Style fixes for floating-point doc.
[bpt/emacs.git] / doc / lispref / frames.texi
1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2014 Free Software
4 @c Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @node Frames
7 @chapter Frames
8 @cindex frame
9
10 A @dfn{frame} is a screen object that contains one or more Emacs
11 windows (@pxref{Windows}). It is the kind of object called a
12 ``window'' in the terminology of graphical environments; but we can't
13 call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
14 way. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp object that
15 represents a frame on the screen. @xref{Frame Type}.
16
17 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
18 window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
19 into smaller windows. @xref{Splitting Windows}.
20
21 @cindex terminal
22 A @dfn{terminal} is a display device capable of displaying one or
23 more Emacs frames. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{terminal object} is a Lisp
24 object that represents a terminal. @xref{Terminal Type}.
25
26 @cindex text terminal
27 @cindex graphical terminal
28 @cindex graphical display
29 There are two classes of terminals: @dfn{text terminals} and
30 @dfn{graphical terminals}. Text terminals are non-graphics-capable
31 displays, including @command{xterm} and other terminal emulators. On
32 a text terminal, each Emacs frame occupies the terminal's entire
33 screen; although you can create additional frames and switch between
34 them, the terminal only shows one frame at a time. Graphical
35 terminals, on the other hand, are managed by graphical display systems
36 such as the X Window System, which allow Emacs to show multiple frames
37 simultaneously on the same display.
38
39 On GNU and Unix systems, you can create additional frames on any
40 available terminal, within a single Emacs session, regardless of
41 whether Emacs was started on a text or graphical terminal. Emacs can
42 display on both graphical and text terminals simultaneously. This
43 comes in handy, for instance, when you connect to the same session
44 from several remote locations. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
45
46 @defun framep object
47 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
48 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
49 kind of display the frame uses:
50
51 @table @code
52 @item t
53 The frame is displayed on a text terminal.
54 @item x
55 The frame is displayed on an X graphical terminal.
56 @item w32
57 The frame is displayed on a MS-Windows graphical terminal.
58 @item ns
59 The frame is displayed on a GNUstep or Macintosh Cocoa graphical
60 terminal.
61 @item pc
62 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
63 @end table
64 @end defun
65
66 @defun frame-terminal &optional frame
67 This function returns the terminal object that displays @var{frame}.
68 If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or unspecified, it defaults to the
69 selected frame.
70 @end defun
71
72 @defun terminal-live-p object
73 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
74 terminal that is live (i.e., not deleted), and @code{nil} otherwise.
75 For live terminals, the return value indicates what kind of frames are
76 displayed on that terminal; the list of possible values is the same as
77 for @code{framep} above.
78 @end defun
79
80 @menu
81 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
82 * Multiple Terminals:: Displaying on several different devices.
83 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
84 * Terminal Parameters:: Parameters common for all frames on terminal.
85 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
86 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
87 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
88 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
89 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
90 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
91 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
92 lowering it makes the others hide it.
93 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
94 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
95 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
96 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
97 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
98 * Pointer Shape:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
99 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
100 * Drag and Drop:: Internals of Drag-and-Drop implementation.
101 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
102 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text terminals.
103 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
104 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
105 @end menu
106
107 @node Creating Frames
108 @section Creating Frames
109
110 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
111
112 @deffn Command make-frame &optional alist
113 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
114 buffer.
115
116 The @var{alist} argument is an alist that specifies frame parameters
117 for the new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}. If you specify the
118 @code{terminal} parameter in @var{alist}, the new frame is created on
119 that terminal. Otherwise, if you specify the @code{window-system}
120 frame parameter in @var{alist}, that determines whether the frame
121 should be displayed on a text terminal or a graphical terminal.
122 @xref{Window Systems}. If neither is specified, the new frame is
123 created in the same terminal as the selected frame.
124
125 Any parameters not mentioned in @var{alist} default to the values in
126 the alist @code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Initial Parameters});
127 parameters not specified there default from the X resources or its
128 equivalent on your operating system (@pxref{X Resources,, X Resources,
129 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). After the frame is created, Emacs
130 applies any parameters listed in @code{frame-inherited-parameters}
131 (see below) and not present in the argument, taking the values from
132 the frame that was selected when @code{make-frame} was called.
133
134 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
135 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
136 On graphical terminals, however, the windowing system may select the
137 new frame for its own reasons.
138 @end deffn
139
140 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
141 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it creates the frame.
142 @end defvar
143
144 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
145 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
146 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
147 frame just created.
148 @end defvar
149
150 @defvar frame-inherited-parameters
151 This variable specifies the list of frame parameters that a newly
152 created frame inherits from the currently selected frame. For each
153 parameter (a symbol) that is an element in the list and is not present
154 in the argument to @code{make-frame}, the function sets the value of
155 that parameter in the created frame to its value in the selected
156 frame.
157 @end defvar
158
159 @node Multiple Terminals
160 @section Multiple Terminals
161 @cindex multiple terminals
162 @cindex multi-tty
163 @cindex multiple X displays
164 @cindex displays, multiple
165
166 Emacs represents each terminal as a @dfn{terminal object} data type
167 (@pxref{Terminal Type}). On GNU and Unix systems, Emacs can use
168 multiple terminals simultaneously in each session. On other systems,
169 it can only use a single terminal. Each terminal object has the
170 following attributes:
171
172 @itemize @bullet
173 @item
174 The name of the device used by the terminal (e.g., @samp{:0.0} or
175 @file{/dev/tty}).
176
177 @item
178 The terminal and keyboard coding systems used on the terminal.
179 @xref{Terminal I/O Encoding}.
180
181 @item
182 The kind of display associated with the terminal. This is the symbol
183 returned by the function @code{terminal-live-p} (i.e., @code{x},
184 @code{t}, @code{w32}, @code{ns}, or @code{pc}). @xref{Frames}.
185
186 @item
187 A list of terminal parameters. @xref{Terminal Parameters}.
188 @end itemize
189
190 There is no primitive for creating terminal objects. Emacs creates
191 them as needed, such as when you call @code{make-frame-on-display}
192 (described below).
193
194 @defun terminal-name &optional terminal
195 This function returns the file name of the device used by
196 @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it
197 defaults to the selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be
198 a frame, meaning that frame's terminal.
199 @end defun
200
201 @defun terminal-list
202 This function returns a list of all live terminal objects.
203 @end defun
204
205 @defun get-device-terminal device
206 This function returns a terminal whose device name is given by
207 @var{device}. If @var{device} is a string, it can be either the file
208 name of a terminal device, or the name of an X display of the form
209 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}}. If @var{device} is a
210 frame, this function returns that frame's terminal; @code{nil} means
211 the selected frame. Finally, if @var{device} is a terminal object
212 that represents a live terminal, that terminal is returned. The
213 function signals an error if its argument is none of the above.
214 @end defun
215
216 @defun delete-terminal &optional terminal force
217 This function deletes all frames on @var{terminal} and frees the
218 resources used by it. It runs the abnormal hook
219 @code{delete-terminal-functions}, passing @var{terminal} as the
220 argument to each function.
221
222 If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the
223 selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be a frame,
224 meaning that frame's terminal.
225
226 Normally, this function signals an error if you attempt to delete the
227 sole active terminal, but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, you are
228 allowed to do so. Emacs automatically calls this function when the
229 last frame on a terminal is deleted (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
230 @end defun
231
232 @defvar delete-terminal-functions
233 An abnormal hook run by @code{delete-terminal}. Each function
234 receives one argument, the @var{terminal} argument passed to
235 @code{delete-terminal}. Due to technical details, the functions may
236 be called either just before the terminal is deleted, or just
237 afterwards.
238 @end defvar
239
240 @cindex terminal-local variables
241 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
242 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
243 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
244 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
245 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
246 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can
247 never be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}).
