1 GNU Emacs NEWS -- history of user-visible changes. 17-Aug-1988
2 Copyright (C) 1988, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 See the end for copying conditions.
5 This file is about changes in emacs version 18.
9 Changes in version 18.52.
11 * X windows version 10 is supported under system V.
13 * Pop-up menus are now supported with the same Lisp interface in
14 both version 10 and 11 of X windows.
16 * C-x 4 a is a new command to edit a change-log entry in another window.
18 * The emacs client program now allows an option +NNN to specify the
19 line number to go to in the file whose name follows. Thus,
20 emacsclient foo.c +45 bar.c
21 will find the files `foo.c' and `bar.c', going to line 45 in `bar.c'.
23 * Dired allows empty directories to be deleted like files.
25 * When the terminal type is used to find a terminal-specific file to
26 run, Emacs now tries the entire terminal type first. If that doesn't
27 yield a file that exists, the last hyphen and what follows it is
28 stripped. If that doesn't yield a file that exists, the previous
29 hyphen is stripped, and so on until all hyphens are gone. For
30 example, if the terminal type is `aaa-48-foo', Emacs will try first
31 `term/aaa-48-foo.el', then `term/aaa-48.el' and finally `term/aaa.el'.
33 Underscores now receive the same treatment as hyphens.
35 * Texinfo features: @defun, etc. texinfo-show-structure.
36 New template commands. texinfo-format-region.
38 * The special "local variable" `eval' is now ignored if you are running
41 * New command `c-macro-expand' shows the result of C macro expansion
42 in the region. It works using the C preprocessor, so its results
43 are completely accurate.
45 * Errors in trying to auto save now flash error messages for a few seconds.
47 * Killing a buffer now sends SIGHUP to the buffer's process.
51 ** `spell-region' now allows you to filter the text before spelling-checking.
52 If the value of `spell-filter' is non-nil, it is called, with no arguments,
53 looking at a temporary buffer containing a copy of the text to be checked.
54 It can alter the text freely before the spell program sees it.
56 ** The variable `lpr-command' now specifies the command to be used when
57 you use the commands to print text (such as M-x print-buffer).
59 ** Posting netnews now calls the value of `news-inews-hook' (if not nil)
60 as a function of no arguments before the actual posting.
62 ** Rmail now calls the value of `rmail-show-message-hook' (if not nil)
63 as a function of no arguments, each time a new message is selected.
65 ** `kill-emacs' calls the value of `kill-emacs-hook' as a function of no args.
68 See the source code of each library for more information.
70 ** icon.el: a major mode for editing programs written in Icon.
72 ** life.el: a simulator for the cellular automaton "life". Load the
73 library and run M-x life.
75 ** doctex.el: a library for converting the Emacs `etc/DOC' file of
76 documentation strings into TeX input.
78 ** saveconf.el: a library which records the arrangement of windows and
79 buffers when you exit Emacs, and automatically recreates the same
80 setup the next time you start Emacs.
82 ** uncompress.el: a library that automatically uncompresses files
85 ** c-fill.el: a mode for editing filled comments in C.
87 ** kermit.el: an extended version of shell-mode designed for running kermit.
89 ** spook.el: a library for adding some "distract the NSA" keywords to every
92 ** hideif.el: a library for hiding parts of a C program based on preprocessor
95 ** autoinsert.el: a library to put in some initial text when you visit
96 a nonexistent file. The text used depends on the major mode, and
97 comes from a directory of files created by you.
99 * New programming features.
101 ** The variable `window-system-version' now contains the version number
102 of the window system you are using (if appropriate). When using X windows,
103 its value is either 10 or 11.
105 ** (interactive "N") uses the prefix argument if any; otherwise, it reads
106 a number using the minibuffer.
108 ** VMS: there are two new functions `vms-system-info' and `shrink-to-icon'.
109 The former allows you to get many kinds of system status information.
110 See its self-documentation for full details.
111 The second is used with the window system: it iconifies the Emacs window.
113 ** VMS: the new function `define-logical-name' allows you to create
114 job-wide logical names. The old function `define-dcl-symbol' has been
119 Changes in version 18.50.
121 * X windows version 11 is supported.
123 Define X11 in config.h if you want X version 11 instead of version 10.
125 * The command M-x gdb runs the GDB debugger as an inferior.
126 It asks for the filename of the executable you want to debug.
128 GDB runs as an inferior with I/O through an Emacs buffer. All the
129 facilities of Shell mode are available. In addition, each time your
130 program stops, and each time you select a new stack frame, the source
131 code is displayed in another window with an arrow added to the line
132 where the program is executing.
134 Special GDB-mode commands include M-s, M-n, M-i, M-u, M-d, and C-c C-f
135 which send the GDB commands `step', `next', `stepi', `up', `down'
138 In any source file, the commands C-x SPC tells GDB to set a breakpoint
141 * M-x calendar displays a three-month calendar.
143 * C-u 0 C-x C-s never makes a backup file.
145 This is a way you can explicitly request not to make a backup.
147 * `term-setup-hook' is for users only.
149 Emacs never uses this variable for internal purposes, so you can freely
150 set it in your `.emacs' file to make Emacs do something special after
151 loading any terminal-specific setup file from `lisp/term'.
153 * `copy-keymap' now copies recursive submaps.
155 * New overlay-arrow feature.
157 If you set the variable `overlay-arrow-string' to a string
158 and `overlay-arrow-position' to a marker, that string is displayed on
159 the screen at the position of that marker, hiding whatever text would
160 have appeared there. If that position isn't on the screen, or if
161 the buffer the marker points into isn't displayed, there is no effect.
163 * -batch mode can read from the terminal.
165 It now works to use `read-char' to do terminal input in a noninteractive
166 Emacs run. End of file causes Emacs to exit.
168 * Variables `data-bytes-used' and `data-bytes-free' removed.
170 These variables cannot really work because the 24-bit range of an
171 integer in (most ports of) GNU Emacs is not large enough to hold their
172 values on many systems.
176 Changes in version 18.45, since version 18.41.
178 * C indentation parameter `c-continued-brace-offset'.
180 This parameter's value is added to the indentation of any
181 line that is in a continuation context and starts with an open-brace.
182 For example, it applies to the open brace shown here:
187 The default value is zero.
189 * Dabbrev expansion (Meta-/) preserves case.
191 When you use Meta-/ to search the buffer for an expansion of an
192 abbreviation, if the expansion found is all lower case except perhaps
193 for its first letter, then the case pattern of the abbreviation
194 is carried over to the expansion that replaces it.
198 \ is no longer given "escape character" syntax in TeX mode. It now
199 has the syntax of an ordinary punctuation character. As a result,
200 \[...\] and such like are considered to balance each other.
202 * Mail-mode automatic Reply-to field.
204 If the variable `mail-default-reply-to' is non-`nil', then each time
205 you start to compose a message, a Reply-to field is inserted with
206 its contents taken from the value of `mail-default-reply-to'.
208 * Where is your .emacs file?
210 If you run Emacs under `su', so your real and effective uids are
211 different, Emacs uses the home directory associated with the real uid
212 (the name you actually logged in under) to find the .emacs file.
214 Otherwise, Emacs uses the environment variable HOME to find the .emacs
217 The .emacs file is not loaded at all if -batch is specified.
219 * Prolog mode is the default for ".pl" files.
