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1 | @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 | @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
ba318903 | 3 | @c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2014 Free Software |
ab422c4d | 4 | @c Foundation, Inc. |
b8d4c8d0 | 5 | @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
ecc6530d | 6 | @node System Interface |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
7 | @chapter Operating System Interface |
8 | ||
9 | This chapter is about starting and getting out of Emacs, access to | |
b59af549 | 10 | values in the operating system environment, and terminal input, output. |
b8d4c8d0 | 11 | |
02a89103 CY |
12 | @xref{Building Emacs}, for related information. @xref{Display}, for |
13 | additional operating system status information pertaining to the | |
14 | terminal and the screen. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
15 | |
16 | @menu | |
17 | * Starting Up:: Customizing Emacs startup processing. | |
18 | * Getting Out:: How exiting works (permanent or temporary). | |
19 | * System Environment:: Distinguish the name and kind of system. | |
20 | * User Identification:: Finding the name and user id of the user. | |
d24880de | 21 | * Time of Day:: Getting the current time. |
a4180391 | 22 | * Time Conversion:: Converting a time from numeric form to |
3be92e63 | 23 | calendrical data and vice versa. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
24 | * Time Parsing:: Converting a time from numeric form to text |
25 | and vice versa. | |
26 | * Processor Run Time:: Getting the run time used by Emacs. | |
27 | * Time Calculations:: Adding, subtracting, comparing times, etc. | |
d24880de | 28 | * Timers:: Setting a timer to call a function at a certain time. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
29 | * Idle Timers:: Setting a timer to call a function when Emacs has |
30 | been idle for a certain length of time. | |
31 | * Terminal Input:: Accessing and recording terminal input. | |
32 | * Terminal Output:: Controlling and recording terminal output. | |
33 | * Sound Output:: Playing sounds on the computer's speaker. | |
8e69dc70 | 34 | * X11 Keysyms:: Operating on key symbols for X Windows. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
35 | * Batch Mode:: Running Emacs without terminal interaction. |
36 | * Session Management:: Saving and restoring state with X Session Management. | |
32813ea7 MA |
37 | * Desktop Notifications:: Desktop notifications. |
38 | * File Notifications:: File notifications. | |
00f113eb | 39 | * Dynamic Libraries:: On-demand loading of support libraries. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
40 | @end menu |
41 | ||
42 | @node Starting Up | |
43 | @section Starting Up Emacs | |
44 | ||
45 | This section describes what Emacs does when it is started, and how you | |
46 | can customize these actions. | |
47 | ||
48 | @menu | |
49 | * Startup Summary:: Sequence of actions Emacs performs at startup. | |
02a89103 | 50 | * Init File:: Details on reading the init file. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
51 | * Terminal-Specific:: How the terminal-specific Lisp file is read. |
52 | * Command-Line Arguments:: How command-line arguments are processed, | |
53 | and how you can customize them. | |
54 | @end menu | |
55 | ||
56 | @node Startup Summary | |
57 | @subsection Summary: Sequence of Actions at Startup | |
58 | @cindex initialization of Emacs | |
59 | @cindex startup of Emacs | |
60 | @cindex @file{startup.el} | |
61 | ||
02a89103 | 62 | When Emacs is started up, it performs the following operations |
b59af549 | 63 | (see @code{normal-top-level} in @file{startup.el}): |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
64 | |
65 | @enumerate | |
66 | @item | |
67 | It adds subdirectories to @code{load-path}, by running the file named | |
02a89103 CY |
68 | @file{subdirs.el} in each directory in the list. Normally, this file |
69 | adds the directory's subdirectories to the list, and those are scanned | |
70 | in their turn. The files @file{subdirs.el} are normally generated | |
71 | automatically when Emacs is installed. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 72 | |
b59af549 | 73 | @item |
d6686055 GM |
74 | It loads any @file{leim-list.el} that it finds in the @code{load-path} |
75 | directories. This file is intended for registering input methods. | |
76 | The search is only for any personal @file{leim-list.el} files that you | |
cb6c95a3 GM |
77 | may have created; it skips the directories containing the standard Emacs |
78 | libraries (these should contain only a single @file{leim-list.el} file, | |
79 | which is compiled into the Emacs executable). | |
b59af549 | 80 | |
f36acfd9 | 81 | @vindex before-init-time |
b8d4c8d0 | 82 | @item |
02a89103 | 83 | It sets the variable @code{before-init-time} to the value of |
f36acfd9 | 84 | @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}). It also sets |
02a89103 CY |
85 | @code{after-init-time} to @code{nil}, which signals to Lisp programs |
86 | that Emacs is being initialized. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 87 | |
b59af549 GM |
88 | @c set-locale-environment |
89 | @item | |
90 | It sets the language environment and the terminal coding system, | |
8fc85b20 | 91 | if requested by environment variables such as @env{LANG}. |
b59af549 GM |
92 | |
93 | @item | |
94 | It does some basic parsing of the command-line arguments. | |
95 | ||
f36acfd9 EZ |
96 | @vindex initial-window-system@r{, and startup} |
97 | @vindex window-system-initialization-alist | |
b8d4c8d0 | 98 | @item |
b59af549 GM |
99 | If not running in batch mode, it initializes the window system that |
100 | the variable @code{initial-window-system} specifies (@pxref{Window | |
101 | Systems, initial-window-system}). The initialization function for | |
102 | each supported window system is specified by | |
103 | @code{window-system-initialization-alist}. If the value | |
104 | of @code{initial-window-system} is @var{windowsystem}, then the | |
105 | appropriate initialization function is defined in the file | |
106 | @file{term/@var{windowsystem}-win.el}. This file should have been | |
107 | compiled into the Emacs executable when it was built. | |
f36acfd9 EZ |
108 | |
109 | @item | |
b59af549 | 110 | It runs the normal hook @code{before-init-hook}. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
111 | |
112 | @item | |
33da7b16 GM |
113 | If appropriate, it creates a graphical frame. This is not done if the |
114 | options @samp{--batch} or @samp{--daemon} were specified. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
115 | |
116 | @item | |
b59af549 GM |
117 | It initializes the initial frame's faces, and sets up the menu bar |
118 | and tool bar if needed. If graphical frames are supported, it sets up | |
119 | the tool bar even if the current frame is not a graphical one, since a | |
120 | graphical frame may be created later on. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
121 | |
122 | @item | |
b59af549 GM |
123 | It use @code{custom-reevaluate-setting} to re-initialize the members |
124 | of the list @code{custom-delayed-init-variables}. These are any | |
125 | pre-loaded user options whose default value depends on the run-time, | |
126 | rather than build-time, context. | |
127 | @xref{Building Emacs, custom-initialize-delay}. | |
128 | ||
129 | @c @item | |
130 | @c It registers the colors available for tty frames. | |
f36acfd9 EZ |
131 | |
132 | @item | |
02a89103 CY |
133 | It loads the library @file{site-start}, if it exists. This is not |
134 | done if the options @samp{-Q} or @samp{--no-site-file} were specified. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
135 | @cindex @file{site-start.el} |
136 | ||
137 | @item | |
02a89103 CY |
138 | It loads your init file (@pxref{Init File}). This is not done if the |
139 | options @samp{-q}, @samp{-Q}, or @samp{--batch} were specified. If | |
140 | the @samp{-u} option was specified, Emacs looks for the init file in | |
141 | that user's home directory instead. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
142 | |
143 | @item | |
02a89103 CY |
144 | It loads the library @file{default}, if it exists. This is not done |
145 | if @code{inhibit-default-init} is non-@code{nil}, nor if the options | |
146 | @samp{-q}, @samp{-Q}, or @samp{--batch} were specified. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
147 | @cindex @file{default.el} |
148 | ||
f36acfd9 EZ |
149 | @item |
150 | It loads your abbrevs from the file specified by | |
02a89103 CY |
151 | @code{abbrev-file-name}, if that file exists and can be read |
152 | (@pxref{Abbrev Files, abbrev-file-name}). This is not done if the | |
153 | option @samp{--batch} was specified. | |
f36acfd9 | 154 | |
986bd52a CY |
155 | @item |
156 | If @code{package-enable-at-startup} is non-@code{nil}, it calls the | |
157 | function @code{package-initialize} to activate any optional Emacs Lisp | |
158 | package that has been installed. @xref{Packaging Basics}. | |
159 | ||
f36acfd9 EZ |
160 | @vindex after-init-time |
161 | @item | |
02a89103 CY |
162 | It sets the variable @code{after-init-time} to the value of |
163 | @code{current-time}. This variable was set to @code{nil} earlier; | |
164 | setting it to the current time signals that the initialization phase | |
165 | is over, and, together with @code{before-init-time}, provides the | |
f36acfd9 EZ |
166 | measurement of how long it took. |
167 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
168 | @item |
169 | It runs the normal hook @code{after-init-hook}. | |
170 | ||
171 | @item | |
2bb0eca1 | 172 | If the buffer @file{*scratch*} exists and is still in Fundamental mode |
02a89103 CY |
173 | (as it should be by default), it sets its major mode according to |
174 | @code{initial-major-mode}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
175 | |
176 | @item | |
a08a07e3 | 177 | If started on a text terminal, it loads the terminal-specific |
98bd6b32 GM |
178 | Lisp library (@pxref{Terminal-Specific}), and runs the hook |
179 | @code{tty-setup-hook}. This is not done | |
02a89103 | 180 | in @code{--batch} mode, nor if @code{term-file-prefix} is @code{nil}. |
b8d4c8d0 | 181 | |
b59af549 GM |
182 | @c Now command-line calls command-line-1. |
183 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
184 | @item |
185 | It displays the initial echo area message, unless you have suppressed | |
186 | that with @code{inhibit-startup-echo-area-message}. | |
187 | ||
188 | @item | |
b59af549 | 189 | It processes any command-line options that were not handled earlier. |
b8d4c8d0 | 190 | |
b59af549 GM |
191 | @c This next one is back in command-line, but the remaining bits of |
192 | @c command-line-1 are not done if noninteractive. | |
02a89103 CY |
193 | @item |
194 | It now exits if the option @code{--batch} was specified. | |
195 | ||
196 | @item | |
6d069b1b GM |
197 | If @code{initial-buffer-choice} is a string, it visits the file (or |
198 | directory) with that name. If it is a function, it calls the function | |
199 | with no arguments and selects the buffer that it returns. | |
200 | @ignore | |
201 | @c I do not think this should be mentioned. AFAICS it is just a dodge | |
202 | @c around inhibit-startup-screen not being settable on a site-wide basis. | |
203 | If it is @code{t}, it selects the @file{*scratch*} buffer. | |
204 | @end ignore | |
205 | If the @file{*scratch*} buffer exists and is empty, it inserts | |
206 | @code{initial-scratch-message} into that buffer. | |
02a89103 | 207 | |
b59af549 GM |
208 | @c To make things nice and confusing, the next three items can be |
209 | @c called from two places. If displaying a startup screen, they are | |
210 | @c called in command-line-1 before the startup screen is shown. | |
211 | @c inhibit-startup-hooks is then set and window-setup-hook set to nil. | |
212 | @c If not displaying a startup screen, they are are called in | |
213 | @c normal-top-level. | |
214 | @c FIXME? So it seems they can be called before or after the | |
215 | @c daemon/session restore step? | |
216 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 217 | @item |
98bd6b32 | 218 | It runs @code{emacs-startup-hook}. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
219 | |
220 | @item | |
221 | It calls @code{frame-notice-user-settings}, which modifies the | |
222 | parameters of the selected frame according to whatever the init files | |
223 | specify. | |
224 | ||
225 | @item | |
b8379803 GM |
226 | It runs @code{window-setup-hook}. The only difference between this |
227 | hook and @code{emacs-startup-hook} is that this one runs after the | |
228 | previously mentioned modifications to the frame parameters. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 229 | |
f36acfd9 | 230 | @item |
be9d2b46 | 231 | @cindex startup screen |
02a89103 CY |
232 | It displays the @dfn{startup screen}, which is a special buffer that |
233 | contains information about copyleft and basic Emacs usage. This is | |
33da7b16 GM |
234 | not done if @code{inhibit-startup-screen} or @code{initial-buffer-choice} |
235 | are non-@code{nil}, or if the @samp{--no-splash} or @samp{-Q} command-line | |
236 | options were specified. | |
f36acfd9 | 237 | |
b59af549 GM |
238 | @c End of command-line-1. |
239 | ||
240 | @c Back to command-line from command-line-1. | |
241 | ||
242 | @c This is the point at which we actually exit in batch mode, but the | |
243 | @c last few bits of command-line-1 are not done in batch mode. | |
244 | ||
245 | @item | |
246 | If the option @code{--daemon} was specified, it calls | |
247 | @code{server-start} and detaches from the controlling terminal. | |
248 | @xref{Emacs Server,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
249 | ||
f36acfd9 EZ |
250 | @item |
251 | If started by the X session manager, it calls | |
252 | @code{emacs-session-restore} passing it as argument the ID of the | |
dca019f8 | 253 | previous session. @xref{Session Management}. |
b59af549 GM |
254 | |
255 | @c End of command-line. | |
256 | ||
257 | @c Back to normal-top-level from command-line. | |
258 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
259 | @end enumerate |
260 | ||
a5656eae GM |
261 | @noindent |
262 | The following options affect some aspects of the startup sequence. | |
263 | ||
f36acfd9 | 264 | @defopt inhibit-startup-screen |
02a89103 | 265 | This variable, if non-@code{nil}, inhibits the startup screen. In |
2bb0eca1 | 266 | that case, Emacs typically displays the @file{*scratch*} buffer; but |
02a89103 | 267 | see @code{initial-buffer-choice}, below. |
b8d4c8d0 | 268 | |
02a89103 CY |
269 | Do not set this variable in the init file of a new user, or in a way |
270 | that affects more than one user, as that would prevent new users from | |
271 | receiving information about copyleft and basic Emacs usage. | |
f36acfd9 | 272 | |
d3d97050 KR |
273 | @vindex inhibit-startup-message |
274 | @vindex inhibit-splash-screen | |
02a89103 CY |
275 | @code{inhibit-startup-message} and @code{inhibit-splash-screen} are |
276 | aliases for this variable. | |
277 | @end defopt | |
278 | ||
279 | @defopt initial-buffer-choice | |
33da7b16 GM |
280 | If non-@code{nil}, this variable is a string that specifies a file or |
281 | directory for Emacs to display after starting up, instead of the | |
282 | startup screen. | |
dfff9284 TH |
283 | If its value is a function, Emacs calls that function which must |
284 | return a buffer which is then displayed. | |
2bb0eca1 | 285 | If its value is @code{t}, Emacs displays the @file{*scratch*} buffer. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
286 | @end defopt |
287 | ||
288 | @defopt inhibit-startup-echo-area-message | |
289 | This variable controls the display of the startup echo area message. | |
290 | You can suppress the startup echo area message by adding text with this | |
291 | form to your init file: | |
292 | ||
293 | @example | |
294 | (setq inhibit-startup-echo-area-message | |
295 | "@var{your-login-name}") | |
296 | @end example | |
297 | ||
298 | Emacs explicitly checks for an expression as shown above in your init | |
299 | file; your login name must appear in the expression as a Lisp string | |
81927dd2 CY |
300 | constant. You can also use the Customize interface. Other methods of |
301 | setting @code{inhibit-startup-echo-area-message} to the same value do | |
302 | not inhibit the startup message. This way, you can easily inhibit the | |
02a89103 CY |
303 | message for yourself if you wish, but thoughtless copying of your init |
304 | file will not inhibit the message for someone else. | |
305 | @end defopt | |
b8d4c8d0 | 306 | |
02a89103 CY |
307 | @defopt initial-scratch-message |
308 | This variable, if non-@code{nil}, should be a string, which is | |
2bb0eca1 GM |
309 | inserted into the @file{*scratch*} buffer when Emacs starts up. If it |
310 | is @code{nil}, the @file{*scratch*} buffer is empty. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
311 | @end defopt |
312 | ||
a5656eae GM |
313 | @noindent |
314 | The following command-line options affect some aspects of the startup | |
315 | sequence. @xref{Initial Options,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
316 | ||
317 | @table @code | |
318 | @item --no-splash | |
319 | Do not display a splash screen. | |
320 | ||
321 | @item --batch | |
322 | Run without an interactive terminal. @xref{Batch Mode}. | |
323 | ||
324 | @item --daemon | |
325 | Do not initialize any display; just start a server in the background. | |
326 | ||
327 | @item --no-init-file | |
6e466459 | 328 | @itemx -q |
a5656eae GM |
329 | Do not load either the init file, or the @file{default} library. |
330 | ||
331 | @item --no-site-file | |
332 | Do not load the @file{site-start} library. | |
333 | ||
334 | @item --quick | |
335 | @itemx -Q | |
336 | Equivalent to @samp{-q --no-site-file --no-splash}. | |
337 | @c and --no-site-lisp, but let's not mention that here. | |
