entered into RCS
[bpt/emacs.git] / lispref / elisp.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c %**start of header
3 @setfilename elisp
4 @smallbook
5 @settitle GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
6 @c %**end of header
7
8 @ifinfo
9 This version is the edition 2.3 of the GNU Emacs Lisp
10 Reference Manual. It corresponds to Emacs Version 19.25.
11 @c Please REMEMBER to update edition number in *four* places in this file
12 @c and also in *one* place in intro.texi
13
14 Published by the Free Software Foundation
15 675 Massachusetts Avenue
16 Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
17
18 Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
19
20 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
21 manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
22 preserved on all copies.
23
24 @ignore
25 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
26 results, provided the printed document carries copying permission notice
27 identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph (this
28 paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
29
30 @end ignore
31 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
32 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the
33 entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
34 permission notice identical to this one.
35
36 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
37 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
38 except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation
39 approved by the Foundation.
40
41 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
42 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
43 section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included exactly as
44 in the original, and provided that the entire resulting derived work is
45 distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this
46 one.
47
48 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
49 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
50 except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' may be
51 included in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation
52 instead of in the original English.
53 @end ifinfo
54
55 @c Combine indices.
56 @synindex cp fn
57 @syncodeindex vr fn
58 @syncodeindex ky fn
59 @syncodeindex pg fn
60 @syncodeindex tp fn
61
62 @setchapternewpage odd
63 @finalout
64
65 @titlepage
66 @title GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
67 @subtitle GNU Emacs Version 19
68 @subtitle for Unix Users
69 @c The edition number appears in several places in this file
70 @c and also in the file intro.texi.
71 @subtitle Second Edition, June 1993
72 @subtitle Revision 2.3, June 1994
73
74 @author by Bil Lewis, Dan LaLiberte, Richard Stallman
75 @author and the GNU Manual Group
76 @page
77 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
78 Copyright @copyright{} 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
79
80 @sp 2
81 Edition 2.3 @*
82 Revised for Emacs Version 19.25,@*
83 June, 1994.@*
84 @sp 2
85 ISBN 1-882114-40-X
86
87 @sp 2
88 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
89 675 Massachusetts Avenue @*
90 Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
91
92 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
93 manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
94 preserved on all copies.
95
96 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
97 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
98 section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included
99 exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire resulting
100 derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission notice
101 identical to this one.
102
103 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
104 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
105 except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' may be
106 included in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation
107 instead of in the original English.
108
109 Cover art by Etienne Suvasa.
110 @end titlepage
111 @page
112
113 @node Top, Copying, (dir), (dir)
114
115 @ifinfo
116 This Info file contains edition 2.3 of the GNU Emacs Lisp
117 Reference Manual, corresponding to GNU Emacs version 19.25.
118 @end ifinfo
119
120 @menu
121 * Copying:: Conditions for copying and changing GNU Emacs.
122 * Introduction:: Introduction and conventions used.
123
124 * Lisp Data Types:: Data types of objects in Emacs Lisp.
125 * Numbers:: Numbers and arithmetic functions.
126 * Strings and Characters:: Strings, and functions that work on them.
127 * Lists:: Lists, cons cells, and related functions.
128 * Sequences Arrays Vectors:: Lists, strings and vectors are called sequences.
129 Certain functions act on any kind of sequence.
130 The description of vectors is here as well.
131 * Symbols:: Symbols represent names, uniquely.
132
133 * Evaluation:: How Lisp expressions are evaluated.
134 * Control Structures:: Conditionals, loops, nonlocal exits.
135 * Variables:: Using symbols in programs to stand for values.
136 * Functions:: A function is a Lisp program
137 that can be invoked from other functions.
138 * Macros:: Macros are a way to extend the Lisp language.
139
140 * Loading:: Reading files of Lisp code into Lisp.
141 * Byte Compilation:: Compilation makes programs run faster.
142 * Debugging:: Tools and tips for debugging Lisp programs.
143
144 * Read and Print:: Converting Lisp objects to text and back.
145 * Minibuffers:: Using the minibuffer to read input.
146 * Command Loop:: How the editor command loop works,
147 and how you can call its subroutines.
148 * Keymaps:: Defining the bindings from keys to commands.
149 * Modes:: Defining major and minor modes.
150 * Documentation:: Writing and using documentation strings.
