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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, 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
314 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
315 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
316 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
317 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
318 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful @emph{only} in
319 terminal frames.
320
321 @menu
322 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
323 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
324 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
325 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
326 enabling or disabling some parts.
327 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
328 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
329 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
330 * Color Parameters:: Colors of various parts of the frame.
331 @end menu
332
333 @node Basic Parameters
334 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
335
336 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
337 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
338
339 @table @code
340 @item display
341 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
342 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
343 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
344
345 @item display-type
346 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
347 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
348 @code{mono}.
349
350 @item title
351 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window system's
352 border for the frame, and also in the mode line of windows in that frame
353 if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses @samp{%F}
354 (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when Emacs is not
355 using a window system, and can only display one frame at a time.
356 @xref{Frame Titles}.
357
358 @item name
359 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
360 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
361 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
362 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
363
364 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
365 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
366 looking up X resources for the frame.
367 @end table
368
369 @node Position Parameters
370 @subsubsection Position Parameters
371
372 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
373 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
374
375 @table @code
376 @item left
377 The screen position of the left edge, in pixels, with respect to the
378 left edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
379 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
380 negative @var{pos} value.
381
382 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
383 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the right edge of the
384 window with respect to the right edge of the screen. A positive value
385 of @var{pos} counts toward the left. @strong{Reminder:} if the
386 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
387 positive.
388
389 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
390 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
391 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
392
393 @item top
394 The screen position of the top edge, in pixels, with respect to the
395 top edge of the screen. It works just like @code{left}, except vertically
396 instead of horizontally.
397
398 @item icon-left
399 The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
400 pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
401 and when the frame is iconified.
402
403 If you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify
404 a value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa. The window manager may
405 ignore these two parameters.
406
407 @item icon-top
408 The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
409 pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
410 and when the frame is iconified.
411
412 @item user-position
413 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
414 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
415 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
416 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
417 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
418
419 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
420 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
421 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
422 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
423 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
424 ignore them.
425
426 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
427 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
428 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
429 @code{nil}.
430 @end table
431
432 @node Size Parameters
433 @subsubsection Size Parameters
434
435 Size parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
436 text-only terminals they count characters or lines instead.
437
438 @table @code
439 @item height
440 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
441 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
442
443 @item width
444 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
445 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
446
447 @item user-size
448 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
449 the @code{user-position} parameter (see above) does for the position
450 parameters @code{top} and @code{left}.
451
452 @item fullscreen
453 Specify that width, height or both shall be set to the size of the screen.
454 The value @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be the size of the
455 screen. The value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be the
456 size of the screen. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the
457 width and the height shall be set to the size of the screen.
458 @end table
459
460 @node Layout Parameters
461 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
462
463 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
464 frame, or control their sizes.
465
466 @table @code
467 @item border-width
468 The width in pixels of the window border.
469
470 @item internal-border-width
471 The distance in pixels between text and border.
472
473 @item vertical-scroll-bars
474 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
475 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
476 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
477
478 @ignore
479 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
480 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
481 (non-@code{nil} means yes). Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
482 implemented.
483 @end ignore
484
485 @item scroll-bar-width
486 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
487 use the default width.
488
489 @item left-fringe
490 @itemx right-fringe
491 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
492 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
493 removes the corresponding fringe. A value of @code{nil} stands for
494 the standard fringe width, which is the width needed to display the
495 fringe bitmaps.
496
497 The combined fringe widths must add up to an integral number of
498 columns, so the actual default fringe widths for the frame may be
499 larger than the specified values. The extra width needed to reach an
500 acceptable total is distributed evenly between the left and right
501 fringe. However, you can force one fringe or the other to a precise
502 width by specifying that width as a negative integer. If both widths are
503 negative, only the left fringe gets the specified width.
504
505 @item menu-bar-lines
506 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
507 bar. The default is 1. A value of @code{nil} means don't display a
508 menu bar. @xref{Menu Bar}. (The X toolkit and GTK allow at most one
509 menu bar line; they treat larger values as 1.)
510
511 @item tool-bar-lines
512 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. A value of @code{nil}
513 means don't display a tool bar. (GTK allows at most one tool bar line;
514 it treats larger values as 1.)