338 | @end table | |
339 | ||
340 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 341 | @node Init File |
986bd52a | 342 | @subsection The Init File |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
343 | @cindex init file |
344 | @cindex @file{.emacs} | |
986bd52a | 345 | @cindex @file{init.el} |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
346 | |
347 | When you start Emacs, it normally attempts to load your @dfn{init | |
02a89103 CY |
348 | file}. This is either a file named @file{.emacs} or @file{.emacs.el} |
349 | in your home directory, or a file named @file{init.el} in a | |
b59af549 GM |
350 | subdirectory named @file{.emacs.d} in your home directory. |
351 | @ignore | |
352 | Whichever place you use, you can also compile the file (@pxref{Byte | |
02a89103 CY |
353 | Compilation}); then the actual file loaded will be @file{.emacs.elc} |
354 | or @file{init.elc}. | |
b59af549 | 355 | @end ignore |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
356 | |
357 | The command-line switches @samp{-q}, @samp{-Q}, and @samp{-u} | |
358 | control whether and where to find the init file; @samp{-q} (and the | |
359 | stronger @samp{-Q}) says not to load an init file, while @samp{-u | |
360 | @var{user}} says to load @var{user}'s init file instead of yours. | |
361 | @xref{Entering Emacs,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. If neither | |
8fc85b20 GM |
362 | option is specified, Emacs uses the @env{LOGNAME} environment |
363 | variable, or the @env{USER} (most systems) or @env{USERNAME} (MS | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
364 | systems) variable, to find your home directory and thus your init |
365 | file; this way, even if you have su'd, Emacs still loads your own init | |
366 | file. If those environment variables are absent, though, Emacs uses | |
367 | your user-id to find your home directory. | |
368 | ||
369 | @cindex default init file | |
986bd52a CY |
370 | An Emacs installation may have a @dfn{default init file}, which is a |
371 | Lisp library named @file{default.el}. Emacs finds this file through | |
372 | the standard search path for libraries (@pxref{How Programs Do | |
373 | Loading}). The Emacs distribution does not come with this file; it is | |
374 | intended for local customizations. If the default init file exists, | |
33da7b16 | 375 | it is loaded whenever you start Emacs. But your own personal init |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
376 | file, if any, is loaded first; if it sets @code{inhibit-default-init} |
377 | to a non-@code{nil} value, then Emacs does not subsequently load the | |
33da7b16 GM |
378 | @file{default.el} file. In batch mode, or if you specify @samp{-q} |
379 | (or @samp{-Q}), Emacs loads neither your personal init file nor | |
380 | the default init file. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
381 | |
382 | Another file for site-customization is @file{site-start.el}. Emacs | |
383 | loads this @emph{before} the user's init file. You can inhibit the | |
384 | loading of this file with the option @samp{--no-site-file}. | |
385 | ||
01f17ae2 | 386 | @defopt site-run-file |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
387 | This variable specifies the site-customization file to load before the |
388 | user's init file. Its normal value is @code{"site-start"}. The only | |
389 | way you can change it with real effect is to do so before dumping | |
390 | Emacs. | |
33da7b16 | 391 | @c So why even mention it here. I imagine it is almost never changed. |
01f17ae2 | 392 | @end defopt |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
393 | |
394 | @xref{Init Examples,, Init File Examples, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for | |
395 | examples of how to make various commonly desired customizations in your | |
396 | @file{.emacs} file. | |
397 | ||
398 | @defopt inhibit-default-init | |
33da7b16 GM |
399 | If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it prevents Emacs from loading the |
400 | default initialization library file. The default value is @code{nil}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
401 | @end defopt |
402 | ||
403 | @defvar before-init-hook | |
404 | This normal hook is run, once, just before loading all the init files | |
33da7b16 | 405 | (@file{site-start.el}, your init file, and @file{default.el}). |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
406 | (The only way to change it with real effect is before dumping Emacs.) |
407 | @end defvar | |
408 | ||
409 | @defvar after-init-hook | |
410 | This normal hook is run, once, just after loading all the init files | |
33da7b16 GM |
411 | (@file{site-start.el}, your init file, and @file{default.el}), |
412 | before loading the terminal-specific library (if started on a text | |
413 | terminal) and processing the command-line action arguments. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
414 | @end defvar |
415 | ||
416 | @defvar emacs-startup-hook | |
417 | This normal hook is run, once, just after handling the command line | |
98bd6b32 | 418 | arguments. In batch mode, Emacs does not run this hook. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
419 | @end defvar |
420 | ||
b8379803 GM |
421 | @defvar window-setup-hook |
422 | This normal hook is very similar to @code{emacs-startup-hook}. | |
423 | The only difference is that it runs slightly later, after setting | |
424 | of the frame parameters. @xref{Startup Summary, window-setup-hook}. | |
425 | @end defvar | |
426 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
427 | @defvar user-init-file |
428 | This variable holds the absolute file name of the user's init file. If the | |
429 | actual init file loaded is a compiled file, such as @file{.emacs.elc}, | |
430 | the value refers to the corresponding source file. | |
431 | @end defvar | |
432 | ||
433 | @defvar user-emacs-directory | |
434 | This variable holds the name of the @file{.emacs.d} directory. It is | |
33da7b16 | 435 | @file{~/.emacs.d} on all platforms but MS-DOS. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
436 | @end defvar |
437 | ||
438 | @node Terminal-Specific | |
439 | @subsection Terminal-Specific Initialization | |
440 | @cindex terminal-specific initialization | |
441 | ||
442 | Each terminal type can have its own Lisp library that Emacs loads when | |
443 | run on that type of terminal. The library's name is constructed by | |
444 | concatenating the value of the variable @code{term-file-prefix} and the | |
8fc85b20 | 445 | terminal type (specified by the environment variable @env{TERM}). |
95de732d GM |
446 | Normally, @code{term-file-prefix} has the value @code{"term/"}; |
447 | changing this is not recommended. If there is an entry matching | |
448 | @env{TERM} in the @code{term-file-aliases} association list, | |
449 | Emacs uses the associated value in place of @env{TERM}. | |
450 | Emacs finds the file in the normal manner, by searching the | |
451 | @code{load-path} directories, and trying the @samp{.elc} and | |
452 | @samp{.el} suffixes. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
453 | |
454 | @cindex Termcap | |
986bd52a CY |
455 | The usual role of a terminal-specific library is to enable special |
456 | keys to send sequences that Emacs can recognize. It may also need to | |
457 | set or add to @code{input-decode-map} if the Termcap or Terminfo entry | |
98bd6b32 | 458 | does not specify all the terminal's function keys. @xref{Terminal Input}. |
b8d4c8d0 | 459 | |
98bd6b32 GM |
460 | When the name of the terminal type contains a hyphen or underscore, |
461 | and no library is found whose name is identical to the terminal's | |
462 | name, Emacs strips from the terminal's name the last hyphen or | |
463 | underscore and everything that follows | |
b8d4c8d0 | 464 | it, and tries again. This process is repeated until Emacs finds a |
33da7b16 | 465 | matching library, or until there are no more hyphens or underscores in the name |
1df7defd | 466 | (i.e., there is no terminal-specific library). For example, if the |
986bd52a CY |
467 | terminal name is @samp{xterm-256color} and there is no |
468 | @file{term/xterm-256color.el} library, Emacs tries to load | |
469 | @file{term/xterm.el}. If necessary, the terminal library can evaluate | |
470 | @code{(getenv "TERM")} to find the full name of the terminal type. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 471 | |
98bd6b32 GM |
472 | Your init file can prevent the loading of the terminal-specific |
473 | library by setting the variable @code{term-file-prefix} to @code{nil}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
474 | |
475 | You can also arrange to override some of the actions of the | |
98bd6b32 GM |
476 | terminal-specific library by using @code{tty-setup-hook}. This is |
477 | a normal hook that Emacs runs after initializing a new text terminal. | |
478 | You could use this hook to define initializations for terminals that do not | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
479 | have their own libraries. @xref{Hooks}. |
480 | ||
6638d67c | 481 | @defopt term-file-prefix |
8fc85b20 | 482 | @cindex @env{TERM} environment variable |
986bd52a CY |
483 | If the value of this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs loads a |
484 | terminal-specific initialization file as follows: | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
485 | |
486 | @example | |
487 | (load (concat term-file-prefix (getenv "TERM"))) | |
488 | @end example | |
489 | ||
490 | @noindent | |
491 | You may set the @code{term-file-prefix} variable to @code{nil} in your | |
492 | init file if you do not wish to load the | |
33da7b16 | 493 | terminal-initialization file. |
b8d4c8d0 | 494 | |
8fc85b20 | 495 | On MS-DOS, Emacs sets the @env{TERM} environment variable to @samp{internal}. |
6638d67c | 496 | @end defopt |
b8d4c8d0 | 497 | |
6638d67c | 498 | @defopt term-file-aliases |
95de732d GM |
499 | This variable is an an association list mapping terminal types to |
500 | their aliases. For example, an element of the form @code{("vt102" | |
501 | . "vt100")} means to treat a terminal of type @samp{vt102} like one of | |
502 | type @samp{vt100}. | |
6638d67c | 503 | @end defopt |
95de732d | 504 | |
98bd6b32 GM |
505 | @defvar tty-setup-hook |
506 | This variable is a normal hook that Emacs runs after initializing a | |
507 | new text terminal. (This applies when Emacs starts up in non-windowed | |
508 | mode, and when making a tty @command{emacsclient} connection.) The | |
509 | hook runs after loading your init file (if applicable) and the | |
510 | terminal-specific Lisp file, so you can use it to adjust the | |
511 | definitions made by that file. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 512 | |
b8379803 | 513 | For a related feature, @pxref{Init File, window-setup-hook}. |
33da7b16 | 514 | @end defvar |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
515 | |
516 | @node Command-Line Arguments | |
517 | @subsection Command-Line Arguments | |
518 | @cindex command-line arguments | |
519 | ||
986bd52a | 520 | You can use command-line arguments to request various actions when |
33da7b16 GM |
521 | you start Emacs. Note that the recommended way of using Emacs is to |
522 | start it just once, after logging in, and then do all editing in the same | |
523 | Emacs session (@pxref{Entering Emacs,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). | |
524 | For this reason, you might not use command-line arguments very often; | |
525 | nonetheless, they can be useful when invoking Emacs from session | |
526 | scripts or debugging Emacs. This section describes how Emacs | |
527 | processes command-line arguments. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
528 | |
529 | @defun command-line | |
530 | This function parses the command line that Emacs was called with, | |
33da7b16 GM |
531 | processes it, and (amongst other things) loads the user's init file and |
532 | displays the startup messages. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
533 | @end defun |
534 | ||
535 | @defvar command-line-processed | |
536 | The value of this variable is @code{t} once the command line has been | |
537 | processed. | |
538 | ||
d612ddbb XF |
539 | If you redump Emacs by calling @code{dump-emacs} (@pxref{Building |
540 | Emacs}), you may wish to set this variable to @code{nil} first in | |
541 | order to cause the new dumped Emacs to process its new command-line | |
542 | arguments. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
543 | @end defvar |
544 | ||
545 | @defvar command-switch-alist | |
546 | @cindex switches on command line | |
547 | @cindex options on command line | |
548 | @cindex command-line options | |
33da7b16 GM |
549 | This variable is an alist of user-defined command-line options and |
550 | associated handler functions. By default it is empty, but you can | |
551 | add elements if you wish. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
552 | |
553 | A @dfn{command-line option} is an argument on the command line, which | |
554 | has the form: | |
555 | ||
556 | @example | |
557 | -@var{option} | |
558 | @end example | |
559 | ||
560 | The elements of the @code{command-switch-alist} look like this: | |
561 | ||
562 | @example | |
563 | (@var{option} . @var{handler-function}) | |
564 | @end example | |
565 | ||
566 | The @sc{car}, @var{option}, is a string, the name of a command-line | |
567 | option (not including the initial hyphen). The @var{handler-function} | |
568 | is called to handle @var{option}, and receives the option name as its | |
569 | sole argument. | |
570 | ||
571 | In some cases, the option is followed in the command line by an | |
572 | argument. In these cases, the @var{handler-function} can find all the | |
573 | remaining command-line arguments in the variable | |
7d3bb569 XF |
574 | @code{command-line-args-left} (see below). (The entire list of |
575 | command-line arguments is in @code{command-line-args}.) | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
576 | |
577 | The command-line arguments are parsed by the @code{command-line-1} | |
578 | function in the @file{startup.el} file. See also @ref{Emacs | |
579 | Invocation, , Command Line Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The | |
580 | GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
581 | @end defvar | |
582 | ||
583 | @defvar command-line-args | |
584 | The value of this variable is the list of command-line arguments passed | |
585 | to Emacs. | |
586 | @end defvar | |
587 | ||
dca019f8 | 588 | @defvar command-line-args-left |
d3d97050 | 589 | @vindex argv |
dca019f8 | 590 | The value of this variable is the list of command-line arguments that |
33da7b16 GM |
591 | have not yet been processed. |
592 | @c Don't mention this, since it is a "bad name for a dynamically bound variable" | |
593 | @c @code{argv} is an alias for this. | |
dca019f8 CY |
594 | @end defvar |
595 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
596 | @defvar command-line-functions |
597 | This variable's value is a list of functions for handling an | |
598 | unrecognized command-line argument. Each time the next argument to be | |
599 | processed has no special meaning, the functions in this list are called, | |
600 | in order of appearance, until one of them returns a non-@code{nil} | |
601 | value. | |
602 | ||
603 | These functions are called with no arguments. They can access the | |
604 | command-line argument under consideration through the variable | |
605 | @code{argi}, which is bound temporarily at this point. The remaining | |
606 | arguments (not including the current one) are in the variable | |
607 | @code{command-line-args-left}. | |
608 | ||
609 | When a function recognizes and processes the argument in @code{argi}, it | |
610 | should return a non-@code{nil} value to say it has dealt with that | |
611 | argument. If it has also dealt with some of the following arguments, it | |
612 | can indicate that by deleting them from @code{command-line-args-left}. | |
613 | ||
33da7b16 | 614 | If all of these functions return @code{nil}, then the argument is treated |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
615 | as a file name to visit. |
616 | @end defvar | |
617 | ||
618 | @node Getting Out | |
619 | @section Getting Out of Emacs | |
620 | @cindex exiting Emacs | |
621 | ||
622 | There are two ways to get out of Emacs: you can kill the Emacs job, | |
623 | which exits permanently, or you can suspend it, which permits you to | |
02243d9d GM |
624 | reenter the Emacs process later. (In a graphical environment, you can |
625 | of course simply switch to another application without doing anything | |
626 | special to Emacs, then switch back to Emacs when you want.) | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
627 | |
628 | @menu | |
629 | * Killing Emacs:: Exiting Emacs irreversibly. | |
630 | * Suspending Emacs:: Exiting Emacs reversibly. | |
631 | @end menu | |
632 | ||
633 | @node Killing Emacs | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
634 | @subsection Killing Emacs |
635 | @cindex killing Emacs | |
636 | ||
02243d9d GM |
637 | Killing Emacs means ending the execution of the Emacs process. |
638 | If you started Emacs from a terminal, the parent process normally | |
639 | resumes control. The low-level primitive for killing Emacs is | |
640 | @code{kill-emacs}. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 641 | |
106e6894 | 642 | @deffn Command kill-emacs &optional exit-data |
ddb54206 CY |
643 | This command calls the hook @code{kill-emacs-hook}, then exits the |
644 | Emacs process and kills it. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 645 | |
ddb54206 CY |
646 | If @var{exit-data} is an integer, that is used as the exit status of |
647 | the Emacs process. (This is useful primarily in batch operation; see | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
648 | @ref{Batch Mode}.) |
649 | ||
