lisp/help-fns.el

   1 ;;; help-fns.el --- Complex help functions
   2
   3 ;; Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,
   4 ;;   2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
   5
   6 ;; Maintainer: FSF
   7 ;; Keywords: help, internal
   8
   9 ;; This file is part of GNU Emacs.
  10
  11 ;; GNU Emacs is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  12 ;; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
  13 ;; the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option)
  14 ;; any later version.
  15
  16 ;; GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
  17 ;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
  18 ;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
  19 ;; GNU General Public License for more details.
  20
  21 ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
  22 ;; along with GNU Emacs; see the file COPYING.  If not, write to the
  23 ;; Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
  24 ;; Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
  25
  26 ;;; Commentary:
  27
  28 ;; This file contains those help commands which are complicated, and
  29 ;; which may not be used in every session.  For example
  30 ;; `describe-function' will probably be heavily used when doing elisp
  31 ;; programming, but not if just editing C files.  Simpler help commands
  32 ;; are in help.el
  33
  34 ;;; Code:
  35
  36 (require 'help-mode)
  37
  38 ;; Functions
  39
  40 ;;;###autoload
  41 (defun describe-function (function)
  42   "Display the full documentation of FUNCTION (a symbol)."
  43   (interactive
  44    (let ((fn (function-called-at-point))
  45          (enable-recursive-minibuffers t)
  46          val)
  47      (setq val (completing-read (if fn
  48                                     (format "Describe function (default %s): " fn)
  49                                   "Describe function: ")
  50                                 obarray 'fboundp t nil nil
  51                                 (and fn (symbol-name fn))))
  52      (list (if (equal val "")
  53                fn (intern val)))))
  54   (if (null function)
  55       (message "You didn't specify a function")
  56     (help-setup-xref (list #'describe-function function) (interactive-p))
  57     (save-excursion
  58       (with-output-to-temp-buffer (help-buffer)
  59         (prin1 function)
  60         ;; Use " is " instead of a colon so that
  61         ;; it is easier to get out the function name using forward-sexp.
  62         (princ " is ")
  63         (describe-function-1 function)
  64         (print-help-return-message)
  65         (with-current-buffer standard-output
  66           ;; Return the text we displayed.
  67           (buffer-string))))))
  68
  69 (defun help-split-fundoc (docstring def)
  70   "Split a function DOCSTRING into the actual doc and the usage info.
  71 Return (USAGE . DOC) or nil if there's no usage info.
  72 DEF is the function whose usage we're looking for in DOCSTRING."
  73   ;; Functions can get the calling sequence at the end of the doc string.
  74   ;; In cases where `function' has been fset to a subr we can't search for
  75   ;; function's name in the doc string so we use `fn' as the anonymous
  76   ;; function name instead.
  77   (when (and docstring (string-match "\n\n(fn\\(\\( .*\\)?)\\)\\'" docstring))
  78     (cons (format "(%s%s"
  79                   ;; Replace `fn' with the actual function name.
  80                   (if (consp def) "anonymous" def)
  81                   (match-string 1 docstring))
  82           (substring docstring 0 (match-beginning 0)))))
  83
  84 (defun help-add-fundoc-usage (docstring arglist)
  85   "Add the usage info to DOCSTRING.
  86 If DOCSTRING already has a usage info, then just return it unchanged.
  87 The usage info is built from ARGLIST.  DOCSTRING can be nil.
  88 ARGLIST can also be t or a string of the form \"(FUN ARG1 ARG2 ...)\"."
  89   (unless (stringp docstring) (setq docstring "Not documented"))
  90   (if (or (string-match "\n\n(fn\\(\\( .*\\)?)\\)\\'" docstring) (eq arglist t))
  91       docstring
  92     (concat docstring
  93             (if (string-match "\n?\n\\'" docstring)
  94                 (if (< (- (match-end 0) (match-beginning 0)) 2) "\n" "")
  95               "\n\n")
  96             (if (and (stringp arglist)
  97                      (string-match "\\`([^ ]+\\(.*\\))\\'" arglist))
  98                 (concat "(fn" (match-string 1 arglist) ")")
  99               (format "%S" (help-make-usage 'fn arglist))))))
 100
 101 (defun help-function-arglist (def)
 102   ;; Handle symbols aliased to other symbols.
