1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000,
3 @c 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @node Frames, International, Windows, Top
6 @chapter Frames and Graphical Displays
9 When using a graphical display, you can create multiple system-level
10 ``windows'' in a single Emacs session. We refer to these system-level
11 windows as @dfn{frames}. A frame initially contains a single Emacs
12 window; however, you can subdivide this Emacs window into smaller
13 windows, all fitting into the same frame. Each frame normally
14 contains its own echo area and minibuffer.
16 To avoid confusion, we reserve the word ``window'' for the
17 subdivisions that Emacs implements, and never use it to refer to a
20 Any editing you do in one frame affects the other frames. For
21 instance, if you put text in the kill ring in one frame, you can yank
22 it in another frame. If you exit Emacs through @kbd{C-x C-c} in one
23 frame, it terminates all the frames. To delete just one frame, use
24 @kbd{C-x 5 0} (that is zero, not @kbd{o}).
26 Emacs compiled for MS-DOS emulates some windowing functionality,
27 so that you can use many of the features described in this chapter.
29 @xref{MS-DOS Mouse,,,emacs-xtra,Specialized Emacs Features}.
36 * Cut and Paste:: Mouse commands for cut and paste.
37 * Mouse References:: Using the mouse to select an item from a list.
38 * Menu Mouse Clicks:: Mouse clicks that bring up menus.
39 * Mode Line Mouse:: Mouse clicks on the mode line.
40 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional Emacs frames with various contents.
41 * Frame Commands:: Iconifying, deleting, and switching frames.
42 * Fonts:: Changing the frame font.
43 * Speedbar:: How to make and use a speedbar frame.
44 * Multiple Displays:: How one Emacs job can talk to several displays.
45 * Special Buffer Frames:: You can make certain buffers have their own frames.
46 * Frame Parameters:: Changing the colors and other modes of frames.
47 * Scroll Bars:: How to enable and disable scroll bars; how to use them.
48 * Wheeled Mice:: Using mouse wheels for scrolling.
49 * Drag and Drop:: Using drag and drop to open files and insert text.
50 * Menu Bars:: Enabling and disabling the menu bar.
51 * Tool Bars:: Enabling and disabling the tool bar.
52 * Dialog Boxes:: Controlling use of dialog boxes.
53 * Tooltips:: Displaying information at the current mouse position.
54 * Mouse Avoidance:: Preventing the mouse pointer from obscuring text.
55 * Non-Window Terminals:: Multiple frames on terminals that show only one.
56 * Text-Only Mouse:: Using the mouse in text-only terminals.
60 @section Killing and Yanking on Graphical Displays
62 This section describes commands for selecting a region, killing, and
63 yanking using the mouse.
66 * Mouse Commands:: Moving, cutting, and pasting, with the mouse.
67 * Word and Line Mouse:: Mouse commands for selecting whole words or lines.
68 * Cut/Paste Other App:: Transfering text between Emacs and other apps.
69 * Secondary Selection:: Cutting without altering point and mark.
70 * Clipboard:: Using the clipboard for selections.
74 @subsection Mouse Commands for Editing
75 @cindex mouse buttons (what they do)
82 Move point to where you click (@code{mouse-set-point}).
85 Activate the region around the text selected by dragging, and copy it
86 to the kill ring (@code{mouse-set-region}).
89 Yank the last killed text at the click position
90 (@code{mouse-yank-at-click}).
93 If the region is active, move the nearer end of the region to the
94 click position; otherwise, set mark at the current value of point and
95 point at the click position. Save the resulting region in the kill
96 ring; on a second click, kill it (@code{mouse-save-then-kill}).
99 @findex mouse-set-point
100 The most basic mouse command is @code{mouse-set-point}, which is
101 called by clicking with the left mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-1}, in the
102 text area of a window. This moves point to the position where you
105 @vindex x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position
106 Normally, Emacs does not distinguish between ordinary mouse clicks
107 and clicks that select a frame. When you click on a frame to select
108 it, that also changes the selected window and cursor position
109 according to the mouse click position. On the X window system, you
110 can change this behavior by setting the variable
111 @code{x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position} to @code{t}. Then the
112 first click selects the frame, but does not affect the selected window
113 or cursor position. If you click again in the same place, that click
114 will be in the selected frame, so it will change the window or cursor
117 @findex mouse-set-region
118 @vindex mouse-drag-copy-region
119 Holding down @kbd{Mouse-1} and ``dragging'' the mouse over a stretch
120 of text activates the region around that text
121 (@code{mouse-set-region}). @xref{Mark}. Emacs places the mark where
122 you started holding down the mouse button, and point where you release
123 it. In addition, the region is copied into the kill ring (@pxref{Kill
124 Ring}). If you don't want Emacs to copy the region, change the
125 variable @code{mouse-drag-copy-region} to @code{nil}.
127 @vindex mouse-scroll-min-lines
128 If you move the mouse off the top or bottom of the window while
129 dragging, the window scrolls at a steady rate until you move the mouse
130 back into the window. This way, you can select regions that don't fit
131 entirely on the screen. The number of lines scrolled per step depends
132 on how far away from the window edge the mouse has gone; the variable
133 @code{mouse-scroll-min-lines} specifies a minimum step size.
135 @findex mouse-yank-at-click
136 @vindex mouse-yank-at-point
137 Clicking with the middle mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-2}, moves point to
138 the position where you clicked and performs a yank
139 (@code{mouse-yank-at-click}). @xref{Yanking}. If you change the
140 variable @code{mouse-yank-at-point} to a non-@code{nil} value,
141 @kbd{Mouse-2} does not move point. Then it does not matter where you
142 click, or even which of the frame's windows you click on; the yank
143 occurs at the existing point. This variable also affects yanking the
144 primary and secondary selections (@pxref{Cut/Paste Other App}).
146 @findex mouse-save-then-kill
147 Clicking with the right mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-3}, runs the
148 command @code{mouse-save-then-kill}. This performs several actions
149 depending on where you click and the status of the region:
153 If no region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} activates the region,
154 placing the mark where point was and point at the clicked position.
155 In addition, the text in the region is copied to the kill ring.
158 If a region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} adjusts the nearer end
159 of the region by moving it to the clicked position. The adjusted
160 region's text is copied to the kill ring; if the text in the original
161 region was already on the kill ring, it replaces it there.
164 If you originally specified the region using a double or triple
165 @kbd{Mouse-1}, so that the region is defined to consist of entire
166 words or lines, then adjusting the region with @kbd{Mouse-3} also
167 proceeds by entire words or lines.
