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