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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2015 Free Software
4 @c Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
6 @node Frames
7 @chapter Frames
8 @cindex frame
9
10 A @dfn{frame} is a screen object that contains one or more Emacs
11 windows (@pxref{Windows}). It is the kind of object called a
12 ``window'' in the terminology of graphical environments; but we can't
13 call it a ``window'' here, because Emacs uses that word in a different
14 way. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{frame object} is a Lisp object that
15 represents a frame on the screen. @xref{Frame Type}.
16
17 A frame initially contains a single main window and/or a minibuffer
18 window; you can subdivide the main window vertically or horizontally
19 into smaller windows. @xref{Splitting Windows}.
20
21 @cindex terminal
22 A @dfn{terminal} is a display device capable of displaying one or
23 more Emacs frames. In Emacs Lisp, a @dfn{terminal object} is a Lisp
24 object that represents a terminal. @xref{Terminal Type}.
25
26 @cindex text terminal
27 @cindex graphical terminal
28 @cindex graphical display
29 There are two classes of terminals: @dfn{text terminals} and
30 @dfn{graphical terminals}. Text terminals are non-graphics-capable
31 displays, including @command{xterm} and other terminal emulators. On
32 a text terminal, each Emacs frame occupies the terminal's entire
33 screen; although you can create additional frames and switch between
34 them, the terminal only shows one frame at a time. Graphical
35 terminals, on the other hand, are managed by graphical display systems
36 such as the X Window System, which allow Emacs to show multiple frames
37 simultaneously on the same display.
38
39 On GNU and Unix systems, you can create additional frames on any
40 available terminal, within a single Emacs session, regardless of
41 whether Emacs was started on a text or graphical terminal. Emacs can
42 display on both graphical and text terminals simultaneously. This
43 comes in handy, for instance, when you connect to the same session
44 from several remote locations. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
45
46 @defun framep object
47 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
48 frame, and @code{nil} otherwise. For a frame, the value indicates which
49 kind of display the frame uses:
50
51 @table @code
52 @item t
53 The frame is displayed on a text terminal.
54 @item x
55 The frame is displayed on an X graphical terminal.
56 @item w32
57 The frame is displayed on a MS-Windows graphical terminal.
58 @item ns
59 The frame is displayed on a GNUstep or Macintosh Cocoa graphical
60 terminal.
61 @item pc
62 The frame is displayed on an MS-DOS terminal.
63 @end table
64 @end defun
65
66 @defun frame-terminal &optional frame
67 This function returns the terminal object that displays @var{frame}.
68 If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or unspecified, it defaults to the
69 selected frame.
70 @end defun
71
72 @defun terminal-live-p object
73 This predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{object} is a
74 terminal that is live (i.e., not deleted), and @code{nil} otherwise.
75 For live terminals, the return value indicates what kind of frames are
76 displayed on that terminal; the list of possible values is the same as
77 for @code{framep} above.
78 @end defun
79
80 @menu
81 * Creating Frames:: Creating additional frames.
82 * Multiple Terminals:: Displaying on several different devices.
83 * Frame Parameters:: Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
84 * Terminal Parameters:: Parameters common for all frames on terminal.
85 * Frame Titles:: Automatic updating of frame titles.
86 * Deleting Frames:: Frames last until explicitly deleted.
87 * Finding All Frames:: How to examine all existing frames.
88 * Minibuffers and Frames:: How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
89 * Input Focus:: Specifying the selected frame.
90 * Visibility of Frames:: Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
91 * Raising and Lowering:: Raising a frame makes it hide other windows;
92 lowering it makes the others hide it.
93 * Frame Configurations:: Saving the state of all frames.
94 * Mouse Tracking:: Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
95 * Mouse Position:: Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
96 * Pop-Up Menus:: Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
97 * Dialog Boxes:: Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
98 * Pointer Shape:: Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
99 * Window System Selections:: Transferring text to and from other X clients.
100 * Drag and Drop:: Internals of Drag-and-Drop implementation.
101 * Color Names:: Getting the definitions of color names.
102 * Text Terminal Colors:: Defining colors for text terminals.
103 * Resources:: Getting resource values from the server.
104 * Display Feature Testing:: Determining the features of a terminal.
105 @end menu
106
107 @node Creating Frames
108 @section Creating Frames
109 @cindex frame creation
110
111 To create a new frame, call the function @code{make-frame}.
112
113 @deffn Command make-frame &optional alist
114 This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current
115 buffer.
116
117 The @var{alist} argument is an alist that specifies frame parameters
118 for the new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}. If you specify the
119 @code{terminal} parameter in @var{alist}, the new frame is created on
120 that terminal. Otherwise, if you specify the @code{window-system}
121 frame parameter in @var{alist}, that determines whether the frame
122 should be displayed on a text terminal or a graphical terminal.
123 @xref{Window Systems}. If neither is specified, the new frame is
124 created in the same terminal as the selected frame.
125
126 Any parameters not mentioned in @var{alist} default to the values in
127 the alist @code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Initial Parameters});
128 parameters not specified there default from the X resources or its
129 equivalent on your operating system (@pxref{X Resources,, X Resources,
130 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). After the frame is created, Emacs
131 applies any parameters listed in @code{frame-inherited-parameters}
132 (see below) and not present in the argument, taking the values from
133 the frame that was selected when @code{make-frame} was called.
134
135 Note that on multi-monitor displays (@pxref{Multiple Terminals}), the
136 window manager might position the frame differently than specified by
137 the positional parameters in @var{alist} (@pxref{Position
138 Parameters}). For example, some window managers have a policy of
139 displaying the frame on the monitor that contains the largest part of
140 the window (a.k.a.@: the @dfn{dominating} monitor).
141
142 This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame.
143 @xref{Input Focus}. The previously selected frame remains selected.
144 On graphical terminals, however, the windowing system may select the
145 new frame for its own reasons.
146 @end deffn
147
148 @defvar before-make-frame-hook
149 A normal hook run by @code{make-frame} before it creates the frame.
150 @end defvar
151
152 @defvar after-make-frame-functions
153 An abnormal hook run by @code{make-frame} after it creates the frame.
154 Each function in @code{after-make-frame-functions} receives one argument, the
155 frame just created.
156 @end defvar
157
158 @defvar frame-inherited-parameters
159 This variable specifies the list of frame parameters that a newly
160 created frame inherits from the currently selected frame. For each
161 parameter (a symbol) that is an element in the list and is not present
162 in the argument to @code{make-frame}, the function sets the value of
163 that parameter in the created frame to its value in the selected
164 frame.
