]> code.delx.au - gnu-emacs/blob - lispref/frames.texi
(Dialog Boxes): Minor fixes.
[gnu-emacs] / lispref / frames.texi
1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @setfilename ../info/frames
7 @node Frames, Positions, Windows, Top
8 @chapter Frames
9 @cindex frame
10
11 A @dfn{frame} is a rectangle on the screen that contains one or more
12 Emacs windows. A frame initially contains a single main window (plus
13 perhaps a minibuffer window), which you can subdivide vertically or
14 horizontally into smaller windows.
15
16 @cindex terminal frame
17 When Emacs runs on a text-only terminal, it starts with one
18 @dfn{terminal frame}. If you create additional ones, Emacs displays
19 one and only one at any given time---on the terminal screen, of course.
20
21 @cindex window frame
22 When Emacs communicates directly with a supported window system, such
23 as X, it does not have a terminal frame; instead, it starts with
24 a single @dfn{window frame}, but you can create more, and Emacs can
25 display several such frames at once as is usual for window systems.
26
27 @defun framep object
28 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
29 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
30 kind of display the frame uses:
31
32 @table @code
33 @item x
34 The frame is displayed in an X window.
35 @item t
36 A terminal frame on a character display.
37 @item mac
38 The frame is displayed on a Macintosh.
39 @item w32
40 The frame is displayed on MS-Windows 9X/NT.
41 @item pc
42 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
43 @end table
44 @end defun
45
46 @menu
47 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
48 * Multiple Displays:: Creating frames on other displays.
49 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
50 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
51 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
52 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
53 * Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
54 display of text always works through windows.
55 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
56 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
57 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
58 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
59 lowering it makes the others hide it.
60 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
61 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
62 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
63 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
64 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
65 * Pointer Shapes:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
66 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
67 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
68 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text-only terminals.
69 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
70 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
71 @end menu
72
73 @xref{Display}, for information about the related topic of
74 controlling Emacs redisplay.
75
76 @node Creating Frames
77 @section Creating Frames
78
79 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
80
81 @defun make-frame &optional alist
82 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
83 buffer. If you are using a supported window system, it makes a window
84 frame; otherwise, it makes a terminal frame.
85
86 The argument is an alist specifying frame parameters. Any parameters
87 not mentioned in @var{alist} default according to the value of the
88 variable @code{default-frame-alist}; parameters not specified even there
89 default from the standard X resources or whatever is used instead on
90 your system.
91
92 The set of possible parameters depends in principle on what kind of
93 window system Emacs uses to display its frames. @xref{Window Frame
94 Parameters}, for documentation of individual parameters you can specify.
95
96 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
97 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
98 However, the window system may select the new frame for its own reasons,
99 for instance if the frame appears under the mouse pointer and your
100 setup is for focus to follow the pointer.
101 @end defun
102
103 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
104 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it actually creates the
105 frame.
106 @end defvar
107
108 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
109 @tindex after-make-frame-functions
110 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
111 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
112 frame just created.
113 @end defvar
114
115 @node Multiple Displays
116 @section Multiple Displays
117 @cindex multiple X displays
118 @cindex displays, multiple
119
120 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display.
121 Initially, Emacs uses just one display---the one chosen with the
122 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option
123 (@pxref{Initial Options,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). To connect to
124 another display, use the command @code{make-frame-on-display} or specify
125 the @code{display} frame parameter when you create the frame.
126
127 Emacs treats each X server as a separate terminal, giving each one its
128 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows. However, only one of
129 those frames is ``@emph{the} selected frame'' at any given moment, see
130 @ref{Input Focus}.
131
132 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
133 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
134 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
135 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
136 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
137 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can never
138 be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}) or frame-local.
139
140 A single X server can handle more than one screen. A display name
141 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}} has three parts; the last
142 part specifies the screen number for a given server. When you use two
143 screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their
144 names that they share a single keyboard, and it treats them as a single
145 terminal.
146
147 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
148 This creates and returns a new frame on display @var{display}, taking
149 the other frame parameters from @var{parameters}. Aside from the
150 @var{display} argument, it is like @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating
151 Frames}).
152 @end deffn
153
154 @defun x-display-list
155 This returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has a
156 connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one is
157 a display name.
158 @end defun
159
160 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
161 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display}. It
162 does not create a frame on that display, but it permits you to check
163 that communication can be established with that display.
164
165 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a
166 string of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
167 @file{.Xresources} file. The values you specify override the resource
168 values recorded in the X server itself; they apply to all Emacs frames
169 created on this display. Here's an example of what this string might
170 look like:
171
172 @example
173 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
174 @end example
175
176 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
177
178 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
179 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
180 @end defun
181
182 @defun x-close-connection display
183 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
184 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open on
185 that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
186 @end defun
187
188 @node Frame Parameters
189 @section Frame Parameters
190
191 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
192 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
193 uses.