221 * File names are not case-sensitive on VMS.
223 On VMS systems, all file names that you specify are converted to upper
224 case. You can use either upper or lower case indiscriminately.
226 * VMS-only function 'define-dcl-symbol'.
228 This is a new name for the function formerly called
229 `define-logical-name'.
233 Editing Changes in Emacs 18
235 * Additional systems and machines are supported.
237 GNU Emacs now runs on Vax VMS. However, many facilities that are normally
238 implemented by running subprocesses do not work yet. This includes listing
239 a directory and sending mail. There are features for running subprocesses
240 but they are incompatible with those on Unix. I hope that some of
241 the VMS users can reimplement these features for VMS (compatibly for
242 the user, if possible).
244 VMS wizards are also asked to work on making the subprocess facilities
245 more upward compatible with those on Unix, and also to rewrite their
246 internals to use the same Lisp objects that are used on Unix to
249 In addition, the TI Nu machine running Unix system V, the AT&T 3b, and
250 the Wicat, Masscomp, Integrated Solutions, Alliant, Amdahl uts, Mips,
251 Altos 3068 and Gould Unix systems are now supported. The IBM PC-RT is
252 supported under 4.2, but not yet under system V. The GEC 93 is close
253 to working. The port for the Elxsi is partly merged. See the file
254 MACHINES for full status information and machine-specific installation
257 * Searching is faster.
259 Forward search for a text string, or for a regexp that is equivalent
260 to a text string, is now several times faster. Motion by lines and
261 counting lines is also faster.
263 * Memory usage improvements.
265 It is no longer possible to run out of memory during garbage
266 collection. As a result, running out of memory is never fatal. This
267 is due to a new garbage collection algorithm which compactifies
268 strings in place rather than copying them. Another consequence of the
269 change is a reduction in total memory usage and a slight increase in
270 garbage collection speed.
274 ** Editing above top of screen.
276 When you delete or kill or alter text that reaches to the top of the
277 screen or above it, so that display would start in the middle of a
278 line, Emacs will usually attempt to scroll the text so that display
279 starts at the beginning of a line again.
281 ** Yanking in the minibuffer.
283 The message "Mark Set" is no longer printed when the minibuffer is
284 active. This is convenient with many commands, including C-y, that
285 normally print such a message.
287 ** Cursor appears in last line during y-or-n questions.
289 Questions that want a `y' or `n' answer now move the cursor
290 to the last line, following the question.
292 * Library loading changes.
294 `load' now considers all possible suffixes (`.elc', `.el' and none)
295 for each directory in `load-path' before going on to the next directory.
296 It now accepts an optional fourth argument which, if non-nil, says to
297 use no suffixes; then the file name must be given in full. The search
298 of the directories in `load-path' goes on as usual in this case, but
299 it too can be prevented by passing an absolute file name.
301 The value of `load-path' no longer by default includes nil (meaning to
302 look in the current default directory). The idea is that `load' should
303 be used to search the path only for libraries to be found in the standard
304 places. If you want to override system libraries with your own, place
305 your own libraries in one special directory and add that directory to the
306 front of `load-path'.
308 The function `load' is no longer a command; that is to say, `M-x load'
309 is no longer allowed. Instead, there are two commands for loading files.
310 `M-x load-library' is equivalent to the old meaning of `M-x load'.
311 `M-x load-file' reads a file name with completion and defaulting
312 and then loads exactly that file, with no searching and no suffixes.
314 * Emulation of other editors.
316 ** `edt-emulation-on' starts emulating DEC's EDT editor.
318 Do `edt-emulation-off' to return Emacs to normal.
320 ** `vi-mode' and `vip-mode' starts emulating vi.
322 These are two different vi emulations provided by GNU Emacs users.
323 We are interested in feedback as to which emulation is preferable.
325 See the documentation and source code for these functions
326 for more information.
328 ** `set-gosmacs-bindings' emulates Gosling Emacs.
330 This command changes many global bindings to resemble those of
331 Gosling Emacs. The previous bindings are saved and can be restored using
334 * Emulation of a display terminal.
336 Within Emacs it is now possible to run programs (such as emacs or
337 supdup) which expect to do output to a visual display terminal.
339 See the function `terminal-emulator' for more information.
341 * New support for keypads and function keys.
343 There is now a first attempt at terminal-independent support for
344 keypad and function keys.
346 Emacs now defines a standard set of key-names for function and keypad
347 keys, and provides standard hooks for defining them. Most of the
348 standard key-names have default definitions built into Emacs; you can
349 override these in a terminal-independent manner. The default definitions
350 and the conventions for redefining them are in the file `lisp/keypad.el'.
352 These keys on the terminal normally work by sending sequences of
353 characters starting with ESC. The exact sequences used vary from
354 terminal to terminal. Emacs interprets them in two stages:
355 in the first stage, terminal-dependent sequences are mapped into
356 the standard key-names; then second stage maps the standard key-names
357 into their definitions in a terminal-independent fashion.
359 The terminal-specific file `term/$TERM.el' now is responsible only for
360 establishing the mapping from the terminal's escape sequences into
361 standard key-names. It no longer knows what Emacs commands are
362 assigned to the standard key-names.
364 One other change in terminal-specific files: if the value of the TERM
365 variable contains a hyphen, only the part before the first hyphen is
366 used in forming the name of the terminal-specific file. Thus, for
367 terminal type `aaa-48', the file loaded is now `term/aaa.el' rather
368 than `term/aaa-48.el'.
370 * New startup command line options.
372 `-i FILE' or `-insert FILE' in the command line to Emacs tells Emacs to
373 insert the contents of FILE into the current buffer at that point in
374 command line processing. This is like using the command M-x insert-file.
376 `-funcall', `-load', `-user' and `-no-init-file' are new synonyms for
377 `-f', `-l', `-u' and `-q'.
379 `-nw' means don't use a window system. If you are using a terminal
380 emulator on the X window system and you want to run Emacs to work through
381 the terminal emulator instead of working directly with the window system,
384 * Buffer-sorting commands.
386 Various M-x commands whose names start with `sort-' sort parts of
389 sort-lines divides the region into lines and sorts them alphabetically.
390 sort-pages divides into pages and sorts them alphabetically.
391 sort-paragraphs divides into paragraphs and sorts them alphabetically.
392 sort-fields divides into lines and sorts them alphabetically
393 according to one field in the line.
394 The numeric argument specifies which field (counting
395 from field 1 at the beginning of the line). Fields in a line
396 are separated by whitespace.
398 is similar but converts the specified fields to numbers
399 and sorts them numerically.
400 sort-columns divides into lines and sorts them according to the contents
401 of a specified range of columns.
403 Refer to the self-documentation of these commands for full usage information.
405 * Changes in various commands.
407 ** `tags-query-replace' and `tags-search' change.
409 These functions now display the name of the file being searched at the moment.
411 ** `occur' output now serves as a menu. `occur-menu' command deleted.
413 `M-x occur' now allows you to move quickly to any of the occurrences
414 listed. Select the `*Occur*' buffer that contains the output of `occur',
415 move point to the occurrence you want, and type C-c C-c.
416 This will move point to the same occurrence in the buffer that the
417 occurrences were found in.
419 The command `occur-menu' is thus obsolete, and has been deleted.
421 One way to get a list of matching lines without line numbers is to
422 copy the text to another buffer and use the command `keep-lines'.