650 | If @var{exit-data} is a string, its contents are stuffed into the | |
651 | terminal input buffer so that the shell (or whatever program next reads | |
652 | input) can read them. | |
106e6894 | 653 | @end deffn |
b8d4c8d0 | 654 | |
ddb54206 CY |
655 | @cindex SIGTERM |
656 | @cindex SIGHUP | |
657 | @cindex SIGINT | |
658 | @cindex operating system signal | |
659 | The @code{kill-emacs} function is normally called via the | |
660 | higher-level command @kbd{C-x C-c} | |
661 | (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal}). @xref{Exiting,,, emacs, The GNU | |
662 | Emacs Manual}. It is also called automatically if Emacs receives a | |
1df7defd | 663 | @code{SIGTERM} or @code{SIGHUP} operating system signal (e.g., when the |
ddb54206 CY |
664 | controlling terminal is disconnected), or if it receives a |
665 | @code{SIGINT} signal while running in batch mode (@pxref{Batch Mode}). | |
b8d4c8d0 | 666 | |
ddb54206 CY |
667 | @defvar kill-emacs-hook |
668 | This normal hook is run by @code{kill-emacs}, before it kills Emacs. | |
669 | ||
670 | Because @code{kill-emacs} can be called in situations where user | |
1df7defd | 671 | interaction is impossible (e.g., when the terminal is disconnected), |
ddb54206 CY |
672 | functions on this hook should not attempt to interact with the user. |
673 | If you want to interact with the user when Emacs is shutting down, use | |
674 | @code{kill-emacs-query-functions}, described below. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
675 | @end defvar |
676 | ||
ddb54206 CY |
677 | When Emacs is killed, all the information in the Emacs process, |
678 | aside from files that have been saved, is lost. Because killing Emacs | |
679 | inadvertently can lose a lot of work, the | |
680 | @code{save-buffers-kill-terminal} command queries for confirmation if | |
681 | you have buffers that need saving or subprocesses that are running. | |
682 | It also runs the abnormal hook @code{kill-emacs-query-functions}: | |
683 | ||
684 | @defvar kill-emacs-query-functions | |
685 | When @code{save-buffers-kill-terminal} is killing Emacs, it calls the | |
686 | functions in this hook, after asking the standard questions and before | |
687 | calling @code{kill-emacs}. The functions are called in order of | |
688 | appearance, with no arguments. Each function can ask for additional | |
689 | confirmation from the user. If any of them returns @code{nil}, | |
690 | @code{save-buffers-kill-emacs} does not kill Emacs, and does not run | |
691 | the remaining functions in this hook. Calling @code{kill-emacs} | |
692 | directly does not run this hook. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
693 | @end defvar |
694 | ||
695 | @node Suspending Emacs | |
696 | @subsection Suspending Emacs | |
697 | @cindex suspending Emacs | |
698 | ||
a08a07e3 | 699 | On text terminals, it is possible to @dfn{suspend Emacs}, which |
dca019f8 CY |
700 | means stopping Emacs temporarily and returning control to its superior |
701 | process, which is usually the shell. This allows you to resume | |
702 | editing later in the same Emacs process, with the same buffers, the | |
703 | same kill ring, the same undo history, and so on. To resume Emacs, | |
704 | use the appropriate command in the parent shell---most likely | |
705 | @code{fg}. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 706 | |
62a5303f EZ |
707 | @cindex controlling terminal |
708 | Suspending works only on a terminal device from which the Emacs | |
709 | session was started. We call that device the @dfn{controlling | |
dca019f8 | 710 | terminal} of the session. Suspending is not allowed if the |
02243d9d GM |
711 | controlling terminal is a graphical terminal. Suspending is usually |
712 | not relevant in graphical environments, since you can simply switch to | |
713 | another application without doing anything special to Emacs. | |
714 | ||
715 | @c FIXME? Are there any systems Emacs still supports that do not | |
716 | @c have SIGTSTP? | |
717 | @cindex SIGTSTP | |
718 | Some operating systems (those without @code{SIGTSTP}, or MS-DOS) do | |
719 | not support suspension of jobs; on these systems, ``suspension'' | |
720 | actually creates a new shell temporarily as a subprocess of Emacs. | |
721 | Then you would exit the shell to return to Emacs. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 722 | |
106e6894 | 723 | @deffn Command suspend-emacs &optional string |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
724 | This function stops Emacs and returns control to the superior process. |
725 | If and when the superior process resumes Emacs, @code{suspend-emacs} | |
726 | returns @code{nil} to its caller in Lisp. | |
727 | ||
62a5303f EZ |
728 | This function works only on the controlling terminal of the Emacs |
729 | session; to relinquish control of other tty devices, use | |
f71de46c | 730 | @code{suspend-tty} (see below). If the Emacs session uses more than |
dca019f8 CY |
731 | one terminal, you must delete the frames on all the other terminals |
732 | before suspending Emacs, or this function signals an error. | |
733 | @xref{Multiple Terminals}. | |
62a5303f | 734 | |
dca019f8 | 735 | If @var{string} is non-@code{nil}, its characters are sent to Emacs's |
02243d9d GM |
736 | superior shell, to be read as terminal input. |
737 | @c FIXME? It seems to me that shell does echo STRING. | |
738 | The characters in @var{string} are not echoed by the superior shell; | |
739 | only the results appear. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
740 | |
741 | Before suspending, @code{suspend-emacs} runs the normal hook | |
dca019f8 CY |
742 | @code{suspend-hook}. After the user resumes Emacs, |
743 | @code{suspend-emacs} runs the normal hook @code{suspend-resume-hook}. | |
744 | @xref{Hooks}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
745 | |
746 | The next redisplay after resumption will redraw the entire screen, | |
dca019f8 CY |
747 | unless the variable @code{no-redraw-on-reenter} is non-@code{nil}. |
748 | @xref{Refresh Screen}. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 749 | |
02243d9d | 750 | Here is an example of how you could use these hooks: |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
751 | |
752 | @smallexample | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
753 | @group |
754 | (add-hook 'suspend-hook | |
02243d9d GM |
755 | (lambda () (or (y-or-n-p "Really suspend? ") |
756 | (error "Suspend canceled")))) | |
b8d4c8d0 | 757 | @end group |
02243d9d GM |
758 | (add-hook 'suspend-resume-hook (lambda () (message "Resumed!") |
759 | (sit-for 2))) | |
760 | @end smallexample | |
4181427f | 761 | @c The sit-for prevents the @code{nil} that suspend-emacs returns |
02243d9d GM |
762 | @c hiding the message. |
763 | ||
764 | Here is what you would see upon evaluating @code{(suspend-emacs "pwd")}: | |
765 | ||
766 | @smallexample | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
767 | @group |
768 | ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ---------- | |
769 | Really suspend? @kbd{y} | |
770 | ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ---------- | |
771 | @end group | |
772 | ||
773 | @group | |
774 | ---------- Parent Shell ---------- | |
02243d9d GM |
775 | bash$ /home/username |
776 | bash$ fg | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
777 | @end group |
778 | ||
779 | @group | |
780 | ---------- Echo Area ---------- | |
781 | Resumed! | |
782 | @end group | |
783 | @end smallexample | |
02243d9d GM |
784 | |
785 | @c FIXME? AFAICS, it is echoed. | |
786 | Note that @samp{pwd} is not echoed after Emacs is suspended. But it | |
787 | is read and executed by the shell. | |
106e6894 | 788 | @end deffn |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
789 | |
790 | @defvar suspend-hook | |
791 | This variable is a normal hook that Emacs runs before suspending. | |
792 | @end defvar | |
793 | ||
794 | @defvar suspend-resume-hook | |
795 | This variable is a normal hook that Emacs runs on resuming | |
796 | after a suspension. | |
797 | @end defvar | |
798 | ||
62a5303f EZ |
799 | @defun suspend-tty &optional tty |
800 | If @var{tty} specifies a terminal device used by Emacs, this function | |
801 | relinquishes the device and restores it to its prior state. Frames | |
802 | that used the device continue to exist, but are not updated and Emacs | |
dca019f8 CY |
803 | doesn't read input from them. @var{tty} can be a terminal object, a |
804 | frame (meaning the terminal for that frame), or @code{nil} (meaning | |
805 | the terminal for the selected frame). @xref{Multiple Terminals}. | |
806 | ||
807 | If @var{tty} is already suspended, this function does nothing. | |
808 | ||
d3d97050 | 809 | @vindex suspend-tty-functions |
dca019f8 CY |
810 | This function runs the hook @code{suspend-tty-functions}, passing the |
811 | terminal object as an argument to each function. | |
62a5303f EZ |
812 | @end defun |
813 | ||
814 | @defun resume-tty &optional tty | |
dca019f8 | 815 | This function resumes the previously suspended terminal device |
02243d9d GM |
816 | @var{tty}; where @var{tty} has the same possible values as it does |
817 | for @code{suspend-tty}. | |
62a5303f | 818 | |
d3d97050 | 819 | @vindex resume-tty-functions |
62a5303f | 820 | This function reopens the terminal device, re-initializes it, and |
02243d9d | 821 | redraws it with that terminal's selected frame. It then runs the |
dca019f8 CY |
822 | hook @code{resume-tty-functions}, passing the terminal object as an |
823 | argument to each function. | |
62a5303f EZ |
824 | |
825 | If the same device is already used by another Emacs terminal, this | |
02243d9d GM |
826 | function signals an error. If @var{tty} is not suspended, this |
827 | function does nothing. | |
62a5303f EZ |
828 | @end defun |
829 | ||
02243d9d GM |
830 | @defun controlling-tty-p &optional tty |
831 | This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{tty} is the | |
832 | controlling terminal of the Emacs session; @var{tty} can be a | |
dca019f8 CY |
833 | terminal object, a frame (meaning the terminal for that frame), or |
834 | @code{nil} (meaning the terminal for the selected frame). | |
62a5303f EZ |
835 | @end defun |
836 | ||
837 | @deffn Command suspend-frame | |
838 | This command @dfn{suspends} a frame. For GUI frames, it calls | |
a08a07e3 CY |
839 | @code{iconify-frame} (@pxref{Visibility of Frames}); for frames on |
840 | text terminals, it calls either @code{suspend-emacs} or | |
841 | @code{suspend-tty}, depending on whether the frame is displayed on the | |
842 | controlling terminal device or not. | |
62a5303f EZ |
843 | @end deffn |
844 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
845 | @node System Environment |
846 | @section Operating System Environment | |
847 | @cindex operating system environment | |
848 | ||
849 | Emacs provides access to variables in the operating system environment | |
850 | through various functions. These variables include the name of the | |
851 | system, the user's @acronym{UID}, and so on. | |
852 | ||
853 | @defvar system-configuration | |
854 | This variable holds the standard GNU configuration name for the | |
cf0495f2 GM |
855 | hardware/software configuration of your system, as a string. For |
856 | example, a typical value for a 64-bit GNU/Linux system is | |
857 | @samp{"x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
858 | @end defvar |
859 | ||
860 | @cindex system type and name | |
861 | @defvar system-type | |
862 | The value of this variable is a symbol indicating the type of operating | |
cf0495f2 | 863 | system Emacs is running on. The possible values are: |
b8d4c8d0 | 864 | |
58e3d8e8 | 865 | @table @code |
1213465a EZ |
866 | @item aix |
867 | IBM's AIX. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
868 | |
869 | @item berkeley-unix | |
1213465a | 870 | Berkeley BSD and its variants. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
871 | |
872 | @item cygwin | |
1213465a EZ |
873 | Cygwin, a Posix layer on top of MS-Windows. |
874 | ||
875 | @item darwin | |
876 | Darwin (Mac OS X). | |
b8d4c8d0 | 877 | |
b8d4c8d0 | 878 | @item gnu |
1213465a | 879 | The GNU system (using the GNU kernel, which consists of the HURD and Mach). |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
880 | |
881 | @item gnu/linux | |
882 | A GNU/Linux system---that is, a variant GNU system, using the Linux | |
cf0495f2 | 883 | kernel. (These systems are the ones people often call ``Linux'', but |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
884 | actually Linux is just the kernel, not the whole system.) |
885 | ||
1213465a EZ |
886 | @item gnu/kfreebsd |
887 | A GNU (glibc-based) system with a FreeBSD kernel. | |
888 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
889 | @item hpux |
890 | Hewlett-Packard HPUX operating system. | |
891 | ||
892 | @item irix | |
893 | Silicon Graphics Irix system. | |
894 | ||
895 | @item ms-dos | |
1df7defd | 896 | Microsoft's DOS@. Emacs compiled with DJGPP for MS-DOS binds |
cf0495f2 | 897 | @code{system-type} to @code{ms-dos} even when you run it on MS-Windows. |
b8d4c8d0 | 898 | |
b8d4c8d0 | 899 | @item usg-unix-v |
1213465a | 900 | AT&T Unix System V. |
b8d4c8d0 | 901 | |
b8d4c8d0 | 902 | @item windows-nt |
cf0495f2 | 903 | Microsoft Windows NT, 9X and later. The value of @code{system-type} |
1df7defd | 904 | is always @code{windows-nt}, e.g., even on Windows 7. |
b8d4c8d0 | 905 | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
906 | @end table |
907 | ||
908 | We do not wish to add new symbols to make finer distinctions unless it | |
909 | is absolutely necessary! In fact, we hope to eliminate some of these | |
cf0495f2 GM |
910 | alternatives in the future. If you need to make a finer distinction |
911 | than @code{system-type} allows for, you can test | |
1df7defd | 912 | @code{system-configuration}, e.g., against a regexp. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
913 | @end defvar |
914 | ||
915 | @defun system-name | |
cf0495f2 GM |
916 | This function returns the name of the machine you are running on, as a |
917 | string. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
918 | @end defun |
919 | ||
920 | The symbol @code{system-name} is a variable as well as a function. In | |
921 | fact, the function returns whatever value the variable | |
922 | @code{system-name} currently holds. Thus, you can set the variable | |
923 | @code{system-name} in case Emacs is confused about the name of your | |
924 | system. The variable is also useful for constructing frame titles | |
925 | (@pxref{Frame Titles}). | |
926 | ||
cf0495f2 | 927 | @c FIXME seems like this section is not the best place for this option? |
01f17ae2 | 928 | @defopt mail-host-address |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
929 | If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it is used instead of |
930 | @code{system-name} for purposes of generating email addresses. For | |
931 | example, it is used when constructing the default value of | |
932 | @code{user-mail-address}. @xref{User Identification}. (Since this is | |
933 | done when Emacs starts up, the value actually used is the one saved when | |
934 | Emacs was dumped. @xref{Building Emacs}.) | |
cf0495f2 GM |
935 | @c FIXME sounds like should probably give this a :set-after and some |
936 | @c custom-initialize-delay voodoo. | |
01f17ae2 | 937 | @end defopt |
b8d4c8d0 | 938 | |
106e6894 | 939 | @deffn Command getenv var &optional frame |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
940 | @cindex environment variable access |
941 | This function returns the value of the environment variable @var{var}, | |
942 | as a string. @var{var} should be a string. If @var{var} is undefined | |
cf0495f2 GM |
943 | in the environment, @code{getenv} returns @code{nil}. It returns |
944 | @samp{""} if @var{var} is set but null. Within Emacs, a list of environment | |
945 | variables and their values is kept in the variable @code{process-environment}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
946 | |
947 | @example | |
948 | @group | |
949 | (getenv "USER") | |
950 | @result{} "lewis" | |
951 | @end group | |
cf0495f2 GM |
952 | @end example |
953 | ||
954 | The shell command @code{printenv} prints all or part of the environment: | |
b8d4c8d0 | 955 | |
cf0495f2 | 956 | @example |
b8d4c8d0 | 957 | @group |
cf0495f2 GM |
958 | bash$ printenv |
959 | PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
960 | USER=lewis |
961 | @end group | |
962 | @group | |
cf0495f2 GM |
963 | TERM=xterm |
964 | SHELL=/bin/bash | |
965 | HOME=/home/lewis | |
b8d4c8d0 | 966 | @end group |
cf0495f2 | 967 | @dots{} |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
968 | @end example |
969 | @end deffn | |
970 | ||
cf0495f2 | 971 | @deffn Command setenv variable &optional value substitute |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
972 | This command sets the value of the environment variable named |
973 | @var{variable} to @var{value}. @var{variable} should be a string. | |
974 | Internally, Emacs Lisp can handle any string. However, normally | |
975 | @var{variable} should be a valid shell identifier, that is, a sequence | |
976 | of letters, digits and underscores, starting with a letter or | |
977 | underscore. Otherwise, errors may occur if subprocesses of Emacs try | |
978 | to access the value of @var{variable}. If @var{value} is omitted or | |
cf0495f2 GM |
979 | @code{nil} (or, interactively, with a prefix argument), @code{setenv} |
980 | removes @var{variable} from the environment. Otherwise, @var{value} | |
981 | should be a string. | |
982 | ||
7d3bb569 | 983 | @c FIXME: Document `substitute-env-vars'? --xfq |
cf0495f2 GM |
984 | If the optional argument @var{substitute} is non-@code{nil}, Emacs |
985 | calls the function @code{substitute-env-vars} to expand any | |
986 | environment variables in @var{value}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
987 | |
988 | @code{setenv} works by modifying @code{process-environment}; binding | |
