1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 1999-2015 Free Software
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
6 @chapter Frames and Graphical Displays
9 When Emacs is started on a graphical display, e.g., on the X Window
10 System, it occupies a graphical system-level ``window''. In this
11 manual, we call this a @dfn{frame}, reserving the word ``window'' for
12 the part of the frame used for displaying a buffer. A frame initially
13 contains one window, but it can be subdivided into multiple windows
14 (@pxref{Windows}). A frame normally also contains a menu bar, tool
17 You can also create additional frames (@pxref{Creating Frames}).
18 All frames created in the same Emacs session have access to the same
19 underlying buffers and other data. For instance, if a buffer is being
20 shown in more than one frame, any changes made to it in one frame show
21 up immediately in the other frames too.
23 Typing @kbd{C-x C-c} closes all the frames on the current display,
24 and ends the Emacs session if it has no frames open on any other
25 displays (@pxref{Exiting}). To close just the selected frame, type
26 @kbd{C-x 5 0} (that is zero, not @kbd{o}).
28 This chapter describes Emacs features specific to graphical displays
29 (particularly mouse commands), and features for managing multiple
30 frames. On text terminals, many of these features are unavailable.
31 However, it is still possible to create multiple ``frames'' on text
32 terminals; such frames are displayed one at a time, filling the entire
33 terminal screen (@pxref{Non-Window Terminals}). It is also possible
34 to use the mouse on some text terminals (@pxref{Text-Only Mouse}, for
35 doing so on GNU and Unix systems; and
37 @pxref{MS-DOS Mouse,,,emacs-xtra,Specialized Emacs Features},
42 for doing so on MS-DOS). Menus are supported on all text terminals.
45 * Mouse Commands:: Moving, cutting, and pasting, with the mouse.
46 * Word and Line Mouse:: Mouse commands for selecting whole words or lines.
47 * Mouse References:: Using the mouse to select an item from a list.
48 * Menu Mouse Clicks:: Mouse clicks that bring up menus.
49 * Mode Line Mouse:: Mouse clicks on the mode line.
50 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional Emacs frames with various contents.
51 * Frame Commands:: Iconifying, deleting, and switching frames.
52 * Fonts:: Changing the frame font.
53 * Speedbar:: How to make and use a speedbar frame.
54 * Multiple Displays:: How one Emacs instance can talk to several displays.
55 * Frame Parameters:: Changing the colors and other modes of frames.
56 * Scroll Bars:: How to enable and disable scroll bars; how to use them.
57 * Window Dividers:: Window separators that can be dragged with the mouse.
58 * Drag and Drop:: Using drag and drop to open files and insert text.
59 * Menu Bars:: Enabling and disabling the menu bar.
60 * Tool Bars:: Enabling and disabling the tool bar.
61 * Dialog Boxes:: Controlling use of dialog boxes.
62 * Tooltips:: Displaying information at the current mouse position.
63 * Mouse Avoidance:: Preventing the mouse pointer from obscuring text.
64 * Non-Window Terminals:: Multiple frames on terminals that show only one.
65 * Text-Only Mouse:: Using the mouse in text terminals.
69 @section Mouse Commands for Editing
70 @cindex mouse buttons (what they do)
71 @cindex mouse, selecting text using
78 Move point to where you click (@code{mouse-set-point}).
81 Activate the region around the text selected by dragging, and put the
82 text in the primary selection (@code{mouse-set-region}).
85 Move point to where you click, and insert the contents of the primary
86 selection there (@code{mouse-yank-primary}).
89 If the region is active, move the nearer end of the region to the
90 click position; otherwise, set mark at the current value of point and
91 point at the click position. Save the resulting region in the kill
92 ring; on a second click, kill it (@code{mouse-save-then-kill}).
95 @findex mouse-set-point
96 The most basic mouse command is @code{mouse-set-point}, which is
97 invoked by clicking with the left mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-1}, in the
98 text area of a window. This moves point to the position where you
99 clicked. If that window was not the selected window, it becomes the
102 @vindex x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position
103 Normally, if the frame you clicked in was not the selected frame, it
104 is made the selected frame, in addition to selecting the window and
105 setting the cursor. On the X Window System, you can change this by
106 setting the variable @code{x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position} to
107 @code{t}. In that case, the initial click on an unselected frame just
108 selects the frame, without doing anything else; clicking again selects
109 the window and sets the cursor position.
111 @cindex mouse, dragging
112 @findex mouse-set-region
113 Holding down @kbd{Mouse-1} and ``dragging'' the mouse over a stretch
114 of text activates the region around that text
115 (@code{mouse-set-region}), placing the mark where you started holding
116 down the mouse button, and point where you release it (@pxref{Mark}).
117 In addition, the text in the region becomes the primary selection
118 (@pxref{Primary Selection}).
120 @vindex mouse-drag-copy-region
121 If you change the variable @code{mouse-drag-copy-region} to a
122 non-@code{nil} value, dragging the mouse over a stretch of text also
123 adds the text to the kill ring. The default is @code{nil}.
125 @vindex mouse-scroll-min-lines
126 If you move the mouse off the top or bottom of the window while
127 dragging, the window scrolls at a steady rate until you move the mouse
128 back into the window. This way, you can select regions that don't fit
129 entirely on the screen. The number of lines scrolled per step depends
130 on how far away from the window edge the mouse has gone; the variable
131 @code{mouse-scroll-min-lines} specifies a minimum step size.
133 @findex mouse-yank-primary
134 @findex mouse-yank-at-click
135 Clicking with the middle mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-2}, moves point to
136 the position where you clicked and inserts the contents of the primary
137 selection (@code{mouse-yank-primary}). @xref{Primary Selection}.
138 This behavior is consistent with other X applications. Alternatively,
139 you can rebind @kbd{Mouse-2} to @code{mouse-yank-at-click}, which
140 performs a yank at the position you click.
142 @vindex mouse-yank-at-point
143 If you change the variable @code{mouse-yank-at-point} to a
144 non-@code{nil} value, @kbd{Mouse-2} does not move point; it inserts
145 the text at point, regardless of where you clicked or even which of
146 the frame's windows you clicked on. This variable affects both
147 @code{mouse-yank-primary} and @code{mouse-yank-at-click}.
149 @findex mouse-save-then-kill
150 Clicking with the right mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-3}, runs the
151 command @code{mouse-save-then-kill}. This performs several actions
152 depending on where you click and the status of the region:
156 If no region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} activates the region,
157 placing the mark where point was and point at the clicked position.
160 If a region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} adjusts the nearer end
161 of the region by moving it to the clicked position. The adjusted
162 region's text is copied to the kill ring; if the text in the original
163 region was already on the kill ring, it replaces it there.
166 If you originally specified the region using a double or triple
167 @kbd{Mouse-1}, so that the region is defined to consist of entire
168 words or lines (@pxref{Word and Line Mouse}), then adjusting the
169 region with @kbd{Mouse-3} also proceeds by entire words or lines.
172 If you use @kbd{Mouse-3} a second time consecutively, at the same
173 place, that kills the region already selected. Thus, the simplest way
174 to kill text with the mouse is to click @kbd{Mouse-1} at one end, then
175 click @kbd{Mouse-3} twice at the other end. To copy the text into the
176 kill ring without deleting it from the buffer, press @kbd{Mouse-3}
177 just once---or just drag across the text with @kbd{Mouse-1}. Then you
178 can copy it elsewhere by yanking it.
181 The @code{mouse-save-then-kill} command also obeys the variable
182 @code{mouse-drag-copy-region} (described above). If the value is
183 non-@code{nil}, then whenever the command sets or adjusts the active
184 region, the text in the region is also added to the kill ring. If the
185 latest kill ring entry had been added the same way, that entry is
186 replaced rather than making a new entry.
188 Whenever you set the region using any of the mouse commands
189 described above, the mark will be deactivated by any subsequent
190 unshifted cursor motion command, in addition to the usual ways of
191 deactivating the mark. @xref{Shift Selection}.
194 @findex mouse-wheel-mode
195 @cindex Mouse Wheel minor mode
196 @cindex mode, Mouse Wheel
197 @vindex mouse-wheel-follow-mouse
198 @vindex mouse-wheel-scroll-amount
199 @vindex mouse-wheel-progressive-speed
200 Some mice have a ``wheel'' which can be used for scrolling. Emacs
201 supports scrolling windows with the mouse wheel, by default, on most
202 graphical displays. To toggle this feature, use @kbd{M-x
203 mouse-wheel-mode}. The variables @code{mouse-wheel-follow-mouse} and
204 @code{mouse-wheel-scroll-amount} determine where and by how much
205 buffers are scrolled. The variable
206 @code{mouse-wheel-progressive-speed} determines whether the scroll
207 speed is linked to how fast you move the wheel.
209 @node Word and Line Mouse
210 @section Mouse Commands for Words and Lines
212 These variants of @kbd{Mouse-1} select entire words or lines at a
213 time. Emacs activates the region around the selected text, which is
214 also copied to the kill ring.
218 Select the text around the word which you click on.
220 Double-clicking on a character with ``symbol'' syntax (such as
221 underscore, in C mode) selects the symbol surrounding that character.
222 Double-clicking on a character with open- or close-parenthesis syntax
223 selects the parenthetical grouping which that character starts or
224 ends. Double-clicking on a character with string-delimiter syntax
225 (such as a single-quote or double-quote in C) selects the string
226 constant (Emacs uses heuristics to figure out whether that character
227 is the beginning or the end of it).
229 @item Double-Drag-Mouse-1
230 Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole words.
233 Select the line you click on.
235 @item Triple-Drag-Mouse-1
236 Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole lines.
239 @node Mouse References
240 @section Following References with the Mouse
241 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(on buttons)}
242 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(on buttons)}
248 @vindex mouse-highlight
249 Some Emacs buffers include @dfn{buttons}, or @dfn{hyperlinks}:
250 pieces of text that perform some action (e.g., following a reference)
251 when activated (e.g., by clicking on them). Usually, a button's text
252 is visually highlighted: it is underlined, or a box is drawn around
253 it. If you move the mouse over a button, the shape of the mouse
254 cursor changes and the button lights up. If you change the variable
255 @code{mouse-highlight} to @code{nil}, Emacs disables this
258 You can activate a button by moving point to it and typing
259 @key{RET}, or by clicking either @kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2} on the
260 button. For example, in a Dired buffer, each file name is a button;
261 activating it causes Emacs to visit that file (@pxref{Dired}). In a
262 @file{*Compilation*} buffer, each error message is a button, and
263 activating it visits the source code for that error
264 (@pxref{Compilation}).
266 Although clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button usually activates the
267 button, if you hold the mouse button down for a period of time before
268 releasing it (specifically, for more than 450 milliseconds), then
269 Emacs moves point where you clicked, without activating the button.
270 In this way, you can use the mouse to move point over a button without
271 activating it. Dragging the mouse over or onto a button has its usual
272 behavior of setting the region, and does not activate the button.
274 You can change how @kbd{Mouse-1} applies to buttons by customizing
275 the variable @code{mouse-1-click-follows-link}. If the value is a
276 positive integer, that determines how long you need to hold the mouse
277 button down for, in milliseconds, to cancel button activation; the
278 default is 450, as described in the previous paragraph. If the value
279 is @code{nil}, @kbd{Mouse-1} just sets point where you clicked, and
280 does not activate buttons. If the value is @code{double}, double
281 clicks activate buttons but single clicks just set point.
283 @vindex mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows
284 Normally, @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button activates the button even if it
285 is in a non-selected window. If you change the variable
286 @code{mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows} to @code{nil},
287 @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button in an unselected window moves point to the
288 clicked position and selects that window, without activating the
291 @node Menu Mouse Clicks
292 @section Mouse Clicks for Menus
294 Several mouse clicks with the @key{CTRL} and @key{SHIFT} modifiers
300 This menu is for selecting a buffer.
302 The MSB (``mouse select buffer'') global minor mode makes this
303 menu smarter and more customizable. @xref{Buffer Menus}.
307 This menu contains entries for examining faces and other text
308 properties, and well as for setting them (the latter is mainly useful
309 when editing enriched text; @pxref{Enriched Text}).
313 This menu is mode-specific. For most modes if Menu-bar mode is on,
314 this menu has the same items as all the mode-specific menu-bar menus
315 put together. Some modes may specify a different menu for this
316 button. If Menu Bar mode is off, this menu contains all the items
317 which would be present in the menu bar---not just the mode-specific
318 ones---so that you can access them without having to display the menu
322 This menu is for changing the default face within the window's buffer.
326 Some graphical applications use @kbd{Mouse-3} for a mode-specific
327 menu. If you prefer @kbd{Mouse-3} in Emacs to bring up such a menu
328 instead of running the @code{mouse-save-then-kill} command, rebind
329 @kbd{Mouse-3} by adding the following line to your init file
330 (@pxref{Init Rebinding}):
333 (global-set-key [mouse-3] 'mouse-popup-menubar-stuff)
336 @node Mode Line Mouse
337 @section Mode Line Mouse Commands
338 @cindex mode line, mouse
339 @cindex mouse on mode line
341 You can use mouse clicks on window mode lines to select and manipulate
344 Some areas of the mode line, such as the buffer name, and major and minor
345 mode names, have their own special mouse bindings. These areas are
346 highlighted when you hold the mouse over them, and information about
347 the special bindings will be displayed (@pxref{Tooltips}). This
348 section's commands do not apply in those areas.
352 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(mode line)}
353 @kbd{Mouse-1} on a mode line selects the window it belongs to. By
354 dragging @kbd{Mouse-1} on the mode line, you can move it, thus
355 changing the height of the windows above and below. Changing heights
356 with the mouse in this way never deletes windows, it just refuses to
357 make any window smaller than the minimum height.
360 @kindex Mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
361 @kbd{Mouse-2} on a mode line expands that window to fill its frame.
364 @kindex Mouse-3 @r{(mode line)}
365 @kbd{Mouse-3} on a mode line deletes the window it belongs to. If the
366 frame has only one window, it does nothing.
369 @kindex C-mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
370 @kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a mode line splits that window, producing two
371 side-by-side windows with the boundary running through the click
372 position (@pxref{Split Window}).
375 @kindex Mouse-1 @r{(scroll bar)}
376 Furthermore, by clicking and dragging @kbd{Mouse-1} on the divider
377 between two side-by-side mode lines, you can move the vertical
378 boundary to the left or right.
380 Note that resizing windows is affected by the value of
381 @code{window-resize-pixelwise}, see @ref{Split Window}.
383 @node Creating Frames
384 @section Creating Frames
385 @cindex creating frames
388 The prefix key @kbd{C-x 5} is analogous to @kbd{C-x 4}. Whereas
389 each @kbd{C-x 4} command pops up a buffer in a different window in the
390 selected frame (@pxref{Pop Up Window}), the @kbd{C-x 5} commands use a
391 different frame. If an existing visible or iconified (``minimized'')
392 frame already displays the requested buffer, that frame is raised and
393 deiconified (``un-minimized''); otherwise, a new frame is created on
394 the current display terminal.
396 The various @kbd{C-x 5} commands differ in how they find or create the
402 @findex make-frame-command
403 Create a new frame (@code{make-frame-command}).
404 @item C-x 5 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}
405 Select buffer @var{bufname} in another frame. This runs
406 @code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}.
407 @item C-x 5 f @var{filename} @key{RET}
408 Visit file @var{filename} and select its buffer in another frame. This
409 runs @code{find-file-other-frame}. @xref{Visiting}.
410 @item C-x 5 d @var{directory} @key{RET}
411 Select a Dired buffer for directory @var{directory} in another frame.
412 This runs @code{dired-other-frame}. @xref{Dired}.
414 Start composing a mail message in another frame. This runs
415 @code{compose-mail-other-frame}. It is the other-frame variant of
416 @kbd{C-x m}. @xref{Sending Mail}.
418 Find a tag in the current tag table in another frame. This runs
419 @code{find-tag-other-frame}, the multiple-frame variant of @kbd{M-.}.
421 @item C-x 5 r @var{filename} @key{RET}
423 @findex find-file-read-only-other-frame
424 Visit file @var{filename} read-only, and select its buffer in another
425 frame. This runs @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
429 You can control the appearance and behavior of the newly-created
430 frames by specifying @dfn{frame parameters}. @xref{Frame Parameters}.
433 @section Frame Commands
435 The following commands are used to delete and operate on frames:
441 Delete the selected frame (@code{delete-frame}). This signals an
442 error if there is only one frame.
445 @kindex C-z @r{(X windows)}
446 @findex suspend-frame
447 Minimize (or ``iconify'') the selected Emacs frame
448 (@code{suspend-frame}). @xref{Exiting}.
453 Select another frame, and raise it. If you repeat this command, it
454 cycles through all the frames on your terminal.
458 @findex delete-other-frames
459 Delete all frames on the current terminal, except the selected one.
463 @findex toggle-frame-maximized
464 Toggle the maximization state of the current frame. When a frame is
465 maximized, it fills the screen.
469 @findex toggle-frame-fullscreen
470 Toggle fullscreen mode for the current frame. (The difference
471 between ``fullscreen'' and ``maximized'' is normally that the former
472 hides window manager decorations, giving slightly more screen space to
476 @vindex frame-resize-pixelwise
477 Note that with some window managers you may have to customize the
478 variable @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} to a non-@code{nil} value in
479 order to make a frame truly ``maximized'' or ``fullscreen''. This
480 variable, when set to a non-@code{nil} value, in general allows
481 resizing frames at pixel resolution, rather than in integral multiples
482 of lines and columns.
484 The @kbd{C-x 5 0} (@code{delete-frame}) command deletes the selected
485 frame. However, it will refuse to delete the last frame in an Emacs
486 session, to prevent you from losing the ability to interact with the
487 Emacs session. Note that when Emacs is run as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
488 Server}), there is always a ``virtual frame'' that remains after all
489 the ordinary, interactive frames are deleted. In this case, @kbd{C-x
490 5 0} can delete the last interactive frame; you can use
491 @command{emacsclient} to reconnect to the Emacs session.
493 The @kbd{C-x 5 1} (@code{delete-other-frames}) command deletes all
494 other frames on the current terminal (this terminal refers to either a
495 graphical display, or a text terminal; @pxref{Non-Window Terminals}).
496 If the Emacs session has frames open on other graphical displays or
497 text terminals, those are not deleted.
499 @vindex focus-follows-mouse
500 The @kbd{C-x 5 o} (@code{other-frame}) command selects the next
501 frame on the current terminal. If you are using Emacs on the X Window
502 System with a window manager that selects (or @dfn{gives focus to})
503 whatever frame the mouse cursor is over, you have to change the
504 variable @code{focus-follows-mouse} to @code{t} in order for this
505 command to work properly. Then invoking @kbd{C-x 5 o} will also warp
506 the mouse cursor to the chosen frame.
512 By default, Emacs displays text on graphical displays using a
513 10-point monospace font. There are several different ways to specify
518 Click on @samp{Set Default Font} in the @samp{Options} menu. This
519 makes the selected font the default on all existing graphical frames.
520 To save this for future sessions, click on @samp{Save Options} in the
524 Add a line to your init file, modifying the variable
525 @code{default-frame-alist} to specify the @code{font} parameter
526 (@pxref{Frame Parameters}), like this:
529 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist
530 '(font . "DejaVu Sans Mono-10"))
534 This makes the font the default on all graphical frames created after
535 restarting Emacs with that init file.
537 @cindex X defaults file
538 @cindex X resources file
540 Add an @samp{emacs.font} X resource setting to your X resource file,
544 emacs.font: DejaVu Sans Mono-12
548 You must restart X, or use the @command{xrdb} command, for the X
549 resources file to take effect. @xref{Resources}. Do not quote
550 font names in X resource files.
553 If you are running Emacs on the GNOME desktop, you can tell Emacs to
554 use the default system font by setting the variable
555 @code{font-use-system-font} to @code{t} (the default is @code{nil}).
556 For this to work, Emacs must have been compiled with Gconf support.
559 Use the command line option @samp{-fn} (or @samp{--font}). @xref{Font
563 To check what font you're currently using, the @kbd{C-u C-x =}
564 command can be helpful. It describes the character at point, and
565 names the font that it's rendered in.
568 On X, there are four different ways to express a ``font name''. The
569 first is to use a @dfn{Fontconfig pattern}. Fontconfig patterns have
573 @var{fontname}[-@var{fontsize}][:@var{name1}=@var{values1}][:@var{name2}=@var{values2}]...
577 Within this format, any of the elements in brackets may be omitted.
578 Here, @var{fontname} is the @dfn{family name} of the font, such as
579 @samp{Monospace} or @samp{DejaVu Sans Mono}; @var{fontsize} is the
580 @dfn{point size} of the font (one @dfn{printer's point} is about 1/72
581 of an inch); and the @samp{@var{name}=@var{values}} entries specify
582 settings such as the slant and weight of the font. Each @var{values}
583 may be a single value, or a list of values separated by commas. In
584 addition, some property values are valid with only one kind of
585 property name, in which case the @samp{@var{name}=} part may be
588 Here is a list of common font properties:
592 One of @samp{italic}, @samp{oblique}, or @samp{roman}.
595 One of @samp{light}, @samp{medium}, @samp{demibold}, @samp{bold} or
599 Some fonts define special styles which are a combination of slant and
600 weight. For instance, @samp{Dejavu Sans} defines the @samp{book}
601 style, which overrides the slant and weight properties.
604 One of @samp{condensed}, @samp{normal}, or @samp{expanded}.
607 One of @samp{monospace}, @samp{proportional}, @samp{dual-width}, or
612 Here are some examples of Fontconfig patterns:
618 DejaVu Sans Mono:bold:italic
619 Monospace-12:weight=bold:slant=italic
622 For a more detailed description of Fontconfig patterns, see the
623 Fontconfig manual, which is distributed with Fontconfig and available
624 online at @url{http://fontconfig.org/fontconfig-user.html}.
626 @cindex GTK font pattern
627 The second way to specify a font is to use a @dfn{GTK font pattern}.
628 These have the syntax
631 @var{fontname} [@var{properties}] [@var{fontsize}]
635 where @var{fontname} is the family name, @var{properties} is a list of
636 property values separated by spaces, and @var{fontsize} is the point
637 size. The properties that you may specify for GTK font patterns are
642 Slant properties: @samp{Italic} or @samp{Oblique}. If omitted, the
643 default (roman) slant is implied.
645 Weight properties: @samp{Bold}, @samp{Book}, @samp{Light},
646 @samp{Medium}, @samp{Semi-bold}, or @samp{Ultra-light}. If omitted,
647 @samp{Medium} weight is implied.
649 Width properties: @samp{Semi-Condensed} or @samp{Condensed}. If
650 omitted, a default width is used.
654 Here are some examples of GTK font patterns:
658 Monospace Bold Italic 12
662 @cindex X Logical Font Description
663 The third way to specify a font is to use an @dfn{XLFD} (@dfn{X
664 Logical Font Description}). This is the traditional method for
665 specifying fonts under X@. Each XLFD consists of fourteen words or
666 numbers, separated by dashes, like this:
669 -misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
673 A wildcard character (@samp{*}) in an XLFD matches any sequence of
674 characters (including none), and @samp{?} matches any single
675 character. However, matching is implementation-dependent, and can be
676 inaccurate when wildcards match dashes in a long name. For reliable
677 results, supply all 14 dashes and use wildcards only within a field.
678 Case is insignificant in an XLFD@. The syntax for an XLFD is as
682 -@var{maker}-@var{family}-@var{weight}-@var{slant}-@var{widthtype}-@var{style}@dots{}
683 @dots{}-@var{pixels}-@var{height}-@var{horiz}-@var{vert}-@var{spacing}-@var{width}-@var{registry}-@var{encoding}
687 The entries have the following meanings:
691 The name of the font manufacturer.
693 The name of the font family (e.g., @samp{courier}).
695 The font weight---normally either @samp{bold}, @samp{medium} or
696 @samp{light}. Some font names support other values.
698 The font slant---normally @samp{r} (roman), @samp{i} (italic),
699 @samp{o} (oblique), @samp{ri} (reverse italic), or @samp{ot} (other).
700 Some font names support other values.
702 The font width---normally @samp{normal}, @samp{condensed},
703 @samp{semicondensed}, or @samp{extended}. Some font names support
706 An optional additional style name. Usually it is empty---most XLFDs
707 have two hyphens in a row at this point. The style name can also
708 specify a two-letter ISO-639 language name, like @samp{ja} or
709 @samp{ko}; some fonts that support CJK scripts have that spelled out
710 in the style name part.
712 The font height, in pixels.
714 The font height on the screen, measured in tenths of a printer's
715 point. This is the point size of the font, times ten. For a given
716 vertical resolution, @var{height} and @var{pixels} are proportional;
717 therefore, it is common to specify just one of them and use @samp{*}
720 The horizontal resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
721 the font is intended.
723 The vertical resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
724 the font is intended. Normally the resolution of the fonts on your
725 system is the right value for your screen; therefore, you normally
726 specify @samp{*} for this and @var{horiz}.
728 This is @samp{m} (monospace), @samp{p} (proportional) or @samp{c}
731 The average character width, in pixels, multiplied by ten.
734 The X font character set that the font depicts. (X font character
735 sets are not the same as Emacs character sets, but they are similar.)
736 You can use the @command{xfontsel} program to check which choices you
737 have. Normally you should use @samp{iso8859} for @var{registry} and
738 @samp{1} for @var{encoding}.
741 The fourth and final method of specifying a font is to use a ``font
742 nickname''. Certain fonts have shorter nicknames, which you can use
743 instead of a normal font specification. For instance, @samp{6x13} is
747 -misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
750 @cindex client-side fonts
751 @cindex server-side fonts
752 On X, Emacs recognizes two types of fonts: @dfn{client-side} fonts,
753 which are provided by the Xft and Fontconfig libraries, and
754 @dfn{server-side} fonts, which are provided by the X server itself.
755 Most client-side fonts support advanced font features such as
756 antialiasing and subpixel hinting, while server-side fonts do not.
757 Fontconfig and GTK patterns match only client-side fonts.
759 @cindex listing system fonts
760 You will probably want to use a fixed-width default font---that is,
761 a font in which all characters have the same width. For Xft and
762 Fontconfig fonts, you can use the @command{fc-list} command to list
763 the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
766 fc-list :spacing=mono fc-list :spacing=charcell
770 For server-side X fonts, you can use the @command{xlsfonts} program to
771 list the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
774 xlsfonts -fn '*x*' | egrep "^[0-9]+x[0-9]+"
775 xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-m*'
776 xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-c*'
780 Any font with @samp{m} or @samp{c} in the @var{spacing} field of the
781 XLFD is a fixed-width font. To see what a particular font looks like,
782 use the @command{xfd} command. For example:
789 displays the entire font @samp{6x13}.
791 While running Emacs, you can also set the font of a specific kind of
792 text (@pxref{Faces}), or a particular frame (@pxref{Frame
796 @section Speedbar Frames
799 @cindex attached frame (of speedbar)
800 The @dfn{speedbar} is a special frame for conveniently navigating in
801 or operating on another frame. The speedbar, when it exists, is
802 always associated with a specific frame, called its @dfn{attached
803 frame}; all speedbar operations act on that frame.
805 Type @kbd{M-x speedbar} to create the speedbar and associate it with
806 the current frame. To dismiss the speedbar, type @kbd{M-x speedbar}
807 again, or select the speedbar and type @kbd{q}. (You can also delete
808 the speedbar frame like any other Emacs frame.) If you wish to
809 associate the speedbar with a different frame, dismiss it and call
810 @kbd{M-x speedbar} from that frame.
812 The speedbar can operate in various modes. Its default mode is
813 @dfn{File Display} mode, which shows the files in the current
814 directory of the selected window of the attached frame, one file per
815 line. Clicking on a file name visits that file in the selected window
816 of the attached frame, and clicking on a directory name shows that
817 directory in the speedbar (@pxref{Mouse References}). Each line also
818 has a box, @samp{[+]} or @samp{<+>}, that you can click on to
819 @dfn{expand} the contents of that item. Expanding a directory adds
820 the contents of that directory to the speedbar display, underneath the
821 directory's own line. Expanding an ordinary file adds a list of the
822 tags in that file to the speedbar display; you can click on a tag name
823 to jump to that tag in the selected window of the attached frame.
824 When a file or directory is expanded, the @samp{[+]} changes to
825 @samp{[-]}; you can click on that box to @dfn{contract} the item,
828 You navigate through the speedbar using the keyboard, too. Typing
829 @key{RET} while point is on a line in the speedbar is equivalent to
830 clicking the item on the current line, and @key{SPC} expands or
831 contracts the item. @kbd{U} displays the parent directory of the
832 current directory. To copy, delete, or rename the file on the current
833 line, type @kbd{C}, @kbd{D}, and @kbd{R} respectively. To create a
834 new directory, type @kbd{M}.
836 Another general-purpose speedbar mode is @dfn{Buffer Display} mode;
837 in this mode, the speedbar displays a list of Emacs buffers. To
838 switch to this mode, type @kbd{b} in the speedbar. To return to File
839 Display mode, type @kbd{f}. You can also change the display mode by
840 clicking @kbd{mouse-3} anywhere in the speedbar window (or
841 @kbd{mouse-1} on the mode-line) and selecting @samp{Displays} in the
844 Some major modes, including Rmail mode, Info, and GUD, have
845 specialized ways of putting useful items into the speedbar for you to
846 select. For example, in Rmail mode, the speedbar shows a list of Rmail
847 files, and lets you move the current message to another Rmail file by
848 clicking on its @samp{<M>} box.