194
195 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of window systems. A
196 terminal frame has a few parameters, mostly for compatibility's sake;
197 only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name}, @code{title},
198 @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate}
199 parameters do something special. If the terminal supports colors, the
200 parameters @code{foreground-color}, @code{background-color},
201 @code{background-mode} and @code{display-type} are also meaningful.
202
203 @menu
204 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
205 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
206 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
207 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
208 @end menu
209
210 @node Parameter Access
211 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
212
213 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
214 frame.
215
216 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
217 @tindex frame-parameter
218 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
219 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
220 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
221 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
222 @end defun
223
224 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
225 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
226 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
227 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
228 @end defun
229
230 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
231 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
232 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
233 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
234 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
235 doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
236 frame.
237 @end defun
238
239 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
240 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
241 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
242 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
243 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
244 @end defun
245
246 @node Initial Parameters
247 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
248
249 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame
250 by setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}).
251
252 @defvar initial-frame-alist
253 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
254 the initial window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
255 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
256 Each element has the form:
257
258 @example
259 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
260 @end example
261
262 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
263 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
264 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
265 created initial frame.
266
267 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
268 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
269 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
270 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
271 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
272
273 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
274 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
275 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
276 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
277 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
278 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
279 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
280 @end defvar
281
282 If these parameters specify a separate minibuffer-only frame with
283 @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, and you have not created one, Emacs creates
284 one for you.
285
286 @defvar minibuffer-frame-alist
287 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
288 an initial minibuffer-only frame---if such a frame is needed, according
289 to the parameters for the main initial frame.
290 @end defvar
291
292 @defvar default-frame-alist
293 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
294 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
295 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
296 in many cases.
297
298 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames.
299 @end defvar
300
301 See also @code{special-display-frame-alist}. @xref{Definition of
302 special-display-frame-alist}.
303
304 If you use options that specify window appearance when you invoke Emacs,
305 they take effect by adding elements to @code{default-frame-alist}. One
306 exception is @samp{-geometry}, which adds the specified position to
307 @code{initial-frame-alist} instead. @xref{Emacs Invocation,, Command
308 Line Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
309
310 @node Window Frame Parameters
311 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
312
313 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
314 uses. Here is a table of the parameters that have special meanings in a
315 window frame; of these, @code{name}, @code{title}, @code{height},
316 @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate} provide
317 meaningful information in terminal frames, and @code{tty-color-mode}
318 is meaningful @emph{only} in terminal frames. Frame parameter whose
319 values measured in pixels, when used on text-only terminals, count
320 characters or lines instead.
321
322 @table @code
323 @item display
324 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
325 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
326 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
327
328 @item title
329 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window system's
330 border for the frame, and also in the mode line of windows in that frame
331 if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses @samp{%F}
332 (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when Emacs is not
333 using a window system, and can only display one frame at a time.
334 @xref{Frame Titles}.
335
336 @item name
337 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
338 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
339 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
340 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
341
342 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
343 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
344 looking up X resources for the frame.
345
346 @item left
347 The screen position of the left edge, in pixels, with respect to the
348 left edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
349 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
350 negative @var{pos} value.
351
352 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
353 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the right edge of the
354 window with respect to the right edge of the screen. A positive value
355 of @var{pos} counts toward the left. @strong{Reminder:} if the
356 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
357 positive.
358
359 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
360 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
361 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
362
363 @item top
364 The screen position of the top edge, in pixels, with respect to the
365 top edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
366 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
367 negative @var{pos} value.
368
369 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
370 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the bottom edge of the
371 window with respect to the bottom edge of the screen. A positive value
372 of @var{pos} counts toward the top. @strong{Reminder:} if the
373 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
374 positive.
375
376 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
377 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
378 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
379
380 @item icon-left
381 The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
382 pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
383 and when the frame is iconified.
384
385 If you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify
386 a value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa. The window manager may
387 ignore these two parameters.
388
389 @item icon-top
390 The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
391 pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
392 and when the frame is iconified.
393
394 @item user-position
395 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
396 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
397 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
398 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
399 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
400
401 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
402 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
403 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
404 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
405 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
406 ignore them.
407
408 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
409 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
410 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
411 @code{nil}.
412
413 @item height
414 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
415 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
416
417 @item width
418 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
419 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
420
421 @item fullscreen
422 Specify that width, height or both shall be set to the size of the screen.
423 The value @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be the size of the
424 screen. The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be the
425 size of the screen. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the
426 width and the height shall be set to the size of the screen.
427
428 @item window-id
429 The number of the window-system window used by the frame
430 to contain the actual Emacs windows.
431
432 @item outer-window-id
433 The number of the outermost window-system window used for the whole frame.
434
435 @item minibuffer
436 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
437 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
438 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other frame),
439 the new frame uses that minibuffer.
440
441 @item buffer-predicate
442 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
443 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
444 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
445 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
446 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
447 considers that buffer.