989 | that variable with @code{let} is also reasonable practice. | |
990 | ||
991 | @code{setenv} returns the new value of @var{variable}, or @code{nil} | |
992 | if it removed @var{variable} from the environment. | |
993 | @end deffn | |
994 | ||
995 | @defvar process-environment | |
996 | This variable is a list of strings, each describing one environment | |
997 | variable. The functions @code{getenv} and @code{setenv} work by means | |
998 | of this variable. | |
999 | ||
1000 | @smallexample | |
1001 | @group | |
1002 | process-environment | |
cf0495f2 | 1003 | @result{} ("PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin" |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1004 | "USER=lewis" |
1005 | @end group | |
1006 | @group | |
cf0495f2 GM |
1007 | "TERM=xterm" |
1008 | "SHELL=/bin/bash" | |
1009 | "HOME=/home/lewis" | |
1010 | @dots{}) | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1011 | @end group |
1012 | @end smallexample | |
1013 | ||
1014 | If @code{process-environment} contains ``duplicate'' elements that | |
1015 | specify the same environment variable, the first of these elements | |
1016 | specifies the variable, and the other ``duplicates'' are ignored. | |
1017 | @end defvar | |
1018 | ||
200811d6 EZ |
1019 | @defvar initial-environment |
1020 | This variable holds the list of environment variables Emacs inherited | |
cf0495f2 | 1021 | from its parent process when Emacs started. |
200811d6 EZ |
1022 | @end defvar |
1023 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 1024 | @defvar path-separator |
cf0495f2 | 1025 | This variable holds a string that says which character separates |
b8d4c8d0 | 1026 | directories in a search path (as found in an environment variable). Its |
cf0495f2 | 1027 | value is @code{":"} for Unix and GNU systems, and @code{";"} for MS systems. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1028 | @end defvar |
1029 | ||
1030 | @defun parse-colon-path path | |
cf0495f2 | 1031 | This function takes a search path string such as the value of |
8fc85b20 | 1032 | the @env{PATH} environment variable, and splits it at the separators, |
cf0495f2 GM |
1033 | returning a list of directory names. @code{nil} in this list means |
1034 | the current directory. Although the function's name says | |
1035 | ``colon'', it actually uses the value of @code{path-separator}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1036 | |
1037 | @example | |
1038 | (parse-colon-path ":/foo:/bar") | |
1039 | @result{} (nil "/foo/" "/bar/") | |
1040 | @end example | |
1041 | @end defun | |
1042 | ||
1043 | @defvar invocation-name | |
1044 | This variable holds the program name under which Emacs was invoked. The | |
1045 | value is a string, and does not include a directory name. | |
1046 | @end defvar | |
1047 | ||
1048 | @defvar invocation-directory | |
1049 | This variable holds the directory from which the Emacs executable was | |
cf0495f2 | 1050 | invoked, or @code{nil} if that directory cannot be determined. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1051 | @end defvar |
1052 | ||
1053 | @defvar installation-directory | |
1054 | If non-@code{nil}, this is a directory within which to look for the | |
cf0495f2 GM |
1055 | @file{lib-src} and @file{etc} subdirectories. In an installed Emacs, |
1056 | it is normally @code{nil}. It is non-@code{nil} | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1057 | when Emacs can't find those directories in their standard installed |
1058 | locations, but can find them in a directory related somehow to the one | |
cf0495f2 | 1059 | containing the Emacs executable (i.e., @code{invocation-directory}). |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1060 | @end defvar |
1061 | ||
1062 | @defun load-average &optional use-float | |
cf0495f2 GM |
1063 | This function returns the current 1-minute, 5-minute, and 15-minute |
1064 | system load averages, in a list. The load average indicates the | |
1065 | number of processes trying to run on the system. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1066 | |
1067 | By default, the values are integers that are 100 times the system load | |
cf0495f2 | 1068 | averages, but if @var{use-float} is non-@code{nil}, then they are |
09b73f08 | 1069 | returned as floating-point numbers without multiplying by 100. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1070 | |
1071 | If it is impossible to obtain the load average, this function signals | |
1072 | an error. On some platforms, access to load averages requires | |
1073 | installing Emacs as setuid or setgid so that it can read kernel | |
1074 | information, and that usually isn't advisable. | |
cf0495f2 | 1075 | @c FIXME which platforms are these? Are they still relevant? |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1076 | |
1077 | If the 1-minute load average is available, but the 5- or 15-minute | |
1078 | averages are not, this function returns a shortened list containing | |
1079 | the available averages. | |
1080 | ||
1081 | @example | |
1082 | @group | |
1083 | (load-average) | |
1084 | @result{} (169 48 36) | |
1085 | @end group | |
1086 | @group | |
1087 | (load-average t) | |
1088 | @result{} (1.69 0.48 0.36) | |
1089 | @end group | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1090 | @end example |
cf0495f2 GM |
1091 | |
1092 | The shell command @code{uptime} returns similar information. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1093 | @end defun |
1094 | ||
1095 | @defun emacs-pid | |
1096 | This function returns the process @acronym{ID} of the Emacs process, | |
1097 | as an integer. | |
1098 | @end defun | |
1099 | ||
1100 | @defvar tty-erase-char | |
1101 | This variable holds the erase character that was selected | |
1102 | in the system's terminal driver, before Emacs was started. | |
cf0495f2 GM |
1103 | @c FIXME? Seems untrue since 23.1. For me, it is 0. |
1104 | @c The value is @code{nil} if Emacs is running under a window system. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1105 | @end defvar |
1106 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1107 | @node User Identification |
1108 | @section User Identification | |
1109 | @cindex user identification | |
1110 | ||
1111 | @defvar init-file-user | |
1112 | This variable says which user's init files should be used by | |
1113 | Emacs---or @code{nil} if none. @code{""} stands for the user who | |
1114 | originally logged in. The value reflects command-line options such as | |
1115 | @samp{-q} or @samp{-u @var{user}}. | |
1116 | ||
1117 | Lisp packages that load files of customizations, or any other sort of | |
1118 | user profile, should obey this variable in deciding where to find it. | |
1119 | They should load the profile of the user name found in this variable. | |
7d3bb569 XF |
1120 | If @code{init-file-user} is @code{nil}, meaning that the @samp{-q}, |
1121 | @samp{-Q}, or @samp{-batch} option was used, then Lisp packages should | |
1122 | not load any customization files or user profile. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1123 | @end defvar |
1124 | ||
01f17ae2 | 1125 | @defopt user-mail-address |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1126 | This holds the nominal email address of the user who is using Emacs. |
1127 | Emacs normally sets this variable to a default value after reading your | |
1128 | init files, but not if you have already set it. So you can set the | |
1129 | variable to some other value in your init file if you do not | |
1130 | want to use the default value. | |
01f17ae2 | 1131 | @end defopt |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1132 | |
1133 | @defun user-login-name &optional uid | |
cf0495f2 | 1134 | This function returns the name under which the user is logged in. |
8fc85b20 | 1135 | It uses the environment variables @env{LOGNAME} or @env{USER} if |
cf0495f2 GM |
1136 | either is set. Otherwise, the value is based on the effective |
1137 | @acronym{UID}, not the real @acronym{UID}. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1138 | |
cf0495f2 GM |
1139 | If you specify @var{uid} (a number), the result is the user name that |
1140 | corresponds to @var{uid}, or @code{nil} if there is no such user. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1141 | @end defun |
1142 | ||
1143 | @defun user-real-login-name | |
1144 | This function returns the user name corresponding to Emacs's real | |
cf0495f2 | 1145 | @acronym{UID}. This ignores the effective @acronym{UID}, and the |
8fc85b20 | 1146 | environment variables @env{LOGNAME} and @env{USER}. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1147 | @end defun |
1148 | ||
1149 | @defun user-full-name &optional uid | |
1150 | This function returns the full name of the logged-in user---or the value | |
8fc85b20 | 1151 | of the environment variable @env{NAME}, if that is set. |
b8d4c8d0 | 1152 | |
cf0495f2 GM |
1153 | If the Emacs process's user-id does not correspond to any known user (and |
1154 | provided @code{NAME} is not set), the result is @code{"unknown"}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1155 | |
1156 | If @var{uid} is non-@code{nil}, then it should be a number (a user-id) | |
1157 | or a string (a login name). Then @code{user-full-name} returns the full | |
1158 | name corresponding to that user-id or login name. If you specify a | |
1159 | user-id or login name that isn't defined, it returns @code{nil}. | |
1160 | @end defun | |
1161 | ||
1162 | @vindex user-full-name | |
1163 | @vindex user-real-login-name | |
1164 | @vindex user-login-name | |
1165 | The symbols @code{user-login-name}, @code{user-real-login-name} and | |
1166 | @code{user-full-name} are variables as well as functions. The functions | |
1167 | return the same values that the variables hold. These variables allow | |
1168 | you to ``fake out'' Emacs by telling the functions what to return. The | |
1169 | variables are also useful for constructing frame titles (@pxref{Frame | |
1170 | Titles}). | |
1171 | ||
7d3bb569 | 1172 | @cindex UID |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1173 | @defun user-real-uid |
1174 | This function returns the real @acronym{UID} of the user. | |
09b73f08 | 1175 | The value may be floating point, in the (unlikely) event that |
cf0495f2 | 1176 | the UID is too large to fit in a Lisp integer. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1177 | @end defun |
1178 | ||
1179 | @defun user-uid | |
1180 | This function returns the effective @acronym{UID} of the user. | |
09b73f08 | 1181 | The value may be floating point. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1182 | @end defun |
1183 | ||
7d3bb569 | 1184 | @cindex GID |
97976f9f PE |
1185 | @defun group-gid |
1186 | This function returns the effective @acronym{GID} of the Emacs process. | |
09b73f08 | 1187 | The value may be floating point. |
97976f9f PE |
1188 | @end defun |
1189 | ||
1190 | @defun group-real-gid | |
1191 | This function returns the real @acronym{GID} of the Emacs process. | |
09b73f08 | 1192 | The value may be floating point. |
97976f9f PE |
1193 | @end defun |
1194 | ||
48de8b12 CY |
1195 | @defun system-users |
1196 | This function returns a list of strings, listing the user names on the | |
1197 | system. If Emacs cannot retrieve this information, the return value | |
1198 | is a list containing just the value of @code{user-real-login-name}. | |
1199 | @end defun | |
1200 | ||
1201 | @cindex user groups | |
1202 | @defun system-groups | |
1203 | This function returns a list of strings, listing the names of user | |
1204 | groups on the system. If Emacs cannot retrieve this information, the | |
1205 | return value is @code{nil}. | |
1206 | @end defun | |
1207 | ||
1208 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1209 | @node Time of Day |
1210 | @section Time of Day | |
1211 | ||
986bd52a | 1212 | This section explains how to determine the current time and time |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1213 | zone. |
1214 | ||
986bd52a | 1215 | @cindex epoch |
d35af63c PE |
1216 | Most of these functions represent time as a list of either four |
1217 | integers, @code{(@var{sec-high} @var{sec-low} @var{microsec} | |
1218 | @var{picosec})}, or of three | |
986bd52a CY |
1219 | integers, @code{(@var{sec-high} @var{sec-low} @var{microsec})}, or of |
1220 | two integers, @code{(@var{sec-high} @var{sec-low})}. The integers | |
1221 | @var{sec-high} and @var{sec-low} give the high and low bits of an | |
09b73f08 | 1222 | integer number of seconds. This integer, |
986bd52a CY |
1223 | @ifnottex |
1224 | @var{high} * 2**16 + @var{low}, | |
1225 | @end ifnottex | |
1226 | @tex | |
1227 | $high*2^{16}+low$, | |
1228 | @end tex | |
1229 | is the number of seconds from the @dfn{epoch} (0:00 January 1, 1970 | |
1230 | UTC) to the specified time. The third list element @var{microsec}, if | |
1231 | present, gives the number of microseconds from the start of that | |
1232 | second to the specified time. | |
d35af63c PE |
1233 | Similarly, the fourth list element @var{picosec}, if present, gives |
1234 | the number of picoseconds from the start of that microsecond to the | |
1235 | specified time. | |
986bd52a | 1236 | |
72ec96fb | 1237 | The return value of @code{current-time} represents time using four |
d35af63c PE |
1238 | integers, as do the timestamps in the return value of |
1239 | @code{file-attributes} (@pxref{Definition of | |
1df7defd | 1240 | file-attributes}). In function arguments, e.g., the @var{time-value} |
d35af63c | 1241 | argument to @code{current-time-string}, two-, three-, and four-integer |
986bd52a CY |
1242 | lists are accepted. You can convert times from the list |
1243 | representation into standard human-readable strings using | |
7d3bb569 XF |
1244 | @code{current-time-string}, or to other forms using the |
1245 | @code{decode-time} and @code{format-time-string} functions documented | |
1246 | in the following sections. | |
986bd52a | 1247 | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1248 | @defun current-time-string &optional time-value |
1249 | This function returns the current time and date as a human-readable | |
ab0fa4e4 PE |
1250 | string. The format does not vary for the initial part of the string, |
1251 | which contains the day of week, month, day of month, and time of day | |
1252 | in that order: the number of characters used for these fields is | |
1253 | always the same, so you can reliably | |
1254 | use @code{substring} to extract them. You should count | |
986bd52a | 1255 | characters from the beginning of the string rather than from the end, |
ab0fa4e4 PE |
1256 | as the year might not have exactly four digits, and additional |
1257 | information may some day be added at the end. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1258 | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1259 | The argument @var{time-value}, if given, specifies a time to format |
986bd52a | 1260 | (represented as a list of integers), instead of the current time. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1261 | |
1262 | @example | |
1263 | @group | |
1264 | (current-time-string) | |
1265 | @result{} "Wed Oct 14 22:21:05 1987" | |
1266 | @end group | |
1267 | @end example | |
1268 | @end defun | |
1269 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 1270 | @defun current-time |
d35af63c PE |
1271 | This function returns the current time, represented as a list of four |
1272 | integers @code{(@var{sec-high} @var{sec-low} @var{microsec} @var{picosec})}. | |
1273 | These integers have trailing zeros on systems that return time with | |
1274 | lower resolutions. On all current machines @var{picosec} is a | |
1275 | multiple of 1000, but this may change as higher-resolution clocks | |
1276 | become available. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1277 | @end defun |
1278 | ||
51a714e1 CY |
1279 | @defun float-time &optional time-value |
1280 | This function returns the current time as a floating-point number of | |
986bd52a CY |
1281 | seconds since the epoch. The optional argument @var{time-value}, if |
1282 | given, specifies a time (represented as a list of integers) to convert | |
1283 | instead of the current time. | |
51a714e1 CY |
1284 | |
1285 | @emph{Warning}: Since the result is floating point, it may not be | |
1286 | exact. Do not use this function if precise time stamps are required. | |
1287 | @end defun | |
1288 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 1289 | @defun current-time-zone &optional time-value |
7d3bb569 | 1290 | @cindex time zone, current |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1291 | This function returns a list describing the time zone that the user is |
1292 | in. | |
1293 | ||
1294 | The value has the form @code{(@var{offset} @var{name})}. Here | |
1295 | @var{offset} is an integer giving the number of seconds ahead of UTC | |
1296 | (east of Greenwich). A negative value means west of Greenwich. The | |
1297 | second element, @var{name}, is a string giving the name of the time | |
1298 | zone. Both elements change when daylight saving time begins or ends; | |
1299 | if the user has specified a time zone that does not use a seasonal time | |
1300 | adjustment, then the value is constant through time. | |
1301 | ||
1302 | If the operating system doesn't supply all the information necessary to | |
1303 | compute the value, the unknown elements of the list are @code{nil}. | |
1304 | ||
986bd52a CY |
1305 | The argument @var{time-value}, if given, specifies a time (represented |
1306 | as a list of integers) to analyze instead of the current time. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1307 | @end defun |
1308 | ||
8fc85b20 | 1309 | The current time zone is determined by the @env{TZ} environment |
51a714e1 | 1310 | variable. @xref{System Environment}. For example, you can tell Emacs |
8fc85b20 | 1311 | to use universal time with @code{(setenv "TZ" "UTC0")}. If @env{TZ} |
51a714e1 CY |
