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