515
516 @item line-spacing
517 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
518 integer). @cref{Line Height}, for more information.
519 @end table
520
521 @node Buffer Parameters
522 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
523
524 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
525 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
526
527 @table @code
528 @item minibuffer
529 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
530 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
531 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other frame),
532 the new frame uses that minibuffer.
533
534 @item buffer-predicate
535 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
536 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
537 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
538 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
539 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
540 considers that buffer.
541
542 @item buffer-list
543 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
544 ordered most-recently-selected first.
545
546 @item unsplittable
547 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
548 @end table
549
550 @node Management Parameters
551 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
552
553 These frame parameters, meaningful only on window system displays,
554 interact with the window manager.
555
556 @table @code
557 @item visibility
558 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
559 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
560 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
561
562 @item auto-raise
563 Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
564
565 @item auto-lower
566 Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
567
568 @item icon-type
569 The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
570 value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
571 Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
572 picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
573
574 @item icon-name
575 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
576 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
577
578 @item window-id
579 The number of the window-system window used by the frame
580 to contain the actual Emacs windows.
581
582 @item outer-window-id
583 The number of the outermost window-system window used for the whole frame.
584
585 @item wait-for-wm
586 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
587 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
588 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
589 prevent hanging with those window managers.
590
591 @ignore
592 @item parent-id
593 @c ??? Not yet working.
594 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
595 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
596 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
597 it and see if it works.)
598 @end ignore
599 @end table
600
601 @node Cursor Parameters
602 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
603
604 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
605
606 @table @code
607 @item cursor-type
608 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
609
610 @table @code
611 @item box
612 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
613 @item hollow
614 Display a hollow box.
615 @item nil
616 Don't display a cursor.
617 @item bar
618 Display a vertical bar between characters.
619 @item (bar . @var{width})
620 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
621 @item hbar
622 Display a horizontal bar.
623 @item (hbar . @var{height})
624 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
625 @end table
626 @end table
627
628 @vindex cursor-type
629 The buffer-local variable @code{cursor-type} overrides the value of
630 the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter, but if it is @code{t}, that
631 means to use the cursor specified for the frame.
632
633 @defvar blink-cursor-alist
634 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
635 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
636 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
637 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
638 when it blinks ``off''. Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
639 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
640
641 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
642 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
643 variable do not take effect immediately, because the variable is
644 examined only when you specify the @code{cursor-type} parameter.
645 @end defvar
646
647 @node Color Parameters
648 @subsubsection Color Parameters
649
650 These frame parameters control the use of colors.
651
652 @table @code
653 @item background-mode
654 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
655 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
656
657 @item tty-color-mode
658 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
659 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
660 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
661 specifies the color mode to use in terminal frames. The value can be
662 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
663 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
664 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
665 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
666 off color support.
667
668 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
669 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
670 used instead.
671
672 @item screen-gamma
673 @cindex gamma correction
674 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
675 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
676 your display, a floating point number.
677
678 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
679 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
680 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
681 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
682 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
683 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
684 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
685
686 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
687 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
688 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
689 results for LCD color displays.
690 @end table
691
692 These frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are automatically
693 equivalent to particular face attributes of particular faces.
694
695 @table @code
696 @item font
697 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
698 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
699 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
700 attribute of the @code{default} face.
701
702 @item foreground-color
703 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
704 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
705
706 @item background-color
707 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
708 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
709
710 @item mouse-color
711 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
712 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
713
714 @item cursor-color
715 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
716 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
717
718 @item border-color
719 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
720 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
721
722 @item scroll-bar-foreground
723 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
724 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
725 @code{scroll-bar} face.
726
727 @item scroll-bar-background
728 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
729 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
730 @code{scroll-bar} face.
731 @end table
732
733 @node Size and Position
734 @subsection Frame Size And Position
735 @cindex size of frame
736 @cindex screen size
737 @cindex frame size
738 @cindex resize frame
739
740 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
741 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
742 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
743 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
744
745 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
746 (For the precise meaning of ``selected frame'' used by these functions,
747 see @ref{Input Focus}.)