850 For more details on using and programming the speedbar, @xref{Top,
851 Speedbar,,speedbar, Speedbar Manual}.
853 @node Multiple Displays
854 @section Multiple Displays
855 @cindex multiple displays
857 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display. Initially, Emacs
858 uses just one display---the one specified with the @env{DISPLAY}
859 environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial
860 Options}). To connect to another display, use the command
861 @code{make-frame-on-display}:
863 @findex make-frame-on-display
865 @item M-x make-frame-on-display @key{RET} @var{display} @key{RET}
866 Create a new frame on display @var{display}.
869 A single X server can handle more than one screen. When you open
870 frames on two screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows they share a
871 single keyboard, and it treats all the commands arriving from these
872 screens as a single stream of input.
874 When you open frames on different X servers, Emacs makes a separate
875 input stream for each server. Each server also has its own selected
876 frame. The commands you enter with a particular X server apply to
877 that server's selected frame.
879 @node Frame Parameters
880 @section Frame Parameters
881 @cindex default-frame-alist
883 You can control the default appearance and behavior of all frames by
884 specifying a default list of @dfn{frame parameters} in the variable
885 @code{default-frame-alist}. Its value should be a list of entries,
886 each specifying a parameter name and a value for that parameter.
887 These entries take effect whenever Emacs creates a new frame,
888 including the initial frame.
890 @cindex frame size, specifying default
891 For example, you can add the following lines to your init file
892 (@pxref{Init File}) to set the default frame width to 90 character
893 columns, the default frame height to 40 character rows, and the
894 default font to @samp{Monospace-10}:
897 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(width . 90))
898 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(height . 40))
899 (add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "Monospace-10"))
902 For a list of frame parameters and their effects, see @ref{Frame
903 Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
905 @cindex initial-frame-alist
906 You can also specify a list of frame parameters which apply to just
907 the initial frame, by customizing the variable
908 @code{initial-frame-alist}.
910 If Emacs is compiled to use an X toolkit, frame parameters that
911 specify colors and fonts don't affect menus and the menu bar, since
912 those are drawn by the toolkit and not directly by Emacs.
916 @cindex Scroll Bar mode
917 @cindex mode, Scroll Bar
918 @cindex Vertical Scroll Bar
920 On graphical displays, there is a @dfn{vertical scroll bar} on the
921 side of each Emacs window. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on the scroll bar's
922 up and down buttons scrolls the window by one line at a time. Clicking
923 @kbd{Mouse-1} above or below the scroll bar's inner box scrolls the
924 window by nearly the entire height of the window, like @kbd{M-v} and
925 @kbd{C-v} respectively (@pxref{Moving Point}). Dragging the inner box
926 scrolls continuously.
928 If Emacs is compiled on the X Window System without X toolkit
929 support, the scroll bar behaves differently. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
930 anywhere on the scroll bar scrolls forward like @kbd{C-v}, while
931 @kbd{Mouse-3} scrolls backward like @kbd{M-v}. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-2}
932 in the scroll bar lets you drag the inner box up and down.
934 @findex scroll-bar-mode
935 @findex toggle-scroll-bar
936 To toggle the use of vertical scroll bars, type @kbd{M-x
937 scroll-bar-mode}. This command applies to all frames, including frames
938 yet to be created. To toggle vertical scroll bars for just the selected
939 frame, use the command @kbd{M-x toggle-scroll-bar}.
941 @vindex scroll-bar-mode
942 To control the use of vertical scroll bars at startup, customize the
943 variable @code{scroll-bar-mode}. Its value should be either
944 @code{right} (put scroll bars on the right side of windows), @code{left}
945 (put them on the left), or @code{nil} (disable vertical scroll bars).
946 By default, Emacs puts scroll bars on the right if it was compiled with
947 GTK+ support on the X Window System, and on MS-Windows or Mac OS; Emacs
948 puts scroll bars on the left if compiled on the X Window System without
949 GTK+ support (following the old convention for X applications).
951 @vindex scroll-bar-width
952 @cindex width of the vertical scroll bar
953 You can also use the X resource @samp{verticalScrollBars} to enable
954 or disable the scroll bars (@pxref{Resources}). To control the scroll
955 bar width, change the @code{scroll-bar-width} frame parameter
956 (@pxref{Frame Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
958 @vindex scroll-bar-adjust-thumb-portion
959 @cindex overscrolling
960 If you're using Emacs on X (with GTK+ or Motif), you can customize the
961 variable @code{scroll-bar-adjust-thumb-portion} to control
962 @dfn{overscrolling} of the scroll bar, i.e., dragging the thumb down even
963 when the end of the buffer is visible. If its value is
964 non-@code{nil}, the scroll bar can be dragged downwards even if the
965 end of the buffer is shown; if @code{nil}, the thumb will be at the
966 bottom when the end of the buffer is shown. You can not over-scroll
967 when the entire buffer is visible.
969 @cindex scroll-bar face
970 The visual appearance of the scroll bars is controlled by the
971 @code{scroll-bar} face.
973 @cindex Horizontal Scroll Bar
974 @cindex Horizontal Scroll Bar mode
975 On graphical displays with toolkit support, Emacs may also supply a
976 @dfn{horizontal scroll bar} on the bottom of each window. Clicking
977 @kbd{Mouse-1} on the that scroll bar's left and right buttons scrolls
978 the window horizontally by one column at a time. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
979 on the left or right of the scroll bar's inner box scrolls the window by
980 four columns. Dragging the inner box scrolls the window continuously.
982 Note that such horizontal scrolling can make the window's position of
983 point disappear on the left or the right. Typing a character to insert
984 text or moving point with a keyboard command will usually bring it back
987 @findex horizontal-scroll-bar-mode
988 To toggle the use of horizontal scroll bars, type @kbd{M-x
989 horizontal-scroll-bar-mode}. This command applies to all frames,
990 including frames yet to be created. To toggle horizontal scroll bars
991 for just the selected frame, use the command @kbd{M-x
992 toggle-horizontal-scroll-bar}.