170 If you use @kbd{Mouse-3} a second time consecutively, at the same
171 place, that kills the region already selected. Thus, the simplest way
172 to kill text with the mouse is to click @kbd{Mouse-1} at one end, then
173 click @kbd{Mouse-3} twice at the other end. To copy the text into the
174 kill ring without deleting it from the buffer, press @kbd{Mouse-3}
175 just once---or just drag across the text with @kbd{Mouse-1}. Then you
176 can copy it elsewhere by yanking it.
179 Whenever you set the region using any of the mouse commands
180 described above, the mark will be deactivated by any subsequent
181 unshifted cursor motion command, in addition to the usual ways of
182 deactivating the mark. @xref{Shift Selection}. While the region
183 remains active, typing @key{Backspace} or @key{Delete} deletes the
184 text in that region and deactivates the mark; this behavior follows a
185 convention established by other graphical programs, and it does
186 @emph{not} apply when you set the region any other way, including
187 shift-selection (@pxref{Shift Selection}).
189 @cindex Delete Selection mode
190 @cindex mode, Delete Selection
191 @findex delete-selection-mode
192 Many graphical applications also follow the convention that
193 insertion while text is selected deletes the selected text. You can
194 make Emacs behave this way by enabling Delete Selection mode.
197 @node Word and Line Mouse
198 @subsection Mouse Commands for Words and Lines
200 These variants of @kbd{Mouse-1} select entire words or lines at a
201 time. Emacs activates the region around the selected text, which is
202 also copied to the kill ring.
206 Select the text around the word which you click on.
208 Double-clicking on a character with ``symbol'' syntax (such as
209 underscore, in C mode) selects the symbol surrounding that character.
210 Double-clicking on a character with open- or close-parenthesis syntax
211 selects the parenthetical grouping which that character starts or
212 ends. Double-clicking on a character with string-delimiter syntax
213 (such as a singlequote or doublequote in C) selects the string
214 constant (Emacs uses heuristics to figure out whether that character
215 is the beginning or the end of it).
217 @item Double-Drag-Mouse-1
218 Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole words.
221 Select the line you click on.
223 @item Triple-Drag-Mouse-1
224 Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole lines.
227 @node Cut/Paste Other App
228 @subsection Cut and Paste with Other Window Applications
230 @cindex X cutting and pasting
232 @cindex primary selection
233 @cindex selection, primary
234 When running Emacs under the X window system, you can easily
235 transfer text between Emacs and other X applications using the
236 @dfn{primary selection} (also called the @dfn{X selection}). This is
237 @emph{not} the same thing as the @dfn{clipboard}, which is a separate
238 facility used on desktop environments such as Gnome, and on operating
239 systems such as Microsoft Windows (@pxref{Clipboard}).
241 Under X, whenever you select some text in Emacs by dragging or
242 clicking the mouse (@pxref{Mouse Commands}), it is also saved in the
243 primary selection. You can then @dfn{paste} that text into any other
244 X application, usually by clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} in that application.
245 Unlike the Emacs kill ring (@pxref{Kill Ring}), the primary selection
246 has no ``memory'': each time you save something in the primary
247 selection, either in Emacs or in another X application, the previous
248 contents of the primary selection are lost.
250 Whenever you kill some text using a command such as @kbd{C-w}
251 (@code{kill-region}), or copy it into the kill ring using a command
252 such as @kbd{M-w} (@code{kill-ring-save}), that text is also saved in
253 the primary selection. @xref{Killing}.
255 @vindex select-active-regions
256 If you set the region using the keyboard---for instance, by typing
257 @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} and moving point away from the mark---the text in
258 the region is not normally saved to the primary selection. However,
259 if you change the variable @code{select-active-regions} to @code{t},
260 the region is saved to the primary selection whenever you activate the
261 mark. Each change to the region also updates the primary selection.
263 @vindex yank-pop-change-selection
264 If you change @code{yank-pop-change-selection} to @code{t}, rotating
265 the kill ring with @kbd{M-y} (@code{yank-pop}) also saves the new yank
266 to the primary selection (@pxref{Yanking}).
268 @vindex save-interprogram-paste-before-kill
269 If you change @code{save-interprogram-paste-before-kill} to
270 @code{t}, each kill command first saves the existing selection onto
271 the kill ring. This prevents you from losing the existing selection,
272 at the risk of large memory consumption if other applications generate
276 @vindex x-cut-buffer-max
277 Whenever Emacs saves some text to the primary selection, it may also
278 save it to the @dfn{cut buffer}. The cut buffer is an obsolete
279 predecessor to the primary selection; most modern applications do not
280 use it. Saving text to the cut buffer is slow and inefficient, so
281 Emacs only does it if the text is shorter than the value of
282 @code{x-cut-buffer-max} (20000 characters by default).
284 You can yank the primary selection into Emacs using the usual yank
285 commands, such as @kbd{C-y} (@code{yank}) and @kbd{Mouse-2}
286 (@code{mouse-yank-at-click}). These commands actually check the
287 primary selection before referring to the kill ring; if no primary
288 selection is available, the kill ring contents are used. To prevent
289 yank commands from accessing the primary selection, set the variable
290 @code{x-select-enable-primary} to @code{nil}.
292 The standard coding system for the primary selection is
293 @code{compound-text-with-extensions}. You may find that the pasted
294 text is not what you expected. In such a case, you can specify
295 another coding system for the selection by typing @kbd{C-x @key{RET}
296 x} or @kbd{C-x @key{RET} X}. Alternatively, you can request a
297 different data type by modifying the variable
298 @code{x-select-request-type}. @xref{Communication Coding}.
300 @node Secondary Selection
301 @subsection Secondary Selection
302 @cindex secondary selection
304 In addition to the primary selection, the X Window System provides a
305 second similar facility known as the @dfn{secondary selection}.
306 Nowadays, few X applications make use of the secondary selection, but
307 you can access it using the following Emacs commands:
310 @findex mouse-set-secondary
311 @kindex M-Drag-Mouse-1
313 Set the secondary selection, with one end at the place where you press
314 down the button, and the other end at the place where you release it
315 (@code{mouse-set-secondary}). The selected text is highlighted, using
316 the @code{secondary-selection} face, as you drag. The window scrolls
317 automatically if you drag the mouse off the top or bottom of the
318 window, just like @code{mouse-set-region} (@pxref{Mouse Commands}).
320 This command does not alter the kill ring.
322 @findex mouse-start-secondary
325 Set one endpoint for the @dfn{secondary selection}
326 (@code{mouse-start-secondary}).
328 @findex mouse-secondary-save-then-kill
331 Set the secondary selection, with one end at the position clicked and
332 the other at the position specified with @kbd{M-Mouse-1}
333 (@code{mouse-secondary-save-then-kill}). This also puts the selected
334 text in the kill ring. A second @kbd{M-Mouse-3} at the same place
335 kills the secondary selection just made.
337 @findex mouse-yank-secondary
340 Insert the secondary selection where you click, placing point at the
341 end of the yanked text (@code{mouse-yank-secondary}).