 103   (if (and (symbolp def) (fboundp def)) (setq def (indirect-function def)))
 104   ;; If definition is a macro, find the function inside it.
 105   (if (eq (car-safe def) 'macro) (setq def (cdr def)))
 106   (cond
 107    ((byte-code-function-p def) (aref def 0))
 108    ((eq (car-safe def) 'lambda) (nth 1 def))
 109    ((and (eq (car-safe def) 'autoload) (not (eq (nth 4 def) 'keymap)))
 110     "[Arg list not available until function definition is loaded.]")
 111    (t t)))
 112
 113 (defun help-make-usage (function arglist)
 114   (cons (if (symbolp function) function 'anonymous)
 115         (mapcar (lambda (arg)
 116                   (if (not (symbolp arg))
 117                       (if (and (consp arg) (symbolp (car arg)))
 118                           ;; CL style default values for optional args.
 119                           (cons (intern (upcase (symbol-name (car arg))))
 120                                 (cdr arg))
 121                         arg)
 122                     (let ((name (symbol-name arg)))
 123                       (if (string-match "\\`&" name) arg
 124                         (intern (upcase name))))))
 125                 arglist)))
 126
 127 ;; Could be this, if we make symbol-file do the work below.
 128 ;; (defun help-C-file-name (subr-or-var kind)
 129 ;;   "Return the name of the C file where SUBR-OR-VAR is defined.
 130 ;; KIND should be `var' for a variable or `subr' for a subroutine."
 131 ;;   (symbol-file (if (symbolp subr-or-var) subr-or-var
 132 ;;               (subr-name subr-or-var))
 133 ;;             (if (eq kind 'var) 'defvar 'defun)))
 134 ;;;###autoload
 135 (defun help-C-file-name (subr-or-var kind)
 136   "Return the name of the C file where SUBR-OR-VAR is defined.
 137 KIND should be `var' for a variable or `subr' for a subroutine."
 138   (let ((docbuf (get-buffer-create " *DOC*"))
 139         (name (if (eq 'var kind)
 140                   (concat "V" (symbol-name subr-or-var))
 141                 (concat "F" (subr-name subr-or-var)))))
 142     (with-current-buffer docbuf
 143       (goto-char (point-min))
 144       (if (eobp)
 145           (insert-file-contents-literally
 146            (expand-file-name internal-doc-file-name doc-directory)))
 147       (let ((file (catch 'loop
 148                     (while t
 149                       (let ((pnt (search-forward (concat "\x1f" name "\n"))))
 150                         (re-search-backward "\x1fS\\(.*\\)")
 151                         (let ((file (match-string 1)))
 152                           (if (member file build-files)
 153                               (throw 'loop file)
 154                             (goto-char pnt))))))))
 155         (if (string-match "\\.\\(o\\|obj\\)\\'" file)
 156             (setq file (replace-match ".c" t t file)))
 157         (if (string-match "\\.c\\'" file)
 158             (concat "src/" file)
 159           file)))))
 160
 161 (defface help-argument-name '((((supports :slant italic)) :inherit italic))
 162   "Face to highlight argument names in *Help* buffers."
 163   :group 'help)
 164
 165 (defun help-default-arg-highlight (arg)
 166   "Default function to highlight arguments in *Help* buffers.
 167 It returns ARG in face `help-argument-name'; ARG is also
 168 downcased if it displays differently than the default
 169 face (according to `face-differs-from-default-p')."