994 @vindex horizontal-scroll-bar-mode
995 To control the use of horizontal scroll bars at startup, customize the
996 variable @code{horizontal-scroll-bar-mode}.
998 @vindex scroll-bar-height
999 @cindex height of the horizontal scroll bar
1000 You can also use the X resource @samp{horizontalScrollBars} to enable
1001 or disable horizontal scroll bars (@pxref{Resources}). To control the
1002 scroll bar height, change the @code{scroll-bar-height} frame parameter
1003 (@pxref{Frame Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1005 @node Window Dividers
1006 @section Window Dividers
1007 @cindex Window Divider mode
1008 @cindex mode, Window Divider
1010 On graphical displays, you can use @dfn{window dividers} in order to
1011 separate windows visually. Window dividers are bars that can be dragged
1012 with the mouse, thus allowing to easily resize adjacent windows.
1014 @findex window-divider-mode
1015 To toggle the display of window dividers, use the command @kbd{M-x
1016 window-divider-mode}.
1018 @vindex window-divider-default-places
1019 To customize where dividers should appear, use the option
1020 @code{window-divider-default-places}. Its value should be either
1021 @code{bottom-only} (to show dividers only on the bottom of windows),
1022 @code{right-only} (to show dividers only on the right of windows), or
1023 @code{t} (to show them on the bottom and on the right).
1025 @vindex window-divider-default-bottom-width
1026 @vindex window-divider-default-right-width
1027 To adjust the width of window dividers displayed by this mode
1028 customize the options @code{window-divider-default-bottom-width} and
1029 @code{window-divider-default-right-width}.
1031 For more details about window dividers see @ref{Window Dividers,,
1032 Window Dividers, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1035 @section Drag and Drop
1036 @cindex drag and drop
1038 In most graphical desktop environments, Emacs has basic support for
1039 @dfn{drag and drop} operations. For instance, dropping text onto an
1040 Emacs frame inserts the text where it is dropped. Dropping a file
1041 onto an Emacs frame visits that file. As a special case, dropping the
1042 file on a Dired buffer moves or copies the file (according to the
1043 conventions of the application it came from) into the directory
1044 displayed in that buffer.
1046 @vindex dnd-open-file-other-window
1047 Dropping a file normally visits it in the window you drop it on. If
1048 you prefer to visit the file in a new window in such cases, customize
1049 the variable @code{dnd-open-file-other-window}.
1051 The XDND and Motif drag and drop protocols, and the old KDE 1.x
1052 protocol, are currently supported.
1056 @cindex Menu Bar mode
1057 @cindex mode, Menu Bar
1058 @findex menu-bar-mode
1059 @vindex menu-bar-mode
1061 You can toggle the use of menu bars with @kbd{M-x menu-bar-mode}.
1062 With no argument, this command toggles Menu Bar mode, a global minor
1063 mode. With an argument, the command turns Menu Bar mode on if the
1064 argument is positive, off if the argument is not positive. To control
1065 the use of menu bars at startup, customize the variable
1066 @code{menu-bar-mode}.
1068 @kindex C-Mouse-3 @r{(when menu bar is disabled)}
1069 Expert users often turn off the menu bar, especially on text
1070 terminals, where this makes one additional line available for text.
1071 If the menu bar is off, you can still pop up a menu of its contents
1072 with @kbd{C-Mouse-3} on a display which supports pop-up menus.
1073 @xref{Menu Mouse Clicks}.
1075 @xref{Menu Bar}, for information on how to invoke commands with the
1076 menu bar. @xref{X Resources}, for how to customize the menu bar
1077 menus' visual appearance.
1081 @cindex Tool Bar mode
1082 @cindex mode, Tool Bar
1083 @cindex icons, toolbar
1085 On graphical displays, Emacs puts a @dfn{tool bar} at the top of
1086 each frame, just below the menu bar. This is a row of icons which you
1087 can click on with the mouse to invoke various commands.
1089 The global (default) tool bar contains general commands. Some major
1090 modes define their own tool bars; whenever a buffer with such a major
1091 mode is current, the mode's tool bar replaces the global tool bar.
1093 @findex tool-bar-mode
1094 @vindex tool-bar-mode
1095 To toggle the use of tool bars, type @kbd{M-x tool-bar-mode}. This
1096 command applies to all frames, including frames yet to be created. To
1097 control the use of tool bars at startup, customize the variable
1098 @code{tool-bar-mode}.
1100 @vindex tool-bar-style
1101 @cindex Tool Bar style
1102 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support, each tool bar item can
1103 consist of an image, or a text label, or both. By default, Emacs
1104 follows the Gnome desktop's tool bar style setting; if none is
1105 defined, it displays tool bar items as just images. To impose a
1106 specific tool bar style, customize the variable @code{tool-bar-style}.
1108 @cindex Tool Bar position
1109 You can also control the placement of the tool bar for the GTK+ tool
1110 bar with the frame parameter @code{tool-bar-position}. @xref{Frame
1111 Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1114 @section Using Dialog Boxes
1115 @cindex dialog boxes
1117 @vindex use-dialog-box
1118 A dialog box is a special kind of menu for asking you a yes-or-no
1119 question or some other special question. Many Emacs commands use a
1120 dialog box to ask a yes-or-no question, if you used the mouse to
1121 invoke the command that led to the question.
1123 To disable the use of dialog boxes, change the variable
1124 @code{use-dialog-box} to @code{nil}. In that case, Emacs always
1125 performs yes-or-no prompts using the echo area and keyboard input.
1126 This variable also controls whether to use file selection windows (but
1127 those are not supported on all platforms).
1129 @vindex use-file-dialog
1130 @cindex file selection dialog, how to disable
1131 A file selection window is a special kind of dialog box for asking
1132 for file names. You can customize the variable @code{use-file-dialog}
1133 to suppress the use of file selection windows, even if you still want
1134 other kinds of dialogs. This variable has no effect if you have
1135 suppressed all dialog boxes with the variable @code{use-dialog-box}.