248
249 On GNU and Unix systems, each X display is a separate graphical
250 terminal. When Emacs is started from within the X window system, it
251 uses the X display specified by the @env{DISPLAY} environment
252 variable, or by the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial Options,,,
253 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Emacs can connect to other X displays
254 via the command @code{make-frame-on-display}. Each X display has its
255 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows; however, only one
256 of those frames is ``@emph{the} selected frame'' at any given moment
257 (@pxref{Input Focus}). Emacs can even connect to other text
258 terminals, by interacting with the @command{emacsclient} program.
259 @xref{Emacs Server,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
260
261 A single X server can handle more than one display. Each X display
262 has a three-part name, @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}}.
263 The first two parts, @var{host} and @var{server}, identify the X
264 server; the third part, @var{screen}, identifies a screen number on
265 that X server. When you use two or more screens belonging to one
266 server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their names that they share a
267 single keyboard.
268
269 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
270 This function creates and returns a new frame on @var{display}, taking
271 the other frame parameters from the alist @var{parameters}.
272 @var{display} should be the name of an X display (a string).
273
274 Before creating the frame, this function ensures that Emacs is ``set
275 up'' to display graphics. For instance, if Emacs has not processed X
276 resources (e.g., if it was started on a text terminal), it does so at
277 this time. In all other respects, this function behaves like
278 @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating Frames}).
279 @end deffn
280
281 @defun x-display-list
282 This function returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has
283 a connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one
284 is a display name.
285 @end defun
286
287 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
288 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display},
289 without creating a frame on that display. Normally, Emacs Lisp
290 programs need not call this function, as @code{make-frame-on-display}
291 calls it automatically. The only reason for calling it is to check
292 whether communication can be established with a given X display.
293
294 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a string
295 of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
296 @file{.Xresources} file. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The
297 GNU Emacs Manual}. These values apply to all Emacs frames created on
298 this display, overriding the resource values recorded in the X server.
299 Here's an example of what this string might look like:
300
301 @example
302 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
303 @end example
304
305 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
306 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
307 @end defun
308
309 @defun x-close-connection display
310 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
311 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open
312 on that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
313 @end defun
314
315 @cindex multi-monitor
316 On some ``multi-monitor'' setups, a single X display outputs to more
317 than one physical monitor. @code{display-monitor-attributes-list} and
318 @code{frame-monitor-attributes} can be used to obtain information
319 about each physical monitor on multi-monitor setups.
320
321 @defun display-monitor-attributes-list &optional display
322 This function returns a list of physical monitor attributes on
323 @var{display}. Each element of the list is an association list,
324 representing the attributes of each physical monitor. The first
325 element corresponds to the primary monitor.
326
327 Attributes for a physical monitor are:
328
329 @table @samp
330 @item geometry
331 Position and size in pixels in the form of @samp{(X Y WIDTH HEIGHT)}
332
333 @item workarea
334 Position and size of the workarea in pixels in the form of @samp{(X Y
335 WIDTH HEIGHT)}
336
337 @item mm-size
338 Width and height in millimeters in the form of @samp{(WIDTH HEIGHT)}
339
340 @item frames
341 List of frames dominated by the physical monitor
342
343 @item name
344 Name of the physical monitor as a string
345 @end table
346
347 where X, Y, WIDTH, and HEIGHT are integers. @samp{name} is optional.
348
349 A frame is dominated by a physical monitor when either the
350 largest area of the frame resides in the monitor, or the monitor
351 is the closest to the frame if the frame does not intersect any
352 physical monitors. Every non-tip frame (including invisible one)
353 in a graphical display is dominated by exactly one physical
354 monitor at a time, though it can span multiple (or no) physical
355 monitors.
356
357 @var{display} defaults to the selected frame's display.
358 @end defun
359
360 @defun frame-monitor-attributes &optional frame
361 This function returns the attributes of the physical monitor
362 dominating @var{frame}, which defaults to the selected frame.
363
364 A frame is dominated by a physical monitor when either the
365 largest area of the frame resides in the monitor, or the monitor
366 is the closest to the frame if the frame does not intersect any
367 physical monitors.
368 @end defun
369
370 @node Frame Parameters
371 @section Frame Parameters
372 @cindex frame parameters
373
374 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
375 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
376 uses.
377
378 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of graphical displays.
379 Most frame parameters have no effect when applied to a frame on a text
380 terminal; only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name},
381 @code{title}, @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and
382 @code{buffer-predicate} parameters do something special. If the
383 terminal supports colors, the parameters @code{foreground-color},
384 @code{background-color}, @code{background-mode} and
385 @code{display-type} are also meaningful. If the terminal supports
386 frame transparency, the parameter @code{alpha} is also meaningful.
387
388 @menu
389 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
390 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
391 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
392 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
393 * Geometry:: Parsing geometry specifications.
394 @end menu
395
396 @node Parameter Access
397 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
398
399 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
400 frame.
401
402 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
403 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
404 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
405 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
406 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
407 @end defun
408
409 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
410 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
411 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
412 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
413 @end defun
414
415 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
416 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
417 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
418 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
419 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
420 doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
421 frame.
422 @end defun
423
424 @defun set-frame-parameter frame parm value
425 This function sets the frame parameter @var{parm} to the specified
426 @var{value}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the
427 selected frame.
428 @end defun
429
430 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
431 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
432 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
433 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
434 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
435 @end defun
436
437 @node Initial Parameters
438 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
439
440 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame by
441 setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init
442 File}).
443
444 @defopt initial-frame-alist
445 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
446 creating the initial frame. You can set this variable to specify the
447 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
448 Each element has the form:
449
450 @example
451 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
452 @end example
453
454 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
455 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
456 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
457 created initial frame.
458
459 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
460 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
461 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
462 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
463 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
464
465 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
466 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
467 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
468 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
469 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
470 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
471 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
472 @end defopt
473
474 @cindex minibuffer-only frame
475 If these parameters include @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, that indicates
476 that the initial frame should have no minibuffer. In this case, Emacs
477 creates a separate @dfn{minibuffer-only frame} as well.
478
479 @defopt minibuffer-frame-alist
480 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
481 creating an initial minibuffer-only frame (i.e., the minibuffer-only
482 frame that Emacs creates if @code{initial-frame-alist} specifies a
483 frame with no minibuffer).
484 @end defopt
485
486 @defopt default-frame-alist
487 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
488 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
489 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
490 in many cases.
491
492 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames. Furthermore,
493 functions that display a buffer in a separate frame may override the
494 default parameters by supplying their own parameters.
495 @end defopt
496
497 If you invoke Emacs with command-line options that specify frame
498 appearance, those options take effect by adding elements to either
499 @code{initial-frame-alist} or @code{default-frame-alist}. Options
500 which affect just the initial frame, such as @samp{--geometry} and
501 @samp{--maximized}, add to @code{initial-frame-alist}; the others add
502 to @code{default-frame-alist}. @pxref{Emacs Invocation,, Command Line
503 Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
504
505 @node Window Frame Parameters
506 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
507 @cindex frame parameters for windowed displays
508
509 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism
510 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
511 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
512 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
513 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
514 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful only for frames on
515 text terminals.
516
517 @menu
518 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
519 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
520 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
521 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
522 enabling or disabling some parts.
523 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
524 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
525 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
526 * Font and Color Parameters:: Fonts and colors for the frame text.
527 @end menu
528
529 @node Basic Parameters
530 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
531
532 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
533 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
534
535 @table @code
536 @vindex display, a frame parameter
537 @item display
538 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
539 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
540 @env{DISPLAY} environment variable.
541
542 @vindex display-type, a frame parameter
543 @item display-type
544 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
545 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
546 @code{mono}.
547
548 @vindex title, a frame parameter
549 @item title
550 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window
551 system's title bar at the top of the frame, and also in the mode line
552 of windows in that frame if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses
553 @samp{%F} (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when
554 Emacs is not using a window system, and can only display one frame at
555 a time. @xref{Frame Titles}.
