2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001,
4 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @setfilename ../../info/display
7 @node Display, System Interface, Processes, Top
10 This chapter describes a number of features related to the display
11 that Emacs presents to the user.
14 * Refresh Screen:: Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
15 * Forcing Redisplay:: Forcing redisplay.
16 * Truncation:: Folding or wrapping long text lines.
17 * The Echo Area:: Displaying messages at the bottom of the screen.
18 * Warnings:: Displaying warning messages for the user.
19 * Invisible Text:: Hiding part of the buffer text.
20 * Selective Display:: Hiding part of the buffer text (the old way).
21 * Temporary Displays:: Displays that go away automatically.
22 * Overlays:: Use overlays to highlight parts of the buffer.
23 * Width:: How wide a character or string is on the screen.
24 * Line Height:: Controlling the height of lines.
25 * Faces:: A face defines a graphics style for text characters:
27 * Fringes:: Controlling window fringes.
28 * Scroll Bars:: Controlling vertical scroll bars.
29 * Display Property:: Enabling special display features.
30 * Images:: Displaying images in Emacs buffers.
31 * Buttons:: Adding clickable buttons to Emacs buffers.
32 * Abstract Display:: Emacs' Widget for Object Collections.
33 * Blinking:: How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
34 * Usual Display:: The usual conventions for displaying nonprinting chars.
35 * Display Tables:: How to specify other conventions.
36 * Beeping:: Audible signal to the user.
37 * Window Systems:: Which window system is being used.
41 @section Refreshing the Screen
43 The function @code{redraw-frame} clears and redisplays the entire
44 contents of a given frame (@pxref{Frames}). This is useful if the
48 @defun redraw-frame frame
49 This function clears and redisplays frame @var{frame}.
52 Even more powerful is @code{redraw-display}:
54 @deffn Command redraw-display
55 This function clears and redisplays all visible frames.
58 In Emacs, processing user input takes priority over redisplay. If
59 you call these functions when input is available, they don't redisplay
60 immediately, but the requested redisplay does happen
61 eventually---after all the input has been processed.
63 Normally, suspending and resuming Emacs also refreshes the screen.
64 Some terminal emulators record separate contents for display-oriented
65 programs such as Emacs and for ordinary sequential display. If you are
66 using such a terminal, you might want to inhibit the redisplay on
69 @defvar no-redraw-on-reenter
70 @cindex suspend (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
71 @cindex resume (cf. @code{no-redraw-on-reenter})
72 This variable controls whether Emacs redraws the entire screen after it
73 has been suspended and resumed. Non-@code{nil} means there is no need
74 to redraw, @code{nil} means redrawing is needed. The default is @code{nil}.
77 @node Forcing Redisplay
78 @section Forcing Redisplay
79 @cindex forcing redisplay
81 Emacs normally tries to redisplay the screen whenever it waits for
82 input. With this function you can request an immediate attempt to
83 redisplay, in the middle of Lisp code, without actually waiting for
86 @defun redisplay &optional force
87 This function tries immediately to redisplay, provided there are no
88 pending input events. It is equivalent to @code{(sit-for 0)}.
90 If the optional argument @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, it does all
91 pending redisplay work even if input is available, with no
94 The function returns @code{t} if it actually tried to redisplay, and
95 @code{nil} otherwise. A value of @code{t} does not mean that
96 redisplay proceeded to completion; it could have been pre-empted by
97 newly arriving terminal input.
100 @code{redisplay} with no argument tries immediately to redisplay,
101 but has no effect on the usual rules for what parts of the screen to
102 redisplay. By contrast, the following function adds certain windows
103 to the pending redisplay work (as if their contents had completely
104 changed), but doesn't immediately try to do any redisplay work.
106 @defun force-window-update &optional object
107 This function forces some or all windows to be updated on next
108 redisplay. If @var{object} is a window, it requires eventual
109 redisplay of that window. If @var{object} is a buffer or buffer name,
110 it requires eventual redisplay of all windows displaying that buffer.
111 If @var{object} is @code{nil} (or omitted), it requires eventual
112 redisplay of all windows.
115 @code{force-window-update} does not do a redisplay immediately.
116 (Emacs will do that when it waits for input.) Rather, its effect is
117 to put more work on the queue to be done by redisplay whenever there
120 Emacs redisplay normally stops if input arrives, and does not happen
121 at all if input is available before it starts. Most of the time, this
122 is exactly what you want. However, you can prevent preemption by
123 binding @code{redisplay-dont-pause} to a non-@code{nil} value.
125 @defvar redisplay-dont-pause
126 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, pending input does not
127 prevent or halt redisplay; redisplay occurs, and finishes,
128 regardless of whether input is available.
131 @defvar redisplay-preemption-period
132 This variable specifies how many seconds Emacs waits between checks
133 for new input during redisplay. (The default is 0.1 seconds.) If
134 input has arrived when Emacs checks, it pre-empts redisplay and
135 processes the available input before trying again to redisplay.
137 If this variable is @code{nil}, Emacs does not check for input during
138 redisplay, and redisplay cannot be preempted by input.
140 This variable is only obeyed on graphical terminals. For
141 text terminals, see @ref{Terminal Output}.
146 @cindex line wrapping
147 @cindex line truncation
148 @cindex continuation lines
149 @cindex @samp{$} in display
150 @cindex @samp{\} in display
152 When a line of text extends beyond the right edge of a window, Emacs
153 can @dfn{continue} the line (make it ``wrap'' to the next screen
154 line), or @dfn{truncate} the line (limit it to one screen line). The
155 additional screen lines used to display a long text line are called
156 @dfn{continuation} lines. Continuation is not the same as filling;
157 continuation happens on the screen only, not in the buffer contents,
158 and it breaks a line precisely at the right margin, not at a word
159 boundary. @xref{Filling}.
161 On a graphical display, tiny arrow images in the window fringes
162 indicate truncated and continued lines (@pxref{Fringes}). On a text
163 terminal, a @samp{$} in the rightmost column of the window indicates
164 truncation; a @samp{\} on the rightmost column indicates a line that
165 ``wraps.'' (The display table can specify alternate characters to use
166 for this; @pxref{Display Tables}).
168 @defopt truncate-lines
169 This buffer-local variable controls how Emacs displays lines that extend
170 beyond the right edge of the window. The default is @code{nil}, which
171 specifies continuation. If the value is non-@code{nil}, then these
174 If the variable @code{truncate-partial-width-windows} is non-@code{nil},
175 then truncation is always used for side-by-side windows (within one
176 frame) regardless of the value of @code{truncate-lines}.
179 @defopt default-truncate-lines
180 This variable is the default value for @code{truncate-lines}, for
181 buffers that do not have buffer-local values for it.
184 @defopt truncate-partial-width-windows
185 This variable controls display of lines that extend beyond the right
186 edge of the window, in side-by-side windows (@pxref{Splitting Windows}).
187 If it is non-@code{nil}, these lines are truncated; otherwise,
188 @code{truncate-lines} says what to do with them.
191 When horizontal scrolling (@pxref{Horizontal Scrolling}) is in use in
192 a window, that forces truncation.
195 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, the prefix it defines
196 will be added at display-time to the beginning of every continuation
197 line due to text wrapping (so if lines are truncated, the wrap-prefix
198 is never used). It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph such
199 as used by the `display' text-property. @xref{Display Property}.
201 A wrap-prefix may also be specified for regions of text using the
202 @code{wrap-prefix} text-property (which takes precedence over the
203 value of the @code{wrap-prefix} variable). @xref{Special Properties}.
207 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, the prefix it defines
208 will be added at display-time to the beginning of every
209 non-continuation line It may be a string, an image, or a stretch-glyph
210 such as used by the `display' text-property. @xref{Display Property}.
212 A line-prefix may also be specified for regions of text using the
213 @code{line-prefix} text-property (which takes precedence over the
214 value of the @code{line-prefix} variable). @xref{Special Properties}.
217 If your buffer contains @emph{very} long lines, and you use
218 continuation to display them, just thinking about them can make Emacs
219 redisplay slow. The column computation and indentation functions also
220 become slow. Then you might find it advisable to set
221 @code{cache-long-line-scans} to @code{t}.
223 @defvar cache-long-line-scans
224 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, various indentation and motion
225 functions, and Emacs redisplay, cache the results of scanning the
226 buffer, and consult the cache to avoid rescanning regions of the buffer
227 unless they are modified.
229 Turning on the cache slows down processing of short lines somewhat.
231 This variable is automatically buffer-local in every buffer.
235 @section The Echo Area
236 @cindex error display
239 The @dfn{echo area} is used for displaying error messages
240 (@pxref{Errors}), for messages made with the @code{message} primitive,
241 and for echoing keystrokes. It is not the same as the minibuffer,
242 despite the fact that the minibuffer appears (when active) in the same
243 place on the screen as the echo area. The @cite{GNU Emacs Manual}
244 specifies the rules for resolving conflicts between the echo area and
245 the minibuffer for use of that screen space (@pxref{Minibuffer,, The
246 Minibuffer, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
248 You can write output in the echo area by using the Lisp printing
249 functions with @code{t} as the stream (@pxref{Output Functions}), or
253 * Displaying Messages:: Explicitly displaying text in the echo area.
254 * Progress:: Informing user about progress of a long operation.
255 * Logging Messages:: Echo area messages are logged for the user.
256 * Echo Area Customization:: Controlling the echo area.
259 @node Displaying Messages
260 @subsection Displaying Messages in the Echo Area
261 @cindex display message in echo area
263 This section describes the functions for explicitly producing echo
264 area messages. Many other Emacs features display messages there, too.
266 @defun message format-string &rest arguments
267 This function displays a message in the echo area. The argument
268 @var{format-string} is similar to a C language @code{printf} format
269 string. See @code{format} in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for the details
270 on the conversion specifications. @code{message} returns the
273 In batch mode, @code{message} prints the message text on the standard
274 error stream, followed by a newline.
276 If @var{format-string}, or strings among the @var{arguments}, have
277 @code{face} text properties, these affect the way the message is displayed.
280 If @var{format-string} is @code{nil} or the empty string,
281 @code{message} clears the echo area; if the echo area has been
282 expanded automatically, this brings it back to its normal size.
283 If the minibuffer is active, this brings the minibuffer contents back
284 onto the screen immediately.
288 (message "Minibuffer depth is %d."
290 @print{} Minibuffer depth is 0.
291 @result{} "Minibuffer depth is 0."
295 ---------- Echo Area ----------
296 Minibuffer depth is 0.
297 ---------- Echo Area ----------
301 To automatically display a message in the echo area or in a pop-buffer,
302 depending on its size, use @code{display-message-or-buffer} (see below).
305 @defmac with-temp-message message &rest body
306 This construct displays a message in the echo area temporarily, during
307 the execution of @var{body}. It displays @var{message}, executes
308 @var{body}, then returns the value of the last body form while restoring
309 the previous echo area contents.
312 @defun message-or-box format-string &rest arguments
313 This function displays a message like @code{message}, but may display it
314 in a dialog box instead of the echo area. If this function is called in
315 a command that was invoked using the mouse---more precisely, if
316 @code{last-nonmenu-event} (@pxref{Command Loop Info}) is either
317 @code{nil} or a list---then it uses a dialog box or pop-up menu to
318 display the message. Otherwise, it uses the echo area. (This is the
319 same criterion that @code{y-or-n-p} uses to make a similar decision; see
320 @ref{Yes-or-No Queries}.)
322 You can force use of the mouse or of the echo area by binding
323 @code{last-nonmenu-event} to a suitable value around the call.
326 @defun message-box format-string &rest arguments
328 This function displays a message like @code{message}, but uses a dialog
329 box (or a pop-up menu) whenever that is possible. If it is impossible
330 to use a dialog box or pop-up menu, because the terminal does not
331 support them, then @code{message-box} uses the echo area, like
335 @defun display-message-or-buffer message &optional buffer-name not-this-window frame
336 This function displays the message @var{message}, which may be either a
337 string or a buffer. If it is shorter than the maximum height of the
338 echo area, as defined by @code{max-mini-window-height}, it is displayed
339 in the echo area, using @code{message}. Otherwise,
340 @code{display-buffer} is used to show it in a pop-up buffer.
342 Returns either the string shown in the echo area, or when a pop-up
343 buffer is used, the window used to display it.
345 If @var{message} is a string, then the optional argument
346 @var{buffer-name} is the name of the buffer used to display it when a
347 pop-up buffer is used, defaulting to @samp{*Message*}. In the case
348 where @var{message} is a string and displayed in the echo area, it is
349 not specified whether the contents are inserted into the buffer anyway.
351 The optional arguments @var{not-this-window} and @var{frame} are as for
352 @code{display-buffer}, and only used if a buffer is displayed.
355 @defun current-message
356 This function returns the message currently being displayed in the
357 echo area, or @code{nil} if there is none.
361 @subsection Reporting Operation Progress
362 @cindex progress reporting
364 When an operation can take a while to finish, you should inform the
365 user about the progress it makes. This way the user can estimate
366 remaining time and clearly see that Emacs is busy working, not hung.
368 Functions listed in this section provide simple and efficient way of
369 reporting operation progress. Here is a working example that does
373 (let ((progress-reporter
374 (make-progress-reporter "Collecting mana for Emacs..."
378 (progress-reporter-update progress-reporter k))
379 (progress-reporter-done progress-reporter))
382 @defun make-progress-reporter message min-value max-value &optional current-value min-change min-time
383 This function creates and returns a @dfn{progress reporter}---an
384 object you will use as an argument for all other functions listed
385 here. The idea is to precompute as much data as possible to make
386 progress reporting very fast.
388 When this progress reporter is subsequently used, it will display
389 @var{message} in the echo area, followed by progress percentage.
390 @var{message} is treated as a simple string. If you need it to depend
391 on a filename, for instance, use @code{format} before calling this
394 @var{min-value} and @var{max-value} arguments stand for starting and
395 final states of your operation. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
396 they should be the results of @code{point-min} and @code{point-max}
397 correspondingly. It is required that @var{max-value} is greater than
398 @var{min-value}. If you create progress reporter when some part of
399 the operation has already been completed, then specify
400 @var{current-value} argument. But normally you should omit it or set
401 it to @code{nil}---it will default to @var{min-value} then.
403 Remaining arguments control the rate of echo area updates. Progress
404 reporter will wait for at least @var{min-change} more percents of the
405 operation to be completed before printing next message.
406 @var{min-time} specifies the minimum time in seconds to pass between
407 successive prints. It can be fractional. Depending on Emacs and
408 system capabilities, progress reporter may or may not respect this
409 last argument or do it with varying precision. Default value for
410 @var{min-change} is 1 (one percent), for @var{min-time}---0.2
413 This function calls @code{progress-reporter-update}, so the first
414 message is printed immediately.
417 @defun progress-reporter-update reporter value
418 This function does the main work of reporting progress of your
419 operation. It displays the message of @var{reporter}, followed by
420 progress percentage determined by @var{value}. If percentage is zero,
421 or close enough according to the @var{min-change} and @var{min-time}
422 arguments, then it is omitted from the output.
424 @var{reporter} must be the result of a call to
425 @code{make-progress-reporter}. @var{value} specifies the current
426 state of your operation and must be between @var{min-value} and
427 @var{max-value} (inclusive) as passed to
428 @code{make-progress-reporter}. For instance, if you scan a buffer,
429 then @var{value} should be the result of a call to @code{point}.
431 This function respects @var{min-change} and @var{min-time} as passed
432 to @code{make-progress-reporter} and so does not output new messages
433 on every invocation. It is thus very fast and normally you should not
434 try to reduce the number of calls to it: resulting overhead will most
435 likely negate your effort.
438 @defun progress-reporter-force-update reporter value &optional new-message
439 This function is similar to @code{progress-reporter-update} except
440 that it prints a message in the echo area unconditionally.
442 The first two arguments have the same meaning as for
443 @code{progress-reporter-update}. Optional @var{new-message} allows
444 you to change the message of the @var{reporter}. Since this functions
445 always updates the echo area, such a change will be immediately
446 presented to the user.
449 @defun progress-reporter-done reporter
450 This function should be called when the operation is finished. It
451 prints the message of @var{reporter} followed by word ``done'' in the
454 You should always call this function and not hope for
455 @code{progress-reporter-update} to print ``100%.'' Firstly, it may
456 never print it, there are many good reasons for this not to happen.
457 Secondly, ``done'' is more explicit.
460 @defmac dotimes-with-progress-reporter (var count [result]) message body@dots{}
461 This is a convenience macro that works the same way as @code{dotimes}
462 does, but also reports loop progress using the functions described
463 above. It allows you to save some typing.
465 You can rewrite the example in the beginning of this node using
469 (dotimes-with-progress-reporter
471 "Collecting some mana for Emacs..."
476 @node Logging Messages
477 @subsection Logging Messages in @samp{*Messages*}
478 @cindex logging echo-area messages
480 Almost all the messages displayed in the echo area are also recorded
481 in the @samp{*Messages*} buffer so that the user can refer back to
482 them. This includes all the messages that are output with
485 @defopt message-log-max
486 This variable specifies how many lines to keep in the @samp{*Messages*}
487 buffer. The value @code{t} means there is no limit on how many lines to
488 keep. The value @code{nil} disables message logging entirely. Here's
489 how to display a message and prevent it from being logged:
492 (let (message-log-max)
497 To make @samp{*Messages*} more convenient for the user, the logging
498 facility combines successive identical messages. It also combines
499 successive related messages for the sake of two cases: question
500 followed by answer, and a series of progress messages.
502 A ``question followed by an answer'' means two messages like the
503 ones produced by @code{y-or-n-p}: the first is @samp{@var{question}},
504 and the second is @samp{@var{question}...@var{answer}}. The first
505 message conveys no additional information beyond what's in the second,
506 so logging the second message discards the first from the log.
508 A ``series of progress messages'' means successive messages like
509 those produced by @code{make-progress-reporter}. They have the form
510 @samp{@var{base}...@var{how-far}}, where @var{base} is the same each
511 time, while @var{how-far} varies. Logging each message in the series
512 discards the previous one, provided they are consecutive.
514 The functions @code{make-progress-reporter} and @code{y-or-n-p}
515 don't have to do anything special to activate the message log
516 combination feature. It operates whenever two consecutive messages
517 are logged that share a common prefix ending in @samp{...}.
519 @node Echo Area Customization
520 @subsection Echo Area Customization
522 These variables control details of how the echo area works.
524 @defvar cursor-in-echo-area
525 This variable controls where the cursor appears when a message is
526 displayed in the echo area. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the cursor
527 appears at the end of the message. Otherwise, the cursor appears at
528 point---not in the echo area at all.
530 The value is normally @code{nil}; Lisp programs bind it to @code{t}
531 for brief periods of time.
534 @defvar echo-area-clear-hook
535 This normal hook is run whenever the echo area is cleared---either by
536 @code{(message nil)} or for any other reason.
539 @defvar echo-keystrokes
540 This variable determines how much time should elapse before command
541 characters echo. Its value must be an integer or floating point number,
543 number of seconds to wait before echoing. If the user types a prefix
544 key (such as @kbd{C-x}) and then delays this many seconds before
545 continuing, the prefix key is echoed in the echo area. (Once echoing
546 begins in a key sequence, all subsequent characters in the same key
547 sequence are echoed immediately.)
549 If the value is zero, then command input is not echoed.
552 @defvar message-truncate-lines
553 Normally, displaying a long message resizes the echo area to display
554 the entire message. But if the variable @code{message-truncate-lines}
555 is non-@code{nil}, the echo area does not resize, and the message is
556 truncated to fit it, as in Emacs 20 and before.
559 The variable @code{max-mini-window-height}, which specifies the
560 maximum height for resizing minibuffer windows, also applies to the
561 echo area (which is really a special use of the minibuffer window.
562 @xref{Minibuffer Misc}.).
565 @section Reporting Warnings
568 @dfn{Warnings} are a facility for a program to inform the user of a
569 possible problem, but continue running.
572 * Warning Basics:: Warnings concepts and functions to report them.
573 * Warning Variables:: Variables programs bind to customize their warnings.
574 * Warning Options:: Variables users set to control display of warnings.
578 @subsection Warning Basics
579 @cindex severity level
581 Every warning has a textual message, which explains the problem for
582 the user, and a @dfn{severity level} which is a symbol. Here are the
583 possible severity levels, in order of decreasing severity, and their
588 A problem that will seriously impair Emacs operation soon
589 if you do not attend to it promptly.
591 A report of data or circumstances that are inherently wrong.
593 A report of data or circumstances that are not inherently wrong, but
594 raise suspicion of a possible problem.
596 A report of information that may be useful if you are debugging.
599 When your program encounters invalid input data, it can either
600 signal a Lisp error by calling @code{error} or @code{signal} or report
601 a warning with severity @code{:error}. Signaling a Lisp error is the
602 easiest thing to do, but it means the program cannot continue
603 processing. If you want to take the trouble to implement a way to
604 continue processing despite the bad data, then reporting a warning of
605 severity @code{:error} is the right way to inform the user of the
606 problem. For instance, the Emacs Lisp byte compiler can report an
607 error that way and continue compiling other functions. (If the
608 program signals a Lisp error and then handles it with
609 @code{condition-case}, the user won't see the error message; it could
610 show the message to the user by reporting it as a warning.)
613 Each warning has a @dfn{warning type} to classify it. The type is a
614 list of symbols. The first symbol should be the custom group that you
615 use for the program's user options. For example, byte compiler
616 warnings use the warning type @code{(bytecomp)}. You can also
617 subcategorize the warnings, if you wish, by using more symbols in the
620 @defun display-warning type message &optional level buffer-name
621 This function reports a warning, using @var{message} as the message
622 and @var{type} as the warning type. @var{level} should be the
623 severity level, with @code{:warning} being the default.
625 @var{buffer-name}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the name of the buffer
626 for logging the warning. By default, it is @samp{*Warnings*}.
629 @defun lwarn type level message &rest args
630 This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
631 @var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message. In other respects it is
632 equivalent to @code{display-warning}.
635 @defun warn message &rest args
636 This function reports a warning using the value of @code{(format
637 @var{message} @var{args}...)} as the message, @code{(emacs)} as the
638 type, and @code{:warning} as the severity level. It exists for
639 compatibility only; we recommend not using it, because you should
640 specify a specific warning type.
643 @node Warning Variables
644 @subsection Warning Variables
646 Programs can customize how their warnings appear by binding
647 the variables described in this section.
649 @defvar warning-levels
650 This list defines the meaning and severity order of the warning
651 severity levels. Each element defines one severity level,
652 and they are arranged in order of decreasing severity.
654 Each element has the form @code{(@var{level} @var{string}
655 @var{function})}, where @var{level} is the severity level it defines.
656 @var{string} specifies the textual description of this level.
657 @var{string} should use @samp{%s} to specify where to put the warning
658 type information, or it can omit the @samp{%s} so as not to include
661 The optional @var{function}, if non-@code{nil}, is a function to call
662 with no arguments, to get the user's attention.
664 Normally you should not change the value of this variable.
667 @defvar warning-prefix-function
668 If non-@code{nil}, the value is a function to generate prefix text for
669 warnings. Programs can bind the variable to a suitable function.
670 @code{display-warning} calls this function with the warnings buffer
671 current, and the function can insert text in it. That text becomes
672 the beginning of the warning message.
674 The function is called with two arguments, the severity level and its
675 entry in @code{warning-levels}. It should return a list to use as the
676 entry (this value need not be an actual member of
677 @code{warning-levels}). By constructing this value, the function can
678 change the severity of the warning, or specify different handling for
679 a given severity level.
681 If the variable's value is @code{nil} then there is no function
685 @defvar warning-series
686 Programs can bind this variable to @code{t} to say that the next
687 warning should begin a series. When several warnings form a series,
688 that means to leave point on the first warning of the series, rather
689 than keep moving it for each warning so that it appears on the last one.
690 The series ends when the local binding is unbound and
691 @code{warning-series} becomes @code{nil} again.
693 The value can also be a symbol with a function definition. That is
694 equivalent to @code{t}, except that the next warning will also call
695 the function with no arguments with the warnings buffer current. The
696 function can insert text which will serve as a header for the series
699 Once a series has begun, the value is a marker which points to the
700 buffer position in the warnings buffer of the start of the series.
702 The variable's normal value is @code{nil}, which means to handle
703 each warning separately.
706 @defvar warning-fill-prefix
707 When this variable is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a fill prefix to
708 use for filling each warning's text.
711 @defvar warning-type-format
712 This variable specifies the format for displaying the warning type
713 in the warning message. The result of formatting the type this way
714 gets included in the message under the control of the string in the
715 entry in @code{warning-levels}. The default value is @code{" (%s)"}.
716 If you bind it to @code{""} then the warning type won't appear at
720 @node Warning Options
721 @subsection Warning Options
723 These variables are used by users to control what happens
724 when a Lisp program reports a warning.