748
749 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
750 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
751 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
752 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
753
754 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
755 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
756 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
757 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
758 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
759 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
760 @end defun
761
762 @defun frame-height &optional frame
763 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
764 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
765 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
766 selected frame.
767 @end defun
768
769 @defun screen-height
770 @defunx screen-width
771 These functions are old aliases for @code{frame-height} and
772 @code{frame-width}. When you are using a non-window terminal, the size
773 of the frame is normally the same as the size of the terminal screen.
774 @end defun
775
776 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
777 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
778 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
779 pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the selected frame.
780 @end defun
781
782 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
783 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
784 These functions return the height and width of a character in
785 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
786 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
787 frame.
788 @end defun
789
790 @defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
791 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
792 @var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
793
794 To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
795 @code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
796 them to units of characters.
797 @end defun
798
799 @defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
800 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
801 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
802 fit.
803
804 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
805 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
806 actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
807 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
808 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
809 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
810 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
811 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
812 terminal frame.
813 @end defun
814
815 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
816 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
817 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
818 @code{set-frame-height}.
819 @end defun
820
821 @findex set-screen-height
822 @findex set-screen-width
823 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
824 @code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
825 screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
826 are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
827
828 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
829 @cindex geometry specification
830 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
831 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
832 @code{make-frame}.
833
834 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
835 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
836 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
837 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
838
839 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
840 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
841 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
842 instead. These are the @var{value} possibilities for the position
843 parameters:
844
845 @table @asis
846 @item an integer
847 A positive integer relates the left edge or top edge of the window to
848 the left or top edge of the screen. A negative integer relates the
849 right or bottom edge of the window to the right or bottom edge of the
850 screen.
851
852 @item @code{(+ @var{position})}
853 This specifies the position of the left or top edge of the window
854 relative to the left or top edge of the screen. The integer
855 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
856 position outside the screen.
857
858 @item @code{(- @var{position})}
859 This specifies the position of the right or bottom edge of the window
860 relative to the right or bottom edge of the screen. The integer
861 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
862 position outside the screen.
863 @end table
864
865 Here is an example:
866
867 @example
868 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
869 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
870 (top - 0) (left . 0))
871 @end example
872 @end defun
873
874 @node Frame Titles
875 @section Frame Titles
876
877 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
878 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
879 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
880 frame property.
881
882 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
883 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
884 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
885 frame is redisplayed.
886
887 @defvar frame-title-format
888 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
889 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
890 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}. @xref{Mode Line
891 Data}.
892 @end defvar
893
894 @defvar icon-title-format
895 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
896 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
897 appears in the icon itself.
898 @end defvar
899
900 @defvar multiple-frames
901 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
902 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
903 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
904 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
905 only when there is more than one frame.
906
907 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
908 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
909 @code{icon-title-format}.
910 @end defvar
911
912 @node Deleting Frames
913 @section Deleting Frames
914 @cindex deletion of frames
915
916 Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
917 them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
918 exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it.
919
920 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
921 @vindex delete-frame-functions
922 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
923 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
924 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
925 the selected frame.
926
927 A frame cannot be deleted if its minibuffer is used by other frames.
928 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
929 but if the @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
930 @end deffn
931
932 @defun frame-live-p frame
933 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
934 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
935 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
936 @end defun
937
938 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
939 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
940 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
941 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
942 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
943
944 @node Finding All Frames
945 @section Finding All Frames
946
947 @defun frame-list
948 The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the frames that
949 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
950 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get is
951 newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
952 internals of Emacs.
953 @end defun
954
955 @defun visible-frame-list
956 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
957 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
958 ``visible'', even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
959 @end defun
960
961 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
962 The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
963 the frames on the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It
964 returns the ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If
965 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame
966 (@pxref{Input Focus}).
967
968 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
969
970 @table @asis
971 @item @code{nil}
972 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
973 @item @code{visible}
974 Consider all visible frames.
975 @item 0
976 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
977 @item a window
978 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
979 minibuffer.
980 @item anything else
981 Consider all frames.
982 @end table
983 @end defun
984
985 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
986 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
987 direction.
