face} to
2297@var{normal} if @var{italic-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{italic}
2298otherwise.
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2299@end defun
2300
2301@defun set-face-underline-p face underline &optional frame
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2302This function sets the @code{:underline} attribute of @var{face} to
2303@var{underline}.
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2304@end defun
2305
2306@defun set-face-inverse-video-p face inverse-video-p &optional frame
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2307This function sets the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of @var{face}
2308to @var{inverse-video-p}.
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2309@end defun
2310
2311@defun invert-face face &optional frame
2312This function swaps the foreground and background colors of face
2313@var{face}.
2314@end defun
2315
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2316 The following functions examine the attributes of a face. If you
2317don't specify @var{frame}, they refer to the selected frame; @code{t}
2318refers to the default data for new frames. They return the symbol
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2319@code{unspecified} if the face doesn't define any value for that
2320attribute.
2321
2322@defun face-foreground face &optional frame inherit
2323@defunx face-background face &optional frame inherit
2324These functions return the foreground color (or background color,
2325respectively) of face @var{face}, as a string.
2326
2327If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a color directly defined by the face is
2328returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces specified by its
2329@code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and if @var{inherit}
2330is a face or a list of faces, then they are also considered, until a
2331specified color is found. To ensure that the return value is always
2332specified, use a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}.
2333@end defun
2334
2335@defun face-stipple face &optional frame inherit
2336This function returns the name of the background stipple pattern of face
2337@var{face}, or @code{nil} if it doesn't have one.
2338
2339If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a stipple directly defined by the
2340face is returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces
2341specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and
2342if @var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then they are also
2343considered, until a specified stipple is found. To ensure that the
2344return value is always specified, use a value of @code{default} for
2345@var{inherit}.
2346@end defun
2347
2348@defun face-font face &optional frame
2349This function returns the name of the font of face @var{face}.
2350@end defun
2351
2352@defun face-bold-p face &optional frame
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2353This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:weight}
2354attribute of @var{face} is bolder than normal (i.e., one of
2355@code{semi-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{extra-bold}, or
2356@code{ultra-bold}). Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
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2357@end defun
2358
2359@defun face-italic-p face &optional frame
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2360This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:slant}
2361attribute of @var{face} is @code{italic} or @code{oblique}, and
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2362@code{nil} otherwise.
2363@end defun
2364
2365@defun face-underline-p face &optional frame
2366This function returns the @code{:underline} attribute of face @var{face}.
2367@end defun
2368
2369@defun face-inverse-video-p face &optional frame
2370This function returns the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of face @var{face}.
2371@end defun
2372
2373@node Displaying Faces
2374@subsection Displaying Faces
2375
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2376 Here is how Emacs determines the face to use for displaying any
2377given piece of text:
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2378
2379@itemize @bullet
2380@item
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2381If the text consists of a special glyph, the glyph can specify a
2382particular face. @xref{Glyphs}.
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2383
2384@item
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2385If the text lies within an active region, Emacs highlights it using
2386the @code{region} face. @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2387Manual}.
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2388
2389@item
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2390If the text lies within an overlay with a non-@code{nil} @code{face}
2391property, Emacs applies the face or face attributes specified by that
2392property. If the overlay has a @code{mouse-face} property and the
2393mouse is ``near enough'' to the overlay, Emacs applies the face or
2394face attributes specified by the @code{mouse-face} property instead.
2395@xref{Overlay Properties}.
b8d4c8d0 2396
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2397When multiple overlays cover one character, an overlay with higher
2398priority overrides those with lower priority. @xref{Overlays}.
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2399
2400@item
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2401If the text contains a @code{face} or @code{mouse-face} property,
2402Emacs applies the specified faces and face attributes. @xref{Special
2403Properties}. (This is how Font Lock mode faces are applied.
2404@xref{Font Lock Mode}.)
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2405
2406@item
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2407If the text lies within the mode line of the selected window, Emacs
2408applies the @code{mode-line} face. For the mode line of a
2409non-selected window, Emacs applies the @code{mode-line-inactive} face.
2410For a header line, Emacs applies the @code{header-line} face.
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2411
2412@item
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2413If any given attribute has not been specified during the preceding
2414steps, Emacs applies the attribute of the @code{default} face.
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2415@end itemize
2416
2417 If these various sources together specify more than one face for a
2418particular character, Emacs merges the attributes of the various faces
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2419specified. For each attribute, Emacs tries using the above order
2420(i.e., first the face of any special glyph; then the face for region
2421highlighting, if appropriate; then faces specified by overlays, then
2422faces specified by text properties, then the @code{mode-line} or
2423@code{mode-line-inactive} or @code{header-line} face, if appropriate,
2424and finally the @code{default} face).
b8d4c8d0 2425
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2426@node Face Remapping
2427@subsection Face Remapping
f2cec7a9 2428
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2429 The variable @code{face-remapping-alist} is used for buffer-local or
2430global changes in the appearance of a face. For instance, it can be
2431used to make the @code{default} face a variable-pitch face within a
2432particular buffer.
f2cec7a9 2433
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2434@defvar face-remapping-alist
2435An alist whose elements have the form @code{(@var{face}
2436@var{remapping...})}. This causes Emacs to display text using the
2437face @var{face} using @var{remapping...} instead of @var{face}'s
2438ordinary definition. @var{remapping...} may be any face specification
2439suitable for a @code{face} text property: either a face name, or a
2440property list of attribute/value pairs. @xref{Special Properties}.
2441
2442If @code{face-remapping-alist} is buffer-local, its local value takes
2443effect only within that buffer.
f2cec7a9
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2444
2445Two points bear emphasizing:
2446
2447@enumerate
2448@item
2449The new definition @var{remapping...} is the complete
2450specification of how to display @var{face}---it entirely replaces,
2451rather than augmenting or modifying, the normal definition of that
2452face.
2453
2454@item
2455If @var{remapping...} recursively references the same face name
2456@var{face}, either directly remapping entry, or via the
2457@code{:inherit} attribute of some other face in
2458@var{remapping...}, then that reference uses normal frame-wide
2459definition of @var{face} instead of the ``remapped'' definition.
2460
2461For instance, if the @code{mode-line} face is remapped using this
2462entry in @code{face-remapping-alist}:
2463@example
2464(mode-line italic mode-line)
2465@end example
2466@noindent
2467then the new definition of the @code{mode-line} face inherits from the
2468@code{italic} face, and the @emph{normal} (non-remapped) definition of
2469@code{mode-line} face.
2470@end enumerate
d466a866 2471@end defvar
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2472
2473 A typical use of the @code{face-remapping-alist} is to change a
2474buffer's @code{default} face; for example, the following changes a
2475buffer's @code{default} face to use the @code{variable-pitch} face,
2476with the height doubled:
2477
2478@example
2479(set (make-local-variable 'face-remapping-alist)
2480 '((default variable-pitch :height 2.0)))
2481@end example
2482
d466a866 2483 The following functions implement a higher-level interface to
9d3d42fb
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2484@code{face-remapping-alist}, making it easier to use
2485``cooperatively''. They are mainly intended for buffer-local use, and
2486so all make @code{face-remapping-alist} variable buffer-local as a
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2487side-effect. They use entries in @code{face-remapping-alist} which
2488have the general form:
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2489
2490@example
2491 (@var{face} @var{relative_specs_1} @var{relative_specs_2} @var{...} @var{base_specs})
2492@end example
2493
2494Everything except the @var{face} is a ``face spec'', a list of face
2495names or face attribute-value pairs. All face specs are merged
2496together, with earlier values taking precedence.
2497
2498The @var{relative_specs_}n values are ``relative specs'', and are
e40a85cd
MB
2499added by @code{face-remap-add-relative} (and removed by
2500@code{face-remap-remove-relative}. These are intended for face
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2501modifications (such as increasing the size). Typical users of these
2502relative specs would be minor modes.
2503
2504@var{base_specs} is the lowest-priority value, and by default is just the
2505face name, which causes the global definition of that face to be used.
2506
2507A non-default value of @var{base_specs} may also be set using
e40a85cd 2508@code{face-remap-set-base}. Because this @emph{overwrites} the
9d3d42fb 2509default base-spec value (which inherits the global face definition),
e40a85cd 2510it is up to the caller of @code{face-remap-set-base} to add such
9d3d42fb 2511inheritance if it is desired. A typical use of
e40a85cd 2512@code{face-remap-set-base} would be a major mode adding a face
9d3d42fb
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2513remappings, e.g., of the default face.
2514
2515
e40a85cd 2516@defun face-remap-add-relative face &rest specs
9d3d42fb
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2517This functions adds a face remapping entry of @var{face} to @var{specs}
2518in the current buffer.
2519
2520It returns a ``cookie'' which can be used to later delete the remapping with
e40a85cd 2521@code{face-remap-remove-relative}.
9d3d42fb
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2522
2523@var{specs} can be any value suitable for the @code{face} text
2524property, including a face name, a list of face names, or a
2525face-attribute property list. The attributes given by @var{specs}
2526will be merged with any other currently active face remappings of
2527@var{face}, and with the global definition of @var{face} (by default;
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2528this may be changed using @code{face-remap-set-base}), with the most
2529recently added relative remapping taking precedence.
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2530@end defun
2531
e40a85cd 2532@defun face-remap-remove-relative cookie
9d3d42fb 2533This function removes a face remapping previously added by
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2534@code{face-remap-add-relative}. @var{cookie} should be a return value
2535from that function.
9d3d42fb
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2536@end defun
2537
e40a85cd 2538@defun face-remap-set-base face &rest specs
9d3d42fb
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2539This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} in the current
2540buffer to @var{specs}. If @var{specs} is empty, the default base
2541remapping is restored, which inherits from the global definition of
2542@var{face}; note that this is different from @var{specs} containing a
2543single value @code{nil}, which has the opposite result (the global
2544definition of @var{face} is ignored).
2545@end defun
2546
e40a85cd 2547@defun face-remap-reset-base face
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2548This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} to its default
2549value, which inherits from @var{face}'s global definition.
2550@end defun
2551
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2552@node Face Functions
2553@subsection Functions for Working with Faces
2554
2555 Here are additional functions for creating and working with faces.
2556
2557@defun make-face name
2558This function defines a new face named @var{name}, initially with all
2559attributes @code{nil}. It does nothing if there is already a face named
2560@var{name}.
2561@end defun
2562
2563@defun face-list
2564This function returns a list of all defined face names.
2565@end defun
2566
2567@defun copy-face old-face new-name &optional frame new-frame
2568This function defines a face named @var{new-name} as a copy of the existing
2569face named @var{old-face}. It creates the face @var{new-name} if that
2570doesn't already exist.
2571
2572If the optional argument @var{frame} is given, this function applies
2573only to that frame. Otherwise it applies to each frame individually,
2574copying attributes from @var{old-face} in each frame to @var{new-face}
2575in the same frame.
2576
2577If the optional argument @var{new-frame} is given, then @code{copy-face}
2578copies the attributes of @var{old-face} in @var{frame} to @var{new-name}
2579in @var{new-frame}.
2580@end defun
2581
2582@defun face-id face
2583This function returns the @dfn{face number} of face @var{face}. This
2584is a number that uniquely identifies a face at low levels within
2585Emacs. It is seldom necessary to refer to a face by its face number.
2586@end defun
2587
2588@defun face-documentation face
2589This function returns the documentation string of face @var{face}, or
2590@code{nil} if none was specified for it.
2591@end defun
2592
2593@defun face-equal face1 face2 &optional frame
2594This returns @code{t} if the faces @var{face1} and @var{face2} have the
2595same attributes for display.
2596@end defun
2597
2598@defun face-differs-from-default-p face &optional frame
2599This returns non-@code{nil} if the face @var{face} displays
2600differently from the default face.
2601@end defun
2602
2603@cindex face alias
2604A @dfn{face alias} provides an equivalent name for a face. You can
2605define a face alias by giving the alias symbol the @code{face-alias}
2606property, with a value of the target face name. The following example
2607makes @code{modeline} an alias for the @code{mode-line} face.
2608
2609@example
2610(put 'modeline 'face-alias 'mode-line)
2611@end example
2612
2613@node Auto Faces
2614@subsection Automatic Face Assignment
2615@cindex automatic face assignment
2616@cindex faces, automatic choice
2617
2618 This hook is used for automatically assigning faces to text in the
2619buffer. It is part of the implementation of Jit-Lock mode, used by
2620Font-Lock.
2621
2622@defvar fontification-functions
2623This variable holds a list of functions that are called by Emacs
2624redisplay as needed to assign faces automatically to text in the buffer.
2625
2626The functions are called in the order listed, with one argument, a
2627buffer position @var{pos}. Each function should attempt to assign faces
2628to the text in the current buffer starting at @var{pos}.
2629
2630Each function should record the faces they assign by setting the
2631@code{face} property. It should also add a non-@code{nil}
2632@code{fontified} property for all the text it has assigned faces to.
2633That property tells redisplay that faces have been assigned to that text
2634already.
2635
2636It is probably a good idea for each function to do nothing if the
2637character after @var{pos} already has a non-@code{nil} @code{fontified}
2638property, but this is not required. If one function overrides the
2639assignments made by a previous one, the properties as they are
2640after the last function finishes are the ones that really matter.
2641
2642For efficiency, we recommend writing these functions so that they
2643usually assign faces to around 400 to 600 characters at each call.
2644@end defvar
2645
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2646@node Font Selection
2647@subsection Font Selection
9185bf49
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2648
2649 Before Emacs can draw a character on a particular display, it must
2650select a @dfn{font} for that character@footnote{In this context, the
2651term @dfn{font} has nothing to do with Font Lock (@pxref{Font Lock
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2652Mode}).}. Normally, Emacs automatically chooses a font based on the
2653faces assigned to that character---specifically, the face attributes
2654@code{:family}, @code{:weight}, @code{:slant}, and @code{:width}
2655(@pxref{Face Attributes}). The choice of font also depends on the
2656character to be displayed; some fonts can only display a limited set
2657of characters. If no available font exactly fits the requirements,
2658Emacs looks for the @dfn{closest matching font}. The variables in
2659this section control how Emacs makes this selection.
9185bf49 2660
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2661@defvar face-font-family-alternatives
2662If a given family is specified but does not exist, this variable
2663specifies alternative font families to try. Each element should have
2664this form:
9185bf49 2665
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2666@example
2667(@var{family} @var{alternate-families}@dots{})
2668@end example
b8d4c8d0 2669
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2670If @var{family} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the other
2671families given in @var{alternate-families}, one by one, until it finds a
2672family that does exist.
2673@end defvar
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2674
2675@defvar face-font-selection-order
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2676If there is no font that exactly matches all desired face attributes
2677(@code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and @code{:slant}),
2678this variable specifies the order in which these attributes should be
2679considered when selecting the closest matching font. The value should
2680be a list containing those four attribute symbols, in order of
2681decreasing importance. The default is @code{(:width :height :weight
2682:slant)}.
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2683
2684Font selection first finds the best available matches for the first
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2685attribute in the list; then, among the fonts which are best in that
2686way, it searches for the best matches in the second attribute, and so
2687on.
b8d4c8d0
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2688
2689The attributes @code{:weight} and @code{:width} have symbolic values in
2690a range centered around @code{normal}. Matches that are more extreme
2691(farther from @code{normal}) are somewhat preferred to matches that are
2692less extreme (closer to @code{normal}); this is designed to ensure that
2693non-normal faces contrast with normal ones, whenever possible.
2694
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2695One example of a case where this variable makes a difference is when the
2696default font has no italic equivalent. With the default ordering, the
2697@code{italic} face will use a non-italic font that is similar to the
2698default one. But if you put @code{:slant} before @code{:height}, the
2699@code{italic} face will use an italic font, even if its height is not
2700quite right.
2701@end defvar
2702
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2703@defvar face-font-registry-alternatives
2704This variable lets you specify alternative font registries to try, if a
2705given registry is specified and doesn't exist. Each element should have
2706this form:
2707
2708@example
2709(@var{registry} @var{alternate-registries}@dots{})
2710@end example
2711
2712If @var{registry} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the
2713other registries given in @var{alternate-registries}, one by one,
2714until it finds a registry that does exist.
2715@end defvar
2716
2717 Emacs can make use of scalable fonts, but by default it does not use
c2aa555a 2718them.
b8d4c8d0
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2719
2720@defvar scalable-fonts-allowed
2721This variable controls which scalable fonts to use. A value of
2722@code{nil}, the default, means do not use scalable fonts. @code{t}
2723means to use any scalable font that seems appropriate for the text.
2724
2725Otherwise, the value must be a list of regular expressions. Then a
2726scalable font is enabled for use if its name matches any regular
2727expression in the list. For example,
2728
2729@example
2730(setq scalable-fonts-allowed '("muleindian-2$"))
2731@end example
2732
2733@noindent
2734allows the use of scalable fonts with registry @code{muleindian-2}.