151
152 * Files:: Accessing files.
153 * Backups and Auto-Saving:: Controlling how backups and auto-save
154 files are made.
155 * Buffers:: Creating and using buffer objects.
156 * Windows:: Manipulating windows and displaying buffers.
157 * Frames:: Making multiple X windows.
158 * Positions:: Buffer positions and motion functions.
159 * Markers:: Markers represent positions and update
160 automatically when the text is changed.
161
162 * Text:: Examining and changing text in buffers.
163 * Searching and Matching:: Searching buffers for strings or regexps.
164 * Syntax Tables:: The syntax table controls word and list parsing.
165 * Abbrevs:: How Abbrev mode works, and its data structures.
166
167 * Processes:: Running and communicating with subprocesses.
168 * System Interface:: Getting the user id, system type, environment
169 variables, and other such things.
170 * Display:: Parameters controlling screen usage.
171 The bell. Waiting for input.
172 * Calendar:: Customizing the calendar and diary.
173
174 Appendices
175
176 * Tips:: Advice for writing Lisp programs.
177 * GNU Emacs Internals:: Building and dumping Emacs;
178 internal data structures.
179 * Standard Errors:: List of all error symbols.
180 * Standard Buffer-Local Variables:: List of variables local in all buffers.
181 * Standard Keymaps:: List of standard keymaps.
182 * Standard Hooks:: List of standard hook variables.
183
184 * Antinews:: Information about Emacs 18.
185
186 * Index:: Index including concepts, functions, variables,
187 and other terms.
188
189 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
190
191 Here are other nodes that are inferiors of those already listed,
192 mentioned here so you can get to them in one step:
193
194 Introduction
195
196 * Caveats:: Flaws and a request for help.
197 * Lisp History:: Emacs Lisp is descended from Maclisp.
198 * Conventions:: How the manual is formatted.
199 * Acknowledgements:: The authors, editors, and sponsors of this manual.
200
201 Conventions
202
203 * Some Terms:: Explanation of terms we use in this manual.
204 * nil and t:: How the symbols @code{nil} and @code{t} are used.
205 * Evaluation Notation:: The format we use for examples of evaluation.
206 * Printing Notation:: The format we use for examples that print output.
207 * Error Messages:: The format we use for examples of errors.
208 * Buffer Text Notation:: The format we use for buffer contents in examples.
209 * Format of Descriptions:: Notation for describing functions, variables, etc.
210
211 Format of Descriptions
212
213 * A Sample Function Description::
214 * A Sample Variable Description::
215
216 Lisp Data Types
217
218 * Printed Representation:: How Lisp objects are represented as text.
219 * Comments:: Comments and their formatting conventions.
220 * Programming Types:: Types found in all Lisp systems.
221 * Editing Types:: Types specific to Emacs.
222 * Type Predicates:: Tests related to types.
223 * Equality Predicates:: Tests of equality between any two objects.
224
225 Programming Types
226
227 * Integer Type:: Numbers without fractional parts.
228 * Floating Point Type:: Numbers with fractional parts and with a large range.
229 * Character Type:: The representation of letters, numbers and
230 control characters.
231 * Sequence Type:: Both lists and arrays are classified as sequences.
232 * Cons Cell Type:: Cons cells, and lists (which are made from cons cells).
233 * Array Type:: Arrays include strings and vectors.
234 * String Type:: An (efficient) array of characters.
235 * Vector Type:: One-dimensional arrays.
236 * Symbol Type:: A multi-use object that refers to a function,
237 variable, property list, or itself.
238 * Function Type:: A piece of executable code you can call from elsewhere.
239 * Macro Type:: A method of expanding an expression into another
240 expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
241 * Primitive Function Type:: A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
242 * Byte-Code Type:: A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
243 * Autoload Type:: A type used for automatically loading seldom-used
244 functions.
245
246 List Type
247
248 * Dotted Pair Notation:: An alternative syntax for lists.
249 * Association List Type:: A specially constructed list.
250
251 Editing Types
252
253 * Buffer Type:: The basic object of editing.
254 * Window Type:: What makes buffers visible.
255 * Window Configuration Type::Save what the screen looks like.
256 * Marker Type:: A position in a buffer.
257 * Process Type:: A process running on the underlying OS.
258 * Stream Type:: Receive or send characters.