726 @defopt warning-minimum-level
727 This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
728 shown immediately to the user. The default is @code{:warning}, which
729 means to immediately display all warnings except @code{:debug}
733 @defopt warning-minimum-log-level
734 This user option specifies the minimum severity level that should be
735 logged in the warnings buffer. The default is @code{:warning}, which
736 means to log all warnings except @code{:debug} warnings.
739 @defopt warning-suppress-types
740 This list specifies which warning types should not be displayed
741 immediately for the user. Each element of the list should be a list
742 of symbols. If its elements match the first elements in a warning
743 type, then that warning is not displayed immediately.
746 @defopt warning-suppress-log-types
747 This list specifies which warning types should not be logged in the
748 warnings buffer. Each element of the list should be a list of
749 symbols. If it matches the first few elements in a warning type, then
750 that warning is not logged.
754 @section Invisible Text
756 @cindex invisible text
757 You can make characters @dfn{invisible}, so that they do not appear on
758 the screen, with the @code{invisible} property. This can be either a
759 text property (@pxref{Text Properties}) or a property of an overlay
760 (@pxref{Overlays}). Cursor motion also partly ignores these
761 characters; if the command loop finds point within them, it moves
762 point to the other side of them.
764 In the simplest case, any non-@code{nil} @code{invisible} property makes
765 a character invisible. This is the default case---if you don't alter
766 the default value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}, this is how the
767 @code{invisible} property works. You should normally use @code{t}
768 as the value of the @code{invisible} property if you don't plan
769 to set @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} yourself.
771 More generally, you can use the variable @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
772 to control which values of the @code{invisible} property make text
773 invisible. This permits you to classify the text into different subsets
774 in advance, by giving them different @code{invisible} values, and
775 subsequently make various subsets visible or invisible by changing the
776 value of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}.
778 Controlling visibility with @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is
779 especially useful in a program to display the list of entries in a
780 database. It permits the implementation of convenient filtering
781 commands to view just a part of the entries in the database. Setting
782 this variable is very fast, much faster than scanning all the text in
783 the buffer looking for properties to change.
785 @defvar buffer-invisibility-spec
786 This variable specifies which kinds of @code{invisible} properties
787 actually make a character invisible. Setting this variable makes it
792 A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property is
793 non-@code{nil}. This is the default.
796 Each element of the list specifies a criterion for invisibility; if a
797 character's @code{invisible} property fits any one of these criteria,
798 the character is invisible. The list can have two kinds of elements:
802 A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value
803 is @var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member.
805 @item (@var{atom} . t)
806 A character is invisible if its @code{invisible} property value is
807 @var{atom} or if it is a list with @var{atom} as a member. Moreover,
808 a sequence of such characters displays as an ellipsis.
813 Two functions are specifically provided for adding elements to
814 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and removing elements from it.
816 @defun add-to-invisibility-spec element
817 This function adds the element @var{element} to
818 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. If @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}
819 was @code{t}, it changes to a list, @code{(t)}, so that text whose
820 @code{invisible} property is @code{t} remains invisible.
823 @defun remove-from-invisibility-spec element
824 This removes the element @var{element} from
825 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec}. This does nothing if @var{element}
829 A convention for use of @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} is that a
830 major mode should use the mode's own name as an element of
831 @code{buffer-invisibility-spec} and as the value of the
832 @code{invisible} property:
835 ;; @r{If you want to display an ellipsis:}
836 (add-to-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
837 ;; @r{If you don't want ellipsis:}
838 (add-to-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
840 (overlay-put (make-overlay beginning end)
841 'invisible 'my-symbol)
843 ;; @r{When done with the overlays:}
844 (remove-from-invisibility-spec '(my-symbol . t))
845 ;; @r{Or respectively:}
846 (remove-from-invisibility-spec 'my-symbol)
849 @vindex line-move-ignore-invisible
850 Ordinarily, functions that operate on text or move point do not care
851 whether the text is invisible. The user-level line motion commands
852 explicitly ignore invisible newlines if
853 @code{line-move-ignore-invisible} is non-@code{nil} (the default), but
854 only because they are explicitly programmed to do so.
856 However, if a command ends with point inside or immediately before
857 invisible text, the main editing loop moves point further forward or
858 further backward (in the same direction that the command already moved
859 it) until that condition is no longer true. Thus, if the command
860 moved point back into an invisible range, Emacs moves point back to
861 the beginning of that range, and then back one more character. If the
862 command moved point forward into an invisible range, Emacs moves point
863 forward up to the first visible character that follows the invisible
866 Incremental search can make invisible overlays visible temporarily
867 and/or permanently when a match includes invisible text. To enable
868 this, the overlay should have a non-@code{nil}
869 @code{isearch-open-invisible} property. The property value should be a
870 function to be called with the overlay as an argument. This function
871 should make the overlay visible permanently; it is used when the match
872 overlaps the overlay on exit from the search.
874 During the search, such overlays are made temporarily visible by
875 temporarily modifying their invisible and intangible properties. If you
876 want this to be done differently for a certain overlay, give it an
877 @code{isearch-open-invisible-temporary} property which is a function.
878 The function is called with two arguments: the first is the overlay, and
879 the second is @code{nil} to make the overlay visible, or @code{t} to
880 make it invisible again.
882 @node Selective Display
883 @section Selective Display
884 @c @cindex selective display Duplicates selective-display
886 @dfn{Selective display} refers to a pair of related features for
887 hiding certain lines on the screen.
889 The first variant, explicit selective display, is designed for use
890 in a Lisp program: it controls which lines are hidden by altering the
891 text. This kind of hiding in some ways resembles the effect of the
892 @code{invisible} property (@pxref{Invisible Text}), but the two
893 features are different and do not work the same way.
895 In the second variant, the choice of lines to hide is made
896 automatically based on indentation. This variant is designed to be a
899 The way you control explicit selective display is by replacing a
900 newline (control-j) with a carriage return (control-m). The text that
901 was formerly a line following that newline is now hidden. Strictly
902 speaking, it is temporarily no longer a line at all, since only
903 newlines can separate lines; it is now part of the previous line.
905 Selective display does not directly affect editing commands. For
906 example, @kbd{C-f} (@code{forward-char}) moves point unhesitatingly
907 into hidden text. However, the replacement of newline characters with
908 carriage return characters affects some editing commands. For
909 example, @code{next-line} skips hidden lines, since it searches only
910 for newlines. Modes that use selective display can also define
911 commands that take account of the newlines, or that control which
912 parts of the text are hidden.
914 When you write a selectively displayed buffer into a file, all the
915 control-m's are output as newlines. This means that when you next read
916 in the file, it looks OK, with nothing hidden. The selective display
917 effect is seen only within Emacs.
919 @defvar selective-display
920 This buffer-local variable enables selective display. This means that
921 lines, or portions of lines, may be made hidden.
925 If the value of @code{selective-display} is @code{t}, then the character
926 control-m marks the start of hidden text; the control-m, and the rest
927 of the line following it, are not displayed. This is explicit selective
931 If the value of @code{selective-display} is a positive integer, then
932 lines that start with more than that many columns of indentation are not
936 When some portion of a buffer is hidden, the vertical movement
937 commands operate as if that portion did not exist, allowing a single
938 @code{next-line} command to skip any number of hidden lines.
939 However, character movement commands (such as @code{forward-char}) do
940 not skip the hidden portion, and it is possible (if tricky) to insert
941 or delete text in an hidden portion.
943 In the examples below, we show the @emph{display appearance} of the
944 buffer @code{foo}, which changes with the value of
945 @code{selective-display}. The @emph{contents} of the buffer do not
950 (setq selective-display nil)
953 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
960 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
964 (setq selective-display 2)
967 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
972 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
977 @defvar selective-display-ellipses
978 If this buffer-local variable is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays
979 @samp{@dots{}} at the end of a line that is followed by hidden text.
980 This example is a continuation of the previous one.
984 (setq selective-display-ellipses t)
987 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
992 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
996 You can use a display table to substitute other text for the ellipsis
997 (@samp{@dots{}}). @xref{Display Tables}.
1000 @node Temporary Displays
1001 @section Temporary Displays
1003 Temporary displays are used by Lisp programs to put output into a
1004 buffer and then present it to the user for perusal rather than for
1005 editing. Many help commands use this feature.
1007 @defspec with-output-to-temp-buffer buffer-name forms@dots{}
1008 This function executes @var{forms} while arranging to insert any output
1009 they print into the buffer named @var{buffer-name}, which is first
1010 created if necessary, and put into Help mode. Finally, the buffer is
1011 displayed in some window, but not selected.
1013 If the @var{forms} do not change the major mode in the output buffer,
1014 so that it is still Help mode at the end of their execution, then
1015 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} makes this buffer read-only at the
1016 end, and also scans it for function and variable names to make them
1017 into clickable cross-references. @xref{Docstring hyperlinks, , Tips
1018 for Documentation Strings}, in particular the item on hyperlinks in
1019 documentation strings, for more details.
1021 The string @var{buffer-name} specifies the temporary buffer, which
1022 need not already exist. The argument must be a string, not a buffer.
1023 The buffer is erased initially (with no questions asked), and it is
1024 marked as unmodified after @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} exits.
1026 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} binds @code{standard-output} to the
1027 temporary buffer, then it evaluates the forms in @var{forms}. Output
1028 using the Lisp output functions within @var{forms} goes by default to
1029 that buffer (but screen display and messages in the echo area, although
1030 they are ``output'' in the general sense of the word, are not affected).
1031 @xref{Output Functions}.
1033 Several hooks are available for customizing the behavior
1034 of this construct; they are listed below.
1036 The value of the last form in @var{forms} is returned.
1040 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1041 This is the contents of foo.
1042 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1046 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "foo"
1048 (print standard-output))
1049 @result{} #<buffer foo>
1051 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1056 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1061 @defvar temp-buffer-show-function
1062 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer}
1063 calls it as a function to do the job of displaying a help buffer. The
1064 function gets one argument, which is the buffer it should display.
1066 It is a good idea for this function to run @code{temp-buffer-show-hook}
1067 just as @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} normally would, inside of
1068 @code{save-selected-window} and with the chosen window and buffer
1072 @defvar temp-buffer-setup-hook
1073 This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} before
1074 evaluating @var{body}. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer is
1075 current. This hook is normally set up with a function to put the
1076 buffer in Help mode.
1079 @defvar temp-buffer-show-hook
1080 This normal hook is run by @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} after
1081 displaying the temporary buffer. When the hook runs, the temporary buffer
1082 is current, and the window it was displayed in is selected.
1085 @defun momentary-string-display string position &optional char message
1086 This function momentarily displays @var{string} in the current buffer at
1087 @var{position}. It has no effect on the undo list or on the buffer's
1088 modification status.
1090 The momentary display remains until the next input event. If the next
1091 input event is @var{char}, @code{momentary-string-display} ignores it
1092 and returns. Otherwise, that event remains buffered for subsequent use
1093 as input. Thus, typing @var{char} will simply remove the string from
1094 the display, while typing (say) @kbd{C-f} will remove the string from
1095 the display and later (presumably) move point forward. The argument
1096 @var{char} is a space by default.
1098 The return value of @code{momentary-string-display} is not meaningful.
1100 If the string @var{string} does not contain control characters, you can
1101 do the same job in a more general way by creating (and then subsequently
1102 deleting) an overlay with a @code{before-string} property.
1103 @xref{Overlay Properties}.
1105 If @var{message} is non-@code{nil}, it is displayed in the echo area
1106 while @var{string} is displayed in the buffer. If it is @code{nil}, a
1107 default message says to type @var{char} to continue.
1109 In this example, point is initially located at the beginning of the
1114 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1115 This is the contents of foo.
1116 @point{}Second line.
1117 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1121 (momentary-string-display
1122 "**** Important Message! ****"
1124 "Type RET when done reading")
1129 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1130 This is the contents of foo.
1131 **** Important Message! ****Second line.
1132 ---------- Buffer: foo ----------
1134 ---------- Echo Area ----------
1135 Type RET when done reading
1136 ---------- Echo Area ----------
1145 You can use @dfn{overlays} to alter the appearance of a buffer's text on
1146 the screen, for the sake of presentation features. An overlay is an
1147 object that belongs to a particular buffer, and has a specified
1148 beginning and end. It also has properties that you can examine and set;
1149 these affect the display of the text within the overlay.
1151 An overlay uses markers to record its beginning and end; thus,
1152 editing the text of the buffer adjusts the beginning and end of each
1153 overlay so that it stays with the text. When you create the overlay,
1154 you can specify whether text inserted at the beginning should be
1155 inside the overlay or outside, and likewise for the end of the overlay.
1158 * Managing Overlays:: Creating and moving overlays.
1159 * Overlay Properties:: How to read and set properties.
1160 What properties do to the screen display.
1161 * Finding Overlays:: Searching for overlays.
1164 @node Managing Overlays
1165 @subsection Managing Overlays
1167 This section describes the functions to create, delete and move
1168 overlays, and to examine their contents. Overlay changes are not
1169 recorded in the buffer's undo list, since the overlays are not
1170 part of the buffer's contents.
1172 @defun overlayp object
1173 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is an overlay.
1176 @defun make-overlay start end &optional buffer front-advance rear-advance
1177 This function creates and returns an overlay that belongs to
1178 @var{buffer} and ranges from @var{start} to @var{end}. Both @var{start}
1179 and @var{end} must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or
1180 markers. If @var{buffer} is omitted, the overlay is created in the
1183 The arguments @var{front-advance} and @var{rear-advance} specify the
1184 marker insertion type for the start of the overlay and for the end of
1185 the overlay, respectively. @xref{Marker Insertion Types}. If they
1186 are both @code{nil}, the default, then the overlay extends to include
1187 any text inserted at the beginning, but not text inserted at the end.
1188 If @var{front-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the
1189 beginning of the overlay is excluded from the overlay. If
1190 @var{rear-advance} is non-@code{nil}, text inserted at the end of the
1191 overlay is included in the overlay.
1194 @defun overlay-start overlay
1195 This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} starts,
1199 @defun overlay-end overlay
1200 This function returns the position at which @var{overlay} ends,
1204 @defun overlay-buffer overlay
1205 This function returns the buffer that @var{overlay} belongs to. It
1206 returns @code{nil} if @var{overlay} has been deleted.
1209 @defun delete-overlay overlay
1210 This function deletes @var{overlay}. The overlay continues to exist as
1211 a Lisp object, and its property list is unchanged, but it ceases to be
1212 attached to the buffer it belonged to, and ceases to have any effect on
1215 A deleted overlay is not permanently disconnected. You can give it a
1216 position in a buffer again by calling @code{move-overlay}.
1219 @defun move-overlay overlay start end &optional buffer
1220 This function moves @var{overlay} to @var{buffer}, and places its bounds
1221 at @var{start} and @var{end}. Both arguments @var{start} and @var{end}
1222 must specify buffer positions; they may be integers or markers.
1224 If @var{buffer} is omitted, @var{overlay} stays in the same buffer it
1225 was already associated with; if @var{overlay} was deleted, it goes into
1228 The return value is @var{overlay}.
1230 This is the only valid way to change the endpoints of an overlay. Do
1231 not try modifying the markers in the overlay by hand, as that fails to
1232 update other vital data structures and can cause some overlays to be
1236 @defun remove-overlays &optional start end name value
1237 This function removes all the overlays between @var{start} and
1238 @var{end} whose property @var{name} has the value @var{value}. It can
1239 move the endpoints of the overlays in the region, or split them.
1241 If @var{name} is omitted or @code{nil}, it means to delete all overlays in
1242 the specified region. If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are omitted or
1243 @code{nil}, that means the beginning and end of the buffer respectively.
1244 Therefore, @code{(remove-overlays)} removes all the overlays in the
1248 Here are some examples:
1251 ;; @r{Create an overlay.}
1252 (setq foo (make-overlay 1 10))
1253 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 10 in display.texi>
1258 (overlay-buffer foo)
1259 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1260 ;; @r{Give it a property we can check later.}
1261 (overlay-put foo 'happy t)
1263 ;; @r{Verify the property is present.}
1264 (overlay-get foo 'happy)
1266 ;; @r{Move the overlay.}
1267 (move-overlay foo 5 20)
1268 @result{} #<overlay from 5 to 20 in display.texi>
1273 ;; @r{Delete the overlay.}
1274 (delete-overlay foo)
1276 ;; @r{Verify it is deleted.}
1278 @result{} #<overlay in no buffer>
1279 ;; @r{A deleted overlay has no position.}
1284 (overlay-buffer foo)
1286 ;; @r{Undelete the overlay.}
1287 (move-overlay foo 1 20)
1288 @result{} #<overlay from 1 to 20 in display.texi>
1289 ;; @r{Verify the results.}
1294 (overlay-buffer foo)
1295 @result{} #<buffer display.texi>
1296 ;; @r{Moving and deleting the overlay does not change its properties.}
1297 (overlay-get foo 'happy)
1301 Emacs stores the overlays of each buffer in two lists, divided
1302 around an arbitrary ``center position.'' One list extends backwards
1303 through the buffer from that center position, and the other extends
1304 forwards from that center position. The center position can be anywhere
1307 @defun overlay-recenter pos
1308 This function recenters the overlays of the current buffer around
1309 position @var{pos}. That makes overlay lookup faster for positions
1310 near @var{pos}, but slower for positions far away from @var{pos}.
1313 A loop that scans the buffer forwards, creating overlays, can run
1314 faster if you do @code{(overlay-recenter (point-max))} first.
1316 @node Overlay Properties
1317 @subsection Overlay Properties
1319 Overlay properties are like text properties in that the properties that
1320 alter how a character is displayed can come from either source. But in
1321 most respects they are different. @xref{Text Properties}, for comparison.
1323 Text properties are considered a part of the text; overlays and
1324 their properties are specifically considered not to be part of the
1325 text. Thus, copying text between various buffers and strings
1326 preserves text properties, but does not try to preserve overlays.
1327 Changing a buffer's text properties marks the buffer as modified,
1328 while moving an overlay or changing its properties does not. Unlike
1329 text property changes, overlay property changes are not recorded in
1330 the buffer's undo list.
1332 Since more than one overlay can specify a property value for the
1333 same character, Emacs lets you specify a priority value of each
1334 overlay. You should not make assumptions about which overlay will
1335 prevail when there is a conflict and they have the same priority.
1337 These functions read and set the properties of an overlay:
1339 @defun overlay-get overlay prop
1340 This function returns the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1341 @var{overlay}, if any. If @var{overlay} does not record any value for
1342 that property, but it does have a @code{category} property which is a
1343 symbol, that symbol's @var{prop} property is used. Otherwise, the value
1347 @defun overlay-put overlay prop value
1348 This function sets the value of property @var{prop} recorded in
1349 @var{overlay} to @var{value}. It returns @var{value}.
1352 @defun overlay-properties overlay
1353 This returns a copy of the property list of @var{overlay}.
1356 See also the function @code{get-char-property} which checks both
1357 overlay properties and text properties for a given character.
1358 @xref{Examining Properties}.
1360 Many overlay properties have special meanings; here is a table
1365 @kindex priority @r{(overlay property)}
1366 This property's value (which should be a nonnegative integer number)
1367 determines the priority of the overlay. No priority, or @code{nil},
1370 The priority matters when two or more overlays cover the same
1371 character and both specify the same property; the one whose
1372 @code{priority} value is larger overrides the other. For the
1373 @code{face} property, the higher priority overlay's value does not
1374 completely override the other value; instead, its face attributes
1375 override the face attributes of the lower priority @code{face}
1378 Currently, all overlays take priority over text properties. Please
1379 avoid using negative priority values, as we have not yet decided just
1380 what they should mean.
1383 @kindex window @r{(overlay property)}
1384 If the @code{window} property is non-@code{nil}, then the overlay
1385 applies only on that window.
1388 @kindex category @r{(overlay property)}
1389 If an overlay has a @code{category} property, we call it the
1390 @dfn{category} of the overlay. It should be a symbol. The properties
1391 of the symbol serve as defaults for the properties of the overlay.
1394 @kindex face @r{(overlay property)}
1395 This property controls the way text is displayed---for example, which
1396 font and which colors. @xref{Faces}, for more information.
1398 In the simplest case, the value is a face name. It can also be a list;
1399 then each element can be any of these possibilities:
1403 A face name (a symbol or string).
1406 A property list of face attributes. This has the form (@var{keyword}
1407 @var{value} @dots{}), where each @var{keyword} is a face attribute
1408 name and @var{value} is a meaningful value for that attribute. With
1409 this feature, you do not need to create a face each time you want to
1410 specify a particular attribute for certain text. @xref{Face
1414 A cons cell, either of the form @code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} or
1415 @code{(background-color . @var{color-name})}. These elements specify
1416 just the foreground color or just the background color.
1418 @code{(foreground-color . @var{color-name})} has the same effect as
1419 @code{(:foreground @var{color-name})}; likewise for the background.
1423 @kindex mouse-face @r{(overlay property)}
1424 This property is used instead of @code{face} when the mouse is within
1425 the range of the overlay.
1428 @kindex display @r{(overlay property)}
1429 This property activates various features that change the
1430 way text is displayed. For example, it can make text appear taller
1431 or shorter, higher or lower, wider or narrower, or replaced with an image.
1432 @xref{Display Property}.
1435 @kindex help-echo @r{(overlay property)}
1436 If an overlay has a @code{help-echo} property, then when you move the
1437 mouse onto the text in the overlay, Emacs displays a help string in the
1438 echo area, or in the tooltip window. For details see @ref{Text
1441 @item modification-hooks
1442 @kindex modification-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1443 This property's value is a list of functions to be called if any
1444 character within the overlay is changed or if text is inserted strictly
1447 The hook functions are called both before and after each change.
1448 If the functions save the information they receive, and compare notes
1449 between calls, they can determine exactly what change has been made
1452 When called before a change, each function receives four arguments: the
1453 overlay, @code{nil}, and the beginning and end of the text range to be
1456 When called after a change, each function receives five arguments: the
1457 overlay, @code{t}, the beginning and end of the text range just
1458 modified, and the length of the pre-change text replaced by that range.
1459 (For an insertion, the pre-change length is zero; for a deletion, that
1460 length is the number of characters deleted, and the post-change
1461 beginning and end are equal.)
1463 If these functions modify the buffer, they should bind
1464 @code{inhibit-modification-hooks} to @code{t} around doing so, to
1465 avoid confusing the internal mechanism that calls these hooks.
1467 Text properties also support the @code{modification-hooks} property,
1468 but the details are somewhat different (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1470 @item insert-in-front-hooks
1471 @kindex insert-in-front-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1472 This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1473 after inserting text right at the beginning of the overlay. The calling
1474 conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1476 @item insert-behind-hooks
1477 @kindex insert-behind-hooks @r{(overlay property)}
1478 This property's value is a list of functions to be called before and
1479 after inserting text right at the end of the overlay. The calling
1480 conventions are the same as for the @code{modification-hooks} functions.
1483 @kindex invisible @r{(overlay property)}
1484 The @code{invisible} property can make the text in the overlay
1485 invisible, which means that it does not appear on the screen.
1486 @xref{Invisible Text}, for details.
1489 @kindex intangible @r{(overlay property)}
1490 The @code{intangible} property on an overlay works just like the
1491 @code{intangible} text property. @xref{Special Properties}, for details.
1493 @item isearch-open-invisible
1494 This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1495 visible, permanently, if the final match overlaps it. @xref{Invisible
1498 @item isearch-open-invisible-temporary
1499 This property tells incremental search how to make an invisible overlay
1500 visible, temporarily, during the search. @xref{Invisible Text}.
1503 @kindex before-string @r{(overlay property)}
1504 This property's value is a string to add to the display at the beginning
1505 of the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1506 sense---only on the screen.
1509 @kindex after-string @r{(overlay property)}
1510 This property's value is a string to add to the display at the end of
1511 the overlay. The string does not appear in the buffer in any
1512 sense---only on the screen.
1515 @kindex evaporate @r{(overlay property)}
1516 If this property is non-@code{nil}, the overlay is deleted automatically
1517 if it becomes empty (i.e., if its length becomes zero). If you give
1518 an empty overlay a non-@code{nil} @code{evaporate} property, that deletes
1522 @cindex keymap of character (and overlays)
1523 @kindex local-map @r{(overlay property)}
1524 If this property is non-@code{nil}, it specifies a keymap for a portion
1525 of the text. The property's value replaces the buffer's local map, when
1526 the character after point is within the overlay. @xref{Active Keymaps}.
1529 @kindex keymap @r{(overlay property)}
1530 The @code{keymap} property is similar to @code{local-map} but overrides the
1531 buffer's local map (and the map specified by the @code{local-map}
1532 property) rather than replacing it.