2735@end defvar
2736
2737@defvar face-font-rescale-alist
2738This variable specifies scaling for certain faces. Its value should
2739be a list of elements of the form
2740
2741@example
2742(@var{fontname-regexp} . @var{scale-factor})
2743@end example
2744
2745If @var{fontname-regexp} matches the font name that is about to be
2746used, this says to choose a larger similar font according to the
2747factor @var{scale-factor}. You would use this feature to normalize
2748the font size if certain fonts are bigger or smaller than their
2749nominal heights and widths would suggest.
2750@end defvar
2751
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2752@node Font Lookup
2753@subsection Looking Up Fonts
2754
803ee7b9 2755@defun x-list-fonts name &optional reference-face frame maximum width
b8d4c8d0 2756This function returns a list of available font names that match
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2757@var{name}. @var{name} should be a string containing a font name in
2758either the Fontconfig, GTK, or XLFD format (@pxref{Font X,, Font
2759Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Within an XLFD
2760string, wildcard characters may be used: the @samp{*} character
2761matches any substring, and the @samp{?} character matches any single
2762character. Case is ignored when matching font names.
2763
2764If the optional arguments @var{reference-face} and @var{frame} are
2765specified, the returned list includes only fonts that are the same
2766size as @var{reference-face} (a face name) currently is on the frame
2767@var{frame}.
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2768
2769The optional argument @var{maximum} sets a limit on how many fonts to
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2770return. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the return value is truncated
2771after the first @var{maximum} matching fonts. Specifying a small
2772value for @var{maximum} can make this function much faster, in cases
2773where many fonts match the pattern.
803ee7b9
CY
2774
2775The optional argument @var{width} specifies a desired font width. If
2776it is non-@code{nil}, the function only returns those fonts whose
2777characters are (on average) @var{width} times as wide as
2778@var{reference-face}.
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2779@end defun
2780
2781@defun x-family-fonts &optional family frame
2782This function returns a list describing the available fonts for family
2783@var{family} on @var{frame}. If @var{family} is omitted or @code{nil},
2784this list applies to all families, and therefore, it contains all
2785available fonts. Otherwise, @var{family} must be a string; it may
2786contain the wildcards @samp{?} and @samp{*}.
2787
2788The list describes the display that @var{frame} is on; if @var{frame} is
2789omitted or @code{nil}, it applies to the selected frame's display
2790(@pxref{Input Focus}).
2791
c2aa555a 2792Each element in the list is a vector of the following form:
b8d4c8d0
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2793
2794@example
2795[@var{family} @var{width} @var{point-size} @var{weight} @var{slant}
2796 @var{fixed-p} @var{full} @var{registry-and-encoding}]
2797@end example
2798
2799The first five elements correspond to face attributes; if you
2800specify these attributes for a face, it will use this font.
2801
2802The last three elements give additional information about the font.
2803@var{fixed-p} is non-@code{nil} if the font is fixed-pitch.
2804@var{full} is the full name of the font, and
2805@var{registry-and-encoding} is a string giving the registry and
2806encoding of the font.
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GM
2807@end defun
2808
2809@defvar font-list-limit
2810This variable specifies maximum number of fonts to consider in font
2811matching. The function @code{x-family-fonts} will not return more than
2812that many fonts, and font selection will consider only that many fonts
2813when searching a matching font for face attributes. The default is
2814currently 100.
2815@end defvar
2816
2817@node Fontsets
2818@subsection Fontsets
2819
2820 A @dfn{fontset} is a list of fonts, each assigned to a range of
2821character codes. An individual font cannot display the whole range of
2822characters that Emacs supports, but a fontset can. Fontsets have names,
2823just as fonts do, and you can use a fontset name in place of a font name
2824when you specify the ``font'' for a frame or a face. Here is
2825information about defining a fontset under Lisp program control.
2826
2827@defun create-fontset-from-fontset-spec fontset-spec &optional style-variant-p noerror
2828This function defines a new fontset according to the specification
2829string @var{fontset-spec}. The string should have this format:
2830
2831@smallexample
7b753744 2832@var{fontpattern}, @r{[}@var{charset}:@var{font}@r{]@dots{}}
b8d4c8d0
GM
2833@end smallexample
2834
2835@noindent
2836Whitespace characters before and after the commas are ignored.
2837
2838The first part of the string, @var{fontpattern}, should have the form of
2839a standard X font name, except that the last two fields should be
2840@samp{fontset-@var{alias}}.
2841
2842The new fontset has two names, one long and one short. The long name is
2843@var{fontpattern} in its entirety. The short name is
2844@samp{fontset-@var{alias}}. You can refer to the fontset by either
2845name. If a fontset with the same name already exists, an error is
2846signaled, unless @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}, in which case this
2847function does nothing.
2848
2849If optional argument @var{style-variant-p} is non-@code{nil}, that says
2850to create bold, italic and bold-italic variants of the fontset as well.
2851These variant fontsets do not have a short name, only a long one, which
2852is made by altering @var{fontpattern} to indicate the bold or italic
2853status.
2854
2855The specification string also says which fonts to use in the fontset.
2856See below for the details.
2857@end defun
2858
2859 The construct @samp{@var{charset}:@var{font}} specifies which font to
2860use (in this fontset) for one particular character set. Here,
2861@var{charset} is the name of a character set, and @var{font} is the font
2862to use for that character set. You can use this construct any number of
2863times in the specification string.
2864
2865 For the remaining character sets, those that you don't specify
2866explicitly, Emacs chooses a font based on @var{fontpattern}: it replaces
2867@samp{fontset-@var{alias}} with a value that names one character set.
2868For the @acronym{ASCII} character set, @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} is replaced
2869with @samp{ISO8859-1}.
2870
2871 In addition, when several consecutive fields are wildcards, Emacs
2872collapses them into a single wildcard. This is to prevent use of
2873auto-scaled fonts. Fonts made by scaling larger fonts are not usable
2874for editing, and scaling a smaller font is not useful because it is
2875better to use the smaller font in its own size, which Emacs does.
2876
2877 Thus if @var{fontpattern} is this,
2878
2879@example
2880-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24
2881@end example
2882
2883@noindent
2884the font specification for @acronym{ASCII} characters would be this:
2885
2886@example
2887-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-ISO8859-1
2888@end example
2889
2890@noindent
2891and the font specification for Chinese GB2312 characters would be this:
2892
2893@example
2894-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2895@end example
2896
2897 You may not have any Chinese font matching the above font
2898specification. Most X distributions include only Chinese fonts that
2899have @samp{song ti} or @samp{fangsong ti} in the @var{family} field. In
2900such a case, @samp{Fontset-@var{n}} can be specified as below:
2901
2902@smallexample
2903Emacs.Fontset-0: -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24,\
2904 chinese-gb2312:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2905@end smallexample
2906
2907@noindent
2908Then, the font specifications for all but Chinese GB2312 characters have
2909@samp{fixed} in the @var{family} field, and the font specification for
2910Chinese GB2312 characters has a wild card @samp{*} in the @var{family}
2911field.
2912
d6eb4e25
KH
2913@defun set-fontset-font name character font-spec &optional frame add
2914This function modifies the existing fontset @var{name} to use the font
2915matching with @var{font-spec} for the character @var{character}.
b8d4c8d0 2916
d6eb4e25
KH
2917If @var{name} is @code{nil}, this function modifies the fontset of the
2918selected frame or that of @var{frame} if @var{frame} is not
2919@code{nil}.
2920
2921If @var{name} is @code{t}, this function modifies the default
b8d4c8d0
GM
2922fontset, whose short name is @samp{fontset-default}.
2923
2924@var{character} may be a cons; @code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, where
d15c8cce 2925@var{from} and @var{to} are character codepoints. In that case, use
d6eb4e25 2926@var{font-spec} for all characters in the range @var{from} and @var{to}
b8d4c8d0
GM
2927(inclusive).
2928
2929@var{character} may be a charset. In that case, use
d6eb4e25
KH
2930@var{font-spec} for all character in the charsets.
2931
2932@var{character} may be a script anme. In that case, use
2933@var{font-spec} for all character in the charsets.
b8d4c8d0 2934
d6eb4e25 2935@var{font-spec} may be a cons; @code{(@var{family} . @var{registry})},
b8d4c8d0
GM
2936where @var{family} is a family name of a font (possibly including a
2937foundry name at the head), @var{registry} is a registry name of a font
2938(possibly including an encoding name at the tail).
2939
d6eb4e25
KH
2940@var{font-spec} may be a font name string.
2941
2942The optional argument @var{add}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies how to
2943add @var{font-spec} to the font specifications previously set. If it
2944is @code{prepend}, @var{font-spec} is prepended. If it is
2945@code{append}, @var{font-spec} is appended. By default,
2946@var{font-spec} overrides the previous settings.
2947
b8d4c8d0 2948For instance, this changes the default fontset to use a font of which
d6eb4e25 2949family name is @samp{Kochi Gothic} for all characters belonging to
b8d4c8d0
GM
2950the charset @code{japanese-jisx0208}.
2951
2952@smallexample
d6eb4e25
KH
2953(set-fontset-font t 'japanese-jisx0208
2954 (font-spec :family "Kochi Gothic"))
b8d4c8d0
GM
2955@end smallexample
2956@end defun
2957
2958@defun char-displayable-p char
2959This function returns @code{t} if Emacs ought to be able to display
2960@var{char}. More precisely, if the selected frame's fontset has a
2961font to display the character set that @var{char} belongs to.
2962
2963Fontsets can specify a font on a per-character basis; when the fontset
2964does that, this function's value may not be accurate.
2965@end defun
2966
c2aa555a
CY
2967@node Low-Level Font
2968@subsection Low-Level Font Representation
2969
2970 Normally, it is not necessary to manipulate fonts directly. In case
2971you need to do so, this section explains how.
2972
2973 In Emacs Lisp, fonts are represented using three different Lisp
f19fea97 2974object types: @dfn{font objects}, @dfn{font specs}, and @dfn{font
c2aa555a
CY
2975entities}.
2976
2977@defun fontp object &optional type
2978Return @code{t} if @var{object} is a font object, font spec, or font
2979entity. Otherwise, return @code{nil}.
2980
2981The optional argument @var{type}, if non-@code{nil}, determines the
2982exact type of Lisp object to check for. In that case, @var{type}
2983should be one of @code{font-object}, @code{font-spec}, or
2984@code{font-entity}.
2985@end defun
2986
2987 A font object is a Lisp object that represents a font that Emacs has
2988@dfn{opened}. Font objects cannot be modified in Lisp, but they can
2989be inspected. If you call @code{set-face-attribute} and pass a font
2990spec, font entity, or font name string as the value of the
2991@code{:font} attribute, Emacs opens the best ``matching'' font that is
2992available for display. It then stores the corresponding font object
2993as the actual value of the @code{:font} attribute for that face.
2994
2995@defun font-at position &optional window string
2996Return the font object that is being used to display the character at
2997position @var{position} in the window @var{window}. If @var{window}
2998is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected window. If @var{string} is
2999@code{nil}, @var{position} specifies a position in the current buffer;
3000otherwise, @var{string} should be a string, and @var{position}
3001specifies a position in that string.
3002@end defun
3003
3004 A font spec is a Lisp object that contains a set of specifications
3005that can be used to find a font. More than one font may match the
3006specifications in a font spec.
3007
3008@defun font-spec &rest arguments
3009Return a new font spec using the specifications in @var{arguments},
3010which should come in @code{property}-@code{value} pairs. The possible
3011specifications are as follows:
3012
3013@table @code
3014@item :name
3015The font name (a string), in either XLFD, Fontconfig, or GTK format.
3016@xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs
3017Manual}.
3018
3019@item :family
3020@itemx :foundry
3021@itemx :weight
3022@itemx :slant
3023@itemx :width
3024These have the same meanings as the face attributes of the same name.
3025@xref{Face Attributes}.
3026
3027@item :size
3028The font size---either a non-negative integer that specifies the pixel
3029size, or a floating point number that specifies the point size.
3030
3031@item :adstyle
3032Additional typographic style information for the font, such as
3033@samp{sans}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
3034
3035@item :registry
3036The charset registry and encoding of the font, such as
3037@samp{iso8859-1}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
3038
3039@item :script
3040The script that the font must support (a symbol).
3041@end table
3042@end defun
3043
3044@defun font-put font-spec property value
3045Set the font property @var{property} in the font-spec @var{font-spec}
3046to @var{value}.
3047@end defun
3048
3049 A font entity is a reference to a font that need not be open. Its
3050properties are intermediate between a font object and a font spec:
3051like a font object, and unlike a font spec, it refers to a single,
3052specific font. Unlike a font object, creating a font entity does not
3053load the contents of that font into computer memory.
3054
3055@defun find-font font-spec &optional frame
3056This function returns a font entity that best matches the font spec
3057@var{font-spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil},
3058it defaults to the selected frame.
3059@end defun
3060
3061@defun list-fonts font-spec &optional frame num prefer
3062This function returns a list of all font entities that match the font
3063spec @var{font-spec}.
3064
3065The optional argument @var{frame}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the
3066frame on which the fonts are to be displayed. The optional argument
3067@var{num}, if non-@code{nil}, should be an integer that specifies the
3068maximum length of the returned list. The optional argument
3069@var{prefer}, if non-@code{nil}, should be another font spec, which is
3070used to control the order of the returned list; the returned font
3071entities are sorted in order of decreasing ``closeness'' to that font
3072spec.
3073@end defun
3074
3075 The following functions can be used to obtain information about a
3076font. For these functions, the @var{font} argument can be a font
3077object, a font entity, or a font spec.
3078
3079@defun font-get font property
3080This function returns the value of the font property @var{property}
3081for @var{font}.
3082
3083If @var{font} is a font spec and the font spec does not specify
3084@var{property}, the return value is @code{nil}. If @var{font} is a
3085font object or font entity, the value for the @var{:script} property
3086may be a list of scripts supported by the font.
3087@end defun
3088
3089@defun font-face-attributes font &optional frame
3090This function returns a list of face attributes corresponding to
3091@var{font}. The optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on
3092which the font is to be displayed. If it is @code{nil}, the selected
3093frame is used. The return value has the form
3094
3095@smallexample
3096(:family @var{family} :height @var{height} :weight @var{weight}
3097 :slant @var{slant} :width @var{width})
3098@end smallexample
3099
3100where the values of @var{family}, @var{height}, @var{weight},
3101@var{slant}, and @var{width} are face attribute values. Some of these
3102key-attribute pairs may be omitted from the list if they are not
3103specified by @var{font}.
3104@end defun
3105
3106@defun font-xlfd-name font &optional fold-wildcards
3107This function returns the XLFD (X Logical Font Descriptor), a string,
3108matching @var{font}. @xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options,
3109emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for information about XLFDs. If the
3110name is too long for an XLFD (which can contain at most 255
3111characters), the function returns @code{nil}.
3112
3113If the optional argument @var{fold-wildcards} is non-@code{nil},
3114consecutive wildcards in the XLFD are folded into one.
3115@end defun
3116
b8d4c8d0
GM
3117@node Fringes
3118@section Fringes
3119@cindex fringes
3120
3121 The @dfn{fringes} of a window are thin vertical strips down the
3122sides that are used for displaying bitmaps that indicate truncation,
3123continuation, horizontal scrolling, and the overlay arrow.
3124
3125@menu
3126* Fringe Size/Pos:: Specifying where to put the window fringes.
3127* Fringe Indicators:: Displaying indicator icons in the window fringes.
3128* Fringe Cursors:: Displaying cursors in the right fringe.
3129* Fringe Bitmaps:: Specifying bitmaps for fringe indicators.
3130* Customizing Bitmaps:: Specifying your own bitmaps to use in the fringes.
3131* Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
3132@end menu
3133
3134@node Fringe Size/Pos
3135@subsection Fringe Size and Position
3136
3137 The following buffer-local variables control the position and width
3138of the window fringes.
3139
3140@defvar fringes-outside-margins
3141The fringes normally appear between the display margins and the window
3142text. If the value is non-@code{nil}, they appear outside the display
3143margins. @xref{Display Margins}.
3144@end defvar
3145
3146@defvar left-fringe-width
3147This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the left
3148fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the left fringe
3149width from the window's frame.
3150@end defvar
3151
3152@defvar right-fringe-width
3153This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the right
3154fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the right fringe
3155width from the window's frame.
3156@end defvar
3157
3158 The values of these variables take effect when you display the
3159buffer in a window. If you change them while the buffer is visible,
3160you can call @code{set-window-buffer} to display it once again in the
3161same window, to make the changes take effect.
3162
3163@defun set-window-fringes window left &optional right outside-margins
3164This function sets the fringe widths of window @var{window}.