 170   (propertize (if (face-differs-from-default-p 'help-argument-name)
 171                   (downcase arg)
 172                 arg)
 173               'face 'help-argument-name))
 174
 175 (defun help-do-arg-highlight (doc args)
 176   (with-syntax-table (make-syntax-table emacs-lisp-mode-syntax-table)
 177     (modify-syntax-entry ?\- "w")
 178     (dolist (arg args doc)
 179       (setq doc (replace-regexp-in-string
 180                  ;; This is heuristic, but covers all common cases
 181                  ;; except ARG1-ARG2
 182                  (concat "\\<"                   ; beginning of word
 183                          "\\(?:[a-z-]*-\\)?"     ; for xxx-ARG
 184                          "\\("
 185                          (regexp-quote arg)
 186                          "\\)"
 187                          "\\(?:es\\|s\\|th\\)?"  ; for ARGth, ARGs
 188                          "\\(?:-[a-z0-9-]+\\)?"  ; for ARG-xxx, ARG-n
 189                          "\\(?:-[{([<`\"].*?\\)?"; for ARG-{x}, (x), <x>, [x], `x'
 190                          "\\>")                  ; end of word
 191                  (help-default-arg-highlight arg)
 192                  doc t t 1)))))
 193
 194 (defun help-highlight-arguments (usage doc &rest args)
 195   (when usage
 196     (with-temp-buffer
 197       (insert usage)
 198       (goto-char (point-min))
 199       (let ((case-fold-search nil)
 200             (next (not (or args (looking-at "\\["))))
 201             (opt nil))
 202         ;; Make a list of all arguments
 203         (skip-chars-forward "^ ")
 204         (while next
 205           (or opt (not (looking-at " &")) (setq opt t))
 206           (if (not (re-search-forward " \\([\\[(]*\\)\\([^] &)\.]+\\)" nil t))
 207               (setq next nil)
 208             (setq args (cons (match-string 2) args))
 209             (when (and opt (string= (match-string 1) "("))
 210               ;; A pesky CL-style optional argument with default value,
 211               ;; so let's skip over it
 212               (search-backward "(")
 213               (goto-char (scan-sexps (point) 1)))))
 214         ;; Highlight aguments in the USAGE string
 215         (setq usage (help-do-arg-highlight (buffer-string) args))
 216         ;; Highlight arguments in the DOC string
 217         (setq doc (and doc (help-do-arg-highlight doc args))))))
 218   ;; Return value is like the one from help-split-fundoc, but highlighted
 219   (cons usage doc))
 220
 221 ;;;###autoload
 222 (defun describe-simplify-lib-file-name (file)
 223   "Simplify a library name FILE to a relative name, and make it a source file."
 224   (if file
 225       ;; Try converting the absolute file name to a library name.
 226       (let ((libname (file-name-nondirectory file)))
 227         ;; Now convert that back to a file name and see if we get
 228         ;; the original one.  If so, they are equivalent.
 229         (if (equal file (locate-file libname load-path '("")))
 230             (if (string-match "[.]elc\\'" libname)
 231                 (substring libname 0 -1)
 232               libname)
 233           file))))
 234
 235 ;;;###autoload
 236 (defun describe-function-1 (function)
 237   (let* ((def (if (symbolp function)
 238                   (symbol-function function)
 239                 function))
 240          file-name string
 241          (beg (if (commandp def) "an interactive " "a ")))
 242     (setq string
 243           (cond ((or (stringp def)
 244                      (vectorp def))
 245                  "a keyboard macro")
 246                 ((subrp def)
 247                  (if (eq 'unevalled (cdr (subr-arity def)))
 248                      (concat beg "special form")
 249                    (concat beg "built-in function")))
 250                 ((byte-code-function-p def)
 251                  (concat beg "compiled Lisp function"))
 252                 ((symbolp def)
 253                  (while (symbolp (symbol-function def))
 254                    (setq def (symbol-function def)))
 255                  (format "an alias for `%s'" def))
 256                 ((eq (car-safe def) 'lambda)
 257                  (concat beg "Lisp function"))
 258                 ((eq (car-safe def) 'macro)
 259                  "a Lisp macro")
 260                 ((eq (car-safe def) 'autoload)
 261                  (setq file-name (nth 1 def))
 262                  (format "%s autoloaded %s"
 263                          (if (commandp def) "an interactive" "an")
 264                          (if (eq (nth 4 def) 'keymap) "keymap"
 265                            (if (nth 4 def) "Lisp macro" "Lisp function"))
 266                          ))
 267                 ((keymapp def)
 268                  (let ((is-full nil)
 269                        (elts (cdr-safe def)))
 270                    (while elts
 271                      (if (char-table-p (car-safe elts))
 272                          (setq is-full t
 273                                elts nil))
 274                      (setq elts (cdr-safe elts)))
 275                    (if is-full
 276                        "a full keymap"
 277                      "a sparse keymap")))
 278                 (t "")))
 279     (princ string)
 280     (with-current-buffer standard-output
 281       (save-excursion
 282         (save-match-data
 283           (if (re-search-backward "alias for `\\([^`']+\\)'" nil t)
 284               (help-xref-button 1 'help-function def)))))
 285     (or file-name
 286         (setq file-name (symbol-file function 'defun)))
 287     (setq file-name (describe-simplify-lib-file-name file-name))
 288     (when (equal file-name "loaddefs.el")
 289       ;; Find the real def site of the preloaded function.