1535 The @code{local-map} and @code{keymap} properties do not affect a
1536 string displayed by the @code{before-string}, @code{after-string}, or
1537 @code{display} properties. This is only relevant for mouse clicks and
1538 other mouse events that fall on the string, since point is never on
1539 the string. To bind special mouse events for the string, assign it a
1540 @code{local-map} or @code{keymap} text property. @xref{Special
1543 @node Finding Overlays
1544 @subsection Searching for Overlays
1546 @defun overlays-at pos
1547 This function returns a list of all the overlays that cover the
1548 character at position @var{pos} in the current buffer. The list is in
1549 no particular order. An overlay contains position @var{pos} if it
1550 begins at or before @var{pos}, and ends after @var{pos}.
1552 To illustrate usage, here is a Lisp function that returns a list of the
1553 overlays that specify property @var{prop} for the character at point:
1556 (defun find-overlays-specifying (prop)
1557 (let ((overlays (overlays-at (point)))
1560 (let ((overlay (car overlays)))
1561 (if (overlay-get overlay prop)
1562 (setq found (cons overlay found))))
1563 (setq overlays (cdr overlays)))
1568 @defun overlays-in beg end
1569 This function returns a list of the overlays that overlap the region
1570 @var{beg} through @var{end}. ``Overlap'' means that at least one
1571 character is contained within the overlay and also contained within the
1572 specified region; however, empty overlays are included in the result if
1573 they are located at @var{beg}, strictly between @var{beg} and @var{end},
1574 or at @var{end} when @var{end} denotes the position at the end of the
1578 @defun next-overlay-change pos
1579 This function returns the buffer position of the next beginning or end
1580 of an overlay, after @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1584 @defun previous-overlay-change pos
1585 This function returns the buffer position of the previous beginning or
1586 end of an overlay, before @var{pos}. If there is none, it returns
1590 As an example, here's a simplified (and inefficient) version of the
1591 primitive function @code{next-single-char-property-change}
1592 (@pxref{Property Search}). It searches forward from position
1593 @var{pos} for the next position where the value of a given property
1594 @code{prop}, as obtained from either overlays or text properties,
1598 (defun next-single-char-property-change (position prop)
1600 (goto-char position)
1601 (let ((propval (get-char-property (point) prop)))
1602 (while (and (not (eobp))
1603 (eq (get-char-property (point) prop) propval))
1604 (goto-char (min (next-overlay-change (point))
1605 (next-single-property-change (point) prop)))))
1612 Since not all characters have the same width, these functions let you
1613 check the width of a character. @xref{Primitive Indent}, and
1614 @ref{Screen Lines}, for related functions.
1616 @defun char-width char
1617 This function returns the width in columns of the character @var{char},
1618 if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1621 @defun string-width string
1622 This function returns the width in columns of the string @var{string},
1623 if it were displayed in the current buffer and the selected window.
1626 @defun truncate-string-to-width string width &optional start-column padding ellipsis
1627 This function returns the part of @var{string} that fits within
1628 @var{width} columns, as a new string.
1630 If @var{string} does not reach @var{width}, then the result ends where
1631 @var{string} ends. If one multi-column character in @var{string}
1632 extends across the column @var{width}, that character is not included in
1633 the result. Thus, the result can fall short of @var{width} but cannot
1636 The optional argument @var{start-column} specifies the starting column.
1637 If this is non-@code{nil}, then the first @var{start-column} columns of
1638 the string are omitted from the value. If one multi-column character in
1639 @var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}, that
1640 character is not included.
1642 The optional argument @var{padding}, if non-@code{nil}, is a padding
1643 character added at the beginning and end of the result string, to extend
1644 it to exactly @var{width} columns. The padding character is used at the
1645 end of the result if it falls short of @var{width}. It is also used at
1646 the beginning of the result if one multi-column character in
1647 @var{string} extends across the column @var{start-column}.
1649 If @var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a string which will
1650 replace the end of @var{str} (including any padding) if it extends
1651 beyond @var{end-column}, unless the display width of @var{str} is
1652 equal to or less than the display width of @var{ellipsis}. If
1653 @var{ellipsis} is non-@code{nil} and not a string, it stands for
1657 (truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4)
1659 (truncate-string-to-width "\tab\t" 12 4 ?\s)
1665 @section Line Height
1668 The total height of each display line consists of the height of the
1669 contents of the line, plus optional additional vertical line spacing
1670 above or below the display line.
1672 The height of the line contents is the maximum height of any
1673 character or image on that display line, including the final newline
1674 if there is one. (A display line that is continued doesn't include a
1675 final newline.) That is the default line height, if you do nothing to
1676 specify a greater height. (In the most common case, this equals the
1677 height of the default frame font.)
1679 There are several ways to explicitly specify a larger line height,
1680 either by specifying an absolute height for the display line, or by
1681 specifying vertical space. However, no matter what you specify, the
1682 actual line height can never be less than the default.
1684 @kindex line-height @r{(text property)}
1685 A newline can have a @code{line-height} text or overlay property
1686 that controls the total height of the display line ending in that
1689 If the property value is @code{t}, the newline character has no
1690 effect on the displayed height of the line---the visible contents
1691 alone determine the height. This is useful for tiling small images
1692 (or image slices) without adding blank areas between the images.
1694 If the property value is a list of the form @code{(@var{height}
1695 @var{total})}, that adds extra space @emph{below} the display line.
1696 First Emacs uses @var{height} as a height spec to control extra space
1697 @emph{above} the line; then it adds enough space @emph{below} the line
1698 to bring the total line height up to @var{total}. In this case, the
1699 other ways to specify the line spacing are ignored.
1701 Any other kind of property value is a height spec, which translates
1702 into a number---the specified line height. There are several ways to
1703 write a height spec; here's how each of them translates into a number:
1707 If the height spec is a positive integer, the height value is that integer.
1709 If the height spec is a float, @var{float}, the numeric height value
1710 is @var{float} times the frame's default line height.
1711 @item (@var{face} . @var{ratio})
1712 If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1713 is @var{ratio} times the height of face @var{face}. @var{ratio} can
1714 be any type of number, or @code{nil} which means a ratio of 1.
1715 If @var{face} is @code{t}, it refers to the current face.
1716 @item (nil . @var{ratio})
1717 If the height spec is a cons of the format shown, the numeric height
1718 is @var{ratio} times the height of the contents of the line.
1721 Thus, any valid height spec determines the height in pixels, one way
1722 or another. If the line contents' height is less than that, Emacs
1723 adds extra vertical space above the line to achieve the specified
1726 If you don't specify the @code{line-height} property, the line's
1727 height consists of the contents' height plus the line spacing.
1728 There are several ways to specify the line spacing for different
1729 parts of Emacs text.
1731 @vindex default-line-spacing
1732 You can specify the line spacing for all lines in a frame with the
1733 @code{line-spacing} frame parameter (@pxref{Layout Parameters}).
1734 However, if the variable @code{default-line-spacing} is
1735 non-@code{nil}, it overrides the frame's @code{line-spacing}
1736 parameter. An integer value specifies the number of pixels put below
1737 lines on graphical displays. A floating point number specifies the
1738 spacing relative to the frame's default line height.
1740 @vindex line-spacing
1741 You can specify the line spacing for all lines in a buffer via the
1742 buffer-local @code{line-spacing} variable. An integer value specifies
1743 the number of pixels put below lines on graphical displays. A floating
1744 point number specifies the spacing relative to the default frame line
1745 height. This overrides line spacings specified for the frame.
1747 @kindex line-spacing @r{(text property)}
1748 Finally, a newline can have a @code{line-spacing} text or overlay
1749 property that overrides the default frame line spacing and the buffer
1750 local @code{line-spacing} variable, for the display line ending in
1753 One way or another, these mechanisms specify a Lisp value for the
1754 spacing of each line. The value is a height spec, and it translates
1755 into a Lisp value as described above. However, in this case the
1756 numeric height value specifies the line spacing, rather than the line
1763 A @dfn{face} is a collection of graphical attributes for displaying
1764 text: font family, foreground color, background color, optional
1765 underlining, and so on. Faces control how buffer text is displayed,
1766 and how some parts of the frame, such as the mode-line, are displayed.
1767 @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for the list of
1768 faces Emacs normally comes with.
1771 For most purposes, you refer to a face in Lisp programs using its
1772 @dfn{face name}. This is either a string or (equivalently) a Lisp
1773 symbol whose name is equal to that string.
1776 This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a Lisp
1777 symbol or string that names a face. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
1780 Each face name is meaningful for all frames, and by default it has
1781 the same meaning in all frames. But you can arrange to give a
1782 particular face name a special meaning in one frame if you wish.
1785 * Defining Faces:: How to define a face with @code{defface}.
1786 * Face Attributes:: What is in a face?
1787 * Attribute Functions:: Functions to examine and set face attributes.
1788 * Displaying Faces:: How Emacs combines the faces specified for a character.
1789 * Face Remapping:: Remapping faces to alternative definitions.
1790 * Face Functions:: How to define and examine faces.
1791 * Auto Faces:: Hook for automatic face assignment.
1792 * Font Selection:: Finding the best available font for a face.
1793 * Font Lookup:: Looking up the names of available fonts
1794 and information about them.
1795 * Fontsets:: A fontset is a collection of fonts
1796 that handle a range of character sets.
1797 * Low-Level Font:: Lisp representation for character display fonts.
1800 @node Defining Faces
1801 @subsection Defining Faces
1803 The way to define a new face is with @code{defface}. This creates a
1804 kind of customization item (@pxref{Customization}) which the user can
1805 customize using the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy Customization,,,
1806 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
1808 People are sometimes tempted to create variables whose values specify
1809 which faces to use (for example, Font-Lock does this). In the vast
1810 majority of cases, this is not necessary, and simply using faces
1811 directly is preferable.
1813 @defmac defface face spec doc [keyword value]@dots{}
1814 This declares @var{face} as a customizable face whose default
1815 attributes are given by @var{spec}. You should not quote the symbol
1816 @var{face}, and it should not end in @samp{-face} (that would be
1817 redundant). The argument @var{doc} specifies the face documentation.
1818 The keywords you can use in @code{defface} are the same as in
1819 @code{defgroup} and @code{defcustom} (@pxref{Common Keywords}).
1821 When @code{defface} executes, it defines the face according to
1822 @var{spec}, then uses any customizations that were read from the
1823 init file (@pxref{Init File}) to override that specification.
1825 When you evaluate a @code{defface} form with @kbd{C-M-x} in Emacs
1826 Lisp mode (@code{eval-defun}), a special feature of @code{eval-defun}
1827 overrides any customizations of the face. This way, the face reflects
1828 exactly what the @code{defface} says.
1830 The purpose of @var{spec} is to specify how the face should appear on
1831 different kinds of terminals. It should be an alist whose elements
1832 have the form @code{(@var{display} @var{atts})}. Each element's
1833 @sc{car}, @var{display}, specifies a class of terminals. (The first
1834 element, if its @sc{car} is @code{default}, is special---it specifies
1835 defaults for the remaining elements). The element's @sc{cadr},
1836 @var{atts}, is a list of face attributes and their values; it
1837 specifies what the face should look like on that kind of terminal.
1838 The possible attributes are defined in the value of
1839 @code{custom-face-attributes}.
1841 The @var{display} part of an element of @var{spec} determines which
1842 frames the element matches. If more than one element of @var{spec}
1843 matches a given frame, the first element that matches is the one used
1844 for that frame. There are three possibilities for @var{display}:
1847 @item @code{default}
1848 This element of @var{spec} doesn't match any frames; instead, it
1849 specifies defaults that apply to all frames. This kind of element, if
1850 used, must be the first element of @var{spec}. Each of the following
1851 elements can override any or all of these defaults.
1854 This element of @var{spec} matches all frames. Therefore, any
1855 subsequent elements of @var{spec} are never used. Normally
1856 @code{t} is used in the last (or only) element of @var{spec}.
1859 If @var{display} is a list, each element should have the form
1860 @code{(@var{characteristic} @var{value}@dots{})}. Here
1861 @var{characteristic} specifies a way of classifying frames, and the
1862 @var{value}s are possible classifications which @var{display} should
1863 apply to. Here are the possible values of @var{characteristic}:
1867 The kind of window system the frame uses---either @code{graphic} (any
1868 graphics-capable display), @code{x}, @code{pc} (for the MS-DOS console),
1869 @code{w32} (for MS Windows 9X/NT/2K/XP), or @code{tty}
1870 (a non-graphics-capable display).
1871 @xref{Window Systems, window-system}.
1874 What kinds of colors the frame supports---either @code{color},
1875 @code{grayscale}, or @code{mono}.
1878 The kind of background---either @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1881 An integer that represents the minimum number of colors the frame
1882 should support. This matches a frame if its
1883 @code{display-color-cells} value is at least the specified integer.
1886 Whether or not the frame can display the face attributes given in
1887 @var{value}@dots{} (@pxref{Face Attributes}). @xref{Display Face
1888 Attribute Testing}, for more information on exactly how this testing
1892 If an element of @var{display} specifies more than one @var{value} for a
1893 given @var{characteristic}, any of those values is acceptable. If
1894 @var{display} has more than one element, each element should specify a
1895 different @var{characteristic}; then @emph{each} characteristic of the
1896 frame must match one of the @var{value}s specified for it in
1901 Here's how the standard face @code{region} is defined:
1906 '((((class color) (min-colors 88) (background dark))
1907 :background "blue3")
1909 (((class color) (min-colors 88) (background light))
1910 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1911 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background dark))
1912 :background "blue3")
1913 (((class color) (min-colors 16) (background light))
1914 :background "lightgoldenrod2")
1915 (((class color) (min-colors 8))
1916 :background "blue" :foreground "white")
1917 (((type tty) (class mono))
1919 (t :background "gray"))
1921 "Basic face for highlighting the region."
1922 :group 'basic-faces)
1926 Internally, @code{defface} uses the symbol property
1927 @code{face-defface-spec} to record the specified face attributes. The
1928 attributes saved by the user with the customization buffer are
1929 recorded in the symbol property @code{saved-face}; the attributes
1930 customized by the user for the current session, but not saved, are
1931 recorded in the symbol property @code{customized-face}. The
1932 documentation string is recorded in the symbol property
1933 @code{face-documentation}.
1935 @defopt frame-background-mode
1936 This option, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the background type to use for
1937 interpreting face definitions. If it is @code{dark}, then Emacs treats
1938 all frames as if they had a dark background, regardless of their actual
1939 background colors. If it is @code{light}, then Emacs treats all frames
1940 as if they had a light background.
1943 @node Face Attributes
1944 @subsection Face Attributes
1945 @cindex face attributes
1947 The effect of using a face is determined by a fixed set of @dfn{face
1948 attributes}. This table lists all the face attributes, their possible
1949 values, and their effects. You can specify more than one face for a
1950 given piece of text; Emacs merges the attributes of all the faces to
1951 determine how to display the text. @xref{Displaying Faces}.
1953 In addition to the values given below, each face attribute can also
1954 have the value @code{unspecified}. This special value means the face
1955 doesn't specify that attribute. In face merging, when the first face
1956 fails to specify a particular attribute, the next face gets a chance.
1957 However, the @code{default} face must specify all attributes.
1959 Some of these font attributes are meaningful only on certain kinds
1960 of displays. If your display cannot handle a certain attribute, the
1961 attribute is ignored.
1965 Font family name or fontset name (a string). If you specify a font
1966 family name, the wild-card characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are
1967 allowed. The function @code{font-family-list}, described below,
1968 returns a list of available family names. @xref{Fontsets}, for
1969 information about fontsets.
1972 The name of the @dfn{font foundry} in which the font family specified
1973 by the @code{:family} attribute is located (a string). The wild-card
1974 characters @samp{*} and @samp{?} are allowed.
1977 Relative proportionate character width, also known as the character
1978 set width. This should be one of the symbols @code{ultra-condensed},
1979 @code{extra-condensed}, @code{condensed}, @code{semi-condensed},
1980 @code{normal}, @code{semi-expanded}, @code{expanded},
1981 @code{extra-expanded}, or @code{ultra-expanded}.
1984 Font height---either an integer in units of 1/10 point, or a floating
1985 point number specifying the amount by which to scale the height of any
1986 underlying face, or a function that is called with one argument (the
1987 height of the underlying face) and returns the height of the new face.
1988 If the function is passed an integer argument, it must return an
1991 The height of the default face must be specified using an integer;
1992 floating point and function values are not allowed.
1995 Font weight---one of the symbols (from densest to faintest)
1996 @code{ultra-bold}, @code{extra-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{semi-bold},
1997 @code{normal}, @code{semi-light}, @code{light}, @code{extra-light}, or
1998 @code{ultra-light}. On text-only terminals that support
1999 variable-brightness text, any weight greater than normal is displayed
2000 as extra bright, and any weight less than normal is displayed as
2004 Font slant---one of the symbols @code{italic}, @code{oblique},
2005 @code{normal}, @code{reverse-italic}, or @code{reverse-oblique}. On
2006 text-only terminals that support variable-brightness text, slanted
2007 text is displayed as half-bright.
2010 Foreground color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
2011 name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}. On
2012 black-and-white displays, certain shades of gray are implemented by
2016 Background color, a string. The value can be a system-defined color
2017 name, or a hexadecimal color specification. @xref{Color Names}.
2020 Whether or not characters should be underlined, and in what color. If
2021 the value is @code{t}, underlining uses the foreground color of the
2022 face. If the value is a string, underlining uses that color. The
2023 value @code{nil} means do not underline.
2026 Whether or not characters should be overlined, and in what color.
2027 The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2029 @item :strike-through
2030 Whether or not characters should be strike-through, and in what
2031 color. The value is used like that of @code{:underline}.
2034 Whether or not a box should be drawn around characters, its color, the
2035 width of the box lines, and 3D appearance. Here are the possible
2036 values of the @code{:box} attribute, and what they mean:
2043 Draw a box with lines of width 1, in the foreground color.
2046 Draw a box with lines of width 1, in color @var{color}.
2048 @item @code{(:line-width @var{width} :color @var{color} :style @var{style})}
2049 This way you can explicitly specify all aspects of the box. The value
2050 @var{width} specifies the width of the lines to draw; it defaults to 1.
2052 The value @var{color} specifies the color to draw with. The default is
2053 the foreground color of the face for simple boxes, and the background
2054 color of the face for 3D boxes.
2056 The value @var{style} specifies whether to draw a 3D box. If it is
2057 @code{released-button}, the box looks like a 3D button that is not being
2058 pressed. If it is @code{pressed-button}, the box looks like a 3D button
2059 that is being pressed. If it is @code{nil} or omitted, a plain 2D box
2063 @item :inverse-video
2064 Whether or not characters should be displayed in inverse video. The
2065 value should be @code{t} (yes) or @code{nil} (no).
2068 The background stipple, a bitmap.
2070 The value can be a string; that should be the name of a file containing
2071 external-format X bitmap data. The file is found in the directories
2072 listed in the variable @code{x-bitmap-file-path}.
2074 Alternatively, the value can specify the bitmap directly, with a list
2075 of the form @code{(@var{width} @var{height} @var{data})}. Here,
2076 @var{width} and @var{height} specify the size in pixels, and
2077 @var{data} is a string containing the raw bits of the bitmap, row by
2078 row. Each row occupies @math{(@var{width} + 7) / 8} consecutive bytes
2079 in the string (which should be a unibyte string for best results).
2080 This means that each row always occupies at least one whole byte.
2082 If the value is @code{nil}, that means use no stipple pattern.
2084 Normally you do not need to set the stipple attribute, because it is
2085 used automatically to handle certain shades of gray.
2088 The font used to display the face. Its value should be a font object.
2089 @xref{Font Selection}, for information about font objects.
2091 When specifying this attribute using @code{set-face-attribute}
2092 (@pxref{Attribute Functions}), you may also supply a font spec, a font
2093 entity, or a string. Emacs converts such values to an appropriate
2094 font object, and stores that font object as the actual attribute
2095 value. If you specify a string, the contents of the string should be
2096 a font name (@pxref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The
2097 GNU Emacs Manual}); if the font name is an XLFD containing wildcards,
2098 Emacs chooses the first font matching those wildcards. Specifying
2099 this attribute also changes the values of the @code{:family},
2100 @code{:foundry}, @code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and
2101 @code{:slant} attributes.
2104 The name of a face from which to inherit attributes, or a list of face
2105 names. Attributes from inherited faces are merged into the face like
2106 an underlying face would be, with higher priority than underlying
2107 faces. If a list of faces is used, attributes from faces earlier in
2108 the list override those from later faces.
2111 For compatibility with Emacs 20, you can also specify values for two
2112 ``fake'' face attributes: @code{:bold} and @code{:italic}. Their
2113 values must be either @code{t} or @code{nil}; a value of
2114 @code{unspecified} is not allowed. Setting @code{:bold} to @code{t}
2115 is equivalent to setting the @code{:weight} attribute to @code{bold},
2116 and setting it to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:weight}
2117 to @code{normal}. Setting @code{:italic} to @code{t} is equivalent to
2118 setting the @code{:slant} attribute to @code{italic}, and setting it
2119 to @code{nil} is equivalent to setting @code{:slant} to @code{normal}.
2121 @defun font-family-list &optional frame
2122 This function returns a list of available font family names. The
2123 optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on which the text is
2124 to be displayed; if it is @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2127 @defvar x-bitmap-file-path
2128 This variable specifies a list of directories for searching
2129 for bitmap files, for the @code{:stipple} attribute.
2132 @defun bitmap-spec-p object
2133 This returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a valid bitmap specification,
2134 suitable for use with @code{:stipple} (see above). It returns
2135 @code{nil} otherwise.
2138 @node Attribute Functions
2139 @subsection Face Attribute Functions
2141 This section describes the functions for accessing and modifying the
2142 attributes of an existing face.
2144 @defun set-face-attribute face frame &rest arguments
2145 This function sets one or more attributes of @var{face} for
2146 @var{frame}. The attributes you specify this way override whatever
2147 the @code{defface} says.
2149 The extra arguments @var{arguments} specify the attributes to set, and
2150 the values for them. They should consist of alternating attribute names
2151 (such as @code{:family} or @code{:underline}) and corresponding values.
2155 (set-face-attribute 'foo nil
2162 sets the attributes @code{:width}, @code{:weight} and @code{:underline}
2163 to the corresponding values.
2165 If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this function sets the default attributes
2166 for new frames. Default attribute values specified this way override
2167 the @code{defface} for newly created frames.
2169 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, this function sets the attributes for
2170 all existing frames, and the default for new frames.
2173 @defun face-attribute face attribute &optional frame inherit
2174 This returns the value of the @var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}
2175 on @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, that means the selected
2176 frame (@pxref{Input Focus}).
2178 If @var{frame} is @code{t}, this returns whatever new-frames default
2179 value you previously specified with @code{set-face-attribute} for the
2180 @var{attribute} attribute of @var{face}. If you have not specified
2181 one, it returns @code{nil}.
2183 If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only attributes directly defined by
2184 @var{face} are considered, so the return value may be
2185 @code{unspecified}, or a relative value. If @var{inherit} is
2186 non-@code{nil}, @var{face}'s definition of @var{attribute} is merged
2187 with the faces specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute; however the
2188 return value may still be @code{unspecified} or relative. If
2189 @var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then the result is further
2190 merged with that face (or faces), until it becomes specified and
2193 To ensure that the return value is always specified and absolute, use
2194 a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}; this will resolve any
2195 unspecified or relative values by merging with the @code{default} face
2196 (which is always completely specified).
2201 (face-attribute 'bold :weight)
2206 @defun face-attribute-relative-p attribute value
2207 This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{value}, when used as the
2208 value of the face attribute @var{attribute}, is relative. This means
2209 it would modify, rather than completely override, any value that comes
2210 from a subsequent face in the face list or that is inherited from
2213 @code{unspecified} is a relative value for all attributes. For
2214 @code{:height}, floating point and function values are also relative.
2219 (face-attribute-relative-p :height 2.0)
2224 @defun face-all-attributes face &optional frame
2225 This function returns an alist of attributes of @var{face}. The
2226 elements of the result are name-value pairs of the form
2227 @w{@code{(@var{attr-name} . @var{attr-value})}}. Optional argument
2228 @var{frame} specifies the frame whose definition of @var{face} to
2229 return; if omitted or @code{nil}, the returned value describes the
2230 default attributes of @var{face} for newly created frames.
2233 @defun merge-face-attribute attribute value1 value2
2234 If @var{value1} is a relative value for the face attribute
2235 @var{attribute}, returns it merged with the underlying value
2236 @var{value2}; otherwise, if @var{value1} is an absolute value for the
2237 face attribute @var{attribute}, returns @var{value1} unchanged.
