@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2012
@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
-@node Minibuffer, M-x, Basic, Top
+@node Minibuffer
@chapter The Minibuffer
@cindex minibuffer
* Minibuffer History:: Reusing recent minibuffer arguments.
* Repetition:: Re-executing commands that used the minibuffer.
* Passwords:: Entering passwords in the echo area.
+* Yes or No Prompts:: Replying yes or no in the echo area.
@end menu
@node Minibuffer File
@cindex slashes repeated in file name
@findex file-name-shadow-mode
Emacs interprets a double slash as ``ignore everything before the
-second slash in the pair.'' In the example above,
+second slash in the pair''. In the example above,
@file{/u2/emacs/src/} is ignored, so the argument you supplied is
@file{/etc/termcap}. The ignored part of the file name is dimmed if
the terminal allows it. (To disable this dimming, turn off File Name
probably be obvious which command is displayed for repetition. If you
type just @key{RET}, that repeats the command unchanged. You can also
change the command by editing the Lisp expression before you execute
-it. The repeated command is added to the front of the command history
+it. The executed command is added to the front of the command history
unless it is identical to the most recent item.
Once inside the minibuffer for @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}}, you
can use the usual minibuffer history commands (@pxref{Minibuffer
History}) to move through the history list. After finding the desired
-previous command, you can edit its expression as usual and then repeat
+previous command, you can edit its expression as usual and then execute
it by typing @key{RET}.
@vindex isearch-resume-in-command-history
with Emacs until you have submitted the password.
While you are typing the password, you may press @key{DEL} to delete
-backwards, removing the last character entered. @key{C-u} deletes
+backwards, removing the last character entered. @kbd{C-u} deletes
everything you have typed so far. @kbd{C-g} quits the password prompt
(@pxref{Quitting}). @kbd{C-y} inserts the current kill into the
password (@pxref{Killing}). You may type either @key{RET} or
@key{ESC} to submit the password. Any other self-inserting character
key inserts the associated character into the password, and all other
input is ignored.
+
+@node Yes or No Prompts
+@section Yes or No Prompts
+
+ An Emacs command may require you to answer a ``yes or no'' question
+during the course of its execution. Such queries come in two main
+varieties.
+
+@cindex y or n prompt
+ For the first type of ``yes or no'' query, the prompt ends with
+@samp{(y or n)}. Such a query does not actually use the minibuffer;
+the prompt appears in the echo area, and you answer by typing either
+@samp{y} or @samp{n}, which immediately delivers the response. For
+example, if you type @kbd{C-x C-w} (@kbd{write-file}) to save a
+buffer, and enter the name of an existing file, Emacs issues a prompt
+like this:
+
+@smallexample
+File `foo.el' exists; overwrite? (y or n)
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+Because this query does not actually use the minibuffer, the usual
+minibuffer editing commands cannot be used. However, you can perform
+some window scrolling operations while the query is active: @kbd{C-l}
+recenters the selected window; @kbd{M-v} (or @key{PageDown} or
+@key{next}) scrolls forward; @kbd{C-v} (or @key{PageUp}, or
+@key{prior}) scrolls backward; @kbd{C-M-v} scrolls forward in the next
+window; and @kbd{C-M-S-v} scrolls backward in the next window. Typing
+@kbd{C-g} dismisses the query, and quits the command that issued it
+(@pxref{Quitting}).
+
+@cindex yes or no prompt
+ The second type of ``yes or no'' query is typically employed if
+giving the wrong answer would have serious consequences; it uses the
+minibuffer, and features a prompt ending with @samp{(yes or no)}. For
+example, if you invoke @kbd{C-x k} (@code{kill-buffer}) on a
+file-visiting buffer with unsaved changes, Emacs activates the
+minibuffer with a prompt like this:
+
+@smallexample
+Buffer foo.el modified; kill anyway? (yes or no)
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+To answer, you must type @samp{yes} or @samp{no} into the minibuffer,
+followed by @key{RET}. The minibuffer behaves as described in the
+previous sections; you can switch to another window with @kbd{C-x o},
+use the history commands @kbd{M-p} and @kbd{M-f}, etc. Type @kbd{C-g}
+to quit the minibuffer and the querying command.
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff