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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 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
5 @setfilename ../info/frames
6 @node Frames, Positions, Windows, Top
7 @chapter Frames
8 @cindex frame
9
10 A @dfn{frame} is a rectangle on the screen that contains one or more
11 Emacs windows. A frame initially contains a single main window (plus
12 perhaps a minibuffer window), which you can subdivide vertically or
13 horizontally into smaller windows.
14
15 @cindex terminal frame
16 When Emacs runs on a text-only terminal, it starts with one
17 @dfn{terminal frame}. If you create additional ones, Emacs displays
18 one and only one at any given time---on the terminal screen, of course.
19
20 @cindex window frame
21 When Emacs communicates directly with a supported window system, such
22 as X Windows, it does not have a terminal frame; instead, it starts with
23 a single @dfn{window frame}, but you can create more, and Emacs can
24 display several such frames at once as is usual for window systems.
25
26 @defun framep object
27 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a frame, and
28 @code{nil} otherwise.
29 @end defun
30
31 @menu
32 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
33 * Multiple Displays:: Creating frames on other displays.
34 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
35 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
36 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
37 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
38 * Frames and Windows:: A frame contains windows;
39 display of text always works through windows.
40 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
41 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
42 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
43 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
44 lowering it makes the others hide them.
45 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
46 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
47 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
48 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
49 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
50 * Pointer Shapes:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
51 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
52 * Font Names:: Looking up font names.
53 * Fontsets:: A fontset is a collection of fonts
54 for displaying various character sets.
55 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
56 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
57 * Server Data:: Getting info about the X server.
58 @end menu
59
60 @xref{Display}, for information about the related topic of
61 controlling Emacs redisplay.
62
63 @node Creating Frames
64 @section Creating Frames
65
66 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
67
68 @defun make-frame &optional alist
69 This function creates a new frame. If you are using a supported window
70 system, it makes a window frame; otherwise, it makes a terminal frame.
71
72 The argument is an alist specifying frame parameters. Any parameters
73 not mentioned in @var{alist} default according to the value of the
74 variable @code{default-frame-alist}; parameters not specified even there
75 default from the standard X resources or whatever is used instead on
76 your system.
77
78 The set of possible parameters depends in principle on what kind of
79 window system Emacs uses to display its frames. @xref{Window Frame
80 Parameters}, for documentation of individual parameters you can specify.
81 @end defun
82
83 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
84 @tindex before-make-frame-hook
85 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it actually creates the
86 frame.
87 @end defvar
88
89 @defvar after-make-frame-hook
90 @tindex after-make-frame-hook
91 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
92 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-hook} receives one argument, the
93 frame just created.
94 @end defvar
95
96 @node Multiple Displays
97 @section Multiple Displays
98 @cindex multiple X displays
99 @cindex displays, multiple
100
101 A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display.
102 Initially, Emacs uses just one display---the one chosen with the
103 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option
104 (@pxref{Initial Options,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). To connect to
105 another display, use the command @code{make-frame-on-display} or specify
106 the @code{display} frame parameter when you create the frame.
107
108 Emacs treats each X server as a separate terminal, giving each one its
109 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows.
110
111 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
112 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
113 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
114 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
115 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
116 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can never
117 be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}) or frame-local.
118
119 A single X server can handle more than one screen. A display name
120 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}} has three parts; the last
121 part specifies the screen number for a given server. When you use two
122 screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows by the similarity in their
123 names that they share a single keyboard, and it treats them as a single
124 terminal.
125
126 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
127 This creates a new frame on display @var{display}, taking the other
128 frame parameters from @var{parameters}. Aside from the @var{display}
129 argument, it is like @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating Frames}).
130 @end deffn
131
132 @defun x-display-list
133 This returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has a
134 connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one is
135 a display name.
136 @end defun
137
138 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string
139 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display}. It
140 does not create a frame on that display, but it permits you to check
141 that communication can be established with that display.
142
143 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a
144 string of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
145 @file{.Xresources} file. The values you specify override the resource
146 values recorded in the X server itself; they apply to all Emacs frames
147 created on this display. Here's an example of what this string might
148 look like:
149
150 @example
151 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
152 @end example
153
154 @xref{Resources}.
155 @end defun
156
157 @defun x-close-connection display
158 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
159 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open on
160 that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
161 @end defun
162
163 @node Frame Parameters
164 @section Frame Parameters
165
166 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
167 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
168 uses.
169
170 Frame parameters exist for the sake of window systems. A terminal frame
171 has a few parameters, mostly for compatibility's sake; only the @code{height},
172 @code{width}, @code{name}, @code{title}, @code{buffer-list} and
173 @code{buffer-predicate} parameters do something special.
174
175 @menu
176 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
177 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
178 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
179 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
180 @end menu
181
182 @node Parameter Access
183 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
184
185 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
186 frame.
187
188 @defun frame-parameters frame
189 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
190 parameters of @var{frame} and their values.
191 @end defun
192
193 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
194 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
195 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
196 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
197 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
198 doesn't change.