2240 The following functions provide compatibility with Emacs 20 and
2241 below. They work by calling @code{set-face-attribute}. Values of
2242 @code{t} and @code{nil} for their @var{frame} argument are handled
2243 just like @code{set-face-attribute} and @code{face-attribute}.
2245 @defun set-face-foreground face color &optional frame
2246 @defunx set-face-background face color &optional frame
2247 These functions set the @code{:foreground} attribute (or
2248 @code{:background} attribute, respectively) of @var{face} to
2252 @defun set-face-stipple face pattern &optional frame
2253 This function sets the @code{:stipple} attribute of @var{face} to
2257 @defun set-face-font face font &optional frame
2258 This function sets the @code{:font} attribute of @var{face} to
2262 @defun set-face-bold-p face bold-p &optional frame
2263 This function sets the @code{:weight} attribute of @var{face} to
2264 @var{normal} if @var{bold-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{bold}
2268 @defun set-face-italic-p face italic-p &optional frame
2269 This function sets the @code{:slant} attribute of @var{face} to
2270 @var{normal} if @var{italic-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{italic}
2274 @defun set-face-underline-p face underline &optional frame
2275 This function sets the @code{:underline} attribute of @var{face} to
2279 @defun set-face-inverse-video-p face inverse-video-p &optional frame
2280 This function sets the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of @var{face}
2281 to @var{inverse-video-p}.
2284 @defun invert-face face &optional frame
2285 This function swaps the foreground and background colors of face
2289 The following functions examine the attributes of a face. If you
2290 don't specify @var{frame}, they refer to the selected frame; @code{t}
2291 refers to the default data for new frames. They return the symbol
2292 @code{unspecified} if the face doesn't define any value for that
2295 @defun face-foreground face &optional frame inherit
2296 @defunx face-background face &optional frame inherit
2297 These functions return the foreground color (or background color,
2298 respectively) of face @var{face}, as a string.
2300 If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a color directly defined by the face is
2301 returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces specified by its
2302 @code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and if @var{inherit}
2303 is a face or a list of faces, then they are also considered, until a
2304 specified color is found. To ensure that the return value is always
2305 specified, use a value of @code{default} for @var{inherit}.
2308 @defun face-stipple face &optional frame inherit
2309 This function returns the name of the background stipple pattern of face
2310 @var{face}, or @code{nil} if it doesn't have one.
2312 If @var{inherit} is @code{nil}, only a stipple directly defined by the
2313 face is returned. If @var{inherit} is non-@code{nil}, any faces
2314 specified by its @code{:inherit} attribute are considered as well, and
2315 if @var{inherit} is a face or a list of faces, then they are also
2316 considered, until a specified stipple is found. To ensure that the
2317 return value is always specified, use a value of @code{default} for
2321 @defun face-font face &optional frame
2322 This function returns the name of the font of face @var{face}.
2325 @defun face-bold-p face &optional frame
2326 This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:weight}
2327 attribute of @var{face} is bolder than normal (i.e., one of
2328 @code{semi-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{extra-bold}, or
2329 @code{ultra-bold}). Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
2332 @defun face-italic-p face &optional frame
2333 This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:slant}
2334 attribute of @var{face} is @code{italic} or @code{oblique}, and
2335 @code{nil} otherwise.
2338 @defun face-underline-p face &optional frame
2339 This function returns the @code{:underline} attribute of face @var{face}.
2342 @defun face-inverse-video-p face &optional frame
2343 This function returns the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of face @var{face}.
2346 @node Displaying Faces
2347 @subsection Displaying Faces
2349 Here is how Emacs determines the face to use for displaying any
2350 given piece of text:
2354 If the text consists of a special glyph, the glyph can specify a
2355 particular face. @xref{Glyphs}.
2358 If the text lies within an active region, Emacs highlights it using
2359 the @code{region} face. @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2363 If the text lies within an overlay with a non-@code{nil} @code{face}
2364 property, Emacs applies the face or face attributes specified by that
2365 property. If the overlay has a @code{mouse-face} property and the
2366 mouse is ``near enough'' to the overlay, Emacs applies the face or
2367 face attributes specified by the @code{mouse-face} property instead.
2368 @xref{Overlay Properties}.
2370 When multiple overlays cover one character, an overlay with higher
2371 priority overrides those with lower priority. @xref{Overlays}.
2374 If the text contains a @code{face} or @code{mouse-face} property,
2375 Emacs applies the specified faces and face attributes. @xref{Special
2376 Properties}. (This is how Font Lock mode faces are applied.
2377 @xref{Font Lock Mode}.)
2380 If the text lies within the mode line of the selected window, Emacs
2381 applies the @code{mode-line} face. For the mode line of a
2382 non-selected window, Emacs applies the @code{mode-line-inactive} face.
2383 For a header line, Emacs applies the @code{header-line} face.
2386 If any given attribute has not been specified during the preceding
2387 steps, Emacs applies the attribute of the @code{default} face.
2390 If these various sources together specify more than one face for a
2391 particular character, Emacs merges the attributes of the various faces
2392 specified. For each attribute, Emacs tries using the above order
2393 (i.e., first the face of any special glyph; then the face for region
2394 highlighting, if appropriate; then faces specified by overlays, then
2395 faces specified by text properties, then the @code{mode-line} or
2396 @code{mode-line-inactive} or @code{header-line} face, if appropriate,
2397 and finally the @code{default} face).
2399 @node Face Remapping
2400 @subsection Face Remapping
2402 The variable @code{face-remapping-alist} is used for buffer-local or
2403 global changes in the appearance of a face. For instance, it can be
2404 used to make the @code{default} face a variable-pitch face within a
2407 @defvar face-remapping-alist
2408 An alist whose elements have the form @code{(@var{face}
2409 @var{remapping...})}. This causes Emacs to display text using the
2410 face @var{face} using @var{remapping...} instead of @var{face}'s
2411 ordinary definition. @var{remapping...} may be any face specification
2412 suitable for a @code{face} text property: either a face name, or a
2413 property list of attribute/value pairs. @xref{Special Properties}.
2415 If @code{face-remapping-alist} is buffer-local, its local value takes
2416 effect only within that buffer.
2418 Two points bear emphasizing:
2422 The new definition @var{remapping...} is the complete
2423 specification of how to display @var{face}---it entirely replaces,
2424 rather than augmenting or modifying, the normal definition of that
2428 If @var{remapping...} recursively references the same face name
2429 @var{face}, either directly remapping entry, or via the
2430 @code{:inherit} attribute of some other face in
2431 @var{remapping...}, then that reference uses normal frame-wide
2432 definition of @var{face} instead of the ``remapped'' definition.
2434 For instance, if the @code{mode-line} face is remapped using this
2435 entry in @code{face-remapping-alist}:
2437 (mode-line italic mode-line)
2440 then the new definition of the @code{mode-line} face inherits from the
2441 @code{italic} face, and the @emph{normal} (non-remapped) definition of
2442 @code{mode-line} face.
2446 A typical use of the @code{face-remapping-alist} is to change a
2447 buffer's @code{default} face; for example, the following changes a
2448 buffer's @code{default} face to use the @code{variable-pitch} face,
2449 with the height doubled:
2452 (set (make-local-variable 'face-remapping-alist)
2453 '((default variable-pitch :height 2.0)))
2456 The following functions implement a higher-level interface to
2457 @code{face-remapping-alist}, making it easier to use
2458 ``cooperatively''. They are mainly intended for buffer-local use, and
2459 so all make @code{face-remapping-alist} variable buffer-local as a
2460 side-effect. They use entries in @code{face-remapping-alist} which
2461 have the general form:
2464 (@var{face} @var{relative_specs_1} @var{relative_specs_2} @var{...} @var{base_specs})
2467 Everything except the @var{face} is a ``face spec'', a list of face
2468 names or face attribute-value pairs. All face specs are merged
2469 together, with earlier values taking precedence.
2471 The @var{relative_specs_}n values are ``relative specs'', and are
2472 added by @code{face-remap-add-relative} (and removed by
2473 @code{face-remap-remove-relative}. These are intended for face
2474 modifications (such as increasing the size). Typical users of these
2475 relative specs would be minor modes.
2477 @var{base_specs} is the lowest-priority value, and by default is just the
2478 face name, which causes the global definition of that face to be used.
2480 A non-default value of @var{base_specs} may also be set using
2481 @code{face-remap-set-base}. Because this @emph{overwrites} the
2482 default base-spec value (which inherits the global face definition),
2483 it is up to the caller of @code{face-remap-set-base} to add such
2484 inheritance if it is desired. A typical use of
2485 @code{face-remap-set-base} would be a major mode adding a face
2486 remappings, e.g., of the default face.
2489 @defun face-remap-add-relative face &rest specs
2490 This functions adds a face remapping entry of @var{face} to @var{specs}
2491 in the current buffer.
2493 It returns a ``cookie'' which can be used to later delete the remapping with
2494 @code{face-remap-remove-relative}.
2496 @var{specs} can be any value suitable for the @code{face} text
2497 property, including a face name, a list of face names, or a
2498 face-attribute property list. The attributes given by @var{specs}
2499 will be merged with any other currently active face remappings of
2500 @var{face}, and with the global definition of @var{face} (by default;
2501 this may be changed using @code{face-remap-set-base}), with the most
2502 recently added relative remapping taking precedence.
2505 @defun face-remap-remove-relative cookie
2506 This function removes a face remapping previously added by
2507 @code{face-remap-add-relative}. @var{cookie} should be a return value
2511 @defun face-remap-set-base face &rest specs
2512 This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} in the current
2513 buffer to @var{specs}. If @var{specs} is empty, the default base
2514 remapping is restored, which inherits from the global definition of
2515 @var{face}; note that this is different from @var{specs} containing a
2516 single value @code{nil}, which has the opposite result (the global
2517 definition of @var{face} is ignored).
2520 @defun face-remap-reset-base face
2521 This function sets the ``base remapping'' of @var{face} to its default
2522 value, which inherits from @var{face}'s global definition.
2525 @node Face Functions
2526 @subsection Functions for Working with Faces
2528 Here are additional functions for creating and working with faces.
2530 @defun make-face name
2531 This function defines a new face named @var{name}, initially with all
2532 attributes @code{nil}. It does nothing if there is already a face named
2537 This function returns a list of all defined face names.
2540 @defun copy-face old-face new-name &optional frame new-frame
2541 This function defines a face named @var{new-name} as a copy of the existing
2542 face named @var{old-face}. It creates the face @var{new-name} if that
2543 doesn't already exist.
2545 If the optional argument @var{frame} is given, this function applies
2546 only to that frame. Otherwise it applies to each frame individually,
2547 copying attributes from @var{old-face} in each frame to @var{new-face}
2550 If the optional argument @var{new-frame} is given, then @code{copy-face}
2551 copies the attributes of @var{old-face} in @var{frame} to @var{new-name}
2556 This function returns the @dfn{face number} of face @var{face}. This
2557 is a number that uniquely identifies a face at low levels within
2558 Emacs. It is seldom necessary to refer to a face by its face number.
2561 @defun face-documentation face
2562 This function returns the documentation string of face @var{face}, or
2563 @code{nil} if none was specified for it.
2566 @defun face-equal face1 face2 &optional frame
2567 This returns @code{t} if the faces @var{face1} and @var{face2} have the
2568 same attributes for display.
2571 @defun face-differs-from-default-p face &optional frame
2572 This returns non-@code{nil} if the face @var{face} displays
2573 differently from the default face.
2577 A @dfn{face alias} provides an equivalent name for a face. You can
2578 define a face alias by giving the alias symbol the @code{face-alias}
2579 property, with a value of the target face name. The following example
2580 makes @code{modeline} an alias for the @code{mode-line} face.
2583 (put 'modeline 'face-alias 'mode-line)
2587 @subsection Automatic Face Assignment
2588 @cindex automatic face assignment
2589 @cindex faces, automatic choice
2591 This hook is used for automatically assigning faces to text in the
2592 buffer. It is part of the implementation of Jit-Lock mode, used by
2595 @defvar fontification-functions
2596 This variable holds a list of functions that are called by Emacs
2597 redisplay as needed to assign faces automatically to text in the buffer.
2599 The functions are called in the order listed, with one argument, a
2600 buffer position @var{pos}. Each function should attempt to assign faces
2601 to the text in the current buffer starting at @var{pos}.
2603 Each function should record the faces they assign by setting the
2604 @code{face} property. It should also add a non-@code{nil}
2605 @code{fontified} property for all the text it has assigned faces to.
2606 That property tells redisplay that faces have been assigned to that text
2609 It is probably a good idea for each function to do nothing if the
2610 character after @var{pos} already has a non-@code{nil} @code{fontified}
2611 property, but this is not required. If one function overrides the
2612 assignments made by a previous one, the properties as they are
2613 after the last function finishes are the ones that really matter.
2615 For efficiency, we recommend writing these functions so that they
2616 usually assign faces to around 400 to 600 characters at each call.
2619 @node Font Selection
2620 @subsection Font Selection
2622 Before Emacs can draw a character on a particular display, it must
2623 select a @dfn{font} for that character@footnote{In this context, the
2624 term @dfn{font} has nothing to do with Font Lock (@pxref{Font Lock
2625 Mode}).}. Normally, Emacs automatically chooses a font based on the
2626 faces assigned to that character---specifically, the face attributes
2627 @code{:family}, @code{:weight}, @code{:slant}, and @code{:width}
2628 (@pxref{Face Attributes}). The choice of font also depends on the
2629 character to be displayed; some fonts can only display a limited set
2630 of characters. If no available font exactly fits the requirements,
2631 Emacs looks for the @dfn{closest matching font}. The variables in
2632 this section control how Emacs makes this selection.
2634 @defvar face-font-family-alternatives
2635 If a given family is specified but does not exist, this variable
2636 specifies alternative font families to try. Each element should have
2640 (@var{family} @var{alternate-families}@dots{})
2643 If @var{family} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the other
2644 families given in @var{alternate-families}, one by one, until it finds a
2645 family that does exist.
2648 @defvar face-font-selection-order
2649 If there is no font that exactly matches all desired face attributes
2650 (@code{:width}, @code{:height}, @code{:weight}, and @code{:slant}),
2651 this variable specifies the order in which these attributes should be
2652 considered when selecting the closest matching font. The value should
2653 be a list containing those four attribute symbols, in order of
2654 decreasing importance. The default is @code{(:width :height :weight
2657 Font selection first finds the best available matches for the first
2658 attribute in the list; then, among the fonts which are best in that
2659 way, it searches for the best matches in the second attribute, and so
2662 The attributes @code{:weight} and @code{:width} have symbolic values in
2663 a range centered around @code{normal}. Matches that are more extreme
2664 (farther from @code{normal}) are somewhat preferred to matches that are
2665 less extreme (closer to @code{normal}); this is designed to ensure that
2666 non-normal faces contrast with normal ones, whenever possible.
2668 One example of a case where this variable makes a difference is when the
2669 default font has no italic equivalent. With the default ordering, the
2670 @code{italic} face will use a non-italic font that is similar to the
2671 default one. But if you put @code{:slant} before @code{:height}, the
2672 @code{italic} face will use an italic font, even if its height is not
2676 @defvar face-font-registry-alternatives
2677 This variable lets you specify alternative font registries to try, if a
2678 given registry is specified and doesn't exist. Each element should have
2682 (@var{registry} @var{alternate-registries}@dots{})
2685 If @var{registry} is specified but not available, Emacs will try the
2686 other registries given in @var{alternate-registries}, one by one,
2687 until it finds a registry that does exist.
2690 Emacs can make use of scalable fonts, but by default it does not use
2693 @defvar scalable-fonts-allowed
2694 This variable controls which scalable fonts to use. A value of
2695 @code{nil}, the default, means do not use scalable fonts. @code{t}
2696 means to use any scalable font that seems appropriate for the text.
2698 Otherwise, the value must be a list of regular expressions. Then a
2699 scalable font is enabled for use if its name matches any regular
2700 expression in the list. For example,
2703 (setq scalable-fonts-allowed '("muleindian-2$"))
2707 allows the use of scalable fonts with registry @code{muleindian-2}.
2710 @defvar face-font-rescale-alist
2711 This variable specifies scaling for certain faces. Its value should
2712 be a list of elements of the form
2715 (@var{fontname-regexp} . @var{scale-factor})
2718 If @var{fontname-regexp} matches the font name that is about to be
2719 used, this says to choose a larger similar font according to the
2720 factor @var{scale-factor}. You would use this feature to normalize
2721 the font size if certain fonts are bigger or smaller than their
2722 nominal heights and widths would suggest.
2726 @subsection Looking Up Fonts
2728 @defun x-list-fonts name &optional reference-face frame maximum width
2729 This function returns a list of available font names that match
2730 @var{name}. @var{name} should be a string containing a font name in
2731 either the Fontconfig, GTK, or XLFD format (@pxref{Font X,, Font
2732 Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Within an XLFD
2733 string, wildcard characters may be used: the @samp{*} character
2734 matches any substring, and the @samp{?} character matches any single
2735 character. Case is ignored when matching font names.
2737 If the optional arguments @var{reference-face} and @var{frame} are
2738 specified, the returned list includes only fonts that are the same
2739 size as @var{reference-face} (a face name) currently is on the frame
2742 The optional argument @var{maximum} sets a limit on how many fonts to
2743 return. If it is non-@code{nil}, then the return value is truncated
2744 after the first @var{maximum} matching fonts. Specifying a small
2745 value for @var{maximum} can make this function much faster, in cases
2746 where many fonts match the pattern.
2748 The optional argument @var{width} specifies a desired font width. If
2749 it is non-@code{nil}, the function only returns those fonts whose
2750 characters are (on average) @var{width} times as wide as
2751 @var{reference-face}.
2754 @defun x-family-fonts &optional family frame
2755 This function returns a list describing the available fonts for family
2756 @var{family} on @var{frame}. If @var{family} is omitted or @code{nil},
2757 this list applies to all families, and therefore, it contains all
2758 available fonts. Otherwise, @var{family} must be a string; it may
2759 contain the wildcards @samp{?} and @samp{*}.
2761 The list describes the display that @var{frame} is on; if @var{frame} is
2762 omitted or @code{nil}, it applies to the selected frame's display
2763 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
2765 Each element in the list is a vector of the following form:
2768 [@var{family} @var{width} @var{point-size} @var{weight} @var{slant}
2769 @var{fixed-p} @var{full} @var{registry-and-encoding}]
2772 The first five elements correspond to face attributes; if you
2773 specify these attributes for a face, it will use this font.
2775 The last three elements give additional information about the font.
2776 @var{fixed-p} is non-@code{nil} if the font is fixed-pitch.
2777 @var{full} is the full name of the font, and
2778 @var{registry-and-encoding} is a string giving the registry and
2779 encoding of the font.
2782 @defvar font-list-limit
2783 This variable specifies maximum number of fonts to consider in font
2784 matching. The function @code{x-family-fonts} will not return more than
2785 that many fonts, and font selection will consider only that many fonts
2786 when searching a matching font for face attributes. The default is
2791 @subsection Fontsets
2793 A @dfn{fontset} is a list of fonts, each assigned to a range of
2794 character codes. An individual font cannot display the whole range of
2795 characters that Emacs supports, but a fontset can. Fontsets have names,
2796 just as fonts do, and you can use a fontset name in place of a font name
2797 when you specify the ``font'' for a frame or a face. Here is
2798 information about defining a fontset under Lisp program control.
2800 @defun create-fontset-from-fontset-spec fontset-spec &optional style-variant-p noerror
2801 This function defines a new fontset according to the specification
2802 string @var{fontset-spec}. The string should have this format:
2805 @var{fontpattern}, @r{[}@var{charset}:@var{font}@r{]@dots{}}
2809 Whitespace characters before and after the commas are ignored.
2811 The first part of the string, @var{fontpattern}, should have the form of
2812 a standard X font name, except that the last two fields should be
2813 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}}.
2815 The new fontset has two names, one long and one short. The long name is
2816 @var{fontpattern} in its entirety. The short name is
2817 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}}. You can refer to the fontset by either
2818 name. If a fontset with the same name already exists, an error is
2819 signaled, unless @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}, in which case this
2820 function does nothing.
2822 If optional argument @var{style-variant-p} is non-@code{nil}, that says
2823 to create bold, italic and bold-italic variants of the fontset as well.
2824 These variant fontsets do not have a short name, only a long one, which
2825 is made by altering @var{fontpattern} to indicate the bold or italic
2828 The specification string also says which fonts to use in the fontset.
2829 See below for the details.
2832 The construct @samp{@var{charset}:@var{font}} specifies which font to
2833 use (in this fontset) for one particular character set. Here,
2834 @var{charset} is the name of a character set, and @var{font} is the font
2835 to use for that character set. You can use this construct any number of
2836 times in the specification string.
2838 For the remaining character sets, those that you don't specify
2839 explicitly, Emacs chooses a font based on @var{fontpattern}: it replaces
2840 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} with a value that names one character set.
2841 For the @acronym{ASCII} character set, @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} is replaced
2842 with @samp{ISO8859-1}.
2844 In addition, when several consecutive fields are wildcards, Emacs
2845 collapses them into a single wildcard. This is to prevent use of
2846 auto-scaled fonts. Fonts made by scaling larger fonts are not usable
2847 for editing, and scaling a smaller font is not useful because it is
2848 better to use the smaller font in its own size, which Emacs does.
2850 Thus if @var{fontpattern} is this,
2853 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24
2857 the font specification for @acronym{ASCII} characters would be this:
2860 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-ISO8859-1
2864 and the font specification for Chinese GB2312 characters would be this:
2867 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2870 You may not have any Chinese font matching the above font
2871 specification. Most X distributions include only Chinese fonts that
2872 have @samp{song ti} or @samp{fangsong ti} in the @var{family} field. In
2873 such a case, @samp{Fontset-@var{n}} can be specified as below:
2876 Emacs.Fontset-0: -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24,\
2877 chinese-gb2312:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
2881 Then, the font specifications for all but Chinese GB2312 characters have
2882 @samp{fixed} in the @var{family} field, and the font specification for
2883 Chinese GB2312 characters has a wild card @samp{*} in the @var{family}
2886 @defun set-fontset-font name character fontname &optional frame
2887 This function modifies the existing fontset @var{name} to
2888 use the font name @var{fontname} for the character @var{character}.
2890 If @var{name} is @code{nil}, this function modifies the default
2891 fontset, whose short name is @samp{fontset-default}.
2893 @var{character} may be a cons; @code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, where
2894 @var{from} and @var{to} are character codepoints. In that case, use
2895 @var{fontname} for all characters in the range @var{from} and @var{to}
2898 @var{character} may be a charset. In that case, use
2899 @var{fontname} for all character in the charsets.
2901 @var{fontname} may be a cons; @code{(@var{family} . @var{registry})},
2902 where @var{family} is a family name of a font (possibly including a
2903 foundry name at the head), @var{registry} is a registry name of a font
2904 (possibly including an encoding name at the tail).
2906 For instance, this changes the default fontset to use a font of which
2907 registry name is @samp{JISX0208.1983} for all characters belonging to
2908 the charset @code{japanese-jisx0208}.
2911 (set-fontset-font nil 'japanese-jisx0208 '(nil . "JISX0208.1983"))
2915 @defun char-displayable-p char
2916 This function returns @code{t} if Emacs ought to be able to display
2917 @var{char}. More precisely, if the selected frame's fontset has a
2918 font to display the character set that @var{char} belongs to.
2920 Fontsets can specify a font on a per-character basis; when the fontset
2921 does that, this function's value may not be accurate.
2924 @node Low-Level Font
2925 @subsection Low-Level Font Representation
2927 Normally, it is not necessary to manipulate fonts directly. In case
2928 you need to do so, this section explains how.
2930 In Emacs Lisp, fonts are represented using three different Lisp
2931 object types: @dfn{font objects}, @dfn{font specs}, and @dfn{font
2934 @defun fontp object &optional type
2935 Return @code{t} if @var{object} is a font object, font spec, or font
2936 entity. Otherwise, return @code{nil}.
2938 The optional argument @var{type}, if non-@code{nil}, determines the
2939 exact type of Lisp object to check for. In that case, @var{type}
2940 should be one of @code{font-object}, @code{font-spec}, or
2944 A font object is a Lisp object that represents a font that Emacs has
2945 @dfn{opened}. Font objects cannot be modified in Lisp, but they can
2946 be inspected. If you call @code{set-face-attribute} and pass a font
2947 spec, font entity, or font name string as the value of the
2948 @code{:font} attribute, Emacs opens the best ``matching'' font that is
2949 available for display. It then stores the corresponding font object
2950 as the actual value of the @code{:font} attribute for that face.
2952 @defun font-at position &optional window string
2953 Return the font object that is being used to display the character at
2954 position @var{position} in the window @var{window}. If @var{window}
2955 is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected window. If @var{string} is
2956 @code{nil}, @var{position} specifies a position in the current buffer;
2957 otherwise, @var{string} should be a string, and @var{position}
2958 specifies a position in that string.