988 @end defun
989
990 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
991 Window Ordering}.
992
993 @node Frames and Windows
994 @section Frames and Windows
995
996 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get the frame
997 with @code{window-frame}.
998
999 @defun window-frame window
1000 This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
1001 @end defun
1002
1003 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
1004 order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
1005 upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
1006 the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
1007 one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
1008
1009 @defun frame-first-window &optional frame
1010 This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
1011 If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to the selected frame.
1012 @end defun
1013
1014 At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
1015 frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
1016 frame also selects this window. You can get the frame's current
1017 selected window with @code{frame-selected-window}.
1018
1019 @defun frame-selected-window &optional frame
1020 This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected
1021 within @var{frame}. If omitted or @code{nil}, @var{frame} defaults to
1022 the selected frame.
1023 @end defun
1024
1025 @defun set-frame-selected-window frame window
1026 This sets the selected window of frame @var{frame} to @var{window}.
1027 If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it operates on the selected frame. If
1028 @var{frame} is the selected frame, this makes @var{window} the
1029 selected window. This function returns @var{window}.
1030 @end defun
1031
1032 Conversely, selecting a window for Emacs with @code{select-window} also
1033 makes that window selected within its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1034
1035 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
1036 frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-window}.
1037
1038 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1039 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1040
1041 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1042 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1043 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1044 minibuffer-window}).
1045
1046 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
1047 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
1048 frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
1049 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
1050 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
1051 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
1052
1053 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1054 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1055 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1056
1057 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1058 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1059 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1060 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1061 Displays}.
1062 @end defvar
1063
1064 @node Input Focus
1065 @section Input Focus
1066 @cindex input focus
1067 @cindex selected frame
1068
1069 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1070 window always resides on the selected frame.
1071
1072 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1073 Displays}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one of
1074 these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs to
1075 the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when Emacs
1076 runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected frame is
1077 the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single command at any
1078 given time, it needs to consider only one selected frame at a time; this
1079 frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame} in this manual. The
1080 display on which the selected frame is displayed is the @dfn{selected
1081 frame's display}.
1082
1083 @defun selected-frame
1084 This function returns the selected frame.
1085 @end defun
1086
1087 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1088 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1089 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1090 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1091 switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1092 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1093
1094 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1095 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1096 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1097 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1098
1099 When using a text-only terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a
1100 time on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1101 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1102 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame} or
1103 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}. Each terminal frame has a number
1104 which appears in the mode line before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode
1105 Line Variables}).
1106
1107 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame
1108 This function makes @var{frame} the selected frame, raises it (should
1109 it happen to be obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X
1110 server's focus. On a text-only terminal, the next redisplay displays
1111 the new frame on the entire terminal screen. The return value of this
1112 function is not significant.
1113 @end defun
1114
1115 @c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
1116 @defun select-frame frame
1117 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1118 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1119 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1120 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1121 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1122 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1123 have the window system's input focus.) The specified @var{frame}
1124 becomes the selected frame, as explained above, and the terminal that
1125 @var{frame} is on becomes the selected terminal. This function
1126 returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has been deleted.
1127
1128 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that could
1129 switch to a different terminal without switching back when you're done.
1130 @end defun
1131
1132 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1133 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1134 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1135 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1136 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1137
1138 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1139 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1140
1141 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1142 Don't call it for any other reason.
1143 @end deffn
1144
1145 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1146 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1147 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1148 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1149 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1150 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1151
1152 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1153 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1154 events.
1155
1156 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1157 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1158 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1159 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1160 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1161
1162 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1163 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1164 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1165 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1166 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1167
1168 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1169 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1170 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1171
1172 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1173 change it.
1174 @end defun
1175
1176 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1177 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1178 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1179 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1180 position consistent with the new selected frame.
1181 @end defopt
1182
1183 @node Visibility of Frames
1184 @section Visibility of Frames
1185 @cindex visible frame
1186 @cindex invisible frame
1187 @cindex iconified frame
1188 @cindex frame visibility
1189
1190 A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
1191 @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents. If it is
1192 iconified, the frame's contents do not appear on the screen, but an icon
1193 does. If the frame is invisible, it doesn't show on the screen, not
1194 even as an icon.
1195
1196 Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
1197 one is actually displayed in any case.
1198
1199 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1200 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit @var{frame},
1201 it makes the selected frame visible.
1202 @end deffn
1203
1204 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1205 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1206 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1207
1208 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1209 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1210 @end deffn
1211
1212 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1213 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1214 iconifies the selected frame.
1215 @end deffn
1216
1217 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1218 This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
1219 @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
1220 @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1221
1222 On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
1223 they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns
1224 @code{t} for all frames.
1225 @end defun
1226
1227 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1228 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1229 Parameters}.
1230
1231 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
1232 This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
1233 Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
1234 changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1235
1236 @node Raising and Lowering
1237 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1238
1239 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
1240 the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
1241 perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
1242 to ``lowest''. Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
1243 the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
1244 seen if no other window overlaps it.
1245
1246 @cindex raising a frame
1247 @cindex lowering a frame
1248 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
1249 to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
1250 it ``up'', to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
1251 moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
1252 third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
1253 on the screen.
1254
1255 You can raise and lower Emacs frame Windows with these functions:
1256
1257 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1258 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1259 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1260 @end deffn
1261
1262 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1263 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1264 @end deffn
1265
1266 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1267 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1268 that the minibuffer window is in.
1269 @end defopt
1270
1271 You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
1272 selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
1273 for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1274
1275 @node Frame Configurations
1276 @section Frame Configurations
1277 @cindex frame configuration
1278
1279 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1280 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1281 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1282
1283 @defun current-frame-configuration
1284 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1285 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1286 @end defun
1287
1288 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1289 This function restores the state of frames described in
1290 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1291 frames.
1292
1293 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1294 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1295 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1296 @end defun
1297
1298 @node Mouse Tracking
1299 @section Mouse Tracking
1300 @cindex mouse tracking
1301 @cindex tracking the mouse
1302
1303 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
1304 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
1305 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
1306 the mouse actually moves.
1307
1308 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1309 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1310 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1311 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1312 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1313 button.
1314
1315 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1316 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1317 events enabled. Typically @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1318 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1319 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1320
1321 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1322 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1323 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1324 it is time to stop tracking.
1325 @end defspec
1326
1327 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1328 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1329 position.
1330
1331 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1332 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1333 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1334 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1335
1336 @ignore
1337 @c These are not implemented yet.
1338
1339 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1340 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1341 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1342 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1343 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1344
1345 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1346 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1347 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1348 @end defun
1349
1350 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1351 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1352 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1353 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1354 @end defun
1355
1356 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1357 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1358 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1359 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1360 location of point.
1361 @end defun
1362
1363 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1364 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1365 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1366 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1367 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1368 @end defun
1369 @end ignore
1370
1371 @node Mouse Position
1372 @section Mouse Position
1373 @cindex mouse position
1374 @cindex position of mouse
1375
1376 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1377 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1378
1379 @defun mouse-position
1380 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1381 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1382 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1383 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1384 @end defun
1385
1386 @defvar mouse-position-function
1387 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
1388 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
1389 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
1390 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
1391
1392 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
1393 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
1394 @end defvar
1395
1396 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1397 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1398 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1399 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1400 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1401 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1402 @end defun
1403
1404 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1405 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1406 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1407 @end defun
1408
1409 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1410 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1411 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1412 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1413
1414 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1415 value is not significant.
1416 @end defun
1417
1418 @need 3000
1419
1420 @node Pop-Up Menus
1421 @section Pop-Up Menus
1422
1423 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1424 the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1425
1426 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1427 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1428 what selection the user makes.
1429
1430 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1431 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
1432 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
1433 list of this form:
1434
1435 @example
1436 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1437 @end example
1438
1439 @noindent
1440 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1441 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
1442 may be a window or a frame.
1443
1444 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1445 position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1446 key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1447 without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1448
1449 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1450 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
1451 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
1452 (This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
1453 submenu.) Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
1454 command bound to that sequence of events.
