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