3165If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3166
3167The argument @var{left} specifies the width in pixels of the left
3168fringe, and likewise @var{right} for the right fringe. A value of
3169@code{nil} for either one stands for the default width. If
3170@var{outside-margins} is non-@code{nil}, that specifies that fringes
3171should appear outside of the display margins.
3172@end defun
3173
3174@defun window-fringes &optional window
3175This function returns information about the fringes of a window
3176@var{window}. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected
3177window is used. The value has the form @code{(@var{left-width}
3178@var{right-width} @var{outside-margins})}.
3179@end defun
3180
3181
3182@node Fringe Indicators
3183@subsection Fringe Indicators
3184@cindex fringe indicators
3185@cindex indicators, fringe
3186
3187 The @dfn{fringe indicators} are tiny icons Emacs displays in the
3188window fringe (on a graphic display) to indicate truncated or
3189continued lines, buffer boundaries, overlay arrow, etc.
3190
3191@defopt indicate-empty-lines
3192@cindex fringes, and empty line indication
3193When this is non-@code{nil}, Emacs displays a special glyph in the
3194fringe of each empty line at the end of the buffer, on graphical
3195displays. @xref{Fringes}. This variable is automatically
3196buffer-local in every buffer.
3197@end defopt
3198
3199@defvar indicate-buffer-boundaries
3200This buffer-local variable controls how the buffer boundaries and
3201window scrolling are indicated in the window fringes.
3202
3203Emacs can indicate the buffer boundaries---that is, the first and last
3204line in the buffer---with angle icons when they appear on the screen.
3205In addition, Emacs can display an up-arrow in the fringe to show
3206that there is text above the screen, and a down-arrow to show
3207there is text below the screen.
3208
3209There are three kinds of basic values:
3210
3211@table @asis
3212@item @code{nil}
3213Don't display any of these fringe icons.
3214@item @code{left}
3215Display the angle icons and arrows in the left fringe.
3216@item @code{right}
3217Display the angle icons and arrows in the right fringe.
3218@item any non-alist
3219Display the angle icons in the left fringe
3220and don't display the arrows.
3221@end table
3222
3223Otherwise the value should be an alist that specifies which fringe
3224indicators to display and where. Each element of the alist should
3225have the form @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{position})}. Here,
3226@var{indicator} is one of @code{top}, @code{bottom}, @code{up},
3227@code{down}, and @code{t} (which covers all the icons not yet
3228specified), while @var{position} is one of @code{left}, @code{right}
3229and @code{nil}.
3230
3231For example, @code{((top . left) (t . right))} places the top angle
3232bitmap in left fringe, and the bottom angle bitmap as well as both
3233arrow bitmaps in right fringe. To show the angle bitmaps in the left
3234fringe, and no arrow bitmaps, use @code{((top . left) (bottom . left))}.
3235@end defvar
3236
3237@defvar default-indicate-buffer-boundaries
3238The value of this variable is the default value for
3239@code{indicate-buffer-boundaries} in buffers that do not override it.
3240@end defvar
3241
3242@defvar fringe-indicator-alist
3243This buffer-local variable specifies the mapping from logical fringe
3244indicators to the actual bitmaps displayed in the window fringes.
3245
3246These symbols identify the logical fringe indicators:
3247
3248@table @asis
3249@item Truncation and continuation line indicators:
3250@code{truncation}, @code{continuation}.
3251
3252@item Buffer position indicators:
3253@code{up}, @code{down},
3254@code{top}, @code{bottom},
3255@code{top-bottom}.
3256
3257@item Empty line indicator:
3258@code{empty-line}.
3259
3260@item Overlay arrow indicator:
3261@code{overlay-arrow}.
3262
3263@item Unknown bitmap indicator:
3264@code{unknown}.
3265@end table
3266
3267 The value is an alist where each element @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{bitmaps})}
3268specifies the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical
3269fringe indicator.
3270
3271Here, @var{indicator} specifies the logical indicator type, and
3272@var{bitmaps} is list of symbols @code{(@var{left} @var{right}
3273[@var{left1} @var{right1}])} which specifies the actual bitmap shown
3274in the left or right fringe for the logical indicator.
3275
3276The @var{left} and @var{right} symbols specify the bitmaps shown in
3277the left and/or right fringe for the specific indicator. The
3278@var{left1} or @var{right1} bitmaps are used only for the `bottom' and
3279`top-bottom indicators when the last (only) line in has no final
3280newline. Alternatively, @var{bitmaps} may be a single symbol which is
3281used in both left and right fringes.
3282
3283When @code{fringe-indicator-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there
3284is no bitmap defined for a logical indicator, or the bitmap is
3285@code{t}, the corresponding value from the (non-local)
3286@code{default-fringe-indicator-alist} is used.
3287
3288To completely hide a specific indicator, set the bitmap to @code{nil}.
3289@end defvar
3290
3291@defvar default-fringe-indicator-alist
3292The value of this variable is the default value for
3293@code{fringe-indicator-alist} in buffers that do not override it.
3294@end defvar
3295
3296Standard fringe bitmaps for indicators:
3297@example
3298left-arrow right-arrow up-arrow down-arrow
3299left-curly-arrow right-curly-arrow
3300left-triangle right-triangle
3301top-left-angle top-right-angle
3302bottom-left-angle bottom-right-angle
3303left-bracket right-bracket
3304filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle
3305filled-square hollow-square
3306vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3307empty-line question-mark
3308@end example
3309
3310@node Fringe Cursors
3311@subsection Fringe Cursors
3312@cindex fringe cursors
3313@cindex cursor, fringe
3314
3315 When a line is exactly as wide as the window, Emacs displays the
3316cursor in the right fringe instead of using two lines. Different
3317bitmaps are used to represent the cursor in the fringe depending on
3318the current buffer's cursor type.
3319
3320@table @asis
3321@item Logical cursor types:
3322@code{box} , @code{hollow}, @code{bar},
3323@code{hbar}, @code{hollow-small}.
3324@end table
3325
3326The @code{hollow-small} type is used instead of @code{hollow} when the
3327normal @code{hollow-rectangle} bitmap is too tall to fit on a specific
3328display line.
3329
3330@defvar overflow-newline-into-fringe
3331If this is non-@code{nil}, lines exactly as wide as the window (not
3332counting the final newline character) are not continued. Instead,
3333when point is at the end of the line, the cursor appears in the right
3334fringe.
3335@end defvar
3336
3337@defvar fringe-cursor-alist
3338This variable specifies the mapping from logical cursor type to the
3339actual fringe bitmaps displayed in the right fringe. The value is an
3340alist where each element @code{(@var{cursor} . @var{bitmap})} specifies
3341the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical cursor type in
3342the fringe. Here, @var{cursor} specifies the logical cursor type and
3343@var{bitmap} is a symbol specifying the fringe bitmap to be displayed
3344for that logical cursor type.
3345
3346When @code{fringe-cursor-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there is
3347no bitmap defined for a cursor type, the corresponding value from the
3348(non-local) @code{default-fringes-indicator-alist} is used.
3349@end defvar
3350
3351@defvar default-fringes-cursor-alist
3352The value of this variable is the default value for
3353@code{fringe-cursor-alist} in buffers that do not override it.
3354@end defvar
3355
3356Standard bitmaps for displaying the cursor in right fringe:
3357@example
3358filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle filled-square hollow-square
3359vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3360@end example
3361
3362
3363@node Fringe Bitmaps
3364@subsection Fringe Bitmaps
3365@cindex fringe bitmaps
3366@cindex bitmaps, fringe
3367
3368 The @dfn{fringe bitmaps} are the actual bitmaps which represent the
3369logical fringe indicators for truncated or continued lines, buffer
3370boundaries, overlay arrow, etc. Fringe bitmap symbols have their own
3371name space. The fringe bitmaps are shared by all frames and windows.
3372You can redefine the built-in fringe bitmaps, and you can define new
3373fringe bitmaps.
3374
3375 The way to display a bitmap in the left or right fringes for a given
3376line in a window is by specifying the @code{display} property for one
3377of the characters that appears in it. Use a display specification of
3378the form @code{(left-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} or
3379@code{(right-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} (@pxref{Display
3380Property}). Here, @var{bitmap} is a symbol identifying the bitmap you
3381want, and @var{face} (which is optional) is the name of the face whose
3382colors should be used for displaying the bitmap, instead of the
3383default @code{fringe} face. @var{face} is automatically merged with
3384the @code{fringe} face, so normally @var{face} need only specify the
3385foreground color for the bitmap.
3386
3387@defun fringe-bitmaps-at-pos &optional pos window
3388This function returns the fringe bitmaps of the display line
3389containing position @var{pos} in window @var{window}. The return
3390value has the form @code{(@var{left} @var{right} @var{ov})}, where @var{left}
3391is the symbol for the fringe bitmap in the left fringe (or @code{nil}
3392if no bitmap), @var{right} is similar for the right fringe, and @var{ov}
3393is non-@code{nil} if there is an overlay arrow in the left fringe.
3394
3395The value is @code{nil} if @var{pos} is not visible in @var{window}.
3396If @var{window} is @code{nil}, that stands for the selected window.
3397If @var{pos} is @code{nil}, that stands for the value of point in
3398@var{window}.
3399@end defun
3400
3401@node Customizing Bitmaps
3402@subsection Customizing Fringe Bitmaps
3403
3404@defun define-fringe-bitmap bitmap bits &optional height width align
3405This function defines the symbol @var{bitmap} as a new fringe bitmap,
3406or replaces an existing bitmap with that name.
3407
3408The argument @var{bits} specifies the image to use. It should be
3409either a string or a vector of integers, where each element (an
3410integer) corresponds to one row of the bitmap. Each bit of an integer
3411corresponds to one pixel of the bitmap, where the low bit corresponds
3412to the rightmost pixel of the bitmap.
3413
3414The height is normally the length of @var{bits}. However, you
3415can specify a different height with non-@code{nil} @var{height}. The width
3416is normally 8, but you can specify a different width with non-@code{nil}
3417@var{width}. The width must be an integer between 1 and 16.
3418
3419The argument @var{align} specifies the positioning of the bitmap
3420relative to the range of rows where it is used; the default is to
3421center the bitmap. The allowed values are @code{top}, @code{center},
3422or @code{bottom}.
3423
3424The @var{align} argument may also be a list @code{(@var{align}
3425@var{periodic})} where @var{align} is interpreted as described above.
3426If @var{periodic} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies that the rows in
3427@code{bits} should be repeated enough times to reach the specified
3428height.
3429@end defun
3430
3431@defun destroy-fringe-bitmap bitmap
3432This function destroy the fringe bitmap identified by @var{bitmap}.
3433If @var{bitmap} identifies a standard fringe bitmap, it actually
3434restores the standard definition of that bitmap, instead of
3435eliminating it entirely.
3436@end defun
3437
3438@defun set-fringe-bitmap-face bitmap &optional face
3439This sets the face for the fringe bitmap @var{bitmap} to @var{face}.
3440If @var{face} is @code{nil}, it selects the @code{fringe} face. The
3441bitmap's face controls the color to draw it in.
3442
3443@var{face} is merged with the @code{fringe} face, so normally
3444@var{face} should specify only the foreground color.
3445@end defun
3446
3447@node Overlay Arrow
3448@subsection The Overlay Arrow
3449@c @cindex overlay arrow Duplicates variable names
3450
3451 The @dfn{overlay arrow} is useful for directing the user's attention
3452to a particular line in a buffer. For example, in the modes used for
3453interface to debuggers, the overlay arrow indicates the line of code
3454about to be executed. This feature has nothing to do with
3455@dfn{overlays} (@pxref{Overlays}).
3456
3457@defvar overlay-arrow-string
3458This variable holds the string to display to call attention to a
3459particular line, or @code{nil} if the arrow feature is not in use.
3460On a graphical display the contents of the string are ignored; instead a
3461glyph is displayed in the fringe area to the left of the display area.
3462@end defvar
3463
3464@defvar overlay-arrow-position
3465This variable holds a marker that indicates where to display the overlay
3466arrow. It should point at the beginning of a line. On a non-graphical
3467display the arrow text
3468appears at the beginning of that line, overlaying any text that would
3469otherwise appear. Since the arrow is usually short, and the line
3470usually begins with indentation, normally nothing significant is
3471overwritten.
3472
3473The overlay-arrow string is displayed in any given buffer if the value
3474of @code{overlay-arrow-position} in that buffer points into that
3475buffer. Thus, it is possible to display multiple overlay arrow strings
3476by creating buffer-local bindings of @code{overlay-arrow-position}.
3477However, it is usually cleaner to use
3478@code{overlay-arrow-variable-list} to achieve this result.
3479@c !!! overlay-arrow-position: but the overlay string may remain in the display
3480@c of some other buffer until an update is required. This should be fixed
3481@c now. Is it?
3482@end defvar
3483
3484 You can do a similar job by creating an overlay with a
3485@code{before-string} property. @xref{Overlay Properties}.
3486
3487 You can define multiple overlay arrows via the variable
3488@code{overlay-arrow-variable-list}.
3489
3490@defvar overlay-arrow-variable-list
3491This variable's value is a list of variables, each of which specifies
3492the position of an overlay arrow. The variable
3493@code{overlay-arrow-position} has its normal meaning because it is on
3494this list.
3495@end defvar
3496
3497Each variable on this list can have properties
3498@code{overlay-arrow-string} and @code{overlay-arrow-bitmap} that
3499specify an overlay arrow string (for text-only terminals) or fringe
3500bitmap (for graphical terminals) to display at the corresponding
3501overlay arrow position. If either property is not set, the default
3502@code{overlay-arrow-string} or @code{overlay-arrow} fringe indicator
3503is used.
3504
3505@node Scroll Bars
3506@section Scroll Bars
3507@cindex scroll bars
3508
3509Normally the frame parameter @code{vertical-scroll-bars} controls
3510whether the windows in the frame have vertical scroll bars, and
3511whether they are on the left or right. The frame parameter
3512@code{scroll-bar-width} specifies how wide they are (@code{nil}
3513meaning the default). @xref{Layout Parameters}.
3514
3515@defun frame-current-scroll-bars &optional frame
3516This function reports the scroll bar type settings for frame
3517@var{frame}. The value is a cons cell
3518@code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}, where
3519@var{vertical-type} is either @code{left}, @code{right}, or @code{nil}
3520(which means no scroll bar.) @var{horizontal-type} is meant to
3521specify the horizontal scroll bar type, but since they are not
3522implemented, it is always @code{nil}.
3523@end defun
3524
3525@vindex vertical-scroll-bar
3526 You can enable or disable scroll bars for a particular buffer,
3527by setting the variable @code{vertical-scroll-bar}. This variable
3528automatically becomes buffer-local when set. The possible values are
3529@code{left}, @code{right}, @code{t}, which means to use the
3530frame's default, and @code{nil} for no scroll bar.
3531
3532 You can also control this for individual windows. Call the function
3533@code{set-window-scroll-bars} to specify what to do for a specific window:
3534
3535@defun set-window-scroll-bars window width &optional vertical-type horizontal-type
3536This function sets the width and type of scroll bars for window
3537@var{window}.
3538
3539@var{width} specifies the scroll bar width in pixels (@code{nil} means
3540use the width specified for the frame). @var{vertical-type} specifies
3541whether to have a vertical scroll bar and, if so, where. The possible
3542values are @code{left}, @code{right} and @code{nil}, just like the
3543values of the @code{vertical-scroll-bars} frame parameter.
3544
3545The argument @var{horizontal-type} is meant to specify whether and
3546where to have horizontal scroll bars, but since they are not
3547implemented, it has no effect. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the
3548selected window is used.
3549@end defun
3550
3551@defun window-scroll-bars &optional window
3552Report the width and type of scroll bars specified for @var{window}.
3553If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3554The value is a list of the form @code{(@var{width}
3555@var{cols} @var{vertical-type} @var{horizontal-type})}. The value
3556@var{width} is the value that was specified for the width (which may
3557be @code{nil}); @var{cols} is the number of columns that the scroll
3558bar actually occupies.
3559
3560@var{horizontal-type} is not actually meaningful.
3561@end defun
3562
3563If you don't specify these values for a window with
3564@code{set-window-scroll-bars}, the buffer-local variables
3565@code{scroll-bar-mode} and @code{scroll-bar-width} in the buffer being
3566displayed control the window's vertical scroll bars. The function
3567@code{set-window-buffer} examines these variables. If you change them
3568in a buffer that is already visible in a window, you can make the
3569window take note of the new values by calling @code{set-window-buffer}
3570specifying the same buffer that is already displayed.
3571
3572@defvar scroll-bar-mode
3573This variable, always local in all buffers, controls whether and where
3574to put scroll bars in windows displaying the buffer. The possible values
3575are @code{nil} for no scroll bar, @code{left} to put a scroll bar on
3576the left, and @code{right} to put a scroll bar on the right.
3577@end defvar
3578
3579@defun window-current-scroll-bars &optional window
3580This function reports the scroll bar type for window @var{window}.