424 ** Incremental search changes.
426 Ordinary and regexp incremental searches now have distinct default
427 search strings. Thus, regexp searches recall only previous regexp
430 If you exit an incremental search when the search string is empty,
431 the old default search string is kept. The default does not become
434 Reversing the direction of an incremental search with C-s or C-r
435 when the search string is empty now does not get the default search
436 string. It leaves the search string empty. A second C-s or C-r
437 will get the default search string. As a result, you can do a reverse
438 incremental regexp search with C-M-s C-r.
440 If you add a `*', `?' or `\|' to an incremental search regexp,
441 point will back up if that is appropriate. For example, if
442 you have searched for `ab' and add a `*', point moves to the
443 first match for `ab*', which may be before the match for `ab'
444 that was previously found.
446 If an incremental search is failing and you ask to repeat it,
447 it will start again from the beginning of the buffer (or the end,
448 if it is a backward search).
450 The search-controlling parameters `isearch-slow-speed' and
451 `isearch-slow-window-lines' have now been renamed to start with
452 `search' instead of `isearch'. Now all the parameters' names start
455 If `search-slow-window-lines' is negative, the slow search window
456 is put at the top of the screen, and the absolute value or the
457 negative number specifies the height of it.
461 The undo command now will mark the buffer as unmodified only when it is
462 identical to the contents of the visited file.
464 ** C-M-v in minibuffer.
466 If while in the minibuffer you request help in a way that uses a
467 window to display something, then until you exit the minibuffer C-M-v
468 in the minibuffer window scrolls the window of help.
470 For example, if you request a list of possible completions, C-M-v can
471 be used reliably to scroll the completion list.
475 Meta-TAB performs completion on the Emacs Lisp symbol names. The sexp
476 in the buffer before point is compared against all existing nontrivial
477 Lisp symbols and completed as far as is uniquely determined by them.
478 Nontrivial symbols are those with either function definitions, values
481 If there are multiple possibilities for the very next character, a
482 list of possible completions is displayed.
484 ** Dynamic abbreviation package.
486 The new command Meta-/ expands an abbreviation in the buffer before point
487 by searching the buffer for words that start with the abbreviation.
489 ** Changes in saving kbd macros.
491 The commands `write-kbd-macro' and `append-kbd-macro' have been
492 deleted. The way to save a keyboard macro is to use the new command
493 `insert-kbd-macro', which inserts Lisp code to define the macro as
494 it is currently defined into the buffer before point. Visit a Lisp
495 file such as your Emacs init file `~/.emacs', insert the macro
496 definition (perhaps deleting an old definition for the same macro)
497 and then save the file.
501 The new command C-x ' (expand-abbrev) expands the word before point as
502 an abbrev, even if abbrev-mode is not turned on.
504 ** Sending to inferior Lisp.
506 The command C-M-x in Lisp mode, which sends the current defun to
507 an inferior Lisp process, now works by writing the text into a temporary
508 file and actually sending only a `load'-form to load the file.
509 As a result, it avoids the Unix bugs that used to strike when the
510 text was above a certain length.
512 With a prefix argument, this command now makes the inferior Lisp buffer
513 appear on the screen and scrolls it so that the bottom is showing.
515 Two variables `inferior-lisp-load-command' and `inferior-lisp-prompt',
516 exist to customize these feature for different Lisp implementations.
518 ** C-x p now disabled.
520 The command C-x p, a nonrecomended command which narrows to the current
521 page, is now initially disabled like C-x n.
523 * Dealing with files.
525 ** C-x C-v generalized
527 This command is now allowed even if the current buffer is not visiting
528 a file. As usual, it kills the current buffer and replaces it with a
531 ** M-x recover-file improved; auto save file names changed.
533 M-x recover-file now checks whether the last auto-save file is more
534 recent than the real visited file before offering to read in the
535 auto-save file. If the auto-save file is newer, a directory listing
536 containing the two files is displayed while you are asked whether you
537 want the auto save file.
539 Visiting a file also makes this check. If the auto-save file is more recent,
540 a message is printed suggesting that you consider using M-x recover file.
542 Auto save file names now by default have a `#' at the end as well
543 as at the beginning. This is so that `*.c' in a shell command
544 will never match auto save files.
546 On VMS, auto save file names are made by appending `_$' at the front
549 When you change the visited file name of a buffer, the auto save file
550 is now renamed to belong to the new visited file name.
552 You can customize the way auto save file names are made by redefining
553 the two functions `make-auto-save-file-name' and `auto-save-file-name-p',
554 both of which are defined in `files.el'.
556 ** Modifying a buffer whose file is changed on disk is detected instantly.
558 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
559 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
560 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or saved.
561 If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change the buffer.
563 ** Exiting Emacs offers to save `*mail*'.
565 Emacs can now know about buffers that it should offer to save on exit
566 even though they are not visiting files. This is done for any buffer
567 which has a non-nil local value of `buffer-offer-save'. By default,
568 Mail mode provides such a local value.
570 ** Backup file changes.
572 If a backup file cannot be written in the directory of the visited file
573 due to fascist file protection, a backup file is now written in your home
574 directory as `~/%backup%~'. Only one such file is made, ever, so only
575 the most recently made such backup is available.
577 When backup files are made by copying, the last-modification time of the
578 original file is now preserved in the backup copy.
580 ** Visiting remote files.
582 On an internet host, you can now visit and save files on any other
583 internet host directly from Emacs with the commands M-x ftp-find-file
584 and M-x ftp-write-file. Specify an argument of the form HOST:FILENAME.
585 Since standard internet FTP is used, the other host may be any kind
586 of machine and is not required to have any special facilities.
588 The first time any one remote host is accessed, you will be asked to
589 give the user name and password for use on that host. FTP is reinvoked
590 each time you ask to use it, but previously specified user names and
591 passwords are remembered automatically.
593 ** Dired `g' command.
595 `g' in Dired mode is equivalent to M-x revert-buffer; it causes the
596 current contents of the same directory to be read in.
598 * Changes in major modes.
600 ** C mode indentation change.
602 The binding of Linefeed is no longer changed by C mode. It once again
603 has its normal meaning, which is to insert a newline and then indent
606 The old definition did one additional thing: it reindented the line
607 before the new newline. This has been removed because it made the
608 command twice as slow. The only time it was really useful was after the
609 insertion of an `else', since the fact of starting with `else' may change
610 the way that line is indented. Now you will have to type TAB again
611 yourself to reindent the `else' properly.
613 If the variable `c-tab-always-indent' is set to `nil', the TAB command
614 in C mode, with no argument, will just insert a tab character if there
615 is non-whitespace preceding point on the current line. Giving it a
616 prefix argument will force reindentation of the line (as well as
617 of the compound statement that begins after point, if any).
619 ** Fortran mode now exists.
621 This mode provides commands for motion and indentation of Fortran code,
622 plus built-in abbrevs for Fortran keywords. For details, see the manual
623 or the on-line documentation of the command `fortran-mode'.
625 ** Scribe mode now exists.
627 This mode does something useful for editing files of Scribe input.
628 It is used automatically for files with names ending in ".mss".
630 ** Modula2 and Prolog modes now exist.
632 These modes are for editing programs in the languages of the same names.
633 They can be selected with M-x modula-2-mode and M-x prolog-mode.
635 ** Telnet mode changes.