344 Double or triple clicking of @kbd{M-Mouse-1} operates on words and
345 lines, much like @kbd{Mouse-1}.
347 If @code{mouse-yank-at-point} is non-@code{nil}, @kbd{M-Mouse-2} yanks
348 at point. Then it does not matter precisely where you click, or even
349 which of the frame's windows you click on. @xref{Mouse Commands}.
352 @subsection Using the Clipboard
355 In desktop environments such as Gnome, and operating systems such as
356 Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, you can transfer data (usually text)
357 between different applications using the @dfn{clipboard}. The
358 clipboard is distinct from the primary selection and secondary
359 selection discussed earlier. You can access the clipboard through the
360 @samp{Edit} menu of the menu bar (@pxref{Menu Bar}).
363 @findex clipboard-kill-region
364 The command @code{clipboard-kill-region}, which is bound to the
365 @code{Cut} menu item, kills the region and saves it in the clipboard.
368 @findex clipboard-kill-ring-save
369 The command @code{clipboard-kill-ring-save}, which is bound to the
370 @code{Copy} menu item, copies the region to the kill ring and saves it
373 @findex clipboard-yank
375 The @code{Paste} menu item in the Edit menu yanks the contents of
376 the clipboard at point (@code{clipboard-yank}).
378 @vindex x-select-enable-clipboard
379 You can customize the variable @code{x-select-enable-clipboard} to
380 make the Emacs yank functions consult the clipboard before the primary
381 selection, and to make the kill functions to store in the clipboard as
382 well as the primary selection. Otherwise, these commands do not
383 access the clipboard at all. Using the clipboard is the default on
384 MS-Windows and Mac OS, but not on other systems.
386 @node Mouse References
387 @section Following References with the Mouse
388 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(selection)}
389 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(selection)}
391 @vindex mouse-highlight
392 Some Emacs buffers include @dfn{buttons}. A button is a piece of
393 text that performs some action when you activate it, such as following
394 a reference. Usually, a button's text is visually highlighted: it is
395 underlined, or a box is drawn around it. If you move the mouse over a
396 button, the shape of the mouse cursor changes and the button lights up
397 (if you change the variable @code{mouse-highlight} to @code{nil},
398 Emacs disables this highlighting).
400 You can activate a button by moving point to it and typing
401 @key{RET}, or by clicking either @kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2} on the
402 button. For example, typing @key{RET} or clicking on a file name in a
403 Dired buffer visits that file (@pxref{Dired}). Doing it on an error
404 message in the @samp{*Compilation*} buffer goes to the source code for
405 that error message (@pxref{Compilation}). Doing it on a completion in
406 the @samp{*Completions*} buffer chooses that completion
407 (@pxref{Completion}).
409 Although clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button usually activates that
410 button, if you hold the mouse button down for a short period of time
411 before releasing it (specifically, for more than 450 milliseconds),
412 then Emacs moves point where you clicked instead. This behavior
413 allows you to use the mouse to move point over a button without
414 following it. Dragging---moving the mouse while it is held down---has
415 its usual behavior of setting the region, even if you drag from or
418 @vindex mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows
419 Normally, clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button activates the button
420 even if it is in a nonselected window. If you change the variable
421 @code{mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows} to @code{nil}, clicking
422 @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button in an un-selected window moves point to the
423 clicked position and selects that window, without activating the
426 @vindex mouse-1-click-follows-link
427 In Emacs versions before 22, only @kbd{Mouse-2} activates buttons
428 and @kbd{Mouse-1} always sets point. If you prefer this older
429 behavior, set the variable @code{mouse-1-click-follows-link} to
430 @code{nil}. This variable also lets you choose various other
431 alternatives for following links with the mouse. Type @kbd{C-h v
432 mouse-1-click-follows-link @key{RET}} for more details.
434 @node Menu Mouse Clicks
435 @section Mouse Clicks for Menus
437 Several mouse clicks with the @key{CTRL} and @key{SHIFT} modifiers
443 This menu is for selecting a buffer.
445 The MSB (``mouse select buffer'') global minor mode makes this
446 menu smarter and more customizable. @xref{Buffer Menus}.
450 This menu is for specifying faces and other text properties
451 for editing formatted text. @xref{Formatted Text}.
455 This menu is mode-specific. For most modes if Menu-bar mode is on,
456 this menu has the same items as all the mode-specific menu-bar menus
457 put together. Some modes may specify a different menu for this
458 button.@footnote{Some systems use @kbd{Mouse-3} for a mode-specific
459 menu. We took a survey of users, and found they preferred to keep
460 @kbd{Mouse-3} for selecting and killing regions. Hence the decision
461 to use @kbd{C-Mouse-3} for this menu. To use @kbd{Mouse-3} instead,
462 do @code{(global-set-key [mouse-3] 'mouse-popup-menubar-stuff)}.} If
463 Menu-bar mode is off, this menu contains all the items which would be
464 present in the menu bar---not just the mode-specific ones---so that
465 you can access them without having to display the menu bar.
468 This menu is for changing the default face within the window's buffer.
469 @xref{Temporary Face Changes}.
472 @node Mode Line Mouse
473 @section Mode Line Mouse Commands
474 @cindex mode line, mouse
475 @cindex mouse on mode line
477 You can use mouse clicks on window mode lines to select and manipulate
480 Some areas of the mode line, such as the buffer name, and major and minor
481 mode names, have their own special mouse bindings. These areas are
482 highlighted when you hold the mouse over them, and information about
483 the special bindings will be displayed (@pxref{Tooltips}). This
484 section's commands do not apply in those areas.
488 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(mode line)}
489 @kbd{Mouse-1} on a mode line selects the window it belongs to. By
490 dragging @kbd{Mouse-1} on the mode line, you can move it, thus
491 changing the height of the windows above and below. Changing heights
492 with the mouse in this way never deletes windows, it just refuses to
493 make any window smaller than the minimum height.
496 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
497 @kbd{Mouse-2} on a mode line expands that window to fill its frame.
500 @kindex Mouse-3 @r{(mode line)}
501 @kbd{Mouse-3} on a mode line deletes the window it belongs to. If the
502 frame has only one window, it buries the current buffer instead, and
503 switches to another buffer.
506 @kindex C-mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
507 @kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a mode line splits the window above
508 horizontally, above the place in the mode line where you click.
511 @kindex C-Mouse-2 @r{(scroll bar)}
512 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(scroll bar)}
513 Using @kbd{Mouse-1} on the divider between two side-by-side mode
514 lines, you can move the vertical boundary left or right. Using
515 @kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a scroll bar splits the corresponding window
516 vertically. @xref{Split Window}.