259 * Keymap Type:: What function a keystroke invokes.
260 * Syntax Table Type:: What a character means.
261
262 Numbers
263
264 * Integer Basics:: Representation and range of integers.
265 * Float Basics:: Representation and range of floating point.
266 * Predicates on Numbers:: Testing for numbers.
267 * Comparison of Numbers:: Equality and inequality predicates.
268 * Arithmetic Operations:: How to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
269 * Bitwise Operations:: Logical and, or, not, shifting.
270 * Numeric Conversions:: Converting float to integer and vice versa.
271 * Transcendental Functions:: Trig, exponential and logarithmic functions.
272 * Random Numbers:: Obtaining random integers, predictable or not.
273
274 Strings and Characters
275
276 * String Basics:: Basic properties of strings and characters.
277 * Predicates for Strings:: Testing whether an object is a string or char.
278 * Creating Strings:: Functions to allocate new strings.
279 * Text Comparison:: Comparing characters or strings.
280 * String Conversion:: Converting characters or strings and vice versa.
281 * Formatting Strings:: @code{format}: Emacs's analog of @code{printf}.
282 * Character Case:: Case conversion functions.
283
284 Lists
285
286 * Cons Cells:: How lists are made out of cons cells.
287 * Lists as Boxes:: Graphical notation to explain lists.
288 * List-related Predicates:: Is this object a list? Comparing two lists.
289 * List Elements:: Extracting the pieces of a list.
290 * Building Lists:: Creating list structure.
291 * Modifying Lists:: Storing new pieces into an existing list.
292 * Sets And Lists:: A list can represent a finite mathematical set.
293 * Association Lists:: A list can represent a finite relation or mapping.
294
295 Modifying Existing List Structure
296
297 * Setcar:: Replacing an element in a list.
298 * Setcdr:: Replacing part of the list backbone.
299 This can be used to remove or add elements.
300 * Rearrangement:: Reordering the elements in a list; combining lists.
301
302 Sequences, Arrays, and Vectors
303
304 * Sequence Functions:: Functions that accept any kind of sequence.
305 * Arrays:: Characteristics of arrays in Emacs Lisp.
306 * Array Functions:: Functions specifically for arrays.
307 * Vectors:: Functions specifically for vectors.
308
309 Symbols
310
311 * Symbol Components:: Symbols have names, values, function definitions
312 and property lists.
313 * Definitions:: A definition says how a symbol will be used.
314 * Creating Symbols:: How symbols are kept unique.
315 * Property Lists:: Each symbol has a property list
316 for recording miscellaneous information.
317
318 Evaluation
319
320 * Intro Eval:: Evaluation in the scheme of things.
321 * Eval:: How to invoke the Lisp interpreter explicitly.
322 * Forms:: How various sorts of objects are evaluated.
323 * Quoting:: Avoiding evaluation (to put constants in
324 the program).
325
326 Kinds of Forms
327
328 * Self-Evaluating Forms:: Forms that evaluate to themselves.
329 * Symbol Forms:: Symbols evaluate as variables.
330 * Classifying Lists:: How to distinguish various sorts of list forms.
331 * Function Forms:: Forms that call functions.
332 * Macro Forms:: Forms that call macros.
333 * Special Forms:: ``Special forms'' are idiosyncratic primitives,
334 most of them extremely important.
335 * Autoloading:: Functions set up to load files
336 containing their real definitions.
337
338 Control Structures
339
340 * Sequencing:: Evaluation in textual order.
341 * Conditionals:: @code{if}, @code{cond}.
342 * Combining Conditions:: @code{and}, @code{or}, @code{not}.
343 * Iteration:: @code{while} loops.
344 * Nonlocal Exits:: Jumping out of a sequence.
345
346 Nonlocal Exits
347
348 * Catch and Throw:: Nonlocal exits for the program's own purposes.
349 * Examples of Catch:: Showing how such nonlocal exits can be written.
350 * Errors:: How errors are signaled and handled.
351 * Cleanups:: Arranging to run a cleanup form if an
352 error happens.
353
354 Errors
355
356 * Signaling Errors:: How to report an error.
357 * Processing of Errors:: What Emacs does when you report an error.
358 * Handling Errors:: How you can trap errors and continue execution.
359 * Error Symbols:: How errors are classified for trapping them.