637 The telnet mode special commands have now been assigned to C-c keys.
638 Most of them are the same as in Shell mode.
640 ** Picture mode changes.
642 The special picture-mode commands to specify the direction of cursor
643 motion after insertion have been moved to C-c keys. The commands to
644 specify diagonal motion were already C-c keys; they are unchanged.
645 The keys to specify horizontal or vertical motion are now
646 C-c < (left), C-c > (right), C-c ^ (up) and C-c . (down).
648 ** Nroff mode comments.
650 Comments are now supported in Nroff mode. The standard comment commands
651 such as M-; and C-x ; know how to insert, align and delete comments
652 that start with backslash-doublequote.
656 LaTeX mode now exists. Use M-x latex-mode to select this mode, and
657 M-x plain-tex-mode to select the previously existing mode for Plain
658 TeX. M-x tex-mode attempts to examine the contents of the buffer and
659 choose between latex-mode and plain-tex-mode accordingly; if the
660 buffer is empty or it cannot tell, the variable `TeX-default-mode'
661 controls the choice. Its value should be the symbol for the mode to
664 The facilities for running TeX on all or part of the buffer
665 work with LaTeX as well.
667 Some new commands available in both modes:
669 C-c C-l recenter the window showing the TeX output buffer
670 so most recent line of output can be seen.
671 C-c C-k kill the TeX subprocess.
672 C-c C-q show the printer queue.
673 C-c C-f close a block (appropriate for LaTeX only).
674 If the current line contains a \begin{...},
675 this inserts an \end{...} on the following line
676 and puts point on a blank line between them.
678 ** Outline mode changes.
680 Invisible lines in outline mode are now indicated by `...' at the
681 end of the previous visible line.
683 The special outline heading motion commands are now all on C-c keys.
684 A few new ones have been added. Here is a full list:
686 C-c C-n Move to next visible heading (formerly M-})
687 C-c C-p Move to previous visible heading (formerly M-{)
688 C-c C-f Move to next visible heading at the same level.
689 Thus, if point is on a level-2 heading line,
690 this command moves to the next visible level-2 heading.
691 C-c C-b Move to previous visible heading at the same level.
692 C-c C-u Move up to previous visible heading at a higher level.
694 The variable `outline-regexp' now controls recognition of heading lines.
695 Any line whose beginning matches this regexp is a heading line.
696 The depth in outline structure is determined by the length of
697 the string that matches.
699 A line starting with a ^L (formfeed) is now by default considered
702 * Mail reading and sending.
706 MH-E has been extensively modified and improved since the v17 release.
707 It contains many new features, including commands to: extracted failed
708 messages, kill a draft message, undo changes to a mail folder, monitor
709 delivery of a letter, print multiple messages, page digests backwards,
710 insert signatures, and burst digests. Also, many commands have been
711 made to able to deal with named sequences of messages, instead of
712 single messages. MH-E also has had numerous bugs fixed and commands
713 made to run faster. Furthermore, its keybindings have been changed to
714 be compatible with Rmail and the rest of GNU Emacs.
716 ** Mail mode changes.
718 The C-c commands of mail mode have been rearranged:
720 C-c s, C-c c, C-c t and C-c b (move point to various header fields)
721 have been reassigned as C-c C-f C-s, C-c C-f C-c, C-c C-f C-t and C-c
722 C-f C-b. C-c C-f is for "field".
724 C-c y, C-c w and C-c q have been changed to C-c C-y, C-c C-w and C-c C-q.
726 Thus, C-c LETTER is always unassigned.
728 ** Rmail C-r command changed to w.
730 The Rmail command to edit the current message is now `w'. This change
731 has been made because people frequently type C-r while in Rmail hoping
732 to do a reverse incremental search. That now works.
736 ** Caesar rotation added.
738 The function news-caesar-buffer-body performs encryption and
739 decryption of the body of a news message. It defaults to the USENET
740 standard of 13, and accepts any numeric arg between 1 to 25 and -25 to -1.
741 The function is bound to C-c C-r in both news-mode and news-reply-mode.
743 ** rmail-output command added.
745 The C-o command has been bound to rmail-output in news-mode.
746 This allows one to append an article to a file which is in either Unix
747 mail or RMAIL format.
749 ** news-reply-mode changes.
751 The C-c commands of news reply mode have been rearranged and changed,
752 so that C-c LETTER is always unassigned:
754 C-c y, C-c w and C-c q have been changed to C-c C-y, C-c C-w and C-c C-q.
756 C-c c, C-c t, and C-c b (move to various mail header fields) have been
757 deleted (they make no sense for posting and replying to USENET).
759 C-c s (move to Subject: header field) has been reassigned as C-c C-f
760 C-s. C-c C-f is for "field". Several additional move to news header
761 field commands have been added.
763 The local news-reply-mode bindings now look like this:
765 C-c C-s news-inews (post the message) C-c C-c news-inews
766 C-c C-f move to a header field (and create it if there isn't):
767 C-c C-f C-n move to Newsgroups: C-c C-f C-s move to Subj:
768 C-c C-f C-f move to Followup-To: C-c C-f C-k move to Keywords:
769 C-c C-f C-d move to Distribution: C-c C-f C-a move to Summary:
770 C-c C-y news-reply-yank-original (insert current message, in NEWS).
771 C-c C-q mail-fill-yanked-message (fill what was yanked).
772 C-c C-r caesar rotate all letters by 13 places in the article's body (rot13).
774 * Existing Emacs usable as a server.
776 Programs such as mailers that invoke "the editor" as an inferior
777 to edit some text can now be told to use an existing Emacs process
778 instead of creating a new editor.
780 To do this, you must have an Emacs process running and capable of
781 doing terminal I/O at the time you want to invoke it. This means that
782 either you are using a window system and give Emacs a separate window
783 or you run the other programs as inferiors of Emacs (such as, using
786 First prepare the existing Emacs process by loading the `server'
787 library and executing M-x server-start. (Your .emacs can do this
790 Now tell the other programs to use, as "the editor", the Emacs client
791 program (etc/emacsclient, located in the same directory as this file).
792 This can be done by setting the environment variable EDITOR.
794 When another program invokes the emacsclient as "the editor", the
795 client actually transfers the file names to be edited to the existing
796 Emacs, which automatically visits the files.
798 When you are done editing a buffer for a client, do C-x # (server-edit).
799 This marks that buffer as done, and selects the next buffer that the client
800 asked for. When all the buffers requested by a client are marked in this
801 way, Emacs tells the client program to exit, so that the program that
802 invoked "the editor" will resume execution.
804 You can only have one server Emacs at a time, but multiple client programs
805 can put in requests at the same time.
807 The client/server work only on Berkeley Unix, since they use the Berkeley
808 sockets mechanism for their communication.
811 Changes in Lisp programming in Emacs version 18.
815 ** Suffixes no longer accepted on `.emacs'.
817 Emacs will no longer load a file named `.emacs.el' or `emacs.elc'
818 in place of `.emacs'. This is so that it will take less time to
819 find `.emacs'. If you want to compile your init file, give it another
820 name and make `.emacs' a link to the `.elc' file, or make it contain
821 a call to `load' to load the `.elc' file.
823 ** `default-profile' renamed to `default', and loaded after `.emacs'.
825 It used to be the case that the file `default-profile' was loaded if
826 and only if `.emacs' was not found.