1312 | is not in the environment, Emacs uses a platform-dependent default |
1313 | time zone. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1314 | |
1315 | @node Time Conversion | |
1316 | @section Time Conversion | |
7d3bb569 | 1317 | @cindex calendrical information |
b8d4c8d0 | 1318 | |
d35af63c | 1319 | These functions convert time values (lists of two to four integers, |
986bd52a CY |
1320 | as explained in the previous section) into calendrical information and |
1321 | vice versa. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1322 | |
986bd52a CY |
1323 | Many 32-bit operating systems are limited to time values containing |
1324 | 32 bits of information; these systems typically handle only the times | |
1df7defd | 1325 | from 1901-12-13 20:45:52 UTC through 2038-01-19 03:14:07 UTC@. |
986bd52a CY |
1326 | However, 64-bit and some 32-bit operating systems have larger time |
1327 | values, and can represent times far in the past or future. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1328 | |
1329 | Time conversion functions always use the Gregorian calendar, even | |
1330 | for dates before the Gregorian calendar was introduced. Year numbers | |
1331 | count the number of years since the year 1 B.C., and do not skip zero | |
1332 | as traditional Gregorian years do; for example, the year number | |
1333 | @minus{}37 represents the Gregorian year 38 B.C@. | |
1334 | ||
1335 | @defun decode-time &optional time | |
1336 | This function converts a time value into calendrical information. If | |
1337 | you don't specify @var{time}, it decodes the current time. The return | |
1338 | value is a list of nine elements, as follows: | |
1339 | ||
1340 | @example | |
1341 | (@var{seconds} @var{minutes} @var{hour} @var{day} @var{month} @var{year} @var{dow} @var{dst} @var{zone}) | |
1342 | @end example | |
1343 | ||
1344 | Here is what the elements mean: | |
1345 | ||
1346 | @table @var | |
1347 | @item seconds | |
1348 | The number of seconds past the minute, as an integer between 0 and 59. | |
1349 | On some operating systems, this is 60 for leap seconds. | |
1350 | @item minutes | |
1351 | The number of minutes past the hour, as an integer between 0 and 59. | |
1352 | @item hour | |
1353 | The hour of the day, as an integer between 0 and 23. | |
1354 | @item day | |
1355 | The day of the month, as an integer between 1 and 31. | |
1356 | @item month | |
1357 | The month of the year, as an integer between 1 and 12. | |
1358 | @item year | |
1359 | The year, an integer typically greater than 1900. | |
1360 | @item dow | |
1361 | The day of week, as an integer between 0 and 6, where 0 stands for | |
1362 | Sunday. | |
1363 | @item dst | |
1364 | @code{t} if daylight saving time is effect, otherwise @code{nil}. | |
1365 | @item zone | |
1366 | An integer indicating the time zone, as the number of seconds east of | |
1367 | Greenwich. | |
1368 | @end table | |
1369 | ||
1370 | @strong{Common Lisp Note:} Common Lisp has different meanings for | |
1371 | @var{dow} and @var{zone}. | |
1372 | @end defun | |
1373 | ||
1374 | @defun encode-time seconds minutes hour day month year &optional zone | |
1375 | This function is the inverse of @code{decode-time}. It converts seven | |
1376 | items of calendrical data into a time value. For the meanings of the | |
1377 | arguments, see the table above under @code{decode-time}. | |
1378 | ||
1379 | Year numbers less than 100 are not treated specially. If you want them | |
1380 | to stand for years above 1900, or years above 2000, you must alter them | |
1381 | yourself before you call @code{encode-time}. | |
1382 | ||
1383 | The optional argument @var{zone} defaults to the current time zone and | |
1384 | its daylight saving time rules. If specified, it can be either a list | |
1385 | (as you would get from @code{current-time-zone}), a string as in the | |
8fc85b20 | 1386 | @env{TZ} environment variable, @code{t} for Universal Time, or an |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1387 | integer (as you would get from @code{decode-time}). The specified |
1388 | zone is used without any further alteration for daylight saving time. | |
1389 | ||
1390 | If you pass more than seven arguments to @code{encode-time}, the first | |
1391 | six are used as @var{seconds} through @var{year}, the last argument is | |
1392 | used as @var{zone}, and the arguments in between are ignored. This | |
1393 | feature makes it possible to use the elements of a list returned by | |
1394 | @code{decode-time} as the arguments to @code{encode-time}, like this: | |
1395 | ||
1396 | @example | |
1397 | (apply 'encode-time (decode-time @dots{})) | |
1398 | @end example | |
1399 | ||
1400 | You can perform simple date arithmetic by using out-of-range values for | |
1401 | the @var{seconds}, @var{minutes}, @var{hour}, @var{day}, and @var{month} | |
1402 | arguments; for example, day 0 means the day preceding the given month. | |
1403 | ||
1404 | The operating system puts limits on the range of possible time values; | |
1405 | if you try to encode a time that is out of range, an error results. | |
1406 | For instance, years before 1970 do not work on some systems; | |
1407 | on others, years as early as 1901 do work. | |
1408 | @end defun | |
1409 | ||
1410 | @node Time Parsing | |
1411 | @section Parsing and Formatting Times | |
1412 | ||
0c93aa38 PE |
1413 | These functions convert time values to text in a string, and vice versa. |
1414 | Time values are lists of two to four integers (@pxref{Time of Day}). | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1415 | |
1416 | @defun date-to-time string | |
1417 | This function parses the time-string @var{string} and returns the | |
1418 | corresponding time value. | |
1419 | @end defun | |
1420 | ||
1421 | @defun format-time-string format-string &optional time universal | |
1422 | This function converts @var{time} (or the current time, if @var{time} is | |
1423 | omitted) to a string according to @var{format-string}. The argument | |
1424 | @var{format-string} may contain @samp{%}-sequences which say to | |
1425 | substitute parts of the time. Here is a table of what the | |
1426 | @samp{%}-sequences mean: | |
1427 | ||
1428 | @table @samp | |
1429 | @item %a | |
1430 | This stands for the abbreviated name of the day of week. | |
1431 | @item %A | |
1432 | This stands for the full name of the day of week. | |
1433 | @item %b | |
1434 | This stands for the abbreviated name of the month. | |
1435 | @item %B | |
1436 | This stands for the full name of the month. | |
1437 | @item %c | |
1438 | This is a synonym for @samp{%x %X}. | |
1439 | @item %C | |
1440 | This has a locale-specific meaning. In the default locale (named C), it | |
1441 | is equivalent to @samp{%A, %B %e, %Y}. | |
1442 | @item %d | |
1443 | This stands for the day of month, zero-padded. | |
1444 | @item %D | |
1445 | This is a synonym for @samp{%m/%d/%y}. | |
1446 | @item %e | |
1447 | This stands for the day of month, blank-padded. | |
1448 | @item %h | |
1449 | This is a synonym for @samp{%b}. | |
1450 | @item %H | |
f99f1641 | 1451 | This stands for the hour (00--23). |
b8d4c8d0 | 1452 | @item %I |
f99f1641 | 1453 | This stands for the hour (01--12). |
b8d4c8d0 | 1454 | @item %j |
f99f1641 | 1455 | This stands for the day of the year (001--366). |
b8d4c8d0 | 1456 | @item %k |
f99f1641 | 1457 | This stands for the hour (0--23), blank padded. |
b8d4c8d0 | 1458 | @item %l |
f99f1641 | 1459 | This stands for the hour (1--12), blank padded. |
b8d4c8d0 | 1460 | @item %m |
f99f1641 | 1461 | This stands for the month (01--12). |
b8d4c8d0 | 1462 | @item %M |
f99f1641 | 1463 | This stands for the minute (00--59). |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1464 | @item %n |
1465 | This stands for a newline. | |
a4180391 | 1466 | @item %N |
f99f1641 | 1467 | This stands for the nanoseconds (000000000--999999999). To ask for |
a4180391 PE |
1468 | fewer digits, use @samp{%3N} for milliseconds, @samp{%6N} for |
1469 | microseconds, etc. Any excess digits are discarded, without rounding. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1470 | @item %p |
1471 | This stands for @samp{AM} or @samp{PM}, as appropriate. | |
1472 | @item %r | |
1473 | This is a synonym for @samp{%I:%M:%S %p}. | |
1474 | @item %R | |
1475 | This is a synonym for @samp{%H:%M}. | |
1476 | @item %S | |
f99f1641 | 1477 | This stands for the seconds (00--59). |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1478 | @item %t |
1479 | This stands for a tab character. | |
1480 | @item %T | |
1481 | This is a synonym for @samp{%H:%M:%S}. | |
1482 | @item %U | |
f99f1641 | 1483 | This stands for the week of the year (01--52), assuming that weeks |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1484 | start on Sunday. |
1485 | @item %w | |
f99f1641 | 1486 | This stands for the numeric day of week (0--6). Sunday is day 0. |
b8d4c8d0 | 1487 | @item %W |
f99f1641 | 1488 | This stands for the week of the year (01--52), assuming that weeks |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1489 | start on Monday. |
1490 | @item %x | |
1491 | This has a locale-specific meaning. In the default locale (named | |
1492 | @samp{C}), it is equivalent to @samp{%D}. | |
1493 | @item %X | |
1494 | This has a locale-specific meaning. In the default locale (named | |
1495 | @samp{C}), it is equivalent to @samp{%T}. | |
1496 | @item %y | |
f99f1641 | 1497 | This stands for the year without century (00--99). |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1498 | @item %Y |
1499 | This stands for the year with century. | |
1500 | @item %Z | |
1501 | This stands for the time zone abbreviation (e.g., @samp{EST}). | |
1502 | @item %z | |
1503 | This stands for the time zone numerical offset (e.g., @samp{-0500}). | |
1504 | @end table | |
1505 | ||
1506 | You can also specify the field width and type of padding for any of | |
1507 | these @samp{%}-sequences. This works as in @code{printf}: you write | |
1508 | the field width as digits in the middle of a @samp{%}-sequences. If you | |
1509 | start the field width with @samp{0}, it means to pad with zeros. If you | |
1510 | start the field width with @samp{_}, it means to pad with spaces. | |
1511 | ||
1512 | For example, @samp{%S} specifies the number of seconds since the minute; | |
1513 | @samp{%03S} means to pad this with zeros to 3 positions, @samp{%_3S} to | |
1514 | pad with spaces to 3 positions. Plain @samp{%3S} pads with zeros, | |
1515 | because that is how @samp{%S} normally pads to two positions. | |
1516 | ||
1517 | The characters @samp{E} and @samp{O} act as modifiers when used between | |
1518 | @samp{%} and one of the letters in the table above. @samp{E} specifies | |
1519 | using the current locale's ``alternative'' version of the date and time. | |
1520 | In a Japanese locale, for example, @code{%Ex} might yield a date format | |
1521 | based on the Japanese Emperors' reigns. @samp{E} is allowed in | |
1522 | @samp{%Ec}, @samp{%EC}, @samp{%Ex}, @samp{%EX}, @samp{%Ey}, and | |
1523 | @samp{%EY}. | |
1524 | ||
1525 | @samp{O} means to use the current locale's ``alternative'' | |
1526 | representation of numbers, instead of the ordinary decimal digits. This | |
1527 | is allowed with most letters, all the ones that output numbers. | |
1528 | ||
1529 | If @var{universal} is non-@code{nil}, that means to describe the time as | |
1530 | Universal Time; @code{nil} means describe it using what Emacs believes | |
1531 | is the local time zone (see @code{current-time-zone}). | |
1532 | ||
1533 | This function uses the C library function @code{strftime} | |
1534 | (@pxref{Formatting Calendar Time,,, libc, The GNU C Library Reference | |
1535 | Manual}) to do most of the work. In order to communicate with that | |
1536 | function, it first encodes its argument using the coding system | |
1537 | specified by @code{locale-coding-system} (@pxref{Locales}); after | |
1538 | @code{strftime} returns the resulting string, | |
1539 | @code{format-time-string} decodes the string using that same coding | |
1540 | system. | |
1541 | @end defun | |
1542 | ||
1543 | @defun seconds-to-time seconds | |
09b73f08 PE |
1544 | This function converts @var{seconds}, the number of seconds since the |
1545 | epoch, to a time value and returns that. To convert back, use | |
1546 | @code{float-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}). | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1547 | @end defun |
1548 | ||
53728487 EZ |
1549 | @defun format-seconds format-string seconds |
1550 | This function converts its argument @var{seconds} into a string of | |
1551 | years, days, hours, etc., according to @var{format-string}. The | |
1552 | argument @var{format-string} may contain @samp{%}-sequences which | |
1553 | control the conversion. Here is a table of what the | |
1554 | @samp{%}-sequences mean: | |
1555 | ||
1556 | @table @samp | |
1557 | @item %y | |
1558 | @itemx %Y | |
3051e4bf | 1559 | The integer number of 365-day years. |
53728487 EZ |
1560 | @item %d |
1561 | @itemx %D | |
3051e4bf | 1562 | The integer number of days. |
53728487 EZ |
1563 | @item %h |
1564 | @itemx %H | |
3051e4bf | 1565 | The integer number of hours. |
53728487 EZ |
1566 | @item %m |
1567 | @itemx %M | |
3051e4bf | 1568 | The integer number of minutes. |
53728487 EZ |
1569 | @item %s |
1570 | @itemx %S | |
3051e4bf | 1571 | The integer number of seconds. |
53728487 EZ |
1572 | @item %z |
1573 | Non-printing control flag. When it is used, other specifiers must be | |
1df7defd | 1574 | given in the order of decreasing size, i.e., years before days, hours |
53728487 EZ |
1575 | before minutes, etc. Nothing will be produced in the result string to |
1576 | the left of @samp{%z} until the first non-zero conversion is | |
1577 | encountered. For example, the default format used by | |
1578 | @code{emacs-uptime} (@pxref{Processor Run Time, emacs-uptime}) | |
1579 | @w{@code{"%Y, %D, %H, %M, %z%S"}} means that the number of seconds | |
1580 | will always be produced, but years, days, hours, and minutes will only | |
1581 | be shown if they are non-zero. | |
1582 | @item %% | |
1583 | Produces a literal @samp{%}. | |
1584 | @end table | |
1585 | ||
1586 | Upper-case format sequences produce the units in addition to the | |
1587 | numbers, lower-case formats produce only the numbers. | |
1588 | ||
1589 | You can also specify the field width by following the @samp{%} with a | |
1590 | number; shorter numbers will be padded with blanks. An optional | |
1591 | period before the width requests zero-padding instead. For example, | |
1592 | @code{"%.3Y"} might produce @code{"004 years"}. | |
1593 | ||
1594 | @emph{Warning:} This function works only with values of @var{seconds} | |
1595 | that don't exceed @code{most-positive-fixnum} (@pxref{Integer Basics, | |
1596 | most-positive-fixnum}). | |
1597 | @end defun | |
1598 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1599 | @node Processor Run Time |
1600 | @section Processor Run time | |
1601 | @cindex processor run time | |
53728487 EZ |
1602 | @cindex Emacs process run time |
1603 | ||
1604 | Emacs provides several functions and primitives that return time, | |
1605 | both elapsed and processor time, used by the Emacs process. | |
1606 | ||
106e6894 | 1607 | @deffn Command emacs-uptime &optional format |
de586f99 | 1608 | @cindex uptime of Emacs |
53728487 EZ |
1609 | This function returns a string representing the Emacs |
1610 | @dfn{uptime}---the elapsed wall-clock time this instance of Emacs is | |
3051e4bf EZ |
1611 | running. The string is formatted by @code{format-seconds} according |
1612 | to the optional argument @var{format}. For the available format | |
1613 | descriptors, see @ref{Time Parsing, format-seconds}. If @var{format} | |
e2b7cebb CY |
1614 | is @code{nil} or omitted, it defaults to @code{"%Y, %D, %H, %M, |
1615 | %z%S"}. | |
106e6894 CY |
1616 | |
1617 | When called interactively, it prints the uptime in the echo area. | |
1618 | @end deffn | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1619 | |
1620 | @defun get-internal-run-time | |
1621 | This function returns the processor run time used by Emacs as a list | |
d35af63c PE |
1622 | of four integers: @code{(@var{high} @var{low} @var{microsec} |
1623 | @var{picosec})}, using the same format as @code{current-time} | |
1624 | (@pxref{Time of Day}). | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1625 | |
53728487 EZ |
1626 | Note that the time returned by this function excludes the time Emacs |
1627 | was not using the processor, and if the Emacs process has several | |
1628 | threads, the returned value is the sum of the processor times used up | |
1629 | by all Emacs threads. | |
1630 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 1631 | If the system doesn't provide a way to determine the processor run |
53728487 EZ |
1632 | time, @code{get-internal-run-time} returns the same time as |
1633 | @code{current-time}. | |
1634 | @end defun | |
1635 | ||
106e6894 | 1636 | @deffn Command emacs-init-time |
53728487 | 1637 | This function returns the duration of the Emacs initialization |
106e6894 CY |
1638 | (@pxref{Startup Summary}) in seconds, as a string. When called |
1639 | interactively, it prints the duration in the echo area. | |
1640 | @end deffn | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1641 | |
1642 | @node Time Calculations | |
1643 | @section Time Calculations | |
1644 | ||
1645 | These functions perform calendrical computations using time values | |
1646 | (the kind of list that @code{current-time} returns). | |
1647 | ||
1648 | @defun time-less-p t1 t2 | |
1649 | This returns @code{t} if time value @var{t1} is less than time value | |
1650 | @var{t2}. | |
1651 | @end defun | |
1652 | ||
1653 | @defun time-subtract t1 t2 | |
1654 | This returns the time difference @var{t1} @minus{} @var{t2} between | |
1655 | two time values, in the same format as a time value. | |
1656 | @end defun | |
1657 | ||
1658 | @defun time-add t1 t2 | |