165 @end defvar
166
167 @node Multiple Terminals
168 @section Multiple Terminals
169 @cindex multiple terminals
170 @cindex multi-tty
171 @cindex multiple X displays
172 @cindex displays, multiple
173
174 Emacs represents each terminal as a @dfn{terminal object} data type
175 (@pxref{Terminal Type}). On GNU and Unix systems, Emacs can use
176 multiple terminals simultaneously in each session. On other systems,
177 it can only use a single terminal. Each terminal object has the
178 following attributes:
179
180 @itemize @bullet
181 @item
182 The name of the device used by the terminal (e.g., @samp{:0.0} or
183 @file{/dev/tty}).
184
185 @item
186 The terminal and keyboard coding systems used on the terminal.
187 @xref{Terminal I/O Encoding}.
188
189 @item
190 The kind of display associated with the terminal. This is the symbol
191 returned by the function @code{terminal-live-p} (i.e., @code{x},
192 @code{t}, @code{w32}, @code{ns}, or @code{pc}). @xref{Frames}.
193
194 @item
195 A list of terminal parameters. @xref{Terminal Parameters}.
196 @end itemize
197
198 There is no primitive for creating terminal objects. Emacs creates
199 them as needed, such as when you call @code{make-frame-on-display}
200 (described below).
201
202 @defun terminal-name &optional terminal
203 This function returns the file name of the device used by
204 @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it
205 defaults to the selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be
206 a frame, meaning that frame's terminal.
207 @end defun
208
209 @defun terminal-list
210 This function returns a list of all live terminal objects.
211 @end defun
212
213 @defun get-device-terminal device
214 This function returns a terminal whose device name is given by
215 @var{device}. If @var{device} is a string, it can be either the file
216 name of a terminal device, or the name of an X display of the form
217 @samp{@var{host}:@var{server}.@var{screen}}. If @var{device} is a
218 frame, this function returns that frame's terminal; @code{nil} means
219 the selected frame. Finally, if @var{device} is a terminal object
220 that represents a live terminal, that terminal is returned. The
221 function signals an error if its argument is none of the above.
222 @end defun
223
224 @defun delete-terminal &optional terminal force
225 This function deletes all frames on @var{terminal} and frees the
226 resources used by it. It runs the abnormal hook
227 @code{delete-terminal-functions}, passing @var{terminal} as the
228 argument to each function.
229
230 If @var{terminal} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the
231 selected frame's terminal. @var{terminal} can also be a frame,
232 meaning that frame's terminal.
233
234 Normally, this function signals an error if you attempt to delete the
235 sole active terminal, but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, you are
236 allowed to do so. Emacs automatically calls this function when the
237 last frame on a terminal is deleted (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
238 @end defun
239
240 @defvar delete-terminal-functions
241 An abnormal hook run by @code{delete-terminal}. Each function
242 receives one argument, the @var{terminal} argument passed to
243 @code{delete-terminal}. Due to technical details, the functions may
244 be called either just before the terminal is deleted, or just
245 afterwards.
246 @end defvar
247
248 @cindex terminal-local variables
249 A few Lisp variables are @dfn{terminal-local}; that is, they have a
250 separate binding for each terminal. The binding in effect at any time
251 is the one for the terminal that the currently selected frame belongs
252 to. These variables include @code{default-minibuffer-frame},
253 @code{defining-kbd-macro}, @code{last-kbd-macro}, and
254 @code{system-key-alist}. They are always terminal-local, and can
255 never be buffer-local (@pxref{Buffer-Local Variables}).
256
257 On GNU and Unix systems, each X display is a separate graphical
258 terminal. When Emacs is started from within the X window system, it
259 uses the X display specified by the @env{DISPLAY} environment
260 variable, or by the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial Options,,,
261 emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). Emacs can connect to other X displays
262 via the command @code{make-frame-on-display}. Each X display has its
263 own selected frame and its own minibuffer windows; however, only one
264 of those frames is ``@emph{the} selected frame'' at any given moment
265 (@pxref{Input Focus}). Emacs can even connect to other text
266 terminals, by interacting with the @command{emacsclient} program.
267 @xref{Emacs Server,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
268
269 @cindex X display names
270 @cindex display name on X
271 A single X server can handle more than one display. Each X display
272 has a three-part name,
273 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{displaynumber}.@var{screennumber}}. The
274 first part, @var{hostname}, specifies the name of the machine to which
275 the display is physically connected. The second part,
276 @var{displaynumber}, is a zero-based number that identifies one or
277 more monitors connected to that machine that share a common keyboard
278 and pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.). The third part,
279 @var{screennumber}, identifies a zero-based screen number (a separate
280 monitor) that is part of a single monitor collection on that X server.
281 When you use two or more screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows
282 by the similarity in their names that they share a single keyboard.
283
284 Systems that don't use the X window system, such as MS-Windows,
285 don't support the notion of X displays, and have only one display on
286 each host. The display name on these systems doesn't follow the above
287 3-part format; for example, the display name on MS-Windows systems is
288 a constant string @samp{w32}, and exists for compatibility, so that
289 you could pass it to functions that expect a display name.
290
291 @deffn Command make-frame-on-display display &optional parameters
292 This function creates and returns a new frame on @var{display}, taking
293 the other frame parameters from the alist @var{parameters}.
294 @var{display} should be the name of an X display (a string).
295
296 Before creating the frame, this function ensures that Emacs is ``set
297 up'' to display graphics. For instance, if Emacs has not processed X
298 resources (e.g., if it was started on a text terminal), it does so at
299 this time. In all other respects, this function behaves like
300 @code{make-frame} (@pxref{Creating Frames}).
301 @end deffn
302
303 @defun x-display-list
304 This function returns a list that indicates which X displays Emacs has
305 a connection to. The elements of the list are strings, and each one
306 is a display name.
307 @end defun
308
309 @defun x-open-connection display &optional xrm-string must-succeed
310 This function opens a connection to the X display @var{display},
311 without creating a frame on that display. Normally, Emacs Lisp
312 programs need not call this function, as @code{make-frame-on-display}
313 calls it automatically. The only reason for calling it is to check
314 whether communication can be established with a given X display.
315
316 The optional argument @var{xrm-string}, if not @code{nil}, is a string
317 of resource names and values, in the same format used in the
318 @file{.Xresources} file. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The
319 GNU Emacs Manual}. These values apply to all Emacs frames created on
320 this display, overriding the resource values recorded in the X server.
321 Here's an example of what this string might look like:
322
323 @example
324 "*BorderWidth: 3\n*InternalBorder: 2\n"
325 @end example
326
327 If @var{must-succeed} is non-@code{nil}, failure to open the connection
328 terminates Emacs. Otherwise, it is an ordinary Lisp error.