828 Now the name `default-profile' is not used at all. Instead, a library
829 named `default' is loaded after the `.emacs' file. `default' is loaded
830 whether the `.emacs' file exists or not. However, loading of `default'
831 can be prevented if the `.emacs' file sets `inhibit-default-init' to non-nil.
833 In fact, you would call the default file `default.el' and probably would
834 byte-compile it to speed execution.
836 Note that for most purposes you are better off using a `site-init' library
837 since that will be loaded before the runnable Emacs is dumped. By using
838 a `site-init' library, you avoid taking up time each time Emacs is started.
840 ** inhibit-command-line has been eliminated.
842 This variable used to exist for .emacs files to set. It has been
843 eliminated because you can get the same effect by setting
844 command-line-args to nil and setting inhibit-startup-message to t.
846 * `apply' is more general.
848 `apply' now accepts any number of arguments. The first one is a function;
849 the rest are individual arguments to pass to that function, except for the
850 last, which is a list of arguments to pass.
852 Previously, `apply' required exactly two arguments. Its old behavior
853 follows as a special case of the new definition.
855 * New code-letter for `interactive'.
857 (interactive "NFoo: ") is like (interactive "nFoo: ") in reading
858 a number using the minibuffer to serve as the argument; however,
859 if a prefix argument was specified, it uses the prefix argument
860 value as the argument, and does not use the minibuffer at all.
862 This is used by the `goto-line' and `goto-char' commands.
864 * Semantics of variables.
866 ** Built-in per-buffer variables improved.
868 Several built-in variables which in the past had a different value in
869 each buffer now behave exactly as if `make-variable-buffer-local' had
872 These variables are `tab-width', `ctl-arrow', `truncate-lines',
873 `fill-column', `left-margin', `mode-line-format', `abbrev-mode',
874 `overwrite-mode', `case-fold-search', `auto-fill-hook',
875 `selective-display', `selective-display-ellipses'.
877 To be precise, each variable has a default value which shows through
878 in most buffers and can be accessed with `default-value' and set with
879 `set-default'. Setting the variable with `setq' makes the variable
880 local to the current buffer. Changing the default value has retroactive
881 effect on all buffers in which the variable is not local.
883 The variables `default-case-fold-search', etc., are now obsolete.
884 They now refer to the default value of the variable, which is not
885 quite the same behavior as before, but it should enable old init files
888 ** New per-buffer variables.
890 The variables `fill-prefix', `comment-column' and `indent-tabs-mode'
891 are now per-buffer. They work just like `fill-column', etc.
893 ** New function `setq-default'.
895 `setq-default' sets the default value of a variable, and uses the
896 same syntax that `setq' accepts: the variable name is not evaluated
897 and need not be quoted.
899 `(setq-default case-fold-search nil)' would make searches case-sensitive
900 in all buffers that do not have local values for `case-fold-search'.
902 ** Functions `global-set' and `global-value' deleted.
904 These functions were never used except by mistake by users expecting
905 the functionality of `set-default' and `default-value'.
907 * Changes in defaulting of major modes.
909 When `default-major-mode' is `nil', new buffers are supposed to
910 get their major mode from the buffer that is current. However,
911 certain major modes (such as Dired mode, Rmail mode, Rmail Summary mode,
912 and others) are not reasonable to use in this way.
914 Now such modes' names have been given non-`nil' `mode-class' properties.
915 If the current buffer's mode has such a property, Fundamental mode is
916 used as the default for newly created buffers.
918 * `where-is-internal' requires additional arguments.
920 This function now accepts three arguments, two of them required:
921 DEFINITION, the definition to search for; LOCAL-KEYMAP, the keymap
922 to use as the local map when doing the searching, and FIRST-ONLY,
923 which is nonzero to return only the first key found.
925 This function returns a list of keys (strings) whose definitions
926 (in the LOCAL-KEYMAP or the current global map) are DEFINITION.
928 If FIRST-ONLY is non-nil, it returns a single key (string).
930 This function has changed incompatibly in that now two arguments
931 are required when previously only one argument was allowed. To get
932 the old behavior of this function, write `(current-local-map)' as
933 the expression for the second argument.
935 The incompatibility is sad, but `nil' is a legitimate value for the
936 second argument (it means there is no local keymap), so it cannot also
937 serve as a default meaning to use the current local keymap.
939 * Abbrevs with hooks.
941 When an abbrev defined with a hook is expanded, it now performs the
942 usual replacement of the abbrev with the expansion before running the
943 hook. Previously the abbrev itself was deleted but the expansion was
946 * Function `scan-buffer' deleted.
948 Use `search-forward' or `search-backward' in place of `scan-buffer'.
949 You will have to rearrange the arguments.
951 * X window interface improvements.
953 ** Detect release of mouse buttons.
955 Button-up events can now be detected. See the file `lisp/x-mouse.el'
958 ** New pop-up menu facility.
960 The new function `x-popup-menu' pops up a menu (in a X window)
961 and returns an indication of which selection the user made.
962 For more information, see its self-documentation.
966 This command prints the disassembly of a byte-compiled Emacs Lisp function.
968 Would anyone like to interface this to the debugger?
970 * `insert-buffer-substring' can insert part of the current buffer.
972 The old restriction that the text being inserted had to come from
973 a different buffer is now lifted.
975 When inserting text from the current buffer, the text to be inserted
976 is determined from the specified bounds before any copying takes place.
978 * New function `substitute-key-definition'.
980 This is a new way to replace one command with another command as the
981 binding of whatever keys may happen to refer to it.
983 (substitute-key-definition OLDDEF NEWDEF KEYMAP) looks through KEYMAP
984 for keys defined to run OLDDEF, and rebinds those keys to run NEWDEF
987 * New function `insert-char'.
989 Insert a specified character, a specified number of times.
991 * `mark-marker' changed.
993 When there is no mark, this now returns a marker that points
994 nowhere, rather than `nil'.
996 * `ding' accepts argument.
998 When given an argument, the function `ding' does not terminate
999 execution of a keyboard macro. Normally, `ding' does terminate
1000 all macros that are currently executing.
1002 * New function `minibuffer-depth'.
1004 This function returns the current depth in minibuffer activations.
1005 The value is zero when the minibuffer is not in use.
1006 Values greater than one are possible if the user has entered the
1007 minibuffer recursively.
1009 * New function `documentation-property'.
1011 (documentation-property SYMBOL PROPNAME) is like (get SYMBOL PROPNAME),
1012 except that if the property value is a number `documentation-property'
1013 will take that number (or its absolute value) as a character position
1014 in the DOC file and return the string found there.
1016 (documentation-property VAR 'variable-documentation) is the proper
1017 way for a Lisp program to get the documentation of variable VAR.
1019 * New documentation-string expansion feature.
1021 If a documentation string (for a variable or function) contains text
1022 of the form `\<FOO>', it means that all command names specified in
1023 `\[COMMAND]' construct from that point on should be turned into keys
1024 using the value of the variable FOO as the local keymap. Thus, for example,
1026 `\<emacs-lisp-mode-map>\[eval-defun] evaluates the defun containing point.'
1030 "ESC C-x evaluates the defun containing point."
1032 regardless of the current major mode, because ESC C-x is defined to
1033 run `eval-defun' in the keymap `emacs-lisp-mode-map'. The effect is
1034 to show the key for `eval-defun' in Emacs Lisp mode regardless of the
1037 The `\<...>' construct applies to all `\[...]' constructs that follow it,
1038 up to the end of the documentation string or the next `\<...>'.