518 @node Creating Frames
519 @section Creating Frames
520 @cindex creating frames
523 The prefix key @kbd{C-x 5} is analogous to @kbd{C-x 4}, with
524 parallel subcommands. The difference is that @kbd{C-x 5} commands
525 create a new frame rather than just a new window in the selected frame
526 (@pxref{Pop Up Window}). If an existing visible or iconified
527 (``minimized'') frame already displays the requested material, these
528 commands use the existing frame, after raising or deiconifying
529 (``un-minimizing'') as necessary.
531 The various @kbd{C-x 5} commands differ in how they find or create the
537 @findex make-frame-command
538 Create a new frame (@code{make-frame-command}).
539 @item C-x 5 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}
540 Select buffer @var{bufname} in another frame. This runs
541 @code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}.
542 @item C-x 5 f @var{filename} @key{RET}
543 Visit file @var{filename} and select its buffer in another frame. This
544 runs @code{find-file-other-frame}. @xref{Visiting}.
545 @item C-x 5 d @var{directory} @key{RET}
546 Select a Dired buffer for directory @var{directory} in another frame.
547 This runs @code{dired-other-frame}. @xref{Dired}.
549 Start composing a mail message in another frame. This runs
550 @code{mail-other-frame}. It is the other-frame variant of @kbd{C-x m}.
553 Find a tag in the current tag table in another frame. This runs
554 @code{find-tag-other-frame}, the multiple-frame variant of @kbd{M-.}.
556 @item C-x 5 r @var{filename} @key{RET}
558 @findex find-file-read-only-other-frame
559 Visit file @var{filename} read-only, and select its buffer in another
560 frame. This runs @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
564 @cindex default-frame-alist
565 @cindex initial-frame-alist
566 @cindex face customization, in init file
567 @cindex color customization, in init file
568 You can control the appearance of new frames you create by setting the
569 frame parameters in @code{default-frame-alist}. You can use the
570 variable @code{initial-frame-alist} to specify parameters that affect
571 only the initial frame. @xref{Initial Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs
572 Lisp Reference Manual}, for more information.
574 @cindex font (default)
575 Here is an example of using @code{default-frame-alist} to specify
576 the default foreground color and font:
579 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "10x20"))
580 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(foreground-color . "blue"))
584 By putting such customizations in your init file, you can control the
585 appearance of all the frames Emacs creates, including the initial one
586 (@pxref{Init File}). @xref{Fonts}, for other ways to set the default
590 @section Frame Commands
592 The following commands let you create, delete and operate on frames:
596 @kindex C-z @r{(X windows)}
597 @findex suspend-frame
598 Minimize (or ``iconify) the selected Emacs frame
599 (@code{suspend-frame}). @xref{Exiting}.
604 Delete the selected frame (@code{delete-frame}). This is not allowed
605 if there is only one frame.
610 Select another frame, raise it, and warp the mouse to it. If you
611 repeat this command, it cycles through all the frames on your
616 @findex delete-other-frames
617 Delete all frames except the selected one.
620 The @kbd{C-x 5 0} (@code{delete-frame}) command will never delete
621 the last frame, to prevent you from losing the ability to interact
622 with the Emacs process. Note that when Emacs is run as a daemon
623 (@pxref{Emacs Server}), there is always a ``virtual frame'' that
624 remains after all the ordinary, interactive frames are deleted. In
625 this case, @kbd{C-x 5 0} can delete the last interactive frame; you
626 can use @command{emacsclient} to reconnect to the Emacs session.
628 @vindex focus-follows-mouse
629 On X, you may have to tell Emacs how the system (or the window
630 manager) handles focus-switching between windows, in order for the
631 command @kbd{C-x 5 o} (@code{other-frame}) to work properly.
632 Unfortunately, there is no way for Emacs to detect this automatically,
633 so you should set the variable @code{focus-follows-mouse}. If simply
634 moving the mouse onto a window selects it and gives it focus, the
635 variable should be @code{t}; if you have to click on the window to
636 select it, the variable should be @code{nil}. The default is
639 The window manager that is part of MS-Windows always gives focus to
640 a frame that raises, so this variable has no effect in the native
641 MS-Windows build of Emacs.
647 By default, Emacs displays text in X using a 12-point monospace
648 font. There are several different ways to specify a different font:
652 Click on @samp{Set Default Font} in the @samp{Options} menu. To save
653 this for future sessions, click on @samp{Save Options} in the
657 Add a line to your init file (@pxref{Init File}), modifying the
658 variable @code{default-frame-alist} to specify the @code{font}
659 parameter (@pxref{Creating Frames}), like this:
662 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "DejaVu Sans Mono-12"))
665 @cindex X defaults file
666 @cindex X resources file
668 Add an @samp{emacs.font} X resource setting to your X resource file,
672 emacs.font: DejaVu Sans Mono-12
676 You must restart X, or use the @command{xrdb} command, for the X
677 resources file to take effect. @xref{Resources}. When specifying a
678 font in your X resources file, you should not quote it.
681 If you are running Emacs on the GNOME desktop, you can tell Emacs to
682 use the default system font by setting the variable
683 @code{font-use-system-font} to @code{t} (the default is @code{nil}).
684 For this to work, Emacs must be compiled with Gconf support; this is
685 done automatically if the libraries are present at compile time.
688 Use the command line option @samp{-fn} (or @samp{--font}). @xref{Font
693 On X, there are four different ways to express a ``font name''. The
694 first is to use a @dfn{Fontconfig pattern}. Fontconfig patterns have
698 @var{fontname}[-@var{fontsize}][:@var{name1}=@var{values1}][:@var{name2}=@var{values2}]...
702 Within this format, any of the elements in braces may be omitted.
703 Here, @var{fontname} is the @dfn{family name} of the font, such as
704 @samp{Monospace} or @samp{DejaVu Serif}; @var{fontsize} is the
705 @dfn{point size} of the font (one @dfn{printer's point} is about 1/72
706 of an inch); and the @samp{@var{name}=@var{values}} entries specify
707 settings such as the slant and weight of the font. Each @var{values}
708 may be a single value, or a list of values separated by commas. In
709 addition, some property values are valid with only one kind of
710 property name, in which case the @samp{@var{name}=} part may be
713 Here is a list of common font properties:
717 One of @samp{italic}, @samp{oblique} or @samp{roman}.
720 One of @samp{light}, @samp{medium}, @samp{demibold}, @samp{bold} or
724 Some fonts define special styles which are a combination of slant and
725 weight. For instance, @samp{Dejavu Sans} defines the @samp{book}
726 style, which overrides the slant and weight properties.
729 One of @samp{condensed}, @samp{normal}, or @samp{expanded}.
732 One of @samp{monospace}, @samp{proportional}, @samp{dual-width}, or
737 Here are some examples of Fontconfig patterns:
743 DejaVu Sans Mono:bold:italic
744 Monospace-12:weight=bold:slant=italic
747 See the Fontconfig manual for a more detailed description of
748 Fontconfig patterns. This manual is located in the file
749 @file{fontconfig-user.html}, distributed with Fontconfig. It is also
750 available online at @url{http://fontconfig.org/fontconfig-user.html}.
751 In particular, that manual describes additional font properties that
752 influence how the font is hinted, antialiased, or scaled.
754 The second way to specify a font is to use a @dfn{GTK font
755 description}. These have the syntax
758 @var{fontname} [@var{properties}] [@var{fontsize}]
762 where @var{fontname} is the family name, @var{properties} is a list of
763 property values separated by spaces, and @var{fontsize} is the point
764 size. The properties that you may specify are as follows:
768 One of @samp{roman}, @samp{italic} or @samp{oblique}. If omitted, the
769 @samp{roman} style is used.
771 One of @samp{medium}, @samp{ultra-light}, @samp{light},
772 @samp{semi-bold}, or @samp{bold}. If omitted, @samp{medium} weight is
777 Here are some examples of GTK font descriptions:
781 Monospace Bold Italic 12
785 @cindex X Logical Font Description
786 The third way to specify a font is to use an @dfn{XLFD} (@dfn{X
787 Logical Font Description}). This is the traditional method for
788 specifying fonts under X. Each XLFD consists of fourteen words or
789 numbers, separated by dashes, like this:
792 -misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
796 A wildcard character (@samp{*}) in an XLFD matches any sequence of
797 characters (including none), and @samp{?} matches any single
798 character. However, matching is implementation-dependent, and can be
799 inaccurate when wildcards match dashes in a long name. For reliable
800 results, supply all 14 dashes and use wildcards only within a field.
801 Case is insignificant in an XLFD. The syntax for an XLFD is as
805 -@var{maker}-@var{family}-@var{weight}-@var{slant}-@var{widthtype}-@var{style}@dots{}
806 @dots{}-@var{pixels}-@var{height}-@var{horiz}-@var{vert}-@var{spacing}-@var{width}-@var{registry}-@var{encoding}
810 The entries have the following meanings:
814 The name of the font manufacturer.
816 The name of the font family (e.g. @samp{courier}).
818 The font weight---normally either @samp{bold}, @samp{medium} or
819 @samp{light}. Some font names support other values.
821 The font slant---normally @samp{r} (roman), @samp{i} (italic),
822 @samp{o} (oblique), @samp{ri} (reverse italic), or @samp{ot} (other).
823 Some font names support other values.
825 The font width---normally @samp{condensed}, @samp{extended},
826 @samp{semicondensed} or @samp{normal} (some font names support other
829 An optional additional style name. Usually it is empty---most long
830 font names have two hyphens in a row at this point.
832 The font height, in pixels.
834 The font height on the screen, measured in tenths of a printer's
835 point. This is the point size of the font, times ten. For a given
836 vertical resolution, @var{height} and @var{pixels} are proportional;
837 therefore, it is common to specify just one of them and use @samp{*}
840 The horizontal resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
841 the font is intended.
843 The vertical resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
844 the font is intended. Normally the resolution of the fonts on your
845 system is the right value for your screen; therefore, you normally
846 specify @samp{*} for this and @var{horiz}.
848 This is @samp{m} (monospace), @samp{p} (proportional) or @samp{c}
851 The average character width, in pixels, multiplied by ten.
854 The X font character set that the font depicts. (X font character
855 sets are not the same as Emacs character sets, but they are similar.)
856 You can use the @command{xfontsel} program to check which choices you
857 have. Normally you should use @samp{iso8859} for @var{registry} and
858 @samp{1} for @var{encoding}.
861 The fourth and final method of specifying a font is to use a ``font
862 nickname''. Certain fonts have shorter nicknames, which you can use
863 instead of a normal font specification. For instance, @samp{6x13} is
867 -misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
870 @cindex client-side fonts
871 @cindex server-side fonts
872 On X, Emacs recognizes two types of fonts: @dfn{client-side} fonts,
873 which are provided by the Xft and Fontconfig libraries, and
874 @dfn{server-side} fonts, which are provided by the X server itself.
875 Most client-side fonts support advanced font features such as
876 antialiasing and subpixel hinting, while server-side fonts do not.
877 Fontconfig and GTK patterns match only client-side fonts.
879 @cindex listing system fonts
880 You will probably want to use a fixed-width default font---that is,
881 a font in which all characters have the same width. For Xft and
882 Fontconfig fonts, you can use the @command{fc-list} command to list
883 the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
886 fc-list :spacing=mono fc-list :spacing=charcell
890 For server-side X fonts, you can use the @command{xlsfonts} program to
891 list the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
894 xlsfonts -fn '*x*' | egrep "^[0-9]+x[0-9]+"
895 xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-m*'
896 xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-c*'
900 Any font with @samp{m} or @samp{c} in the @var{spacing} field of the
901 XLFD is a fixed-width font. To see what a particular font looks like,
902 use the @command{xfd} command. For example:
909 displays the entire font @samp{6x13}.
911 While running Emacs, you can also set the font of a specific kind of
912 text (@pxref{Faces}), or a particular frame (@pxref{Frame
916 @section Speedbar Frames
919 @cindex attached frame (of speedbar)
920 The @dfn{speedbar} is a special frame for conveniently navigating in
921 or operating on another frame. The speedbar, when it exists, is
922 always associated with a specific frame, called its @dfn{attached
923 frame}; all speedbar operations act on that frame.
925 Type @kbd{M-x speedbar} to create the speedbar and associate it with
926 the current frame. To dismiss the speedbar, type @kbd{M-x speedbar}
927 again, or select the speedbar and type @kbd{q}. (You can also delete
928 the speedbar frame like any other Emacs frame.) If you wish to
929 associate the speedbar with a different frame, dismiss it and call
930 @kbd{M-x speedbar} from that frame.
932 The speedbar can operate in various modes. Its default mode is
933 @dfn{File Display} mode, which shows the files in the current
934 directory of the selected window of the attached frame, one file per
935 line. Clicking on a file name visits that file in the selected window
936 of the attached frame, and clicking on a directory name shows that
937 directory in the speedbar (@pxref{Mouse References}). Each line also
938 has a box, @samp{[+]} or @samp{<+>}, that you can click on to
939 @dfn{expand} the contents of that item. Expanding a directory adds
940 the contents of that directory to the speedbar display, underneath the
941 directory's own line. Expanding an ordinary file adds a list of the
942 tags in that file to the speedbar display; you can click on a tag name
943 to jump to that tag in the selected window of the attached frame.
944 When a file or directory is expanded, the @samp{[+]} changes to
945 @samp{[-]}; you can click on that box to @dfn{contract} the item,
948 You navigate through the speedbar using the keyboard, too. Typing
949 @kbd{RET} while point is on a line in the speedbar is equivalent to
950 clicking the item on the current line, and @kbd{SPC} expands or
951 contracts the item. @kbd{U} displays the parent directory of the
952 current directory. To copy, delete, or rename the file on the current
953 line, type @kbd{C}, @kbd{D}, and @kbd{R} respectively. To create a
954 new directory, type @kbd{M}.
956 Another general-purpose speedbar mode is @dfn{Buffer Display} mode;
957 in this mode, the speedbar displays a list of Emacs buffers. To
958 switch to this mode, type @kbd{b} in the speedbar. To return to File
959 Display mode, type @kbd{f}. You can also change the display mode by
960 clicking @kbd{mouse-3} anywhere in the speedbar window (or
961 @kbd{mouse-1} on the mode-line) and selecting @samp{Displays} in the
964 Some major modes, including Rmail mode, Info, and GUD, have
965 specialized ways of putting useful items into the speedbar for you to
966 select. For example, in Rmail mode, the speedbar shows a list of Rmail
967 files, and lets you move the current message to another Rmail file by
968 clicking on its @samp{<M>} box.
970 For more details on using and programming the speedbar, @xref{Top,
971 Speedbar,,speedbar, Speedbar Manual}.
973 @node Multiple Displays
974 @section Multiple Displays
975 @cindex multiple displays
977 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display. Initially, Emacs
978 uses just one display---the one specified with the @env{DISPLAY}
979 environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial
980 Options}). To connect to another display, use the command
981 @code{make-frame-on-display}:
983 @findex make-frame-on-display
985 @item M-x make-frame-on-display @key{RET} @var{display} @key{RET}
986 Create a new frame on display @var{display}.
989 A single X server can handle more than one screen. When you open
990 frames on two screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows they share a
991 single keyboard, and it treats all the commands arriving from these
992 screens as a single stream of input.
994 When you open frames on different X servers, Emacs makes a separate
995 input stream for each server. Each server also has its own selected
996 frame. The commands you enter with a particular X server apply to
997 that server's selected frame.
999 It is even possible to use this feature to let two or more users
1000 type simultaneously on the two displays, within the same Emacs job.
1001 In practice, however, the different users can easily interfere with
1002 each others' edits if they are not careful.
1004 @node Special Buffer Frames
1005 @section Special Buffer Frames
1007 @vindex special-display-buffer-names
1008 You can make certain chosen buffers, which Emacs normally displays
1009 in ``another window,'' appear in special frames of their own. To do
1010 this, set the variable @code{special-display-buffer-names} to a list
1011 of buffer names; any buffer whose name is in that list automatically
1012 gets a special frame, when an Emacs command wants to display it ``in
1015 For example, if you set the variable this way,
1018 (setq special-display-buffer-names
1019 '("*Completions*" "*grep*" "*tex-shell*"))
1023 then completion lists, @code{grep} output and the @TeX{} mode shell
1024 buffer get individual frames of their own. These frames, and the
1025 windows in them, are never automatically split or reused for any other
1026 buffers. They continue to show the buffers they were created for,
1027 unless you alter them by hand. Killing the special buffer deletes its
1028 frame automatically.
1030 @vindex special-display-regexps
1031 More generally, you can set @code{special-display-regexps} to a list
1032 of regular expressions; then a buffer gets its own frame if its name
1033 matches any of those regular expressions. (Once again, this applies only
1034 to buffers that normally get displayed for you in ``another window.'')
1036 @vindex special-display-frame-alist
1037 The variable @code{special-display-frame-alist} specifies the frame
1038 parameters for these frames. It has a default value, so you don't need
1041 For those who know Lisp, an element of
1042 @code{special-display-buffer-names} or @code{special-display-regexps}
1043 can also be a list. Then the first element is the buffer name or
1044 regular expression; the rest of the list specifies how to create the
1045 frame. It can be an association list specifying frame parameter
1046 values; these values take precedence over parameter values specified
1047 in @code{special-display-frame-alist}. If you specify the symbol
1048 @code{same-window} as a ``frame parameter'' in this list, with a
1049 non-@code{nil} value, that means to use the selected window if
1050 possible. If you use the symbol @code{same-frame} as a ``frame
1051 parameter'' in this list, with a non-@code{nil} value, that means to
1052 use the selected frame if possible.
1054 Alternatively, the value can have this form:
1057 (@var{function} @var{args}...)
1061 where @var{function} is a symbol. Then the frame is constructed by
1062 calling @var{function}; its first argument is the buffer, and its
1063 remaining arguments are @var{args}.
1065 An analogous feature lets you specify buffers which should be
1066 displayed in the selected window. @xref{Force Same Window}. The
1067 same-window feature takes precedence over the special-frame feature;
1068 therefore, if you add a buffer name to
1069 @code{special-display-buffer-names} and it has no effect, check to see
1070 whether that feature is also in use for the same buffer name.
1072 @node Frame Parameters
1073 @section Setting Frame Parameters
1074 @cindex Auto-Raise mode
1075 @cindex Auto-Lower mode
1077 These commands are available for controlling the window management
1078 behavior of the selected frame:
1081 @findex auto-raise-mode
1082 @item M-x auto-raise-mode
1083 Toggle whether or not the selected frame should auto-raise. Auto-raise
1084 means that every time you move the mouse onto the frame, it raises the
1087 Some window managers also implement auto-raise. If you enable
1088 auto-raise for Emacs frames in your window manager, it will work, but
1089 it is beyond Emacs' control, so @code{auto-raise-mode} has no effect
1092 @findex auto-lower-mode
1093 @item M-x auto-lower-mode
1094 Toggle whether or not the selected frame should auto-lower.
1095 Auto-lower means that every time you move the mouse off the frame,
1096 the frame moves to the bottom of the stack on the screen.
1098 The command @code{auto-lower-mode} has no effect on auto-lower
1099 implemented by the window manager. To control that, you must use the
1100 appropriate window manager features.
1103 In Emacs versions that use an X toolkit, the color-setting and
1104 font-setting functions don't affect menus and the menu bar, since they
1105 are displayed by their own widget classes. To change the appearance of
1106 the menus and menu bar, you must use X resources (@pxref{Resources}).
1107 @xref{Colors}, regarding colors. @xref{Font X}, regarding choice of
1110 Colors, fonts, and other attributes of the frame's display can also
1111 be customized by setting frame parameters in the variable
1112 @code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Creating Frames}). For a detailed
1113 description of frame parameters and customization, see @ref{Frame
1114 Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1117 @section Scroll Bars
1118 @cindex Scroll Bar mode
1119 @cindex mode, Scroll Bar
1121 On graphical displays, Emacs normally makes a @dfn{scroll bar} at
1122 the left of each Emacs window, running the height of the
1123 window.@footnote{Placing it at the left is usually more useful with
1124 overlapping frames with text starting at the left margin.}
1126 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support on the X window system, or
1127 in operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS, you can use
1128 the scroll bar as you do in other graphical applications. If you
1129 click @kbd{Mouse-1} on the scroll bar's up and down buttons, that
1130 scrolls the window by one line at a time. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
1131 above or below the scroll bar's inner box scrolls the window by nearly
1132 the entire height of the window, like @kbd{M-v} and @kbd{C-v}
1133 respectively (@pxref{Moving Point}). Dragging the inner box with
1134 @kbd{Mouse-1} scrolls the window continuously.
1136 If Emacs is compiled without GTK+ support on the X window system,
1137 the scroll bar behaves differently. The scroll bar's inner box is
1138 drawn to represent the portion of the buffer currently displayed, with
1139 the entire height of the scroll bar representing the entire length of
1140 the buffer. @kbd{Mouse-1} anywhere on the scroll bar scrolls forward
1141 like @kbd{C-v}, and @kbd{Mouse-3} scrolls backward like @kbd{M-v}.
1142 Clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} in the scroll bar lets you move or drag the
1143 inner box up and down.
1145 You can also click @kbd{C-Mouse-2} in the scroll bar to split a
1146 window vertically. The split occurs on the line where you click.
1148 @findex scroll-bar-mode
1149 @vindex scroll-bar-mode
1150 You can toggle the use of the scroll bar with the command @kbd{M-x
1151 scroll-bar-mode}. With a prefix argument, this command turns use of
1152 scroll bars on if and only if the argument is positive. This command
1153 applies to all frames, including frames yet to be created. Customize
1154 the variable @code{scroll-bar-mode} to control the use of scroll bars
1155 at startup. You can use it to specify that they are placed at the
1156 right of windows if you prefer that. You have to set this variable
1157 through the @samp{Customize} interface (@pxref{Easy Customization}),
1158 or it will not work properly. You can also use the X resource
1159 @samp{verticalScrollBars} to control the initial setting of Scroll Bar
1160 mode. @xref{Resources}.
1162 @findex toggle-scroll-bar
1163 To enable or disable scroll bars for just the selected frame, use the
1164 command @kbd{M-x toggle-scroll-bar}.
1166 @vindex scroll-bar-width
1167 @cindex width of the scroll bar
1168 You can control the scroll bar width by changing the value of the
1169 @code{scroll-bar-width} frame parameter.
1172 @section Scrolling With ``Wheeled'' Mice
1175 @cindex wheel, mouse
1176 @findex mouse-wheel-mode
1177 @cindex Mouse Wheel minor mode
1178 @cindex mode, Mouse Wheel
1179 Some mice have a ``wheel'' instead of a third button. You can
1180 usually click the wheel to act as either @kbd{Mouse-2} or
1181 @kbd{Mouse-3}, depending on the setup. You can also use the wheel to
1182 scroll windows instead of using the scroll bar or keyboard commands.
1183 Mouse wheel support only works if the system generates appropriate
1184 events; whenever possible, it is turned on by default. To toggle this
1185 feature, use @kbd{M-x mouse-wheel-mode}.
1187 @vindex mouse-wheel-follow-mouse
1188 @vindex mouse-wheel-scroll-amount
1189 @vindex mouse-wheel-progressive-speed
1190 The two variables @code{mouse-wheel-follow-mouse} and
1191 @code{mouse-wheel-scroll-amount} determine where and by how much
1192 buffers are scrolled. The variable
1193 @code{mouse-wheel-progressive-speed} determines whether the scroll
1194 speed is linked to how fast you move the wheel.
1197 @section Drag and Drop
1198 @cindex drag and drop
1200 Emacs supports @dfn{drag and drop} using the mouse. For instance,
1201 dropping text onto an Emacs frame inserts the text where it is dropped.
1202 Dropping a file onto an Emacs frame visits that file. As a special
1203 case, dropping the file on a Dired buffer moves or copies the file
1204 (according to the conventions of the application it came from) into the
1205 directory displayed in that buffer.
1207 @vindex dnd-open-file-other-window
1208 Dropping a file normally visits it in the window you drop it on. If
1209 you prefer to visit the file in a new window in such cases, customize
1210 the variable @code{dnd-open-file-other-window}.
1212 The XDND and Motif drag and drop protocols, and the old KDE 1.x
1213 protocol, are currently supported.
1217 @cindex Menu Bar mode
1218 @cindex mode, Menu Bar
1219 @findex menu-bar-mode
1220 @vindex menu-bar-mode
1222 You can turn display of menu bars on or off with @kbd{M-x
1223 menu-bar-mode} or by customizing the variable @code{menu-bar-mode}.
1224 With no argument, this command toggles Menu Bar mode, a
1225 minor mode. With an argument, the command turns Menu Bar mode on if the
1226 argument is positive, off if the argument is not positive. You can use
1227 the X resource @samp{menuBar} to control the initial setting of
1228 Menu Bar mode. @xref{Resources}.
1230 @kindex C-Mouse-3 @r{(when menu bar is disabled)}
1231 Expert users often turn off the menu bar, especially on text-only
1232 terminals, where this makes one additional line available for text.
1233 If the menu bar is off, you can still pop up a menu of its contents
1234 with @kbd{C-Mouse-3} on a display which supports pop-up menus.
1235 @xref{Menu Mouse Clicks}.
1237 @xref{Menu Bar}, for information on how to invoke commands with the
1238 menu bar. @xref{X Resources}, for how to customize the menu bar
1239 menus' visual appearance.
1243 @cindex Tool Bar mode
1244 @cindex mode, Tool Bar
1245 @cindex icons, toolbar
1247 The @dfn{tool bar} is a line (or lines) of icons at the top of the
1248 Emacs window, just below the menu bar. You can click on these icons
1249 with the mouse to do various jobs.
1251 The global tool bar contains general commands. Some major modes
1252 define their own tool bars to replace it. A few ``special'' modes
1253 that are not designed for ordinary editing remove some items from the
1256 Tool bars work only on a graphical display. The tool bar uses colored
1257 XPM icons if Emacs was built with XPM support. Otherwise, the tool
1258 bar uses monochrome icons (PBM or XBM format).
1260 @findex tool-bar-mode
1261 @vindex tool-bar-mode
1262 You can turn display of tool bars on or off with @kbd{M-x
1263 tool-bar-mode} or by customizing the option @code{tool-bar-mode}.
1266 @section Using Dialog Boxes
1267 @cindex dialog boxes
1269 @vindex use-dialog-box
1270 A dialog box is a special kind of menu for asking you a yes-or-no
1271 question or some other special question. Many Emacs commands use a
1272 dialog box to ask a yes-or-no question, if you used the mouse to
1273 invoke the command that led to the question.