448
449 @item buffer-list
450 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
451 ordered most-recently-selected first.
452
453 @item auto-raise
454 Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
455
456 @item auto-lower
457 Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
458
459 @item vertical-scroll-bars
460 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
461 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
462 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
463
464 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
465 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
466 (non-@code{nil} means yes). (Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
467 implemented.)
468
469 @item scroll-bar-width
470 The width of the vertical scroll bar, in pixels,
471 or @code{nil} meaning to use the default width.
472
473 @item icon-type
474 The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
475 value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
476 Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
477 picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
478
479 @item icon-name
480 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
481 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
482
483 @item background-mode
484 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
485 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
486
487 @item tty-color-mode
488 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
489 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
490 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
491 specifies the color mode to use in terminal frames. The value can be
492 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
493 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
494 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} forces Emacs to use
495 the ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors; and a value of
496 -1 means Emacs should turn off color support. If the parameter's
497 value is a symbol, that symbol is looked up in the alist
498 @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and if found, the associated number is
499 used as the color support mode.
500
501 @item display-type
502 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
503 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
504 @code{mono}.
505
506 @item cursor-type
507 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
508
509 @table @code
510 @item box
511 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
512 @item hollow
513 Display a hollow box.
514 @item nil
515 Don't display a cursor.
516 @item bar
517 Display a vertical bar between characters.
518 @item (bar . @var{width})
519 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
520 @item hbar
521 Display a horizontal bar.
522 @item (hbar . @var{height})
523 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
524 @end table
525
526 @vindex cursor-type
527 The buffer-local variable @code{cursor-type} overrides the value of
528 the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter, but if it is @code{t}, that
529 means to use the cursor specified for the frame.
530
531 @item border-width
532 The width in pixels of the window border.
533
534 @item internal-border-width
535 The distance in pixels between text and border.
536
537 @item left-fringe
538 @itemx right-fringe
539 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
540 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
541 removes the corresponding fringe. A value of @code{nil} stands for
542 the standard fringe width, which is the width needed to display the
543 fringe bitmaps.
544
545 The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
546 columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame may be
547 larger than the specified values. The extra width needed to reach an
548 acceptable total is distributed evenly between the left and right
549 fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a precise
550 width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both widths are
551 negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
552
553 @item unsplittable
554 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
555
556 @item visibility
557 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
558 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
559 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
560
561 @item menu-bar-lines
562 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
563 bar. The default is 1. A value of @code{nil} means don't display a
564 menu bar. @xref{Menu Bar}. (The X toolkit and GTK allow at most one
565 menu bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
566
567 @item tool-bar-lines
568 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. A value of @code{nil}
569 means don't display a tool bar. (GTK allows at most one tool bar line;
570 it treats larger values as 1.)
571
572 @item screen-gamma
573 @cindex gamma correction
574 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
575 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
576 your display, a floating point number.
577
578 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
579 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
580 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
581 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
582 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
583 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
584 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
585
586 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
587 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
588 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
589 results for LCD color displays.
590
591 @item line-spacing
592 Additional space put below text lines, in pixels (a positive integer)
593
594 @item wait-for-wm
595 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
596 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
597 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
598 prevent hanging with those window managers.
599
600 @ignore
601 @item parent-id
602 @c ??? Not yet working.
603 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
604 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
605 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
606 it and see if it works.)
607 @end ignore
608 @end table
609
610 @defvar blink-cursor-alist
611 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
612 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
613 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), Emacs uses
614 @var{off-state} to specify what the cursor looks like when it blinks
615 ``off''. Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state} should be suitable
616 values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
617
618 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor,
619 if the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes
620 in this variable do not take effect immediately, because the variable
621 is examined only when you specify a cursor type for a frame.
622 @end defvar
623
624 These frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are automatically
625 equivalent to particular face attributes of particular faces.
626
627 @table @code
628 @item font
629 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
630 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
631 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
632 attribute of the @code{default} face.
633
634 @item foreground-color
635 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
636 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
637
638 @item background-color
639 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
640 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
641
642 @item mouse-color
643 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
644 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
645
646 @item cursor-color
647 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
648 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
649
650 @item border-color
651 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
652 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
653
654 @item scroll-bar-foreground
655 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
656 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
657 @code{scroll-bar} face.
658
659 @item scroll-bar-background
660 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
661 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
662 @code{scroll-bar} face.
663 @end table
664
665 @node Size and Position
666 @subsection Frame Size And Position
667 @cindex size of frame
668 @cindex screen size
669 @cindex frame size
670 @cindex resize frame
671
672 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
673 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
674 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
675 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
676
677 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
678 (For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
679 see @ref{Input Focus}.)
680
681 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
682 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
683 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
684 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
685
686 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
687 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
688 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
689 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
690 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
691 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
692 @end defun
693
694 @defun frame-height &optional frame
695 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
696 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
697 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
698 selected frame.