3581If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3582The value is a cons cell
3583@code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}. Unlike
3584@code{window-scroll-bars}, this reports the scroll bar type actually
3585used, once frame defaults and @code{scroll-bar-mode} are taken into
3586account.
3587@end defun
3588
3589@defvar scroll-bar-width
3590This variable, always local in all buffers, specifies the width of the
3591buffer's scroll bars, measured in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means
3592to use the value specified by the frame.
3593@end defvar
3594
3595@node Display Property
3596@section The @code{display} Property
3597@cindex display specification
3598@kindex display @r{(text property)}
3599
3600 The @code{display} text property (or overlay property) is used to
3601insert images into text, and also control other aspects of how text
3602displays. The value of the @code{display} property should be a
3603display specification, or a list or vector containing several display
fb33e6a9
RS
3604specifications. Display specifications in the same @code{display}
3605property value generally apply in parallel to the text they cover.
3606
3607 If several sources (overlays and/or a text property) specify values
3608for the @code{display} property, only one of the values takes effect,
3609following the rules of @code{get-char-property}. @xref{Examining
3610Properties}.
3611
3612 The rest of this section describes several kinds of
3613display specifications and what they mean.
3614
3615@menu
3616* Replacing Specs:: Display specs that replace the text.
3617* Specified Space:: Displaying one space with a specified width.
3618* Pixel Specification:: Specifying space width or height in pixels.
3619* Other Display Specs:: Displaying an image; magnifying text; moving it
3620 up or down on the page; adjusting the width
3621 of spaces within text.
3622* Display Margins:: Displaying text or images to the side of the main text.
3623@end menu
3624
3625@node Replacing Specs
3626@subsection Display Specs That Replace The Text
4db6da64 3627
9600ac7c 3628 Some kinds of @code{display} specifications specify something to
fb33e6a9
RS
3629display instead of the text that has the property. These are called
3630@dfn{replacing} display specifications. Emacs does not allow the user
3631to interactively move point into the middle of buffer text that is
3632replaced in this way.
3633
3634 If a list of display specifications includes more than one replacing
3635display specification, the first overrides the rest. Replacing
3636display specifications make most other display specifications
3637irrelevant, since those don't apply to the replacement.
3638
3639 For replacing display specifications, ``the text that has the
3640property'' means all the consecutive characters that have the same
3641Lisp object as their @code{display} property; these characters are
3642replaced as a single unit. By contrast, characters that have similar
3643but distinct Lisp objects as their @code{display} properties are
3644handled separately. Here's a function that illustrates this point:
b8d4c8d0
GM
3645
3646@smallexample
3647(defun foo ()
3648 (goto-char (point-min))
3649 (dotimes (i 5)
3650 (let ((string (concat "A")))
3651 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3652 (forward-char 1)
3653 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3654 (forward-char 1))))
3655@end smallexample
3656
3657@noindent
3658It gives each of the first ten characters in the buffer string
3659@code{"A"} as the @code{display} property, but they don't all get the
3660same string. The first two characters get the same string, so they
3661together are replaced with one @samp{A}. The next two characters get
3662a second string, so they together are replaced with one @samp{A}.
3663Likewise for each following pair of characters. Thus, the ten
3664characters appear as five A's. This function would have the same
3665results:
3666
3667@smallexample
3668(defun foo ()
3669 (goto-char (point-min))
3670 (dotimes (i 5)
3671 (let ((string (concat "A")))
9600ac7c 3672 (put-text-property (point) (+ 2 (point)) 'display string)
b8d4c8d0
GM
3673 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3674 (forward-char 2))))
3675@end smallexample
3676
3677@noindent
3678This illustrates that what matters is the property value for
3679each character. If two consecutive characters have the same
3680object as the @code{display} property value, it's irrelevant
3681whether they got this property from a single call to
3682@code{put-text-property} or from two different calls.
3683
b8d4c8d0
GM
3684@node Specified Space
3685@subsection Specified Spaces
3686@cindex spaces, specified height or width
3687@cindex variable-width spaces
3688
3689 To display a space of specified width and/or height, use a display
3690specification of the form @code{(space . @var{props})}, where
3691@var{props} is a property list (a list of alternating properties and
3692values). You can put this property on one or more consecutive
3693characters; a space of the specified height and width is displayed in
3694place of @emph{all} of those characters. These are the properties you
3695can use in @var{props} to specify the weight of the space:
3696
3697@table @code
3698@item :width @var{width}
3699If @var{width} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3700that the space width should be @var{width} times the normal character
3701width. @var{width} can also be a @dfn{pixel width} specification
3702(@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3703
3704@item :relative-width @var{factor}
3705Specifies that the width of the stretch should be computed from the
3706first character in the group of consecutive characters that have the
3707same @code{display} property. The space width is the width of that
3708character, multiplied by @var{factor}.
3709
3710@item :align-to @var{hpos}
3711Specifies that the space should be wide enough to reach @var{hpos}.
3712If @var{hpos} is a number, it is measured in units of the normal
3713character width. @var{hpos} can also be a @dfn{pixel width}
3714specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3715@end table
3716
3717 You should use one and only one of the above properties. You can
3718also specify the height of the space, with these properties:
3719
3720@table @code
3721@item :height @var{height}
3722Specifies the height of the space.
3723If @var{height} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3724that the space height should be @var{height} times the normal character
3725height. The @var{height} may also be a @dfn{pixel height} specification
3726(@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3727
3728@item :relative-height @var{factor}
3729Specifies the height of the space, multiplying the ordinary height
3730of the text having this display specification by @var{factor}.
3731
3732@item :ascent @var{ascent}
3733If the value of @var{ascent} is a non-negative number no greater than
3734100, it specifies that @var{ascent} percent of the height of the space
3735should be considered as the ascent of the space---that is, the part
3736above the baseline. The ascent may also be specified in pixel units
3737with a @dfn{pixel ascent} specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3738
3739@end table
3740
3741 Don't use both @code{:height} and @code{:relative-height} together.
3742
3743 The @code{:width} and @code{:align-to} properties are supported on
3744non-graphic terminals, but the other space properties in this section
3745are not.
3746
3747@node Pixel Specification
3748@subsection Pixel Specification for Spaces
3749@cindex spaces, pixel specification
3750
3751 The value of the @code{:width}, @code{:align-to}, @code{:height},
3752and @code{:ascent} properties can be a special kind of expression that
3753is evaluated during redisplay. The result of the evaluation is used
3754as an absolute number of pixels.
3755
3756 The following expressions are supported:
3757
3758@smallexample
3759@group
3760 @var{expr} ::= @var{num} | (@var{num}) | @var{unit} | @var{elem} | @var{pos} | @var{image} | @var{form}
3761 @var{num} ::= @var{integer} | @var{float} | @var{symbol}
3762 @var{unit} ::= in | mm | cm | width | height
3763@end group
3764@group
3765 @var{elem} ::= left-fringe | right-fringe | left-margin | right-margin
3766 | scroll-bar | text
3767 @var{pos} ::= left | center | right
3768 @var{form} ::= (@var{num} . @var{expr}) | (@var{op} @var{expr} ...)
3769 @var{op} ::= + | -
3770@end group
3771@end smallexample
3772
3773 The form @var{num} specifies a fraction of the default frame font
3774height or width. The form @code{(@var{num})} specifies an absolute
3775number of pixels. If @var{num} is a symbol, @var{symbol}, its
3776buffer-local variable binding is used.
3777
3778 The @code{in}, @code{mm}, and @code{cm} units specify the number of
3779pixels per inch, millimeter, and centimeter, respectively. The
3780@code{width} and @code{height} units correspond to the default width
3781and height of the current face. An image specification @code{image}
3782corresponds to the width or height of the image.
3783
3784 The @code{left-fringe}, @code{right-fringe}, @code{left-margin},
3785@code{right-margin}, @code{scroll-bar}, and @code{text} elements
3786specify to the width of the corresponding area of the window.
3787
3788 The @code{left}, @code{center}, and @code{right} positions can be
3789used with @code{:align-to} to specify a position relative to the left
3790edge, center, or right edge of the text area.
3791
3792 Any of the above window elements (except @code{text}) can also be
3793used with @code{:align-to} to specify that the position is relative to
3794the left edge of the given area. Once the base offset for a relative
3795position has been set (by the first occurrence of one of these
3796symbols), further occurrences of these symbols are interpreted as the
3797width of the specified area. For example, to align to the center of
3798the left-margin, use
3799
3800@example
3801:align-to (+ left-margin (0.5 . left-margin))
3802@end example
3803
3804 If no specific base offset is set for alignment, it is always relative
3805to the left edge of the text area. For example, @samp{:align-to 0} in a
3806header-line aligns with the first text column in the text area.
3807
3808 A value of the form @code{(@var{num} . @var{expr})} stands for the
3809product of the values of @var{num} and @var{expr}. For example,
3810@code{(2 . in)} specifies a width of 2 inches, while @code{(0.5 .
3811@var{image})} specifies half the width (or height) of the specified
3812image.
3813
3814 The form @code{(+ @var{expr} ...)} adds up the value of the
3815expressions. The form @code{(- @var{expr} ...)} negates or subtracts
3816the value of the expressions.
3817
3818@node Other Display Specs
3819@subsection Other Display Specifications
3820
3821 Here are the other sorts of display specifications that you can use
3822in the @code{display} text property.
3823
3824@table @code
3825@item @var{string}
3826Display @var{string} instead of the text that has this property.
3827
3828Recursive display specifications are not supported---@var{string}'s
3829@code{display} properties, if any, are not used.
3830
3831@item (image . @var{image-props})
3832This kind of display specification is an image descriptor (@pxref{Images}).
3833When used as a display specification, it means to display the image
3834instead of the text that has the display specification.
3835
3836@item (slice @var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})
3837This specification together with @code{image} specifies a @dfn{slice}
3838(a partial area) of the image to display. The elements @var{y} and
3839@var{x} specify the top left corner of the slice, within the image;
3840@var{width} and @var{height} specify the width and height of the
3841slice. Integer values are numbers of pixels. A floating point number
3842in the range 0.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height
3843of the entire image.
3844
3845@item ((margin nil) @var{string})
3846A display specification of this form means to display @var{string}
3847instead of the text that has the display specification, at the same
3848position as that text. It is equivalent to using just @var{string},
3849but it is done as a special case of marginal display (@pxref{Display
3850Margins}).
3851
3852@item (space-width @var{factor})
3853This display specification affects all the space characters within the
3854text that has the specification. It displays all of these spaces
3855@var{factor} times as wide as normal. The element @var{factor} should
3856be an integer or float. Characters other than spaces are not affected
3857at all; in particular, this has no effect on tab characters.
3858
3859@item (height @var{height})
3860This display specification makes the text taller or shorter.
3861Here are the possibilities for @var{height}:
3862
3863@table @asis
3864@item @code{(+ @var{n})}
3865This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps larger. A ``step'' is
3866defined by the set of available fonts---specifically, those that match
3867what was otherwise specified for this text, in all attributes except
3868height. Each size for which a suitable font is available counts as
3869another step. @var{n} should be an integer.
3870
3871@item @code{(- @var{n})}
3872This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps smaller.
3873
3874@item a number, @var{factor}
3875A number, @var{factor}, means to use a font that is @var{factor} times
3876as tall as the default font.
3877
3878@item a symbol, @var{function}
3879A symbol is a function to compute the height. It is called with the
3880current height as argument, and should return the new height to use.
3881
3882@item anything else, @var{form}
3883If the @var{height} value doesn't fit the previous possibilities, it is
3884a form. Emacs evaluates it to get the new height, with the symbol
3885@code{height} bound to the current specified font height.
3886@end table
3887
3888@item (raise @var{factor})
3889This kind of display specification raises or lowers the text
3890it applies to, relative to the baseline of the line.
3891
3892@var{factor} must be a number, which is interpreted as a multiple of the
3893height of the affected text. If it is positive, that means to display
3894the characters raised. If it is negative, that means to display them
3895lower down.
3896
3897If the text also has a @code{height} display specification, that does
3898not affect the amount of raising or lowering, which is based on the
3899faces used for the text.
3900@end table
3901
3902@c We put all the `@code{(when ...)}' on one line to encourage
3903@c makeinfo's end-of-sentence heuristics to DTRT. Previously, the dot
3904@c was at eol; the info file ended up w/ two spaces rendered after it.
3905 You can make any display specification conditional. To do that,
3906package it in another list of the form
3907@code{(when @var{condition} . @var{spec})}.
3908Then the specification @var{spec} applies only when
3909@var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value. During the
3910evaluation, @code{object} is bound to the string or buffer having the
3911conditional @code{display} property. @code{position} and
3912@code{buffer-position} are bound to the position within @code{object}
3913and the buffer position where the @code{display} property was found,
3914respectively. Both positions can be different when @code{object} is a
3915string.
3916
3917@node Display Margins
3918@subsection Displaying in the Margins
3919@cindex display margins
3920@cindex margins, display
3921
fb33e6a9
RS
3922 A buffer can have blank areas called @dfn{display margins} on the
3923left and on the right. Ordinary text never appears in these areas,
3924but you can put things into the display margins using the
3925@code{display} property. There is currently no way to make text or
3926images in the margin mouse-sensitive.
3927
3928 The way to display something in the margins is to specify it in a
3929margin display specification in the @code{display} property of some
3930text. This is a replacing display specification, meaning that the
3931text you put it on does not get displayed; the margin display appears,
3932but that text does not.
3933
3934 A margin display specification looks like @code{((margin
d25ed7db 3935right-margin) @var{spec})} or @code{((margin left-margin) @var{spec})}.
fb33e6a9
RS
3936Here, @var{spec} is another display specification that says what to
3937display in the margin. Typically it is a string of text to display,
3938or an image descriptor.
3939
3940 To display something in the margin @emph{in association with}
3941certain buffer text, without altering or preventing the display of
3942that text, put a @code{before-string} property on the text and put the
3943margin display specification on the contents of the before-string.
b8d4c8d0
GM
3944
3945 Before the display margins can display anything, you must give
3946them a nonzero width. The usual way to do that is to set these
3947variables:
3948
3949@defvar left-margin-width
3950This variable specifies the width of the left margin.
3951It is buffer-local in all buffers.
3952@end defvar
3953
3954@defvar right-margin-width
3955This variable specifies the width of the right margin.
3956It is buffer-local in all buffers.
3957@end defvar
3958
3959 Setting these variables does not immediately affect the window. These
3960variables are checked when a new buffer is displayed in the window.
3961Thus, you can make changes take effect by calling
3962@code{set-window-buffer}.
3963
3964 You can also set the margin widths immediately.
3965
3966@defun set-window-margins window left &optional right
3967This function specifies the margin widths for window @var{window}.
3968The argument @var{left} controls the left margin and
3969@var{right} controls the right margin (default @code{0}).
3970@end defun
3971
3972@defun window-margins &optional window
3973This function returns the left and right margins of @var{window}
3974as a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{left} . @var{right})}.
3975If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3976@end defun
3977
3978@node Images
3979@section Images
3980@cindex images in buffers
3981
3982 To display an image in an Emacs buffer, you must first create an image
3983descriptor, then use it as a display specifier in the @code{display}
3984property of text that is displayed (@pxref{Display Property}).
3985
3986 Emacs is usually able to display images when it is run on a
3987graphical terminal. Images cannot be displayed in a text terminal, on
3988certain graphical terminals that lack the support for this, or if
3989Emacs is compiled without image support. You can use the function
3990@code{display-images-p} to determine if images can in principle be
3991displayed (@pxref{Display Feature Testing}).
3992
3993@menu
3994* Image Formats:: Supported image formats.
3995* Image Descriptors:: How to specify an image for use in @code{:display}.
3996* XBM Images:: Special features for XBM format.
3997* XPM Images:: Special features for XPM format.
3998* GIF Images:: Special features for GIF format.
905a9adb 3999* TIFF Images:: Special features for TIFF format.
2833b3ff 4000* PostScript Images:: Special features for PostScript format.
b8d4c8d0
GM
4001* Other Image Types:: Various other formats are supported.
4002* Defining Images:: Convenient ways to define an image for later use.
4003* Showing Images:: Convenient ways to display an image once it is defined.
4004* Image Cache:: Internal mechanisms of image display.
4005@end menu
4006
4007@node Image Formats
4008@subsection Image Formats
4009@cindex image formats
4010@cindex image types
4011
4012 Emacs can display a number of different image formats; some of them
4013are supported only if particular support libraries are installed on
4014your machine. In some environments, Emacs can load image
4015libraries on demand; if so, the variable @code{image-library-alist}
4016can be used to modify the set of known names for these dynamic
4017libraries (though it is not possible to add new image formats).
