1 ;;; help.el --- help commands for Emacs
3 ;; Copyright (C) 1985, 1986 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
6 ;; Keywords: help, internal
8 ;; This file is part of GNU Emacs.
10 ;; GNU Emacs is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
11 ;; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
12 ;; the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option)
15 ;; GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
16 ;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
17 ;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
18 ;; GNU General Public License for more details.
20 ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
21 ;; along with GNU Emacs; see the file COPYING. If not, write to
22 ;; the Free Software Foundation, 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
26 (defvar help-map
(make-sparse-keymap)
27 "Keymap for characters following the Help key.")
29 (define-key global-map
"\C-h" 'help-command
)
30 (fset 'help-command help-map
)
32 (define-key help-map
"\C-h" 'help-for-help
)
33 (define-key help-map
"?" 'help-for-help
)
35 (define-key help-map
"\C-c" 'describe-copying
)
36 (define-key help-map
"\C-d" 'describe-distribution
)
37 (define-key help-map
"\C-w" 'describe-no-warranty
)
38 (define-key help-map
"a" 'command-apropos
)
40 (define-key help-map
"b" 'describe-bindings
)
42 (define-key help-map
"c" 'describe-key-briefly
)
43 (define-key help-map
"k" 'describe-key
)
45 (define-key help-map
"d" 'describe-function
)
46 (define-key help-map
"f" 'describe-function
)
48 (define-key help-map
"i" 'info
)
49 (define-key help-map
"\C-f" 'Info-goto-emacs-command-node
)
50 (define-key help-map
"\C-k" 'Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node
)
52 (define-key help-map
"l" 'view-lossage
)
54 (define-key help-map
"m" 'describe-mode
)
56 (define-key help-map
"\C-n" 'view-emacs-news
)
57 (define-key help-map
"n" 'view-emacs-news
)
59 (define-key help-map
"s" 'describe-syntax
)
61 (define-key help-map
"t" 'help-with-tutorial
)
63 (define-key help-map
"w" 'where-is
)
65 (define-key help-map
"v" 'describe-variable
)
67 (defun help-with-tutorial ()
68 "Select the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial."
70 (let ((file (expand-file-name "~/TUTORIAL")))
71 (delete-other-windows)
72 (if (get-file-buffer file
)
73 (switch-to-buffer (get-file-buffer file
))
74 (switch-to-buffer (create-file-buffer file
))
75 (setq buffer-file-name file
)
76 (setq default-directory
(expand-file-name "~/"))
77 (setq buffer-auto-save-file-name nil
)
78 (insert-file-contents (expand-file-name "TUTORIAL" data-directory
))
79 (goto-char (point-min))
80 (search-forward "\n<<")
82 (delete-region (point) (progn (end-of-line) (point)))
83 (newline (- (window-height (selected-window))
84 (count-lines (point-min) (point))
86 (goto-char (point-min))
87 (set-buffer-modified-p nil
))))
89 (defun describe-key-briefly (key)
90 "Print the name of the function KEY invokes. KEY is a string."
91 (interactive "kDescribe key briefly: ")
92 (let ((defn (key-binding key
)))
93 (if (or (null defn
) (integerp defn
))
94 (message "%s is undefined" (key-description key
))
95 (message "%s runs the command %s"
97 (if (symbolp defn
) defn
(prin1-to-string defn
))))))
99 (defun print-help-return-message (&optional function
)
100 "Display or return message saying how to restore windows after help command.
101 Computes a message and applies the optional argument FUNCTION to it.
102 If FUNCTION is nil, applies `message' to it, thus printing it."
103 (and (not (get-buffer-window standard-output
))
104 (funcall (or function
'message
)
106 (substitute-command-keys
109 "Type \\[delete-other-windows] to remove help window."
110 "Type \\[switch-to-buffer] RET to remove help window.")
111 "Type \\[switch-to-buffer-other-window] RET to restore the other window."))
112 (substitute-command-keys
113 " \\[scroll-other-window] to scroll the help.")))))
115 (defun describe-key (key)
116 "Display documentation of the function invoked by KEY. KEY is a string."
117 (interactive "kDescribe key: ")
118 (let ((defn (key-binding key
)))
119 (if (or (null defn
) (integerp defn
))
120 (message "%s is undefined" (key-description key
))
121 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*"
124 (if (documentation defn
)
125 (princ (documentation defn
))
126 (princ "not documented"))
127 (print-help-return-message)))))
129 (defun describe-mode (&optional minor
)
130 "Display documentation of current major mode.