699 @end defun
700
701 @defun screen-height
702 @defunx screen-width
703 These functions are old aliases for @code{frame-height} and
704 @code{frame-width}. When you are using a non-window terminal, the size
705 of the frame is normally the same as the size of the terminal screen.
706 @end defun
707
708 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
709 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
710 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
711 pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the selected frame.
712 @end defun
713
714 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
715 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
716 These functions return the height and width of a character in
717 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
718 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
719 frame.
720 @end defun
721
722 @defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
723 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
724 @var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
725
726 To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
727 @code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
728 them to units of characters.
729 @end defun
730
731 @defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
732 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
733 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
734 fit.
735
736 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
737 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
738 actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
739 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
740 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
741 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
742 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
743 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
744 terminal frame.
745 @end defun
746
747 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
748 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
749 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
750 @code{set-frame-height}.
751 @end defun
752
753 @findex set-screen-height
754 @findex set-screen-width
755 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
756 @code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
757 screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
758 are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
759
760 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
761 @cindex geometry specification
762 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
763 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
764 @code{make-frame}.
765
766 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
767 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
768 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
769 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
770
771 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
772 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
773 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
774 instead. These are the @var{value} possibilities for the position
775 parameters:
776
777 @table @asis
778 @item an integer
779 A positive integer relates the left edge or top edge of the window to
780 the left or top edge of the screen. A negative integer relates the
781 right or bottom edge of the window to the right or bottom edge of the
782 screen.
783
784 @item @code{(+ @var{position})}
785 This specifies the position of the left or top edge of the window
786 relative to the left or top edge of the screen. The integer
787 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
788 position outside the screen.
789
790 @item @code{(- @var{position})}
791 This specifies the position of the right or bottom edge of the window
792 relative to the right or bottom edge of the screen. The integer
793 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
794 position outside the screen.
795 @end table
796
797 Here is an example:
798
799 @example
800 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
801 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
802 (top - 0) (left . 0))
803 @end example
804 @end defun
805
806 @node Frame Titles
807 @section Frame Titles
808
809 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
810 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
811 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
812 frame property.
813
814 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
815 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
816 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
817 frame is redisplayed.
818
819 @defvar frame-title-format
820 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
821 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
822 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}. @xref{Mode Line
823 Data}.
824 @end defvar
825
826 @defvar icon-title-format
827 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
828 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
829 appears in the icon itself.
830 @end defvar
831
832 @defvar multiple-frames
833 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
834 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
835 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
836 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
837 only when there is more than one frame.
838
839 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
840 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
841 @code{icon-title-format}.
842 @end defvar
843
844 @node Deleting Frames
845 @section Deleting Frames
846 @cindex deletion of frames
847
848 Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
849 them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
850 exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it.
851
852 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
853 @vindex delete-frame-functions
854 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
855 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
856 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
857 the selected frame.
858
859 A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
860 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
861 but if the @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
862 @end deffn
863
864 @defun frame-live-p frame
865 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
866 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
867 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
868 @end defun
869
870 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
871 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
872 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
873 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
874 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
875
876 @node Finding All Frames
877 @section Finding All Frames
878
879 @defun frame-list
880 The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the frames that
881 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
882 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get is
883 newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
884 internals of Emacs.
885 @end defun
886
887 @defun visible-frame-list
888 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
889 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
890 ``visible'', even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
891 @end defun
892
893 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
894 The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
895 the frames on the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It
896 returns the ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If
897 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame
898 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
899
900 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
901
902 @table @asis
903 @item @code{nil}
904 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
905 @item @code{visible}
906 Consider all visible frames.
907 @item 0
908 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
909 @item a window
910 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
911 minibuffer.
912 @item anything else
913 Consider all frames.
914 @end table
915 @end defun
916
917 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
918 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
919 direction.
920 @end defun
921
922 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
923 Window Ordering}.
924
925 @node Frames and Windows
926 @section Frames and Windows
927
928 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get the frame
929 with @code{window-frame}.
930
931 @defun window-frame window
932 This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
933 @end defun
934
935 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
936 order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
937 upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
938 the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
939 one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
940
941 @defun frame-first-window &optional frame
942 This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
943 If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to the selected frame.
944 @end defun
945
946 At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
947 frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
948 frame also selects this window. You can get the frame's current
949 selected window with @code{frame-selected-window}.
950
951 @defun frame-selected-window &optional frame
952 This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected
953 within @var{frame}. If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to
954 the selected frame.
955 @end defun
956
957 @defun set-frame-selected-window frame window
958 This sets the selected window of frame @var{frame} to @var{window}.
959 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it operates on the selected frame. If
960 @var{frame} is the selected frame, this makes @var{window} the
961 selected window. This function returns @var{window}.
962 @end defun
963
964 Conversely, selecting a window for Emacs with @code{select-window} also
965 makes that window selected within its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
966
967 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
968 frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-window}.