1275 To disable the use of dialog boxes, change the variable
1276 @code{use-dialog-box} to @code{nil}. In that case, Emacs always
1277 performs yes-or-no prompts using the echo area and keyboard input.
1278 This variable also controls whether to use file selection windows (but
1279 those are not supported on all platforms).
1281 @vindex use-file-dialog
1282 @cindex file selection dialog, how to disable
1283 A file selection window is a special kind of dialog box for asking
1284 for file names. You can customize the variable @code{use-file-dialog}
1285 to suppress the use of file selection windows, even if you still want
1286 other kinds of dialogs. This variable has no effect if you have
1287 suppressed all dialog boxes with the variable @code{use-dialog-box}.
1289 @vindex x-gtk-show-hidden-files
1290 @vindex x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text
1291 @cindex hidden files, in GTK+ file chooser
1292 @cindex help text, in GTK+ file chooser
1293 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support, it uses the GTK+ ``file
1294 chooser'' dialog. Emacs adds an additional toggle button to this
1295 dialog, which you can use to enable or disable the display of hidden
1296 files (files starting with a dot) in that dialog. If you want this
1297 toggle to be activated by default, change the variable
1298 @code{x-gtk-show-hidden-files} to @code{t}. In addition, Emacs adds
1299 help text to the GTK+ file chooser dialog; to disable this help text,
1300 change the variable @code{x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text} to @code{nil}.
1302 @vindex x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog
1303 In GTK+ versions 2.4 through 2.10, you can choose to use an older
1304 version of the GTK+ file dialog by setting the variable
1305 @code{x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog} to a non-@code{nil} value. If Emacs
1306 is built with a GTK+ version that has only one file dialog, this
1307 variable has no effect.
1313 @dfn{Tooltips} are small windows that display text information at the
1314 current mouse position. They activate when there is a pause in mouse
1315 movement. There are two types of tooltip: help tooltips and GUD
1318 @dfn{Help tooltips} typically display over text---including the mode
1319 line---but are also available for other parts of the Emacs frame, such
1320 as the tool bar and menu items.
1322 @findex tooltip-mode
1323 You can toggle display of help tooltips (Tooltip mode) with the
1324 command @kbd{M-x tooltip-mode}. When Tooltip mode is disabled, the
1325 help text is displayed in the echo area instead.
1327 @dfn{GUD tooltips} show values of variables. They are useful when
1328 you are debugging a program. @xref{Debugger Operation}.
1330 @vindex tooltip-delay
1331 The variables @code{tooltip-delay} specifies how long Emacs should
1332 wait before displaying a tooltip. For additional customization
1333 options for displaying tooltips, use @kbd{M-x customize-group
1334 @key{RET} tooltip @key{RET}}. @xref{X Resources}, for information on
1335 customizing the windows that display tooltips.
1337 @node Mouse Avoidance
1338 @section Mouse Avoidance
1339 @cindex avoiding mouse in the way of your typing
1340 @cindex mouse avoidance
1342 On graphical terminals, the mouse pointer may obscure the text in
1343 the Emacs frame. Emacs provides two methods to avoid this problem.
1345 @vindex make-pointer-invisible
1346 Firstly, Emacs hides the mouse pointer each time you type a
1347 self-inserting character, if the pointer lies inside an Emacs frame;
1348 moving the mouse pointer makes it visible again. To disable this
1349 feature, set the variable @code{make-pointer-invisible} to @code{nil}.
1351 @vindex mouse-avoidance-mode
1352 Secondly, you can use Mouse Avoidance mode, a minor mode, to keep
1353 the mouse pointer away from point. To use Mouse Avoidance mode,
1354 customize the variable @code{mouse-avoidance-mode}. You can set this
1355 to various values to move the mouse in several ways:
1359 Move the mouse to the upper-right corner on any key-press;
1361 Move the mouse to the corner only if the cursor gets too close,
1362 and allow it to return once the cursor is out of the way;
1364 If the cursor gets too close to the mouse, displace the mouse
1365 a random distance & direction;
1367 As @code{jump}, but shows steps along the way for illusion of motion;
1369 The same as @code{animate};
1371 As @code{animate}, but changes the shape of the mouse pointer too.
1374 @findex mouse-avoidance-mode
1375 You can also use the command @kbd{M-x mouse-avoidance-mode} to enable
1376 the mode. Whenever Mouse Avoidance mode moves the mouse, it also
1379 @node Non-Window Terminals
1380 @section Non-Window Terminals
1381 @cindex non-window terminals
1382 @cindex single-frame terminals
1384 On a text-only terminal, Emacs can display only one Emacs frame at a
1385 time. However, you can still create multiple Emacs frames, and switch
1386 between them. Switching frames on these terminals is much like
1387 switching between different window configurations.
1389 Use @kbd{C-x 5 2} to create a new frame and switch to it; use @kbd{C-x
1390 5 o} to cycle through the existing frames; use @kbd{C-x 5 0} to delete
1393 Each frame has a number to distinguish it. If your terminal can
1394 display only one frame at a time, the selected frame's number @var{n}
1395 appears near the beginning of the mode line, in the form
1398 @findex set-frame-name
1399 @findex select-frame-by-name
1400 @samp{F@var{n}} is in fact the frame's initial name. You can give
1401 frames more meaningful names if you wish, and you can select a frame
1402 by its name. Use the command @kbd{M-x set-frame-name @key{RET}
1403 @var{name} @key{RET}} to specify a new name for the selected frame,
1404 and use @kbd{M-x select-frame-by-name @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET}}
1405 to select a frame according to its name. The name you specify appears
1406 in the mode line when the frame is selected.
1408 @node Text-Only Mouse
1409 @section Using a Mouse in Terminal Emulators
1410 @cindex mouse support
1411 @cindex terminal emulators, mouse support
1413 Some text-only terminals support mouse clicks in the terminal window.
1416 In a terminal emulator which is compatible with @code{xterm},
1417 you can use @kbd{M-x xterm-mouse-mode} to give Emacs control over
1418 simple use of the mouse---basically, only non-modified single clicks
1419 are supported. The normal @code{xterm} mouse functionality for such
1420 clicks is still available by holding down the @kbd{SHIFT} key when you
1421 press the mouse button. Xterm Mouse mode is a global minor mode
1422 (@pxref{Minor Modes}). Repeating the command turns the mode off
1425 @findex gpm-mouse-mode
1426 In the console on GNU/Linux, you can use @kbd{M-x gpm-mouse-mode} to
1427 enable terminal mouse support. You must have the gpm package
1428 installed and running on your system in order for this to work.
1431 arch-tag: 7dcf3a31-a43b-45d4-a900-445b10d77e49