1659 | This returns the sum of two time values, one of which ought to | |
1660 | represent a time difference rather than a point in time. | |
1661 | Here is how to add a number of seconds to a time value: | |
1662 | ||
1663 | @example | |
1664 | (time-add @var{time} (seconds-to-time @var{seconds})) | |
1665 | @end example | |
1666 | @end defun | |
1667 | ||
1668 | @defun time-to-days time | |
1669 | This function returns the number of days between the beginning of year | |
1670 | 1 and @var{time}. | |
1671 | @end defun | |
1672 | ||
1673 | @defun time-to-day-in-year time | |
1674 | This returns the day number within the year corresponding to @var{time}. | |
1675 | @end defun | |
1676 | ||
1677 | @defun date-leap-year-p year | |
1678 | This function returns @code{t} if @var{year} is a leap year. | |
1679 | @end defun | |
1680 | ||
1681 | @node Timers | |
1682 | @section Timers for Delayed Execution | |
1683 | @cindex timer | |
1684 | ||
1685 | You can set up a @dfn{timer} to call a function at a specified | |
1686 | future time or after a certain length of idleness. | |
1687 | ||
1688 | Emacs cannot run timers at any arbitrary point in a Lisp program; it | |
1689 | can run them only when Emacs could accept output from a subprocess: | |
1690 | namely, while waiting or inside certain primitive functions such as | |
1691 | @code{sit-for} or @code{read-event} which @emph{can} wait. Therefore, a | |
1692 | timer's execution may be delayed if Emacs is busy. However, the time of | |
1693 | execution is very precise if Emacs is idle. | |
1694 | ||
1695 | Emacs binds @code{inhibit-quit} to @code{t} before calling the timer | |
1696 | function, because quitting out of many timer functions can leave | |
1697 | things in an inconsistent state. This is normally unproblematical | |
1698 | because most timer functions don't do a lot of work. Indeed, for a | |
1699 | timer to call a function that takes substantial time to run is likely | |
1700 | to be annoying. If a timer function needs to allow quitting, it | |
1701 | should use @code{with-local-quit} (@pxref{Quitting}). For example, if | |
1702 | a timer function calls @code{accept-process-output} to receive output | |
1703 | from an external process, that call should be wrapped inside | |
1704 | @code{with-local-quit}, to ensure that @kbd{C-g} works if the external | |
1705 | process hangs. | |
1706 | ||
1707 | It is usually a bad idea for timer functions to alter buffer | |
1708 | contents. When they do, they usually should call @code{undo-boundary} | |
1709 | both before and after changing the buffer, to separate the timer's | |
1710 | changes from user commands' changes and prevent a single undo entry | |
1711 | from growing to be quite large. | |
1712 | ||
1713 | Timer functions should also avoid calling functions that cause Emacs | |
1714 | to wait, such as @code{sit-for} (@pxref{Waiting}). This can lead to | |
1715 | unpredictable effects, since other timers (or even the same timer) can | |
1716 | run while waiting. If a timer function needs to perform an action | |
1717 | after a certain time has elapsed, it can do this by scheduling a new | |
1718 | timer. | |
1719 | ||
1720 | If a timer function calls functions that can change the match data, | |
1721 | it should save and restore the match data. @xref{Saving Match Data}. | |
1722 | ||
1723 | @deffn Command run-at-time time repeat function &rest args | |
1724 | This sets up a timer that calls the function @var{function} with | |
1725 | arguments @var{args} at time @var{time}. If @var{repeat} is a number | |
1726 | (integer or floating point), the timer is scheduled to run again every | |
1727 | @var{repeat} seconds after @var{time}. If @var{repeat} is @code{nil}, | |
1728 | the timer runs only once. | |
1729 | ||
1730 | @var{time} may specify an absolute or a relative time. | |
1731 | ||
1732 | Absolute times may be specified using a string with a limited variety | |
1733 | of formats, and are taken to be times @emph{today}, even if already in | |
1734 | the past. The recognized forms are @samp{@var{xxxx}}, | |
1735 | @samp{@var{x}:@var{xx}}, or @samp{@var{xx}:@var{xx}} (military time), | |
1736 | and @samp{@var{xx}am}, @samp{@var{xx}AM}, @samp{@var{xx}pm}, | |
1737 | @samp{@var{xx}PM}, @samp{@var{xx}:@var{xx}am}, | |
1738 | @samp{@var{xx}:@var{xx}AM}, @samp{@var{xx}:@var{xx}pm}, or | |
1739 | @samp{@var{xx}:@var{xx}PM}. A period can be used instead of a colon | |
1740 | to separate the hour and minute parts. | |
1741 | ||
1742 | To specify a relative time as a string, use numbers followed by units. | |
1743 | For example: | |
1744 | ||
1745 | @table @samp | |
1746 | @item 1 min | |
1747 | denotes 1 minute from now. | |
1748 | @item 1 min 5 sec | |
1749 | denotes 65 seconds from now. | |
1750 | @item 1 min 2 sec 3 hour 4 day 5 week 6 fortnight 7 month 8 year | |
1751 | denotes exactly 103 months, 123 days, and 10862 seconds from now. | |
1752 | @end table | |
1753 | ||
1754 | For relative time values, Emacs considers a month to be exactly thirty | |
1755 | days, and a year to be exactly 365.25 days. | |
1756 | ||
1757 | Not all convenient formats are strings. If @var{time} is a number | |
1758 | (integer or floating point), that specifies a relative time measured in | |
1759 | seconds. The result of @code{encode-time} can also be used to specify | |
1760 | an absolute value for @var{time}. | |
1761 | ||
1762 | In most cases, @var{repeat} has no effect on when @emph{first} call | |
1763 | takes place---@var{time} alone specifies that. There is one exception: | |
1764 | if @var{time} is @code{t}, then the timer runs whenever the time is a | |
1765 | multiple of @var{repeat} seconds after the epoch. This is useful for | |
1766 | functions like @code{display-time}. | |
1767 | ||
1768 | The function @code{run-at-time} returns a timer value that identifies | |
1769 | the particular scheduled future action. You can use this value to call | |
1770 | @code{cancel-timer} (see below). | |
1771 | @end deffn | |
1772 | ||
1773 | A repeating timer nominally ought to run every @var{repeat} seconds, | |
1774 | but remember that any invocation of a timer can be late. Lateness of | |
1775 | one repetition has no effect on the scheduled time of the next | |
1776 | repetition. For instance, if Emacs is busy computing for long enough | |
1777 | to cover three scheduled repetitions of the timer, and then starts to | |
1778 | wait, it will immediately call the timer function three times in | |
1779 | immediate succession (presuming no other timers trigger before or | |
1780 | between them). If you want a timer to run again no less than @var{n} | |
1781 | seconds after the last invocation, don't use the @var{repeat} argument. | |
1782 | Instead, the timer function should explicitly reschedule the timer. | |
1783 | ||
78f3273a | 1784 | @defopt timer-max-repeats |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1785 | This variable's value specifies the maximum number of times to repeat |
1786 | calling a timer function in a row, when many previously scheduled | |
1787 | calls were unavoidably delayed. | |
78f3273a | 1788 | @end defopt |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1789 | |
1790 | @defmac with-timeout (seconds timeout-forms@dots{}) body@dots{} | |
1791 | Execute @var{body}, but give up after @var{seconds} seconds. If | |
1792 | @var{body} finishes before the time is up, @code{with-timeout} returns | |
1793 | the value of the last form in @var{body}. If, however, the execution of | |
1794 | @var{body} is cut short by the timeout, then @code{with-timeout} | |
1795 | executes all the @var{timeout-forms} and returns the value of the last | |
1796 | of them. | |
1797 | ||
1798 | This macro works by setting a timer to run after @var{seconds} seconds. If | |
1799 | @var{body} finishes before that time, it cancels the timer. If the | |
1800 | timer actually runs, it terminates execution of @var{body}, then | |
1801 | executes @var{timeout-forms}. | |
1802 | ||
1803 | Since timers can run within a Lisp program only when the program calls a | |
1804 | primitive that can wait, @code{with-timeout} cannot stop executing | |
1805 | @var{body} while it is in the midst of a computation---only when it | |
1806 | calls one of those primitives. So use @code{with-timeout} only with a | |
1807 | @var{body} that waits for input, not one that does a long computation. | |
1808 | @end defmac | |
1809 | ||
1810 | The function @code{y-or-n-p-with-timeout} provides a simple way to use | |
1811 | a timer to avoid waiting too long for an answer. @xref{Yes-or-No | |
1812 | Queries}. | |
1813 | ||
1814 | @defun cancel-timer timer | |
1815 | This cancels the requested action for @var{timer}, which should be a | |
1816 | timer---usually, one previously returned by @code{run-at-time} or | |
1817 | @code{run-with-idle-timer}. This cancels the effect of that call to | |
1818 | one of these functions; the arrival of the specified time will not | |
1819 | cause anything special to happen. | |
1820 | @end defun | |
1821 | ||
1822 | @node Idle Timers | |
1823 | @section Idle Timers | |
1824 | ||
1825 | Here is how to set up a timer that runs when Emacs is idle for a | |
1826 | certain length of time. Aside from how to set them up, idle timers | |
1827 | work just like ordinary timers. | |
1828 | ||
1829 | @deffn Command run-with-idle-timer secs repeat function &rest args | |
d15aac68 | 1830 | Set up a timer which runs the next time Emacs is idle for @var{secs} |
09b73f08 PE |
1831 | seconds. The value of @var{secs} may be a number or a value of the type |
1832 | returned by @code{current-idle-time}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1833 | |
1834 | If @var{repeat} is @code{nil}, the timer runs just once, the first time | |
1835 | Emacs remains idle for a long enough time. More often @var{repeat} is | |
1836 | non-@code{nil}, which means to run the timer @emph{each time} Emacs | |
1837 | remains idle for @var{secs} seconds. | |
1838 | ||
1839 | The function @code{run-with-idle-timer} returns a timer value which you | |
1840 | can use in calling @code{cancel-timer} (@pxref{Timers}). | |
1841 | @end deffn | |
1842 | ||
1843 | @cindex idleness | |
d15aac68 CY |
1844 | Emacs becomes @dfn{idle} when it starts waiting for user input, and |
1845 | it remains idle until the user provides some input. If a timer is set | |
1846 | for five seconds of idleness, it runs approximately five seconds after | |
1847 | Emacs first becomes idle. Even if @var{repeat} is non-@code{nil}, | |
1848 | this timer will not run again as long as Emacs remains idle, because | |
1849 | the duration of idleness will continue to increase and will not go | |
1850 | down to five seconds again. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1851 | |
1852 | Emacs can do various things while idle: garbage collect, autosave or | |
1853 | handle data from a subprocess. But these interludes during idleness do | |
1854 | not interfere with idle timers, because they do not reset the clock of | |
1855 | idleness to zero. An idle timer set for 600 seconds will run when ten | |
1856 | minutes have elapsed since the last user command was finished, even if | |
1857 | subprocess output has been accepted thousands of times within those ten | |
1858 | minutes, and even if there have been garbage collections and autosaves. | |
1859 | ||
1860 | When the user supplies input, Emacs becomes non-idle while executing the | |
1861 | input. Then it becomes idle again, and all the idle timers that are | |
1862 | set up to repeat will subsequently run another time, one by one. | |
1863 | ||
48de8b12 CY |
1864 | Do not write an idle timer function containing a loop which does a |
1865 | certain amount of processing each time around, and exits when | |
1866 | @code{(input-pending-p)} is non-@code{nil}. This approach seems very | |
1867 | natural but has two problems: | |
1868 | ||
1869 | @itemize | |
1870 | @item | |
1871 | It blocks out all process output (since Emacs accepts process output | |
1872 | only while waiting). | |
1873 | ||
1874 | @item | |
1875 | It blocks out any idle timers that ought to run during that time. | |
1876 | @end itemize | |
1877 | ||
1878 | @noindent | |
1879 | Similarly, do not write an idle timer function that sets up another | |
1880 | idle timer (including the same idle timer) with @var{secs} argument | |
1881 | less than or equal to the current idleness time. Such a timer will | |
1882 | run almost immediately, and continue running again and again, instead | |
1883 | of waiting for the next time Emacs becomes idle. The correct approach | |
1884 | is to reschedule with an appropriate increment of the current value of | |
1885 | the idleness time, as described below. | |
1886 | ||
b8d4c8d0 | 1887 | @defun current-idle-time |
17bec671 | 1888 | If Emacs is idle, this function returns the length of time Emacs has |
d35af63c PE |
1889 | been idle, as a list of four integers: @code{(@var{sec-high} |
1890 | @var{sec-low} @var{microsec} @var{picosec})}, using the same format as | |
1891 | @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}). | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1892 | |
17bec671 RS |
1893 | When Emacs is not idle, @code{current-idle-time} returns @code{nil}. |
1894 | This is a convenient way to test whether Emacs is idle. | |
48de8b12 | 1895 | @end defun |
17bec671 | 1896 | |
48de8b12 CY |
1897 | The main use of @code{current-idle-time} is when an idle timer |
1898 | function wants to ``take a break'' for a while. It can set up another | |
1899 | idle timer to call the same function again, after a few seconds more | |
1900 | idleness. Here's an example: | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1901 | |
48de8b12 CY |
1902 | @example |
1903 | (defvar my-resume-timer nil | |
1904 | "Timer for `my-timer-function' to reschedule itself, or nil.") | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1905 | |
48de8b12 CY |
1906 | (defun my-timer-function () |
1907 | ;; @r{If the user types a command while @code{my-resume-timer}} | |
b8d4c8d0 | 1908 | ;; @r{is active, the next time this function is called from} |
48de8b12 CY |
1909 | ;; @r{its main idle timer, deactivate @code{my-resume-timer}.} |
1910 | (when my-resume-timer | |
1911 | (cancel-timer my-resume-timer)) | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1912 | ...@var{do the work for a while}... |
1913 | (when @var{taking-a-break} | |
48de8b12 | 1914 | (setq my-resume-timer |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1915 | (run-with-idle-timer |
1916 | ;; Compute an idle time @var{break-length} | |
1917 | ;; more than the current value. | |
1918 | (time-add (current-idle-time) | |
1919 | (seconds-to-time @var{break-length})) | |
1920 | nil | |
48de8b12 CY |
1921 | 'my-timer-function)))) |
1922 | @end example | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1923 | |
1924 | @node Terminal Input | |
1925 | @section Terminal Input | |
1926 | @cindex terminal input | |
1927 | ||
1928 | This section describes functions and variables for recording or | |
1929 | manipulating terminal input. See @ref{Display}, for related | |
1930 | functions. | |
1931 | ||
1932 | @menu | |
d24880de GM |
1933 | * Input Modes:: Options for how input is processed. |
1934 | * Recording Input:: Saving histories of recent or all input events. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1935 | @end menu |
1936 | ||
1937 | @node Input Modes | |
1938 | @subsection Input Modes | |
1939 | @cindex input modes | |
1940 | @cindex terminal input modes | |
1941 | ||
1942 | @defun set-input-mode interrupt flow meta &optional quit-char | |
1943 | This function sets the mode for reading keyboard input. If | |
de586f99 XF |
1944 | @var{interrupt} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs uses input interrupts. |
1945 | If it is @code{nil}, then it uses @sc{cbreak} mode. The default | |
1946 | setting is system-dependent. Some systems always use @sc{cbreak} mode | |
1947 | regardless of what is specified. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1948 | |
1949 | When Emacs communicates directly with X, it ignores this argument and | |
1950 | uses interrupts if that is the way it knows how to communicate. | |
1951 | ||
1952 | If @var{flow} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs uses @sc{xon/xoff} | |
1953 | (@kbd{C-q}, @kbd{C-s}) flow control for output to the terminal. This | |
1954 | has no effect except in @sc{cbreak} mode. | |
1955 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1956 | The argument @var{meta} controls support for input character codes |
1957 | above 127. If @var{meta} is @code{t}, Emacs converts characters with | |
1958 | the 8th bit set into Meta characters. If @var{meta} is @code{nil}, | |
1959 | Emacs disregards the 8th bit; this is necessary when the terminal uses | |
1960 | it as a parity bit. If @var{meta} is neither @code{t} nor @code{nil}, | |
1961 | Emacs uses all 8 bits of input unchanged. This is good for terminals | |
1962 | that use 8-bit character sets. | |
1963 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1964 | If @var{quit-char} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the character to |
1965 | use for quitting. Normally this character is @kbd{C-g}. | |
1966 | @xref{Quitting}. | |
1967 | @end defun | |
1968 | ||
1969 | The @code{current-input-mode} function returns the input mode settings | |
1970 | Emacs is currently using. | |
1971 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
1972 | @defun current-input-mode |
1973 | This function returns the current mode for reading keyboard input. It | |
1974 | returns a list, corresponding to the arguments of @code{set-input-mode}, | |
1975 | of the form @code{(@var{interrupt} @var{flow} @var{meta} @var{quit})} in | |
1976 | which: | |
1977 | @table @var | |
1978 | @item interrupt | |
1979 | is non-@code{nil} when Emacs is using interrupt-driven input. If | |
1980 | @code{nil}, Emacs is using @sc{cbreak} mode. | |
1981 | @item flow | |