 290       ;; This is necessary only for defaliases.
 291       (let ((location
 292              (condition-case nil
 293                  (find-function-search-for-symbol function nil "loaddefs.el")
 294                (error nil))))
 295         (when location
 296           (with-current-buffer (car location)
 297             (goto-char (cdr location))
 298             (when (re-search-backward
 299                    "^;;; Generated autoloads from \\(.*\\)" nil t)
 300               (setq file-name (match-string 1)))))))
 301     (when (and (null file-name) (subrp def))
 302       ;; Find the C source file name.
 303       (setq file-name (if (get-buffer " *DOC*")
 304                           (help-C-file-name def 'subr)
 305                         'C-source)))
 306     (when file-name
 307       (princ " in `")
 308       ;; We used to add .el to the file name,
 309       ;; but that's completely wrong when the user used load-file.
 310       (princ (if (eq file-name 'C-source) "C source code" file-name))
 311       (princ "'")
 312       ;; Make a hyperlink to the library.
 313       (with-current-buffer standard-output
 314         (save-excursion
 315           (re-search-backward "`\\([^`']+\\)'" nil t)
 316           (help-xref-button 1 'help-function-def function file-name))))
 317     (princ ".")
 318     (terpri)
 319     (when (commandp function)
 320       (if (and (eq function 'self-insert-command)
 321                (eq (key-binding "a") 'self-insert-command)
 322                (eq (key-binding "b") 'self-insert-command)
 323                (eq (key-binding "c") 'self-insert-command))
 324           (princ "It is bound to many ordinary text characters.\n")
 325         (let* ((remapped (command-remapping function))
 326                (keys (where-is-internal
 327                       (or remapped function) overriding-local-map nil nil))
 328                non-modified-keys)
 329           ;; Which non-control non-meta keys run this command?
 330           (dolist (key keys)
 331             (if (member (event-modifiers (aref key 0)) '(nil (shift)))
 332                 (push key non-modified-keys)))
 333           (when remapped
 334             (princ "It is remapped to `")
 335             (princ (symbol-name remapped))
 336             (princ "'"))
 337
 338           (when keys
 339             (princ (if remapped " which is bound to " "It is bound to "))
 340             ;; If lots of ordinary text characters run this command,
 341             ;; don't mention them one by one.
 342             (if (< (length non-modified-keys) 10)
 343                 (princ (mapconcat 'key-description keys ", "))
 344               (dolist (key non-modified-keys)
 345                 (setq keys (delq key keys)))
 346               (if keys
 347                   (progn
 348                     (princ (mapconcat 'key-description keys ", "))
 349                     (princ ", and many ordinary text characters"))
 350                 (princ "many ordinary text characters"))))
 351           (when (or remapped keys non-modified-keys)
 352             (princ ".")
 353             (terpri)))))
 354     (let* ((arglist (help-function-arglist def))
 355            (doc (documentation function))
 356            (usage (help-split-fundoc doc function)))
 357       (with-current-buffer standard-output
 358         ;; If definition is a keymap, skip arglist note.
 359         (unless (keymapp def)
 360           (let* ((use (cond
 361                         (usage (setq doc (cdr usage)) (car usage))
 362                         ((listp arglist)
 363                          (format "%S" (help-make-usage function arglist)))
 364                         ((stringp arglist) arglist)
 365                         ;; Maybe the arglist is in the docstring of the alias.
 366                         ((let ((fun function))
 367                            (while (and (symbolp fun)
 368                                        (setq fun (symbol-function fun))
 369                                        (not (setq usage (help-split-fundoc
 370                                                          (documentation fun)
 371                                                          function)))))
 372                            usage)
 373                          (car usage))
 374                         ((or (stringp def)
 375                              (vectorp def))
 376                          (format "\nMacro: %s" (format-kbd-macro def)))
 377                         (t "[Missing arglist.  Please make a bug report.]")))