199 @end defun
200
201 @node Initial Parameters
202 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
203
204 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame
205 by setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your @file{.emacs} file.
206
207 @defvar initial-frame-alist
208 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
209 the initial window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
210 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
211 Each element has the form:
212
213 @example
214 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
215 @end example
216
217 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your @file{~/.emacs}
218 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
219 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
220 created initial frame.
221
222 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
223 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
224 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
225 appearance with X resources; those do take affect before the frame is
226 created. @xref{Resources X,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
227
228 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
229 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
230 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
231 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
232 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
233 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
234 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
235 @end defvar
236
237 If these parameters specify a separate minibuffer-only frame with
238 @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, and you have not created one, Emacs creates
239 one for you.
240
241 @defvar minibuffer-frame-alist
242 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
243 an initial minibuffer-only frame---if such a frame is needed, according
244 to the parameters for the main initial frame.
245 @end defvar
246
247 @defvar default-frame-alist
248 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
249 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
250 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
251 in many cases.
252 @end defvar
253
254 See also @code{special-display-frame-alist}, in @ref{Choosing Window}.
255
256 If you use options that specify window appearance when you invoke Emacs,
257 they take effect by adding elements to @code{default-frame-alist}. One
258 exception is @samp{-geometry}, which adds the specified position to
259 @code{initial-frame-alist} instead. @xref{Command Arguments,,, emacs,
260 The GNU Emacs Manual}.
261
262 @node Window Frame Parameters
263 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
264
265 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
266 uses. Here is a table of the parameters that have special meanings in a
267 window frame; of these, @code{name}, @code{title}, @code{height},
268 @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and @code{buffer-predicate} provide
269 meaningful information in terminal frames.
270
271 @table @code
272 @item display
273 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
274 form @code{"@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}"}, just like the
275 @code{DISPLAY} environment variable.
276
277 @item title
278 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window system's
279 border for the frame, and also in the mode line of windows in that frame
280 if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses @samp{%F}
281 (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when Emacs is not
282 using a window system, and can only display one frame at a time.
283 @xref{Frame Titles}.
284
285 @item name
286 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
287 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
288 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
289 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
290
291 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
292 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
293 looking up X resources for the frame.
294
295 @item left
296 The screen position of the left edge, in pixels, with respect to the
297 left edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
298 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
299 negative @var{pos} value.
300
301 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
302 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the right edge of the
303 window with respect to the right edge of the screen. A positive value
304 of @var{pos} counts toward the left. @strong{Reminder:} if the
305 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
306 positive.
307
308 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
309 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
310 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
311
312 @item top
313 The screen position of the top edge, in pixels, with respect to the
314 top edge of the screen. The value may be a positive number @var{pos},
315 or a list of the form @code{(+ @var{pos})} which permits specifying a
316 negative @var{pos} value.
317
318 A negative number @minus{}@var{pos}, or a list of the form @code{(-
319 @var{pos})}, actually specifies the position of the bottom edge of the
320 window with respect to the bottom edge of the screen. A positive value
321 of @var{pos} counts toward the top. @strong{Reminder:} if the
322 parameter is a negative integer @minus{}@var{pos}, then @var{pos} is
323 positive.
324
325 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
326 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
327 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
328
329 @item icon-left
330 The screen position of the left edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
331 pixels, counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect if
332 and when the frame is iconified.
333
334 @item icon-top
335 The screen position of the top edge @emph{of the frame's icon}, in
336 pixels, counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect if
337 and when the frame is iconified.
338
339 @item user-position
340 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
341 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
342 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
343 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
344 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
345
346 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
347 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
348 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
349 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
350 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
351 ignore them.
352
353 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
354 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
355 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
356 @code{nil}.
357
358 @item height
359 The height of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
360 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-height}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
361
362 @item width
363 The width of the frame contents, in characters. (To get the height in
364 pixels, call @code{frame-pixel-width}; see @ref{Size and Position}.)
365
366 @item window-id
367 The number of the window-system window used by the frame.
368
369 @item minibuffer
370 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
371 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
372 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other frame),
373 the new frame uses that minibuffer.
374
375 @item buffer-predicate
376 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
377 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
378 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
379 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
380 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
381 considers that buffer.
382
383 @item buffer-list
384 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame,
385 ordered most-recently-selected first.
386
387 @item font
388 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
389 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
390 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}).
391
392 @item auto-raise
393 Whether selecting the frame raises it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
394
395 @item auto-lower
396 Whether deselecting the frame lowers it (non-@code{nil} means yes).
397
398 @item vertical-scroll-bars
399 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
400 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
401 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
402
403 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
404 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling
405 (non-@code{nil} means yes). (Horizontal scroll bars are not currently
406 implemented.)
407
408 @item scroll-bar-width
409 The width of the vertical scroll bar, in pixels.
410
411 @item icon-type
412 The type of icon to use for this frame when it is iconified. If the
413 value is a string, that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use.
414 Any other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default bitmap icon (a
415 picture of a gnu); @code{nil} specifies a text icon.
416
417 @item icon-name
418 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
419 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
420
421 @item foreground-color
422 The color to use for the image of a character. This is a string; the
423 window system defines the meaningful color names.
424
425 If you set the @code{foreground-color} frame parameter, you should
426 call @code{frame-update-face-colors} to update faces accordingly.
427
428 @item background-color
429 The color to use for the background of characters.
430
431 If you set the @code{background-color} frame parameter, you should
432 call @code{frame-update-face-colors} to update faces accordingly.
433 @xref{Face Functions}.
434
435 @item background-mode
436 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
437 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
438
439 @item mouse-color
440 The color for the mouse pointer.
441
442 @item cursor-color
443 The color for the cursor that shows point.
444
445 @item border-color
446 The color for the border of the frame.
447
448 @item display-type
449 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
450 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
451 @code{mono}.
452
453 @item cursor-type
454 The way to display the cursor. The legitimate values are @code{bar},
455 @code{box}, and @code{(bar . @var{width})}. The symbol @code{box}
456 specifies an ordinary black box overlaying the character after point;
457 that is the default. The symbol @code{bar} specifies a vertical bar
458 between characters as the cursor. @code{(bar . @var{width})} specifies
459 a bar @var{width} pixels wide.
460
461 @item border-width
462 The width in pixels of the window border.
463
464 @item internal-border-width
465 The distance in pixels between text and border.
466
467 @item unsplittable
468 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
469
470 @item visibility
471 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
472 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
473 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
474
475 @item menu-bar-lines
476 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu bar.
477 The default is 1. @xref{Menu Bar}. (In Emacs versions that use the X
478 toolkit, there is only one menu bar line; all that matters about the
479 number you specify is whether it is greater than zero.)
480
481 @ignore
482 @item parent-id
483 @c ??? Not yet working.
484 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
485 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
486 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
487 it and see if it works.)
488 @end ignore
489 @end table
490
491 @node Size and Position
492 @subsection Frame Size And Position
493 @cindex size of frame
494 @cindex screen size
495 @cindex frame size
496 @cindex resize frame
497
498 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the
499 frame parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and
500 @code{width}. Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen
501 by the window manager in its usual fashion.
502
503 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions:
504
505 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
506 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
507 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
508 normally count from the top left corner of the screen.
509
510 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of the window up from
511 the bottom edge of the screen, or the right window edge to the left of
512 the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if the values
513 were always counted from the left and top, so that negative arguments
514 would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of the screen,
515 but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
516 @end defun
517
518 @defun frame-height &optional frame
519 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
520 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
521 lines and columns. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the
522 selected frame.
523 @end defun
524
525 @defun screen-height
526 @defunx screen-width
527 These functions are old aliases for @code{frame-height} and
528 @code{frame-width}. When you are using a non-window terminal, the size
529 of the frame is normally the same as the size of the terminal screen.
530 @end defun
531
532 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
533 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
534 These functions return the height and width of @var{frame}, measured in
535 pixels. If you don't supply @var{frame}, they use the selected frame.
536 @end defun
537
538 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
539 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
540 These functions return the height and width of a character in
541 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. The values depend on the choice of
542 font. If you don't supply @var{frame}, these functions use the selected
543 frame.
544 @end defun
545
546 @defun set-frame-size frame cols rows
547 This function sets the size of @var{frame}, measured in characters;
548 @var{cols} and @var{rows} specify the new width and height.
549
550 To set the size based on values measured in pixels, use
551 @code{frame-char-height} and @code{frame-char-width} to convert
552 them to units of characters.
553 @end defun
554
555 @defun set-frame-height frame lines &optional pretend
556 This function resizes @var{frame} to a height of @var{lines} lines. The
557 sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are altered proportionally to
558 fit.
559
560 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{lines}
561 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
562 actual height of the frame. This is only useful for a terminal frame.
563 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
564 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
565 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
566 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
567 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on a
568 terminal frame.
569 @end defun
570
571 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend
572 This function sets the width of @var{frame}, measured in characters.
573 The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
574 @code{set-frame-height}.
575 @end defun
576
577 @findex set-screen-height
578 @findex set-screen-width
579 The older functions @code{set-screen-height} and
580 @code{set-screen-width} were used to specify the height and width of the
581 screen, in Emacs versions that did not support multiple frames. They
582 are semi-obsolete, but still work; they apply to the selected frame.
583
584 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
585 @cindex geometry specification
586 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
587 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
588 @code{make-frame}.
589
590 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
591 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
592 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
593 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
594
595 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
596 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
597 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
598 instead. These are the @var{value} possibilities for the position
599 parameters:
600
601 @table @asis
602 @item an integer
603 A positive integer relates the left edge or top edge of the window to
604 the left or top edge of the screen. A negative integer relates the
605 right or bottom edge of the window to the right or bottom edge of the
606 screen.
607
608 @item @code{(+ @var{position})}
609 This specifies the position of the left or top edge of the window
610 relative to the left or top edge of the screen. The integer
611 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
612 position outside the screen.