1982 | is non-@code{nil} if Emacs uses @sc{xon/xoff} (@kbd{C-q}, @kbd{C-s}) | |
1983 | flow control for output to the terminal. This value is meaningful only | |
1984 | when @var{interrupt} is @code{nil}. | |
1985 | @item meta | |
1986 | is @code{t} if Emacs treats the eighth bit of input characters as | |
1987 | the meta bit; @code{nil} means Emacs clears the eighth bit of every | |
1988 | input character; any other value means Emacs uses all eight bits as the | |
1989 | basic character code. | |
1990 | @item quit | |
1991 | is the character Emacs currently uses for quitting, usually @kbd{C-g}. | |
1992 | @end table | |
1993 | @end defun | |
1994 | ||
1995 | @node Recording Input | |
1996 | @subsection Recording Input | |
1997 | @cindex recording input | |
1998 | ||
1999 | @defun recent-keys | |
2000 | This function returns a vector containing the last 300 input events from | |
2001 | the keyboard or mouse. All input events are included, whether or not | |
2002 | they were used as parts of key sequences. Thus, you always get the last | |
f961c7d8 | 2003 | 300 input events, not counting events generated by keyboard macros. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2004 | (These are excluded because they are less interesting for debugging; it |
2005 | should be enough to see the events that invoked the macros.) | |
2006 | ||
2007 | A call to @code{clear-this-command-keys} (@pxref{Command Loop Info}) | |
2008 | causes this function to return an empty vector immediately afterward. | |
2009 | @end defun | |
2010 | ||
2011 | @deffn Command open-dribble-file filename | |
2012 | @cindex dribble file | |
2013 | This function opens a @dfn{dribble file} named @var{filename}. When a | |
2014 | dribble file is open, each input event from the keyboard or mouse (but | |
2015 | not those from keyboard macros) is written in that file. A | |
2016 | non-character event is expressed using its printed representation | |
50ea0f87 GM |
2017 | surrounded by @samp{<@dots{}>}. Be aware that sensitive information |
2018 | (such as passwords) may end up recorded in the dribble file. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2019 | |
2020 | You close the dribble file by calling this function with an argument | |
2021 | of @code{nil}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2022 | @end deffn |
2023 | ||
2024 | See also the @code{open-termscript} function (@pxref{Terminal Output}). | |
2025 | ||
2026 | @node Terminal Output | |
2027 | @section Terminal Output | |
2028 | @cindex terminal output | |
2029 | ||
2030 | The terminal output functions send output to a text terminal, or keep | |
2031 | track of output sent to the terminal. The variable @code{baud-rate} | |
2032 | tells you what Emacs thinks is the output speed of the terminal. | |
2033 | ||
01f17ae2 | 2034 | @defopt baud-rate |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2035 | This variable's value is the output speed of the terminal, as far as |
2036 | Emacs knows. Setting this variable does not change the speed of actual | |
2037 | data transmission, but the value is used for calculations such as | |
2038 | padding. | |
2039 | ||
2040 | It also affects decisions about whether to scroll part of the | |
2041 | screen or repaint on text terminals. @xref{Forcing Redisplay}, | |
2042 | for the corresponding functionality on graphical terminals. | |
2043 | ||
2044 | The value is measured in baud. | |
01f17ae2 | 2045 | @end defopt |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2046 | |
2047 | If you are running across a network, and different parts of the | |
2048 | network work at different baud rates, the value returned by Emacs may be | |
2049 | different from the value used by your local terminal. Some network | |
2050 | protocols communicate the local terminal speed to the remote machine, so | |
2051 | that Emacs and other programs can get the proper value, but others do | |
2052 | not. If Emacs has the wrong value, it makes decisions that are less | |
2053 | than optimal. To fix the problem, set @code{baud-rate}. | |
2054 | ||
106e6894 CY |
2055 | @defun send-string-to-terminal string &optional terminal |
2056 | This function sends @var{string} to @var{terminal} without alteration. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 2057 | Control characters in @var{string} have terminal-dependent effects. |
106e6894 CY |
2058 | This function operates only on text terminals. @var{terminal} may be |
2059 | a terminal object, a frame, or @code{nil} for the selected frame's | |
f804f446 | 2060 | terminal. In batch mode, @var{string} is sent to @code{stdout} when |
f58a7c7e | 2061 | @var{terminal} is @code{nil}. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2062 | |
2063 | One use of this function is to define function keys on terminals that | |
2064 | have downloadable function key definitions. For example, this is how (on | |
2065 | certain terminals) to define function key 4 to move forward four | |
2066 | characters (by transmitting the characters @kbd{C-u C-f} to the | |
2067 | computer): | |
2068 | ||
2069 | @example | |
2070 | @group | |
2071 | (send-string-to-terminal "\eF4\^U\^F") | |
2072 | @result{} nil | |
2073 | @end group | |
2074 | @end example | |
2075 | @end defun | |
2076 | ||
2077 | @deffn Command open-termscript filename | |
2078 | @cindex termscript file | |
2079 | This function is used to open a @dfn{termscript file} that will record | |
2080 | all the characters sent by Emacs to the terminal. It returns | |
2081 | @code{nil}. Termscript files are useful for investigating problems | |
2082 | where Emacs garbles the screen, problems that are due to incorrect | |
2083 | Termcap entries or to undesirable settings of terminal options more | |
2084 | often than to actual Emacs bugs. Once you are certain which characters | |
2085 | were actually output, you can determine reliably whether they correspond | |
2086 | to the Termcap specifications in use. | |
2087 | ||
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2088 | @example |
2089 | @group | |
2090 | (open-termscript "../junk/termscript") | |
2091 | @result{} nil | |
2092 | @end group | |
2093 | @end example | |
de586f99 XF |
2094 | |
2095 | You close the termscript file by calling this function with an | |
2096 | argument of @code{nil}. | |
2097 | ||
2098 | See also @code{open-dribble-file} in @ref{Recording Input}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2099 | @end deffn |
2100 | ||
2101 | @node Sound Output | |
2102 | @section Sound Output | |
2103 | @cindex sound | |
2104 | ||
2105 | To play sound using Emacs, use the function @code{play-sound}. Only | |
986bd52a CY |
2106 | certain systems are supported; if you call @code{play-sound} on a |
2107 | system which cannot really do the job, it gives an error. | |
b8d4c8d0 | 2108 | |
de586f99 | 2109 | @c FIXME: Add indexes for Au and WAV? --xfq |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2110 | The sound must be stored as a file in RIFF-WAVE format (@samp{.wav}) |
2111 | or Sun Audio format (@samp{.au}). | |
2112 | ||
2113 | @defun play-sound sound | |
2114 | This function plays a specified sound. The argument, @var{sound}, has | |
2115 | the form @code{(sound @var{properties}...)}, where the @var{properties} | |
2116 | consist of alternating keywords (particular symbols recognized | |
2117 | specially) and values corresponding to them. | |
2118 | ||
2119 | Here is a table of the keywords that are currently meaningful in | |
2120 | @var{sound}, and their meanings: | |
2121 | ||
2122 | @table @code | |
2123 | @item :file @var{file} | |
2124 | This specifies the file containing the sound to play. | |
2125 | If the file name is not absolute, it is expanded against | |
2126 | the directory @code{data-directory}. | |
2127 | ||
2128 | @item :data @var{data} | |
2129 | This specifies the sound to play without need to refer to a file. The | |
2130 | value, @var{data}, should be a string containing the same bytes as a | |
2131 | sound file. We recommend using a unibyte string. | |
2132 | ||
2133 | @item :volume @var{volume} | |
2134 | This specifies how loud to play the sound. It should be a number in the | |
2135 | range of 0 to 1. The default is to use whatever volume has been | |
2136 | specified before. | |
2137 | ||
2138 | @item :device @var{device} | |
2139 | This specifies the system device on which to play the sound, as a | |
2140 | string. The default device is system-dependent. | |
2141 | @end table | |
2142 | ||
2143 | Before actually playing the sound, @code{play-sound} | |
2144 | calls the functions in the list @code{play-sound-functions}. | |
2145 | Each function is called with one argument, @var{sound}. | |
2146 | @end defun | |
2147 | ||
0b128ac4 | 2148 | @deffn Command play-sound-file file &optional volume device |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2149 | This function is an alternative interface to playing a sound @var{file} |
2150 | specifying an optional @var{volume} and @var{device}. | |
0b128ac4 | 2151 | @end deffn |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2152 | |
2153 | @defvar play-sound-functions | |
2154 | A list of functions to be called before playing a sound. Each function | |
2155 | is called with one argument, a property list that describes the sound. | |
2156 | @end defvar | |
2157 | ||
2158 | @node X11 Keysyms | |
2159 | @section Operating on X11 Keysyms | |
2160 | @cindex X11 keysyms | |
2161 | ||
2162 | To define system-specific X11 keysyms, set the variable | |
2163 | @code{system-key-alist}. | |
2164 | ||
2165 | @defvar system-key-alist | |
2166 | This variable's value should be an alist with one element for each | |
2167 | system-specific keysym. Each element has the form @code{(@var{code} | |
2168 | . @var{symbol})}, where @var{code} is the numeric keysym code (not | |
2169 | including the ``vendor specific'' bit, | |
2170 | @ifnottex | |
09b73f08 | 2171 | @minus{}2**28), |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2172 | @end ifnottex |
2173 | @tex | |
2174 | $-2^{28}$), | |
2175 | @end tex | |
2176 | and @var{symbol} is the name for the function key. | |
2177 | ||
2178 | For example @code{(168 . mute-acute)} defines a system-specific key (used | |
2179 | by HP X servers) whose numeric code is | |
2180 | @ifnottex | |
09b73f08 | 2181 | @minus{}2**28 |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2182 | @end ifnottex |
2183 | @tex | |
2184 | $-2^{28}$ | |
2185 | @end tex | |
2186 | + 168. | |
2187 | ||
2188 | It is not crucial to exclude from the alist the keysyms of other X | |
2189 | servers; those do no harm, as long as they don't conflict with the ones | |
2190 | used by the X server actually in use. | |
2191 | ||
2192 | The variable is always local to the current terminal, and cannot be | |
3ec61d4e | 2193 | buffer-local. @xref{Multiple Terminals}. |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2194 | @end defvar |
2195 | ||
2196 | You can specify which keysyms Emacs should use for the Meta, Alt, Hyper, and Super modifiers by setting these variables: | |
2197 | ||
2198 | @defvar x-alt-keysym | |
2199 | @defvarx x-meta-keysym | |
2200 | @defvarx x-hyper-keysym | |
2201 | @defvarx x-super-keysym | |
2202 | The name of the keysym that should stand for the Alt modifier | |
2203 | (respectively, for Meta, Hyper, and Super). For example, here is | |
2204 | how to swap the Meta and Alt modifiers within Emacs: | |
2205 | @lisp | |
2206 | (setq x-alt-keysym 'meta) | |
2207 | (setq x-meta-keysym 'alt) | |
2208 | @end lisp | |
2209 | @end defvar | |
2210 | ||
2211 | @node Batch Mode | |
2212 | @section Batch Mode | |
2213 | @cindex batch mode | |
2214 | ||
2215 | The command-line option @samp{-batch} causes Emacs to run | |
2216 | noninteractively. In this mode, Emacs does not read commands from the | |
2217 | terminal, it does not alter the terminal modes, and it does not expect | |
2218 | to be outputting to an erasable screen. The idea is that you specify | |
2219 | Lisp programs to run; when they are finished, Emacs should exit. The | |
2220 | way to specify the programs to run is with @samp{-l @var{file}}, which | |
2221 | loads the library named @var{file}, or @samp{-f @var{function}}, which | |
2222 | calls @var{function} with no arguments, or @samp{--eval @var{form}}. | |
2223 | ||
2224 | Any Lisp program output that would normally go to the echo area, | |
2225 | either using @code{message}, or using @code{prin1}, etc., with @code{t} | |
2226 | as the stream, goes instead to Emacs's standard error descriptor when | |
2227 | in batch mode. Similarly, input that would normally come from the | |
2228 | minibuffer is read from the standard input descriptor. | |
2229 | Thus, Emacs behaves much like a noninteractive | |
2230 | application program. (The echo area output that Emacs itself normally | |
2231 | generates, such as command echoing, is suppressed entirely.) | |
2232 | ||
2233 | @defvar noninteractive | |
2234 | This variable is non-@code{nil} when Emacs is running in batch mode. | |
2235 | @end defvar | |
2236 | ||
2237 | @node Session Management | |
2238 | @section Session Management | |
2239 | @cindex session manager | |
2240 | ||
dca019f8 CY |
2241 | Emacs supports the X Session Management Protocol, which is used to |
2242 | suspend and restart applications. In the X Window System, a program | |
2243 | called the @dfn{session manager} is responsible for keeping track of | |
2244 | the applications that are running. When the X server shuts down, the | |
2245 | session manager asks applications to save their state, and delays the | |
2246 | actual shutdown until they respond. An application can also cancel | |
2247 | the shutdown. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2248 | |
2249 | When the session manager restarts a suspended session, it directs | |
2250 | these applications to individually reload their saved state. It does | |
2251 | this by specifying a special command-line argument that says what | |
2252 | saved session to restore. For Emacs, this argument is @samp{--smid | |
2253 | @var{session}}. | |
2254 | ||
2255 | @defvar emacs-save-session-functions | |
4ae3802f | 2256 | @cindex session file |
dca019f8 CY |
2257 | Emacs supports saving state via a hook called |
2258 | @code{emacs-save-session-functions}. Emacs runs this hook when the | |
2259 | session manager tells it that the window system is shutting down. The | |
2260 | functions are called with no arguments, and with the current buffer | |
2261 | set to a temporary buffer. Each function can use @code{insert} to add | |
2262 | Lisp code to this buffer. At the end, Emacs saves the buffer in a | |
2263 | file, called the @dfn{session file}. | |
2264 | ||
2265 | @findex emacs-session-restore | |
2266 | Subsequently, when the session manager restarts Emacs, it loads the | |
2267 | session file automatically (@pxref{Loading}). This is performed by a | |
2268 | function named @code{emacs-session-restore}, which is called during | |
2269 | startup. @xref{Startup Summary}. | |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2270 | |
2271 | If a function in @code{emacs-save-session-functions} returns | |
2272 | non-@code{nil}, Emacs tells the session manager to cancel the | |
2273 | shutdown. | |
2274 | @end defvar | |
2275 | ||
2bb0eca1 | 2276 | Here is an example that just inserts some text into @file{*scratch*} when |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2277 | Emacs is restarted by the session manager. |
2278 | ||
2279 | @example | |
2280 | @group | |
2281 | (add-hook 'emacs-save-session-functions 'save-yourself-test) | |
2282 | @end group | |
2283 | ||
2284 | @group | |
2285 | (defun save-yourself-test () | |
c57008f6 | 2286 | (insert "(save-current-buffer |
b8d4c8d0 GM |
2287 | (switch-to-buffer \"*scratch*\") |
2288 | (insert \"I am restored\"))") | |
2289 | nil) | |
2290 | @end group | |
2291 | @end example | |
2292 | ||
32813ea7 | 2293 | @node Desktop Notifications |
9ff687e1 MA |
2294 | @section Desktop Notifications |
2295 | @cindex desktop notifications | |
4ae3802f | 2296 | @cindex notifications, on desktop |
9ff687e1 | 2297 | |
97f4a299 | 2298 | Emacs is able to send @dfn{notifications} on systems that support the |
a7972adf CY |
2299 | freedesktop.org Desktop Notifications Specification. In order to use |
2300 | this functionality, Emacs must have been compiled with D-Bus support, | |
4ae3802f XF |
2301 | and the @code{notifications} library must be loaded. @xref{Top, , |
2302 | D-Bus,dbus,D-Bus integration in Emacs}. | |
9ff687e1 MA |
2303 | |
2304 | @defun notifications-notify &rest params | |
a7972adf CY |
2305 | This function sends a notification to the desktop via D-Bus, |
2306 | consisting of the parameters specified by the @var{params} arguments. | |
2307 | These arguments should consist of alternating keyword and value pairs. | |
2308 | The supported keywords and values are as follows: | |
9ff687e1 MA |
2309 | |
2310 | @table @code | |
a43d02f0 MA |
2311 | @item :bus @var{bus} |
2312 | The D-Bus bus. This argument is needed only if a bus other than | |
2313 | @code{:session} shall be used. | |
2314 | ||
9ff687e1 MA |
2315 | @item :title @var{title} |
2316 | The notification title. | |
2317 | ||
2318 | @item :body @var{text} | |
2319 | The notification body text. Depending on the implementation of the | |
2320 | notification server, the text could contain HTML markups, like | |
a43d02f0 MA |
2321 | @samp{"<b>bold text</b>"}, hyperlinks, or images. Special HTML |
2322 | characters must be encoded, as @samp{"Contact | |
2323 | <postmaster@@localhost>!"}. | |
9ff687e1 MA |
2324 | |
2325 | @item :app-name @var{name} | |
97f4a299 | 2326 | The name of the application sending the notification. The default is |
9ff687e1 MA |
2327 | @code{notifications-application-name}. |
2328 | ||
2329 | @item :replaces-id @var{id} | |
2330 | The notification @var{id} that this notification replaces. @var{id} | |
2331 | must be the result of a previous @code{notifications-notify} call. | |
2332 | ||
2333 | @item :app-icon @var{icon-file} | |