329 @end defun
330
331 @defun x-close-connection display
332 This function closes the connection to display @var{display}. Before
333 you can do this, you must first delete all the frames that were open
334 on that display (@pxref{Deleting Frames}).
335 @end defun
336
337 @cindex multi-monitor
338 On some ``multi-monitor'' setups, a single X display outputs to more
339 than one physical monitor. You can use the functions
340 @code{display-monitor-attributes-list} and @code{frame-monitor-attributes}
341 to obtain information about such setups.
342
343 @defun display-monitor-attributes-list &optional display
344 This function returns a list of physical monitor attributes on
345 @var{display}, which can be a display name (a string), a terminal, or
346 a frame; if omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame's
347 display. Each element of the list is an association list,
348 representing the attributes of a physical monitor. The first element
349 corresponds to the primary monitor. The attribute keys and values
350 are:
351
352 @table @samp
353 @item geometry
354 Position of the top-left corner of the monitor's screen and its size,
355 in pixels, as @samp{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})}. Note
356 that, if the monitor is not the primary monitor, some of the
357 coordinates might be negative.
358
359 @item workarea
360 Position of the top-left corner and size of the work area (``usable''
361 space) in pixels as @samp{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{width} @var{height})}.
362 This may be different from @samp{geometry} in that space occupied by
363 various window manager features (docks, taskbars, etc.)@: may be
364 excluded from the work area. Whether or not such features actually
365 subtract from the work area depends on the platform and environment.
366 Again, if the monitor is not the primary monitor, some of the
367 coordinates might be negative.
368
369 @item mm-size
370 Width and height in millimeters as @samp{(@var{width} @var{height})}
371
372 @item frames
373 List of frames that this physical monitor dominates (see below).
374
375 @item name
376 Name of the physical monitor as @var{string}.
377
378 @item source
379 Source of the multi-monitor information as @var{string};
380 e.g., @samp{XRandr} or @samp{Xinerama}.
381 @end table
382
383 @var{x}, @var{y}, @var{width}, and @var{height} are integers.
384 @samp{name} and @samp{source} may be absent.
385
386 A frame is @dfn{dominated} by a physical monitor when either the
387 largest area of the frame resides in that monitor, or (if the frame
388 does not intersect any physical monitors) that monitor is the closest
389 to the frame. Every (non-tooltip) frame (whether visible or not) in a
390 graphical display is dominated by exactly one physical monitor at a
391 time, though the frame can span multiple (or no) physical monitors.
392
393 Here's an example of the data produced by this function on a 2-monitor
394 display:
395
396 @lisp
397 (display-monitor-attributes-list)
398 @result{}
399 (((geometry 0 0 1920 1080) ;; @r{Left-hand, primary monitor}
400 (workarea 0 0 1920 1050) ;; @r{A taskbar occupies some of the height}
401 (mm-size 677 381)
402 (name . "DISPLAY1")
403 (frames #<frame emacs@@host *Messages* 0x11578c0>
404 #<frame emacs@@host *scratch* 0x114b838>))
405 ((geometry 1920 0 1680 1050) ;; @r{Right-hand monitor}
406 (workarea 1920 0 1680 1050) ;; @r{Whole screen can be used}
407 (mm-size 593 370)
408 (name . "DISPLAY2")
409 (frames)))
410 @end lisp
411
412 @end defun
413
414 @defun frame-monitor-attributes &optional frame
415 This function returns the attributes of the physical monitor
416 dominating (see above) @var{frame}, which defaults to the selected frame.
417 @end defun
418
419 @node Frame Parameters
420 @section Frame Parameters
421 @cindex frame parameters
422
423 A frame has many parameters that control its appearance and behavior.
424 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism it
425 uses.
426
427 Frame parameters exist mostly for the sake of graphical displays.
428 Most frame parameters have no effect when applied to a frame on a text
429 terminal; only the @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{name},
430 @code{title}, @code{menu-bar-lines}, @code{buffer-list} and
431 @code{buffer-predicate} parameters do something special. If the
432 terminal supports colors, the parameters @code{foreground-color},
433 @code{background-color}, @code{background-mode} and
434 @code{display-type} are also meaningful. If the terminal supports
435 frame transparency, the parameter @code{alpha} is also meaningful.
436
437 @menu
438 * Parameter Access:: How to change a frame's parameters.
439 * Initial Parameters:: Specifying frame parameters when you make a frame.
440 * Window Frame Parameters:: List of frame parameters for window systems.
441 * Size and Position:: Changing the size and position of a frame.
442 * Geometry:: Parsing geometry specifications.
443 @end menu
444
445 @node Parameter Access
446 @subsection Access to Frame Parameters
447
448 These functions let you read and change the parameter values of a
449 frame.
450
451 @defun frame-parameter frame parameter
452 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
453 symbol) of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it returns the
454 selected frame's parameter. If @var{frame} has no setting for
455 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
456 @end defun
457
458 @defun frame-parameters &optional frame
459 The function @code{frame-parameters} returns an alist listing all the
460 parameters of @var{frame} and their values. If @var{frame} is
461 @code{nil} or omitted, this returns the selected frame's parameters
462 @end defun
463
464 @defun modify-frame-parameters frame alist
465 This function alters the parameters of frame @var{frame} based on the
466 elements of @var{alist}. Each element of @var{alist} has the form
467 @code{(@var{parm} . @var{value})}, where @var{parm} is a symbol naming a
468 parameter. If you don't mention a parameter in @var{alist}, its value
469 doesn't change. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected
470 frame.
471 @end defun
472
473 @defun set-frame-parameter frame parm value
474 This function sets the frame parameter @var{parm} to the specified
475 @var{value}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil}, it defaults to the
476 selected frame.
477 @end defun
478
479 @defun modify-all-frames-parameters alist
480 This function alters the frame parameters of all existing frames
481 according to @var{alist}, then modifies @code{default-frame-alist}
482 (and, if necessary, @code{initial-frame-alist}) to apply the same
483 parameter values to frames that will be created henceforth.
484 @end defun
485
486 @node Initial Parameters
487 @subsection Initial Frame Parameters
488 @cindex parameters of initial frame
489
490 You can specify the parameters for the initial startup frame by
491 setting @code{initial-frame-alist} in your init file (@pxref{Init
492 File}).
493
494 @defopt initial-frame-alist
495 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
496 creating the initial frame. You can set this variable to specify the
497 appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
498 Each element has the form:
499
500 @example
501 (@var{parameter} . @var{value})
502 @end example
503
504 Emacs creates the initial frame before it reads your init
505 file. After reading that file, Emacs checks @code{initial-frame-alist},
506 and applies the parameter settings in the altered value to the already
507 created initial frame.
508
509 If these settings affect the frame geometry and appearance, you'll see
510 the frame appear with the wrong ones and then change to the specified
511 ones. If that bothers you, you can specify the same geometry and
512 appearance with X resources; those do take effect before the frame is
513 created. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
514
515 X resource settings typically apply to all frames. If you want to
516 specify some X resources solely for the sake of the initial frame, and
517 you don't want them to apply to subsequent frames, here's how to achieve
518 this. Specify parameters in @code{default-frame-alist} to override the
519 X resources for subsequent frames; then, to prevent these from affecting
520 the initial frame, specify the same parameters in
521 @code{initial-frame-alist} with values that match the X resources.
522 @end defopt
523
524 @cindex minibuffer-only frame
525 If these parameters include @code{(minibuffer . nil)}, that indicates
526 that the initial frame should have no minibuffer. In this case, Emacs
527 creates a separate @dfn{minibuffer-only frame} as well.
528
529 @defopt minibuffer-frame-alist
530 This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when
531 creating an initial minibuffer-only frame (i.e., the minibuffer-only
532 frame that Emacs creates if @code{initial-frame-alist} specifies a
533 frame with no minibuffer).
534 @end defopt
535
536 @defopt default-frame-alist
537 This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
538 Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. When using the X
539 Window System, you can get the same results by means of X resources
540 in many cases.
541
542 Setting this variable does not affect existing frames. Furthermore,
543 functions that display a buffer in a separate frame may override the
544 default parameters by supplying their own parameters.
545 @end defopt
546
547 If you invoke Emacs with command-line options that specify frame
548 appearance, those options take effect by adding elements to either
549 @code{initial-frame-alist} or @code{default-frame-alist}. Options
550 which affect just the initial frame, such as @samp{--geometry} and
551 @samp{--maximized}, add to @code{initial-frame-alist}; the others add
552 to @code{default-frame-alist}. @pxref{Emacs Invocation,, Command Line
553 Arguments for Emacs Invocation, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
554
555 @node Window Frame Parameters
556 @subsection Window Frame Parameters
557 @cindex frame parameters for windowed displays
558
559 Just what parameters a frame has depends on what display mechanism
560 it uses. This section describes the parameters that have special
561 meanings on some or all kinds of terminals. Of these, @code{name},
562 @code{title}, @code{height}, @code{width}, @code{buffer-list} and
563 @code{buffer-predicate} provide meaningful information in terminal
564 frames, and @code{tty-color-mode} is meaningful only for frames on
565 text terminals.
566
567 @menu
568 * Basic Parameters:: Parameters that are fundamental.
569 * Position Parameters:: The position of the frame on the screen.
570 * Size Parameters:: Frame's size.
571 * Layout Parameters:: Size of parts of the frame, and
572 enabling or disabling some parts.
573 * Buffer Parameters:: Which buffers have been or should be shown.
574 * Management Parameters:: Communicating with the window manager.
575 * Cursor Parameters:: Controlling the cursor appearance.
576 * Font and Color Parameters:: Fonts and colors for the frame text.
577 @end menu
578
579 @node Basic Parameters
580 @subsubsection Basic Parameters
581
582 These frame parameters give the most basic information about the
583 frame. @code{title} and @code{name} are meaningful on all terminals.
584
585 @table @code
586 @vindex display, a frame parameter
587 @item display
588 The display on which to open this frame. It should be a string of the
589 form @samp{@var{host}:@var{dpy}.@var{screen}}, just like the
590 @env{DISPLAY} environment variable. @xref{Multiple Terminals}, for
591 more details about display names.
592
593 @vindex display-type, a frame parameter
594 @item display-type
595 This parameter describes the range of possible colors that can be used
596 in this frame. Its value is @code{color}, @code{grayscale} or
597 @code{mono}.
598
599 @vindex title, a frame parameter
600 @item title
601 If a frame has a non-@code{nil} title, it appears in the window
602 system's title bar at the top of the frame, and also in the mode line
603 of windows in that frame if @code{mode-line-frame-identification} uses
604 @samp{%F} (@pxref{%-Constructs}). This is normally the case when
605 Emacs is not using a window system, and can only display one frame at
606 a time. @xref{Frame Titles}.
607
608 @vindex name, a frame parameter
609 @item name
610 The name of the frame. The frame name serves as a default for the frame
611 title, if the @code{title} parameter is unspecified or @code{nil}. If
612 you don't specify a name, Emacs sets the frame name automatically
613 (@pxref{Frame Titles}).
614
615 If you specify the frame name explicitly when you create the frame, the
616 name is also used (instead of the name of the Emacs executable) when
617 looking up X resources for the frame.
618
619 @item explicit-name
620 If the frame name was specified explicitly when the frame was created,
621 this parameter will be that name. If the frame wasn't explicitly
622 named, this parameter will be @code{nil}.
623 @end table
624
625 @node Position Parameters
626 @subsubsection Position Parameters
627 @cindex window position on display
628 @cindex frame position
629
630 Position parameters' values are normally measured in pixels, but on
631 text terminals they count characters or lines instead.
632
633 @table @code
634 @vindex left, a frame parameter
635 @item left
636 The position, in pixels, of the left (or right) edge of the frame with
637 respect to the left (or right) edge of the screen. The value may be:
638
639 @table @asis
640 @item an integer
641 A positive integer relates the left edge of the frame to the left edge
642 of the screen. A negative integer relates the right frame edge to the
643 right screen edge.
644
645 @item @code{(+ @var{pos})}
646 This specifies the position of the left frame edge relative to the left
647 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
648 negative value specifies a position outside the screen or on a monitor
649 other than the primary one (for multi-monitor displays).
650
651 @item @code{(- @var{pos})}
652 This specifies the position of the right frame edge relative to the right
653 screen edge. The integer @var{pos} may be positive or negative; a
654 negative value specifies a position outside the screen or on a monitor
655 other than the primary one (for multi-monitor displays).
656 @end table
657
658 Some window managers ignore program-specified positions. If you want to
659 be sure the position you specify is not ignored, specify a
660 non-@code{nil} value for the @code{user-position} parameter as well.
661
662 If the window manager refuses to align a frame at the left or top screen
663 edge, combining position notation and @code{user-position} as in
664
665 @example
666 (modify-frame-parameters
667 nil '((user-position . t) (left . (+ -4))))
668 @end example
669
670 may help to override that.