 378                  (high (help-highlight-arguments use doc)))
 379             (let ((fill-begin (point)))
 380               (insert (car high) "\n")
 381               (fill-region fill-begin (point)))
 382             (setq doc (cdr high))))
 383         (let ((obsolete (and
 384                          ;; function might be a lambda construct.
 385                          (symbolp function)
 386                          (get function 'byte-obsolete-info))))
 387           (when obsolete
 388             (princ "\nThis function is obsolete")
 389             (when (nth 2 obsolete)
 390               (insert (format " since %s" (nth 2 obsolete))))
 391             (insert ";\n"
 392                     (if (stringp (car obsolete)) (car obsolete)
 393                       (format "use `%s' instead." (car obsolete)))
 394                     "\n"))
 395           (insert "\n"
 396                   (or doc "Not documented.")))))))
 397
 398 \f
 399 ;; Variables
 400
 401 ;;;###autoload
 402 (defun variable-at-point (&optional any-symbol)
 403   "Return the bound variable symbol found at or before point.
 404 Return 0 if there is no such symbol.
 405 If ANY-SYMBOL is non-nil, don't insist the symbol be bound."
 406   (or (condition-case ()
 407           (with-syntax-table emacs-lisp-mode-syntax-table
 408             (save-excursion
 409               (or (not (zerop (skip-syntax-backward "_w")))
 410                   (eq (char-syntax (following-char)) ?w)
 411                   (eq (char-syntax (following-char)) ?_)
 412                   (forward-sexp -1))
 413               (skip-chars-forward "'")
 414               (let ((obj (read (current-buffer))))
 415                 (and (symbolp obj) (boundp obj) obj))))
 416         (error nil))
 417       (let* ((str (find-tag-default))
 418              (sym (if str (intern-soft str))))
 419         (if (and sym (or any-symbol (boundp sym)))
 420             sym
 421           (save-match-data
 422             (when (and str (string-match "\\`\\W*\\(.*?\\)\\W*\\'" str))
 423               (setq sym (intern-soft (match-string 1 str)))
 424               (and (or any-symbol (boundp sym)) sym)))))
 425       0))
 426
 427 ;;;###autoload
 428 (defun describe-variable (variable &optional buffer)
 429   "Display the full documentation of VARIABLE (a symbol).
 430 Returns the documentation as a string, also.
 431 If VARIABLE has a buffer-local value in BUFFER (default to the current buffer),
 432 it is displayed along with the global value."
 433   (interactive
 434    (let ((v (variable-at-point))
 435          (enable-recursive-minibuffers t)
 436          val)
 437      (setq val (completing-read (if (symbolp v)
 438                                     (format
 439                                      "Describe variable (default %s): " v)
 440                                   "Describe variable: ")
 441                                 obarray
 442                                 '(lambda (vv)
 443                                    (or (boundp vv)
 444                                        (get vv 'variable-documentation)))
 445                                 t nil nil
 446                                 (if (symbolp v) (symbol-name v))))
 447      (list (if (equal val "")
 448                v (intern val)))))
 449   (unless (buffer-live-p buffer) (setq buffer (current-buffer)))
 450   (if (not (symbolp variable))
 451       (message "You did not specify a variable")
 452     (save-excursion
 453       (let* ((valvoid (not (with-current-buffer buffer (boundp variable))))
 454              ;; Extract the value before setting up the output buffer,
 455              ;; in case `buffer' *is* the output buffer.
 456              (val (unless valvoid (buffer-local-value variable buffer)))
 457              val-start-pos)
 458         (help-setup-xref (list #'describe-variable variable buffer)
 459                          (interactive-p))
 460         (with-output-to-temp-buffer (help-buffer)
 461           (with-current-buffer buffer
 462             (prin1 variable)
 463             ;; Make a hyperlink to the library if appropriate.  (Don't
 464             ;; change the format of the buffer's initial line in case
 465             ;; anything expects the current format.)
 466             (let ((file-name (symbol-file variable 'defvar)))
 467               (setq file-name (describe-simplify-lib-file-name file-name))
 468               (when (equal file-name "loaddefs.el")
 469                 ;; Find the real def site of the preloaded variable.