613
614 @item @code{(- @var{position})}
615 This specifies the position of the right or bottom edge of the window
616 relative to the right or bottom edge of the screen. The integer
617 @var{position} may be positive or negative; a negative value specifies a
618 position outside the screen.
619 @end table
620
621 Here is an example:
622
623 @example
624 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
625 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
626 (top - 0) (left . 0))
627 @end example
628 @end defun
629
630 @node Frame Titles
631 @section Frame Titles
632
633 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
634 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
635 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
636 frame property.
637
638 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
639 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
640 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
641 frame is redisplayed.
642
643 @defvar frame-title-format
644 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
645 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
646 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}. @xref{Mode Line
647 Data}.
648 @end defvar
649
650 @defvar icon-title-format
651 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
652 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
653 appears in the icon itself.
654 @end defvar
655
656 @defvar multiple-frames
657 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
658 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
659 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
660 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
661 only when there is more than one frame.
662 @end defvar
663
664 @node Deleting Frames
665 @section Deleting Frames
666 @cindex deletion of frames
667
668 Frames remain potentially visible until you explicitly @dfn{delete}
669 them. A deleted frame cannot appear on the screen, but continues to
670 exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it. There is no
671 way to cancel the deletion of a frame aside from restoring a saved frame
672 configuration (@pxref{Frame Configurations}); this is similar to the
673 way windows behave.
674
675 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame
676 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. By default, @var{frame} is
677 the selected frame.
678 @end deffn
679
680 @defun frame-live-p frame
681 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
682 @var{frame} has not been deleted.
683 @end defun
684
685 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
686 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
687 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
688 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
689 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
690
691 @node Finding All Frames
692 @section Finding All Frames
693
694 @defun frame-list
695 The function @code{frame-list} returns a list of all the frames that
696 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
697 buffers. The list that you get is newly created, so modifying the list
698 doesn't have any effect on the internals of Emacs.
699 @end defun
700
701 @defun visible-frame-list
702 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
703 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. (Terminal frames always count as
704 ``visible'', even though only the selected one is actually displayed.)
705 @end defun
706
707 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
708 The function @code{next-frame} lets you cycle conveniently through all
709 the frames from an arbitrary starting point. It returns the ``next''
710 frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If @var{frame} is omitted or
711 @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame.
712
713 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
714
715 @table @asis
716 @item @code{nil}
717 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
718 @item @code{visible}
719 Consider all visible frames.
720 @item 0
721 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
722 @item a window
723 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
724 minibuffer.
725 @item anything else
726 Consider all frames.
727 @end table
728 @end defun
729
730 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
731 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
732 direction.
733 @end defun
734
735 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
736 Window Ordering}.
737
738 @node Frames and Windows
739 @section Frames and Windows
740
741 Each window is part of one and only one frame; you can get the frame
742 with @code{window-frame}.
743
744 @defun window-frame window
745 This function returns the frame that @var{window} is on.
746 @end defun
747
748 All the non-minibuffer windows in a frame are arranged in a cyclic
749 order. The order runs from the frame's top window, which is at the
750 upper left corner, down and to the right, until it reaches the window at
751 the lower right corner (always the minibuffer window, if the frame has
752 one), and then it moves back to the top. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}.
753
754 @defun frame-top-window frame
755 This returns the topmost, leftmost window of frame @var{frame}.
756 @end defun
757
758 At any time, exactly one window on any frame is @dfn{selected within the
759 frame}. The significance of this designation is that selecting the
760 frame also selects this window. You can get the frame's current
761 selected window with @code{frame-selected-window}.
762
763 @defun frame-selected-window frame
764 This function returns the window on @var{frame} that is selected within
765 @var{frame}.
766 @end defun
767
768 Conversely, selecting a window for Emacs with @code{select-window} also
769 makes that window selected within its frame. @xref{Selecting Windows}.
770
771 Another function that (usually) returns one of the windows in a given
772 frame is @code{minibuffer-window}. @xref{Minibuffer Misc}.
773
774 @node Minibuffers and Frames
775 @section Minibuffers and Frames
776
777 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
778 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
779 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Minibuffer Misc}).
780
781 However, you can also create a frame with no minibuffer. Such a frame
782 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. When you create the
783 frame, you can specify explicitly the minibuffer window to use (in some
784 other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer is found in the frame
785 which is the value of the variable @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its
786 value should be a frame that does have a minibuffer.
787
788 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
789 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
790 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
791
792 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
793 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
794 default. It is always local to the current terminal and cannot be
795 buffer-local. @xref{Multiple Displays}.
796 @end defvar
797
798 @node Input Focus
799 @section Input Focus
800 @cindex input focus
801 @cindex selected frame
802
803 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
804 window always resides on the selected frame.
805
806 @defun selected-frame
807 This function returns the selected frame.
808 @end defun
809
810 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
811 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
812 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
813 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus.
814
815 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
816 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
817 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
818 until that control is somehow reasserted.