1040 Without `\<...>', the keys for commands specified in `\[...]' are found
1041 in the current buffer's local map.
1043 The current global keymap is always searched second, whether `\<...>'
1044 has been used or not.
1046 * Multiple hooks allowed in certain contexts.
1048 The old hook variables `find-file-hook', `find-file-not-found-hook' and
1049 `write-file-hook' have been replaced.
1051 The replacements are `find-file-hooks', `find-file-not-found-hooks'
1052 and `write-file-hooks'. Each holds a list of functions to be called;
1053 by default, `nil', for no functions. The functions are called in
1054 order of appearance in the list.
1056 In the case of `find-file-hooks', all the functions are executed.
1058 In the case of `find-file-not-found-hooks', if any of the functions
1059 returns non-`nil', the rest of the functions are not called.
1061 In the case of `write-file-hooks', if any of the functions returns
1062 non-`nil', the rest of the functions are not called, and the file is
1063 considered to have been written already; so actual writing in the
1064 usual way is not done. If `write-file-hooks' is local to a buffer,
1065 it is set to its global value if `set-visited-file-name' is called
1066 (and thus by C-x C-w as well).
1068 `find-file-not-found-hooks' and `write-file-hooks' can be used
1069 together to implement editing of files that are not stored as Unix
1070 files: stored in archives, or inside version control systems, or on
1071 other machines running other operating systems and accessible via ftp.
1073 * New hooks for suspending Emacs.
1075 Suspending Emacs runs the hook `suspend-hook' before suspending
1076 and the hook `suspend-resume-hook' if the suspended Emacs is resumed.
1077 Running a hook is done by applying the variable's value to no arguments
1078 if the variable has a non-`nil' value. If `suspend-hook' returns
1079 non-`nil', then suspending is inhibited and so is running the
1080 `suspend-resume-hook'. The non-`nil' value means that the `suspend-hook'
1081 has done whatever suspending is required.
1083 * Disabling commands can print a special message.
1085 A command is disabled by giving it a non-`nil' `disabled' property.
1086 Now, if this property is a string, it is included in the message
1087 printed when the user tries to run the command.
1089 * Emacs can open TCP connections.
1091 The function `open-network-stream' opens a TCP connection to
1092 a specified host and service. Its value is a Lisp object that represents
1093 the connection. The object is a kind of "subprocess", and I/O are
1094 done like I/O to subprocesses.
1096 * Display-related changes.
1098 ** New mode-line control features.
1100 The display of the mode line used to be controlled by a format-string
1101 that was the value of the variable `mode-line-format'.
1103 This variable still exists, but it now allows more general values,
1104 not just strings. Lists, cons cells and symbols are also meaningful.
1106 The mode line contents are created by outputting various mode elements
1107 one after the other. Here are the kinds of objects that can be
1108 used as mode elements, and what they do in the display:
1110 string the contents of the string are output to the mode line,
1111 and %-constructs are replaced by other text.
1113 t or nil ignored; no output results.
1115 symbol the symbol's value is used. If the value is a string,
1116 the string is output verbatim to the mode line
1117 (so %-constructs are not interpreted). Otherwise,
1118 the symbol's value is processed as a mode element.
1120 list (whose first element is a string or list or cons cell)
1121 the elements of the list are treated as as mode elements,
1122 so that the output they generate is concatenated,
1124 list (whose car is a symbol)
1125 if the symbol's value is non-nil, the second element of the
1126 list is treated as a mode element. Otherwise, the third
1127 element (if any) of the list is treated as a mode element.
1129 cons (whose car is a positive integer)
1130 the cdr of the cons is used as a mode element, but
1131 the text it produces is padded, if necessary, to have
1132 at least the width specified by the integer.
1134 cons (whose car is a negative integer)
1135 the cdr of the cons is used as a mode element, but
1136 the text it produces is truncated, if necessary, to have
1137 at most the width specified by the integer.
1139 There is always one mode element to start with, that being the value of
1140 `mode-line-format', but if this value is a list then it leads to several
1141 more mode elements, which can lead to more, and so on.
1143 There is one new %-construct for mode elements that are strings:
1144 `%n' displays ` Narrow' for a buffer that is narrowed.
1146 The default value of `mode-line-format' refers to several other variables.
1147 These variables are `mode-name', `mode-line-buffer-identification',
1148 `mode-line-process', `mode-line-modified', `global-mode-string' and
1149 `minor-mode-alist'. The first four are local in every buffer in which they
1150 are changed from the default.
1152 mode-name Name of buffer's major mode. Local in every buffer.
1154 mode-line-buffer-identification
1155 Normally the list ("Emacs: %17b"), it is responsible
1156 for displaying text to indicate what buffer is being shown
1157 and what kind of editing it is doing. `Emacs' means
1158 that a file of characters is being edited. Major modes
1159 such as Info and Dired which edit or view other kinds
1160 of data often change this value. This variables becomes
1161 local to the current buffer if it is setq'd.
1164 Normally nil, this variable is responsible for displaying
1165 information about the process running in the current buffer.
1166 M-x shell-mode and M-x compile alter this variable.
1169 This variable is responsible for displaying the indication
1170 of whether the current buffer is modified or read-only.
1171 By default its value is `("--%*%*-")'.
1174 This variable is responsible for displaying text for those
1175 minor modes that are currently enabled. Its value
1176 is a list of elements of the form (VARIABLE STRING),
1177 where STRING is to be displayed if VARIABLE's value
1178 (in the buffer whose mode line is being displayed)
1179 is non-nil. This variable is not made local to particular
1180 buffers, but loading some libraries may add elements to it.
1183 This variable is used to display the time, if you ask
1186 The idea of these variables is to eliminate the need for major modes
1187 to alter mode-line-format itself.
1189 ** `window-point' valid for selected window.
1191 The value returned by `window-point' used to be incorrect when its
1192 argument was the selected window. Now the value is correct.
1194 ** Window configurations may be saved as Lisp objects.
1196 The function `current-window-configuration' returns a special type of
1197 Lisp object that represents the current layout of windows: the
1198 sizes and positions of windows, which buffers appear in them, and
1199 which parts of the buffers appear on the screen.
1201 The function `set-window-configuration' takes one argument, which must
1202 be a window configuration object, and restores that configuration.
1204 ** New hook `temp-output-buffer-show-hook'.
1206 This hook allows you to control how help buffers are displayed.
1207 Whenever `with-output-to-temp-buffer' has executed its body and wants
1208 to display the temp buffer, if this variable is bound and non-`nil'
1209 then its value is called with one argument, the temp buffer.
1210 The hook function is solely responsible for displaying the buffer.
1211 The standard manner of display--making the buffer appear in a window--is
1212 used only if there is no hook function.
1214 ** New function `minibuffer-window'.
1216 This function returns the window used (sometimes) for displaying
1217 the minibuffer. It can be used even when the minibuffer is not active.
1219 ** New feature to `next-window'.
1221 If the optional second argument is neither `nil' nor `t', the minibuffer
1222 window is omitted from consideration even when active; if the starting
1223 window was the last non-minibuffer window, the value will be the first
1224 non-minibuffer window.
1226 ** New variable `minibuffer-scroll-window'.