556
557 @vindex name, a frame parameter
558 @item name
559 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
560 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
561 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
562 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
563
564 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
565 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
566 looking up X resources for the frame.
567
568 @item explicit-name
569 If the frame name was specified explicitly when the frame was created,
570 this parameter will be that name. If the frame wasn't explicitly
571 named, this parameter will be @code{nil}.
572 @end table
573
574 @node Position Parameters
575 @subsubsection Position Parameters
576 @cindex window position on display
577
578 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
579 text terminals they count characters or lines instead.
580
581 @table @code
582 @vindex left, a frame parameter
583 @item left
584 The position, in pixels, of the left (or right) edge of the frame with
585 respect to the left (or right) edge of the screen. The value may be:
586
587 @table @asis
588 @item an integer
589 A positive integer relates the left edge of the frame to the left edge
590 of the screen. A negative integer relates the right frame edge to the
591 right screen edge.
592
593 @item @code{(+ @var{pos})}
594 This specifies the position of the left frame edge relative to the left
595 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
596 negative value specifies a position outside the screen.
597
598 @item @code{(- @var{pos})}
599 This specifies the position of the right frame edge relative to the right
600 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
601 negative value specifies a position outside the screen.
602 @end table
603
604 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
605 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
606 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
607
608 @vindex top, a frame parameter
609 @item top
610 The screen position of the top (or bottom) edge, in pixels, with respect
611 to the top (or bottom) edge of the screen. It works just like
612 @code{left}, except vertically instead of horizontally.
613
614 @vindex icon-left, a frame parameter
615 @item icon-left
616 The screen position of the left edge of the frame's icon, in pixels,
617 counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect when the
618 frame is iconified, if the window manager supports this feature. If
619 you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify a
620 value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa.
621
622 @vindex icon-top, a frame parameter
623 @item icon-top
624 The screen position of the top edge of the frame's icon, in pixels,
625 counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect when the
626 frame is iconified, if the window manager supports this feature.
627
628 @vindex user-position, a frame parameter
629 @item user-position
630 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
631 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
632 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
633 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
634 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
635
636 @cindex window positions and window managers
637 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
638 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
639 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
640 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
641 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
642 ignore them.
643
644 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
645 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
646 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
647 @code{nil}.
648 @end table
649
650 @node Size Parameters
651 @subsubsection Size Parameters
652 @cindex window size on display
653
654 Frame parameters specify frame sizes in character units. On
655 graphical displays, the @code{default} face determines the actual
656 pixel sizes of these character units (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
657
658 @table @code
659 @vindex height, a frame parameter
660 @item height
661 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
662 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
663
664 @vindex width, a frame parameter
665 @item width
666 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the width in
667 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
668
669 @vindex user-size, a frame parameter
670 @item user-size
671 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
672 the @code{user-position} parameter (@pxref{Position Parameters,
673 user-position}) does for the position parameters @code{top} and
674 @code{left}.
675
676 @cindex full-screen frames
677 @vindex fullscreen, a frame parameter
678 @item fullscreen
679 Specify that width, height or both shall be maximized. The value
680 @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be as wide as possible.
681 The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be as tall as
682 possible. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the width and
683 the height shall be set to the size of the screen. The value
684 @code{maximized} specifies that the frame shall be maximized. The
685 difference between @code{maximized} and @code{fullboth} is that the
686 former can still be resized by dragging window manager decorations
687 with the mouse, while the latter really covers the whole screen and
688 does not allow resizing by mouse dragging.
689 @end table
690
691 @node Layout Parameters
692 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
693 @cindex layout parameters of frames
694 @cindex frame layout parameters
695
696 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
697 frame, or control their sizes.
698
699 @table @code
700 @vindex border-width, a frame parameter
701 @item border-width
702 The width in pixels of the frame's border.
703
704 @vindex internal-border-width, a frame parameter
705 @item internal-border-width
706 The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
707
708 @vindex vertical-scroll-bars, a frame parameter
709 @item vertical-scroll-bars
710 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
711 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
712 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
713
714 @ignore
715 @vindex horizontal-scroll-bars, a frame parameter
716 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
717 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
718 (non-@code{nil} means yes). Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
719 implemented.
720 @end ignore
721
722 @vindex scroll-bar-width, a frame parameter
723 @item scroll-bar-width
724 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
725 use the default width.
726
727 @vindex left-fringe, a frame parameter
728 @vindex right-fringe, a frame parameter
729 @item left-fringe
730 @itemx right-fringe
731 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
732 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
733 removes the corresponding fringe.
734
735 When you use @code{frame-parameter} to query the value of either of
736 these two frame parameters, the return value is always an integer.
737 When using @code{set-frame-parameter}, passing a @code{nil} value
738 imposes an actual default value of 8 pixels.
739
740 The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
741 columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame, as
742 reported by @code{frame-parameter}, may be larger than what you
743 specify. Any extra width is distributed evenly between the left and
744 right fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a
745 precise width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both
746 widths are negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
747
748 @vindex right-divider-width, a frame parameter
749 @item right-divider-width
750 The width (thickness) reserved for the right divider (@pxref{Window
751 Dividers}) of any window on the frame, in pixels. A value of zero means
752 to not draw right dividers.
753
754 @vindex bottom-divider-width, a frame parameter
755 @item bottom-divider-width
756 The width (thickness) reserved for the bottom divider (@pxref{Window
757 Dividers}) of any window on the frame, in pixels. A value of zero means
758 to not draw bottom dividers.
759
760 @vindex menu-bar-lines frame parameter
761 @item menu-bar-lines
762 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
763 bar. The default is 1 if Menu Bar mode is enabled, and 0 otherwise.
764 @xref{Menu Bars,,,emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
765
766 @vindex tool-bar-lines frame parameter
767 @item tool-bar-lines
768 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. The default is 1 if Tool
769 Bar mode is enabled, and 0 otherwise. @xref{Tool Bars,,,emacs, The
770 GNU Emacs Manual}.
771
772 @vindex tool-bar-position frame parameter
773 @item tool-bar-position
774 The position of the tool bar. Currently only for the GTK tool bar.
775 Value can be one of @code{top}, @code{bottom} @code{left}, @code{right}.
776 The default is @code{top}.
777
778 @vindex line-spacing, a frame parameter
779 @item line-spacing
780 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
781 integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
782 @end table
783
784 @node Buffer Parameters
785 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
786
787 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
788 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
789
790 @table @code
791 @vindex minibuffer, a frame parameter
792 @item minibuffer
793 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
794 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
795 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other
796 frame), the frame uses that minibuffer.
797
798 This frame parameter takes effect when the frame is created, and can
799 not be changed afterwards.
800
801 @vindex buffer-predicate, a frame parameter
802 @item buffer-predicate
803 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
804 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
805 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
806 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
807 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
808 considers that buffer.
809
810 @vindex buffer-list, a frame parameter
811 @item buffer-list
812 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame, ordered
813 most-recently-selected first.
814
815 @vindex unsplittable, a frame parameter
816 @item unsplittable
817 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
818 @end table
819
820 @node Management Parameters
821 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
822 @cindex window manager interaction, and frame parameters
823
824 The following frame parameters control various aspects of the
825 frame's interaction with the window manager. They have no effect on
826 text terminals.
827
828 @table @code
829 @vindex visibility, a frame parameter
830 @item visibility
831 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
832 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
833 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
834
835 @vindex auto-raise, a frame parameter
836 @item auto-raise
837 If non-@code{nil}, Emacs automatically raises the frame when it is
838 selected. Some window managers do not allow this.
839
840 @vindex auto-lower, a frame parameter
841 @item auto-lower
842 If non-@code{nil}, Emacs automatically lowers the frame when it is
843 deselected. Some window managers do not allow this.
844
845 @vindex icon-type, a frame parameter
846 @item icon-type
847 The type of icon to use for this frame. If the value is a string,
848 that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use; @code{nil} specifies
849 no icon (in which case the window manager decides what to show); any
850 other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default Emacs icon.
851
852 @vindex icon-name, a frame parameter
853 @item icon-name
854 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
855 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
856
857 @vindex window-id, a frame parameter
858 @item window-id
859 The ID number which the graphical display uses for this frame. Emacs
860 assigns this parameter when the frame is created; changing the
861 parameter has no effect on the actual ID number.
862
863 @vindex outer-window-id, a frame parameter
864 @item outer-window-id
865 The ID number of the outermost window-system window in which the frame
866 exists. As with @code{window-id}, changing this parameter has no
867 actual effect.
868
869 @vindex wait-for-wm, a frame parameter
870 @item wait-for-wm
871 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
872 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
873 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
874 prevent hanging with those window managers.
875
876 @vindex sticky, a frame parameter
877 @item sticky
878 If non-@code{nil}, the frame is visible on all virtual desktops on systems
879 with virtual desktops.
880
881 @ignore
882 @vindex parent-id, a frame parameter
883 @item parent-id
884 @c ??? Not yet working.
885 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
886 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
887 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
888 it and see if it works.)
889 @end ignore
890 @end table
891
892 @node Cursor Parameters
893 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
894 @cindex cursor, and frame parameters
895
896 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
897
898 @table @code
899 @vindex cursor-type, a frame parameter
900 @item cursor-type
901 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
902
903 @table @code
904 @item box
905 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
906 @item hollow
907 Display a hollow box.
908 @item nil
909 Don't display a cursor.
910 @item bar
911 Display a vertical bar between characters.
912 @item (bar . @var{width})
913 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
914 @item hbar
915 Display a horizontal bar.
916 @item (hbar . @var{height})
917 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
918 @end table
919 @end table
920
921 @vindex cursor-type
922 The @code{cursor-type} frame parameter may be overridden by the
923 variables @code{cursor-type} and
924 @code{cursor-in-non-selected-windows}:
925
926 @defvar cursor-type
927 This buffer-local variable controls how the cursor looks in a selected
928 window showing the buffer. If its value is @code{t}, that means to
929 use the cursor specified by the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
930 Otherwise, the value should be one of the cursor types listed above,
931 and it overrides the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
932 @end defvar
933
934 @defopt cursor-in-non-selected-windows
935 This buffer-local variable controls how the cursor looks in a window
936 that is not selected. It supports the same values as the
937 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter; also, @code{nil} means don't
938 display a cursor in nonselected windows, and @code{t} (the default)
939 means use a standard modification of the usual cursor type (solid box
940 becomes hollow box, and bar becomes a narrower bar).
941 @end defopt
942
943 @defopt blink-cursor-alist
944 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
945 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
946 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
947 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
948 when it blinks ``off''. Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
949 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
950
951 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
952 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
953 variable do not take effect immediately, only when you specify the
954 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
955 @end defopt
956
957 @node Font and Color Parameters
958 @subsubsection Font and Color Parameters
959 @cindex font and color, frame parameters
960
961 These frame parameters control the use of fonts and colors.
962
963 @table @code
964 @vindex font-backend, a frame parameter
965 @item font-backend
966 A list of symbols, specifying the @dfn{font backends} to use for
967 drawing fonts in the frame, in order of priority. On X, there are
968 currently two available font backends: @code{x} (the X core font
969 driver) and @code{xft} (the Xft font driver). On Windows, there are
970 currently two available font backends: @code{gdi} and
971 @code{uniscribe} (@pxref{Windows Fonts,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
972 Manual}). On other systems, there is only one available font backend,
973 so it does not make sense to modify this frame parameter.
974
975 @vindex background-mode, a frame parameter
976 @item background-mode
977 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
978 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
979
980 @vindex tty-color-mode, a frame parameter
981 @item tty-color-mode
982 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
983 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
984 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
985 specifies the color mode to use on a text terminal. The value can be
986 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
987 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
988 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
989 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
990 off color support.
991
992 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
993 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
994 used instead.
995
996 @vindex screen-gamma, a frame parameter
997 @item screen-gamma
998 @cindex gamma correction
999 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
1000 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
1001 your display.
1002
1003 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
1004 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
1005 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
1006 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
1007 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
1008 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
1009 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
1010
1011 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
1012 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
1013 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
1014 results for LCD color displays.
1015
1016 @vindex alpha, a frame parameter
1017 @item alpha
1018 @cindex opacity, frame
1019 @cindex transparency, frame
1020 @vindex frame-alpha-lower-limit
1021 This parameter specifies the opacity of the frame, on graphical
1022 displays that support variable opacity. It should be an integer
1023 between 0 and 100, where 0 means completely transparent and 100 means
1024 completely opaque. It can also have a @code{nil} value, which tells
1025 Emacs not to set the frame opacity (leaving it to the window manager).
1026
1027 To prevent the frame from disappearing completely from view, the
1028 variable @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} defines a lower opacity limit.
1029 If the value of the frame parameter is less than the value of this
1030 variable, Emacs uses the latter. By default,
1031 @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} is 20.
1032
1033 The @code{alpha} frame parameter can also be a cons cell
1034 @code{(@samp{active} . @samp{inactive})}, where @samp{active} is the
1035 opacity of the frame when it is selected, and @samp{inactive} is the
1036 opacity when it is not selected.
1037 @end table
1038
1039 The following frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are
1040 automatically equivalent to particular face attributes of particular
1041 faces (@pxref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}):
1042
1043 @table @code
1044 @vindex font, a frame parameter
1045 @item font
1046 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
1047 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
1048 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
1049 attribute of the @code{default} face.
1050
1051 @vindex foreground-color, a frame parameter
1052 @item foreground-color
1053 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
1054 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
1055
1056 @vindex background-color, a frame parameter
1057 @item background-color
1058 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
1059 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
1060
1061 @vindex mouse-color, a frame parameter
1062 @item mouse-color
1063 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
1064 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
1065
1066 @vindex cursor-color, a frame parameter
1067 @item cursor-color
1068 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
1069 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
1070
1071 @vindex border-color, a frame parameter
1072 @item border-color
1073 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
1074 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
1075
1076 @vindex scroll-bar-foreground, a frame parameter
1077 @item scroll-bar-foreground
1078 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
1079 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
1080 @code{scroll-bar} face.
1081
1082 @vindex scroll-bar-background, a frame parameter
1083 @item scroll-bar-background
1084 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
1085 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
1086 @code{scroll-bar} face.
1087 @end table
1088
1089 @node Size and Position
1090 @subsection Frame Size And Position
1091 @cindex size of frame
1092 @cindex screen size
1093 @cindex frame size
1094 @cindex resize frame
1095
1096 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
1097 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
1098 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
1099 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
1100
1101 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
1102 (For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
1103 see @ref{Input Focus}.)
1104
1105 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
1106 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
1107 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
1108 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
1109
1110 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
1111 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
1112 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
1113 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
1114 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
1115 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
1116 @end defun
1117
1118 @defun frame-height &optional frame
1119 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
1120 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
1121 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
1122 selected frame.
1123 @end defun
1124
1125 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
1126 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
1127 These functions return the height and width of the main display area
1128 of @var{frame}, measured in pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame},
1129 they use the selected frame. For a text terminal, the results are in
1130 characters rather than pixels.
1131
1132 These values include the internal borders, and windows' scroll bars
1133 and fringes (which belong to individual windows, not to the frame
1134 itself). The exact value of the heights depends on the window-system
1135 and toolkit in use. With GTK+, the height does not include any tool
1136 bar or menu bar. With the Motif or Lucid toolkits, it includes the
1137 tool bar but not the menu bar. In a graphical version with no
1138 toolkit, it includes both the tool bar and menu bar. For a text
1139 terminal, the result includes the menu bar.