1455
1456 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
1457
1458 @example
1459 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1460 @end example
1461
1462 @noindent
1463 where each pane is a list of form
1464
1465 @example
1466 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
1467 @end example
1468
1469 Each item should normally be a cons cell @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
1470 where @var{line} is a string, and @var{value} is the value to return if
1471 that @var{line} is chosen. An item can also be a string; this makes a
1472 non-selectable line in the menu.
1473
1474 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
1475 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
1476 keyboard input, then this normally results in a quit and
1477 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
1478 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
1479 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
1480 @end defun
1481
1482 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1483 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1484 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1485 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1486 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1487 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1488 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1489
1490 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1491 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1492 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1493 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1494 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1495 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1496 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
1497
1498 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1499 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1500 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1501 the menu keymap as necessary.
1502
1503 @node Dialog Boxes
1504 @section Dialog Boxes
1505 @cindex dialog boxes
1506
1507 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1508 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1509 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
1510 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes'', ``no'',
1511 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
1512 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
1513 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
1514 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
1515
1516 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
1517 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1518 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1519 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1520
1521 @example
1522 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1523 @end example
1524
1525 @noindent
1526 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1527 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1528
1529 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1530
1531 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
1532 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
1533 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
1534
1535 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1536 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1537 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1538 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1539 items appear on each side.
1540
1541 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1542 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1543 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
1544 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
1545
1546 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
1547 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
1548 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{The Echo Area}).
1549
1550 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1551 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1552 frame.
1553
1554 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
1555 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
1556 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
1557 @end defun
1558
1559 @node Pointer Shapes
1560 @section Pointer Shapes
1561 @cindex pointer shape
1562 @cindex mouse pointer shape
1563
1564 These variables specify which shape to use for the mouse pointer in
1565 various situations, when using the X Window System:
1566
1567 @table @code
1568 @item x-pointer-shape
1569 @vindex x-pointer-shape
1570 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the Emacs
1571 frame.
1572
1573 @item x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1574 @vindex x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1575 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1576 is over mouse-sensitive text.
1577 @end table
1578
1579 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1580 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a frame,
1581 that also updates its pointer shapes based on the current values of
1582 these variables. @xref{Color Parameters}.
1583
1584 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1585 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1586 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1587
1588 @node Window System Selections
1589 @section Window System Selections
1590 @cindex selection (for window systems)
1591
1592 The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1593 data between application programs. The various selections are
1594 distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1595 symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1596 any given type.
1597
1598 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
1599 This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1600 arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1601 @var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1602 selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1603 (or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1604 cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1605 of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1606
1607 The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1608 selection values.
1609
1610 Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1611 independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY},
1612 @code{SECONDARY} and @code{CLIPBOARD}; these are symbols with upper-case
1613 names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If @var{type} is
1614 @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
1615
1616 This function returns @var{data}.
1617 @end deffn
1618
1619 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1620 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1621 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1622 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1623 @code{PRIMARY}.
1624
1625 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1626 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1627 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1628 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
1629 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
1630 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
1631 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
1632 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
1633 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
1634 @code{STRING}.
1635 @end defun
1636
1637 @cindex cut buffer
1638 The X server also has a set of eight numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1639 store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1640 are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1641 clients that still use them. Cut buffers are numbered from 0 to 7.
1642
1643 @defun x-get-cut-buffer &optional n
1644 This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1645 If omitted @var{n} defaults to 0.
1646 @end defun
1647
1648 @defun x-set-cut-buffer string &optional push
1649 @anchor{Definition of x-set-cut-buffer}
1650 This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
1651 0). If @var{push} is @code{nil}, only the first cut buffer is changed.
1652 If @var{push} is non-@code{nil}, that says to move the values down
1653 through the series of cut buffers, much like the way successive kills in
1654 Emacs move down the kill ring. In other words, the previous value of
1655 the first cut buffer moves into the second cut buffer, and the second to
1656 the third, and so on through all eight cut buffers.
1657 @end defun
1658
1659 @defvar selection-coding-system
1660 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1661 writing selections, the clipboard, or a cut buffer. @xref{Coding
1662 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
1663 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
1664 @end defvar
1665
1666 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
1667 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
1668 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
1669 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
1670 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
1671 clipboard as empty.