2961 A font spec is a Lisp object that contains a set of specifications
2962 that can be used to find a font. More than one font may match the
2963 specifications in a font spec.
2965 @defun font-spec &rest arguments
2966 Return a new font spec using the specifications in @var{arguments},
2967 which should come in @code{property}-@code{value} pairs. The possible
2968 specifications are as follows:
2972 The font name (a string), in either XLFD, Fontconfig, or GTK format.
2973 @xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2981 These have the same meanings as the face attributes of the same name.
2982 @xref{Face Attributes}.
2985 The font size---either a non-negative integer that specifies the pixel
2986 size, or a floating point number that specifies the point size.
2989 Additional typographic style information for the font, such as
2990 @samp{sans}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
2993 The charset registry and encoding of the font, such as
2994 @samp{iso8859-1}. The value should be a string or a symbol.
2997 The script that the font must support (a symbol).
3001 @defun font-put font-spec property value
3002 Set the font property @var{property} in the font-spec @var{font-spec}
3006 A font entity is a reference to a font that need not be open. Its
3007 properties are intermediate between a font object and a font spec:
3008 like a font object, and unlike a font spec, it refers to a single,
3009 specific font. Unlike a font object, creating a font entity does not
3010 load the contents of that font into computer memory.
3012 @defun find-font font-spec &optional frame
3013 This function returns a font entity that best matches the font spec
3014 @var{font-spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil},
3015 it defaults to the selected frame.
3018 @defun list-fonts font-spec &optional frame num prefer
3019 This function returns a list of all font entities that match the font
3020 spec @var{font-spec}.
3022 The optional argument @var{frame}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the
3023 frame on which the fonts are to be displayed. The optional argument
3024 @var{num}, if non-@code{nil}, should be an integer that specifies the
3025 maximum length of the returned list. The optional argument
3026 @var{prefer}, if non-@code{nil}, should be another font spec, which is
3027 used to control the order of the returned list; the returned font
3028 entities are sorted in order of decreasing ``closeness'' to that font
3032 The following functions can be used to obtain information about a
3033 font. For these functions, the @var{font} argument can be a font
3034 object, a font entity, or a font spec.
3036 @defun font-get font property
3037 This function returns the value of the font property @var{property}
3040 If @var{font} is a font spec and the font spec does not specify
3041 @var{property}, the return value is @code{nil}. If @var{font} is a
3042 font object or font entity, the value for the @var{:script} property
3043 may be a list of scripts supported by the font.
3046 @defun font-face-attributes font &optional frame
3047 This function returns a list of face attributes corresponding to
3048 @var{font}. The optional argument @var{frame} specifies the frame on
3049 which the font is to be displayed. If it is @code{nil}, the selected
3050 frame is used. The return value has the form
3053 (:family @var{family} :height @var{height} :weight @var{weight}
3054 :slant @var{slant} :width @var{width})
3057 where the values of @var{family}, @var{height}, @var{weight},
3058 @var{slant}, and @var{width} are face attribute values. Some of these
3059 key-attribute pairs may be omitted from the list if they are not
3060 specified by @var{font}.
3063 @defun font-xlfd-name font &optional fold-wildcards
3064 This function returns the XLFD (X Logical Font Descriptor), a string,
3065 matching @var{font}. @xref{Font X,, Font Specification Options,
3066 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for information about XLFDs. If the
3067 name is too long for an XLFD (which can contain at most 255
3068 characters), the function returns @code{nil}.
3070 If the optional argument @var{fold-wildcards} is non-@code{nil},
3071 consecutive wildcards in the XLFD are folded into one.
3078 The @dfn{fringes} of a window are thin vertical strips down the
3079 sides that are used for displaying bitmaps that indicate truncation,
3080 continuation, horizontal scrolling, and the overlay arrow.
3083 * Fringe Size/Pos:: Specifying where to put the window fringes.
3084 * Fringe Indicators:: Displaying indicator icons in the window fringes.
3085 * Fringe Cursors:: Displaying cursors in the right fringe.
3086 * Fringe Bitmaps:: Specifying bitmaps for fringe indicators.
3087 * Customizing Bitmaps:: Specifying your own bitmaps to use in the fringes.
3088 * Overlay Arrow:: Display of an arrow to indicate position.
3091 @node Fringe Size/Pos
3092 @subsection Fringe Size and Position
3094 The following buffer-local variables control the position and width
3095 of the window fringes.
3097 @defvar fringes-outside-margins
3098 The fringes normally appear between the display margins and the window
3099 text. If the value is non-@code{nil}, they appear outside the display
3100 margins. @xref{Display Margins}.
3103 @defvar left-fringe-width
3104 This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the left
3105 fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the left fringe
3106 width from the window's frame.
3109 @defvar right-fringe-width
3110 This variable, if non-@code{nil}, specifies the width of the right
3111 fringe in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means to use the right fringe
3112 width from the window's frame.
3115 The values of these variables take effect when you display the
3116 buffer in a window. If you change them while the buffer is visible,
3117 you can call @code{set-window-buffer} to display it once again in the
3118 same window, to make the changes take effect.
3120 @defun set-window-fringes window left &optional right outside-margins
3121 This function sets the fringe widths of window @var{window}.
3122 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3124 The argument @var{left} specifies the width in pixels of the left
3125 fringe, and likewise @var{right} for the right fringe. A value of
3126 @code{nil} for either one stands for the default width. If
3127 @var{outside-margins} is non-@code{nil}, that specifies that fringes
3128 should appear outside of the display margins.
3131 @defun window-fringes &optional window
3132 This function returns information about the fringes of a window
3133 @var{window}. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected
3134 window is used. The value has the form @code{(@var{left-width}
3135 @var{right-width} @var{outside-margins})}.
3139 @node Fringe Indicators
3140 @subsection Fringe Indicators
3141 @cindex fringe indicators
3142 @cindex indicators, fringe
3144 The @dfn{fringe indicators} are tiny icons Emacs displays in the
3145 window fringe (on a graphic display) to indicate truncated or
3146 continued lines, buffer boundaries, overlay arrow, etc.
3148 @defopt indicate-empty-lines
3149 @cindex fringes, and empty line indication
3150 When this is non-@code{nil}, Emacs displays a special glyph in the
3151 fringe of each empty line at the end of the buffer, on graphical
3152 displays. @xref{Fringes}. This variable is automatically
3153 buffer-local in every buffer.
3156 @defvar indicate-buffer-boundaries
3157 This buffer-local variable controls how the buffer boundaries and
3158 window scrolling are indicated in the window fringes.
3160 Emacs can indicate the buffer boundaries---that is, the first and last
3161 line in the buffer---with angle icons when they appear on the screen.
3162 In addition, Emacs can display an up-arrow in the fringe to show
3163 that there is text above the screen, and a down-arrow to show
3164 there is text below the screen.
3166 There are three kinds of basic values:
3170 Don't display any of these fringe icons.
3172 Display the angle icons and arrows in the left fringe.
3174 Display the angle icons and arrows in the right fringe.
3176 Display the angle icons in the left fringe
3177 and don't display the arrows.
3180 Otherwise the value should be an alist that specifies which fringe
3181 indicators to display and where. Each element of the alist should
3182 have the form @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{position})}. Here,
3183 @var{indicator} is one of @code{top}, @code{bottom}, @code{up},
3184 @code{down}, and @code{t} (which covers all the icons not yet
3185 specified), while @var{position} is one of @code{left}, @code{right}
3188 For example, @code{((top . left) (t . right))} places the top angle
3189 bitmap in left fringe, and the bottom angle bitmap as well as both
3190 arrow bitmaps in right fringe. To show the angle bitmaps in the left
3191 fringe, and no arrow bitmaps, use @code{((top . left) (bottom . left))}.
3194 @defvar default-indicate-buffer-boundaries
3195 The value of this variable is the default value for
3196 @code{indicate-buffer-boundaries} in buffers that do not override it.
3199 @defvar fringe-indicator-alist
3200 This buffer-local variable specifies the mapping from logical fringe
3201 indicators to the actual bitmaps displayed in the window fringes.
3203 These symbols identify the logical fringe indicators:
3206 @item Truncation and continuation line indicators:
3207 @code{truncation}, @code{continuation}.
3209 @item Buffer position indicators:
3210 @code{up}, @code{down},
3211 @code{top}, @code{bottom},
3214 @item Empty line indicator:
3217 @item Overlay arrow indicator:
3218 @code{overlay-arrow}.
3220 @item Unknown bitmap indicator:
3224 The value is an alist where each element @code{(@var{indicator} . @var{bitmaps})}
3225 specifies the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical
3228 Here, @var{indicator} specifies the logical indicator type, and
3229 @var{bitmaps} is list of symbols @code{(@var{left} @var{right}
3230 [@var{left1} @var{right1}])} which specifies the actual bitmap shown
3231 in the left or right fringe for the logical indicator.
3233 The @var{left} and @var{right} symbols specify the bitmaps shown in
3234 the left and/or right fringe for the specific indicator. The
3235 @var{left1} or @var{right1} bitmaps are used only for the `bottom' and
3236 `top-bottom indicators when the last (only) line in has no final
3237 newline. Alternatively, @var{bitmaps} may be a single symbol which is
3238 used in both left and right fringes.
3240 When @code{fringe-indicator-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there
3241 is no bitmap defined for a logical indicator, or the bitmap is
3242 @code{t}, the corresponding value from the (non-local)
3243 @code{default-fringe-indicator-alist} is used.
3245 To completely hide a specific indicator, set the bitmap to @code{nil}.
3248 @defvar default-fringe-indicator-alist
3249 The value of this variable is the default value for
3250 @code{fringe-indicator-alist} in buffers that do not override it.
3253 Standard fringe bitmaps for indicators:
3255 left-arrow right-arrow up-arrow down-arrow
3256 left-curly-arrow right-curly-arrow
3257 left-triangle right-triangle
3258 top-left-angle top-right-angle
3259 bottom-left-angle bottom-right-angle
3260 left-bracket right-bracket
3261 filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle
3262 filled-square hollow-square
3263 vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3264 empty-line question-mark
3267 @node Fringe Cursors
3268 @subsection Fringe Cursors
3269 @cindex fringe cursors
3270 @cindex cursor, fringe
3272 When a line is exactly as wide as the window, Emacs displays the
3273 cursor in the right fringe instead of using two lines. Different
3274 bitmaps are used to represent the cursor in the fringe depending on
3275 the current buffer's cursor type.
3278 @item Logical cursor types:
3279 @code{box} , @code{hollow}, @code{bar},
3280 @code{hbar}, @code{hollow-small}.
3283 The @code{hollow-small} type is used instead of @code{hollow} when the
3284 normal @code{hollow-rectangle} bitmap is too tall to fit on a specific
3287 @defvar overflow-newline-into-fringe
3288 If this is non-@code{nil}, lines exactly as wide as the window (not
3289 counting the final newline character) are not continued. Instead,
3290 when point is at the end of the line, the cursor appears in the right
3294 @defvar fringe-cursor-alist
3295 This variable specifies the mapping from logical cursor type to the
3296 actual fringe bitmaps displayed in the right fringe. The value is an
3297 alist where each element @code{(@var{cursor} . @var{bitmap})} specifies
3298 the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical cursor type in
3299 the fringe. Here, @var{cursor} specifies the logical cursor type and
3300 @var{bitmap} is a symbol specifying the fringe bitmap to be displayed
3301 for that logical cursor type.
3303 When @code{fringe-cursor-alist} has a buffer-local value, and there is
3304 no bitmap defined for a cursor type, the corresponding value from the
3305 (non-local) @code{default-fringes-indicator-alist} is used.
3308 @defvar default-fringes-cursor-alist
3309 The value of this variable is the default value for
3310 @code{fringe-cursor-alist} in buffers that do not override it.
3313 Standard bitmaps for displaying the cursor in right fringe:
3315 filled-rectangle hollow-rectangle filled-square hollow-square
3316 vertical-bar horizontal-bar
3320 @node Fringe Bitmaps
3321 @subsection Fringe Bitmaps
3322 @cindex fringe bitmaps
3323 @cindex bitmaps, fringe
3325 The @dfn{fringe bitmaps} are the actual bitmaps which represent the
3326 logical fringe indicators for truncated or continued lines, buffer
3327 boundaries, overlay arrow, etc. Fringe bitmap symbols have their own
3328 name space. The fringe bitmaps are shared by all frames and windows.
3329 You can redefine the built-in fringe bitmaps, and you can define new
3332 The way to display a bitmap in the left or right fringes for a given
3333 line in a window is by specifying the @code{display} property for one
3334 of the characters that appears in it. Use a display specification of
3335 the form @code{(left-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} or
3336 @code{(right-fringe @var{bitmap} [@var{face}])} (@pxref{Display
3337 Property}). Here, @var{bitmap} is a symbol identifying the bitmap you
3338 want, and @var{face} (which is optional) is the name of the face whose
3339 colors should be used for displaying the bitmap, instead of the
3340 default @code{fringe} face. @var{face} is automatically merged with
3341 the @code{fringe} face, so normally @var{face} need only specify the
3342 foreground color for the bitmap.
3344 @defun fringe-bitmaps-at-pos &optional pos window
3345 This function returns the fringe bitmaps of the display line
3346 containing position @var{pos} in window @var{window}. The return
3347 value has the form @code{(@var{left} @var{right} @var{ov})}, where @var{left}
3348 is the symbol for the fringe bitmap in the left fringe (or @code{nil}
3349 if no bitmap), @var{right} is similar for the right fringe, and @var{ov}
3350 is non-@code{nil} if there is an overlay arrow in the left fringe.
3352 The value is @code{nil} if @var{pos} is not visible in @var{window}.
3353 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, that stands for the selected window.
3354 If @var{pos} is @code{nil}, that stands for the value of point in
3358 @node Customizing Bitmaps
3359 @subsection Customizing Fringe Bitmaps
3361 @defun define-fringe-bitmap bitmap bits &optional height width align
3362 This function defines the symbol @var{bitmap} as a new fringe bitmap,
3363 or replaces an existing bitmap with that name.
3365 The argument @var{bits} specifies the image to use. It should be
3366 either a string or a vector of integers, where each element (an
3367 integer) corresponds to one row of the bitmap. Each bit of an integer
3368 corresponds to one pixel of the bitmap, where the low bit corresponds
3369 to the rightmost pixel of the bitmap.
3371 The height is normally the length of @var{bits}. However, you
3372 can specify a different height with non-@code{nil} @var{height}. The width
3373 is normally 8, but you can specify a different width with non-@code{nil}
3374 @var{width}. The width must be an integer between 1 and 16.
3376 The argument @var{align} specifies the positioning of the bitmap
3377 relative to the range of rows where it is used; the default is to
3378 center the bitmap. The allowed values are @code{top}, @code{center},
3381 The @var{align} argument may also be a list @code{(@var{align}
3382 @var{periodic})} where @var{align} is interpreted as described above.
3383 If @var{periodic} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies that the rows in
3384 @code{bits} should be repeated enough times to reach the specified
3388 @defun destroy-fringe-bitmap bitmap
3389 This function destroy the fringe bitmap identified by @var{bitmap}.
3390 If @var{bitmap} identifies a standard fringe bitmap, it actually
3391 restores the standard definition of that bitmap, instead of
3392 eliminating it entirely.
3395 @defun set-fringe-bitmap-face bitmap &optional face
3396 This sets the face for the fringe bitmap @var{bitmap} to @var{face}.
3397 If @var{face} is @code{nil}, it selects the @code{fringe} face. The
3398 bitmap's face controls the color to draw it in.
3400 @var{face} is merged with the @code{fringe} face, so normally
3401 @var{face} should specify only the foreground color.
3405 @subsection The Overlay Arrow
3406 @c @cindex overlay arrow Duplicates variable names
3408 The @dfn{overlay arrow} is useful for directing the user's attention
3409 to a particular line in a buffer. For example, in the modes used for
3410 interface to debuggers, the overlay arrow indicates the line of code
3411 about to be executed. This feature has nothing to do with
3412 @dfn{overlays} (@pxref{Overlays}).
3414 @defvar overlay-arrow-string
3415 This variable holds the string to display to call attention to a
3416 particular line, or @code{nil} if the arrow feature is not in use.
3417 On a graphical display the contents of the string are ignored; instead a
3418 glyph is displayed in the fringe area to the left of the display area.
3421 @defvar overlay-arrow-position
3422 This variable holds a marker that indicates where to display the overlay
3423 arrow. It should point at the beginning of a line. On a non-graphical
3424 display the arrow text
3425 appears at the beginning of that line, overlaying any text that would
3426 otherwise appear. Since the arrow is usually short, and the line
3427 usually begins with indentation, normally nothing significant is
3430 The overlay-arrow string is displayed in any given buffer if the value
3431 of @code{overlay-arrow-position} in that buffer points into that
3432 buffer. Thus, it is possible to display multiple overlay arrow strings
3433 by creating buffer-local bindings of @code{overlay-arrow-position}.
3434 However, it is usually cleaner to use
3435 @code{overlay-arrow-variable-list} to achieve this result.
3436 @c !!! overlay-arrow-position: but the overlay string may remain in the display
3437 @c of some other buffer until an update is required. This should be fixed
3441 You can do a similar job by creating an overlay with a
3442 @code{before-string} property. @xref{Overlay Properties}.
3444 You can define multiple overlay arrows via the variable
3445 @code{overlay-arrow-variable-list}.
3447 @defvar overlay-arrow-variable-list
3448 This variable's value is a list of variables, each of which specifies
3449 the position of an overlay arrow. The variable
3450 @code{overlay-arrow-position} has its normal meaning because it is on
3454 Each variable on this list can have properties
3455 @code{overlay-arrow-string} and @code{overlay-arrow-bitmap} that
3456 specify an overlay arrow string (for text-only terminals) or fringe
3457 bitmap (for graphical terminals) to display at the corresponding
3458 overlay arrow position. If either property is not set, the default
3459 @code{overlay-arrow-string} or @code{overlay-arrow} fringe indicator
3463 @section Scroll Bars
3466 Normally the frame parameter @code{vertical-scroll-bars} controls
3467 whether the windows in the frame have vertical scroll bars, and
3468 whether they are on the left or right. The frame parameter
3469 @code{scroll-bar-width} specifies how wide they are (@code{nil}
3470 meaning the default). @xref{Layout Parameters}.
3472 @defun frame-current-scroll-bars &optional frame
3473 This function reports the scroll bar type settings for frame
3474 @var{frame}. The value is a cons cell
3475 @code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}, where
3476 @var{vertical-type} is either @code{left}, @code{right}, or @code{nil}
3477 (which means no scroll bar.) @var{horizontal-type} is meant to
3478 specify the horizontal scroll bar type, but since they are not
3479 implemented, it is always @code{nil}.
3482 @vindex vertical-scroll-bar
3483 You can enable or disable scroll bars for a particular buffer,
3484 by setting the variable @code{vertical-scroll-bar}. This variable
3485 automatically becomes buffer-local when set. The possible values are
3486 @code{left}, @code{right}, @code{t}, which means to use the
3487 frame's default, and @code{nil} for no scroll bar.
3489 You can also control this for individual windows. Call the function
3490 @code{set-window-scroll-bars} to specify what to do for a specific window:
3492 @defun set-window-scroll-bars window width &optional vertical-type horizontal-type
3493 This function sets the width and type of scroll bars for window
3496 @var{width} specifies the scroll bar width in pixels (@code{nil} means
3497 use the width specified for the frame). @var{vertical-type} specifies
3498 whether to have a vertical scroll bar and, if so, where. The possible
3499 values are @code{left}, @code{right} and @code{nil}, just like the
3500 values of the @code{vertical-scroll-bars} frame parameter.
3502 The argument @var{horizontal-type} is meant to specify whether and
3503 where to have horizontal scroll bars, but since they are not
3504 implemented, it has no effect. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the
3505 selected window is used.
3508 @defun window-scroll-bars &optional window
3509 Report the width and type of scroll bars specified for @var{window}.
3510 If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3511 The value is a list of the form @code{(@var{width}
3512 @var{cols} @var{vertical-type} @var{horizontal-type})}. The value
3513 @var{width} is the value that was specified for the width (which may
3514 be @code{nil}); @var{cols} is the number of columns that the scroll
3515 bar actually occupies.
3517 @var{horizontal-type} is not actually meaningful.
3520 If you don't specify these values for a window with
3521 @code{set-window-scroll-bars}, the buffer-local variables
3522 @code{scroll-bar-mode} and @code{scroll-bar-width} in the buffer being
3523 displayed control the window's vertical scroll bars. The function
3524 @code{set-window-buffer} examines these variables. If you change them
3525 in a buffer that is already visible in a window, you can make the
3526 window take note of the new values by calling @code{set-window-buffer}
3527 specifying the same buffer that is already displayed.
3529 @defvar scroll-bar-mode
3530 This variable, always local in all buffers, controls whether and where
3531 to put scroll bars in windows displaying the buffer. The possible values
3532 are @code{nil} for no scroll bar, @code{left} to put a scroll bar on
3533 the left, and @code{right} to put a scroll bar on the right.
3536 @defun window-current-scroll-bars &optional window
3537 This function reports the scroll bar type for window @var{window}.
3538 If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3539 The value is a cons cell
3540 @code{(@var{vertical-type} .@: @var{horizontal-type})}. Unlike
3541 @code{window-scroll-bars}, this reports the scroll bar type actually
3542 used, once frame defaults and @code{scroll-bar-mode} are taken into
3546 @defvar scroll-bar-width
3547 This variable, always local in all buffers, specifies the width of the
3548 buffer's scroll bars, measured in pixels. A value of @code{nil} means
3549 to use the value specified by the frame.
3552 @node Display Property
3553 @section The @code{display} Property
3554 @cindex display specification
3555 @kindex display @r{(text property)}
3557 The @code{display} text property (or overlay property) is used to
3558 insert images into text, and also control other aspects of how text
3559 displays. The value of the @code{display} property should be a
3560 display specification, or a list or vector containing several display
3561 specifications. Display specifications in the same @code{display}
3562 property value generally apply in parallel to the text they cover.
3564 If several sources (overlays and/or a text property) specify values
3565 for the @code{display} property, only one of the values takes effect,
3566 following the rules of @code{get-char-property}. @xref{Examining
3569 The rest of this section describes several kinds of
3570 display specifications and what they mean.
3573 * Replacing Specs:: Display specs that replace the text.
3574 * Specified Space:: Displaying one space with a specified width.
3575 * Pixel Specification:: Specifying space width or height in pixels.
3576 * Other Display Specs:: Displaying an image; magnifying text; moving it
3577 up or down on the page; adjusting the width
3578 of spaces within text.
3579 * Display Margins:: Displaying text or images to the side of the main text.
3582 @node Replacing Specs
3583 @subsection Display Specs That Replace The Text
3585 Some kinds of @code{display} specifications specify something to
3586 display instead of the text that has the property. These are called
3587 @dfn{replacing} display specifications. Emacs does not allow the user
3588 to interactively move point into the middle of buffer text that is
3589 replaced in this way.
3591 If a list of display specifications includes more than one replacing
3592 display specification, the first overrides the rest. Replacing
3593 display specifications make most other display specifications
3594 irrelevant, since those don't apply to the replacement.
3596 For replacing display specifications, ``the text that has the
3597 property'' means all the consecutive characters that have the same
3598 Lisp object as their @code{display} property; these characters are
3599 replaced as a single unit. By contrast, characters that have similar
3600 but distinct Lisp objects as their @code{display} properties are
3601 handled separately. Here's a function that illustrates this point:
3605 (goto-char (point-min))
3607 (let ((string (concat "A")))
3608 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3610 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3615 It gives each of the first ten characters in the buffer string
3616 @code{"A"} as the @code{display} property, but they don't all get the
3617 same string. The first two characters get the same string, so they
3618 together are replaced with one @samp{A}. The next two characters get
3619 a second string, so they together are replaced with one @samp{A}.
3620 Likewise for each following pair of characters. Thus, the ten
3621 characters appear as five A's. This function would have the same
3626 (goto-char (point-min))
3628 (let ((string (concat "A")))
3629 (put-text-property (point) (+ 2 (point)) 'display string)
3630 (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'display string)
3635 This illustrates that what matters is the property value for
3636 each character. If two consecutive characters have the same
3637 object as the @code{display} property value, it's irrelevant
3638 whether they got this property from a single call to
3639 @code{put-text-property} or from two different calls.