1140 @end defun
1141
1142 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
1143 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
1144 These functions return the height and width of a character in
1145 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
1146 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
1147 frame.
1148 @end defun
1149
1150 @defopt frame-resize-pixelwise
1151 If this option is @code{nil}, a frame's size is usually rounded to a
1152 multiple of the current values of that frame's @code{frame-char-height}
1153 and @code{frame-char-width}. If this is non-@code{nil}, no rounding
1154 occurs, hence frame sizes can increase/decrease by one pixel.
1155
1156 Setting this causes the next resize operation to pass the corresponding
1157 size hints to the window manager. This means that this variable should
1158 be set only in a user's initial file; applications should never bind it
1159 temporarily.
1160
1161 The precise semantics of a value of @code{nil} for this option depends
1162 on the toolkit used: Dragging the frame border with the mouse is usually
1163 always done character-wise. Calling @code{set-frame-size} (see below)
1164 with arguments that do not specify the frame size as an integer multiple
1165 of its character size may be, however, either ignored or cause a
1166 rounding (GTK+, Windows) or get accepted (Lucid, Motif). This also
1167 means that with some toolkits and a display whose size is not an
1168 integral multiple of your default font, you may have to set this to
1169 non-@code{nil} in order to fully maximize a frame.
1170 @end defopt
1171
1172 @defun set-frame-size frame width height pixelwise
1173 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
1174 @var{width} and @var{height} specify the new width in columns and the
1175 new height in lines.
1176
1177 The optional argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means to measure
1178 the new width and height in units of pixels instead. Note that if
1179 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
1180 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame size
1181 to a multiple of its character size.
1182 @end defun
1183
1184 @defun set-frame-height frame height &optional pretend pixelwise
1185 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{height} lines. The
1186 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
1187 fit.
1188
1189 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{height}
1190 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
1191 actual height of the frame. This is only useful on text terminals.
1192 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
1193 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
1194 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
1195 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
1196 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on
1197 text terminals.
1198
1199 The optional fourth argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means that
1200 @var{frame} should be @var{height} pixels high. Note that if
1201 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
1202 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame
1203 height to a multiple of its character height.
1204 @end defun
1205
1206 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend pixelwise
1207 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
1208 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
1209 @code{set-frame-height}.
1210
1211 The optional fourth argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means that
1212 @var{frame} should be @var{width} pixels wide. Note that if
1213 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
1214 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame width
1215 to a multiple of its character width.
1216 @end defun
1217
1218 @c FIXME? Belongs more in Emacs manual than here?
1219 @c But, e.g., fit-window-to-buffer is in this manual.
1220 If you have a frame that displays only one window, you can fit that
1221 frame to its buffer using the command @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}.
1222
1223 @deffn Command fit-frame-to-buffer &optional frame max-height min-height max-width min-width only
1224 This command adjusts the size of @var{frame} to display the contents of
1225 its buffer exactly. @var{frame} can be any live frame and defaults to
1226 the selected one. Fitting is done only if @var{frame}'s root window is
1227 live. The arguments @var{max-height}, @var{min-height}, @var{max-width}
1228 and @var{min-width} specify bounds on the new total size of
1229 @var{frame}'s root window. @var{min-height} and @var{min-width} default
1230 to the values of @code{window-min-height} and @code{window-min-width}
1231 respectively.
1232
1233 If the optional argument @var{only} is @code{vertically}, this function
1234 may resize the frame vertically only. If @var{only} is
1235 @code{horizontally}, it may resize the frame horizontally only.
1236 @end deffn
1237
1238 The behavior of @code{fit-frame-to-buffer} can be controlled with the
1239 help of the two options listed next.
1240
1241 @defopt fit-frame-to-buffer-margins
1242 This option can be used to specify margins around frames to be fit by
1243 @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}. Such margins can be useful to avoid, for
1244 example, that such frames overlap the taskbar.
1245
1246 It specifies the numbers of pixels to be left free on the left, above,
1247 the right, and below a frame that shall be fit. The default specifies
1248 @code{nil} for each which means to use no margins. The value specified
1249 here can be overridden for a specific frame by that frame's
1250 @code{fit-frame-to-buffer-margins} parameter, if present.
1251 @end defopt
1252
1253 @defopt fit-frame-to-buffer-sizes
1254 This option specifies size boundaries for @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}.
1255 It specifies the total maximum and minimum lines and maximum and minimum
1256 columns of the root window of any frame that shall be fit to its buffer.
1257 If any of these values is non-@code{nil}, it overrides the corresponding
1258 argument of @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}.
1259 @end defopt
1260
1261
1262 @node Geometry
1263 @subsection Geometry
1264
1265 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
1266 specification:
1267
1268 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
1269 @cindex geometry specification
1270 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
1271 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
1272 @code{make-frame}.
1273
1274 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
1275 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
1276 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
1277 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
1278
1279 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
1280 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
1281 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
1282 instead. The @var{value} possibilities for the position parameters are:
1283 an integer, a list @code{(+ @var{pos})}, or a list @code{(- @var{pos})};
1284 as previously described (@pxref{Position Parameters}).
1285
1286 Here is an example:
1287
1288 @example
1289 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
1290 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
1291 (top - 0) (left . 0))
1292 @end example
1293 @end defun
1294
1295 @node Terminal Parameters
1296 @section Terminal Parameters
1297 @cindex terminal parameters
1298
1299 Each terminal has a list of associated parameters. These
1300 @dfn{terminal parameters} are mostly a convenient way of storage for
1301 terminal-local variables, but some terminal parameters have a special
1302 meaning.
1303
1304 This section describes functions to read and change the parameter values
1305 of a terminal. They all accept as their argument either a terminal or
1306 a frame; the latter means use that frame's terminal. An argument of
1307 @code{nil} means the selected frame's terminal.
1308
1309 @defun terminal-parameters &optional terminal
1310 This function returns an alist listing all the parameters of
1311 @var{terminal} and their values.
1312 @end defun
1313
1314 @defun terminal-parameter terminal parameter
1315 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
1316 symbol) of @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} has no setting for
1317 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
1318 @end defun
1319
1320 @defun set-terminal-parameter terminal parameter value
1321 This function sets the parameter @var{parm} of @var{terminal} to the
1322 specified @var{value}, and returns the previous value of that
1323 parameter.
1324 @end defun
1325
1326 Here's a list of a few terminal parameters that have a special
1327 meaning:
1328
1329 @table @code
1330 @item background-mode
1331 The classification of the terminal's background color, either
1332 @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1333 @item normal-erase-is-backspace
1334 Value is either 1 or 0, depending on whether
1335 @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode} is turned on or off on this
1336 terminal. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
1337 @item terminal-initted
1338 After the terminal is initialized, this is set to the
1339 terminal-specific initialization function.
1340 @end table
1341
1342 @node Frame Titles
1343 @section Frame Titles
1344 @cindex frame title
1345
1346 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
1347 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
1348 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
1349 frame property.
1350
1351 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
1352 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
1353 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
1354 frame is redisplayed.
1355
1356 @defvar frame-title-format
1357 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
1358 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
1359 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
1360 @samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
1361 Data}.
1362 @end defvar
1363
1364 @defvar icon-title-format
1365 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
1366 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
1367 appears in the icon itself.
1368 @end defvar
1369
1370 @defvar multiple-frames
1371 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
1372 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
1373 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
1374 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
1375 only when there is more than one frame.
1376
1377 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
1378 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
1379 @code{icon-title-format}.
1380 @end defvar
1381
1382 @node Deleting Frames
1383 @section Deleting Frames
1384 @cindex deleting frames
1385
1386 A @dfn{live frame} is one that has not been deleted. When a frame
1387 is deleted, it is removed from its terminal display, although it may
1388 continue to exist as a Lisp object until there are no more references
1389 to it.