360
361 Variables
362
363 * Global Variables:: Variable values that exist permanently, everywhere.
364 * Constant Variables:: Certain "variables" have values that never change.
365 * Local Variables:: Variable values that exist only temporarily.
366 * Void Variables:: Symbols that lack values.
367 * Defining Variables:: A definition says a symbol is used as a variable.
368 * Accessing Variables:: Examining values of variables whose names
369 are known only at run time.
370 * Setting Variables:: Storing new values in variables.
371 * Variable Scoping:: How Lisp chooses among local and global values.
372 * Buffer-Local Variables:: Variable values in effect only in one buffer.
373
374 Scoping Rules for Variable Bindings
375
376 * Scope:: Scope means where in the program a value
377 is visible. Comparison with other languages.
378 * Extent:: Extent means how long in time a value exists.
379 * Impl of Scope:: Two ways to implement dynamic scoping.
380 * Using Scoping:: How to use dynamic scoping carefully and
381 avoid problems.
382
383 Buffer-Local Variables
384
385 * Intro to Buffer-Local:: Introduction and concepts.
386 * Creating Buffer-Local:: Creating and destroying buffer-local bindings.
387 * Default Value:: The default value is seen in buffers
388 that don't have their own local values.
389
390 Functions
391
392 * What Is a Function:: Lisp functions vs primitives; terminology.
393 * Lambda Expressions:: How functions are expressed as Lisp objects.
394 * Function Names:: A symbol can serve as the name of a function.
395 * Defining Functions:: Lisp expressions for defining functions.
396 * Calling Functions:: How to use an existing function.
397 * Mapping Functions:: Applying a function to each element of a list, etc.
398 * Anonymous Functions:: Lambda-expressions are functions with no names.
399 * Function Cells:: Accessing or setting the function definition
400 of a symbol.
401 * Related Topics:: Cross-references to specific Lisp primitives
402 that have a special bearing on how
403 functions work.
404
405 Lambda Expressions
406
407 * Lambda Components:: The parts of a lambda expression.
408 * Simple Lambda:: A simple example.
409 * Argument List:: Details and special features of argument lists.
410 * Function Documentation:: How to put documentation in a function.
411
412 Macros
413
414 * Simple Macro:: A basic example.
415 * Expansion:: How, when and why macros are expanded.
416 * Compiling Macros:: How macros are expanded by the compiler.
417 * Defining Macros:: How to write a macro definition.
418 * Backquote:: Easier construction of list structure.
419 * Problems with Macros:: Don't evaluate the macro arguments too many times.
420 Don't hide the user's variables.
421
422 Loading
423
424 * How Programs Do Loading:: The @code{load} function and others.
425 * Autoload:: Setting up a function to autoload.
426 * Features:: Loading a library if it isn't already loaded.
427 * Repeated Loading:: Precautions about loading a file twice.
428
429 Byte Compilation
430
431 * Compilation Functions:: Byte compilation functions.
432 * Disassembly:: Disassembling byte-code; how to read byte-code.
433
434 Debugging Lisp Programs
435
436 * Debugger:: How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented.
437 * Syntax Errors:: How to find syntax errors.
438 * Compilation Errors:: How to find errors that show up in
439 byte compilation.
440 * Edebug:: A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger.
441
442 The Lisp Debugger
443
444 * Error Debugging:: Entering the debugger when an error happens.
445 * Function Debugging:: Entering it when a certain function is called.
446 * Explicit Debug:: Entering it at a certain point in the program.
447 * Using Debugger:: What the debugger does; what you see while in it.
448 * Debugger Commands:: Commands used while in the debugger.
449 * Invoking the Debugger:: How to call the function @code{debug}.
450 * Internals of Debugger:: Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables.
451
452 Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax
453
454 * Excess Open:: How to find a spurious open paren or missing close.
455 * Excess Close:: How to find a spurious close paren or missing open.
456
457 Reading and Printing Lisp Objects
458
459 * Streams Intro:: Overview of streams, reading and printing.
460 * Input Streams:: Various data types that can be used as
461 input streams.
462 * Input Functions:: Functions to read Lisp objects from text.
463 * Output Streams:: Various data types that can be used as
464 output streams.
465 * Output Functions:: Functions to print Lisp objects as text.
466
467 Minibuffers
468
469 * Intro to Minibuffers:: Basic information about minibuffers.