1228 When this variable is non-`nil', the command `scroll-other-window'
1229 uses it as the window to be scrolled. Displays of completion-lists
1230 set this variable to the window containing the display.
1232 ** New argument to `sit-for'.
1234 A non-nil second argument to `sit-for' means do not redisplay;
1235 just wait for the specified time or until input is available.
1237 ** Deleted function `set-minor-mode'; minor modes must be changed.
1239 The function `set-minor-mode' has been eliminated. The display
1240 of minor mode names in the mode line is now controlled by the
1241 variable `minor-mode-alist'. To specify display of a new minor
1242 mode, it is sufficient to add an element to this list. Once that
1243 is done, you can turn the mode on and off just by setting a variable,
1244 and the display will show its status automatically.
1246 ** New variable `cursor-in-echo-area'.
1248 If this variable is non-nil, the screen cursor appears on the
1249 last line of the screen, at the end of the text displayed there.
1251 Binding this variable to t is useful at times when reading single
1252 characters of input with `read-char'.
1254 ** New per-buffer variable `selective-display-ellipses'.
1256 If this variable is non-nil, an ellipsis (`...') appears on the screen
1257 at the end of each text line that is followed by invisible text.
1259 If this variable is nil, no ellipses appear. Then there is no sign
1260 on the screen that invisible text is present.
1262 Text is made invisible under the control of the variable
1263 `selective-display'; this is how Outline mode and C-x $ work.
1265 ** New variable `no-redraw-on-reenter'.
1267 If you set this variable non-nil, Emacs will not clear the screen when
1268 you resume it after suspending it. This is for the sake of terminals
1269 with multiple screens of memory, where the termcap entry has been set
1270 up to switch between screens when Emacs is suspended and resumed.
1272 ** New argument to `set-screen-height' or `set-screen-width'.
1274 These functions now take an optional second argument which says
1275 what significance the newly specified height or width has.
1277 If the argument is nil, or absent, it means that Emacs should
1278 believe that the terminal height or width really is as just specified.
1280 If the argument is t, it means Emacs should not believe that the
1281 terminal really is this high or wide, but it should use the
1282 specific height or width as the number of lines or columns to display.
1283 Thus, you could display only 24 lines on a screen known to have 48 lines.
1285 What practical difference is there between using only 24 lines for display
1286 and really believing that the terminal has 24 lines?
1288 1. The ``real'' height of the terminal says what the terminal command
1289 to move the cursor to the last line will do.
1291 2. The ``real'' height of the terminal determines how much padding is
1294 * File-related changes.
1296 ** New parameter `backup-by-copying-when-mismatch'.
1298 If this variable is non-`nil', then when Emacs is about to save a
1299 file, it will create the backup file by copying if that would avoid
1300 changing the file's uid or gid.
1302 The default value of this variable is `nil', because usually it is
1303 useful to have the uid of a file change according to who edited it
1304 last. I recommend thet this variable be left normally `nil' and
1305 changed with a local variables list in those particular files where
1306 the uid needs to be preserved.
1308 ** New parameter `file-precious-flag'.
1310 If this variable is non-`nil', saving the buffer tries to avoid
1311 leaving an incomplete file due to disk full or other I/O errors.
1312 It renames the old file before saving. If saving is successful,
1313 the renamed file is deleted; if saving gets an error, the renamed
1314 file is renamed back to the name you visited.
1316 Backups are always made by copying for such files.
1318 ** New variable `buffer-offer-save'.
1320 If the value of this variable is non-`nil' in a buffer then exiting
1321 Emacs will offer to save the buffer (if it is modified and nonempty)
1322 even if the buffer is not visiting a file. This variable is
1323 automatically made local to the current buffer whenever it is set.
1325 ** `rename-file', `copy-file', `add-name-to-file' and `make-symbolic-link'.
1327 The third argument to these functions used to be `t' or `nil'; `t'
1328 meaning go ahead even if the specified new file name already has a file,
1329 and `nil' meaning to get an error.
1331 Now if the third argument is a number it means to ask the user for
1332 confirmation in this case.
1334 ** New optional argument to `copy-file'.
1336 If `copy-file' receives a non-nil fourth argument, it attempts
1337 to give the new copy the same time-of-last-modification that the
1340 ** New function `file-newer-than-file-p'.
1342 (file-newer-than-file-p FILE1 FILE2) returns non-nil if FILE1 has been
1343 modified more recently than FILE2. If FILE1 does not exist, the value
1344 is always nil; otherwise, if FILE2 does not exist, the value is t.
1345 This is meant for use when FILE2 depends on FILE1, to see if changes
1346 in FILE1 make it necessary to recompute FILE2 from it.
1348 ** Changed function `file-exists-p'.
1350 This function is no longer the same as `file-readable-p'.
1351 `file-exists-p' can now return t for a file that exists but which
1352 the fascists won't allow you to read.
1354 ** New function `file-locked-p'.
1356 This function receives a file name as argument and returns `nil'
1357 if the file is not locked, `t' if locked by this Emacs, or a
1358 string giving the name of the user who has locked it.
1360 ** New function `file-name-sans-versions'.
1362 (file-name-sans-versions NAME) returns a substring of NAME, with any
1363 version numbers or other backup suffixes deleted from the end.
1365 ** New functions for directory names.
1367 Although a directory is really a kind of file, specifying a directory
1368 uses a somewhat different syntax from specifying a file.
1369 In Emacs, a directory name is used as part of a file name.
1371 On Unix, the difference is small: a directory name ends in a slash,
1372 while a file name does not: thus, `/usr/rms/' to name a directory,
1373 while `/usr/rms' names the file which holds that directory.
1375 On VMS, the difference is considerable: `du:[rms.foo]' specifies a
1376 directory, but the name of the file that holds that directory is
1379 There are two new functions for converting between directory names
1380 and file names. `directory-file-name' takes a directory name and
1381 returns the name of the file in which that directory's data is stored.
1382 `file-name-as-directory' takes the name of a file and returns
1383 the corresponding directory name. These always understand Unix file name
1384 syntax; on VMS, they understand VMS syntax as well.
1386 For example, (file-name-as-directory "/usr/rms") returns "/usr/rms/"
1387 and (directory-file-name "/usr/rms/") returns "/usr/rms".
1388 On VMS, (file-name-as-directory "du:[rms]foo.dir") returns "du:[rms.foo]"
1389 and (directory-file-name "du:[rms.foo]") returns "du:[rms]foo.dir".
1391 ** Value of `file-attributes' changed.
1393 The function file-attributes returns a list containing many kinds of
1394 information about a file. Now the list has eleven elements.
1396 The tenth element is `t' if deleting the file and creating another
1397 file of the same name would result in a change in the file's group;
1398 `nil' if there would be no change. You can also think of this as
1399 comparing the file's group with the default group for files created in
1400 the same directory by you.
1402 The eleventh element is the inode number of the file.
1404 ** VMS-only function `file-name-all-versions'.
1406 This function returns a list of all the completions, including version
1407 number, of a specified version-number-less file name. This is like
1408 `file-name-all-completions', except that the latter returns values
1409 that do not include version numbers.
1411 ** VMS-only variable `vms-stmlf-recfm'.
1413 On a VMS system, if this variable is non-nil, Emacs will give newly
1414 created files the record format `stmlf'. This is necessary for files
1415 that must contain lines of arbitrary length, such as compiled Emacs
1418 When writing a new version of an existing file, Emacs always keeps
1419 the same record format as the previous version; so this variable has
1422 This variable has no effect on Unix systems.
1424 ** `insert-file-contents' on an empty file.