969
970 @node Minibuffers and Frames
971 @section Minibuffers and Frames
972
973 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
974 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
975 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
976 minibuffer-window}).
977
978 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
979 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
980 frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
981 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
982 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
983 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
984
985 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
986 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
987 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
988
989 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
990 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
991 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
992 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
993 Displays}.
994 @end defvar
995
996 @node Input Focus
997 @section Input Focus
998 @cindex input focus
999 @cindex selected frame
1000
1001 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1002 window always resides on the selected frame.
1003
1004 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1005 Displays}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one of
1006 these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs to
1007 the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when Emacs
1008 runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected frame is
1009 the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single command at any
1010 given time, it needs to consider only one selected frame at a time; this
1011 frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame} in this manual. The
1012 display on which the selected frame is displayed is the @dfn{selected
1013 frame's display}.
1014
1015 @defun selected-frame
1016 This function returns the selected frame.
1017 @end defun
1018
1019 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1020 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1021 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1022 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1023 switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1024 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1025
1026 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1027 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1028 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1029 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1030
1031 When using a text-only terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a
1032 time on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1033 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1034 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame} or
1035 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}. Each terminal frame has a number
1036 which appears in the mode line before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode
1037 Line Variables}).
1038
1039 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame
1040 This function makes @var{frame} the selected frame, raises it (should
1041 it happen to be obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X
1042 server's focus. On a text-only terminal, the next redisplay displays
1043 the new frame on the entire terminal screen. The return value of this
1044 function is not significant.
1045 @end defun
1046
1047 @c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
1048 @defun select-frame frame
1049 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1050 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1051 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1052 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1053 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1054 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1055 have the window system's input focus.) The specified @var{frame}
1056 becomes the selected frame, as explained above, and the terminal that
1057 @var{frame} is on becomes the selected terminal. This function
1058 returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has been deleted.
1059
1060 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that could
1061 switch to a different terminal without switching back when you're done.
1062 @end defun
1063
1064 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1065 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1066 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1067 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1068 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1069
1070 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1071 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1072
1073 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1074 Don't call it for any other reason.
1075 @end deffn
1076
1077 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1078 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1079 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1080 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1081 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1082 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1083
1084 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1085 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1086 events.
1087
1088 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1089 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1090 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1091 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1092 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1093
1094 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1095 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1096 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1097 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1098 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1099
1100 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1101 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1102 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1103
1104 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1105 change it.
1106 @end defun
1107
1108 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1109 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1110 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1111 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1112 position consistent with the new selected frame.
1113 @end defopt
1114
1115 @node Visibility of Frames
1116 @section Visibility of Frames
1117 @cindex visible frame
1118 @cindex invisible frame
1119 @cindex iconified frame
1120 @cindex frame visibility
1121
1122 A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
1123 @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents. If it is
1124 iconified, the frame's contents do not appear on the screen, but an icon
1125 does. If the frame is invisible, it doesn't show on the screen, not
1126 even as an icon.
1127
1128 Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
1129 one is actually displayed in any case.
1130
1131 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1132 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit @var{frame},
1133 it makes the selected frame visible.
1134 @end deffn
1135
1136 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1137 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1138 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1139
1140 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1141 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1142 @end deffn
1143
1144 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1145 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1146 iconifies the selected frame.
1147 @end deffn
1148
1149 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1150 This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
1151 @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
1152 @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1153
1154 On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
1155 they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns
1156 @code{t} for all frames.
1157 @end defun
1158
1159 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1160 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Window Frame
1161 Parameters}.
1162
1163 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
1164 This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
1165 Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
1166 changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1167
1168 @node Raising and Lowering
1169 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1170
1171 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
1172 the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
1173 perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
1174 to ``lowest''. Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
1175 the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
1176 seen if no other window overlaps it.
1177
1178 @cindex raising a frame
1179 @cindex lowering a frame
1180 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
1181 to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
1182 it ``up'', to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
1183 moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
1184 third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
1185 on the screen.
1186
1187 You can raise and lower Emacs frame Windows with these functions:
1188
1189 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1190 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1191 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1192 @end deffn
1193
1194 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1195 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1196 @end deffn
1197
1198 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1199 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1200 that the minibuffer window is in.
1201 @end defopt
1202
1203 You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
1204 selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
1205 for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Window Frame Parameters}.
1206
1207 @node Frame Configurations
1208 @section Frame Configurations
1209 @cindex frame configuration
1210
1211 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1212 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1213 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1214
1215 @defun current-frame-configuration
1216 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1217 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1218 @end defun
1219
1220 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1221 This function restores the state of frames described in
1222 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1223 frames.
1224
1225 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1226 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1227 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1228 @end defun
1229
1230 @node Mouse Tracking
1231 @section Mouse Tracking
1232 @cindex mouse tracking
1233 @cindex tracking the mouse
1234
1235 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1236 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1237 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1238 the mouse actually moves.