819
820 When using a text-only terminal, only the selected terminal frame is
821 actually displayed on the terminal. @code{switch-frame} is the only way
822 to switch frames, and the change lasts until overridden by a subsequent
823 call to @code{switch-frame}. Each terminal screen except for the
824 initial one has a number, and the number of the selected frame appears
825 in the mode line before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode Line Variables}).
826
827 @c ??? This is not yet implemented properly.
828 @defun select-frame frame
829 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
830 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
831 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
832 until the next time this function is called.
833 @end defun
834
835 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
836 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
837 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
838 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
839 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
840
841 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
842 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
843
844 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
845 Don't call it for any other reason.
846 @end deffn
847
848 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame focus-frame
849 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
850 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
851 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
852 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
853 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
854
855 If @var{focus-frame} is @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
856 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
857 events.
858
859 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
860 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
861 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
862 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
863 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
864
865 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
866 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
867 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
868 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
869 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
870
871 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
872 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
873 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
874
875 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
876 change it.
877 @end defun
878
879 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
880 @tindex focus-follows-mouse
881 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
882 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
883 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
884 position consistent with the new selected frame.
885 @end defopt
886
887 @node Visibility of Frames
888 @section Visibility of Frames
889 @cindex visible frame
890 @cindex invisible frame
891 @cindex iconified frame
892 @cindex frame visibility
893
894 A window frame may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible}, or
895 @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, you can see its contents. If it is
896 iconified, the frame's contents do not appear on the screen, but an icon
897 does. If the frame is invisible, it doesn't show on the screen, not
898 even as an icon.
899
900 Visibility is meaningless for terminal frames, since only the selected
901 one is actually displayed in any case.
902
903 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
904 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit @var{frame},
905 it makes the selected frame visible.
906 @end deffn
907
908 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame
909 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
910 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
911 @end deffn
912
913 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
914 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
915 iconifies the selected frame.
916 @end deffn
917
918 @defun frame-visible-p frame
919 This returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The value is
920 @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is invisible, and
921 @code{icon} if it is iconified.
922 @end defun
923
924 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
925 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Window Frame
926 Parameters}.
927
928 The user can iconify and deiconify frames with the window manager.
929 This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert any control, but
930 Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep track of such
931 changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
932
933 @node Raising and Lowering
934 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
935
936 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor is
937 the idea that windows are stacked in a notional third dimension
938 perpendicular to the screen surface, and thus ordered from ``highest''
939 to ``lowest''. Where two windows overlap, the one higher up covers
940 the one underneath. Even a window at the bottom of the stack can be
941 seen if no other window overlaps it.
942
943 @cindex raising a frame
944 @cindex lowering a frame
945 A window's place in this ordering is not fixed; in fact, users tend
946 to change the order frequently. @dfn{Raising} a window means moving
947 it ``up'', to the top of the stack. @dfn{Lowering} a window means
948 moving it to the bottom of the stack. This motion is in the notional
949 third dimension only, and does not change the position of the window
950 on the screen.
951
952 You can raise and lower Emacs frame Windows with these functions:
953
954 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
955 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
956 @end deffn
957
958 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
959 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
960 @end deffn
961
962 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
963 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
964 that the minibuffer window is in.
965 @end defopt
966
967 You can also enable auto-raise (raising automatically when a frame is
968 selected) or auto-lower (lowering automatically when it is deselected)
969 for any frame using frame parameters. @xref{Window Frame Parameters}.
970
971 @node Frame Configurations
972 @section Frame Configurations
973 @cindex frame configuration
974
975 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
976 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
977 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
978
979 @defun current-frame-configuration
980 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
981 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
982 @end defun
983
984 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration
985 This function restores the state of frames described in
986 @var{configuration}.
987 @end defun
988
989 @node Mouse Tracking
990 @section Mouse Tracking
991 @cindex mouse tracking
992 @cindex tracking the mouse
993
994 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
995 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
996 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
997 the mouse actually moves.
998
999 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
1000 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
1001 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
1002 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
1003 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
1004 button.
1005
1006 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
1007 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
1008 events enabled. Typically @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
1009 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
1010 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
1011
1012 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
1013 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
1014 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
1015 it is time to stop tracking.
1016 @end defspec
1017
1018 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
1019 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
1020 position.
1021
1022 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
1023 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
1024 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
1025 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
1026
1027 @ignore
1028 @c These are not implemented yet.
1029
1030 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
1031 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
1032 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
1033 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
1034 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
1035
1036 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
1037 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
1038 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
1039 @end defun
1040
1041 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
1042 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
1043 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
1044 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
1045 @end defun
1046
1047 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1048 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1049 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1050 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
1051 location of point.
1052 @end defun
1053
1054 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
1055 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
1056 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
1057 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
1058 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
1059 @end defun
1060 @end ignore
1061
1062 @node Mouse Position
1063 @section Mouse Position
1064 @cindex mouse position
1065 @cindex position of mouse
1066
1067 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
1068 give access to the current position of the mouse.