1137 @vindex x-gtk-show-hidden-files
1138 @vindex x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text
1139 @cindex hidden files, in GTK+ file chooser
1140 @cindex help text, in GTK+ file chooser
1141 When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support, it uses the GTK+ ``file
1142 chooser'' dialog. Emacs adds an additional toggle button to this
1143 dialog, which you can use to enable or disable the display of hidden
1144 files (files starting with a dot) in that dialog. If you want this
1145 toggle to be activated by default, change the variable
1146 @code{x-gtk-show-hidden-files} to @code{t}. In addition, Emacs adds
1147 help text to the GTK+ file chooser dialog; to disable this help text,
1148 change the variable @code{x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text} to @code{nil}.
1154 @dfn{Tooltips} are small windows that display text information at
1155 the current mouse position. They activate when there is a pause in
1156 mouse movement over some significant piece of text in a window, or the
1157 mode line, or some other part of the Emacs frame such as a tool bar
1158 button or menu item.
1160 @findex tooltip-mode
1161 You can toggle the use of tooltips with the command @kbd{M-x
1162 tooltip-mode}. When Tooltip mode is disabled, the help text is
1163 displayed in the echo area instead. To control the use of tooltips at
1164 startup, customize the variable @code{tooltip-mode}.
1166 @vindex tooltip-delay
1167 The variables @code{tooltip-delay} specifies how long Emacs should
1168 wait before displaying a tooltip. For additional customization
1169 options for displaying tooltips, use @kbd{M-x customize-group
1170 @key{RET} tooltip @key{RET}}.
1172 @vindex x-gtk-use-system-tooltips
1173 If Emacs is built with GTK+ support, it displays tooltips via GTK+,
1174 using the default appearance of GTK+ tooltips. To disable this,
1175 change the variable @code{x-gtk-use-system-tooltips} to @code{nil}.
1176 If you do this, or if Emacs is built without GTK+ support, most
1177 attributes of the tooltip text are specified by the @code{tooltip}
1178 face, and by X resources (@pxref{X Resources}).
1180 @dfn{GUD tooltips} are special tooltips that show the values of
1181 variables when debugging a program with GUD@. @xref{Debugger
1184 @node Mouse Avoidance
1185 @section Mouse Avoidance
1186 @cindex avoiding mouse in the way of your typing
1187 @cindex mouse avoidance
1189 On graphical terminals, the mouse pointer may obscure the text in
1190 the Emacs frame. Emacs provides two methods to avoid this problem.
1192 @vindex make-pointer-invisible
1193 Firstly, Emacs hides the mouse pointer each time you type a
1194 self-inserting character, if the pointer lies inside an Emacs frame;
1195 moving the mouse pointer makes it visible again. To disable this
1196 feature, set the variable @code{make-pointer-invisible} to @code{nil}.
1198 @vindex mouse-avoidance-mode
1199 Secondly, you can use Mouse Avoidance mode, a minor mode, to keep
1200 the mouse pointer away from point. To use Mouse Avoidance mode,
1201 customize the variable @code{mouse-avoidance-mode}. You can set this
1202 to various values to move the mouse in several ways:
1206 Move the pointer to a corner of the frame on any key-press. You can
1207 customize the variable @code{mouse-avoidance-banish-position} to
1208 specify where the pointer goes when it is banished.
1210 Banish the pointer only if the cursor gets too close, and allow it to
1211 return once the cursor is out of the way.
1213 If the cursor gets too close to the pointer, displace the pointer by a
1214 random distance and direction.
1216 As @code{jump}, but shows steps along the way for illusion of motion.
1218 The same as @code{animate}.
1220 As @code{animate}, but changes the shape of the mouse pointer too.
1223 @findex mouse-avoidance-mode
1224 You can also use the command @kbd{M-x mouse-avoidance-mode} to enable
1225 the mode. Whenever Mouse Avoidance mode moves the mouse, it also
1228 @node Non-Window Terminals
1229 @section Non-Window Terminals
1230 @cindex text terminal
1232 On a text terminal, Emacs can display only one Emacs frame at a
1233 time. However, you can still create multiple Emacs frames, and switch
1234 between them. Switching frames on these terminals is much like
1235 switching between different window configurations.
1237 Use @kbd{C-x 5 2} to create a new frame and switch to it; use @kbd{C-x
1238 5 o} to cycle through the existing frames; use @kbd{C-x 5 0} to delete
1241 Each frame has a number to distinguish it. If your terminal can
1242 display only one frame at a time, the selected frame's number @var{n}
1243 appears near the beginning of the mode line, in the form
1246 @findex set-frame-name
1247 @findex select-frame-by-name
1248 @samp{F@var{n}} is in fact the frame's initial name. You can give
1249 frames more meaningful names if you wish, and you can select a frame
1250 by its name. Use the command @kbd{M-x set-frame-name @key{RET}
1251 @var{name} @key{RET}} to specify a new name for the selected frame,
1252 and use @kbd{M-x select-frame-by-name @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET}}
1253 to select a frame according to its name. The name you specify appears
1254 in the mode line when the frame is selected.
1256 @node Text-Only Mouse
1257 @section Using a Mouse in Text Terminals
1258 @cindex mouse support
1259 @cindex terminal emulators, mouse support
1261 Some text terminals support mouse clicks in the terminal window.
1264 In a terminal emulator which is compatible with @command{xterm}, you
1265 can use @kbd{M-x xterm-mouse-mode} to give Emacs control over simple
1266 uses of the mouse---basically, only non-modified single clicks are
1267 supported. The normal @command{xterm} mouse functionality for such
1268 clicks is still available by holding down the @kbd{SHIFT} key when you
1269 press the mouse button. Xterm Mouse mode is a global minor mode
1270 (@pxref{Minor Modes}). Repeating the command turns the mode off
1273 @findex gpm-mouse-mode
1274 In the console on GNU/Linux, you can use @kbd{M-x gpm-mouse-mode} to
1275 enable mouse support. You must have the gpm server installed and
1276 running on your system in order for this to work.
1279 @xref{MS-DOS Mouse,,,emacs-xtra,Specialized Emacs Features},
1282 @xref{MS-DOS Mouse},
1284 for information about mouse support on MS-DOS.