1239
1240 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1241 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1242 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1243 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1244 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1245 button.
1246
1247 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1248 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1249 events enabled. Typically @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1250 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1251 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1252
1253 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1254 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1255 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1256 it is time to stop tracking.
1257 @end defspec
1258
1259 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1260 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1261 position.
1262
1263 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1264 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1265 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1266 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1267
1268 @ignore
1269 @c These are not implemented yet.
1270
1271 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1272 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1273 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1274 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1275 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1276
1277 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1278 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1279 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1280 @end defun
1281
1282 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1283 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1284 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1285 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1286 @end defun
1287
1288 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1289 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1290 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1291 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1292 location of point.
1293 @end defun
1294
1295 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1296 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1297 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1298 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1299 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1300 @end defun
1301 @end ignore
1302
1303 @node Mouse Position
1304 @section Mouse Position
1305 @cindex mouse position
1306 @cindex position of mouse
1307
1308 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1309 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1310
1311 @defun mouse-position
1312 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1313 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1314 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1315 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1316 @end defun
1317
1318 @defvar mouse-position-function
1319 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1320 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1321 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1322 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1323
1324 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1325 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1326 @end defvar
1327
1328 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1329 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1330 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1331 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1332 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1333 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1334 @end defun
1335
1336 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1337 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1338 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1339 @end defun
1340
1341 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1342 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1343 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1344 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1345
1346 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1347 value is not significant.
1348 @end defun
1349
1350 @need 3000
1351
1352 @node Pop-Up Menus
1353 @section Pop-Up Menus
1354
1355 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1356 the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1357
1358 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1359 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1360 what selection the user makes.
1361
1362 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1363 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1364 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1365 list of this form:
1366
1367 @example
1368 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1369 @end example
1370
1371 @noindent
1372 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1373 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1374 may be a window or a frame.
1375
1376 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1377 position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1378 key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1379 without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1380
1381 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1382 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1383 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1384 (This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1385 submenu.) Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1386 command bound to that sequence of events.
1387
1388 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1389
1390 @example
1391 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1392 @end example
1393
1394 @noindent
1395 where each pane is a list of form
1396
1397 @example
1398 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1399 @end example
1400
1401 Each item should normally be a cons cell @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1402 where @var{line} is a string, and @var{value} is the value to return if
1403 that @var{line} is chosen. An item can also be a string; this makes a
1404 non-selectable line in the menu.
1405
1406 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1407 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1408 keyboard input, then this normally results in a quit and
1409 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1410 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1411 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1412 @end defun
1413
1414 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1415 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1416 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1417 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1418 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1419 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1420 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1421
1422 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1423 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1424 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1425 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1426 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1427 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1428 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1429
1430 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1431 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1432 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1433 the menu keymap as necessary.
1434
1435 @node Dialog Boxes
1436 @section Dialog Boxes
1437 @cindex dialog boxes
1438
1439 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1440 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1441 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1442 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes'', ``no'',
1443 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1444 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1445 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1446 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1447
1448 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1449 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1450 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1451 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1452
1453 @example
1454 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1455 @end example
1456
1457 @noindent
1458 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1459 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1460
1461 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1462
1463 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
1464 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
1465 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
1466
1467 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1468 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1469 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1470 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1471 items appear on each side.
1472
1473 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1474 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1475 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
1476 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
1477
1478 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
1479 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
1480 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{The Echo Area}).
1481
1482 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1483 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1484 frame.
1485
1486 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
1487 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
1488 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
1489 @end defun
1490
1491 @node Pointer Shapes
1492 @section Pointer Shapes
1493 @cindex pointer shape
1494 @cindex mouse pointer shape
1495
1496 These variables specify which shape to use for the mouse pointer in
1497 various situations, when using the X Window System:
1498
1499 @table @code
1500 @item x-pointer-shape
1501 @vindex x-pointer-shape
1502 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the Emacs
1503 frame.
1504
1505 @item x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1506 @vindex x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1507 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1508 is over mouse-sensitive text.
1509 @end table
1510
1511 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1512 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a frame,
1513 that also updates its pointer shapes based on the current values of
1514 these variables. @xref{Window Frame Parameters}.
1515
1516 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1517 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1518 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1519
1520 @node Window System Selections
1521 @section Window System Selections
1522 @cindex selection (for window systems)
1523
1524 The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1525 data between application programs. The various selections are
1526 distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1527 symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1528 any given type.
1529
1530 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
1531 This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1532 arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1533 @var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1534 selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1535 (or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1536 cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1537 of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1538
1539 The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1540 selection values.
1541
1542 Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1543 independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY},
1544 @code{SECONDARY} and @code{CLIPBOARD}; these are symbols with upper-case
1545 names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If @var{type} is
1546 @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
1547
1548 This function returns @var{data}.
1549 @end deffn
1550
1551 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1552 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1553 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1554 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1555 @code{PRIMARY}.