671
672 @vindex top, a frame parameter
673 @item top
674 The screen position of the top (or bottom) edge, in pixels, with respect
675 to the top (or bottom) edge of the screen. It works just like
676 @code{left}, except vertically instead of horizontally.
677
678 @vindex icon-left, a frame parameter
679 @item icon-left
680 The screen position of the left edge of the frame's icon, in pixels,
681 counting from the left edge of the screen. This takes effect when the
682 frame is iconified, if the window manager supports this feature. If
683 you specify a value for this parameter, then you must also specify a
684 value for @code{icon-top} and vice versa.
685
686 @vindex icon-top, a frame parameter
687 @item icon-top
688 The screen position of the top edge of the frame's icon, in pixels,
689 counting from the top edge of the screen. This takes effect when the
690 frame is iconified, if the window manager supports this feature.
691
692 @vindex user-position, a frame parameter
693 @item user-position
694 When you create a frame and specify its screen position with the
695 @code{left} and @code{top} parameters, use this parameter to say whether
696 the specified position was user-specified (explicitly requested in some
697 way by a human user) or merely program-specified (chosen by a program).
698 A non-@code{nil} value says the position was user-specified.
699
700 @cindex window positions and window managers
701 Window managers generally heed user-specified positions, and some heed
702 program-specified positions too. But many ignore program-specified
703 positions, placing the window in a default fashion or letting the user
704 place it with the mouse. Some window managers, including @code{twm},
705 let the user specify whether to obey program-specified positions or
706 ignore them.
707
708 When you call @code{make-frame}, you should specify a non-@code{nil}
709 value for this parameter if the values of the @code{left} and @code{top}
710 parameters represent the user's stated preference; otherwise, use
711 @code{nil}.
712 @end table
713
714
715 @node Size Parameters
716 @subsubsection Size Parameters
717 @cindex window size on display
718
719 Frame parameters specify frame sizes in character units. On
720 graphical displays, the @code{default} face determines the actual
721 pixel sizes of these character units (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
722
723 @table @code
724 @vindex height, a frame parameter
725 @item height
726 The height of the frame's text area (@pxref{Size and Position}), in
727 characters.
728
729 @vindex width, a frame parameter
730 @item width
731 The width of the frame's text area (@pxref{Size and Position}), in
732 characters.
733
734 @vindex user-size, a frame parameter
735 @item user-size
736 This does for the size parameters @code{height} and @code{width} what
737 the @code{user-position} parameter (@pxref{Position Parameters,
738 user-position}) does for the position parameters @code{top} and
739 @code{left}.
740
741 @cindex full-screen frames
742 @vindex fullscreen, a frame parameter
743 @item fullscreen
744 Specify that width, height or both shall be maximized. The value
745 @code{fullwidth} specifies that width shall be as wide as possible. The
746 value @code{fullheight} specifies that height shall be as tall as
747 possible. The value @code{fullboth} specifies that both the width and
748 the height shall be set to the size of the screen. The value
749 @code{maximized} specifies that the frame shall be maximized.
750
751 The difference between @code{maximized} and @code{fullboth} is that a
752 maximized frame usually keeps its title bar and the buttons for resizing
753 and closing the frame. Also, maximized frames typically avoid hiding
754 any task bar or panels displayed on the desktop. ``Fullboth'' frames,
755 on the other hand, usually omit the title bar and occupy the entire
756 available screen space.
757
758 ``Fullheight'' and ``fullwidth'' frames are more similar to maximized
759 frames in this regard. However, these typically display an external
760 border which might be absent with maximized frames. Hence the heights
761 of maximized and fullheight frames and the widths of maximized and
762 fullwidth frames often differ by a few pixels.
763
764 With some window managers you may have to customize the variable
765 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} (@pxref{Size and Position}) in order to
766 make a frame truly appear ``maximized'' or ``fullscreen''. Moreover,
767 some window managers might not support smooth transition between the
768 various fullscreen or maximization states. Customizing the variable
769 @code{x-frame-normalize-before-maximize} can help to overcome that.
770
771 @vindex fullscreen-restore, a frame parameter
772 @item fullscreen-restore
773 This parameter specifies the desired ``fullscreen'' state of the frame
774 after invoking the @code{toggle-frame-fullscreen} command (@pxref{Frame
775 Commands,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}) in the ``fullboth'' state.
776 Normally this parameter is installed automatically by that command when
777 toggling the state to fullboth. If, however, you start Emacs in the
778 fullboth state, you have to specify the desired behavior in your initial
779 file as, for example
780
781 @example
782 (setq default-frame-alist
783 '((fullscreen . fullboth) (fullscreen-restore . fullheight)))
784 @end example
785
786 This will give a new frame full height after typing in it @key{F11} for
787 the first time.
788 @end table
789
790
791 @node Layout Parameters
792 @subsubsection Layout Parameters
793 @cindex layout parameters of frames
794 @cindex frame layout parameters
795
796 These frame parameters enable or disable various parts of the
797 frame, or control their sizes.
798
799 @table @code
800 @vindex border-width, a frame parameter
801 @item border-width
802 The width in pixels of the frame's border.
803
804 @vindex internal-border-width, a frame parameter
805 @item internal-border-width
806 The distance in pixels between text (or fringe) and the frame's border.
807
808 @vindex vertical-scroll-bars, a frame parameter
809 @item vertical-scroll-bars
810 Whether the frame has scroll bars for vertical scrolling, and which side
811 of the frame they should be on. The possible values are @code{left},
812 @code{right}, and @code{nil} for no scroll bars.
813
814 @vindex horizontal-scroll-bars, a frame parameter
815 @item horizontal-scroll-bars
816 Whether the frame has scroll bars for horizontal scrolling (@code{t} and
817 @code{bottom} mean yes, @code{nil} means no).
818
819 @vindex scroll-bar-width, a frame parameter
820 @item scroll-bar-width
821 The width of vertical scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning to
822 use the default width.
823
824 @vindex scroll-bar-height, a frame parameter
825 @item scroll-bar-height
826 The height of horizontal scroll bars, in pixels, or @code{nil} meaning
827 to use the default height.
828
829 @vindex left-fringe, a frame parameter
830 @vindex right-fringe, a frame parameter
831 @item left-fringe
832 @itemx right-fringe
833 The default width of the left and right fringes of windows in this
834 frame (@pxref{Fringes}). If either of these is zero, that effectively
835 removes the corresponding fringe.
836
837 When you use @code{frame-parameter} to query the value of either of
838 these two frame parameters, the return value is always an integer.