4018
4019 The supported image formats include XBM, XPM (this requires the
4020libraries @code{libXpm} version 3.4k and @code{libz}), GIF (requiring
4021@code{libungif} 4.1.0), PostScript, PBM, JPEG (requiring the
4022@code{libjpeg} library version v6a), TIFF (requiring @code{libtiff}
4023v3.4), PNG (requiring @code{libpng} 1.0.2), and SVG (requiring
4024@code{librsvg} 2.0.0).
4025
4026 You specify one of these formats with an image type symbol. The image
4027type symbols are @code{xbm}, @code{xpm}, @code{gif}, @code{postscript},
4028@code{pbm}, @code{jpeg}, @code{tiff}, @code{png}, and @code{svg}.
4029
4030@defvar image-types
4031This variable contains a list of those image type symbols that are
4032potentially supported in the current configuration.
4033@emph{Potentially} here means that Emacs knows about the image types,
4034not necessarily that they can be loaded (they could depend on
4035unavailable dynamic libraries, for example).
4036
4037To know which image types are really available, use
4038@code{image-type-available-p}.
4039@end defvar
4040
4041@defvar image-library-alist
4042This in an alist of image types vs external libraries needed to
4043display them.
4044
4045Each element is a list @code{(@var{image-type} @var{library}...)},
4046where the car is a supported image format from @code{image-types}, and
4047the rest are strings giving alternate filenames for the corresponding
4048external libraries to load.
4049
4050Emacs tries to load the libraries in the order they appear on the
4051list; if none is loaded, the running session of Emacs won't support
4052the image type. @code{pbm} and @code{xbm} don't need to be listed;
4053they're always supported.
4054
4055This variable is ignored if the image libraries are statically linked
4056into Emacs.
4057@end defvar
4058
4059@defun image-type-available-p type
4060This function returns non-@code{nil} if image type @var{type} is
4061available, i.e., if images of this type can be loaded and displayed in
4062Emacs. @var{type} should be one of the types contained in
4063@code{image-types}.
4064
4065For image types whose support libraries are statically linked, this
4066function always returns @code{t}; for other image types, it returns
4067@code{t} if the dynamic library could be loaded, @code{nil} otherwise.
4068@end defun
4069
4070@node Image Descriptors
4071@subsection Image Descriptors
4072@cindex image descriptor
4073
4074 An image description is a list of the form @code{(image . @var{props})},
4075where @var{props} is a property list containing alternating keyword
4076symbols (symbols whose names start with a colon) and their values.
4077You can use any Lisp object as a property, but the only properties
4078that have any special meaning are certain symbols, all of them keywords.
4079
4080 Every image descriptor must contain the property @code{:type
4081@var{type}} to specify the format of the image. The value of @var{type}
4082should be an image type symbol; for example, @code{xpm} for an image in
4083XPM format.
4084
4085 Here is a list of other properties that are meaningful for all image
4086types:
4087
4088@table @code
4089@item :file @var{file}
4090The @code{:file} property says to load the image from file
4091@var{file}. If @var{file} is not an absolute file name, it is expanded
4092in @code{data-directory}.
4093
4094@item :data @var{data}
4095The @code{:data} property says the actual contents of the image.
4096Each image must use either @code{:data} or @code{:file}, but not both.
4097For most image types, the value of the @code{:data} property should be a
4098string containing the image data; we recommend using a unibyte string.
4099
4100Before using @code{:data}, look for further information in the section
4101below describing the specific image format. For some image types,
4102@code{:data} may not be supported; for some, it allows other data types;
4103for some, @code{:data} alone is not enough, so you need to use other
4104image properties along with @code{:data}.
4105
4106@item :margin @var{margin}
4107The @code{:margin} property specifies how many pixels to add as an
4108extra margin around the image. The value, @var{margin}, must be a
4109non-negative number, or a pair @code{(@var{x} . @var{y})} of such
4110numbers. If it is a pair, @var{x} specifies how many pixels to add
4111horizontally, and @var{y} specifies how many pixels to add vertically.
4112If @code{:margin} is not specified, the default is zero.
4113
4114@item :ascent @var{ascent}
4115The @code{:ascent} property specifies the amount of the image's
4116height to use for its ascent---that is, the part above the baseline.
4117The value, @var{ascent}, must be a number in the range 0 to 100, or
4118the symbol @code{center}.
4119
4120If @var{ascent} is a number, that percentage of the image's height is
4121used for its ascent.
4122
4123If @var{ascent} is @code{center}, the image is vertically centered
4124around a centerline which would be the vertical centerline of text drawn
4125at the position of the image, in the manner specified by the text
4126properties and overlays that apply to the image.
4127
4128If this property is omitted, it defaults to 50.
4129
4130@item :relief @var{relief}
4131The @code{:relief} property, if non-@code{nil}, adds a shadow rectangle
4132around the image. The value, @var{relief}, specifies the width of the
4133shadow lines, in pixels. If @var{relief} is negative, shadows are drawn
4134so that the image appears as a pressed button; otherwise, it appears as
4135an unpressed button.
4136
4137@item :conversion @var{algorithm}
4138The @code{:conversion} property, if non-@code{nil}, specifies a
4139conversion algorithm that should be applied to the image before it is
4140displayed; the value, @var{algorithm}, specifies which algorithm.
4141
4142@table @code
4143@item laplace
4144@itemx emboss
4145Specifies the Laplace edge detection algorithm, which blurs out small
4146differences in color while highlighting larger differences. People
4147sometimes consider this useful for displaying the image for a
4148``disabled'' button.
4149
4150@item (edge-detection :matrix @var{matrix} :color-adjust @var{adjust})
4151Specifies a general edge-detection algorithm. @var{matrix} must be
4152either a nine-element list or a nine-element vector of numbers. A pixel
4153at position @math{x/y} in the transformed image is computed from
4154original pixels around that position. @var{matrix} specifies, for each
4155pixel in the neighborhood of @math{x/y}, a factor with which that pixel
4156will influence the transformed pixel; element @math{0} specifies the
4157factor for the pixel at @math{x-1/y-1}, element @math{1} the factor for
4158the pixel at @math{x/y-1} etc., as shown below:
4159@iftex
4160@tex
4161$$\pmatrix{x-1/y-1 & x/y-1 & x+1/y-1 \cr
4162 x-1/y & x/y & x+1/y \cr
4163 x-1/y+1& x/y+1 & x+1/y+1 \cr}$$
4164@end tex
4165@end iftex
4166@ifnottex
4167@display
4168 (x-1/y-1 x/y-1 x+1/y-1
4169 x-1/y x/y x+1/y
4170 x-1/y+1 x/y+1 x+1/y+1)
4171@end display
4172@end ifnottex
4173
4174The resulting pixel is computed from the color intensity of the color
4175resulting from summing up the RGB values of surrounding pixels,
4176multiplied by the specified factors, and dividing that sum by the sum
4177of the factors' absolute values.
4178
4179Laplace edge-detection currently uses a matrix of
4180@iftex
4181@tex
4182$$\pmatrix{1 & 0 & 0 \cr
4183 0& 0 & 0 \cr
4184 9 & 9 & -1 \cr}$$
4185@end tex
4186@end iftex
4187@ifnottex
4188@display
4189 (1 0 0
4190 0 0 0
4191 9 9 -1)
4192@end display
4193@end ifnottex
4194
4195Emboss edge-detection uses a matrix of
4196@iftex
4197@tex
4198$$\pmatrix{ 2 & -1 & 0 \cr
4199 -1 & 0 & 1 \cr
4200 0 & 1 & -2 \cr}$$
4201@end tex
4202@end iftex
4203@ifnottex
4204@display
4205 ( 2 -1 0
4206 -1 0 1
4207 0 1 -2)
4208@end display
4209@end ifnottex
4210
4211@item disabled
4212Specifies transforming the image so that it looks ``disabled.''
4213@end table
4214
4215@item :mask @var{mask}
4216If @var{mask} is @code{heuristic} or @code{(heuristic @var{bg})}, build
4217a clipping mask for the image, so that the background of a frame is
4218visible behind the image. If @var{bg} is not specified, or if @var{bg}
4219is @code{t}, determine the background color of the image by looking at
4220the four corners of the image, assuming the most frequently occurring
4221color from the corners is the background color of the image. Otherwise,
4222@var{bg} must be a list @code{(@var{red} @var{green} @var{blue})}
4223specifying the color to assume for the background of the image.
4224
4225If @var{mask} is @code{nil}, remove a mask from the image, if it has
4226one. Images in some formats include a mask which can be removed by
4227specifying @code{:mask nil}.
4228
4229@item :pointer @var{shape}
4230This specifies the pointer shape when the mouse pointer is over this
4231image. @xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4232
4233@item :map @var{map}
4234This associates an image map of @dfn{hot spots} with this image.
4235
4236An image map is an alist where each element has the format
4237@code{(@var{area} @var{id} @var{plist})}. An @var{area} is specified
4238as either a rectangle, a circle, or a polygon.
4239
4240A rectangle is a cons
4241@code{(rect . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . (@var{x1} . @var{y1})))}
4242which specifies the pixel coordinates of the upper left and bottom right
4243corners of the rectangle area.
4244
4245A circle is a cons
4246@code{(circle . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . @var{r}))}
4247which specifies the center and the radius of the circle; @var{r} may
4248be a float or integer.
4249
4250A polygon is a cons
4251@code{(poly . [@var{x0} @var{y0} @var{x1} @var{y1} ...])}
4252where each pair in the vector describes one corner in the polygon.
4253
4254When the mouse pointer lies on a hot-spot area of an image, the
4255@var{plist} of that hot-spot is consulted; if it contains a @code{help-echo}
4256property, that defines a tool-tip for the hot-spot, and if it contains
4257a @code{pointer} property, that defines the shape of the mouse cursor when
4258it is on the hot-spot.
4259@xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4260
4261When you click the mouse when the mouse pointer is over a hot-spot, an
4262event is composed by combining the @var{id} of the hot-spot with the
4263mouse event; for instance, @code{[area4 mouse-1]} if the hot-spot's
4264@var{id} is @code{area4}.
4265@end table
4266
4267@defun image-mask-p spec &optional frame
4268This function returns @code{t} if image @var{spec} has a mask bitmap.
4269@var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4270@var{frame} @code{nil} or omitted means to use the selected frame
4271(@pxref{Input Focus}).
4272@end defun
4273
4274@node XBM Images
4275@subsection XBM Images
4276@cindex XBM
4277
4278 To use XBM format, specify @code{xbm} as the image type. This image
4279format doesn't require an external library, so images of this type are
4280always supported.
4281
4282 Additional image properties supported for the @code{xbm} image type are:
4283
4284@table @code
4285@item :foreground @var{foreground}
4286The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4287foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4288used for each pixel in the XBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
4289foreground color.
4290
4291@item :background @var{background}
4292The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4293background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4294used for each pixel in the XBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
4295background color.
4296@end table
4297
4298 If you specify an XBM image using data within Emacs instead of an
4299external file, use the following three properties:
4300
4301@table @code
4302@item :data @var{data}
4303The value, @var{data}, specifies the contents of the image.
4304There are three formats you can use for @var{data}:
4305
4306@itemize @bullet
4307@item
4308A vector of strings or bool-vectors, each specifying one line of the
4309image. Do specify @code{:height} and @code{:width}.
4310
4311@item
4312A string containing the same byte sequence as an XBM file would contain.
4313You must not specify @code{:height} and @code{:width} in this case,
4314because omitting them is what indicates the data has the format of an
4315XBM file. The file contents specify the height and width of the image.
4316
4317@item
4318A string or a bool-vector containing the bits of the image (plus perhaps
4319some extra bits at the end that will not be used). It should contain at
4320least @var{width} * @code{height} bits. In this case, you must specify
4321@code{:height} and @code{:width}, both to indicate that the string
4322contains just the bits rather than a whole XBM file, and to specify the
4323size of the image.
4324@end itemize
4325
4326@item :width @var{width}
4327The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image, in pixels.
4328
4329@item :height @var{height}
4330The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image, in pixels.
4331@end table
4332
4333@node XPM Images
4334@subsection XPM Images
4335@cindex XPM
4336
4337 To use XPM format, specify @code{xpm} as the image type. The
4338additional image property @code{:color-symbols} is also meaningful with
4339the @code{xpm} image type:
4340
4341@table @code
4342@item :color-symbols @var{symbols}
4343The value, @var{symbols}, should be an alist whose elements have the
4344form @code{(@var{name} . @var{color})}. In each element, @var{name} is
4345the name of a color as it appears in the image file, and @var{color}
4346specifies the actual color to use for displaying that name.
4347@end table
4348
4349@node GIF Images
4350@subsection GIF Images
4351@cindex GIF
4352
4353 For GIF images, specify image type @code{gif}.
4354
4355@table @code
4356@item :index @var{index}
4357You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a GIF file that
4358contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4359number @var{index} from the file. If the GIF file doesn't contain an
4360image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4361@end table
4362
4363@ignore
4364This could be used to implement limited support for animated GIFs.
4365For example, the following function displays a multi-image GIF file
4366at point-min in the current buffer, switching between sub-images
4367every 0.1 seconds.
4368
4369(defun show-anim (file max)
4370 "Display multi-image GIF file FILE which contains MAX subimages."
4371 (display-anim (current-buffer) file 0 max t))
4372
4373(defun display-anim (buffer file idx max first-time)
4374 (when (= idx max)
4375 (setq idx 0))
4376 (let ((img (create-image file nil :image idx)))
4377 (save-excursion
4378 (set-buffer buffer)
4379 (goto-char (point-min))
4380 (unless first-time (delete-char 1))
4381 (insert-image img))
4382 (run-with-timer 0.1 nil 'display-anim buffer file (1+ idx) max nil)))
4383@end ignore
4384
905a9adb
JR
4385@node TIFF Images
4386@subsection TIFF Images
4387@cindex TIFF
4388
4389 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4390
4391@table @code
4392@item :index @var{index}
4393You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a TIFF file that
4394contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4395number @var{index} from the file. If the TIFF file doesn't contain an
4396image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4397@end table
4398
2833b3ff
CY
4399@node PostScript Images
4400@subsection PostScript Images
4401@cindex postscript images
4402
4403 To use PostScript for an image, specify image type @code{postscript}.
4404This works only if you have Ghostscript installed. You must always use
4405these three properties:
4406
4407@table @code
4408@item :pt-width @var{width}
4409The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image measured in
4410points (1/72 inch). @var{width} must be an integer.
4411
4412@item :pt-height @var{height}
4413The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image in points
4414(1/72 inch). @var{height} must be an integer.
4415
4416@item :bounding-box @var{box}
4417The value, @var{box}, must be a list or vector of four integers, which
4418specifying the bounding box of the PostScript image, analogous to the
4419@samp{BoundingBox} comment found in PostScript files.
4420
4421@example
4422%%BoundingBox: 22 171 567 738
4423@end example
4424@end table
4425
b8d4c8d0
GM
4426@node Other Image Types
4427@subsection Other Image Types
4428@cindex PBM
4429
4430 For PBM images, specify image type @code{pbm}. Color, gray-scale and
4431monochromatic images are supported. For mono PBM images, two additional
4432image properties are supported.
4433
4434@table @code
4435@item :foreground @var{foreground}
4436The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4437foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
3696411e 4438used for each pixel in the PBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
b8d4c8d0
GM
4439foreground color.
4440
4441@item :background @var{background}
4442The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4443background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
3696411e 4444used for each pixel in the PBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
b8d4c8d0
GM
4445background color.
4446@end table
4447
4448 For JPEG images, specify image type @code{jpeg}.
4449
4450 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4451
4452 For PNG images, specify image type @code{png}.
4453
4454 For SVG images, specify image type @code{svg}.
4455
4456@node Defining Images
4457@subsection Defining Images
4458
4459 The functions @code{create-image}, @code{defimage} and
4460@code{find-image} provide convenient ways to create image descriptors.
4461
4462@defun create-image file-or-data &optional type data-p &rest props
4463This function creates and returns an image descriptor which uses the
4464data in @var{file-or-data}. @var{file-or-data} can be a file name or
4465a string containing the image data; @var{data-p} should be @code{nil}
4466for the former case, non-@code{nil} for the latter case.
4467
4468The optional argument @var{type} is a symbol specifying the image type.
4469If @var{type} is omitted or @code{nil}, @code{create-image} tries to
4470determine the image type from the file's first few bytes, or else
4471from the file's name.
4472
4473The remaining arguments, @var{props}, specify additional image
4474properties---for example,
4475
4476@example
4477(create-image "foo.xpm" 'xpm nil :heuristic-mask t)
4478@end example
4479
4480The function returns @code{nil} if images of this type are not
4481supported. Otherwise it returns an image descriptor.
4482@end defun
4483
4484@defmac defimage symbol specs &optional doc
4485This macro defines @var{symbol} as an image name. The arguments
4486@var{specs} is a list which specifies how to display the image.