1390
1391 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
1392 @vindex delete-frame-functions
1393 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
1394 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
1395 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
1396 the selected frame.
1397
1398 A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
1399 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
1400 but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
1401 @end deffn
1402
1403 @defun frame-live-p frame
1404 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
1405 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
1406 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
1407 @end defun
1408
1409 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
1410 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
1411 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
1412 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
1413 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
1414
1415 @node Finding All Frames
1416 @section Finding All Frames
1417 @cindex frames, scanning all
1418
1419 @defun frame-list
1420 This function returns a list of all the live frames, i.e., those that
1421 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
1422 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get
1423 is newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
1424 internals of Emacs.
1425 @end defun
1426
1427 @defun visible-frame-list
1428 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
1429 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. Frames on text terminals always count as
1430 ``visible'', even though only the selected one is actually displayed.
1431 @end defun
1432
1433 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
1434 This function lets you cycle conveniently through all the frames on
1435 the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It returns the
1436 ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If @var{frame} is
1437 omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame (@pxref{Input
1438 Focus}).
1439
1440 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
1441
1442 @table @asis
1443 @item @code{nil}
1444 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
1445 @item @code{visible}
1446 Consider all visible frames.
1447 @item 0
1448 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1449 @item a window
1450 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1451 minibuffer.
1452 @item anything else
1453 Consider all frames.
1454 @end table
1455 @end defun
1456
1457 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1458 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1459 direction.
1460 @end defun
1461
1462 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1463 Window Ordering}.
1464
1465 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1466 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1467
1468 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1469 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1470 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1471 minibuffer-window}).
1472
1473 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
1474 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
1475 frame, you can explicitly specify the minibuffer window to use (in some
1476 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
1477 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
1478 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
1479
1480 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1481 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1482 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1483
1484 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1485 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1486 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1487 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1488 Terminals}.
1489 @end defvar
1490
1491 @node Input Focus
1492 @section Input Focus
1493 @cindex input focus
1494 @c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame, same for selected-window.
1495
1496 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1497 window always resides on the selected frame.
1498
1499 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1500 Terminals}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one
1501 of these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs
1502 to the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when
1503 Emacs runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected
1504 frame is the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single
1505 command at any given time, it needs to consider only one selected
1506 frame at a time; this frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame}
1507 in this manual. The display on which the selected frame is shown is
1508 the @dfn{selected frame's display}.
1509
1510 @defun selected-frame
1511 This function returns the selected frame.
1512 @end defun
1513
1514 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1515 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1516 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1517 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1518 explicitly switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1519 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1520
1521 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1522 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1523 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1524 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1525
1526 When using a text terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a time
1527 on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1528 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1529 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame}. Each
1530 frame on a text terminal has a number which appears in the mode line
1531 before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode Line Variables}).
1532
1533 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame &optional norecord
1534 This function selects @var{frame}, raises it (should it happen to be
1535 obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X server's focus.
1536 On a text terminal, the next redisplay displays the new frame on the
1537 entire terminal screen. The optional argument @var{norecord} has the
1538 same meaning as for @code{select-frame} (see below). The return value
1539 of this function is not significant.
1540 @end defun
1541
1542 @deffn Command select-frame frame &optional norecord
1543 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1544 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1545 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1546 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1547 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1548 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1549 have the window system's input focus.)
1550
1551 The specified @var{frame} becomes the selected frame, and its terminal
1552 becomes the selected terminal. This function then calls
1553 @code{select-window} as a subroutine, passing the window selected
1554 within @var{frame} as its first argument and @var{norecord} as its
1555 second argument (hence, if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, this
1556 avoids changing the order of recently selected windows nor the buffer
1557 list). @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1558
1559 This function returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has
1560 been deleted.
1561
1562 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that
1563 could switch to a different terminal without switching back when
1564 you're done.
1565 @end deffn
1566
1567 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1568 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1569 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1570 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1571 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1572
1573 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1574 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1575
1576 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1577 Don't call it for any other reason.
1578 @end deffn
1579
1580 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1581 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1582 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1583 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1584 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1585 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1586
1587 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1588 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1589 events.
1590
1591 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1592 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1593 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1594 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1595 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1596
1597 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1598 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1599 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1600 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1601 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1602
1603 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1604 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1605 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1606
1607 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1608 change it.
1609 @end defun
1610
1611 @defvar focus-in-hook
1612 This is a normal hook run when an Emacs frame gains input focus.
1613 @end defvar
1614
1615 @defvar focus-out-hook
1616 This is a normal hook run when an Emacs frame loses input focus.
1617 @end defvar
1618
1619 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1620 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1621 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1622 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1623 position consistent with the new selected frame.
1624 @end defopt
1625
1626 @node Visibility of Frames
1627 @section Visibility of Frames
1628 @cindex visible frame
1629 @cindex invisible frame
1630 @cindex iconified frame
1631 @cindex minimized frame
1632 @cindex frame visibility
1633
1634 A frame on a graphical display may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible},
1635 or @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, its contents are displayed in
1636 the usual manner. If it is iconified, its contents are not displayed,
1637 but there is a little icon somewhere to bring the frame back into view
1638 (some window managers refer to this state as @dfn{minimized} rather
1639 than @dfn{iconified}, but from Emacs' point of view they are the same
1640 thing). If a frame is invisible, it is not displayed at all.
1641
1642 Visibility is meaningless on text terminals, since only the selected
1643 one is actually displayed in any case.
1644
1645 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1646 This function returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The
1647 value is @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is
1648 invisible, and @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1649
1650 On a text terminal, all frames are considered ``visible'' for the
1651 purposes of this function, even though only one frame is displayed.
1652 @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1653 @end defun
1654
1655 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1656 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1657 iconifies the selected frame.
1658 @end deffn
1659
1660 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1661 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
1662 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
1663 the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
1664 (@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
1665 @end deffn
1666
1667 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1668 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1669 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1670
1671 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1672 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1673 @end deffn
1674
1675 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1676 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1677 Parameters}. The user can also iconify and deiconify frames with the
1678 window manager. This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert
1679 any control, but Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep
1680 track of such changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1681
1682 @node Raising and Lowering
1683 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1684
1685 @cindex raising a frame
1686 @cindex lowering a frame
1687 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor
1688 is the idea that system-level windows (e.g., Emacs frames) are
1689 stacked in a notional third dimension perpendicular to the screen
1690 surface. Where two overlap, the one higher up covers the one
1691 underneath. You can @dfn{raise} or @dfn{lower} a frame using the
1692 functions @code{raise-frame} and @code{lower-frame}.
1693
1694 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1695 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1696 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1697 @end deffn
1698
1699 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1700 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1701 @end deffn
1702
1703 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1704 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1705 that the minibuffer window is in.
1706 @end defopt
1707
1708 On window systems, you can also enable auto-raising (on frame
1709 selection) or auto-lowering (on frame deselection) using frame
1710 parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1711
1712 @cindex top frame
1713 The concept of raising and lowering frames also applies to text
1714 terminal frames. On each text terminal, only the top frame is
1715 displayed at any one time.
1716
1717 @defun tty-top-frame terminal
1718 This function returns the top frame on @var{terminal}. @var{terminal}
1719 should be a terminal object, a frame (meaning that frame's terminal),
1720 or @code{nil} (meaning the selected frame's terminal). If it does not
1721 refer to a text terminal, the return value is @code{nil}.
1722 @end defun
1723
1724 @node Frame Configurations
1725 @section Frame Configurations
1726 @cindex frame configuration
1727
1728 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1729 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1730 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1731
1732 @defun current-frame-configuration
1733 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1734 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1735 @end defun
1736
1737 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1738 This function restores the state of frames described in
1739 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1740 frames.
1741
1742 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1743 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1744 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1745 @end defun
1746
1747 @node Mouse Tracking
1748 @section Mouse Tracking
1749 @cindex mouse tracking
1750 @c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
1751
1752 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1753 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1754 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1755 the mouse actually moves.