1426 This no longer sets the buffer's "modified" flag.
1428 ** New function (VMS only) `define-logical-name':
1430 (define-logical-name LOGICAL TRANSLATION) defines a VMS logical name
1431 LOGICAL whose translation is TRANSLATION. The new name applies to
1432 the current process only.
1434 ** Deleted variable `ask-about-buffer-names'.
1436 If you want buffer names for files to be generated in a special way,
1437 you must redefine `create-file-buffer'.
1439 * Subprocess-related changes.
1441 ** New function `process-list'.
1443 This function takes no arguments and returns a list of all
1444 of Emacs's asynchronous subprocesses.
1446 ** New function `process-exit-status'.
1448 This function, given a process, process name or buffer as argument,
1449 returns the exit status code or signal number of the process.
1450 If the process has not yet exited or died, this function returns 0.
1452 ** Process output ignores `buffer-read-only'.
1454 Output from a process will go into the process's buffer even if the
1455 buffer is read only.
1457 ** Switching buffers in filter functions and sentinels.
1459 Emacs no longer saves and restore the current buffer around calling
1460 the filter and sentinel functions, so these functions can now
1461 permanently alter the selected buffer in a straightforward manner.
1463 ** Specifying environment variables for subprocesses.
1465 When a subprocess is started with `start-process' or `call-process',
1466 the value of the variable `process-environment' is taken to
1467 specify the environment variables to give the subprocess. The
1468 value should be a list of strings, each of the form "VAR=VALUE".
1470 `process-environment' is initialized when Emacs starts up
1471 based on Emacs's environment.
1473 ** New variable `process-connection-type'.
1475 If this variable is `nil', when a subprocess is created, Emacs uses
1476 a pipe rather than a pty to communicate with it. Normally this
1477 variable is `t', telling Emacs to use a pty if ptys are supported
1478 and one is available.
1480 ** New function `waiting-for-user-input-p'.
1482 This function, given a subprocess as argument, returns `t' if that
1483 subprocess appears to be waiting for input sent from Emacs,
1486 ** New hook `shell-set-directory-error-hook'.
1488 The value of this variable is called, with no arguments, whenever
1489 Shell mode gets an error trying to keep track of directory-setting
1490 commands (such as `cd' and `pushd') used in the shell buffer.
1492 * New functions `user-uid' and `user-real-uid'.
1494 These functions take no arguments and return, respectively,
1495 the effective uid and the real uid of the Emacs process.
1496 The value in each case is an integer.
1498 * New variable `print-escape-newlines' controls string printing.
1500 If this variable is non-`nil', then when a Lisp string is printed
1501 by the Lisp printing function `prin1' or `print', newline characters
1502 are printed as `\n' rather than as a literal newline.
1504 * New function `sysnetunam' on HPUX.
1506 This function takes two arguments, a network address PATH and a
1507 login string LOGIN, and executes the system call `netunam'.
1508 It returns `t' if the call succeeds, otherwise `nil'.
1510 News regarding installation:
1512 * Many `s-...' file names changed.
1514 Many `s-...' files have been renamed. All periods in such names,
1515 except the ones just before the final `h', have been changed to
1516 hyphens. Thus, `s-bsd4.2.h' has been renamed to `s-bsd4-2.h'.
1518 This is so a Unix distribution can be moved mechanically to VMS.
1520 * `DOCSTR...' file now called `DOC-...'.
1522 The file of on-line documentation strings, that used to be
1523 `DOCSTR.mm.nn.oo' in this directory, is now called `DOC-mm.nn.oo'.
1524 This is so that it can port to VMS using the standard conventions
1525 for translating filenames for VMS.
1527 This file also now contains the doc strings for variables as
1530 * Emacs no longer uses floating point arithmetic.
1532 This may make it easier to port to some machines.
1534 * Macros `XPNTR' and `XSETPNTR'; flag `DATA_SEG_BITS'.
1536 These macros exclusively are used to unpack a pointer from a Lisp_Object
1537 and to insert a pointer into a Lisp_Object. Redefining them may help
1538 port Emacs to machines in which all pointers to data objects have
1539 certain high bits set.
1541 If `DATA_SEG_BITS' is defined, it should be a number which contains
1542 the high bits to be inclusive or'ed with pointers that are unpacked.
1544 * New flag `HAVE_X_MENU'.
1546 Define this flag in `config.h' in addition to `HAVE_X_WINDOWS'
1547 to enable use of the Emacs interface to X Menus. On some operating
1548 systems, the rest of the X interface works properly but X Menus
1549 do not work; hence this separate flag. See the file `src/xmenu.c'
1550 for more information.
1552 * Macros `ARRAY_MARK_FLAG' and `DONT_COPY_FLAG'.
1554 * `HAVE_ALLOCA' prevents assembly of `alloca.s'.
1556 * `SYSTEM_MALLOC' prevents use of GNU `malloc.c'.
1558 SYSTEM_MALLOC, if defined, means use the system's own `malloc' routines
1559 rather than those that come with Emacs.
1561 Use this only if absolutely necessary, because if it is used you do
1562 not get warnings when space is getting low.
1564 * New flags to control unexec.
1566 See the file `unexec.c' for a long comment on the compilation
1567 switches that suffice to make it work on many machines.
1569 * `PNTR_COMPARISON_TYPE'
1571 Pointers that need to be compared for ordering are converted to this type
1572 first. Normally this is `unsigned int'.
1574 * `HAVE_VFORK', `HAVE_DUP2' and `HAVE_GETTIMEOFDAY'.
1576 These flags just say whether certain system calls are available.
1578 * New macros control compiler switches, linker switches and libraries.
1580 The m- and s- files can now control in a modular fashion the precise
1581 arguments passed to `cc' and `ld'.
1583 LIBS_STANDARD defines the standard C libraries. Default is `-lc'.
1584 LIBS_DEBUG defines the extra libraries to use when debugging. Default `-lg'.
1585 LIBS_SYSTEM can be defined by the s- file to specify extra libraries.
1586 LIBS_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra libraries.
1587 LIBS_TERMCAP defines the libraries for Termcap or Terminfo.
1588 It is defined by default in a complicated fashion but the m- or s- file
1591 LD_SWITCH_SYSTEM can be defined by the s- file to specify extra `ld' switches.
1592 The default is `-X' on BSD systems except those few that use COFF object files.
1593 LD_SWITCH_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra `ld' switches.
1595 C_DEBUG_SWITCH defines the switches to give `cc' when debugging. Default `-g'.
1596 C_OPTIMIZE_SWITCH defines the switches to give `cc' to optimize. Default `-O'.
1597 C_SWITCH_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra `cc' switches.
1601 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
1602 Copyright information:
1604 Copyright (C) 1988, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
1606 Permission is granted to anyone to make or distribute verbatim copies
1607 of this document as received, in any medium, provided that the
1608 copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved,
1609 thus giving the recipient permission to redistribute in turn.
1611 Permission is granted to distribute modified versions
1612 of this document, or of portions of it,
1613 under the above conditions, provided also that they
1614 carry prominent notices stating who last changed them.
1620 arch-tag: 8fed393b-c9c5-47d1-afbb-c0e7a135094a