1069
1070 @defun mouse-position
1071 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
1072 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
1073 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
1074 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
1075 @end defun
1076
1077 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
1078 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
1079 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
1080 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
1081 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
1082 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
1083 @end defun
1084
1085 @defun mouse-pixel-position
1086 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
1087 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
1088 @end defun
1089
1090 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
1091 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
1092 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
1093 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
1094
1095 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
1096 value is not significant.
1097 @end defun
1098
1099 @need 3000
1100
1101 @node Pop-Up Menus
1102 @section Pop-Up Menus
1103
1104 When using a window system, a Lisp program can pop up a menu so that
1105 the user can choose an alternative with the mouse.
1106
1107 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
1108 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
1109 what selection the user makes.
1110
1111 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
1112 menu. It can be either a mouse button event (which says to put the menu
1113 where the user actuated the button) or a list of this form:
1114
1115 @example
1116 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
1117 @end example
1118
1119 @noindent
1120 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
1121 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}'s frame.
1122
1123 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
1124 position. If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it means to precompute the
1125 key binding equivalents for the keymaps specified in @var{menu},
1126 without actually displaying or popping up the menu.
1127
1128 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
1129 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). Alternatively, it
1130 can have the following form:
1131
1132 @example
1133 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
1134 @end example
1135
1136 @noindent
1137 where each pane is a list of form
1138
1139 @example
1140 (@var{title} (@var{line} . @var{item})...)
1141 @end example
1142
1143 Each @var{line} should be a string, and each @var{item} should be the
1144 value to return if that @var{line} is chosen.
1145 @end defun
1146
1147 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
1148 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
1149 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
1150 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
1151 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
1152 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
1153 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
1154
1155 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
1156 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
1157 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
1158 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
1159 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
1160 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
1161 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar},
1162
1163 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
1164 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
1165 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
1166 the menu keymap as necessary.
1167
1168 @node Dialog Boxes
1169 @section Dialog Boxes
1170 @cindex dialog boxes
1171
1172 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
1173 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
1174 one level and one pane. The main use of dialog boxes is for asking
1175 questions that the user can answer with ``yes'', ``no'', and a few other
1176 alternatives. The functions @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use
1177 dialog boxes instead of the keyboard, when called from commands invoked
1178 by mouse clicks.
1179
1180 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents
1181 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
1182 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
1183 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
1184
1185 @example
1186 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
1187 @end example
1188
1189 @noindent
1190 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
1191 @code{x-popup-menu}.
1192
1193 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
1194
1195 An element of the list may be just a string instead of a cons cell
1196 @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}. That makes a box that cannot
1197 be selected.
1198
1199 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
1200 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
1201 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
1202 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
1203 items appear on each side.
1204
1205 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
1206 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
1207 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates don't matter; only the
1208 frame matters.
1209
1210 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
1211 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
1212 frame.
1213 @end defun
1214
1215 @node Pointer Shapes
1216 @section Pointer Shapes
1217 @cindex pointer shape
1218 @cindex mouse pointer shape
1219
1220 These variables specify which shape to use for the mouse pointer in
1221 various situations, when using the X Window System:
1222
1223 @table @code
1224 @item x-pointer-shape
1225 @vindex x-pointer-shape
1226 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the Emacs
1227 frame.
1228
1229 @item x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1230 @vindex x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
1231 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
1232 is over mouse-sensitive text.
1233 @end table
1234
1235 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
1236 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a frame,
1237 that also updates its pointer shapes based on the current values of
1238 these variables. @xref{Window Frame Parameters}.
1239
1240 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
1241 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
1242 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
1243
1244 @node Window System Selections
1245 @section Window System Selections
1246 @cindex selection (for X windows)
1247
1248 The X server records a set of @dfn{selections} which permit transfer of
1249 data between application programs. The various selections are
1250 distinguished by @dfn{selection types}, represented in Emacs by
1251 symbols. X clients including Emacs can read or set the selection for
1252 any given type.
1253
1254 @defun x-set-selection type data
1255 This function sets a ``selection'' in the X server. It takes two
1256 arguments: a selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it,
1257 @var{data}. If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the
1258 selection. Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer
1259 (or a cons of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a
1260 cons of two markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair
1261 of markers stands for text in the overlay or between the markers.
1262
1263 The argument @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector
1264 selection values.
1265
1266 Each possible @var{type} has its own selection value, which changes
1267 independently. The usual values of @var{type} are @code{PRIMARY} and
1268 @code{SECONDARY}; these are symbols with upper-case names, in accord
1269 with X Window System conventions. The default is @code{PRIMARY}.
1270 @end defun
1271
1272 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
1273 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
1274 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
1275 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
1276 @code{PRIMARY}.
1277
1278 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
1279 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
1280 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
1281 @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE}, @code{FILE_NAME},
1282 @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER},
1283 @code{OWNER_OS}, @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS},
1284 @code{NAME}, @code{ATOM}, and @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with
1285 upper-case names in accord with X conventions.) The default for
1286 @var{data-type} is @code{STRING}.