839 When using @code{set-frame-parameter}, passing a @code{nil} value
840 imposes an actual default value of 8 pixels.
841
842 @vindex right-divider-width, a frame parameter
843 @item right-divider-width
844 The width (thickness) reserved for the right divider (@pxref{Window
845 Dividers}) of any window on the frame, in pixels. A value of zero means
846 to not draw right dividers.
847
848 @vindex bottom-divider-width, a frame parameter
849 @item bottom-divider-width
850 The width (thickness) reserved for the bottom divider (@pxref{Window
851 Dividers}) of any window on the frame, in pixels. A value of zero means
852 to not draw bottom dividers.
853
854 @vindex menu-bar-lines frame parameter
855 @item menu-bar-lines
856 The number of lines to allocate at the top of the frame for a menu
857 bar. The default is 1 if Menu Bar mode is enabled, and 0 otherwise.
858 @xref{Menu Bars,,,emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
859
860 @vindex tool-bar-lines frame parameter
861 @item tool-bar-lines
862 The number of lines to use for the tool bar. The default is 1 if Tool
863 Bar mode is enabled, and 0 otherwise. @xref{Tool Bars,,,emacs, The
864 GNU Emacs Manual}.
865
866 @vindex tool-bar-position frame parameter
867 @item tool-bar-position
868 The position of the tool bar. Currently only for the GTK tool bar.
869 Value can be one of @code{top}, @code{bottom} @code{left}, @code{right}.
870 The default is @code{top}.
871
872 @vindex line-spacing, a frame parameter
873 @item line-spacing
874 Additional space to leave below each text line, in pixels (a positive
875 integer). @xref{Line Height}, for more information.
876 @end table
877
878 @node Buffer Parameters
879 @subsubsection Buffer Parameters
880 @cindex frame, which buffers to display
881 @cindex buffers to display on frame
882
883 These frame parameters, meaningful on all kinds of terminals, deal
884 with which buffers have been, or should, be displayed in the frame.
885
886 @table @code
887 @vindex minibuffer, a frame parameter
888 @item minibuffer
889 Whether this frame has its own minibuffer. The value @code{t} means
890 yes, @code{nil} means no, @code{only} means this frame is just a
891 minibuffer. If the value is a minibuffer window (in some other
892 frame), the frame uses that minibuffer.
893
894 This frame parameter takes effect when the frame is created, and can
895 not be changed afterwards.
896
897 @vindex buffer-predicate, a frame parameter
898 @item buffer-predicate
899 The buffer-predicate function for this frame. The function
900 @code{other-buffer} uses this predicate (from the selected frame) to
901 decide which buffers it should consider, if the predicate is not
902 @code{nil}. It calls the predicate with one argument, a buffer, once for
903 each buffer; if the predicate returns a non-@code{nil} value, it
904 considers that buffer.
905
906 @vindex buffer-list, a frame parameter
907 @item buffer-list
908 A list of buffers that have been selected in this frame, ordered
909 most-recently-selected first.
910
911 @vindex unsplittable, a frame parameter
912 @item unsplittable
913 If non-@code{nil}, this frame's window is never split automatically.
914 @end table
915
916 @node Management Parameters
917 @subsubsection Window Management Parameters
918 @cindex window manager interaction, and frame parameters
919
920 The following frame parameters control various aspects of the
921 frame's interaction with the window manager. They have no effect on
922 text terminals.
923
924 @table @code
925 @vindex visibility, a frame parameter
926 @item visibility
927 The state of visibility of the frame. There are three possibilities:
928 @code{nil} for invisible, @code{t} for visible, and @code{icon} for
929 iconified. @xref{Visibility of Frames}.
930
931 @vindex auto-raise, a frame parameter
932 @item auto-raise
933 If non-@code{nil}, Emacs automatically raises the frame when it is
934 selected. Some window managers do not allow this.
935
936 @vindex auto-lower, a frame parameter
937 @item auto-lower
938 If non-@code{nil}, Emacs automatically lowers the frame when it is
939 deselected. Some window managers do not allow this.
940
941 @vindex icon-type, a frame parameter
942 @item icon-type
943 The type of icon to use for this frame. If the value is a string,
944 that specifies a file containing a bitmap to use; @code{nil} specifies
945 no icon (in which case the window manager decides what to show); any
946 other non-@code{nil} value specifies the default Emacs icon.
947
948 @vindex icon-name, a frame parameter
949 @item icon-name
950 The name to use in the icon for this frame, when and if the icon
951 appears. If this is @code{nil}, the frame's title is used.
952
953 @vindex window-id, a frame parameter
954 @item window-id
955 The ID number which the graphical display uses for this frame. Emacs
956 assigns this parameter when the frame is created; changing the
957 parameter has no effect on the actual ID number.
958
959 @vindex outer-window-id, a frame parameter
960 @item outer-window-id
961 The ID number of the outermost window-system window in which the frame
962 exists. As with @code{window-id}, changing this parameter has no
963 actual effect.
964
965 @vindex wait-for-wm, a frame parameter
966 @item wait-for-wm
967 If non-@code{nil}, tell Xt to wait for the window manager to confirm
968 geometry changes. Some window managers, including versions of Fvwm2
969 and KDE, fail to confirm, so Xt hangs. Set this to @code{nil} to
970 prevent hanging with those window managers.
971
972 @vindex sticky, a frame parameter
973 @item sticky
974 If non-@code{nil}, the frame is visible on all virtual desktops on systems
975 with virtual desktops.
976
977 @ignore
978 @vindex parent-id, a frame parameter
979 @item parent-id
980 @c ??? Not yet working.
981 The X window number of the window that should be the parent of this one.
982 Specifying this lets you create an Emacs window inside some other
983 application's window. (It is not certain this will be implemented; try
984 it and see if it works.)