 470                 (let ((location
 471                        (condition-case nil
 472                            (find-variable-noselect variable file-name)
 473                          (error nil))))
 474                   (when location
 475                     (with-current-buffer (car location)
 476                       (when (cdr location)
 477                         (goto-char (cdr location)))
 478                       (when (re-search-backward
 479                              "^;;; Generated autoloads from \\(.*\\)" nil t)
 480                         (setq file-name (match-string 1)))))))
 481               (when (and (null file-name)
 482                          (integerp (get variable 'variable-documentation)))
 483                 ;; It's a variable not defined in Elisp but in C.
 484                 (setq file-name
 485                       (if (get-buffer " *DOC*")
 486                           (help-C-file-name variable 'var)
 487                         'C-source)))
 488               (if file-name
 489                   (progn
 490                     (princ " is a variable defined in `")
 491                     (princ (if (eq file-name 'C-source) "C source code" file-name))
 492                     (princ "'.\n")
 493                     (with-current-buffer standard-output
 494                       (save-excursion
 495                         (re-search-backward "`\\([^`']+\\)'" nil t)
 496                         (help-xref-button 1 'help-variable-def
 497                                           variable file-name)))
 498                     (if valvoid
 499                         (princ "It is void as a variable.")
 500                       (princ "Its ")))
 501                 (if valvoid
 502                     (princ " is void as a variable.")
 503                   (princ "'s "))))
 504             (if valvoid
 505                 nil
 506               (with-current-buffer standard-output
 507                 (setq val-start-pos (point))
 508                 (princ "value is ")
 509                 (terpri)
 510                 (let ((from (point)))
 511                   (pp val)
 512                   ;; Hyperlinks in variable's value are quite frequently
 513                   ;; inappropriate e.g C-h v <RET> features <RET>
 514                   ;; (help-xref-on-pp from (point))
 515                   (if (< (point) (+ from 20))
 516                       (delete-region (1- from) from)))))
 517             (terpri)
 518
 519             (when (local-variable-p variable)
 520               (princ (format "%socal in buffer %s; "
 521                              (if (get variable 'permanent-local)
 522                                  "Permanently l" "L")
 523                              (buffer-name)))
 524               (if (not (default-boundp variable))
 525                   (princ "globally void")
 526                 (let ((val (default-value variable)))
 527                   (with-current-buffer standard-output
 528                     (princ "global value is ")
 529                     (terpri)
 530                     ;; Fixme: pp can take an age if you happen to
 531                     ;; ask for a very large expression.  We should
 532                     ;; probably print it raw once and check it's a
 533                     ;; sensible size before prettyprinting.  -- fx
 534                     (let ((from (point)))
 535                       (pp val)
 536                       ;; See previous comment for this function.
 537                       ;; (help-xref-on-pp from (point))
 538                       (if (< (point) (+ from 20))
 539                           (delete-region (1- from) from)))))))
 540             ;; Add a note for variables that have been make-var-buffer-local.
 541             (when (and (local-variable-if-set-p variable)
 542                        (or (not (local-variable-p variable))
 543                            (with-temp-buffer
 544                              (local-variable-if-set-p variable))))
 545               (princ "\nAutomatically becomes buffer-local when set in any fashion.\n"))
 546             (terpri)
 547
 548             ;; If the value is large, move it to the end.
 549             (with-current-buffer standard-output
 550               (when (> (count-lines (point-min) (point-max)) 10)
 551                 ;; Note that setting the syntax table like below
 552                 ;; makes forward-sexp move over a `'s' at the end
 553                 ;; of a symbol.