3641 @node Specified Space
3642 @subsection Specified Spaces
3643 @cindex spaces, specified height or width
3644 @cindex variable-width spaces
3646 To display a space of specified width and/or height, use a display
3647 specification of the form @code{(space . @var{props})}, where
3648 @var{props} is a property list (a list of alternating properties and
3649 values). You can put this property on one or more consecutive
3650 characters; a space of the specified height and width is displayed in
3651 place of @emph{all} of those characters. These are the properties you
3652 can use in @var{props} to specify the weight of the space:
3655 @item :width @var{width}
3656 If @var{width} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3657 that the space width should be @var{width} times the normal character
3658 width. @var{width} can also be a @dfn{pixel width} specification
3659 (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3661 @item :relative-width @var{factor}
3662 Specifies that the width of the stretch should be computed from the
3663 first character in the group of consecutive characters that have the
3664 same @code{display} property. The space width is the width of that
3665 character, multiplied by @var{factor}.
3667 @item :align-to @var{hpos}
3668 Specifies that the space should be wide enough to reach @var{hpos}.
3669 If @var{hpos} is a number, it is measured in units of the normal
3670 character width. @var{hpos} can also be a @dfn{pixel width}
3671 specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3674 You should use one and only one of the above properties. You can
3675 also specify the height of the space, with these properties:
3678 @item :height @var{height}
3679 Specifies the height of the space.
3680 If @var{height} is an integer or floating point number, it specifies
3681 that the space height should be @var{height} times the normal character
3682 height. The @var{height} may also be a @dfn{pixel height} specification
3683 (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3685 @item :relative-height @var{factor}
3686 Specifies the height of the space, multiplying the ordinary height
3687 of the text having this display specification by @var{factor}.
3689 @item :ascent @var{ascent}
3690 If the value of @var{ascent} is a non-negative number no greater than
3691 100, it specifies that @var{ascent} percent of the height of the space
3692 should be considered as the ascent of the space---that is, the part
3693 above the baseline. The ascent may also be specified in pixel units
3694 with a @dfn{pixel ascent} specification (@pxref{Pixel Specification}).
3698 Don't use both @code{:height} and @code{:relative-height} together.
3700 The @code{:width} and @code{:align-to} properties are supported on
3701 non-graphic terminals, but the other space properties in this section
3704 @node Pixel Specification
3705 @subsection Pixel Specification for Spaces
3706 @cindex spaces, pixel specification
3708 The value of the @code{:width}, @code{:align-to}, @code{:height},
3709 and @code{:ascent} properties can be a special kind of expression that
3710 is evaluated during redisplay. The result of the evaluation is used
3711 as an absolute number of pixels.
3713 The following expressions are supported:
3717 @var{expr} ::= @var{num} | (@var{num}) | @var{unit} | @var{elem} | @var{pos} | @var{image} | @var{form}
3718 @var{num} ::= @var{integer} | @var{float} | @var{symbol}
3719 @var{unit} ::= in | mm | cm | width | height
3722 @var{elem} ::= left-fringe | right-fringe | left-margin | right-margin
3724 @var{pos} ::= left | center | right
3725 @var{form} ::= (@var{num} . @var{expr}) | (@var{op} @var{expr} ...)
3730 The form @var{num} specifies a fraction of the default frame font
3731 height or width. The form @code{(@var{num})} specifies an absolute
3732 number of pixels. If @var{num} is a symbol, @var{symbol}, its
3733 buffer-local variable binding is used.
3735 The @code{in}, @code{mm}, and @code{cm} units specify the number of
3736 pixels per inch, millimeter, and centimeter, respectively. The
3737 @code{width} and @code{height} units correspond to the default width
3738 and height of the current face. An image specification @code{image}
3739 corresponds to the width or height of the image.
3741 The @code{left-fringe}, @code{right-fringe}, @code{left-margin},
3742 @code{right-margin}, @code{scroll-bar}, and @code{text} elements
3743 specify to the width of the corresponding area of the window.
3745 The @code{left}, @code{center}, and @code{right} positions can be
3746 used with @code{:align-to} to specify a position relative to the left
3747 edge, center, or right edge of the text area.
3749 Any of the above window elements (except @code{text}) can also be
3750 used with @code{:align-to} to specify that the position is relative to
3751 the left edge of the given area. Once the base offset for a relative
3752 position has been set (by the first occurrence of one of these
3753 symbols), further occurrences of these symbols are interpreted as the
3754 width of the specified area. For example, to align to the center of
3755 the left-margin, use
3758 :align-to (+ left-margin (0.5 . left-margin))
3761 If no specific base offset is set for alignment, it is always relative
3762 to the left edge of the text area. For example, @samp{:align-to 0} in a
3763 header-line aligns with the first text column in the text area.
3765 A value of the form @code{(@var{num} . @var{expr})} stands for the
3766 product of the values of @var{num} and @var{expr}. For example,
3767 @code{(2 . in)} specifies a width of 2 inches, while @code{(0.5 .
3768 @var{image})} specifies half the width (or height) of the specified
3771 The form @code{(+ @var{expr} ...)} adds up the value of the
3772 expressions. The form @code{(- @var{expr} ...)} negates or subtracts
3773 the value of the expressions.
3775 @node Other Display Specs
3776 @subsection Other Display Specifications
3778 Here are the other sorts of display specifications that you can use
3779 in the @code{display} text property.
3783 Display @var{string} instead of the text that has this property.
3785 Recursive display specifications are not supported---@var{string}'s
3786 @code{display} properties, if any, are not used.
3788 @item (image . @var{image-props})
3789 This kind of display specification is an image descriptor (@pxref{Images}).
3790 When used as a display specification, it means to display the image
3791 instead of the text that has the display specification.
3793 @item (slice @var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})
3794 This specification together with @code{image} specifies a @dfn{slice}
3795 (a partial area) of the image to display. The elements @var{y} and
3796 @var{x} specify the top left corner of the slice, within the image;
3797 @var{width} and @var{height} specify the width and height of the
3798 slice. Integer values are numbers of pixels. A floating point number
3799 in the range 0.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height
3800 of the entire image.
3802 @item ((margin nil) @var{string})
3803 A display specification of this form means to display @var{string}
3804 instead of the text that has the display specification, at the same
3805 position as that text. It is equivalent to using just @var{string},
3806 but it is done as a special case of marginal display (@pxref{Display
3809 @item (space-width @var{factor})
3810 This display specification affects all the space characters within the
3811 text that has the specification. It displays all of these spaces
3812 @var{factor} times as wide as normal. The element @var{factor} should
3813 be an integer or float. Characters other than spaces are not affected
3814 at all; in particular, this has no effect on tab characters.
3816 @item (height @var{height})
3817 This display specification makes the text taller or shorter.
3818 Here are the possibilities for @var{height}:
3821 @item @code{(+ @var{n})}
3822 This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps larger. A ``step'' is
3823 defined by the set of available fonts---specifically, those that match
3824 what was otherwise specified for this text, in all attributes except
3825 height. Each size for which a suitable font is available counts as
3826 another step. @var{n} should be an integer.
3828 @item @code{(- @var{n})}
3829 This means to use a font that is @var{n} steps smaller.
3831 @item a number, @var{factor}
3832 A number, @var{factor}, means to use a font that is @var{factor} times
3833 as tall as the default font.
3835 @item a symbol, @var{function}
3836 A symbol is a function to compute the height. It is called with the
3837 current height as argument, and should return the new height to use.
3839 @item anything else, @var{form}
3840 If the @var{height} value doesn't fit the previous possibilities, it is
3841 a form. Emacs evaluates it to get the new height, with the symbol
3842 @code{height} bound to the current specified font height.
3845 @item (raise @var{factor})
3846 This kind of display specification raises or lowers the text
3847 it applies to, relative to the baseline of the line.
3849 @var{factor} must be a number, which is interpreted as a multiple of the
3850 height of the affected text. If it is positive, that means to display
3851 the characters raised. If it is negative, that means to display them
3854 If the text also has a @code{height} display specification, that does
3855 not affect the amount of raising or lowering, which is based on the
3856 faces used for the text.
3859 @c We put all the `@code{(when ...)}' on one line to encourage
3860 @c makeinfo's end-of-sentence heuristics to DTRT. Previously, the dot
3861 @c was at eol; the info file ended up w/ two spaces rendered after it.
3862 You can make any display specification conditional. To do that,
3863 package it in another list of the form
3864 @code{(when @var{condition} . @var{spec})}.
3865 Then the specification @var{spec} applies only when
3866 @var{condition} evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value. During the
3867 evaluation, @code{object} is bound to the string or buffer having the
3868 conditional @code{display} property. @code{position} and
3869 @code{buffer-position} are bound to the position within @code{object}
3870 and the buffer position where the @code{display} property was found,
3871 respectively. Both positions can be different when @code{object} is a
3874 @node Display Margins
3875 @subsection Displaying in the Margins
3876 @cindex display margins
3877 @cindex margins, display
3879 A buffer can have blank areas called @dfn{display margins} on the
3880 left and on the right. Ordinary text never appears in these areas,
3881 but you can put things into the display margins using the
3882 @code{display} property. There is currently no way to make text or
3883 images in the margin mouse-sensitive.
3885 The way to display something in the margins is to specify it in a
3886 margin display specification in the @code{display} property of some
3887 text. This is a replacing display specification, meaning that the
3888 text you put it on does not get displayed; the margin display appears,
3889 but that text does not.
3891 A margin display specification looks like @code{((margin
3892 right-margin) @var{spec}} or @code{((margin left-margin) @var{spec})}.
3893 Here, @var{spec} is another display specification that says what to
3894 display in the margin. Typically it is a string of text to display,
3895 or an image descriptor.
3897 To display something in the margin @emph{in association with}
3898 certain buffer text, without altering or preventing the display of
3899 that text, put a @code{before-string} property on the text and put the
3900 margin display specification on the contents of the before-string.
3902 Before the display margins can display anything, you must give
3903 them a nonzero width. The usual way to do that is to set these
3906 @defvar left-margin-width
3907 This variable specifies the width of the left margin.
3908 It is buffer-local in all buffers.
3911 @defvar right-margin-width
3912 This variable specifies the width of the right margin.
3913 It is buffer-local in all buffers.
3916 Setting these variables does not immediately affect the window. These
3917 variables are checked when a new buffer is displayed in the window.
3918 Thus, you can make changes take effect by calling
3919 @code{set-window-buffer}.
3921 You can also set the margin widths immediately.
3923 @defun set-window-margins window left &optional right
3924 This function specifies the margin widths for window @var{window}.
3925 The argument @var{left} controls the left margin and
3926 @var{right} controls the right margin (default @code{0}).
3929 @defun window-margins &optional window
3930 This function returns the left and right margins of @var{window}
3931 as a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{left} . @var{right})}.
3932 If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used.
3937 @cindex images in buffers
3939 To display an image in an Emacs buffer, you must first create an image
3940 descriptor, then use it as a display specifier in the @code{display}
3941 property of text that is displayed (@pxref{Display Property}).
3943 Emacs is usually able to display images when it is run on a
3944 graphical terminal. Images cannot be displayed in a text terminal, on
3945 certain graphical terminals that lack the support for this, or if
3946 Emacs is compiled without image support. You can use the function
3947 @code{display-images-p} to determine if images can in principle be
3948 displayed (@pxref{Display Feature Testing}).
3951 * Image Formats:: Supported image formats.
3952 * Image Descriptors:: How to specify an image for use in @code{:display}.
3953 * XBM Images:: Special features for XBM format.
3954 * XPM Images:: Special features for XPM format.
3955 * GIF Images:: Special features for GIF format.
3956 * TIFF Images:: Special features for TIFF format.
3957 * PostScript Images:: Special features for PostScript format.
3958 * Other Image Types:: Various other formats are supported.
3959 * Defining Images:: Convenient ways to define an image for later use.
3960 * Showing Images:: Convenient ways to display an image once it is defined.
3961 * Image Cache:: Internal mechanisms of image display.
3965 @subsection Image Formats
3966 @cindex image formats
3969 Emacs can display a number of different image formats; some of them
3970 are supported only if particular support libraries are installed on
3971 your machine. In some environments, Emacs can load image
3972 libraries on demand; if so, the variable @code{image-library-alist}
3973 can be used to modify the set of known names for these dynamic
3974 libraries (though it is not possible to add new image formats).
3976 The supported image formats include XBM, XPM (this requires the
3977 libraries @code{libXpm} version 3.4k and @code{libz}), GIF (requiring
3978 @code{libungif} 4.1.0), PostScript, PBM, JPEG (requiring the
3979 @code{libjpeg} library version v6a), TIFF (requiring @code{libtiff}
3980 v3.4), PNG (requiring @code{libpng} 1.0.2), and SVG (requiring
3981 @code{librsvg} 2.0.0).
3983 You specify one of these formats with an image type symbol. The image
3984 type symbols are @code{xbm}, @code{xpm}, @code{gif}, @code{postscript},
3985 @code{pbm}, @code{jpeg}, @code{tiff}, @code{png}, and @code{svg}.
3988 This variable contains a list of those image type symbols that are
3989 potentially supported in the current configuration.
3990 @emph{Potentially} here means that Emacs knows about the image types,
3991 not necessarily that they can be loaded (they could depend on
3992 unavailable dynamic libraries, for example).
3994 To know which image types are really available, use
3995 @code{image-type-available-p}.
3998 @defvar image-library-alist
3999 This in an alist of image types vs external libraries needed to
4002 Each element is a list @code{(@var{image-type} @var{library}...)},
4003 where the car is a supported image format from @code{image-types}, and
4004 the rest are strings giving alternate filenames for the corresponding
4005 external libraries to load.
4007 Emacs tries to load the libraries in the order they appear on the
4008 list; if none is loaded, the running session of Emacs won't support
4009 the image type. @code{pbm} and @code{xbm} don't need to be listed;
4010 they're always supported.
4012 This variable is ignored if the image libraries are statically linked
4016 @defun image-type-available-p type
4017 This function returns non-@code{nil} if image type @var{type} is
4018 available, i.e., if images of this type can be loaded and displayed in
4019 Emacs. @var{type} should be one of the types contained in
4022 For image types whose support libraries are statically linked, this
4023 function always returns @code{t}; for other image types, it returns
4024 @code{t} if the dynamic library could be loaded, @code{nil} otherwise.
4027 @node Image Descriptors
4028 @subsection Image Descriptors
4029 @cindex image descriptor
4031 An image description is a list of the form @code{(image . @var{props})},
4032 where @var{props} is a property list containing alternating keyword
4033 symbols (symbols whose names start with a colon) and their values.
4034 You can use any Lisp object as a property, but the only properties
4035 that have any special meaning are certain symbols, all of them keywords.
4037 Every image descriptor must contain the property @code{:type
4038 @var{type}} to specify the format of the image. The value of @var{type}
4039 should be an image type symbol; for example, @code{xpm} for an image in
4042 Here is a list of other properties that are meaningful for all image
4046 @item :file @var{file}
4047 The @code{:file} property says to load the image from file
4048 @var{file}. If @var{file} is not an absolute file name, it is expanded
4049 in @code{data-directory}.
4051 @item :data @var{data}
4052 The @code{:data} property says the actual contents of the image.
4053 Each image must use either @code{:data} or @code{:file}, but not both.
4054 For most image types, the value of the @code{:data} property should be a
4055 string containing the image data; we recommend using a unibyte string.
4057 Before using @code{:data}, look for further information in the section
4058 below describing the specific image format. For some image types,
4059 @code{:data} may not be supported; for some, it allows other data types;
4060 for some, @code{:data} alone is not enough, so you need to use other
4061 image properties along with @code{:data}.
4063 @item :margin @var{margin}
4064 The @code{:margin} property specifies how many pixels to add as an
4065 extra margin around the image. The value, @var{margin}, must be a
4066 non-negative number, or a pair @code{(@var{x} . @var{y})} of such
4067 numbers. If it is a pair, @var{x} specifies how many pixels to add
4068 horizontally, and @var{y} specifies how many pixels to add vertically.
4069 If @code{:margin} is not specified, the default is zero.
4071 @item :ascent @var{ascent}
4072 The @code{:ascent} property specifies the amount of the image's
4073 height to use for its ascent---that is, the part above the baseline.
4074 The value, @var{ascent}, must be a number in the range 0 to 100, or
4075 the symbol @code{center}.
4077 If @var{ascent} is a number, that percentage of the image's height is
4078 used for its ascent.
4080 If @var{ascent} is @code{center}, the image is vertically centered
4081 around a centerline which would be the vertical centerline of text drawn
4082 at the position of the image, in the manner specified by the text
4083 properties and overlays that apply to the image.
4085 If this property is omitted, it defaults to 50.
4087 @item :relief @var{relief}
4088 The @code{:relief} property, if non-@code{nil}, adds a shadow rectangle
4089 around the image. The value, @var{relief}, specifies the width of the
4090 shadow lines, in pixels. If @var{relief} is negative, shadows are drawn
4091 so that the image appears as a pressed button; otherwise, it appears as
4092 an unpressed button.
4094 @item :conversion @var{algorithm}
4095 The @code{:conversion} property, if non-@code{nil}, specifies a
4096 conversion algorithm that should be applied to the image before it is
4097 displayed; the value, @var{algorithm}, specifies which algorithm.
4102 Specifies the Laplace edge detection algorithm, which blurs out small
4103 differences in color while highlighting larger differences. People
4104 sometimes consider this useful for displaying the image for a
4105 ``disabled'' button.
4107 @item (edge-detection :matrix @var{matrix} :color-adjust @var{adjust})
4108 Specifies a general edge-detection algorithm. @var{matrix} must be
4109 either a nine-element list or a nine-element vector of numbers. A pixel
4110 at position @math{x/y} in the transformed image is computed from
4111 original pixels around that position. @var{matrix} specifies, for each
4112 pixel in the neighborhood of @math{x/y}, a factor with which that pixel
4113 will influence the transformed pixel; element @math{0} specifies the
4114 factor for the pixel at @math{x-1/y-1}, element @math{1} the factor for
4115 the pixel at @math{x/y-1} etc., as shown below:
4118 $$\pmatrix{x-1/y-1 & x/y-1 & x+1/y-1 \cr
4119 x-1/y & x/y & x+1/y \cr
4120 x-1/y+1& x/y+1 & x+1/y+1 \cr}$$
4125 (x-1/y-1 x/y-1 x+1/y-1
4127 x-1/y+1 x/y+1 x+1/y+1)
4131 The resulting pixel is computed from the color intensity of the color
4132 resulting from summing up the RGB values of surrounding pixels,
4133 multiplied by the specified factors, and dividing that sum by the sum
4134 of the factors' absolute values.
4136 Laplace edge-detection currently uses a matrix of
4139 $$\pmatrix{1 & 0 & 0 \cr
4152 Emboss edge-detection uses a matrix of
4155 $$\pmatrix{ 2 & -1 & 0 \cr
4169 Specifies transforming the image so that it looks ``disabled.''
4172 @item :mask @var{mask}
4173 If @var{mask} is @code{heuristic} or @code{(heuristic @var{bg})}, build
4174 a clipping mask for the image, so that the background of a frame is
4175 visible behind the image. If @var{bg} is not specified, or if @var{bg}
4176 is @code{t}, determine the background color of the image by looking at
4177 the four corners of the image, assuming the most frequently occurring
4178 color from the corners is the background color of the image. Otherwise,
4179 @var{bg} must be a list @code{(@var{red} @var{green} @var{blue})}
4180 specifying the color to assume for the background of the image.
4182 If @var{mask} is @code{nil}, remove a mask from the image, if it has
4183 one. Images in some formats include a mask which can be removed by
4184 specifying @code{:mask nil}.
4186 @item :pointer @var{shape}
4187 This specifies the pointer shape when the mouse pointer is over this
4188 image. @xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4190 @item :map @var{map}
4191 This associates an image map of @dfn{hot spots} with this image.
4193 An image map is an alist where each element has the format
4194 @code{(@var{area} @var{id} @var{plist})}. An @var{area} is specified
4195 as either a rectangle, a circle, or a polygon.
4197 A rectangle is a cons
4198 @code{(rect . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . (@var{x1} . @var{y1})))}
4199 which specifies the pixel coordinates of the upper left and bottom right
4200 corners of the rectangle area.
4203 @code{(circle . ((@var{x0} . @var{y0}) . @var{r}))}
4204 which specifies the center and the radius of the circle; @var{r} may
4205 be a float or integer.
4208 @code{(poly . [@var{x0} @var{y0} @var{x1} @var{y1} ...])}
4209 where each pair in the vector describes one corner in the polygon.
4211 When the mouse pointer lies on a hot-spot area of an image, the
4212 @var{plist} of that hot-spot is consulted; if it contains a @code{help-echo}
4213 property, that defines a tool-tip for the hot-spot, and if it contains
4214 a @code{pointer} property, that defines the shape of the mouse cursor when
4215 it is on the hot-spot.
4216 @xref{Pointer Shape}, for available pointer shapes.
4218 When you click the mouse when the mouse pointer is over a hot-spot, an
4219 event is composed by combining the @var{id} of the hot-spot with the
4220 mouse event; for instance, @code{[area4 mouse-1]} if the hot-spot's
4221 @var{id} is @code{area4}.
4224 @defun image-mask-p spec &optional frame
4225 This function returns @code{t} if image @var{spec} has a mask bitmap.
4226 @var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4227 @var{frame} @code{nil} or omitted means to use the selected frame
4228 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
4232 @subsection XBM Images
4235 To use XBM format, specify @code{xbm} as the image type. This image
4236 format doesn't require an external library, so images of this type are
4239 Additional image properties supported for the @code{xbm} image type are:
4242 @item :foreground @var{foreground}
4243 The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4244 foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4245 used for each pixel in the XBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
4248 @item :background @var{background}
4249 The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4250 background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4251 used for each pixel in the XBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
4255 If you specify an XBM image using data within Emacs instead of an
4256 external file, use the following three properties:
4259 @item :data @var{data}
4260 The value, @var{data}, specifies the contents of the image.
4261 There are three formats you can use for @var{data}:
4265 A vector of strings or bool-vectors, each specifying one line of the
4266 image. Do specify @code{:height} and @code{:width}.
4269 A string containing the same byte sequence as an XBM file would contain.
4270 You must not specify @code{:height} and @code{:width} in this case,
4271 because omitting them is what indicates the data has the format of an
4272 XBM file. The file contents specify the height and width of the image.
4275 A string or a bool-vector containing the bits of the image (plus perhaps
4276 some extra bits at the end that will not be used). It should contain at
4277 least @var{width} * @code{height} bits. In this case, you must specify
4278 @code{:height} and @code{:width}, both to indicate that the string
4279 contains just the bits rather than a whole XBM file, and to specify the
4283 @item :width @var{width}
4284 The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image, in pixels.
4286 @item :height @var{height}
4287 The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image, in pixels.
4291 @subsection XPM Images
4294 To use XPM format, specify @code{xpm} as the image type. The
4295 additional image property @code{:color-symbols} is also meaningful with
4296 the @code{xpm} image type:
4299 @item :color-symbols @var{symbols}
4300 The value, @var{symbols}, should be an alist whose elements have the
4301 form @code{(@var{name} . @var{color})}. In each element, @var{name} is
4302 the name of a color as it appears in the image file, and @var{color}
4303 specifies the actual color to use for displaying that name.
4307 @subsection GIF Images
4310 For GIF images, specify image type @code{gif}.
4313 @item :index @var{index}
4314 You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a GIF file that
4315 contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4316 number @var{index} from the file. If the GIF file doesn't contain an
4317 image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4321 This could be used to implement limited support for animated GIFs.
4322 For example, the following function displays a multi-image GIF file
4323 at point-min in the current buffer, switching between sub-images
4326 (defun show-anim (file max)
4327 "Display multi-image GIF file FILE which contains MAX subimages."
4328 (display-anim (current-buffer) file 0 max t))
4330 (defun display-anim (buffer file idx max first-time)
4333 (let ((img (create-image file nil :image idx)))
4336 (goto-char (point-min))
4337 (unless first-time (delete-char 1))
4339 (run-with-timer 0.1 nil 'display-anim buffer file (1+ idx) max nil)))
4343 @subsection TIFF Images
4346 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4349 @item :index @var{index}
4350 You can use @code{:index} to specify one image from a TIFF file that
4351 contains more than one image. This property specifies use of image
4352 number @var{index} from the file. If the TIFF file doesn't contain an
4353 image with index @var{index}, the image displays as a hollow box.
4356 @node PostScript Images
4357 @subsection PostScript Images
4358 @cindex postscript images
4360 To use PostScript for an image, specify image type @code{postscript}.
4361 This works only if you have Ghostscript installed. You must always use
4362 these three properties:
4365 @item :pt-width @var{width}
4366 The value, @var{width}, specifies the width of the image measured in
4367 points (1/72 inch). @var{width} must be an integer.
4369 @item :pt-height @var{height}
4370 The value, @var{height}, specifies the height of the image in points
4371 (1/72 inch). @var{height} must be an integer.