985 @end ignore
986 @end table
987
988 @node Cursor Parameters
989 @subsubsection Cursor Parameters
990 @cindex cursor, and frame parameters
991
992 This frame parameter controls the way the cursor looks.
993
994 @table @code
995 @vindex cursor-type, a frame parameter
996 @item cursor-type
997 How to display the cursor. Legitimate values are:
998
999 @table @code
1000 @item box
1001 Display a filled box. (This is the default.)
1002 @item hollow
1003 Display a hollow box.
1004 @item nil
1005 Don't display a cursor.
1006 @item bar
1007 Display a vertical bar between characters.
1008 @item (bar . @var{width})
1009 Display a vertical bar @var{width} pixels wide between characters.
1010 @item hbar
1011 Display a horizontal bar.
1012 @item (hbar . @var{height})
1013 Display a horizontal bar @var{height} pixels high.
1014 @end table
1015 @end table
1016
1017 @vindex cursor-type
1018 The @code{cursor-type} frame parameter may be overridden by the
1019 variables @code{cursor-type} and
1020 @code{cursor-in-non-selected-windows}:
1021
1022 @defvar cursor-type
1023 This buffer-local variable controls how the cursor looks in a selected
1024 window showing the buffer. If its value is @code{t}, that means to
1025 use the cursor specified by the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1026 Otherwise, the value should be one of the cursor types listed above,
1027 and it overrides the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1028 @end defvar
1029
1030 @defopt cursor-in-non-selected-windows
1031 This buffer-local variable controls how the cursor looks in a window
1032 that is not selected. It supports the same values as the
1033 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter; also, @code{nil} means don't
1034 display a cursor in nonselected windows, and @code{t} (the default)
1035 means use a standard modification of the usual cursor type (solid box
1036 becomes hollow box, and bar becomes a narrower bar).
1037 @end defopt
1038
1039 @defopt blink-cursor-alist
1040 This variable specifies how to blink the cursor. Each element has the
1041 form @code{(@var{on-state} . @var{off-state})}. Whenever the cursor
1042 type equals @var{on-state} (comparing using @code{equal}), the
1043 corresponding @var{off-state} specifies what the cursor looks like
1044 when it blinks ``off''. Both @var{on-state} and @var{off-state}
1045 should be suitable values for the @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1046
1047 There are various defaults for how to blink each type of cursor, if
1048 the type is not mentioned as an @var{on-state} here. Changes in this
1049 variable do not take effect immediately, only when you specify the
1050 @code{cursor-type} frame parameter.
1051 @end defopt
1052
1053 @node Font and Color Parameters
1054 @subsubsection Font and Color Parameters
1055 @cindex font and color, frame parameters
1056
1057 These frame parameters control the use of fonts and colors.
1058
1059 @table @code
1060 @vindex font-backend, a frame parameter
1061 @item font-backend
1062 A list of symbols, specifying the @dfn{font backends} to use for
1063 drawing fonts in the frame, in order of priority. On X, there are
1064 currently two available font backends: @code{x} (the X core font
1065 driver) and @code{xft} (the Xft font driver). On MS-Windows, there are
1066 currently two available font backends: @code{gdi} and
1067 @code{uniscribe} (@pxref{Windows Fonts,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
1068 Manual}). On other systems, there is only one available font backend,
1069 so it does not make sense to modify this frame parameter.
1070
1071 @vindex background-mode, a frame parameter
1072 @item background-mode
1073 This parameter is either @code{dark} or @code{light}, according
1074 to whether the background color is a light one or a dark one.
1075
1076 @vindex tty-color-mode, a frame parameter
1077 @item tty-color-mode
1078 @cindex standard colors for character terminals
1079 This parameter overrides the terminal's color support as given by the
1080 system's terminal capabilities database in that this parameter's value
1081 specifies the color mode to use on a text terminal. The value can be
1082 either a symbol or a number. A number specifies the number of colors
1083 to use (and, indirectly, what commands to issue to produce each
1084 color). For example, @code{(tty-color-mode . 8)} specifies use of the
1085 ANSI escape sequences for 8 standard text colors. A value of -1 turns
1086 off color support.
1087
1088 If the parameter's value is a symbol, it specifies a number through
1089 the value of @code{tty-color-mode-alist}, and the associated number is
1090 used instead.
1091
1092 @vindex screen-gamma, a frame parameter
1093 @item screen-gamma
1094 @cindex gamma correction
1095 If this is a number, Emacs performs ``gamma correction'' which adjusts
1096 the brightness of all colors. The value should be the screen gamma of
1097 your display.
1098
1099 Usual PC monitors have a screen gamma of 2.2, so color values in
1100 Emacs, and in X windows generally, are calibrated to display properly
1101 on a monitor with that gamma value. If you specify 2.2 for
1102 @code{screen-gamma}, that means no correction is needed. Other values
1103 request correction, designed to make the corrected colors appear on
1104 your screen the way they would have appeared without correction on an
1105 ordinary monitor with a gamma value of 2.2.
1106
1107 If your monitor displays colors too light, you should specify a
1108 @code{screen-gamma} value smaller than 2.2. This requests correction
1109 that makes colors darker. A screen gamma value of 1.5 may give good
1110 results for LCD color displays.
1111
1112 @vindex alpha, a frame parameter
1113 @item alpha
1114 @cindex opacity, frame
1115 @cindex transparency, frame
1116 @vindex frame-alpha-lower-limit
1117 This parameter specifies the opacity of the frame, on graphical
1118 displays that support variable opacity. It should be an integer
1119 between 0 and 100, where 0 means completely transparent and 100 means
1120 completely opaque. It can also have a @code{nil} value, which tells
1121 Emacs not to set the frame opacity (leaving it to the window manager).
1122
1123 To prevent the frame from disappearing completely from view, the
1124 variable @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} defines a lower opacity limit.
1125 If the value of the frame parameter is less than the value of this
1126 variable, Emacs uses the latter. By default,
1127 @code{frame-alpha-lower-limit} is 20.
1128
1129 The @code{alpha} frame parameter can also be a cons cell
1130 @code{(@samp{active} . @samp{inactive})}, where @samp{active} is the
1131 opacity of the frame when it is selected, and @samp{inactive} is the
1132 opacity when it is not selected.
1133 @end table
1134
1135 The following frame parameters are semi-obsolete in that they are
1136 automatically equivalent to particular face attributes of particular
1137 faces (@pxref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}):
1138
1139 @table @code
1140 @vindex font, a frame parameter
1141 @item font
1142 The name of the font for displaying text in the frame. This is a
1143 string, either a valid font name for your system or the name of an Emacs
1144 fontset (@pxref{Fontsets}). It is equivalent to the @code{font}
1145 attribute of the @code{default} face.
1146
1147 @vindex foreground-color, a frame parameter
1148 @item foreground-color
1149 The color to use for the image of a character. It is equivalent to
1150 the @code{:foreground} attribute of the @code{default} face.
1151
1152 @vindex background-color, a frame parameter
1153 @item background-color
1154 The color to use for the background of characters. It is equivalent to
1155 the @code{:background} attribute of the @code{default} face.
1156
1157 @vindex mouse-color, a frame parameter
1158 @item mouse-color
1159 The color for the mouse pointer. It is equivalent to the @code{:background}
1160 attribute of the @code{mouse} face.