1287 @end defun
1288
1289 @cindex cut buffer
1290 The X server also has a set of numbered @dfn{cut buffers} which can
1291 store text or other data being moved between applications. Cut buffers
1292 are considered obsolete, but Emacs supports them for the sake of X
1293 clients that still use them.
1294
1295 @defun x-get-cut-buffer n
1296 This function returns the contents of cut buffer number @var{n}.
1297 @end defun
1298
1299 @defun x-set-cut-buffer string
1300 This function stores @var{string} into the first cut buffer (cut buffer
1301 0), moving the other values down through the series of cut buffers, much
1302 like the way successive kills in Emacs move down the kill ring.
1303 @end defun
1304
1305 @defvar selection-coding-system
1306 @tindex selection-coding-system
1307 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
1308 writing a selections, the clipboard, or a cut buffer. @xref{Coding
1309 Systems}.
1310 @end defvar
1311
1312 @need 1500
1313 @node Font Names
1314 @section Looking up Font Names
1315
1316 @defun x-list-font pattern &optional face frame maximum
1317 This function returns a list of available font names that match
1318 @var{pattern}. If the optional arguments @var{face} and @var{frame} are
1319 specified, then the list is limited to fonts that are the same size as
1320 @var{face} currently is on @var{frame}.
1321
1322 The argument @var{pattern} should be a string, perhaps with wildcard
1323 characters: the @samp{*} character matches any substring, and the
1324 @samp{?} character matches any single character. Pattern matching
1325 of font names ignores case.
1326
1327 If you specify @var{face} and @var{frame}, @var{face} should be a face name
1328 (a symbol) and @var{frame} should be a frame.
1329
1330 The optional argument @var{maximum} sets a limit on how many fonts to
1331 return. If this is non-@code{nil}, then the return value is truncated
1332 after the first @var{maximum} matching fonts. Specifying a small value
1333 for @var{maximum} can make this function much faster, in cases where
1334 many fonts match the pattern.
1335 @end defun
1336
1337 @node Fontsets
1338 @section Fontsets
1339
1340 A @dfn{fontset} is a list of fonts, each assigned to a range of
1341 character codes. An individual font cannot display the whole range of
1342 characters that Emacs supports, but a fontset can. Fontsets have names,
1343 just as fonts do, and you can use a fontset name in place of a font name
1344 when you specify the ``font'' for a frame or a face. Here is
1345 information about defining a fontset under Lisp program control.
1346
1347 @defun create-fontset-from-fontset-spec fontset-spec &optional style-variant-p noerror
1348 This function defines a new fontset according to the specification
1349 string @var{fontset-spec}. The string should have this format:
1350
1351 @smallexample
1352 @var{fontpattern}, @r{[}@var{charsetname}:@var{fontname}@r{]@dots{}}
1353 @end smallexample
1354
1355 @noindent
1356 Whitespace characters before and after the commas are ignored.
1357
1358 The first part of the string, @var{fontpattern}, should have the form of
1359 a standard X font name, except that the last two fields should be
1360 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}}.
1361
1362 The new fontset has two names, one long and one short. The long name is
1363 @var{fontpattern} in its entirety. The short name is
1364 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}}. You can refer to the fontset by either
1365 name. If a fontset with the same name already exists, an error is
1366 signaled, unless @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}, in which case this
1367 function does nothing.
1368
1369 If optional argument @var{style-variant-p} is non-@code{nil}, that says
1370 to create bold, italic and bold-italic variants of the fontset as well.
1371 These variant fontsets do not have a short name, only a long one, which
1372 is made by altering @var{fontpattern} to indicate the bold or italic
1373 status.
1374
1375 The specification string also says which fonts to use in the fontset.
1376 See below for the details.
1377 @end defun
1378
1379 The construct @samp{@var{charset}:@var{font}} specifies which font to
1380 use (in this fontset) for one particular character set. Here,
1381 @var{charset} is the name of a character set, and @var{font} is the font
1382 to use for that character set. You can use this construct any number of
1383 times in the specification string.
1384
1385 For the remaining character sets, those that you don't specify
1386 explicitly, Emacs chooses a font based on @var{fontpattern}: it replaces
1387 @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} with a value that names one character set.
1388 For the @sc{ASCII} character set, @samp{fontset-@var{alias}} is replaced
1389 with @samp{ISO8859-1}.
1390
1391 In addition, when several consecutive fields are wildcards, Emacs
1392 collapses them into a single wildcard. This is to prevent use of
1393 auto-scaled fonts. Fonts made by scaling larger fonts are not usable
1394 for editing, and scaling a smaller font is not useful because it is
1395 better to use the smaller font in its own size, which Emacs does.