4373 @item :bounding-box @var{box}
4374 The value, @var{box}, must be a list or vector of four integers, which
4375 specifying the bounding box of the PostScript image, analogous to the
4376 @samp{BoundingBox} comment found in PostScript files.
4379 %%BoundingBox: 22 171 567 738
4383 @node Other Image Types
4384 @subsection Other Image Types
4387 For PBM images, specify image type @code{pbm}. Color, gray-scale and
4388 monochromatic images are supported. For mono PBM images, two additional
4389 image properties are supported.
4392 @item :foreground @var{foreground}
4393 The value, @var{foreground}, should be a string specifying the image
4394 foreground color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4395 used for each pixel in the PBM that is 1. The default is the frame's
4398 @item :background @var{background}
4399 The value, @var{background}, should be a string specifying the image
4400 background color, or @code{nil} for the default color. This color is
4401 used for each pixel in the PBM that is 0. The default is the frame's
4405 For JPEG images, specify image type @code{jpeg}.
4407 For TIFF images, specify image type @code{tiff}.
4409 For PNG images, specify image type @code{png}.
4411 For SVG images, specify image type @code{svg}.
4413 @node Defining Images
4414 @subsection Defining Images
4416 The functions @code{create-image}, @code{defimage} and
4417 @code{find-image} provide convenient ways to create image descriptors.
4419 @defun create-image file-or-data &optional type data-p &rest props
4420 This function creates and returns an image descriptor which uses the
4421 data in @var{file-or-data}. @var{file-or-data} can be a file name or
4422 a string containing the image data; @var{data-p} should be @code{nil}
4423 for the former case, non-@code{nil} for the latter case.
4425 The optional argument @var{type} is a symbol specifying the image type.
4426 If @var{type} is omitted or @code{nil}, @code{create-image} tries to
4427 determine the image type from the file's first few bytes, or else
4428 from the file's name.
4430 The remaining arguments, @var{props}, specify additional image
4431 properties---for example,
4434 (create-image "foo.xpm" 'xpm nil :heuristic-mask t)
4437 The function returns @code{nil} if images of this type are not
4438 supported. Otherwise it returns an image descriptor.
4441 @defmac defimage symbol specs &optional doc
4442 This macro defines @var{symbol} as an image name. The arguments
4443 @var{specs} is a list which specifies how to display the image.
4444 The third argument, @var{doc}, is an optional documentation string.
4446 Each argument in @var{specs} has the form of a property list, and each
4447 one should specify at least the @code{:type} property and either the
4448 @code{:file} or the @code{:data} property. The value of @code{:type}
4449 should be a symbol specifying the image type, the value of
4450 @code{:file} is the file to load the image from, and the value of
4451 @code{:data} is a string containing the actual image data. Here is an
4455 (defimage test-image
4456 ((:type xpm :file "~/test1.xpm")
4457 (:type xbm :file "~/test1.xbm")))
4460 @code{defimage} tests each argument, one by one, to see if it is
4461 usable---that is, if the type is supported and the file exists. The
4462 first usable argument is used to make an image descriptor which is
4463 stored in @var{symbol}.
4465 If none of the alternatives will work, then @var{symbol} is defined
4469 @defun find-image specs
4470 This function provides a convenient way to find an image satisfying one
4471 of a list of image specifications @var{specs}.
4473 Each specification in @var{specs} is a property list with contents
4474 depending on image type. All specifications must at least contain the
4475 properties @code{:type @var{type}} and either @w{@code{:file @var{file}}}
4476 or @w{@code{:data @var{DATA}}}, where @var{type} is a symbol specifying
4477 the image type, e.g.@: @code{xbm}, @var{file} is the file to load the
4478 image from, and @var{data} is a string containing the actual image data.
4479 The first specification in the list whose @var{type} is supported, and
4480 @var{file} exists, is used to construct the image specification to be
4481 returned. If no specification is satisfied, @code{nil} is returned.
4483 The image is looked for in @code{image-load-path}.
4486 @defvar image-load-path
4487 This variable's value is a list of locations in which to search for
4488 image files. If an element is a string or a variable symbol whose
4489 value is a string, the string is taken to be the name of a directory
4490 to search. If an element is a variable symbol whose value is a list,
4491 that is taken to be a list of directory names to search.
4493 The default is to search in the @file{images} subdirectory of the
4494 directory specified by @code{data-directory}, then the directory
4495 specified by @code{data-directory}, and finally in the directories in
4496 @code{load-path}. Subdirectories are not automatically included in
4497 the search, so if you put an image file in a subdirectory, you have to
4498 supply the subdirectory name explicitly. For example, to find the
4499 image @file{images/foo/bar.xpm} within @code{data-directory}, you
4500 should specify the image as follows:
4503 (defimage foo-image '((:type xpm :file "foo/bar.xpm")))
4507 @defun image-load-path-for-library library image &optional path no-error
4508 This function returns a suitable search path for images used by the
4509 Lisp package @var{library}.
4511 The function searches for @var{image} first using @code{image-load-path},
4512 excluding @file{@code{data-directory}/images}, and then in
4513 @code{load-path}, followed by a path suitable for @var{library}, which
4514 includes @file{../../etc/images} and @file{../etc/images} relative to
4515 the library file itself, and finally in
4516 @file{@code{data-directory}/images}.
4518 Then this function returns a list of directories which contains first
4519 the directory in which @var{image} was found, followed by the value of
4520 @code{load-path}. If @var{path} is given, it is used instead of
4523 If @var{no-error} is non-@code{nil} and a suitable path can't be
4524 found, don't signal an error. Instead, return a list of directories as
4525 before, except that @code{nil} appears in place of the image directory.
4527 Here is an example that uses a common idiom to provide compatibility
4528 with versions of Emacs that lack the variable @code{image-load-path}:
4531 (defvar image-load-path) ; shush compiler
4532 (let* ((load-path (image-load-path-for-library
4533 "mh-e" "mh-logo.xpm"))
4534 (image-load-path (cons (car load-path)
4535 (when (boundp 'image-load-path)
4537 (mh-tool-bar-folder-buttons-init))
4541 @node Showing Images
4542 @subsection Showing Images
4544 You can use an image descriptor by setting up the @code{display}
4545 property yourself, but it is easier to use the functions in this
4548 @defun insert-image image &optional string area slice
4549 This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point. The
4550 value @var{image} should be an image descriptor; it could be a value
4551 returned by @code{create-image}, or the value of a symbol defined with
4552 @code{defimage}. The argument @var{string} specifies the text to put
4553 in the buffer to hold the image. If it is omitted or @code{nil},
4554 @code{insert-image} uses @code{" "} by default.
4556 The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4557 If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4558 @code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4559 @code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4562 The argument @var{slice} specifies a slice of the image to insert. If
4563 @var{slice} is @code{nil} or omitted the whole image is inserted.
4564 Otherwise, @var{slice} is a list @code{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width}
4565 @var{height})} which specifies the @var{x} and @var{y} positions and
4566 @var{width} and @var{height} of the image area to insert. Integer
4567 values are in units of pixels. A floating point number in the range
4568 0.0--1.0 stands for that fraction of the width or height of the entire
4571 Internally, this function inserts @var{string} in the buffer, and gives
4572 it a @code{display} property which specifies @var{image}. @xref{Display
4576 @defun insert-sliced-image image &optional string area rows cols
4577 This function inserts @var{image} in the current buffer at point, like
4578 @code{insert-image}, but splits the image into @var{rows}x@var{cols}
4579 equally sized slices.
4582 @defun put-image image pos &optional string area
4583 This function puts image @var{image} in front of @var{pos} in the
4584 current buffer. The argument @var{pos} should be an integer or a
4585 marker. It specifies the buffer position where the image should appear.
4586 The argument @var{string} specifies the text that should hold the image
4587 as an alternative to the default.
4589 The argument @var{image} must be an image descriptor, perhaps returned
4590 by @code{create-image} or stored by @code{defimage}.
4592 The argument @var{area} specifies whether to put the image in a margin.
4593 If it is @code{left-margin}, the image appears in the left margin;
4594 @code{right-margin} specifies the right margin. If @var{area} is
4595 @code{nil} or omitted, the image is displayed at point within the
4598 Internally, this function creates an overlay, and gives it a
4599 @code{before-string} property containing text that has a @code{display}
4600 property whose value is the image. (Whew!)
4603 @defun remove-images start end &optional buffer
4604 This function removes images in @var{buffer} between positions
4605 @var{start} and @var{end}. If @var{buffer} is omitted or @code{nil},
4606 images are removed from the current buffer.
4608 This removes only images that were put into @var{buffer} the way
4609 @code{put-image} does it, not images that were inserted with
4610 @code{insert-image} or in other ways.
4613 @defun image-size spec &optional pixels frame
4614 This function returns the size of an image as a pair
4615 @w{@code{(@var{width} . @var{height})}}. @var{spec} is an image
4616 specification. @var{pixels} non-@code{nil} means return sizes
4617 measured in pixels, otherwise return sizes measured in canonical
4618 character units (fractions of the width/height of the frame's default
4619 font). @var{frame} is the frame on which the image will be displayed.
4620 @var{frame} null or omitted means use the selected frame (@pxref{Input
4624 @defvar max-image-size
4625 This variable is used to define the maximum size of image that Emacs
4626 will load. Emacs will refuse to load (and display) any image that is
4627 larger than this limit.
4629 If the value is an integer, it directly specifies the maximum
4630 image height and width, measured in pixels. If it is a floating
4631 point number, it specifies the maximum image height and width
4632 as a ratio to the frame height and width. If the value is
4633 non-numeric, there is no explicit limit on the size of images.
4635 The purpose of this variable is to prevent unreasonably large images
4636 from accidentally being loaded into Emacs. It only takes effect the
4637 first time an image is loaded. Once an image is placed in the image
4638 cache, it can always be displayed, even if the value of
4639 @var{max-image-size} is subsequently changed (@pxref{Image Cache}).
4643 @subsection Image Cache
4646 Emacs stores images in an image cache so that it can display them
4647 again more efficiently. When Emacs displays an image, it searches the
4648 image cache for an existing image specification @code{equal} to the
4649 desired specification. If a match is found, the image is displayed
4650 from the cache; otherwise, Emacs loads the image normally.
4652 Occasionally, you may need to tell Emacs to refresh the images
4653 associated with a given image specification. For example, suppose you
4654 display an image using a specification that contains a @code{:file}
4655 property. The image is loaded from the given file and stored in the
4656 image cache. If you later display the image again, using the same
4657 image specification, the image is displayed from the image cache.
4658 Normally, this is not a problem. However, if the image file has
4659 changed in the meantime, Emacs would be displaying the old version of
4660 the image. In such a situation, it is necessary to ``refresh'' the
4661 image using @code{image-refresh}.
4663 @defun image-refresh spec &optional frame
4664 This function refreshes any images having image specifications
4665 @code{equal} to @var{spec} on frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is
4666 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used. If @var{frame} is @code{t},
4667 the refresh is applied to all existing frames.
4669 This works by removing from the image cache all the images whose image
4670 specifications match @var{spec}. The next time Emacs needs to display
4671 such an image, it will reload the image anew.
4674 @defun clear-image-cache &optional filter
4675 This function clears the image cache. If @var{filter} is
4676 a frame, only the cache for that frame is cleared. If omitted or
4677 @code{nil}, clear the images on the selected frame. If @code{t},
4678 all frames' caches are cleared. Otherwise, @var{filter} is taken as
4679 a file name and only images that reference this file will be flushed.
4682 If an image in the image cache has not been displayed for a specified
4683 period of time, Emacs removes it from the cache and frees the
4686 @defvar image-cache-eviction-delay
4687 This variable specifies the number of seconds an image can remain in the
4688 cache without being displayed. When an image is not displayed for this
4689 length of time, Emacs removes it from the image cache.
4691 If the value is @code{nil}, Emacs does not remove images from the cache
4692 except when you explicitly clear it. This mode can be useful for
4698 @cindex buttons in buffers
4699 @cindex clickable buttons in buffers
4701 The @emph{button} package defines functions for inserting and
4702 manipulating clickable (with the mouse, or via keyboard commands)
4703 buttons in Emacs buffers, such as might be used for help hyper-links,
4704 etc. Emacs uses buttons for the hyper-links in help text and the like.
4706 A button is essentially a set of properties attached (via text
4707 properties or overlays) to a region of text in an Emacs buffer. These
4708 properties are called @dfn{button properties}.
4710 One of these properties (@code{action}) is a function, which will
4711 be called when the user invokes it using the keyboard or the mouse.
4712 The invoked function may then examine the button and use its other
4713 properties as desired.
4715 In some ways the Emacs button package duplicates functionality offered
4716 by the widget package (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, widget, The Emacs
4717 Widget Library}), but the button package has the advantage that it is
4718 much faster, much smaller, and much simpler to use (for elisp
4719 programmers---for users, the result is about the same). The extra
4720 speed and space savings are useful mainly if you need to create many
4721 buttons in a buffer (for instance an @code{*Apropos*} buffer uses
4722 buttons to make entries clickable, and may contain many thousands of
4726 * Button Properties:: Button properties with special meanings.
4727 * Button Types:: Defining common properties for classes of buttons.
4728 * Making Buttons:: Adding buttons to Emacs buffers.
4729 * Manipulating Buttons:: Getting and setting properties of buttons.
4730 * Button Buffer Commands:: Buffer-wide commands and bindings for buttons.
4733 @node Button Properties
4734 @subsection Button Properties
4735 @cindex button properties
4737 Buttons have an associated list of properties defining their
4738 appearance and behavior, and other arbitrary properties may be used
4739 for application specific purposes. Some properties that have special
4740 meaning to the button package include:
4744 @kindex action @r{(button property)}
4745 The function to call when the user invokes the button, which is passed
4746 the single argument @var{button}. By default this is @code{ignore},
4750 @kindex mouse-action @r{(button property)}
4751 This is similar to @code{action}, and when present, will be used
4752 instead of @code{action} for button invocations resulting from
4753 mouse-clicks (instead of the user hitting @key{RET}). If not
4754 present, mouse-clicks use @code{action} instead.
4757 @kindex face @r{(button property)}
4758 This is an Emacs face controlling how buttons of this type are
4759 displayed; by default this is the @code{button} face.
4762 @kindex mouse-face @r{(button property)}
4763 This is an additional face which controls appearance during
4764 mouse-overs (merged with the usual button face); by default this is
4765 the usual Emacs @code{highlight} face.
4768 @kindex keymap @r{(button property)}
4769 The button's keymap, defining bindings active within the button
4770 region. By default this is the usual button region keymap, stored
4771 in the variable @code{button-map}, which defines @key{RET} and
4772 @key{mouse-2} to invoke the button.
4775 @kindex type @r{(button property)}
4776 The button-type of the button. When creating a button, this is
4777 usually specified using the @code{:type} keyword argument.
4778 @xref{Button Types}.
4781 @kindex help-index @r{(button property)}
4782 A string displayed by the Emacs tool-tip help system; by default,
4783 @code{"mouse-2, RET: Push this button"}.
4786 @kindex follow-link @r{(button property)}
4787 The follow-link property, defining how a @key{Mouse-1} click behaves
4788 on this button, @xref{Links and Mouse-1}.
4791 @kindex button @r{(button property)}
4792 All buttons have a non-@code{nil} @code{button} property, which may be useful
4793 in finding regions of text that comprise buttons (which is what the
4794 standard button functions do).
4797 There are other properties defined for the regions of text in a
4798 button, but these are not generally interesting for typical uses.
4801 @subsection Button Types
4802 @cindex button types
4804 Every button has a button @emph{type}, which defines default values
4805 for the button's properties. Button types are arranged in a
4806 hierarchy, with specialized types inheriting from more general types,
4807 so that it's easy to define special-purpose types of buttons for
4810 @defun define-button-type name &rest properties
4811 Define a `button type' called @var{name} (a symbol).
4812 The remaining arguments
4813 form a sequence of @var{property value} pairs, specifying default
4814 property values for buttons with this type (a button's type may be set
4815 by giving it a @code{type} property when creating the button, using
4816 the @code{:type} keyword argument).
4818 In addition, the keyword argument @code{:supertype} may be used to
4819 specify a button-type from which @var{name} inherits its default
4820 property values. Note that this inheritance happens only when
4821 @var{name} is defined; subsequent changes to a supertype are not
4822 reflected in its subtypes.
4825 Using @code{define-button-type} to define default properties for
4826 buttons is not necessary---buttons without any specified type use the
4827 built-in button-type @code{button}---but it is encouraged, since
4828 doing so usually makes the resulting code clearer and more efficient.
4830 @node Making Buttons
4831 @subsection Making Buttons
4832 @cindex making buttons
4834 Buttons are associated with a region of text, using an overlay or
4835 text properties to hold button-specific information, all of which are
4836 initialized from the button's type (which defaults to the built-in
4837 button type @code{button}). Like all Emacs text, the appearance of
4838 the button is governed by the @code{face} property; by default (via
4839 the @code{face} property inherited from the @code{button} button-type)
4840 this is a simple underline, like a typical web-page link.
4842 For convenience, there are two sorts of button-creation functions,
4843 those that add button properties to an existing region of a buffer,
4844 called @code{make-...button}, and those that also insert the button
4845 text, called @code{insert-...button}.
4847 The button-creation functions all take the @code{&rest} argument
4848 @var{properties}, which should be a sequence of @var{property value}
4849 pairs, specifying properties to add to the button; see @ref{Button
4850 Properties}. In addition, the keyword argument @code{:type} may be
4851 used to specify a button-type from which to inherit other properties;
4852 see @ref{Button Types}. Any properties not explicitly specified
4853 during creation will be inherited from the button's type (if the type
4854 defines such a property).
4856 The following functions add a button using an overlay
4857 (@pxref{Overlays}) to hold the button properties:
4859 @defun make-button beg end &rest properties
4860 This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the
4861 current buffer, and returns it.
4864 @defun insert-button label &rest properties
4865 This insert a button with the label @var{label} at point,
4869 The following functions are similar, but use Emacs text properties
4870 (@pxref{Text Properties}) to hold the button properties, making the
4871 button actually part of the text instead of being a property of the
4872 buffer. Buttons using text properties do not create markers into the
4873 buffer, which is important for speed when you use extremely large
4874 numbers of buttons. Both functions return the position of the start
4877 @defun make-text-button beg end &rest properties
4878 This makes a button from @var{beg} to @var{end} in the current buffer, using
4882 @defun insert-text-button label &rest properties
4883 This inserts a button with the label @var{label} at point, using text
4887 @node Manipulating Buttons
4888 @subsection Manipulating Buttons
4889 @cindex manipulating buttons
4891 These are functions for getting and setting properties of buttons.
4892 Often these are used by a button's invocation function to determine
4895 Where a @var{button} parameter is specified, it means an object
4896 referring to a specific button, either an overlay (for overlay
4897 buttons), or a buffer-position or marker (for text property buttons).
4898 Such an object is passed as the first argument to a button's
4899 invocation function when it is invoked.
4901 @defun button-start button
4902 Return the position at which @var{button} starts.
4905 @defun button-end button
4906 Return the position at which @var{button} ends.
4909 @defun button-get button prop
4910 Get the property of button @var{button} named @var{prop}.
4913 @defun button-put button prop val
4914 Set @var{button}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
4917 @defun button-activate button &optional use-mouse-action
4918 Call @var{button}'s @code{action} property (i.e., invoke it). If
4919 @var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, try to invoke the button's
4920 @code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
4921 has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
4924 @defun button-label button
4925 Return @var{button}'s text label.
4928 @defun button-type button
4929 Return @var{button}'s button-type.
4932 @defun button-has-type-p button type
4933 Return @code{t} if @var{button} has button-type @var{type}, or one of
4934 @var{type}'s subtypes.
4937 @defun button-at pos
4938 Return the button at position @var{pos} in the current buffer, or @code{nil}.
4941 @defun button-type-put type prop val
4942 Set the button-type @var{type}'s @var{prop} property to @var{val}.
4945 @defun button-type-get type prop
4946 Get the property of button-type @var{type} named @var{prop}.
4949 @defun button-type-subtype-p type supertype
4950 Return @code{t} if button-type @var{type} is a subtype of @var{supertype}.
4953 @node Button Buffer Commands
4954 @subsection Button Buffer Commands
4955 @cindex button buffer commands
4957 These are commands and functions for locating and operating on
4958 buttons in an Emacs buffer.
4960 @code{push-button} is the command that a user uses to actually `push'
4961 a button, and is bound by default in the button itself to @key{RET}
4962 and to @key{mouse-2} using a region-specific keymap. Commands
4963 that are useful outside the buttons itself, such as
4964 @code{forward-button} and @code{backward-button} are additionally
4965 available in the keymap stored in @code{button-buffer-map}; a mode
4966 which uses buttons may want to use @code{button-buffer-map} as a
4967 parent keymap for its keymap.
4969 If the button has a non-@code{nil} @code{follow-link} property, and
4970 @var{mouse-1-click-follows-link} is set, a quick @key{Mouse-1} click
4971 will also activate the @code{push-button} command.
4972 @xref{Links and Mouse-1}.
4974 @deffn Command push-button &optional pos use-mouse-action
4975 Perform the action specified by a button at location @var{pos}.
4976 @var{pos} may be either a buffer position or a mouse-event. If
4977 @var{use-mouse-action} is non-@code{nil}, or @var{pos} is a
4978 mouse-event (@pxref{Mouse Events}), try to invoke the button's
4979 @code{mouse-action} property instead of @code{action}; if the button
4980 has no @code{mouse-action} property, use @code{action} as normal.
4981 @var{pos} defaults to point, except when @code{push-button} is invoked
4982 interactively as the result of a mouse-event, in which case, the mouse
4983 event's position is used. If there's no button at @var{pos}, do
4984 nothing and return @code{nil}, otherwise return @code{t}.
4987 @deffn Command forward-button n &optional wrap display-message
4988 Move to the @var{n}th next button, or @var{n}th previous button if
4989 @var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
4990 button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
4991 end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
4992 @var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
4993 is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
4994 is skipped over. Returns the button found.
4997 @deffn Command backward-button n &optional wrap display-message
4998 Move to the @var{n}th previous button, or @var{n}th next button if
4999 @var{n} is negative. If @var{n} is zero, move to the start of any
5000 button at point. If @var{wrap} is non-@code{nil}, moving past either
5001 end of the buffer continues from the other end. If
5002 @var{display-message} is non-@code{nil}, the button's help-echo string
5003 is displayed. Any button with a non-@code{nil} @code{skip} property
5004 is skipped over. Returns the button found.
5007 @defun next-button pos &optional count-current
5008 @defunx previous-button pos &optional count-current
5009 Return the next button after (for @code{next-button} or before (for
5010 @code{previous-button}) position @var{pos} in the current buffer. If
5011 @var{count-current} is non-@code{nil}, count any button at @var{pos}
5012 in the search, instead of starting at the next button.
5015 @node Abstract Display
5016 @section Abstract Display
5018 @cindex display, abstract
5019 @cindex display, arbitrary objects
5020 @cindex model/view/controller
5021 @cindex view part, model/view/controller
5023 The Ewoc package constructs buffer text that represents a structure
5024 of Lisp objects, and updates the text to follow changes in that
5025 structure. This is like the ``view'' component in the
5026 ``model/view/controller'' design paradigm.
5028 An @dfn{ewoc} is a structure that organizes information required to
5029 construct buffer text that represents certain Lisp data. The buffer
5030 text of the ewoc has three parts, in order: first, fixed @dfn{header}
5031 text; next, textual descriptions of a series of data elements (Lisp
5032 objects that you specify); and last, fixed @dfn{footer} text.
5033 Specifically, an ewoc contains information on:
5037 The buffer which its text is generated in.
5040 The text's start position in the buffer.
5043 The header and footer strings.
5046 A doubly-linked chain of @dfn{nodes}, each of which contains:
5050 A @dfn{data element}, a single Lisp object.
5053 Links to the preceding and following nodes in the chain.
5057 A @dfn{pretty-printer} function which is responsible for
5058 inserting the textual representation of a data
5059 element value into the current buffer.
5062 Typically, you define an ewoc with @code{ewoc-create}, and then pass
5063 the resulting ewoc structure to other functions in the Ewoc package to
5064 build nodes within it, and display it in the buffer. Once it is
5065 displayed in the buffer, other functions determine the correspondance
5066 between buffer positions and nodes, move point from one node's textual
5067 representation to another, and so forth. @xref{Abstract Display
5070 A node @dfn{encapsulates} a data element much the way a variable
5071 holds a value. Normally, encapsulation occurs as a part of adding a
5072 node to the ewoc. You can retrieve the data element value and place a
5073 new value in its place, like so:
5076 (ewoc-data @var{node})
5079 (ewoc-set-data @var{node} @var{new-value})
5080 @result{} @var{new-value}
5084 You can also use, as the data element value, a Lisp object (list or
5085 vector) that is a container for the ``real'' value, or an index into
5086 some other structure. The example (@pxref{Abstract Display Example})
5087 uses the latter approach.