1672
1673 @defopt x-select-enable-clipboard
1674 If this is non-@code{nil}, the Emacs yank functions consult the
1675 clipboard before the primary selection, and the kill functions store in
1676 the clipboard as well as the primary selection. Otherwise they do not
1677 access the clipboard at all. The default is @code{nil} on most systems,
1678 but @code{t} on MS-Windows.
1679 @end defopt
1680
1681 @node Color Names
1682 @section Color Names
1683
1684 @cindex color names
1685 @cindex specify color
1686 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
1687 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
1688 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
1689 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
1690 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
1691 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
1692 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
1693 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
1694 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
1695 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
1696 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
1697 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
1698 colors.)
1699
1700 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
1701 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
1702 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
1703 meaning of the term ``selected frame''.
1704
1705 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
1706 @tindex color-defined-p
1707 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
1708 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
1709 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
1710 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
1711
1712 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
1713 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
1714 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
1715 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
1716 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
1717
1718 @findex x-color-defined-p
1719 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
1720 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1721 @end defun
1722
1723 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
1724 @tindex defined-colors
1725 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
1726 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1727 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
1728
1729 @findex x-defined-colors
1730 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
1731 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1732 @end defun
1733
1734 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
1735 @tindex color-supported-p
1736 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
1737 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
1738 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
1739
1740 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
1741 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
1742 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
1743 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
1744
1745 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
1746 @end defun
1747
1748 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
1749 @tindex color-gray-p
1750 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
1751 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
1752 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
1753 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
1754 @end defun
1755
1756 @defun color-values color &optional frame
1757 @tindex color-values
1758 @cindex rgb value
1759 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
1760 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
1761 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
1762 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
1763 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
1764 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
1765 color.
1766
1767 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1768
1769 @example
1770 (color-values "black")
1771 @result{} (0 0 0)
1772 (color-values "white")
1773 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
1774 (color-values "red")
1775 @result{} (65280 0 0)
1776 (color-values "pink")
1777 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
1778 (color-values "hungry")
1779 @result{} nil
1780 @end example
1781
1782 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
1783 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
1784 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
1785 value is @code{nil}.
1786
1787 @findex x-color-values
1788 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
1789 and that name is still supported as an alias.
1790 @end defun
1791
1792 @node Text Terminal Colors
1793 @section Text Terminal Colors
1794 @cindex colors on text-only terminals
1795
1796 Text-only terminals usually support only a small number of colors,
1797 and the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
1798 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
1799 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
1800 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
1801 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
1802
1803 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
1804 are used by Emacs.
1805
1806 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
1807 in @ref{Color Names}.
1808
1809 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
1810 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make Emacs
1811 support more than one text-only terminal at one time; then this argument
1812 will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being the
1813 selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present, though,
1814 the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
1815
1816 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
1817 @tindex tty-color-define
1818 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
1819 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
1820
1821 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
1822 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
1823 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
1824 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
1825 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
1826 @end defun
1827
1828 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
1829 @tindex tty-color-clear
1830 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text-only terminal.
1831 @end defun
1832
1833 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
1834 @tindex tty-color-alist
1835 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by a
1836 text-only terminal.
1837
1838 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
1839 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
1840 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
1841 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
1842 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
1843 @end defun
1844
1845 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
1846 @tindex tty-color-approximate
1847 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
1848 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
1849 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
1850 @code{tty-color-alist}.
1851 @end defun
1852
1853 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
1854 @tindex tty-color-translate
1855 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
1856 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
1857 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1858 @end defun
1859
1860 @node Resources
1861 @section X Resources
1862
1863 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
1864 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
1865 Window defaults database.
1866
1867 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
1868 This function searches using a key of the form
1869 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
1870 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
1871 the class.