1556
1557 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1558 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1559 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1560 @code{UTF8_STRING},
1561 @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE}, @code{FILE_NAME},
1562 @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER},
1563 @code{OWNER_OS}, @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS},
1564 @code{NAME}, @code{ATOM}, and @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with
1565 upper-case names in accord with X conventions.) The default for
1566 @var{data-type} is @code{STRING}.
1567 @end defun
1568
1569 @cindex cut buffer
1570 The X server also has a set of eight numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1571 store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1572 are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1573 clients that still use them. Cut buffers are numbered from 0 to 7.
1574
1575 @defun x-get-cut-buffer &optional n
1576 This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1577 If omitted @var{n} defaults to 0.
1578 @end defun
1579
1580 @defun x-set-cut-buffer string &optional push
1581 @anchor{Definition of x-set-cut-buffer}
1582 This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
1583 0). If @var{push} is @code{nil}, only the first cut buffer is changed.
1584 If @var{push} is non-@code{nil}, that says to move the values down
1585 through the series of cut buffers, much like the way successive kills in
1586 Emacs move down the kill ring. In other words, the previous value of
1587 the first cut buffer moves into the second cut buffer, and the second to
1588 the third, and so on through all eight cut buffers.
1589 @end defun
1590
1591 @defvar selection-coding-system
1592 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1593 writing selections, the clipboard, or a cut buffer. @xref{Coding
1594 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
1595 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
1596 @end defvar
1597
1598 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
1599 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
1600 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
1601 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
1602 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
1603 clipboard as empty.
1604
1605 @defopt x-select-enable-clipboard
1606 If this is non-@code{nil}, the Emacs yank functions consult the
1607 clipboard before the primary selection, and the kill functions store in
1608 the clipboard as well as the primary selection. Otherwise they do not
1609 access the clipboard at all. The default is @code{nil} on most systems,
1610 but @code{t} on MS-Windows.
1611 @end defopt
1612
1613 @node Color Names
1614 @section Color Names
1615
1616 @cindex color names
1617 @cindex specify color
1618 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
1619 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
1620 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
1621 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
1622 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
1623 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
1624 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
1625 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
1626 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
1627 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
1628 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
1629 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
1630 colors.)
1631
1632 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
1633 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
1634 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
1635 meaning of the term ``selected frame''.
1636
1637 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
1638 @tindex color-defined-p
1639 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
1640 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
1641 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
1642 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
1643
1644 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
1645 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
1646 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
1647 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
1648 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
1649
1650 @findex x-color-defined-p
1651 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
1652 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1653 @end defun
1654
1655 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
1656 @tindex defined-colors
1657 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
1658 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1659 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
1660
1661 @findex x-defined-colors
1662 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
1663 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1664 @end defun
1665
1666 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
1667 @tindex color-supported-p
1668 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
1669 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
1670 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
1671
1672 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
1673 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
1674 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
1675 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
1676
1677 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
1678 @end defun
1679
1680 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
1681 @tindex color-gray-p
1682 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
1683 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
1684 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
1685 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
1686 @end defun
1687
1688 @defun color-values color &optional frame
1689 @tindex color-values
1690 @cindex rgb value
1691 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
1692 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
1693 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
1694 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
1695 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
1696 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
1697 color.
1698
1699 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1700
1701 @example
1702 (color-values "black")
1703 @result{} (0 0 0)
1704 (color-values "white")
1705 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
1706 (color-values "red")
1707 @result{} (65280 0 0)
1708 (color-values "pink")
1709 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
1710 (color-values "hungry")
1711 @result{} nil
1712 @end example
1713
1714 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
1715 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
1716 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
1717 value is @code{nil}.
1718
1719 @findex x-color-values
1720 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
1721 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1722 @end defun
1723
1724 @node Text Terminal Colors
1725 @section Text Terminal Colors
1726 @cindex colors on text-only terminals
1727
1728 Text-only terminals usually support only a small number of colors,
1729 and the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
1730 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
1731 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
1732 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
1733 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
1734
1735 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
1736 are used by Emacs.
1737
1738 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
1739 in @ref{Color Names}.
1740
1741 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
1742 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make Emacs
1743 support more than one text-only terminal at one time; then this argument
1744 will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being the
1745 selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present, though,
1746 the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
1747
1748 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
1749 @tindex tty-color-define
1750 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
1751 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
1752
1753 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
1754 of three numbers that specify what what the color actually looks like.
1755 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
1756 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
1757 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
1758 @end defun
1759
1760 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
1761 @tindex tty-color-clear
1762 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text-only terminal.
1763 @end defun
1764
1765 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
1766 @tindex tty-color-alist
1767 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by a
1768 text-only terminal.
1769
1770 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
1771 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
1772 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
1773 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
1774 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
1775 @end defun
1776
1777 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
1778 @tindex tty-color-approximate
1779 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
1780 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
1781 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
1782 @code{tty-color-alist}.