 554                 (set-syntax-table emacs-lisp-mode-syntax-table)
 555                 (goto-char val-start-pos)
 556                 (delete-region (point) (progn (end-of-line) (point)))
 557                 (save-excursion
 558                   (insert "\n\nValue:")
 559                   (set (make-local-variable 'help-button-cache)
 560                        (point-marker)))
 561                 (insert "value is shown ")
 562                 (insert-button "below"
 563                                'action help-button-cache
 564                                'follow-link t
 565                                'help-echo "mouse-2, RET: show value")
 566                 (insert ".\n\n")))
 567
 568             ;; Mention if it's an alias
 569             (let* ((alias (condition-case nil
 570                              (indirect-variable variable)
 571                            (error variable)))
 572                    (obsolete (get variable 'byte-obsolete-variable))
 573                    (safe-var (get variable 'safe-local-variable))
 574                    (doc (or (documentation-property variable 'variable-documentation)
 575                             (documentation-property alias 'variable-documentation))))
 576               (unless (eq alias variable)
 577                 (princ (format "\nThis variable is an alias for `%s'.\n" alias)))
 578               (if (or obsolete safe-var)
 579                   (terpri))
 580
 581               (when obsolete
 582                 (princ "This variable is obsolete")
 583                 (if (cdr obsolete) (princ (format " since %s" (cdr obsolete))))
 584                 (princ ";") (terpri)
 585                 (princ (if (stringp (car obsolete)) (car obsolete)
 586                          (format "use `%s' instead." (car obsolete))))
 587                 (terpri))
 588               (when safe-var
 589                 (princ "This variable is safe as a file local variable ")
 590                 (princ "if its value\nsatisfies the predicate ")
 591                 (princ (if (byte-code-function-p safe-var)
 592                            "which is byte-compiled expression.\n"
 593                          (format "`%s'.\n" safe-var))))
 594               (princ "\nDocumentation:\n")
 595               (princ (or doc "Not documented as a variable.")))
 596             ;; Make a link to customize if this variable can be customized.
 597             (if (custom-variable-p variable)
 598                 (let ((customize-label "customize"))
 599                   (terpri)
 600                   (terpri)
 601                   (princ (concat "You can " customize-label " this variable."))
 602                   (with-current-buffer standard-output
 603                     (save-excursion
 604                       (re-search-backward
 605                        (concat "\\(" customize-label "\\)") nil t)
 606                       (help-xref-button 1 'help-customize-variable variable)))))
 607             (print-help-return-message)
 608             (save-excursion
 609               (set-buffer standard-output)
 610               ;; Return the text we displayed.
 611               (buffer-string))))))))
 612
 613
 614 ;;;###autoload
 615 (defun describe-syntax (&optional buffer)
 616   "Describe the syntax specifications in the syntax table of BUFFER.
 617 The descriptions are inserted in a help buffer, which is then displayed.
 618 BUFFER defaults to the current buffer."
 619   (interactive)
 620   (setq buffer (or buffer (current-buffer)))
 621   (help-setup-xref (list #'describe-syntax buffer) (interactive-p))
 622   (with-output-to-temp-buffer (help-buffer)
 623     (let ((table (with-current-buffer buffer (syntax-table))))
 624       (with-current-buffer standard-output
 625         (describe-vector table 'internal-describe-syntax-value)
 626         (while (setq table (char-table-parent table))
 627           (insert "\nThe parent syntax table is:")
 628           (describe-vector table 'internal-describe-syntax-value))))))
 629
 630 (defun help-describe-category-set (value)
 631   (insert (cond
 632            ((null value) "default")
 633            ((char-table-p value) "deeper char-table ...")
 634            (t (condition-case err
 635                   (category-set-mnemonics value)
 636                 (error "invalid"))))))
 637
 638 ;;;###autoload
 639 (defun describe-categories (&optional buffer)
 640   "Describe the category specifications in the current category table.
 641 The descriptions are inserted in a buffer, which is then displayed.
 642 If BUFFER is non-nil, then describe BUFFER's category table instead.
 643 BUFFER should be a buffer or a buffer name."
 644   (interactive)
 645   (setq buffer (or buffer (current-buffer)))
 646   (help-setup-xref (list #'describe-categories buffer) (interactive-p))
 647   (with-output-to-temp-buffer (help-buffer)
 648     (let ((table (with-current-buffer buffer (category-table))))
 649       (with-current-buffer standard-output
 650         (describe-vector table 'help-describe-category-set)
 651         (let ((docs (char-table-extra-slot table 0)))
 652           (if (or (not (vectorp docs)) (/= (length docs) 95))
 653               (insert "Invalid first extra slot in this char table\n")
 654             (insert "Meanings of mnemonic characters are:\n")
 655             (dotimes (i 95)
 656               (let ((elt (aref docs i)))
 657                 (when elt
 658                   (insert (+ i ?\s) ": " elt "\n"))))
 659             (while (setq table (char-table-parent table))
 660               (insert "\nThe parent category table is:")
 661               (describe-vector table 'help-describe-category-set))))))))
 662
 663 (provide 'help-fns)
 664
 665 ;; arch-tag: 9e10331c-ae81-4d13-965d-c4819aaab0b3
 666 ;;; help-fns.el ends here