470 * Text from Minibuffer:: How to read a straight text string.
471 * Object from Minibuffer:: How to read a Lisp object or expression.
472 * Completion:: How to invoke and customize completion.
473 * Yes-or-No Queries:: Asking a question with a simple answer.
474 * Minibuffer Misc:: Various customization hooks and variables.
475
476 Completion
477
478 * Basic Completion:: Low-level functions for completing strings.
479 (These are too low level to use the minibuffer.)
480 * Minibuffer Completion:: Invoking the minibuffer with completion.
481 * Completion Commands:: Minibuffer commands that do completion.
482 * High-Level Completion:: Convenient special cases of completion
483 (reading buffer name, file name, etc.)
484 * Reading File Names:: Using completion to read file names.
485 * Programmed Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name.
486
487 Command Loop
488
489 * Command Overview:: How the command loop reads commands.
490 * Defining Commands:: Specifying how a function should read arguments.
491 * Interactive Call:: Calling a command, so that it will read arguments.
492 * Command Loop Info:: Variables set by the command loop for you to examine.
493 * Input Events:: What input looks like when you read it.
494 * Reading Input:: How to read input events from the keyboard or mouse.
495 * Waiting:: Waiting for user input or elapsed time.
496 * Quitting:: How @kbd{C-g} works. How to catch or defer quitting.
497 * Prefix Command Arguments:: How the commands to set prefix args work.
498 * Recursive Editing:: Entering a recursive edit,
499 and why you usually shouldn't.
500 * Disabling Commands:: How the command loop handles disabled commands.
501 * Command History:: How the command history is set up, and how accessed.
502 * Keyboard Macros:: How keyboard macros are implemented.
503
504 Defining Commands
505
506 * Using Interactive:: General rules for @code{interactive}.
507 * Interactive Codes:: The standard letter-codes for reading arguments
508 in various ways.
509 * Interactive Examples:: Examples of how to read interactive arguments.
510
511 Keymaps
512
513 * Keymap Terminology:: Definitions of terms pertaining to keymaps.
514 * Format of Keymaps:: What a keymap looks like as a Lisp object.
515 * Creating Keymaps:: Functions to create and copy keymaps.
516 * Inheritance and Keymaps:: How one keymap can inherit the bindings
517 of another keymap.
518 * Prefix Keys:: Defining a key with a keymap as its definition.
519 * Menu Keymaps:: A keymap can define a menu for X windows
520 or for use from the terminal.
521 * Active Keymaps:: Each buffer has a local keymap
522 to override the standard (global) bindings.
523 Each minor mode can also override them.
524 * Key Lookup:: How extracting elements from keymaps works.
525 * Functions for Key Lookup:: How to request key lookup.
526 * Changing Key Bindings:: Redefining a key in a keymap.
527 * Key Binding Commands:: Interactive interfaces for redefining keys.
528 * Scanning Keymaps:: Looking through all keymaps, for printing help.
529
530 Major and Minor Modes
531
532 * Major Modes:: Defining major modes.
533 * Minor Modes:: Defining minor modes.
534 * Mode Line Format:: Customizing the text that appears in the mode line.
535 * Hooks:: How to use hooks; how to write code that
536 provides hooks.
537
538 Major Modes
539
540 * Major Mode Conventions:: Coding conventions for keymaps, etc.
541 * Example Major Modes:: Text mode and Lisp modes.
542 * Auto Major Mode:: How Emacs chooses the major mode automatically.
543 * Mode Help:: Finding out how to use a mode.
544
545 Minor Modes
546
547 * Minor Mode Conventions:: Tips for writing a minor mode.
548 * Keymaps and Minor Modes:: How a minor mode can have its own keymap.
549
550 Mode Line Format
551
552 * Mode Line Data:: The data structure that controls the mode line.
553 * Mode Line Variables:: Variables used in that data structure.
554 * %-Constructs:: Putting information into a mode line.
555
556 Documentation
557
558 * Documentation Basics:: Good style for doc strings.
559 Where to put them. How Emacs stores them.
560 * Accessing Documentation:: How Lisp programs can access doc strings.
561 * Keys in Documentation:: Substituting current key bindings.
562 * Describing Characters:: Making printable descriptions of
563 non-printing characters and key sequences.