1756
1757 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1758 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1759 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1760 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1761 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1762 button.
1763
1764 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1765 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1766 events enabled. Typically, @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1767 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1768 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1769
1770 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1771 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1772 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1773 it is time to stop tracking.
1774 @end defspec
1775
1776 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1777 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1778 position.
1779
1780 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1781 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1782 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1783 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1784
1785 @ignore
1786 @c These are not implemented yet.
1787
1788 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1789 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1790 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1791 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1792 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1793
1794 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1795 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1796 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1797 @end defun
1798
1799 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1800 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1801 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1802 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1803 @end defun
1804
1805 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1806 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1807 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1808 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1809 location of point.
1810 @end defun
1811
1812 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1813 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1814 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1815 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1816 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1817 @end defun
1818 @end ignore
1819
1820 @node Mouse Position
1821 @section Mouse Position
1822 @cindex mouse position
1823 @cindex position of mouse
1824
1825 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1826 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1827
1828 @defun mouse-position
1829 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1830 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1831 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1832 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1833 @end defun
1834
1835 @defvar mouse-position-function
1836 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1837 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1838 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1839 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1840
1841 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1842 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1843 @end defvar
1844
1845 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1846 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1847 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1848 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1849 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1850 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1851 @end defun
1852
1853 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1854 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1855 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1856 @end defun
1857
1858 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1859 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1860 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1861 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1862
1863 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1864 value is not significant.
1865 @end defun
1866
1867 @defun frame-pointer-visible-p &optional frame
1868 This predicate function returns non-@code{nil} if the mouse pointer
1869 displayed on @var{frame} is visible; otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
1870 @var{frame} omitted or @code{nil} means the selected frame. This is
1871 useful when @code{make-pointer-invisible} is set to @code{t}: it
1872 allows to know if the pointer has been hidden.
1873 @xref{Mouse Avoidance,,,emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
1874 @end defun
1875
1876 @need 3000
1877
1878 @node Pop-Up Menus
1879 @section Pop-Up Menus
1880
1881 A Lisp program can pop up a menu so that the user can choose an
1882 alternative with the mouse. On a text terminal, if the mouse is not
1883 available, the user can choose an alternative using the keyboard
1884 motion keys---@kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-p}, or up- and down-arrow keys.
1885
1886 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1887 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1888 what selection the user makes.
1889
1890 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1891 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1892 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1893 list of this form:
1894
1895 @example
1896 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1897 @end example
1898
1899 @noindent
1900 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1901 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1902 may be a window or a frame.
1903
1904 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1905 position (or the top-left corner of the frame if the mouse is not
1906 available on a text terminal). If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it
1907 means to precompute the key binding equivalents for the keymaps
1908 specified in @var{menu}, without actually displaying or popping up the
1909 menu.
1910
1911 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1912 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1913 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1914 This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1915 submenu. (Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1916 command bound to that sequence of events.) On text terminals and
1917 toolkits that support menu titles, the title is taken from the prompt
1918 string of @var{menu} if @var{menu} is a keymap, or from the prompt
1919 string of the first keymap in @var{menu} if it is a list of keymaps
1920 (@pxref{Defining Menus}).
1921
1922 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1923
1924 @example
1925 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1926 @end example
1927
1928 @noindent
1929 where each pane is a list of form
1930
1931 @example
1932 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1933 @end example
1934
1935 Each @var{item} should be a cons cell, @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1936 where @var{line} is a string and @var{value} is the value to return if
1937 that @var{line} is chosen. Unlike in a menu keymap, a @code{nil}
1938 @var{value} does not make the menu item non-selectable.
1939 Alternatively, each @var{item} can be a string rather than a cons
1940 cell; this makes a non-selectable menu item.
1941
1942 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1943 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1944 @kbd{C-g}, then this normally results in a quit and
1945 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1946 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1947 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1948 @end defun
1949
1950 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1951 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1952 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1953 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1954 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1955 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1956 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1957
1958 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1959 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1960 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1961 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1962 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1963 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1964 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1965
1966 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1967 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1968 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1969 the menu keymap as necessary.
1970
1971 @node Dialog Boxes
1972 @section Dialog Boxes
1973 @cindex dialog boxes
1974
1975 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1976 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1977 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1978 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes'', ``no'',
1979 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1980 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1981 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1982 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1983
1984 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1985 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1986 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1987 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1988
1989 @example
1990 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1991 @end example
1992
1993 @noindent
1994 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1995 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1996
1997 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1998
1999 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
2000 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
2001 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
2002
2003 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
2004 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
2005 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
2006 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
2007 items appear on each side.
2008
2009 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
2010 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
2011 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
2012 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
2013
2014 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
2015 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
2016 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}). (On text terminals, the
2017 box title is not displayed.)
2018
2019 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
2020 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
2021 frame.
2022
2023 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
2024 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
2025 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
2026 @end defun
2027
2028 @node Pointer Shape
2029 @section Pointer Shape
2030 @cindex pointer shape
2031 @cindex mouse pointer shape
2032
2033 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
2034 images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
2035 @code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
2036 use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
2037 @code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
2038 @code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
2039 style used over text.
2040
2041 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
2042 of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
2043 @code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
2044 those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
2045
2046 @defopt void-text-area-pointer
2047 This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
2048 These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
2049 in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
2050 pointer style.
2051 @end defopt
2052
2053 When using X, you can specify what the @code{text} pointer style
2054 really looks like by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
2055
2056 @defvar x-pointer-shape
2057 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
2058 Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
2059 @end defvar
2060
2061 @defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
2062 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
2063 is over mouse-sensitive text.
2064 @end defvar
2065
2066 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
2067 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
2068 frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
2069 @xref{Font and Color Parameters}.
2070
2071 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
2072 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
2073 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
2074
2075 @node Window System Selections
2076 @section Window System Selections
2077 @cindex selection (for window systems)
2078 @cindex clipboard
2079 @cindex primary selection
2080 @cindex secondary selection
2081
2082 In the X window system, data can be transferred between different
2083 applications by means of @dfn{selections}. X defines an arbitrary
2084 number of @dfn{selection types}, each of which can store its own data;
2085 however, only three are commonly used: the @dfn{clipboard},
2086 @dfn{primary selection}, and @dfn{secondary selection}. @xref{Cut and
2087 Paste,, Cut and Paste, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for Emacs
2088 commands that make use of these selections. This section documents
2089 the low-level functions for reading and setting X selections.
2090
2091 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
2092 This function sets an X selection. It takes two arguments: a
2093 selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it, @var{data}.
2094
2095 @var{type} should be a symbol; it is usually one of @code{PRIMARY},
2096 @code{SECONDARY} or @code{CLIPBOARD}. These are symbols with
2097 upper-case names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If
2098 @var{type} is @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
2099
2100 If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the selection.
2101 Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer (or a cons
2102 of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a cons of two
2103 markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair of markers
2104 stands for text in the overlay or between the markers. The argument
2105 @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector selection values.
2106
2107 This function returns @var{data}.
2108 @end deffn
2109
2110 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
2111 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
2112 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
2113 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
2114 @code{PRIMARY}.
2115
2116 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
2117 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
2118 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
2119 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
2120 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
2121 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
2122 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
2123 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
2124 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
2125 @code{STRING}.
2126 @end defun
2127
2128 @defopt selection-coding-system
2129 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
2130 writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
2131 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
2132 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
2133 @end defopt
2134
2135 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
2136 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
2137 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
2138 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
2139 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
2140 clipboard as empty.
2141
2142 @node Drag and Drop
2143 @section Drag and Drop
2144
2145 @vindex x-dnd-test-function
2146 @vindex x-dnd-known-types
2147 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
2148 application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
2149 dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
2150 what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
2151 which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
2152 @code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
2153 @code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
2154 on some other criteria.
2155
2156 @vindex x-dnd-types-alist
2157 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
2158 or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
2159 detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
2160 drop.
2161
2162 @vindex dnd-protocol-alist
2163 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
2164 another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
2165 @code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL@. If
2166 there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
2167 an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
2168 text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
2169 you can customize these variables.
2170
2171 @node Color Names
2172 @section Color Names
2173
2174 @cindex color names
2175 @cindex specify color
2176 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
2177 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
2178 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
2179 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
2180 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
2181 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
2182 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
2183 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
2184 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
2185 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
2186 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
2187 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
2188 colors.)
2189
2190 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
2191 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
2192 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
2193 meaning of the term ``selected frame''.
2194
2195 To read user input of color names with completion, use
2196 @code{read-color} (@pxref{High-Level Completion, read-color}).
2197
2198 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
2199 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
2200 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
2201 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
2202 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2203
2204 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
2205 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
2206 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
2207 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
2208 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
2209
2210 @findex x-color-defined-p
2211 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
2212 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2213 @end defun
2214
2215 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
2216 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
2217 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
2218 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
2219
2220 @findex x-defined-colors
2221 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
2222 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2223 @end defun
2224
2225 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
2226 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
2227 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
2228 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
2229
2230 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
2231 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
2232 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
2233 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
2234
2235 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
2236 @end defun
2237
2238 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
2239 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
2240 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
2241 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
2242 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
2243 @end defun
2244
2245 @defun color-values color &optional frame
2246 @cindex rgb value
2247 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
2248 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
2249 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
2250 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
2251 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
2252 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
2253 color.
2254
2255 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2256
2257 @example
2258 (color-values "black")
2259 @result{} (0 0 0)
2260 (color-values "white")
2261 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
2262 (color-values "red")
2263 @result{} (65280 0 0)
2264 (color-values "pink")
2265 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
2266 (color-values "hungry")
2267 @result{} nil
2268 @end example
2269
2270 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
2271 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
2272 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
2273 value is @code{nil}.
2274
2275 @findex x-color-values
2276 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
2277 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2278 @end defun
2279
2280 @node Text Terminal Colors
2281 @section Text Terminal Colors
2282 @cindex colors on text terminals
2283
2284 Text terminals usually support only a small number of colors, and
2285 the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
2286 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
2287 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
2288 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
2289 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
2290
2291 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
2292 are used by Emacs.
2293
2294 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
2295 in @ref{Color Names}.
2296
2297 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
2298 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make
2299 Emacs support different colors on different text terminals; then this
2300 argument will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being
2301 the selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present,
2302 though, the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
2303
2304 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
2305 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
2306 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
2307
2308 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
2309 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
2310 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
2311 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
2312 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
2313 @end defun
2314
2315 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
2316 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text terminal.
2317 @end defun
2318
2319 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
2320 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by
2321 a text terminal.
2322
2323 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
2324 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
2325 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
2326 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
2327 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
2328 @end defun
2329
2330 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
2331 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
2332 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
2333 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
2334 @code{tty-color-alist}.
2335 @end defun
2336
2337 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
2338 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
2339 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
2340 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2341 @end defun
2342
2343 @node Resources
2344 @section X Resources
2345
2346 This section describes some of the functions and variables for
2347 querying and using X resources, or their equivalent on your operating
2348 system. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2349 Manual}, for more information about X resources.
2350
2351 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
2352 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
2353 Window defaults database.
2354
2355 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
2356 This function searches using a key of the form
2357 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
2358 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
2359 the class.
2360
2361 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
2362 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
2363 If you specify them, the key is
2364 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
2365 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
2366 @end defun
2367
2368 @defvar x-resource-class
2369 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
2370 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
2371 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
2372 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
2373 @end defvar
2374
2375 @defvar x-resource-name
2376 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
2377 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
2378 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
2379 @end defvar
2380
2381 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
2382
2383 @example
2384 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
2385 @end example
2386
2387 @noindent
2388 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
2389 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
2390
2391 @example
2392 @group
2393 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2394 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
2395 @result{} "yellow"
2396 @end group
2397 @group
2398 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2399 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
2400 @result{} "yellow"
2401 @end group
2402 @end example
2403
2404 @defvar inhibit-x-resources
2405 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not look up X
2406 resources, and X resources do not have any effect when creating new
2407 frames.
2408 @end defvar
2409
2410 @node Display Feature Testing
2411 @section Display Feature Testing
2412 @cindex display feature testing
2413
2414 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2415 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2416 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2417 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2418
2419 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2420 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2421 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2422 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2423
2424 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2425 obtain information about displays.
2426
2427 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2428 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2429 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires
2430 that the mouse be available, since the menu is popped up by clicking
2431 the mouse on some portion of the Emacs display.
2432 @end defun
2433
2434 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2435 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2436 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2437 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X,
2438 and false for text terminals.
2439 @end defun
2440
2441 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
2442 @cindex mouse, availability
2443 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
2444 @code{nil} if not.
2445 @end defun
2446
2447 @defun display-color-p &optional display
2448 @findex x-display-color-p
2449 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
2450 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
2451 is still supported as an alias.
2452 @end defun
2453
2454 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
2455 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
2456 (All color displays can do this.)
2457 @end defun
2458
2459 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
2460 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
2461 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
2462 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
2463
2464 The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
2465 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
2466 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
2467 way that's
2468
2469 @enumerate
2470 @item
2471 different in appearance than the default face, and
2472
2473 @item
2474 `close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
2475 @end enumerate
2476
2477 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
2478 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
2479 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
2480 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
2481 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
2482 italic.
2483 @end defun
2484
2485 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
2486 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2487 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2488 supported in some other cases.
2489 @end defun
2490
2491 @defun display-images-p &optional display
2492 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2493 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2494 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2495 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2496 @end defun
2497
2498 @defun display-screens &optional display
2499 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2500 @end defun
2501
2502 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2503 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2504 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2505
2506 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2507 refers to the pixel height for all physical monitors associated with
2508 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2509 @end defun
2510
2511 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2512 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2513 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2514
2515 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2516 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2517 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2518 @end defun
2519
2520 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
2521 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2522 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2523
2524 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2525 refers to the height for all physical monitors associated with
2526 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2527 @end defun
2528
2529 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
2530 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2531 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2532
2533 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2534 refers to the width for all physical monitors associated with
2535 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2536 @end defun
2537
2538 @defopt display-mm-dimensions-alist
2539 This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
2540 displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
2541 @code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
2542 @end defopt
2543
2544 @cindex backing store
2545 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
2546 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2547 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2548 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2549 displayed very quickly.
2550
2551 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2552 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2553 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2554 @end defun
2555
2556 @cindex SaveUnder feature
2557 @defun display-save-under &optional display
2558 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2559 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2560 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2561 quickly.
2562 @end defun
2563
2564 @defun display-planes &optional display
2565 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2566 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2567 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2568 @end defun
2569
2570 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2571 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is
2572 one of the symbols @code{static-gray} (a limited, unchangeable number
2573 of grays), @code{gray-scale} (a full range of grays),
2574 @code{static-color} (a limited, unchangeable number of colors),
2575 @code{pseudo-color} (a limited number of colors), @code{true-color} (a
2576 full range of colors), and @code{direct-color} (a full range of
2577 colors).
2578 @end defun
2579
2580 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2581 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2582 @end defun
2583
2584 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2585 about X displays.
2586
2587 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2588 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2589 running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2590 and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2591 distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2592 @end defun
2593
2594 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2595 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2596 software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2597 server.
2598
2599 When the developers of X labeled software distributors as
2600 ``vendors'', they showed their false assumption that no system could
2601 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2602 @end defun
2603
2604 @ignore
2605 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2606 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2607 @end defvar
2608 @end ignore
2609
2610 @ignore
2611 @item
2612 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2613 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2614 @end ignore