5089 When the data changes, you will want to update the text in the
5090 buffer. You can update all nodes by calling @code{ewoc-refresh}, or
5091 just specific nodes using @code{ewoc-invalidate}, or all nodes
5092 satisfying a predicate using @code{ewoc-map}. Alternatively, you can
5093 delete invalid nodes using @code{ewoc-delete} or @code{ewoc-filter},
5094 and add new nodes in their place. Deleting a node from an ewoc deletes
5095 its associated textual description from buffer, as well.
5098 * Abstract Display Functions::
5099 * Abstract Display Example::
5102 @node Abstract Display Functions
5103 @subsection Abstract Display Functions
5105 In this subsection, @var{ewoc} and @var{node} stand for the
5106 structures described above (@pxref{Abstract Display}), while
5107 @var{data} stands for an arbitrary Lisp object used as a data element.
5109 @defun ewoc-create pretty-printer &optional header footer nosep
5110 This constructs and returns a new ewoc, with no nodes (and thus no data
5111 elements). @var{pretty-printer} should be a function that takes one
5112 argument, a data element of the sort you plan to use in this ewoc, and
5113 inserts its textual description at point using @code{insert} (and never
5114 @code{insert-before-markers}, because that would interfere with the
5115 Ewoc package's internal mechanisms).
5117 Normally, a newline is automatically inserted after the header,
5118 the footer and every node's textual description. If @var{nosep}
5119 is non-@code{nil}, no newline is inserted. This may be useful for
5120 displaying an entire ewoc on a single line, for example, or for
5121 making nodes ``invisible'' by arranging for @var{pretty-printer}
5122 to do nothing for those nodes.
5124 An ewoc maintains its text in the buffer that is current when
5125 you create it, so switch to the intended buffer before calling
5129 @defun ewoc-buffer ewoc
5130 This returns the buffer where @var{ewoc} maintains its text.
5133 @defun ewoc-get-hf ewoc
5134 This returns a cons cell @code{(@var{header} . @var{footer})}
5135 made from @var{ewoc}'s header and footer.
5138 @defun ewoc-set-hf ewoc header footer
5139 This sets the header and footer of @var{ewoc} to the strings
5140 @var{header} and @var{footer}, respectively.
5143 @defun ewoc-enter-first ewoc data
5144 @defunx ewoc-enter-last ewoc data
5145 These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, putting it, respectively,
5146 at the beginning or end of @var{ewoc}'s chain of nodes.
5149 @defun ewoc-enter-before ewoc node data
5150 @defunx ewoc-enter-after ewoc node data
5151 These add a new node encapsulating @var{data}, adding it to
5152 @var{ewoc} before or after @var{node}, respectively.
5155 @defun ewoc-prev ewoc node
5156 @defunx ewoc-next ewoc node
5157 These return, respectively, the previous node and the next node of @var{node}
5161 @defun ewoc-nth ewoc n
5162 This returns the node in @var{ewoc} found at zero-based index @var{n}.
5163 A negative @var{n} means count from the end. @code{ewoc-nth} returns
5164 @code{nil} if @var{n} is out of range.
5167 @defun ewoc-data node
5168 This extracts the data encapsulated by @var{node} and returns it.
5171 @defun ewoc-set-data node data
5172 This sets the data encapsulated by @var{node} to @var{data}.
5175 @defun ewoc-locate ewoc &optional pos guess
5176 This determines the node in @var{ewoc} which contains point (or
5177 @var{pos} if specified), and returns that node. If @var{ewoc} has no
5178 nodes, it returns @code{nil}. If @var{pos} is before the first node,
5179 it returns the first node; if @var{pos} is after the last node, it returns
5180 the last node. The optional third arg @var{guess}
5181 should be a node that is likely to be near @var{pos}; this doesn't
5182 alter the result, but makes the function run faster.
5185 @defun ewoc-location node
5186 This returns the start position of @var{node}.
5189 @defun ewoc-goto-prev ewoc arg
5190 @defunx ewoc-goto-next ewoc arg
5191 These move point to the previous or next, respectively, @var{arg}th node
5192 in @var{ewoc}. @code{ewoc-goto-prev} does not move if it is already at
5193 the first node or if @var{ewoc} is empty, whereas @code{ewoc-goto-next}
5194 moves past the last node, returning @code{nil}. Excepting this special
5195 case, these functions return the node moved to.
5198 @defun ewoc-goto-node ewoc node
5199 This moves point to the start of @var{node} in @var{ewoc}.
5202 @defun ewoc-refresh ewoc
5203 This function regenerates the text of @var{ewoc}. It works by
5204 deleting the text between the header and the footer, i.e., all the
5205 data elements' representations, and then calling the pretty-printer
5206 function for each node, one by one, in order.
5209 @defun ewoc-invalidate ewoc &rest nodes
5210 This is similar to @code{ewoc-refresh}, except that only @var{nodes} in
5211 @var{ewoc} are updated instead of the entire set.
5214 @defun ewoc-delete ewoc &rest nodes
5215 This deletes each node in @var{nodes} from @var{ewoc}.
5218 @defun ewoc-filter ewoc predicate &rest args
5219 This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5220 deletes those nodes for which @var{predicate} returns @code{nil}.
5221 Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5224 @defun ewoc-collect ewoc predicate &rest args
5225 This calls @var{predicate} for each data element in @var{ewoc}
5226 and returns a list of those elements for which @var{predicate}
5227 returns non-@code{nil}. The elements in the list are ordered
5228 as in the buffer. Any @var{args} are passed to @var{predicate}.
5231 @defun ewoc-map map-function ewoc &rest args
5232 This calls @var{map-function} for each data element in @var{ewoc} and
5233 updates those nodes for which @var{map-function} returns non-@code{nil}.
5234 Any @var{args} are passed to @var{map-function}.
5237 @node Abstract Display Example
5238 @subsection Abstract Display Example
5240 Here is a simple example using functions of the ewoc package to
5241 implement a ``color components display,'' an area in a buffer that
5242 represents a vector of three integers (itself representing a 24-bit RGB
5243 value) in various ways.
5246 (setq colorcomp-ewoc nil
5248 colorcomp-mode-map nil
5249 colorcomp-labels ["Red" "Green" "Blue"])
5251 (defun colorcomp-pp (data)
5253 (let ((comp (aref colorcomp-data data)))
5254 (insert (aref colorcomp-labels data) "\t: #x"
5255 (format "%02X" comp) " "
5256 (make-string (ash comp -2) ?#) "\n"))
5257 (let ((cstr (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5258 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5259 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5260 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5261 (samp " (sample text) "))
5263 (propertize samp 'face `(foreground-color . ,cstr))
5264 (propertize samp 'face `(background-color . ,cstr))
5267 (defun colorcomp (color)
5268 "Allow fiddling with COLOR in a new buffer.
5269 The buffer is in Color Components mode."
5270 (interactive "sColor (name or #RGB or #RRGGBB): ")
5271 (when (string= "" color)
5272 (setq color "green"))
5273 (unless (color-values color)
5274 (error "No such color: %S" color))
5276 (generate-new-buffer (format "originally: %s" color)))
5277 (kill-all-local-variables)
5278 (setq major-mode 'colorcomp-mode
5279 mode-name "Color Components")
5280 (use-local-map colorcomp-mode-map)
5282 (buffer-disable-undo)
5283 (let ((data (apply 'vector (mapcar (lambda (n) (ash n -8))
5284 (color-values color))))
5285 (ewoc (ewoc-create 'colorcomp-pp
5286 "\nColor Components\n\n"
5287 (substitute-command-keys
5288 "\n\\@{colorcomp-mode-map@}"))))
5289 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-data) data)
5290 (set (make-local-variable 'colorcomp-ewoc) ewoc)
5291 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 0)
5292 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 1)
5293 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc 2)
5294 (ewoc-enter-last ewoc nil)))
5297 @cindex controller part, model/view/controller
5298 This example can be extended to be a ``color selection widget'' (in
5299 other words, the controller part of the ``model/view/controller''
5300 design paradigm) by defining commands to modify @code{colorcomp-data}
5301 and to ``finish'' the selection process, and a keymap to tie it all
5302 together conveniently.
5305 (defun colorcomp-mod (index limit delta)
5306 (let ((cur (aref colorcomp-data index)))
5307 (unless (= limit cur)
5308 (aset colorcomp-data index (+ cur delta)))
5311 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc index)
5312 (ewoc-nth colorcomp-ewoc -1))))
5314 (defun colorcomp-R-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 255 1))
5315 (defun colorcomp-G-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 255 1))
5316 (defun colorcomp-B-more () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 255 1))
5317 (defun colorcomp-R-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 0 0 -1))
5318 (defun colorcomp-G-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 1 0 -1))
5319 (defun colorcomp-B-less () (interactive) (colorcomp-mod 2 0 -1))
5321 (defun colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit ()
5322 "Copy the color components into the kill ring and kill the buffer.
5323 The string is formatted #RRGGBB (hash followed by six hex digits)."
5325 (kill-new (format "#%02X%02X%02X"
5326 (aref colorcomp-data 0)
5327 (aref colorcomp-data 1)
5328 (aref colorcomp-data 2)))
5331 (setq colorcomp-mode-map
5332 (let ((m (make-sparse-keymap)))
5334 (define-key m "i" 'colorcomp-R-less)
5335 (define-key m "o" 'colorcomp-R-more)
5336 (define-key m "k" 'colorcomp-G-less)
5337 (define-key m "l" 'colorcomp-G-more)
5338 (define-key m "," 'colorcomp-B-less)
5339 (define-key m "." 'colorcomp-B-more)
5340 (define-key m " " 'colorcomp-copy-as-kill-and-exit)
5344 Note that we never modify the data in each node, which is fixed when the
5345 ewoc is created to be either @code{nil} or an index into the vector
5346 @code{colorcomp-data}, the actual color components.
5349 @section Blinking Parentheses
5350 @cindex parenthesis matching
5351 @cindex blinking parentheses
5352 @cindex balancing parentheses
5354 This section describes the mechanism by which Emacs shows a matching
5355 open parenthesis when the user inserts a close parenthesis.
5357 @defvar blink-paren-function
5358 The value of this variable should be a function (of no arguments) to
5359 be called whenever a character with close parenthesis syntax is inserted.
5360 The value of @code{blink-paren-function} may be @code{nil}, in which
5361 case nothing is done.
5364 @defopt blink-matching-paren
5365 If this variable is @code{nil}, then @code{blink-matching-open} does
5369 @defopt blink-matching-paren-distance
5370 This variable specifies the maximum distance to scan for a matching
5371 parenthesis before giving up.
5374 @defopt blink-matching-delay
5375 This variable specifies the number of seconds for the cursor to remain
5376 at the matching parenthesis. A fraction of a second often gives
5377 good results, but the default is 1, which works on all systems.
5380 @deffn Command blink-matching-open
5381 This function is the default value of @code{blink-paren-function}. It
5382 assumes that point follows a character with close parenthesis syntax and
5383 moves the cursor momentarily to the matching opening character. If that
5384 character is not already on the screen, it displays the character's
5385 context in the echo area. To avoid long delays, this function does not
5386 search farther than @code{blink-matching-paren-distance} characters.
5388 Here is an example of calling this function explicitly.
5392 (defun interactive-blink-matching-open ()
5393 @c Do not break this line! -- rms.
5394 @c The first line of a doc string
5395 @c must stand alone.
5396 "Indicate momentarily the start of sexp before point."
5400 (let ((blink-matching-paren-distance
5402 (blink-matching-paren t))
5403 (blink-matching-open)))
5409 @section Usual Display Conventions
5411 The usual display conventions define how to display each character
5412 code. You can override these conventions by setting up a display table
5413 (@pxref{Display Tables}). Here are the usual display conventions:
5417 Character codes 32 through 126 map to glyph codes 32 through 126.
5418 Normally this means they display as themselves.
5421 Character code 9 is a horizontal tab. It displays as whitespace
5422 up to a position determined by @code{tab-width}.
5425 Character code 10 is a newline.
5428 All other codes in the range 0 through 31, and code 127, display in one
5429 of two ways according to the value of @code{ctl-arrow}. If it is
5430 non-@code{nil}, these codes map to sequences of two glyphs, where the
5431 first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{^}. (A display table can
5432 specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{^}.) Otherwise, these codes map
5433 just like the codes in the range 128 to 255.
5435 On MS-DOS terminals, Emacs arranges by default for the character code
5436 127 to be mapped to the glyph code 127, which normally displays as an
5437 empty polygon. This glyph is used to display non-@acronym{ASCII} characters
5438 that the MS-DOS terminal doesn't support. @xref{MS-DOS and MULE,,,
5439 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
5442 Character codes 128 through 255 map to sequences of four glyphs, where
5443 the first glyph is the @acronym{ASCII} code for @samp{\}, and the others are
5444 digit characters representing the character code in octal. (A display
5445 table can specify a glyph to use instead of @samp{\}.)
5448 Multibyte character codes above 256 are displayed as themselves, or as a
5449 question mark or empty box if the terminal cannot display that
5453 The usual display conventions apply even when there is a display
5454 table, for any character whose entry in the active display table is
5455 @code{nil}. Thus, when you set up a display table, you need only
5456 specify the characters for which you want special behavior.
5458 These display rules apply to carriage return (character code 13), when
5459 it appears in the buffer. But that character may not appear in the
5460 buffer where you expect it, if it was eliminated as part of end-of-line
5461 conversion (@pxref{Coding System Basics}).
5463 These variables affect the way certain characters are displayed on the
5464 screen. Since they change the number of columns the characters occupy,
5465 they also affect the indentation functions. These variables also affect
5466 how the mode line is displayed; if you want to force redisplay of the
5467 mode line using the new values, call the function
5468 @code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5471 @cindex control characters in display
5472 This buffer-local variable controls how control characters are
5473 displayed. If it is non-@code{nil}, they are displayed as a caret
5474 followed by the character: @samp{^A}. If it is @code{nil}, they are
5475 displayed as a backslash followed by three octal digits: @samp{\001}.
5478 @c Following may have overfull hbox.
5479 @defvar default-ctl-arrow
5480 The value of this variable is the default value for @code{ctl-arrow} in
5481 buffers that do not override it. @xref{Default Value}.
5485 The value of this buffer-local variable is the spacing between tab
5486 stops used for displaying tab characters in Emacs buffers. The value
5487 is in units of columns, and the default is 8. Note that this feature
5488 is completely independent of the user-settable tab stops used by the
5489 command @code{tab-to-tab-stop}. @xref{Indent Tabs}.
5492 @node Display Tables
5493 @section Display Tables
5495 @cindex display table
5496 You can use the @dfn{display table} feature to control how all possible
5497 character codes display on the screen. This is useful for displaying
5498 European languages that have letters not in the @acronym{ASCII} character
5501 The display table maps each character code into a sequence of
5502 @dfn{glyphs}, each glyph being a graphic that takes up one character
5503 position on the screen. You can also define how to display each glyph
5504 on your terminal, using the @dfn{glyph table}.
5506 Display tables affect how the mode line is displayed; if you want to
5507 force redisplay of the mode line using a new display table, call
5508 @code{force-mode-line-update} (@pxref{Mode Line Format}).
5511 * Display Table Format:: What a display table consists of.
5512 * Active Display Table:: How Emacs selects a display table to use.
5513 * Glyphs:: How to define a glyph, and what glyphs mean.
5516 @node Display Table Format
5517 @subsection Display Table Format
5519 A display table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}) with
5520 @code{display-table} as its subtype.
5522 @defun make-display-table
5523 This creates and returns a display table. The table initially has
5524 @code{nil} in all elements.
5527 The ordinary elements of the display table are indexed by character
5528 codes; the element at index @var{c} says how to display the character
5529 code @var{c}. The value should be @code{nil} or a vector of the
5530 glyphs to be output (@pxref{Glyphs}). @code{nil} says to display the
5531 character @var{c} according to the usual display conventions
5532 (@pxref{Usual Display}).
5534 @strong{Warning:} if you use the display table to change the display
5535 of newline characters, the whole buffer will be displayed as one long
5538 The display table also has six ``extra slots'' which serve special
5539 purposes. Here is a table of their meanings; @code{nil} in any slot
5540 means to use the default for that slot, as stated below.
5544 The glyph for the end of a truncated screen line (the default for this
5545 is @samp{$}). @xref{Glyphs}. On graphical terminals, Emacs uses
5546 arrows in the fringes to indicate truncation, so the display table has
5550 The glyph for the end of a continued line (the default is @samp{\}).
5551 On graphical terminals, Emacs uses curved arrows in the fringes to
5552 indicate continuation, so the display table has no effect.
5555 The glyph for indicating a character displayed as an octal character
5556 code (the default is @samp{\}).
5559 The glyph for indicating a control character (the default is @samp{^}).
5562 A vector of glyphs for indicating the presence of invisible lines (the
5563 default is @samp{...}). @xref{Selective Display}.
5566 The glyph used to draw the border between side-by-side windows (the
5567 default is @samp{|}). @xref{Splitting Windows}. This takes effect only
5568 when there are no scroll bars; if scroll bars are supported and in use,
5569 a scroll bar separates the two windows.
5572 For example, here is how to construct a display table that mimics the
5573 effect of setting @code{ctl-arrow} to a non-@code{nil} value:
5576 (setq disptab (make-display-table))
5579 (or (= i ?\t) (= i ?\n)
5580 (aset disptab i (vector ?^ (+ i 64))))
5582 (aset disptab 127 (vector ?^ ??)))
5585 @defun display-table-slot display-table slot
5586 This function returns the value of the extra slot @var{slot} of
5587 @var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
5588 5 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5589 @code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5590 @code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5593 @defun set-display-table-slot display-table slot value
5594 This function stores @var{value} in the extra slot @var{slot} of
5595 @var{display-table}. The argument @var{slot} may be a number from 0 to
5596 5 inclusive, or a slot name (symbol). Valid symbols are
5597 @code{truncation}, @code{wrap}, @code{escape}, @code{control},
5598 @code{selective-display}, and @code{vertical-border}.
5601 @defun describe-display-table display-table
5602 This function displays a description of the display table
5603 @var{display-table} in a help buffer.
5606 @deffn Command describe-current-display-table
5607 This command displays a description of the current display table in a
5611 @node Active Display Table
5612 @subsection Active Display Table
5613 @cindex active display table
5615 Each window can specify a display table, and so can each buffer. When
5616 a buffer @var{b} is displayed in window @var{w}, display uses the
5617 display table for window @var{w} if it has one; otherwise, the display
5618 table for buffer @var{b} if it has one; otherwise, the standard display
5619 table if any. The display table chosen is called the @dfn{active}
5622 @defun window-display-table &optional window
5623 This function returns @var{window}'s display table, or @code{nil}
5624 if @var{window} does not have an assigned display table. The default
5625 for @var{window} is the selected window.
5628 @defun set-window-display-table window table
5629 This function sets the display table of @var{window} to @var{table}.
5630 The argument @var{table} should be either a display table or
5634 @defvar buffer-display-table
5635 This variable is automatically buffer-local in all buffers; its value in
5636 a particular buffer specifies the display table for that buffer. If it
5637 is @code{nil}, that means the buffer does not have an assigned display
5641 @defvar standard-display-table
5642 This variable's value is the default display table, used whenever a
5643 window has no display table and neither does the buffer displayed in
5644 that window. This variable is @code{nil} by default.
5647 If there is no display table to use for a particular window---that is,
5648 if the window specifies none, its buffer specifies none, and
5649 @code{standard-display-table} is @code{nil}---then Emacs uses the usual
5650 display conventions for all character codes in that window. @xref{Usual
5653 A number of functions for changing the standard display table
5654 are defined in the library @file{disp-table}.
5660 A @dfn{glyph} is a generalization of a character; it stands for an
5661 image that takes up a single character position on the screen. Normally
5662 glyphs come from vectors in the display table (@pxref{Display Tables}).
5664 A glyph is represented in Lisp as a @dfn{glyph code}. A glyph code
5665 can be @dfn{simple} or it can be defined by the @dfn{glyph table}. A
5666 simple glyph code is just a way of specifying a character and a face
5667 to output it in. @xref{Faces}.
5669 The following functions are used to manipulate simple glyph codes:
5671 @defun make-glyph-code char &optional face
5672 This function returns a simple glyph code representing char @var{char}
5673 with face @var{face}.
5676 @defun glyph-char glyph
5677 This function returns the character of simple glyph code @var{glyph}.
5680 @defun glyph-face glyph
5681 This function returns face of simple glyph code @var{glyph}, or
5682 @code{nil} if @var{glyph} has the default face (face-id 0).
5683 @xref{Face Functions}.
5686 On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
5687 the meaning of glyph codes (represented as small integers).
5690 The value of this variable is the current glyph table. It should be
5691 @code{nil} or a vector whose @var{g}th element defines glyph code
5694 If a glyph code is greater than or equal to the length of the glyph
5695 table, that code is automatically simple. If @code{glyph-table} is
5696 @code{nil} then all glyph codes are simple.
5698 The glyph table is used only on character terminals. On graphical
5699 displays, all glyph codes are simple.
5702 Here are the meaningful types of elements in the glyph table:
5706 Send the characters in @var{string} to the terminal to output
5710 Define this glyph code as an alias for glyph code @var{code} created
5711 by @code{make-glyph-code}. You can use such an alias to define a
5712 small-numbered glyph code which specifies a character with a face.
5715 This glyph code is simple.
5718 @defun create-glyph string
5719 This function returns a newly-allocated glyph code which is set up to
5720 display by sending @var{string} to the terminal.
5725 @c @cindex beeping "beep" is adjacent
5728 This section describes how to make Emacs ring the bell (or blink the
5729 screen) to attract the user's attention. Be conservative about how
5730 often you do this; frequent bells can become irritating. Also be
5731 careful not to use just beeping when signaling an error is more
5732 appropriate. (@xref{Errors}.)
5734 @defun ding &optional do-not-terminate
5735 @cindex keyboard macro termination
5736 This function beeps, or flashes the screen (see @code{visible-bell} below).
5737 It also terminates any keyboard macro currently executing unless
5738 @var{do-not-terminate} is non-@code{nil}.
5741 @defun beep &optional do-not-terminate
5742 This is a synonym for @code{ding}.
5745 @defopt visible-bell
5746 This variable determines whether Emacs should flash the screen to
5747 represent a bell. Non-@code{nil} means yes, @code{nil} means no. This
5748 is effective on graphical displays, and on text-only terminals
5749 provided the terminal's Termcap entry defines the visible bell
5750 capability (@samp{vb}).
5753 @defvar ring-bell-function
5754 If this is non-@code{nil}, it specifies how Emacs should ``ring the
5755 bell.'' Its value should be a function of no arguments. If this is
5756 non-@code{nil}, it takes precedence over the @code{visible-bell}
5760 @node Window Systems
5761 @section Window Systems
5763 Emacs works with several window systems, most notably the X Window
5764 System. Both Emacs and X use the term ``window,'' but use it
5765 differently. An Emacs frame is a single window as far as X is
5766 concerned; the individual Emacs windows are not known to X at all.
5768 @defvar window-system
5769 This frame-local variable tells Lisp programs what window system Emacs is using
5770 for displaying the frame. The possible values are
5774 @cindex X Window System
5775 Emacs is displaying the frame using X.
5777 Emacs is displaying the frame using native MS-Windows GUI.
5779 Emacs is displaying the frame using MS-DOS direct screen writes.
5781 Emacs is displaying the frame on a character-based terminal.
5785 @defvar initial-window-system
5786 This variable holds the value of @code{window-system} used for the
5787 first frame created by Emacs during startup. (When Emacs is invoked
5788 with the @option{--daemon} option, it does not create any initial
5789 frames, so @code{initial-window-system} is @code{nil}. @xref{Initial
5790 Options, daemon,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.)
5793 @defun window-system &optional frame
5794 This function returns a symbol whose name tells what window system is
5795 used for displaying @var{frame} (which defaults to the currently
5796 selected frame). The list of possible symbols it returns is the same
5797 one documented for the variable @code{window-system} above.
5800 @defvar window-setup-hook
5801 This variable is a normal hook which Emacs runs after handling the
5802 initialization files. Emacs runs this hook after it has completed
5803 loading your init file, the default initialization file (if
5804 any), and the terminal-specific Lisp code, and running the hook
5805 @code{term-setup-hook}.
5807 This hook is used for internal purposes: setting up communication with
5808 the window system, and creating the initial window. Users should not
5813 arch-tag: ffdf5714-7ecf-415b-9023-fbc6b409c2c6