564 * Help Functions:: Subroutines used by Emacs help facilities.
565
566 Files
567
568 * Visiting Files:: Reading files into Emacs buffers for editing.
569 * Saving Buffers:: Writing changed buffers back into files.
570 * Reading from Files:: Reading files into other buffers.
571 * Writing to Files:: Writing new files from parts of buffers.
572 * File Locks:: Locking and unlocking files, to prevent
573 simultaneous editing by two people.
574 * Information about Files:: Testing existence, accessibility, size of files.
575 * Contents of Directories:: Getting a list of the files in a directory.
576 * Changing File Attributes:: Renaming files, changing protection, etc.
577 * File Names:: Decomposing and expanding file names.
578
579 Visiting Files
580
581 * Visiting Functions:: The usual interface functions for visiting.
582 * Subroutines of Visiting:: Lower-level subroutines that they use.
583
584 Information about Files
585
586 * Testing Accessibility:: Is a given file readable? Writable?
587 * Kinds of Files:: Is it a directory? A link?
588 * File Attributes:: How large is it? Any other names? Etc.
589
590 File Names
591
592 * File Name Components:: The directory part of a file name, and the rest.
593 * Directory Names:: A directory's name as a directory
594 is different from its name as a file.
595 * Relative File Names:: Some file names are relative to a
596 current directory.
597 * File Name Expansion:: Converting relative file names to absolute ones.
598 * Unique File Names:: Generating names for temporary files.
599 * File Name Completion:: Finding the completions for a given file name.
600
601 Backups and Auto-Saving
602
603 * Backup Files:: How backup files are made; how their names
604 are chosen.
605 * Auto-Saving:: How auto-save files are made; how their
606 names are chosen.
607 * Reverting:: @code{revert-buffer}, and how to customize
608 what it does.
609
610 Backup Files
611
612 * Making Backups:: How Emacs makes backup files, and when.
613 * Rename or Copy:: Two alternatives: renaming the old file
614 or copying it.
615 * Numbered Backups:: Keeping multiple backups for each source file.
616 * Backup Names:: How backup file names are computed; customization.
617
618 Buffers
619
620 * Buffer Basics:: What is a buffer?
621 * Buffer Names:: Accessing and changing buffer names.
622 * Buffer File Name:: The buffer file name indicates which file
623 is visited.
624 * Buffer Modification:: A buffer is @dfn{modified} if it needs to be saved.
625 * Modification Time:: Determining whether the visited file was changed
626 ``behind Emacs's back''.
627 * Read Only Buffers:: Modifying text is not allowed in a
628 read-only buffer.
629 * The Buffer List:: How to look at all the existing buffers.
630 * Creating Buffers:: Functions that create buffers.
631 * Killing Buffers:: Buffers exist until explicitly killed.
632 * Current Buffer:: Designating a buffer as current
633 so primitives will access its contents.
634
635 Windows
636
637 * Basic Windows:: Basic information on using windows.
638 * Splitting Windows:: Splitting one window into two windows.
639 * Deleting Windows:: Deleting a window gives its space to other windows.
640 * Selecting Windows:: The selected window is the one that you edit in.
641 * Cyclic Window Ordering:: Moving around the existing windows.
642 * Buffers and Windows:: Each window displays the contents of a buffer.
643 * Displaying Buffers:: Higher-lever functions for displaying a buffer
644 and choosing a window for it.
645 * Window Point:: Each window has its own location of point.
646 * Window Start:: The display-start position controls which text
647 is on-screen in the window.
648 * Vertical Scrolling:: Moving text up and down in the window.
649 * Horizontal Scrolling:: Moving text sideways on the window.
650 * Size of Window:: Accessing the size of a window.
651 * Resizing Windows:: Changing the size of a window.
652 * Window Configurations:: Saving and restoring the state of the screen.
653
654 Positions
655
656 * Point:: The special position where editing takes place.
657 * Motion:: Changing point.
658 * Excursions:: Temporary motion and buffer changes.
659 * Narrowing:: Restricting editing to a portion of the buffer.
660
661 Motion
662
663 * Character Motion:: Moving in terms of characters.
664 * Word Motion:: Moving in terms of words.
665 * Buffer End Motion:: Moving to the beginning or end of the buffer.
666 * Text Lines:: Moving in terms of lines of text.