1783 @end defun
1784
1785 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
1786 @tindex tty-color-translate
1787 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
1788 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
1789 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1790 @end defun
1791
1792 @node Resources
1793 @section X Resources
1794
1795 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
1796 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
1797 Window defaults database.
1798
1799 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
1800 This function searches using a key of the form
1801 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
1802 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
1803 the class.
1804
1805 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
1806 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
1807 If you specify them, the key is
1808 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
1809 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
1810 @end defun
1811
1812 @defvar x-resource-class
1813 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
1814 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
1815 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
1816 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
1817 @end defvar
1818
1819 @defvar x-resource-name
1820 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
1821 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
1822 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
1823 @end defvar
1824
1825 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
1826
1827 @example
1828 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
1829 @end example
1830
1831 @noindent
1832 in in your X resources file (usually named @file{~/.Xdefaults} or
1833 @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
1834
1835 @example
1836 @group
1837 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
1838 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
1839 @result{} "yellow"
1840 @end group
1841 @group
1842 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
1843 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
1844 @result{} "yellow"
1845 @end group
1846 @end example
1847
1848 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
1849
1850 @node Display Feature Testing
1851 @section Display Feature Testing
1852 @cindex display feature testing
1853
1854 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
1855 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
1856 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
1857 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
1858
1859 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
1860 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
1861 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
1862 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
1863
1864 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
1865 obtain information about displays.
1866
1867 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
1868 @tindex display-popup-menus-p
1869 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
1870 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires that
1871 the mouse be available, since the user cannot choose menu items without
1872 a mouse.
1873 @end defun
1874
1875 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
1876 @tindex display-graphic-p
1877 @cindex frames, more than one on display
1878 @cindex fonts, more than one on display
1879 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
1880 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
1881 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X, and
1882 false for text-only terminals.
1883 @end defun
1884
1885 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
1886 @tindex display-mouse-p
1887 @cindex mouse, availability
1888 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
1889 @code{nil} if not.
1890 @end defun
1891
1892 @defun display-color-p &optional display
1893 @tindex display-color-p
1894 @findex x-display-color-p
1895 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
1896 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
1897 is still supported as an alias.
1898 @end defun
1899
1900 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
1901 @tindex display-grayscale-p
1902 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
1903 (All color displays can do this.)
1904 @end defun
1905
1906 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
1907 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
1908 @tindex display-supports-face-attributes-p
1909 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
1910 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
1911
1912 The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
1913 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
1914 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
1915 way that's
1916
1917 @enumerate
1918 @item
1919 different in appearance than the default face, and
1920
1921 @item
1922 `close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
1923 @end enumerate
1924
1925 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
1926 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
1927 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
1928 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
1929 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
1930 italic.
1931 @end defun
1932
1933 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
1934 @tindex display-selections-p
1935 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
1936 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
1937 supported in some other cases.
1938 @end defun
1939
1940 @defun display-images-p &optional display
1941 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
1942 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
1943 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
1944 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
1945 @end defun
1946
1947 @defun display-screens &optional display
1948 @tindex display-screens
1949 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
1950 @end defun
1951
1952 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
1953 @tindex display-pixel-height
1954 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
1955 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
1956 @end defun
1957
1958 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
1959 @tindex display-mm-height
1960 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
1961 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
1962 @end defun
1963
1964 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
1965 @tindex display-pixel-width
1966 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
1967 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
1968 @end defun
1969
1970 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
1971 @tindex display-mm-width
1972 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
1973 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
1974 @end defun
1975
1976 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
1977 @tindex display-backing-store
1978 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
1979 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
1980 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
1981 displayed very quickly.
1982
1983 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
1984 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
1985 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
1986 @end defun
1987
1988 @defun display-save-under &optional display
1989 @tindex display-save-under
1990 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
1991 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
1992 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
1993 quickly.
1994 @end defun
1995
1996 @defun display-planes &optional display
1997 @tindex display-planes
1998 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
1999 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2000 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colours supported.
2001 @end defun
2002
2003 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2004 @tindex display-visual-class
2005 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
2006 of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
2007 @code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
2008 @code{direct-color}.
2009 @end defun
2010
2011 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2012 @tindex display-color-cells
2013 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2014 @end defun
2015
2016 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2017 about X displays.
2018
2019 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2020 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2021 running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2022 and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2023 distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2024 @end defun
2025
2026 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2027 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2028 software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2029 server.
2030
2031 When the developers of X labelled software distributors as
2032 ``vendors'', they showed their false assumption that no system could
2033 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2034 @end defun
2035
2036 @ignore
2037 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2038 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2039 @end defvar
2040 @end ignore
2041
2042 @ignore
2043 @item
2044 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2045 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2046 @end ignore
2047
2048 @ignore
2049 arch-tag: 94977df6-3dca-4730-b57b-c6329e9282ba
2050 @end ignore