1872
1873 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
1874 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
1875 If you specify them, the key is
1876 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
1877 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
1878 @end defun
1879
1880 @defvar x-resource-class
1881 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
1882 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
1883 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
1884 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
1885 @end defvar
1886
1887 @defvar x-resource-name
1888 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
1889 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
1890 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
1891 @end defvar
1892
1893 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
1894
1895 @example
1896 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
1897 @end example
1898
1899 @noindent
1900 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
1901 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
1902
1903 @example
1904 @group
1905 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
1906 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
1907 @result{} "yellow"
1908 @end group
1909 @group
1910 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
1911 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
1912 @result{} "yellow"
1913 @end group
1914 @end example
1915
1916 @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
1917
1918 @node Display Feature Testing
1919 @section Display Feature Testing
1920 @cindex display feature testing
1921
1922 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
1923 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
1924 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
1925 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
1926
1927 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
1928 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
1929 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
1930 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
1931
1932 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
1933 obtain information about displays.
1934
1935 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
1936 @tindex display-popup-menus-p
1937 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
1938 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires that
1939 the mouse be available, since the user cannot choose menu items without
1940 a mouse.
1941 @end defun
1942
1943 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
1944 @tindex display-graphic-p
1945 @cindex frames, more than one on display
1946 @cindex fonts, more than one on display
1947 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
1948 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
1949 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X, and
1950 false for text-only terminals.
1951 @end defun
1952
1953 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
1954 @tindex display-mouse-p
1955 @cindex mouse, availability
1956 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
1957 @code{nil} if not.
1958 @end defun
1959
1960 @defun display-color-p &optional display
1961 @tindex display-color-p
1962 @findex x-display-color-p
1963 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
1964 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
1965 is still supported as an alias.
1966 @end defun
1967
1968 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
1969 @tindex display-grayscale-p
1970 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
1971 (All color displays can do this.)
1972 @end defun
1973
1974 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
1975 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
1976 @tindex display-supports-face-attributes-p
1977 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
1978 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
1979
1980 The definition of `supported' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
1981 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
1982 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
1983 way that's
1984
1985 @enumerate
1986 @item
1987 different in appearance than the default face, and
1988
1989 @item
1990 `close in spirit' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
1991 @end enumerate
1992
1993 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
1994 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
1995 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
1996 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
1997 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a `dim' face for
1998 italic.
1999 @end defun
2000
2001 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
2002 @tindex display-selections-p
2003 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2004 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2005 supported in some other cases.
2006 @end defun
2007
2008 @defun display-images-p &optional display
2009 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2010 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2011 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2012 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2013 @end defun
2014
2015 @defun display-screens &optional display
2016 @tindex display-screens
2017 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2018 @end defun
2019
2020 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2021 @tindex display-pixel-height
2022 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2023 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2024 @end defun
2025
2026 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
2027 @tindex display-mm-height
2028 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2029 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2030 @end defun
2031
2032 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2033 @tindex display-pixel-width
2034 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2035 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2036 @end defun
2037
2038 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
2039 @tindex display-mm-width
2040 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2041 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2042 @end defun
2043
2044 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
2045 @tindex display-backing-store
2046 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2047 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2048 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2049 displayed very quickly.
2050
2051 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2052 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2053 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2054 @end defun
2055
2056 @defun display-save-under &optional display
2057 @tindex display-save-under
2058 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2059 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2060 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2061 quickly.
2062 @end defun
2063
2064 @defun display-planes &optional display
2065 @tindex display-planes
2066 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2067 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2068 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2069 @end defun
2070
2071 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2072 @tindex display-visual-class
2073 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
2074 of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
2075 @code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
2076 @code{direct-color}.
2077 @end defun
2078
2079 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2080 @tindex display-color-cells
2081 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2082 @end defun
2083
2084 These functions obtain additional information specifically
2085 about X displays.
2086
2087 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2088 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
2089 running the display. The value is a list of three integers: the major
2090 and minor version numbers of the X protocol, and the
2091 distributor-specific release number of the X server software itself.
2092 @end defun
2093
2094 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2095 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the X server
2096 software (as a string). Really this means whoever distributes the X
2097 server.
2098
2099 When the developers of X labelled software distributors as
2100 ``vendors'', they showed their false assumption that no system could
2101 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2102 @end defun
2103
2104 @ignore
2105 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2106 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2107 @end defvar
2108 @end ignore
2109
2110 @ignore
2111 @item
2112 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2113 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2114 @end ignore
2115
2116 @ignore
2117 arch-tag: 94977df6-3dca-4730-b57b-c6329e9282ba
2118 @end ignore