667 * Screen Lines:: Moving in terms of lines as displayed.
668 * Vertical Motion:: Implementation of @code{next-line} and
669 @code{previous-line}.
670 * List Motion:: Moving by parsing lists and sexps.
671 * Skipping Characters:: Skipping characters belonging to a certain set.
672
673 Markers
674
675 * Overview of Markers:: The components of a marker, and how it relocates.
676 * Predicates on Markers:: Testing whether an object is a marker.
677 * Creating Markers:: Making empty markers or markers at certain places.
678 * Information from Markers:: Finding the marker's buffer or character
679 position.
680 * Changing Markers:: Moving the marker to a new buffer or position.
681 * The Mark:: How ``the mark'' is implemented with a marker.
682 * The Region:: How to access ``the region''.
683
684 Text
685
686 * Near Point:: Examining text in the vicinity of point.
687 * Buffer Contents:: Examining text in a general fashion.
688 * Insertion:: Adding new text to a buffer.
689 * Commands for Insertion:: User-level commands to insert text.
690 * Deletion:: Removing text from a buffer.
691 * User-Level Deletion:: User-level commands to delete text.
692 * The Kill Ring:: Where removed text sometimes is saved for
693 later use.
694 * Undo:: Undoing changes to the text of a buffer.
695 * Auto Filling:: How auto-fill mode is implemented to break lines.
696 * Filling:: Functions for explicit filling.
697 * Sorting:: Functions for sorting parts of the buffer.
698 * Indentation:: Functions to insert or adjust indentation.
699 * Columns:: Computing horizontal positions, and using them.
700 * Case Changes:: Case conversion of parts of the buffer.
701 * Substitution:: Replacing a given character wherever it appears.
702 * Registers:: How registers are implemented. Accessing
703 the text or position stored in a register.
704
705 The Kill Ring
706
707 * Kill Ring Concepts:: What text looks like in the kill ring.
708 * Kill Functions:: Functions that kill text.
709 * Yank Commands:: Commands that access the kill ring.
710 * Low Level Kill Ring:: Functions and variables for kill ring access.
711 * Internals of Kill Ring:: Variables that hold kill-ring data.
712
713 Indentation
714
715 * Primitive Indent:: Functions used to count and insert indentation.
716 * Mode-Specific Indent:: Customize indentation for different modes.
717 * Region Indent:: Indent all the lines in a region.
718 * Relative Indent:: Indent the current line based on previous lines.
719 * Indent Tabs:: Adjustable, typewriter-like tab stops.
720 * Motion by Indent:: Move to first non-blank character.
721
722 Searching and Matching
723
724 * String Search:: Search for an exact match.
725 * Regular Expressions:: Describing classes of strings.
726 * Regexp Search:: Searching for a match for a regexp.
727 * Match Data:: Finding out which part of the text matched
728 various parts of a regexp, after regexp search.
729 * Saving Match Data:: Saving and restoring this information.
730 * Standard Regexps:: Useful regexps for finding sentences, pages,...
731 * Searching and Case:: Case-independent or case-significant searching.
732
733 Regular Expressions
734
735 * Syntax of Regexps:: Rules for writing regular expressions.
736 * Regexp Example:: Illustrates regular expression syntax.
737
738 Syntax Tables
739
740 * Syntax Descriptors:: How characters are classified.
741 * Syntax Table Functions:: How to create, examine and alter syntax tables.
742 * Parsing Expressions:: Parsing balanced expressions
743 using the syntax table.
744 * Standard Syntax Tables:: Syntax tables used by various major modes.
745 * Syntax Table Internals:: How syntax table information is stored.
746
747 Syntax Descriptors
748
749 * Syntax Class Table:: Table of syntax classes.
750 * Syntax Flags:: Additional flags each character can have.
751
752 Abbrevs And Abbrev Expansion
753
754 * Abbrev Mode:: Setting up Emacs for abbreviation.
755 * Tables: Abbrev Tables. Creating and working with abbrev tables.
756 * Defining Abbrevs:: Specifying abbreviations and their expansions.
757 * Files: Abbrev Files. Saving abbrevs in files.
758 * Expansion: Abbrev Expansion. Controlling expansion; expansion subroutines.
759 * Standard Abbrev Tables:: Abbrev tables used by various major modes.
760
761 Processes
762
763 * Subprocess Creation:: Functions that start subprocesses.