1396
1397 Thus if @var{fontpattern} is this,
1398
1399 @example
1400 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24
1401 @end example
1402
1403 @noindent
1404 the font specification for ASCII characters would be this:
1405
1406 @example
1407 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-ISO8859-1
1408 @end example
1409
1410 @noindent
1411 and the font specification for Chinese GB2312 characters would be this:
1412
1413 @example
1414 -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
1415 @end example
1416
1417 You may not have any Chinese font matching the above font
1418 specification. Most X distributions include only Chinese fonts that
1419 have @samp{song ti} or @samp{fangsong ti} in the @var{family} field. In
1420 such a case, @samp{Fontset-@var{n}} can be specified as below:
1421
1422 @smallexample
1423 Emacs.Fontset-0: -*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-*-*-*-*-fontset-24,\
1424 chinese-gb2312:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-24-*-gb2312*-*
1425 @end smallexample
1426
1427 @noindent
1428 Then, the font specifications for all but Chinese GB2312 characters have
1429 @samp{fixed} in the @var{family} field, and the font specification for
1430 Chinese GB2312 characters has a wild card @samp{*} in the @var{family}
1431 field.
1432
1433 @node Color Names
1434 @section Color Names
1435
1436 @defun x-color-defined-p color &optional frame
1437 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
1438 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
1439 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
1440 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
1441
1442 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
1443 really supports that color. You can ask for any defined color on any
1444 kind of display, and you will get some result---that is how the X server
1445 works. Here's an approximate way to test whether your display supports
1446 the color @var{color}:
1447
1448 @example
1449 (defun x-color-supported-p (color &optional frame)
1450 (and (x-color-defined-p color frame)
1451 (or (x-display-color-p frame)
1452 (member color '("black" "white"))
1453 (and (> (x-display-planes frame) 1)
1454 (equal color "gray")))))
1455 @end example
1456 @end defun
1457
1458 @defun x-color-values color &optional frame
1459 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
1460 ideally look like. If @var{color} is defined, the value is a list of
1461 three integers, which give the amount of red, the amount of green, and
1462 the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in principle from 0 to 65535,
1463 but in practice no value seems to be above 65280. If @var{color} is not
1464 defined, the value is @code{nil}.
1465
1466 @example
1467 (x-color-values "black")
1468 @result{} (0 0 0)
1469 (x-color-values "white")
1470 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
1471 (x-color-values "red")
1472 @result{} (65280 0 0)
1473 (x-color-values "pink")
1474 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
1475 (x-color-values "hungry")
1476 @result{} nil
1477 @end example
1478
1479 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame}
1480 is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for the selected
1481 frame's display.
1482 @end defun
1483
1484 @node Resources
1485 @section X Resources
1486
1487 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
1488 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
1489 Windows defaults database.
1490
1491 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
1492 This function searches using a key of the form
1493 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
1494 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
1495 the class.
1496
1497 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
1498 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
1499 If you specify them, the key is
1500 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
1501 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
1502 @end defun
1503
1504 @defvar x-resource-class
1505 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
1506 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
1507 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
1508 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
1509 @end defvar
1510
1511 @xref{Resources X,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
1512
1513 @node Server Data
1514 @section Data about the X Server
1515
1516 This section describes functions you can use to get information about
1517 the capabilities and origin of an X display that Emacs is using. Each
1518 of these functions lets you specify the display you are interested in:
1519 the @var{display} argument can be either a display name, or a frame
1520 (meaning use the display that frame is on). If you omit the
1521 @var{display} argument, or specify @code{nil}, that means to use the
1522 selected frame's display.
1523
1524 @defun x-display-screens &optional display
1525 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
1526 @end defun
1527
1528 @defun x-server-version &optional display
1529 This function returns the list of version numbers of the X server
1530 running the display.
1531 @end defun
1532
1533 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
1534 This function returns the vendor that provided the X server software.
1535 @end defun
1536
1537 @defun x-display-pixel-height &optional display
1538 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
1539 @end defun
1540
1541 @defun x-display-mm-height &optional display
1542 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters.
1543 @end defun
1544
1545 @defun x-display-pixel-width &optional display
1546 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
1547 @end defun
1548
1549 @defun x-display-mm-width &optional display
1550 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters.
1551 @end defun
1552
1553 @defun x-display-backing-store &optional display
1554 This function returns the backing store capability of the screen.
1555 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
1556 @code{not-useful}.
1557 @end defun
1558
1559 @defun x-display-save-under &optional display
1560 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
1561 SaveUnder feature.
1562 @end defun
1563
1564 @defun x-display-planes &optional display
1565 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
1566 @end defun
1567
1568 @defun x-display-visual-class &optional display
1569 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is one
1570 of the symbols @code{static-gray}, @code{gray-scale},
1571 @code{static-color}, @code{pseudo-color}, @code{true-color}, and
1572 @code{direct-color}.
1573 @end defun
1574
1575 @defun x-display-grayscale-p &optional display
1576 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
1577 @end defun
1578
1579 @defun x-display-color-p &optional display
1580 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
1581 @end defun
1582
1583 @defun x-display-color-cells &optional display
1584 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
1585 @end defun
1586
1587 @ignore
1588 @defvar x-no-window-manager
1589 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
1590 @end defvar
1591 @end ignore
1592
1593 @ignore
1594 @item
1595 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
1596 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
1597 @end ignore