131 If optional MINOR is non-nil (or prefix argument is given if interactive),
132 display documentation of active minor modes as well.
133 For this to work correctly for a minor mode, the mode's indicator variable
134 (listed in `minor-mode-alist') must also be a function whose documentation
135 describes the minor mode."
137 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*"
140 (princ (documentation major-mode
))
141 (let ((minor-modes minor-mode-alist
)
142 (locals (buffer-local-variables)))
144 (let* ((minor-mode (car (car minor-modes
)))
145 (indicator (car (cdr (car minor-modes
))))
146 (local-binding (assq minor-mode locals
)))
147 ;; Document a minor mode if it is listed in minor-mode-alist,
148 ;; bound locally in this buffer, non-nil, and has a function
150 (if (and local-binding
152 (fboundp minor-mode
))
154 (princ (format "\n\n\n%s minor mode (indicator%s):\n"
155 minor-mode indicator
))
156 (princ (documentation minor-mode
)))))
157 (setq minor-modes
(cdr minor-modes
))))
158 (print-help-return-message)))
160 ;; So keyboard macro definitions are documented correctly
161 (fset 'defining-kbd-macro
(symbol-function 'start-kbd-macro
))
163 (defun describe-distribution ()
164 "Display info on how to obtain the latest version of GNU Emacs."
167 (expand-file-name "DISTRIB" data-directory
)))
169 (defun describe-copying ()
170 "Display info on how you may redistribute copies of GNU Emacs."
173 (expand-file-name "COPYING" data-directory
))
174 (goto-char (point-min)))
176 (defun describe-no-warranty ()
177 "Display info on all the kinds of warranty Emacs does NOT have."
180 (let (case-fold-search)
181 (search-forward "NO WARRANTY")
184 (defun view-emacs-news ()
185 "Display info on recent changes to Emacs."
187 (find-file-read-only (expand-file-name "NEWS" data-directory
)))
189 (defun view-lossage ()
190 "Display last 100 input keystrokes."
192 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*"
193 (princ (key-description (recent-keys)))
195 (set-buffer standard-output
)
196 (goto-char (point-min))
197 (while (progn (move-to-column 50) (not (eobp)))
198 (search-forward " " nil t
)
200 (print-help-return-message)))
202 (defun help-for-help ()
203 "You have typed C-h, the help character. Type a Help option:
205 A command-apropos. Give a substring, and see a list of commands
206 (functions interactively callable) that contain
207 that substring. See also the apropos command.
208 B describe-bindings. Display table of all key bindings.
209 C describe-key-briefly. Type a command key sequence;
210 it prints the function name that sequence runs.
211 F describe-function. Type a function name and get documentation of it.
212 I info. The info documentation reader.
213 K describe-key. Type a command key sequence;
214 it displays the full documentation.
215 L view-lossage. Shows last 100 characters you typed.
216 M describe-mode. Print documentation of current major mode,
217 which describes the commands peculiar to it.
218 N view-emacs-news. Shows emacs news file.
219 S describe-syntax. Display contents of syntax table, plus explanations
220 T help-with-tutorial. Select the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial.
221 V describe-variable. Type name of a variable;
222 it displays the variable's documentation and value.
223 W where-is. Type command name; it prints which keystrokes
225 C-c print Emacs copying permission (General Public License).
226 C-d print Emacs ordering information.
227 C-n print news of recent Emacs changes.
228 C-w print information on absence of warranty for GNU Emacs."
231 "A B C F I K L M N S T V W C-c C-d C-n C-w. Type C-h again for more help: ")
232 (let ((char (read-char)))
233 (if (or (= char ?\C-h
) (= char ??
))
234 (save-window-excursion
235 (switch-to-buffer "*Help*")
236 (delete-other-windows)
238 (insert (documentation 'help-for-help
))
239 (goto-char (point-min))
240 (while (memq char
'(?\C-h ?? ?\C-v ?\ ?
\177 ?\M-v
))
241 (if (memq char
'(?\C-v ?\
))
243 (if (memq char
'(?
\177 ?\M-v
))
245 (message "A B C F I K L M N S T V W C-c C-d C-n C-w%s: "
246 (if (pos-visible-in-window-p (point-max))
247 "" " or Space to scroll"))
248 (let ((cursor-in-echo-area t
))
249 (setq char
(read-char))))))
250 (let ((defn (cdr (assq (downcase char
) (cdr help-map
)))))
251 (if defn
(call-interactively defn
) (ding)))))
254 ;; Return a function which is called by the list containing point.