4487The third argument, @var{doc}, is an optional documentation string.
4488
4489Each argument in @var{specs} has the form of a property list, and each
4490one should specify at least the @code{:type} property and either the
4491@code{:file} or the @code{:data} property. The value of @code{:type}
4492should be a symbol specifying the image type, the value of
4493@code{:file} is the file to load the image from, and the value of
4494@code{:data} is a string containing the actual image data. Here is an
4495example:
4496
4497@example
4498(defimage test-image
4499 ((:type xpm :file "~/test1.xpm")
4500 (:type xbm :file "~/test1.xbm")))
4501@end example
4502
4503@code{defimage} tests each argument, one by one, to see if it is
4504usable---that is, if the type is supported and the file exists. The
4505first usable argument is used to make an image descriptor which is
4506stored in @var{symbol}.
4507
4508If none of the alternatives will work, then @var{symbol} is defined
4509as @code{nil}.
4510@end defmac
4511
4512@defun find-image specs
4513This function provides a convenient way to find an image satisfying one
4514of a list of image specifications @var{specs}.
4515
4516Each specification in @var{specs} is a property list with contents
4517depending on image type. All specifications must at least contain the
4518properties @code{:type @var{type}} and either @w{@code{:file @var{file}}}
4519or @w{@code{:data @var{DATA}}}, where @var{type} is a symbol specifying
4520the image type, e.g.@: @code{xbm}, @var{file} is the file to load the
4521image from, and @var{data} is a string containing the actual image data.
4522The first specification in the list whose @var{type} is supported, and
4523@var{file} exists, is used to construct the image specification to be
4524returned. If no specification is satisfied, @code{nil} is returned.
4525
4526The image is looked for in @code{image-load-path}.
4527@end defun
4528
4529@defvar image-load-path
4530This variable's value is a list of locations in which to search for
4531image files. If an element is a string or a variable symbol whose
4532value is a string, the string is taken to be the name of a directory
4533to search. If an element is a variable symbol whose value is a list,
4534that is taken to be a list of directory names to search.
4535
4536The default is to search in the @file{images} subdirectory of the
4537directory specified by @code{data-directory}, then the directory
4538specified by @code{data-directory}, and finally in the directories in
4539@code{load-path}. Subdirectories are not automatically included in
4540the search, so if you put an image file in a subdirectory, you have to
4541supply the subdirectory name explicitly. For example, to find the
4542image @file{images/foo/bar.xpm} within @code{data-directory}, you
4543should specify the image as follows:
4544
4545@example
4546(defimage foo-image '((:type xpm :file "foo/bar.xpm")))
4547@end example
4548@end defvar
4549
4550@defun image-load-path-for-library library image &optional path no-error
4551This function returns a suitable search path for images used by the
4552Lisp package @var{library}.
4553
4554The function searches for @var{image} first using @code{image-load-path},
4555excluding @file{@code{data-directory}/images}, and then in
4556@code{load-path}, followed by a path suitable for @var{library}, which
4557includes @file{../../etc/images} and @file{../etc/images} relative to
4558the library file itself, and finally in
4559@file{@code{data-directory}/images}.
4560
4561Then this function returns a list of directories which contains first
4562the directory in which @var{image} was found, followed by the value of
4563@code{load-path}. If @var{path} is given, it is used instead of
4564@code{load-path}.
4565
4566If @var{no-error} is non-@code{nil} and a suitable path can't be
4567found, don't signal an error. Instead, return a list of directories as
4568before, except that @code{nil} appears in place of the image directory.
4569
4570Here is an example that uses a common idiom to provide compatibility
4571with versions of Emacs that lack the variable @code{image-load-path}:
4572
4573@example
4574(defvar image-load-path) ; shush compiler
4575(let* ((load-path (image-load-path-for-library
4576 "mh-e" "mh-logo.xpm"))
4577 (image-load-path (cons (car load-path)
4578 (when (boundp 'image-load-path)
4579 image-load-path))))
4580 (mh-tool-bar-folder-buttons-init))
4581@end example
4582@end defun
4583
4584@node Showing Images
4585@subsection Showing Images
4586
4587 You can use an image descriptor by setting up the @code{display}
4588property yourself, but it is easier to use the functions in this
4589section.
4590
4591@defun insert-image image &optional string area slice
4592This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point. The
4593value @var{image} should be an image descriptor; it could be a value
4594returned by @code{create-image}, or the value of a symbol defined with
4595@code{defimage}. The argument @var{string} specifies the text to put
4596in the buffer to hold the image. If it is omitted or @code{nil},
4597@code{insert-image} uses @code{" "} by default.
4598
4599The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4600If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4601@code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4602@code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4603buffer's text.
4604
4605The argument @var{slice} specifies a slice of the image to insert. If
4606@var{slice} is @code{nil} or omitted the whole image is inserted.
4607Otherwise, @var{slice} is a list @code{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width}
4608@var{height})} which specifies the @var{x} and @var{y} positions and
4609@var{width} and @var{height} of the image area to insert. Integer
4610values are in units of pixels. A floating point number in the range
46110.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height of the entire
4612image.
4613
4614Internally, this function inserts @var{string} in the buffer, and gives
4615it a @code{display} property which specifies @var{image}. @xref{Display
4616Property}.
4617@end defun
4618
4619@defun insert-sliced-image image &optional string area rows cols
4620This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point, like
4621@code{insert-image}, but splits the image into @var{rows}x@var{cols}
4622equally sized slices.
4623@end defun
4624
4625@defun put-image image pos &optional string area
4626This function puts image @var{image} in front of @var{pos} in the
4627current buffer. The argument @var{pos} should be an integer or a
4628marker. It specifies the buffer position where the image should appear.
4629The argument @var{string} specifies the text that should hold the image
4630as an alternative to the default.
4631
4632The argument @var{image} must be an image descriptor, perhaps returned
4633by @code{create-image} or stored by @code{defimage}.
4634
4635The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4636If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4637@code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4638@code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4639buffer's text.
4640
4641Internally, this function creates an overlay, and gives it a
4642@code{before-string} property containing text that has a @code{display}
4643property whose value is the image. (Whew!)
4644@end defun
4645
4646@defun remove-images start end &optional buffer
4647This function removes images in @var{buffer} between positions
4648@var{start} and @var{end}. If @var{buffer} is omitted or @code{nil},
4649images are removed from the current buffer.
4650
4651This removes only images that were put into @var{buffer} the way
4652@code{put-image} does it, not images that were inserted with
4653@code{insert-image} or in other ways.
4654@end defun
4655
4656@defun image-size spec &optional pixels frame
4657This function returns the size of an image as a pair
4658@w{@code{(@var{width} . @var{height})}}. @var{spec} is an image
4659specification. @var{pixels} non-@code{nil} means return sizes
4660measured in pixels, otherwise return sizes measured in canonical
4661character units (fractions of the width/height of the frame's default
4662font). @var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4663@var{frame} null or omitted means use the selected frame (@pxref{Input
4664Focus}).
4665@end defun
4666
4667@defvar max-image-size
4668This variable is used to define the maximum size of image that Emacs
4669will load. Emacs will refuse to load (and display) any image that is
4670larger than this limit.
4671
4672If the value is an integer, it directly specifies the maximum
4673image height and width, measured in pixels. If it is a floating
4674point number, it specifies the maximum image height and width
4675as a ratio to the frame height and width. If the value is
4676non-numeric, there is no explicit limit on the size of images.
4677
4678The purpose of this variable is to prevent unreasonably large images
4679from accidentally being loaded into Emacs. It only takes effect the
4680first time an image is loaded. Once an image is placed in the image
4681cache, it can always be displayed, even if the value of
4682@var{max-image-size} is subsequently changed (@pxref{Image Cache}).
4683@end defvar
4684
4685@node Image Cache
4686@subsection Image Cache
4687@cindex image cache
4688
4689 Emacs stores images in an image cache so that it can display them
4690again more efficiently. When Emacs displays an image, it searches the
4691image cache for an existing image specification @code{equal} to the
4692desired specification. If a match is found, the image is displayed
4693from the cache; otherwise, Emacs loads the image normally.
4694
4695 Occasionally, you may need to tell Emacs to refresh the images
4696associated with a given image specification. For example, suppose you
4697display an image using a specification that contains a @code{:file}
4698property. The image is loaded from the given file and stored in the
4699image cache. If you later display the image again, using the same
4700image specification, the image is displayed from the image cache.
4701Normally, this is not a problem. However, if the image file has
4702changed in the meantime, Emacs would be displaying the old version of
4703the image. In such a situation, it is necessary to ``refresh'' the
4704image using @code{image-refresh}.
4705
4706@defun image-refresh spec &optional frame
4707This function refreshes any images having image specifications
4708@code{equal} to @var{spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is
4709@code{nil}, the selected frame is used. If @var{frame} is @code{t},
4710the refresh is applied to all existing frames.
4711
bf190568
EZ
4712This works by removing from the image cache all the images whose image
4713specifications match @var{spec}. The next time Emacs needs to display
4714such an image, it will reload the image anew.
b8d4c8d0
GM
4715@end defun
4716
a2bc5bdd
SM
4717@defun clear-image-cache &optional filter
4718This function clears the image cache. If @var{filter} is
4719a frame, only the cache for that frame is cleared. If omitted or
4720@code{nil}, clear the images on the selected frame. If @code{t},
4721all frames' caches are cleared. Otherwise, @var{filter} is taken as
4722a file name and only images that reference this file will be flushed.
b8d4c8d0
GM
4723@end defun
4724
4725If an image in the image cache has not been displayed for a specified
4726period of time, Emacs removes it from the cache and frees the
4727associated memory.
4728
4729@defvar image-cache-eviction-delay
4730This variable specifies the number of seconds an image can remain in the
4731cache without being displayed. When an image is not displayed for this
4732length of time, Emacs removes it from the image cache.
4733
4734If the value is @code{nil}, Emacs does not remove images from the cache
4735except when you explicitly clear it. This mode can be useful for
4736debugging.
4737@end defvar
4738
4739@node Buttons
4740@section Buttons
4741@cindex buttons in buffers
4742@cindex clickable buttons in buffers
4743
4744 The @emph{button} package defines functions for inserting and
4745manipulating clickable (with the mouse, or via keyboard commands)
4746buttons in Emacs buffers, such as might be used for help hyper-links,
4747etc. Emacs uses buttons for the hyper-links in help text and the like.
4748
4749 A button is essentially a set of properties attached (via text
4750properties or overlays) to a region of text in an Emacs buffer. These
4751properties are called @dfn{button properties}.
4752
4753 One of these properties (@code{action}) is a function, which will
4754be called when the user invokes it using the keyboard or the mouse.
4755The invoked function may then examine the button and use its other
4756properties as desired.
4757
4758 In some ways the Emacs button package duplicates functionality offered
4759by the widget package (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, widget, The Emacs
4760Widget Library}), but the button package has the advantage that it is
4761much faster, much smaller, and much simpler to use (for elisp
4762programmers---for users, the result is about the same). The extra
4763speed and space savings are useful mainly if you need to create many
4764buttons in a buffer (for instance an @code{*Apropos*} buffer uses
4765buttons to make entries clickable, and may contain many thousands of
4766entries).
4767
4768@menu
4769* Button Properties:: Button properties with special meanings.
4770* Button Types:: Defining common properties for classes of buttons.
4771* Making Buttons:: Adding buttons to Emacs buffers.
4772* Manipulating Buttons:: Getting and setting properties of buttons.
4773* Button Buffer Commands:: Buffer-wide commands and bindings for buttons.
4774@end menu
4775
4776@node Button Properties
4777@subsection Button Properties
4778@cindex button properties
4779
4780 Buttons have an associated list of properties defining their
4781appearance and behavior, and other arbitrary properties may be used
4782for application specific purposes. Some properties that have special
4783meaning to the button package include:
4784
4785@table @code
4786@item action
4787@kindex action @r{(button property)}
4788The function to call when the user invokes the button, which is passed
4789the single argument @var{button}. By default this is @code{ignore},
4790which does nothing.
4791
4792@item mouse-action
4793@kindex mouse-action @r{(button property)}
4794This is similar to @code{action}, and when present, will be used
4795instead of @code{action} for button invocations resulting from
4796mouse-clicks (instead of the user hitting @key{RET}). If not
4797present, mouse-clicks use @code{action} instead.
4798
4799@item face
4800@kindex face @r{(button property)}
4801This is an Emacs face controlling how buttons of this type are
4802displayed; by default this is the @code{button} face.
4803
4804@item mouse-face
4805@kindex mouse-face @r{(button property)}
4806This is an additional face which controls appearance during
4807mouse-overs (merged with the usual button face); by default this is
4808the usual Emacs @code{highlight} face.
4809
4810@item keymap
4811@kindex keymap @r{(button property)}
4812The button's keymap, defining bindings active within the button
4813region. By default this is the usual button region keymap, stored
4814in the variable @code{button-map}, which defines @key{RET} and
4815@key{mouse-2} to invoke the button.
4816
4817@item type
4818@kindex type @r{(button property)}
4819The button-type of the button. When creating a button, this is
4820usually specified using the @code{:type} keyword argument.
4821@xref{Button Types}.
4822
4823@item help-echo
4824@kindex help-index @r{(button property)}
4825A string displayed by the Emacs tool-tip help system; by default,
4826@code{"mouse-2, RET: Push this button"}.
4827
4828@item follow-link
4829@kindex follow-link @r{(button property)}
4830The follow-link property, defining how a @key{Mouse-1} click behaves
2bad3299 4831on this button, @xref{Clickable Text}.
b8d4c8d0
GM
4832
4833@item button
4834@kindex button @r{(button property)}
4835All buttons have a non-@code{nil} @code{button} property, which may be useful
4836in finding regions of text that comprise buttons (which is what the
4837standard button functions do).
4838@end table
4839
4840 There are other properties defined for the regions of text in a
4841button, but these are not generally interesting for typical uses.
4842
4843@node Button Types
4844@subsection Button Types
4845@cindex button types
4846
4847 Every button has a button @emph{type}, which defines default values
4848for the button's properties. Button types are arranged in a
4849hierarchy, with specialized types inheriting from more general types,
4850so that it's easy to define special-purpose types of buttons for
4851specific tasks.
4852
4853@defun define-button-type name &rest properties
1a256502
TTN
4854Define a `button type' called @var{name} (a symbol).
4855The remaining arguments
b8d4c8d0
GM
4856form a sequence of @var{property value} pairs, specifying default
4857property values for buttons with this type (a button's type may be set
4858by giving it a @code{type} property when creating the button, using
4859the @code{:type} keyword argument).
4860
4861In addition, the keyword argument @code{:supertype} may be used to
4862specify a button-type from which @var{name} inherits its default
4863property values. Note that this inheritance happens only when
4864@var{name} is defined; subsequent changes to a supertype are not
4865reflected in its subtypes.
4866@end defun
4867
4868 Using @code{define-button-type} to define default properties for
4869buttons is not necessary---buttons without any specified type use the
4870built-in button-type @code{button}---but it is encouraged, since
4871doing so usually makes the resulting code clearer and more efficient.
4872
4873@node Making Buttons
4874@subsection Making Buttons
4875@cindex making buttons
4876
4877 Buttons are associated with a region of text, using an overlay or
4878text properties to hold button-specific information, all of which are
4879initialized from the button's type (which defaults to the built-in
4880button type @code{button}). Like all Emacs text, the appearance of
4881the button is governed by the @code{face} property; by default (via
4882the @code{face} property inherited from the @code{button} button-type)
4883this is a simple underline, like a typical web-page link.
4884
4885 For convenience, there are two sorts of button-creation functions,
4886those that add button properties to an existing region of a buffer,
4887called @code{make-...button}, and those that also insert the button
4888text, called @code{insert-...button}.
4889
4890 The button-creation functions all take the @code{&rest} argument
4891@var{properties}, which should be a sequence of @var{property value}
4892pairs, specifying properties to add to the button; see @ref{Button
4893Properties}. In addition, the keyword argument @code{:type} may be
4894used to specify a button-type from which to inherit other properties;
4895see @ref{Button Types}. Any properties not explicitly specified
4896during creation will be inherited from the button's type (if the type
4897defines such a property).
4898
4899 The following functions add a button using an overlay
4900(@pxref{Overlays}) to hold the button properties:
4901
4902@defun make-button beg end &rest properties
4903This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the
4904current buffer, and returns it.
4905@end defun
4906
4907@defun insert-button label &rest properties
4908This insert a button with the label @var{label} at point,
4909and returns it.
4910@end defun
4911
4912 The following functions are similar, but use Emacs text properties
4913(@pxref{Text Properties}) to hold the button properties, making the
4914button actually part of the text instead of being a property of the
4915buffer. Buttons using text properties do not create markers into the
4916buffer, which is important for speed when you use extremely large
4917numbers of buttons. Both functions return the position of the start
4918of the new button:
4919
4920@defun make-text-button beg end &rest properties
4921This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the current buffer, using
4922text properties.
4923@end defun
4924
4925@defun insert-text-button label &rest properties
4926This inserts a button with the label @var{label} at point, using text
4927properties.
4928@end defun
4929
4930@node Manipulating Buttons
4931@subsection Manipulating Buttons
4932@cindex manipulating buttons
4933
4934These are functions for getting and setting properties of buttons.
4935Often these are used by a button's invocation function to determine
4936what to do.
4937
4938Where a @var{button} parameter is specified, it means an object
4939referring to a specific button, either an overlay (for overlay
4940buttons), or a buffer-position or marker (for text property buttons).
4941Such an object is passed as the first argument to a button's
4942invocation function when it is invoked.
4943
4944@defun button-start button
4945Return the position at which @var{button} starts.
4946@end defun
4947
4948@defun button-end button
4949Return the position at which @var{button} ends.
4950@end defun
4951
4952@defun button-get button prop
4953Get the property of button @var{button} named @var{prop}.
4954@end defun
4955
4956@defun button-put button prop val
4957Set @var{button}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
4958@end defun
4959
4960@defun button-activate button &optional use-mouse-action
4961Call @var{button}'s @code{action} property (i.e., invoke it). If
4962@var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, try to invoke the button's
4963@code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
4964has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
4965@end defun
4966
4967@defun button-label button
4968Return @var{button}'s text label.
4969@end defun
4970
4971@defun button-type button
4972Return @var{button}'s button-type.
4973@end defun
4974
4975@defun button-has-type-p button type
4976Return @code{t} if @var{button} has button-type @var{type}, or one of
4977@var{type}'s subtypes.
4978@end defun
4979
4980@defun button-at pos
4981Return the button at position @var{pos} in the current buffer, or @code{nil}.
4982@end defun
4983
4984@defun button-type-put type prop val
4985Set the button-type @var{type}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
4986@end defun
4987
4988@defun button-type-get type prop
4989Get the property of button-type @var{type} named @var{prop}.
4990@end defun
4991
4992@defun button-type-subtype-p type supertype
4993Return @code{t} if button-type @var{type} is a subtype of @var{supertype}.
4994@end defun
4995
4996@node Button Buffer Commands
4997@subsection Button Buffer Commands
4998@cindex button buffer commands
4999
5000These are commands and functions for locating and operating on
5001buttons in an Emacs buffer.
5002
5003@code{push-button} is the command that a user uses to actually `push'
5004a button, and is bound by default in the button itself to @key{RET}
5005and to @key{mouse-2} using a region-specific keymap. Commands
5006that are useful outside the buttons itself, such as
5007@code{forward-button} and @code{backward-button} are additionally
5008available in the keymap stored in @code{button-buffer-map}; a mode
5009which uses buttons may want to use @code{button-buffer-map} as a
5010parent keymap for its keymap.
5011
5012If the button has a non-@code{nil} @code{follow-link} property, and
5013@var{mouse-1-click-follows-link} is set, a quick @key{Mouse-1} click
5014will also activate the @code{push-button} command.
2bad3299 5015@xref{Clickable Text}.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5016
5017@deffn Command push-button &optional pos use-mouse-action
5018Perform the action specified by a button at location @var{pos}.
5019@var{pos} may be either a buffer position or a mouse-event. If
5020@var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, or @var{pos} is a
5021mouse-event (@pxref{Mouse Events}), try to invoke the button's
5022@code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
5023has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
5024@var{pos} defaults to point, except when @code{push-button} is invoked
5025interactively as the result of a mouse-event, in which case, the mouse
5026event's position is used. If there's no button at @var{pos}, do
5027nothing and return @code{nil}, otherwise return @code{t}.
5028@end deffn
5029
5030@deffn Command forward-button n &optional wrap display-message
5031Move to the @var{n}th next button, or @var{n}th previous button if
5032@var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5033button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5034end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5035@var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5036is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5037is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5038@end deffn
5039
5040@deffn Command backward-button n &optional wrap display-message
5041Move to the @var{n}th previous button, or @var{n}th next button if
5042@var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5043button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5044end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5045@var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5046is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5047is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5048@end deffn
5049
5050@defun next-button pos &optional count-current
5051@defunx previous-button pos &optional count-current
5052Return the next button after (for @code{next-button} or before (for
5053@code{previous-button}) position @var{pos} in the current buffer. If
5054@var{count-current} is non-@code{nil}, count any button at @var{pos}
5055in the search, instead of starting at the next button.
5056@end defun
5057
5058@node Abstract Display
5059@section Abstract Display
5060@cindex ewoc
5061@cindex display, abstract
5062@cindex display, arbitrary objects
5063@cindex model/view/controller
5064@cindex view part, model/view/controller
5065
5066 The Ewoc package constructs buffer text that represents a structure
5067of Lisp objects, and updates the text to follow changes in that
5068structure. This is like the ``view'' component in the
5069``model/view/controller'' design paradigm.
5070
5071 An @dfn{ewoc} is a structure that organizes information required to
5072construct buffer text that represents certain Lisp data. The buffer
5073text of the ewoc has three parts, in order: first, fixed @dfn{header}
5074text; next, textual descriptions of a series of data elements (Lisp
5075objects that you specify); and last, fixed @dfn{footer} text.
5076Specifically, an ewoc contains information on:
5077
5078@itemize @bullet
5079@item
5080The buffer which its text is generated in.
5081
5082@item
5083The text's start position in the buffer.
5084
5085@item
5086The header and footer strings.
5087
5088@item
5089A doubly-linked chain of @dfn{nodes}, each of which contains:
5090
5091@itemize
5092@item
5093A @dfn{data element}, a single Lisp object.
5094
5095@item
5096Links to the preceding and following nodes in the chain.
5097@end itemize
5098
5099@item
5100A @dfn{pretty-printer} function which is responsible for
5101inserting the textual representation of a data
5102element value into the current buffer.
5103@end itemize
5104
5105 Typically, you define an ewoc with @code{ewoc-create}, and then pass
5106the resulting ewoc structure to other functions in the Ewoc package to
5107build nodes within it, and display it in the buffer. Once it is
5108displayed in the buffer, other functions determine the correspondance
5109between buffer positions and nodes, move point from one node's textual
5110representation to another, and so forth. @xref{Abstract Display
5111Functions}.
5112
5113 A node @dfn{encapsulates} a data element much the way a variable
5114holds a value. Normally, encapsulation occurs as a part of adding a
5115node to the ewoc. You can retrieve the data element value and place a
5116new value in its place, like so:
5117
5118@lisp
5119(ewoc-data @var{node})
5120@result{} value
5121
5122(ewoc-set-data @var{node} @var{new-value})
5123@result{} @var{new-value}
5124@end lisp
5125
5126@noindent
5127You can also use, as the data element value, a Lisp object (list or
5128vector) that is a container for the ``real'' value, or an index into
5129some other structure. The example (@pxref{Abstract Display Example})
5130uses the latter approach.
5131
5132 When the data changes, you will want to update the text in the
5133buffer. You can update all nodes by calling @code{ewoc-refresh}, or
5134just specific nodes using @code{ewoc-invalidate}, or all nodes
5135satisfying a predicate using @code{ewoc-map}. Alternatively, you can
5136delete invalid nodes using @code{ewoc-delete} or @code{ewoc-filter},
5137and add new nodes in their place. Deleting a node from an ewoc deletes
5138its associated textual description from buffer, as well.
5139
5140@menu
5141* Abstract Display Functions::
5142* Abstract Display Example::
5143@end menu
5144
5145@node Abstract Display Functions
5146@subsection Abstract Display Functions
5147
5148 In this subsection, @var{ewoc} and @var{node} stand for the
5149structures described above (@pxref{Abstract Display}), while
5150@var{data} stands for an arbitrary Lisp object used as a data element.
5151
5152@defun ewoc-create pretty-printer &optional header footer nosep
5153This constructs and returns a new ewoc, with no nodes (and thus no data
5154elements). @var{pretty-printer} should be a function that takes one
5155argument, a data element of the sort you plan to use in this ewoc, and
5156inserts its textual description at point using @code{insert} (and never
5157@code{insert-before-markers}, because that would interfere with the
5158Ewoc package's internal mechanisms).
5159
5160Normally, a newline is automatically inserted after the header,
5161the footer and every node's textual description. If @var{nosep}
5162is non-@code{nil}, no newline is inserted. This may be useful for
5163displaying an entire ewoc on a single line, for example, or for
5164making nodes ``invisible'' by arranging for @var{pretty-printer}
5165to do nothing for those nodes.
5166
5167An ewoc maintains its text in the buffer that is current when
5168you create it, so switch to the intended buffer before calling
5169@code{ewoc-create}.
5170@end defun
5171
5172@defun ewoc-buffer ewoc
5173This returns the buffer where @var{ewoc} maintains its text.
5174@end defun
5175
5176@defun ewoc-get-hf ewoc
5177This returns a cons cell @code{(@var{header} . @var{footer})}
5178made from @var{ewoc}'s header and footer.
5179@end defun
5180
5181@defun ewoc-set-hf ewoc header footer
5182This sets the header and footer of @var{ewoc} to the strings
5183@var{header} and @var{footer}, respectively.
5184@end defun
5185
5186@defun ewoc-enter-first ewoc data
5187@defunx ewoc-enter-last ewoc data
5188These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, putting it, respectively,
5189at the beginning or end of @var{ewoc}'s chain of nodes.
5190@end defun
5191
5192@defun ewoc-enter-before ewoc node data
5193@defunx ewoc-enter-after ewoc node data
5194These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, adding it to
5195@var{ewoc} before or after @var{node}, respectively.
5196@end defun
5197
5198@defun ewoc-prev ewoc node
5199@defunx ewoc-next ewoc node
5200These return, respectively, the previous node and the next node of @var{node}
5201in @var{ewoc}.
5202@end defun
5203
5204@defun ewoc-nth ewoc n
5205This returns the node in @var{ewoc} found at zero-based index @var{n}.
5206A negative @var{n} means count from the end. @code{ewoc-nth} returns
5207@code{nil} if @var{n} is out of range.
5208@end defun
5209
5210@defun ewoc-data node
5211This extracts the data encapsulated by @var{node} and returns it.
5212@end defun
5213
5214@defun ewoc-set-data node data
5215This sets the data encapsulated by @var{node} to @var{data}.
5216@end defun
5217
5218@defun ewoc-locate ewoc &optional pos guess
5219This determines the node in @var{ewoc} which contains point (or
5220@var{pos} if specified), and returns that node. If @var{ewoc} has no
5221nodes, it returns @code{nil}. If @var{pos} is before the first node,
5222it returns the first node; if @var{pos} is after the last node, it returns
5223the last node. The optional third arg @var{guess}
5224should be a node that is likely to be near @var{pos}; this doesn't
5225alter the result, but makes the function run faster.
5226@end defun
5227
5228@defun ewoc-location node
5229This returns the start position of @var{node}.
5230@end defun
5231
5232@defun ewoc-goto-prev ewoc arg
5233@defunx ewoc-goto-next ewoc arg
5234These move point to the previous or next, respectively, @var{arg}th node
5235in @var{ewoc}. @code{ewoc-goto-prev} does not move if it is already at
5236the first node or if @var{ewoc} is empty, whereas @code{ewoc-goto-next}
5237moves past the last node, returning @code{nil}. Excepting this special
5238case, these functions return the node moved to.
5239@end defun
5240
5241@defun ewoc-goto-node ewoc node
5242This moves point to the start of @var{node} in @var{ewoc}.
5243@end defun
5244
5245@defun ewoc-refresh ewoc
5246This function regenerates the text of @var{ewoc}. It works by
5247deleting the text between the header and the footer, i.e., all the
5248data elements' representations, and then calling the pretty-printer
5249function for each node, one by one, in order.
5250@end defun
5251
5252@defun ewoc-invalidate ewoc &rest nodes
5253This is similar to @code{ewoc-refresh}, except that only @var{nodes} in
5254@var{ewoc} are updated instead of the entire set.
5255@end defun
5256
5257@defun ewoc-delete ewoc &rest nodes
5258This deletes each node in @var{nodes} from @var{ewoc}.
5259@end defun
5260
5261@defun ewoc-filter ewoc predicate &rest args
5262This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5263deletes those nodes for which @var{predicate} returns @code{nil}.
5264Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5265@end defun
5266
5267@defun ewoc-collect ewoc predicate &rest args
5268This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc}
5269and returns a list of those elements for which @var{predicate}
5270returns non-@code{nil}. The elements in the list are ordered
5271as in the buffer. Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5272@end defun
5273
5274@defun ewoc-map map-function ewoc &rest args
5275This calls @var{map-function} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5276updates those nodes for which @var{map-function} returns non-@code{nil}.
5277Any @var{args} are passed to @var{map-function}.
5278@end defun
5279
5280@node Abstract Display Example
5281@subsection Abstract Display Example
5282
5283 Here is a simple example using functions of the ewoc package to
5284implement a ``color components display,'' an area in a buffer that
5285represents a vector of three integers (itself representing a 24-bit RGB
5286value) in various ways.
5287
5288@example
5289(setq colorcomp-ewoc nil
5290 colorcomp-data nil
5291 colorcomp-mode-map nil
5292 colorcomp-labels ["Red" "Green" "Blue"])
5293
5294(defun colorcomp-pp (data)
5295 (if data
5296 (let ((comp (aref colorcomp-data data)))
5297 (insert (aref colorcomp-labels data) "\t: #x"
5298 (format "%02X" comp) " "
5299 (make-string (ash comp -2) ?#) "\n"))
5300 (let ((cstr (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5301 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5302 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5303 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5304 (samp " (sample text) "))
5305 (insert "Color\t: "
5306 (propertize samp 'face `(foreground-color . ,cstr))
5307 (propertize samp 'face `(background-color . ,cstr))
5308 "\n"))))
5309
5310(defun colorcomp (color)
5311 "Allow fiddling with COLOR in a new buffer.
5312The buffer is in Color Components mode."
5313 (interactive "sColor (name or #RGB or #RRGGBB): ")
5314 (when (string= "" color)
5315 (setq color "green"))
5316 (unless (color-values color)
5317 (error "No such color: %S" color))
5318 (switch-to-buffer
5319 (generate-new-buffer (format "originally: %s" color)))
5320 (kill-all-local-variables)
5321 (setq major-mode 'colorcomp-mode
5322 mode-name "Color Components")
5323 (use-local-map colorcomp-mode-map)
5324 (erase-buffer)
5325 (buffer-disable-undo)
5326 (let ((data (apply 'vector (mapcar (lambda (n) (ash n -8))
5327 (color-values color))))
5328 (ewoc (ewoc-create 'colorcomp-pp
5329 "\nColor Components\n\n"
5330 (substitute-command-keys
5331 "\n\\@{colorcomp-mode-map@}"))))
5332 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-data) data)
5333 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-ewoc) ewoc)
5334 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 0)
5335 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 1)
5336 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 2)
5337 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc nil)))
5338@end example
5339
5340@cindex controller part, model/view/controller
5341 This example can be extended to be a ``color selection widget'' (in
5342other words, the controller part of the ``model/view/controller''
5343design paradigm) by defining commands to modify @code{colorcomp-data}
5344and to ``finish'' the selection process, and a keymap to tie it all
5345together conveniently.
5346
5347@smallexample
5348(defun colorcomp-mod (index limit delta)
5349 (let ((cur (aref colorcomp-data index)))
5350 (unless (= limit cur)
5351 (aset colorcomp-data index (+ cur delta)))
5352 (ewoc-invalidate
5353 colorcomp-ewoc
5354 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc index)
5355 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc -1))))
5356
5357(defun colorcomp-R-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 255 1))
5358(defun colorcomp-G-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 255 1))
5359(defun colorcomp-B-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 255 1))
5360(defun colorcomp-R-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 0 -1))
5361(defun colorcomp-G-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 0 -1))
5362(defun colorcomp-B-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 0 -1))
5363
5364(defun colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit ()
5365 "Copy the color components into the kill ring and kill the buffer.
5366The string is formatted #RRGGBB (hash followed by six hex digits)."
5367 (interactive)
5368 (kill-new (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5369 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5370 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5371 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5372 (kill-buffer nil))
5373
5374(setq colorcomp-mode-map
5375 (let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
5376 (suppress-keymap m)
5377 (define-key m "i" 'colorcomp-R-less)
5378 (define-key m "o" 'colorcomp-R-more)
5379 (define-key m "k" 'colorcomp-G-less)
5380 (define-key m "l" 'colorcomp-G-more)
5381 (define-key m "," 'colorcomp-B-less)
5382 (define-key m "." 'colorcomp-B-more)
5383 (define-key m " " 'colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit)
5384 m))
5385@end smallexample
5386
5387Note that we never modify the data in each node, which is fixed when the
5388ewoc is created to be either @code{nil} or an index into the vector
5389@code{colorcomp-data}, the actual color components.