2334 | The file name of the notification icon. If set to @code{nil}, no icon | |
97f4a299 | 2335 | is displayed. The default is @code{notifications-application-icon}. |
9ff687e1 MA |
2336 | |
2337 | @item :actions (@var{key} @var{title} @var{key} @var{title} ...) | |
2338 | A list of actions to be applied. @var{key} and @var{title} are both | |
2339 | strings. The default action (usually invoked by clicking the | |
2340 | notification) should have a key named @samp{"default"}. The title can | |
2341 | be anything, though implementations are free not to display it. | |
2342 | ||
2343 | @item :timeout @var{timeout} | |
2344 | The timeout time in milliseconds since the display of the notification | |
09b73f08 | 2345 | at which the notification should automatically close. If @minus{}1, the |
9ff687e1 MA |
2346 | notification's expiration time is dependent on the notification |
2347 | server's settings, and may vary for the type of notification. If 0, | |
09b73f08 | 2348 | the notification never expires. Default value is @minus{}1. |
9ff687e1 MA |
2349 | |
2350 | @item :urgency @var{urgency} | |
97f4a299 | 2351 | The urgency level. It can be @code{low}, @code{normal}, or @code{critical}. |
9ff687e1 | 2352 | |
ab0fa4e4 | 2353 | @item :action-items |
e43042fe MA |
2354 | When this keyword is given, the @var{title} string of the actions is |
2355 | interpreted as icon name. | |
2356 | ||
9ff687e1 | 2357 | @item :category @var{category} |
a43d02f0 MA |
2358 | The type of notification this is, a string. See the |
2359 | @uref{http://developer.gnome.org/notification-spec/#categories, | |
2360 | Desktop Notifications Specification} for a list of standard | |
2361 | categories. | |
9ff687e1 MA |
2362 | |
2363 | @item :desktop-entry @var{filename} | |
2364 | This specifies the name of the desktop filename representing the | |
2365 | calling program, like @samp{"emacs"}. | |
2366 | ||
2367 | @item :image-data (@var{width} @var{height} @var{rowstride} @var{has-alpha} @var{bits} @var{channels} @var{data}) | |
97f4a299 GM |
2368 | This is a raw data image format that describes the width, height, |
2369 | rowstride, whether there is an alpha channel, bits per sample, | |
2370 | channels and image data, respectively. | |
9ff687e1 MA |
2371 | |
2372 | @item :image-path @var{path} | |
2373 | This is represented either as a URI (@samp{file://} is the only URI | |
2374 | schema supported right now) or a name in a freedesktop.org-compliant | |
84f4a531 | 2375 | icon theme from @samp{$XDG_DATA_DIRS/icons}. |
9ff687e1 MA |
2376 | |
2377 | @item :sound-file @var{filename} | |
2378 | The path to a sound file to play when the notification pops up. | |
2379 | ||
2380 | @item :sound-name @var{name} | |
2381 | A themable named sound from the freedesktop.org sound naming | |
2382 | specification from @samp{$XDG_DATA_DIRS/sounds}, to play when the | |
2383 | notification pops up. Similar to the icon name, only for sounds. An | |
2384 | example would be @samp{"message-new-instant"}. | |
2385 | ||
2386 | @item :suppress-sound | |
2387 | Causes the server to suppress playing any sounds, if it has that | |
2388 | ability. | |
2389 | ||
e43042fe MA |
2390 | @item :resident |
2391 | When set the server will not automatically remove the notification | |
2392 | when an action has been invoked. The notification will remain resident | |
2393 | in the server until it is explicitly removed by the user or by the | |
2394 | sender. This hint is likely only useful when the server has the | |
2395 | @code{:persistence} capability. | |
2396 | ||
2397 | @item :transient | |
2398 | When set the server will treat the notification as transient and | |
2399 | by-pass the server's persistence capability, if it should exist. | |
2400 | ||
9ff687e1 MA |
2401 | @item :x @var{position} |
2402 | @itemx :y @var{position} | |
97f4a299 | 2403 | Specifies the X, Y location on the screen that the |
9ff687e1 MA |
2404 | notification should point to. Both arguments must be used together. |
2405 | ||
2406 | @item :on-action @var{function} | |
2407 | Function to call when an action is invoked. The notification @var{id} | |
2408 | and the @var{key} of the action are passed as arguments to the | |
2409 | function. | |
2410 | ||
2411 | @item :on-close @var{function} | |
2412 | Function to call when the notification has been closed by timeout or | |
2413 | by the user. The function receive the notification @var{id} and the closing | |
2414 | @var{reason} as arguments: | |
2415 | ||
2416 | @itemize | |
2417 | @item @code{expired} if the notification has expired | |
2418 | @item @code{dismissed} if the notification was dismissed by the user | |
2419 | @item @code{close-notification} if the notification was closed by a call to | |
2420 | @code{notifications-close-notification} | |
2421 | @item @code{undefined} if the notification server hasn't provided a reason | |
2422 | @end itemize | |
2423 | @end table | |
2424 | ||
b613912b MA |
2425 | Which parameters are accepted by the notification server can be |
2426 | checked via @code{notifications-get-capabilities}. | |
2427 | ||
9ff687e1 MA |
2428 | This function returns a notification id, an integer, which can be used |
2429 | to manipulate the notification item with | |
2430 | @code{notifications-close-notification} or the @code{:replaces-id} | |
97f4a299 | 2431 | argument of another @code{notifications-notify} call. For example: |
9ff687e1 MA |
2432 | |
2433 | @example | |
2434 | @group | |
2435 | (defun my-on-action-function (id key) | |
2436 | (message "Message %d, key \"%s\" pressed" id key)) | |
2437 | @result{} my-on-action-function | |
2438 | @end group | |
2439 | ||
2440 | @group | |
2441 | (defun my-on-close-function (id reason) | |
2442 | (message "Message %d, closed due to \"%s\"" id reason)) | |
2443 | @result{} my-on-close-function | |
2444 | @end group | |
2445 | ||
2446 | @group | |
2447 | (notifications-notify | |
2448 | :title "Title" | |
2449 | :body "This is <b>important</b>." | |
2450 | :actions '("Confirm" "I agree" "Refuse" "I disagree") | |
2451 | :on-action 'my-on-action-function | |
2452 | :on-close 'my-on-close-function) | |
2453 | @result{} 22 | |
2454 | @end group | |
2455 | ||
2456 | @group | |
2457 | A message window opens on the desktop. Press "I agree" | |
2458 | @result{} Message 22, key "Confirm" pressed | |
2459 | Message 22, closed due to "dismissed" | |
2460 | @end group | |
2461 | @end example | |
2462 | @end defun | |
2463 | ||
a43d02f0 | 2464 | @defun notifications-close-notification id &optional bus |
97f4a299 | 2465 | This function closes a notification with identifier @var{id}. |
a43d02f0 MA |
2466 | @var{bus} can be a string denoting a D-Bus connection, the default is |
2467 | @code{:session}. | |
9ff687e1 MA |
2468 | @end defun |
2469 | ||
a43d02f0 MA |
2470 | @defun notifications-get-capabilities &optional bus |
2471 | Returns the capabilities of the notification server, a list of | |
2472 | symbols. @var{bus} can be a string denoting a D-Bus connection, the | |
2473 | default is @code{:session}. The following capabilities can be | |
2474 | expected: | |
b613912b | 2475 | |
e43042fe MA |
2476 | @table @code |
2477 | @item :actions | |
b613912b MA |
2478 | The server will provide the specified actions to the user. |
2479 | ||
e43042fe | 2480 | @item :body |
b613912b MA |
2481 | Supports body text. |
2482 | ||
e43042fe | 2483 | @item :body-hyperlinks |
b613912b MA |
2484 | The server supports hyperlinks in the notifications. |
2485 | ||
e43042fe | 2486 | @item :body-images |
b613912b MA |
2487 | The server supports images in the notifications. |
2488 | ||
e43042fe | 2489 | @item :body-markup |
b613912b MA |
2490 | Supports markup in the body text. |
2491 | ||
e43042fe | 2492 | @item :icon-multi |
b613912b MA |
2493 | The server will render an animation of all the frames in a given image |
2494 | array. | |
2495 | ||
e43042fe | 2496 | @item :icon-static |
b613912b | 2497 | Supports display of exactly 1 frame of any given image array. This |
e43042fe MA |
2498 | value is mutually exclusive with @code{:icon-multi}. |
2499 | ||
2500 | @item :persistence | |
2501 | The server supports persistence of notifications. | |
b613912b | 2502 | |
e43042fe | 2503 | @item :sound |
b613912b MA |
2504 | The server supports sounds on notifications. |
2505 | @end table | |
2506 | ||
e43042fe MA |
2507 | Further vendor-specific caps start with @code{:x-vendor}, like |
2508 | @code{:x-gnome-foo-cap}. | |
b613912b MA |
2509 | @end defun |
2510 | ||
a43d02f0 MA |
2511 | @defun notifications-get-server-information &optional bus |
2512 | Return information on the notification server, a list of strings. | |
2513 | @var{bus} can be a string denoting a D-Bus connection, the default is | |
2514 | @code{:session}. The returned list is @code{(@var{name} @var{vendor} | |
2515 | @var{version} @var{spec-version})}. | |
2516 | ||
2517 | @table @var | |
2518 | @item name | |
2519 | The product name of the server. | |
2520 | ||
2521 | @item vendor | |
2522 | The vendor name. For example, @samp{"KDE"}, @samp{"GNOME"}. | |
2523 | ||
2524 | @item version | |
2525 | The server's version number. | |
2526 | ||
2527 | @item spec-version | |
2528 | The specification version the server is compliant with. | |
2529 | @end table | |
2530 | ||
2531 | If @var{SPEC_VERSION} is @code{nil}, the server supports a | |
2532 | specification prior to @samp{"1.0"}. | |
2533 | @end defun | |
2534 | ||
32813ea7 MA |
2535 | @node File Notifications |
2536 | @section Notifications on File Changes | |
2537 | @cindex file notifications | |
a6e3a5d5 | 2538 | @cindex watch, for filesystem events |
32813ea7 MA |
2539 | |
2540 | Several operating systems support watching of filesystems for changes | |
2541 | of files. If configured properly, Emacs links a respective library | |
2542 | like @file{gfilenotify}, @file{inotify}, or @file{w32notify} | |
2543 | statically. These libraries enable watching of filesystems on the | |
2544 | local machine. | |
2545 | ||
2546 | It is also possible to watch filesystems on remote machines, | |
2547 | @pxref{Remote Files,, Remote Files, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual} | |
2548 | This does not depend on one of the libraries linked to Emacs. | |
2549 | ||
2550 | Since all these libraries emit different events on notified file | |
2551 | changes, there is the Emacs library @code{filenotify} which provides a | |
2552 | unique interface. | |
2553 | ||
32813ea7 MA |
2554 | @defun file-notify-add-watch file flags callback |
2555 | Add a watch for filesystem events pertaining to @var{file}. This | |
2556 | arranges for filesystem events pertaining to @var{file} to be reported | |
2557 | to Emacs. | |
2558 | ||
2559 | The returned value is a descriptor for the added watch. Its type | |
2560 | depends on the underlying library, it cannot be assumed to be an | |
2561 | integer as in the example below. It should be used for comparison by | |
2562 | @code{equal} only. | |
2563 | ||
2564 | If the @var{file} cannot be watched for some reason, this function | |
2565 | signals a @code{file-notify-error} error. | |
2566 | ||
95e6e62b MA |
2567 | Sometimes, mounted filesystems cannot be watched for file changes. |
2568 | This is not detected by this function, a non-@code{nil} return value | |
2569 | does not guarantee that changes on @var{file} will be notified. | |
2570 | ||
32813ea7 MA |
2571 | @var{flags} is a list of conditions to set what will be watched for. |
2572 | It can include the following symbols: | |
2573 | ||
2574 | @table @code | |
2575 | @item change | |
2576 | watch for file changes | |
2577 | @item attribute-change | |
2578 | watch for file attribute changes, like permissions or modification | |
2579 | time | |
2580 | @end table | |
2581 | ||
2582 | If @var{file} is a directory, changes for all files in that directory | |
2583 | will be notified. This does not work recursively. | |
2584 | ||
2585 | When any event happens, Emacs will call the @var{callback} function | |
2586 | passing it a single argument @var{event}, which is of the form | |
2587 | ||
2588 | @lisp | |
2589 | (@var{descriptor} @var{action} @var{file} [@var{file1}]) | |
2590 | @end lisp | |
2591 | ||
2592 | @var{descriptor} is the same object as the one returned by this | |
2593 | function. @var{action} is the description of the event. It could be | |
2594 | any one of the following symbols: | |
2595 | ||
2596 | @table @code | |
2597 | @item created | |
2598 | @var{file} was created | |
2599 | @item deleted | |
2600 | @var{file} was deleted | |
2601 | @item changed | |
2602 | @var{file} has changed | |
2603 | @item renamed | |
2604 | @var{file} has been renamed to @var{file1} | |
2605 | @item attribute-changed | |
2606 | a @var{file} attribute was changed | |
2607 | @end table | |
2608 | ||
2609 | @var{file} and @var{file1} are the name of the file(s) whose event is | |
2610 | being reported. For example: | |
2611 | ||
2612 | @example | |
2613 | @group | |
2614 | (require 'filenotify) | |
2615 | @result{} filenotify | |
2616 | @end group | |
2617 | ||
2618 | @group | |
2619 | (defun my-notify-callback (event) | |
2620 | (message "Event %S" event)) | |
2621 | @result{} my-notify-callback | |
2622 | @end group | |
2623 | ||
2624 | @group | |
2625 | (file-notify-add-watch | |
2626 | "/tmp" '(change attribute-change) 'my-notify-callback) | |
2627 | @result{} 35025468 | |
2628 | @end group | |
2629 | ||
2630 | @group | |
2631 | (write-region "foo" nil "/tmp/foo") | |
2632 | @result{} Event (35025468 created "/tmp/.#foo") | |
2633 | Event (35025468 created "/tmp/foo") | |
2634 | Event (35025468 changed "/tmp/foo") | |
2635 | Event (35025468 deleted "/tmp/.#foo") | |
2636 | @end group | |
2637 | ||
2638 | @group | |
2639 | (write-region "bla" nil "/tmp/foo") | |
2640 | @result{} Event (35025468 created "/tmp/.#foo") | |
2641 | Event (35025468 changed "/tmp/foo") [2 times] | |
2642 | Event (35025468 deleted "/tmp/.#foo") | |
2643 | @end group | |
2644 | ||
2645 | @group | |
2646 | (set-file-modes "/tmp/foo" (default-file-modes)) | |
2647 | @result{} Event (35025468 attribute-changed "/tmp/foo") | |
2648 | @end group | |
2649 | @end example | |
2650 | ||
2651 | Whether the action @code{renamed} is returned, depends on the used | |
2652 | watch library. It can be expected, when a directory is watched, and | |
2653 | both @var{file} and @var{file1} belong to this directory. Otherwise, | |
2654 | the actions @code{deleted} and @code{created} could be returned in a | |
2655 | random order. | |
2656 | ||
2657 | @example | |
2658 | @group | |
2659 | (rename-file "/tmp/foo" "/tmp/bla") | |
2660 | @result{} Event (35025468 renamed "/tmp/foo" "/tmp/bla") | |
2661 | @end group | |
2662 | ||
2663 | @group | |
2664 | (file-notify-add-watch | |
2665 | "/var/tmp" '(change attribute-change) 'my-notify-callback) | |
2666 | @result{} 35025504 | |
2667 | @end group | |
2668 | ||
2669 | @group | |
2670 | (rename-file "/tmp/bla" "/var/tmp/bla") | |
2671 | @result{} ;; gfilenotify | |
2672 | Event (35025468 renamed "/tmp/bla" "/var/tmp/bla") | |
2673 | ||
2674 | @result{} ;; inotify | |
2675 | Event (35025504 created "/var/tmp/bla") | |
2676 | Event (35025468 deleted "/tmp/bla") | |
2677 | @end group | |
2678 | @end example | |
2679 | @end defun | |
2680 | ||
2681 | @defun file-notify-rm-watch descriptor | |
2682 | Removes an existing file watch specified by its @var{descriptor}. | |
2683 | @var{descriptor} should be an object returned by | |
2684 | @code{file-notify-add-watch}. | |
2685 | @end defun | |
b613912b | 2686 | |
00f113eb JB |
2687 | @node Dynamic Libraries |
2688 | @section Dynamically Loaded Libraries | |
2689 | @cindex dynamic libraries | |
2690 | ||
2691 | A @dfn{dynamically loaded library} is a library that is loaded on | |
2692 | demand, when its facilities are first needed. Emacs supports such | |
2693 | on-demand loading of support libraries for some of its features. | |
2694 | ||
2695 | @defvar dynamic-library-alist | |
2696 | This is an alist of dynamic libraries and external library files | |
2697 | implementing them. | |
2698 | ||
2699 | Each element is a list of the form | |
2700 | @w{@code{(@var{library} @var{files}@dots{})}}, where the @code{car} is | |
2701 | a symbol representing a supported external library, and the rest are | |
2702 | strings giving alternate filenames for that library. | |
2703 | ||
2704 | Emacs tries to load the library from the files in the order they | |
84f4a531 CY |
2705 | appear in the list; if none is found, the Emacs session won't have |
2706 | access to that library, and the features it provides will be | |
2707 | unavailable. | |
00f113eb JB |
2708 | |
2709 | Image support on some platforms uses this facility. Here's an example | |
2710 | of setting this variable for supporting images on MS-Windows: | |
2711 | ||
84f4a531 | 2712 | @example |
00f113eb JB |
2713 | (setq dynamic-library-alist |
2714 | '((xpm "libxpm.dll" "xpm4.dll" "libXpm-nox4.dll") | |
2715 | (png "libpng12d.dll" "libpng12.dll" "libpng.dll" | |
84f4a531 CY |
2716 | "libpng13d.dll" "libpng13.dll") |
2717 | (jpeg "jpeg62.dll" "libjpeg.dll" "jpeg-62.dll" | |
2718 | "jpeg.dll") | |
00f113eb JB |
2719 | (tiff "libtiff3.dll" "libtiff.dll") |
2720 | (gif "giflib4.dll" "libungif4.dll" "libungif.dll") | |
2721 | (svg "librsvg-2-2.dll") | |
2722 | (gdk-pixbuf "libgdk_pixbuf-2.0-0.dll") | |
2723 | (glib "libglib-2.0-0.dll") | |
2724 | (gobject "libgobject-2.0-0.dll"))) | |
84f4a531 | 2725 | @end example |
00f113eb JB |
2726 | |
2727 | Note that image types @code{pbm} and @code{xbm} do not need entries in | |
2728 | this variable because they do not depend on external libraries and are | |
2729 | always available in Emacs. | |
2730 | ||
2731 | Also note that this variable is not meant to be a generic facility for | |
2732 | accessing external libraries; only those already known by Emacs can | |
2733 | be loaded through it. | |
2734 | ||
2735 | This variable is ignored if the given @var{library} is statically | |
2736 | linked into Emacs. | |
2737 | @end defvar |