255 ;; If that gives no function, return a function whose name is around point.
256 ;; If that doesn't give a function, return nil.
257 (defun function-called-at-point ()
258 (or (condition-case ()
261 (narrow-to-region (max (point-min) (- (point) 1000)) (point-max))
265 (setq obj
(read (current-buffer)))
266 (and (symbolp obj
) (fboundp obj
) obj
))))
271 (skip-chars-forward "'")
272 (let ((obj (read (current-buffer))))
273 (and (symbolp obj
) (fboundp obj
) obj
)))
276 (defun describe-function (function)
277 "Display the full documentation of FUNCTION (a symbol)."
279 (let ((fn (function-called-at-point))
280 (enable-recursive-minibuffers t
)
282 (setq val
(completing-read (if fn
283 (format "Describe function (default %s): " fn
)
284 "Describe function: ")
286 (list (if (equal val
"")
288 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*"
291 (let* ((def (symbol-function function
))
292 (beg (if (commandp def
) "an interactive " "a ")))
293 (princ (cond ((stringp def
) "a keyboard macro.")
295 (concat beg
"built-in function."))
296 ((compiled-function-p def
)
297 (concat beg
"compiled Lisp function."))
299 (format "alias for `%s'." def
))
300 ((eq (car-safe def
) 'lambda
)
301 (concat beg
"Lisp function."))
302 ((eq (car-safe def
) 'macro
)
304 ((eq (car-safe def
) 'mocklisp
)
305 "a mocklisp function.")
306 ((eq (car-safe def
) 'autoload
)
307 (format "%sLisp %s to autoload from `%s'."
309 (if (nth 4 def
) "macro" "function")
313 (if (documentation function
)
314 (princ (documentation function
))
315 (princ "not documented"))
316 (print-help-return-message)
317 ;; Return the text we displayed.
318 (save-excursion (set-buffer standard-output
) (buffer-string))))
320 (defun variable-at-point ()
324 (skip-chars-forward "'")
325 (let ((obj (read (current-buffer))))
326 (and (symbolp obj
) (boundp obj
) obj
)))
329 (defun describe-variable (variable)
330 "Display the full documentation of VARIABLE (a symbol).
331 Returns the documentation as a string, also."
333 (let ((v (variable-at-point))
334 (enable-recursive-minibuffers t
)
336 (setq val
(completing-read (if v
337 (format "Describe variable (default %s): " v
)
338 "Describe variable: ")
340 (list (if (equal val
"")
342 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*"
344 (princ "'s value is ")
345 (if (not (boundp variable
))
347 (prin1 (symbol-value variable
)))
349 (princ "Documentation:")
351 (let ((doc (documentation-property variable
'variable-documentation
)))
353 (princ (substitute-command-keys doc
))
354 (princ "not documented as a variable.")))
355 (print-help-return-message)
356 ;; Return the text we displayed.
357 (save-excursion (set-buffer standard-output
) (buffer-string))))
359 (defun command-apropos (string)
360 "Like apropos but lists only symbols that are names of commands
361 \(interactively callable functions). Argument REGEXP is a regular expression
362 that is matched against command symbol names. Returns list of symbols and
363 documentation found."
364 (interactive "sCommand apropos (regexp): ")
366 (let ((standard-output (get-buffer-create "*Help*")))
367 (print-help-return-message 'identity
))))
368 (apropos string
'commandp
)
369 (and message
(message message
))))
371 (defun locate-library (library &optional nosuffix
)
372 "Show the full path name of Emacs library LIBRARY.
373 This command searches the directories in `load-path' like `M-x load-library'
374 to find the file that `M-x load-library RET LIBRARY RET' would load.
375 Optional second arg NOSUFFIX non-nil means don't add suffixes `.elc' or `.el'
376 to the specified name LIBRARY (a la calling `load' instead of `load-library')."
377 (interactive "sLocate library: ")
383 (let ((try (expand-file-name (concat library suf
) dir
)))
384 (and (file-readable-p try
)
385 (null (file-directory-p try
))
387 (message "Library is file %s" try
)
388 (throw 'answer try
)))))
389 (if nosuffix
'("") '(".elc" ".el" ""))))
391 (message "No library %s in search path" library
)
394 ;;; help.el ends here