764 * Synchronous Processes:: Details of using synchronous subprocesses.
765 * Asynchronous Processes:: Starting up an asynchronous subprocess.
766 * Deleting Processes:: Eliminating an asynchronous subprocess.
767 * Process Information:: Accessing run-status and other attributes.
768 * Input to Processes:: Sending input to an asynchronous subprocess.
769 * Signals to Processes:: Stopping, continuing or interrupting
770 an asynchronous subprocess.
771 * Output from Processes:: Collecting output from an asynchronous subprocess.
772 * Sentinels:: Sentinels run when process run-status changes.
773 * TCP:: Opening network connections.
774
775 Receiving Output from Processes
776
777 * Process Buffers:: If no filter, output is put in a buffer.
778 * Filter Functions:: Filter functions accept output from the process.
779 * Accepting Output:: How to wait until process output arrives.
780
781 Operating System Interface
782
783 * Starting Up:: Customizing Emacs start-up processing.
784 * Getting Out:: How exiting works (permanent or temporary).
785 * System Environment:: Distinguish the name and kind of system.
786 * Terminal Input:: Recording terminal input for debugging.
787 * Terminal Output:: Recording terminal output for debugging.
788 * Flow Control:: How to turn output flow control on or off.
789 * Batch Mode:: Running Emacs without terminal interaction.
790
791 Starting Up Emacs
792
793 * Start-up Summary:: Sequence of actions Emacs performs at start-up.
794 * Init File:: Details on reading the init file (@file{.emacs}).
795 * Terminal-Specific:: How the terminal-specific Lisp file is read.
796 * Command Line Arguments:: How command line arguments are processed,
797 and how you can customize them.
798
799 Getting out of Emacs
800
801 * Killing Emacs:: Exiting Emacs irreversibly.
802 * Suspending Emacs:: Exiting Emacs reversibly.
803
804 Emacs Display
805
806 * Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
807 * Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
808 * The Echo Area:: Where messages are displayed.
809 * Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
810 * Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
811 * Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
812 * Waiting:: Forcing display update and waiting for user.
813 * Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
814 * Usual Display:: How control characters are displayed.
815 * Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
816 * Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
817
818 GNU Emacs Internals
819
820 * Building Emacs:: How to preload Lisp libraries into Emacs.
821 * Pure Storage:: A kludge to make preloaded Lisp functions sharable.
822 * Garbage Collection:: Reclaiming space for Lisp objects no longer used.
823 * Object Internals:: Data formats of buffers, windows, processes.
824 * Writing Emacs Primitives:: Writing C code for Emacs.
825
826 Object Internals
827
828 * Buffer Internals:: Components of a buffer structure.
829 * Window Internals:: Components of a window structure.
830 * Process Internals:: Components of a process structure.
831 @end menu
832
833 @include intro.texi
834 @include objects.texi
835 @include numbers.texi
836 @include strings.texi
837
838 @include lists.texi
839 @include sequences.texi
840 @include symbols.texi
841 @include eval.texi
842
843 @include control.texi
844 @include variables.texi
845 @include functions.texi
846 @include macros.texi
847
848 @include loading.texi
849 @include compile.texi
850 @include debugging.texi
851 @include streams.texi
852
853 @include minibuf.texi
854 @include commands.texi
855 @include keymaps.texi
856 @include modes.texi
857
858 @include help.texi
859 @include files.texi
860 @include backups.texi
861 @include buffers.texi
862
863 @include windows.texi
864 @include frames.texi
865 @include positions.texi
866 @include markers.texi
867 @include text.texi
868
869 @include searching.texi
870 @include syntax.texi
871 @include abbrevs.texi
872
873 @include processes.texi
874 @include os.texi
875 @include display.texi
876 @include calendar.texi
877
878 @c MOVE to Emacs Manual: include misc-modes.texi
879
880 @c appendices
881
882 @c REMOVE this: include non-hacker.texi
883
884 @include tips.texi
885 @include internals.texi
886 @include errors.texi
887 @include locals.texi
888 @include maps.texi
889 @include hooks.texi
890 @include anti.texi
891
892 @include index.texi
893
894 @c Print the tables of contents
895 @summarycontents
896 @contents
897 @c That's all
898
899 @bye
900
901 \f
902 These words prevent "local variables" above from confusing Emacs.