5390
5391@node Blinking
5392@section Blinking Parentheses
5393@cindex parenthesis matching
5394@cindex blinking parentheses
5395@cindex balancing parentheses
5396
5397 This section describes the mechanism by which Emacs shows a matching
5398open parenthesis when the user inserts a close parenthesis.
5399
5400@defvar blink-paren-function
5401The value of this variable should be a function (of no arguments) to
5402be called whenever a character with close parenthesis syntax is inserted.
5403The value of @code{blink-paren-function} may be @code{nil}, in which
5404case nothing is done.
5405@end defvar
5406
5407@defopt blink-matching-paren
5408If this variable is @code{nil}, then @code{blink-matching-open} does
5409nothing.
5410@end defopt
5411
5412@defopt blink-matching-paren-distance
5413This variable specifies the maximum distance to scan for a matching
5414parenthesis before giving up.
5415@end defopt
5416
5417@defopt blink-matching-delay
5418This variable specifies the number of seconds for the cursor to remain
5419at the matching parenthesis. A fraction of a second often gives
5420good results, but the default is 1, which works on all systems.
5421@end defopt
5422
5423@deffn Command blink-matching-open
5424This function is the default value of @code{blink-paren-function}. It
5425assumes that point follows a character with close parenthesis syntax and
5426moves the cursor momentarily to the matching opening character. If that
5427character is not already on the screen, it displays the character's
5428context in the echo area. To avoid long delays, this function does not
5429search farther than @code{blink-matching-paren-distance} characters.
5430
5431Here is an example of calling this function explicitly.
5432
5433@smallexample
5434@group
5435(defun interactive-blink-matching-open ()
5436@c Do not break this line! -- rms.
5437@c The first line of a doc string
5438@c must stand alone.
5439 "Indicate momentarily the start of sexp before point."
5440 (interactive)
5441@end group
5442@group
5443 (let ((blink-matching-paren-distance
5444 (buffer-size))
5445 (blink-matching-paren t))
5446 (blink-matching-open)))
5447@end group
5448@end smallexample
5449@end deffn
5450
5451@node Usual Display
5452@section Usual Display Conventions
5453
5454 The usual display conventions define how to display each character
5455code. You can override these conventions by setting up a display table
5456(@pxref{Display Tables}). Here are the usual display conventions:
5457
5458@itemize @bullet
5459@item
5460Character codes 32 through 126 map to glyph codes 32 through 126.
5461Normally this means they display as themselves.
5462
5463@item
5464Character code 9 is a horizontal tab. It displays as whitespace
5465up to a position determined by @code{tab-width}.
5466
5467@item
5468Character code 10 is a newline.
5469
5470@item
5471All other codes in the range 0 through 31, and code 127, display in one
5472of two ways according to the value of @code{ctl-arrow}. If it is
5473non-@code{nil}, these codes map to sequences of two glyphs, where the
5474first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{^}. (A display table can
5475specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{^}.) Otherwise, these codes map
5476just like the codes in the range 128 to 255.
5477
5478On MS-DOS terminals, Emacs arranges by default for the character code
5479127 to be mapped to the glyph code 127, which normally displays as an
5480empty polygon. This glyph is used to display non-@acronym{ASCII} characters
5481that the MS-DOS terminal doesn't support. @xref{MS-DOS and MULE,,,
5482emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
5483
5484@item
5485Character codes 128 through 255 map to sequences of four glyphs, where
5486the first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{\}, and the others are
5487digit characters representing the character code in octal. (A display
5488table can specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{\}.)
5489
5490@item
5491Multibyte character codes above 256 are displayed as themselves, or as a
5492question mark or empty box if the terminal cannot display that
5493character.
5494@end itemize
5495
5496 The usual display conventions apply even when there is a display
5497table, for any character whose entry in the active display table is
5498@code{nil}. Thus, when you set up a display table, you need only
5499specify the characters for which you want special behavior.
5500
5501 These display rules apply to carriage return (character code 13), when
5502it appears in the buffer. But that character may not appear in the
5503buffer where you expect it, if it was eliminated as part of end-of-line
5504conversion (@pxref{Coding System Basics}).
5505
5506 These variables affect the way certain characters are displayed on the
5507screen. Since they change the number of columns the characters occupy,
5508they also affect the indentation functions. These variables also affect
5509how the mode line is displayed; if you want to force redisplay of the
5510mode line using the new values, call the function
5511@code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5512
5513@defopt ctl-arrow
5514@cindex control characters in display
5515This buffer-local variable controls how control characters are
5516displayed. If it is non-@code{nil}, they are displayed as a caret
5517followed by the character: @samp{^A}. If it is @code{nil}, they are
5518displayed as a backslash followed by three octal digits: @samp{\001}.
5519@end defopt
5520
5521@c Following may have overfull hbox.
5522@defvar default-ctl-arrow
5523The value of this variable is the default value for @code{ctl-arrow} in
5524buffers that do not override it. @xref{Default Value}.
5525@end defvar
5526
5527@defopt tab-width
5528The value of this buffer-local variable is the spacing between tab
5529stops used for displaying tab characters in Emacs buffers. The value
5530is in units of columns, and the default is 8. Note that this feature
5531is completely independent of the user-settable tab stops used by the
5532command @code{tab-to-tab-stop}. @xref{Indent Tabs}.
5533@end defopt
5534
5535@node Display Tables
5536@section Display Tables
5537
5538@cindex display table
5539You can use the @dfn{display table} feature to control how all possible
5540character codes display on the screen. This is useful for displaying
5541European languages that have letters not in the @acronym{ASCII} character
5542set.
5543
5544The display table maps each character code into a sequence of
5545@dfn{glyphs}, each glyph being a graphic that takes up one character
5546position on the screen. You can also define how to display each glyph
5547on your terminal, using the @dfn{glyph table}.
5548
5549Display tables affect how the mode line is displayed; if you want to
5550force redisplay of the mode line using a new display table, call
5551@code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5552
5553@menu
5554* Display Table Format:: What a display table consists of.
5555* Active Display Table:: How Emacs selects a display table to use.
5556* Glyphs:: How to define a glyph, and what glyphs mean.
5557@end menu
5558
5559@node Display Table Format
5560@subsection Display Table Format
5561
5562 A display table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}) with
5563@code{display-table} as its subtype.
5564
5565@defun make-display-table
5566This creates and returns a display table. The table initially has
5567@code{nil} in all elements.
5568@end defun
5569
5570 The ordinary elements of the display table are indexed by character
5571codes; the element at index @var{c} says how to display the character
5572code @var{c}. The value should be @code{nil} or a vector of the
5573glyphs to be output (@pxref{Glyphs}). @code{nil} says to display the
5574character @var{c} according to the usual display conventions
5575(@pxref{Usual Display}).
5576
5577 @strong{Warning:} if you use the display table to change the display
5578of newline characters, the whole buffer will be displayed as one long
5579``line.''
5580
5581 The display table also has six ``extra slots'' which serve special
5582purposes. Here is a table of their meanings; @code{nil} in any slot
5583means to use the default for that slot, as stated below.
5584
5585@table @asis
5586@item 0
5587The glyph for the end of a truncated screen line (the default for this
5588is @samp{$}). @xref{Glyphs}. On graphical terminals, Emacs uses
5589arrows in the fringes to indicate truncation, so the display table has
5590no effect.
5591
5592@item 1
5593The glyph for the end of a continued line (the default is @samp{\}).
5594On graphical terminals, Emacs uses curved arrows in the fringes to
5595indicate continuation, so the display table has no effect.
5596
5597@item 2
5598The glyph for indicating a character displayed as an octal character
5599code (the default is @samp{\}).
5600
5601@item 3
5602The glyph for indicating a control character (the default is @samp{^}).
5603
5604@item 4
5605A vector of glyphs for indicating the presence of invisible lines (the
5606default is @samp{...}). @xref{Selective Display}.
5607
5608@item 5
5609The glyph used to draw the border between side-by-side windows (the
5610default is @samp{|}). @xref{Splitting Windows}. This takes effect only
5611when there are no scroll bars; if scroll bars are supported and in use,
5612a scroll bar separates the two windows.
5613@end table
5614
5615 For example, here is how to construct a display table that mimics the
5616effect of setting @code{ctl-arrow} to a non-@code{nil} value:
5617
5618@example
5619(setq disptab (make-display-table))
5620(let ((i 0))
5621 (while (< i 32)
5622 (or (= i ?\t) (= i ?\n)
5623 (aset disptab i (vector ?^ (+ i 64))))
5624 (setq i (1+ i)))
5625 (aset disptab 127 (vector ?^ ??)))
5626@end example
5627
5628@defun display-table-slot display-table slot
5629This function returns the value of the extra slot @var{slot} of
5630@var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
56315 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5632@code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5633@code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5634@end defun
5635
5636@defun set-display-table-slot display-table slot value
5637This function stores @var{value} in the extra slot @var{slot} of
5638@var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
56395 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5640@code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5641@code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5642@end defun
5643
5644@defun describe-display-table display-table
5645This function displays a description of the display table
5646@var{display-table} in a help buffer.
5647@end defun
5648
5649@deffn Command describe-current-display-table
5650This command displays a description of the current display table in a
5651help buffer.
5652@end deffn
5653
5654@node Active Display Table
5655@subsection Active Display Table
5656@cindex active display table
5657
5658 Each window can specify a display table, and so can each buffer. When
5659a buffer @var{b} is displayed in window @var{w}, display uses the
5660display table for window @var{w} if it has one; otherwise, the display
5661table for buffer @var{b} if it has one; otherwise, the standard display
5662table if any. The display table chosen is called the @dfn{active}
5663display table.
5664
5665@defun window-display-table &optional window
5666This function returns @var{window}'s display table, or @code{nil}
5667if @var{window} does not have an assigned display table. The default
5668for @var{window} is the selected window.
5669@end defun
5670
5671@defun set-window-display-table window table
5672This function sets the display table of @var{window} to @var{table}.
5673The argument @var{table} should be either a display table or
5674@code{nil}.
5675@end defun
5676
5677@defvar buffer-display-table
5678This variable is automatically buffer-local in all buffers; its value in
5679a particular buffer specifies the display table for that buffer. If it
5680is @code{nil}, that means the buffer does not have an assigned display
5681table.
5682@end defvar
5683
5684@defvar standard-display-table
5685This variable's value is the default display table, used whenever a
5686window has no display table and neither does the buffer displayed in
5687that window. This variable is @code{nil} by default.
5688@end defvar
5689
5690 If there is no display table to use for a particular window---that is,
5691if the window specifies none, its buffer specifies none, and
5692@code{standard-display-table} is @code{nil}---then Emacs uses the usual
5693display conventions for all character codes in that window. @xref{Usual
5694Display}.
5695
5696A number of functions for changing the standard display table
5697are defined in the library @file{disp-table}.
5698
5699@node Glyphs
5700@subsection Glyphs
5701
5702@cindex glyph
5703 A @dfn{glyph} is a generalization of a character; it stands for an
5704image that takes up a single character position on the screen. Normally
5705glyphs come from vectors in the display table (@pxref{Display Tables}).
5706
5707 A glyph is represented in Lisp as a @dfn{glyph code}. A glyph code
5708can be @dfn{simple} or it can be defined by the @dfn{glyph table}. A
5709simple glyph code is just a way of specifying a character and a face
5710to output it in. @xref{Faces}.
5711
5712 The following functions are used to manipulate simple glyph codes:
5713
5714@defun make-glyph-code char &optional face
5715This function returns a simple glyph code representing char @var{char}
5716with face @var{face}.
5717@end defun
5718
5719@defun glyph-char glyph
5720This function returns the character of simple glyph code @var{glyph}.
5721@end defun
5722
5723@defun glyph-face glyph
5724This function returns face of simple glyph code @var{glyph}, or
5725@code{nil} if @var{glyph} has the default face (face-id 0).
d466a866 5726@xref{Face Functions}.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5727@end defun
5728
5729 On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
5730the meaning of glyph codes (represented as small integers).
5731
5732@defvar glyph-table
5733The value of this variable is the current glyph table. It should be
5734@code{nil} or a vector whose @var{g}th element defines glyph code
5735@var{g}.
5736
5737If a glyph code is greater than or equal to the length of the glyph
5738table, that code is automatically simple. If @code{glyph-table} is
5739@code{nil} then all glyph codes are simple.
5740
5741The glyph table is used only on character terminals. On graphical
5742displays, all glyph codes are simple.
5743@end defvar
5744
5745 Here are the meaningful types of elements in the glyph table:
5746
5747@table @asis
5748@item @var{string}
5749Send the characters in @var{string} to the terminal to output
5750this glyph code.
5751
5752@item @var{code}
5753Define this glyph code as an alias for glyph code @var{code} created
5754by @code{make-glyph-code}. You can use such an alias to define a
5755small-numbered glyph code which specifies a character with a face.
5756
5757@item @code{nil}
5758This glyph code is simple.
5759@end table
5760
5761@defun create-glyph string
5762This function returns a newly-allocated glyph code which is set up to
5763display by sending @var{string} to the terminal.
5764@end defun
5765
5766@node Beeping
5767@section Beeping
5768@c @cindex beeping "beep" is adjacent
5769@cindex bell
5770
5771 This section describes how to make Emacs ring the bell (or blink the
5772screen) to attract the user's attention. Be conservative about how
5773often you do this; frequent bells can become irritating. Also be
5774careful not to use just beeping when signaling an error is more
5775appropriate. (@xref{Errors}.)
5776
5777@defun ding &optional do-not-terminate
5778@cindex keyboard macro termination
5779This function beeps, or flashes the screen (see @code{visible-bell} below).
5780It also terminates any keyboard macro currently executing unless
5781@var{do-not-terminate} is non-@code{nil}.
5782@end defun
5783
5784@defun beep &optional do-not-terminate
5785This is a synonym for @code{ding}.
5786@end defun
5787
5788@defopt visible-bell
5789This variable determines whether Emacs should flash the screen to
5790represent a bell. Non-@code{nil} means yes, @code{nil} means no. This
5791is effective on graphical displays, and on text-only terminals
5792provided the terminal's Termcap entry defines the visible bell
5793capability (@samp{vb}).
5794@end defopt
5795
5796@defvar ring-bell-function
5797If this is non-@code{nil}, it specifies how Emacs should ``ring the
5798bell.'' Its value should be a function of no arguments. If this is
5799non-@code{nil}, it takes precedence over the @code{visible-bell}
5800variable.
5801@end defvar
5802
5803@node Window Systems
5804@section Window Systems
5805
5806 Emacs works with several window systems, most notably the X Window
5807System. Both Emacs and X use the term ``window,'' but use it
5808differently. An Emacs frame is a single window as far as X is
5809concerned; the individual Emacs windows are not known to X at all.
5810
5811@defvar window-system
77bb0476
EZ
5812This frame-local variable tells Lisp programs what window system Emacs is using
5813for displaying the frame. The possible values are
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GM
5814
5815@table @code
5816@item x
5817@cindex X Window System
77bb0476 5818Emacs is displaying the frame using X.
b8d4c8d0 5819@item w32
77bb0476
EZ
5820Emacs is displaying the frame using native MS-Windows GUI.
5821@item pc
5822Emacs is displaying the frame using MS-DOS direct screen writes.
b8d4c8d0 5823@item nil
77bb0476 5824Emacs is displaying the frame on a character-based terminal.
b8d4c8d0
GM
5825@end table
5826@end defvar
5827
4267d515
EZ
5828@defvar initial-window-system
5829This variable holds the value of @code{window-system} used for the
f721deda
EZ
5830first frame created by Emacs during startup. (When Emacs is invoked
5831with the @option{--daemon} option, it does not create any initial
5832frames, so @code{initial-window-system} is @code{nil}. @xref{Initial
5833Options, daemon,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.)
4267d515
EZ
5834@end defvar
5835
77bb0476
EZ
5836@defun window-system &optional frame
5837This function returns a symbol whose name tells what window system is
5838used for displaying @var{frame} (which defaults to the currently
5839selected frame). The list of possible symbols it returns is the same
5840one documented for the variable @code{window-system} above.
5841@end defun
5842
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GM
5843@defvar window-setup-hook
5844This variable is a normal hook which Emacs runs after handling the
5845initialization files. Emacs runs this hook after it has completed
5846loading your init file, the default initialization file (if
5847any), and the terminal-specific Lisp code, and running the hook
5848@code{term-setup-hook}.
5849
5850This hook is used for internal purposes: setting up communication with
5851the window system, and creating the initial window. Users should not
5852interfere with it.
5853@end defvar
5854
5855@ignore
5856 arch-tag: ffdf5714-7ecf-415b-9023-fbc6b409c2c6
5857@end ignore