1161
1162 @vindex cursor-color, a frame parameter
1163 @item cursor-color
1164 The color for the cursor that shows point. It is equivalent to the
1165 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{cursor} face.
1166
1167 @vindex border-color, a frame parameter
1168 @item border-color
1169 The color for the border of the frame. It is equivalent to the
1170 @code{:background} attribute of the @code{border} face.
1171
1172 @vindex scroll-bar-foreground, a frame parameter
1173 @item scroll-bar-foreground
1174 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the foreground of scroll bars. It is
1175 equivalent to the @code{:foreground} attribute of the
1176 @code{scroll-bar} face.
1177
1178 @vindex scroll-bar-background, a frame parameter
1179 @item scroll-bar-background
1180 If non-@code{nil}, the color for the background of scroll bars. It is
1181 equivalent to the @code{:background} attribute of the
1182 @code{scroll-bar} face.
1183 @end table
1184
1185
1186 @node Size and Position
1187 @subsection Frame Size and Position
1188 @cindex size of frame
1189 @cindex screen size
1190 @cindex frame size
1191 @cindex resize frame
1192
1193 You can read or change the size and position of a frame using the frame
1194 parameters @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{height}, and @code{width}.
1195 Whatever geometry parameters you don't specify are chosen by the window
1196 manager in its usual fashion.
1197
1198 Here are some special features for working with sizes and positions.
1199 Most of the functions described below use a @var{frame} argument which
1200 has to specify a live frame. If omitted or @code{nil}, it specifies the
1201 selected frame, see @ref{Input Focus}.
1202
1203 @defun set-frame-position frame left top
1204 This function sets the position of the top left corner of @var{frame} to
1205 @var{left} and @var{top}. These arguments are measured in pixels, and
1206 normally count from the top left corner of the screen to the top left
1207 corner of the rectangle allotted to the frame by the window manager.
1208
1209 Negative parameter values position the bottom edge of that rectangle up
1210 from the bottom edge of the screen, or the right rectangle edge to the
1211 left of the right edge of the screen. It would probably be better if
1212 the values were always counted from the left and top, so that negative
1213 arguments would position the frame partly off the top or left edge of
1214 the screen, but it seems inadvisable to change that now.
1215 @end defun
1216
1217 @cindex frame default font
1218 @cindex default font of a frame
1219 Each frame has a @dfn{default font} which specifies the canonical height
1220 and width of a character on that frame. The default font is used when
1221 retrieving or changing the size of a frame in terms of columns or lines.
1222 It is also used when resizing (@pxref{Window Sizes}) or splitting
1223 (@pxref{Splitting Windows}) windows.
1224
1225 @defun frame-char-height &optional frame
1226 @defunx frame-char-width &optional frame
1227 These functions return the canonical height and width of a character in
1228 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. Together, these values establish the
1229 size of the default font on @var{frame}. The values depend on the
1230 choice of font for @var{frame}, see @ref{Font and Color Parameters}.
1231 @end defun
1232
1233 The default font can be also set directly with the following function:
1234
1235 @deffn Command set-frame-font font &optional keep-size frames
1236 This sets the default font to @var{font}. When called interactively, it
1237 prompts for the name of a font, and uses that font on the selected
1238 frame. When called from Lisp, @var{font} should be a font name (a
1239 string), a font object, font entity, or a font spec.
1240
1241 If the optional argument @var{keep-size} is @code{nil}, this keeps the
1242 number of frame lines and columns fixed. (If non-@code{nil}, the option
1243 @code{frame-inhibit-implied-resize} described below will override this.)
1244 If @var{keep-size} is non-@code{nil} (or with a prefix argument), it
1245 tries to keep the size of the display area of the current frame fixed by
1246 adjusting the number of lines and columns.
1247
1248 If the optional argument @var{frames} is @code{nil}, this applies the
1249 font to the selected frame only. If @var{frames} is non-@code{nil}, it
1250 should be a list of frames to act upon, or @code{t} meaning all existing
1251 graphical frames.
1252 @end deffn
1253
1254 @cindex frame display area
1255 @cindex display area of a frame
1256 The @dfn{display area} of a frame is a rectangular area within the area
1257 allotted to the frame by the window manager. The display area neither
1258 includes the title bar (@pxref{Frame Titles}) nor any other decorations
1259 provided by the window manager (like an external border used for
1260 resizing frames via mouse dragging).
1261
1262 The actual height of the display area depends on the window-system
1263 and toolkit in use. With GTK+, the display area does not include any
1264 tool bar or menu bar. With the Motif or Lucid toolkits and with
1265 Windows, the display area includes the tool bar but not the menu bar.
1266 In a graphical version with no toolkit, it includes both the tool bar
1267 and menu bar. On a text terminal, the display area includes the menu
1268 bar.
1269
1270 @defun frame-pixel-height &optional frame
1271 @defunx frame-pixel-width &optional frame
1272 These functions return the height and width of the display area of
1273 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. For a text terminal, the results are
1274 in characters rather than pixels.
1275 @end defun
1276
1277 @cindex frame text area
1278 @cindex text area of a frame
1279 The @dfn{text area} of a frame is a concept implicitly used by all
1280 functions that change a frame's height or width. It is a rectangle
1281 located within the display area. Its size is obtained from that of the
1282 display area by subtracting the sizes of any tool or menu bars that are
1283 part of the display area, any internal borders, one vertical and one
1284 horizontal scroll bar, and one left and one right fringe as specified
1285 for this frame, see @ref{Layout Parameters}.
1286
1287 @defun frame-text-height &optional frame
1288 @defunx frame-text-width &optional frame
1289 These functions return the height and width of the text area of
1290 @var{frame}, measured in pixels. For a text terminal, the results are
1291 in characters rather than pixels.
1292
1293 The value returned by @code{frame-text-height} differs from that
1294 returned by @code{frame-pixel-height} by not including the heights of
1295 any tool bar or menu bar, the height of one horizontal scroll bar and
1296 the widths of the internal border.
1297
1298 The value returned by @code{frame-text-width} differs from that returned
1299 by @code{frame-pixel-width} by not including the width of one vertical
1300 scroll bar, the widths of one left and one right fringe and the widths
1301 of the internal border.
1302 @end defun
1303
1304 @defun frame-height &optional frame
1305 @defunx frame-width &optional frame
1306 These functions return the height and width of the text area of
1307 @var{frame}, measured in units of the default font height and width of
1308 @var{frame}. These functions are plain shorthands for writing
1309 @code{(frame-parameter frame 'height)} and @code{(frame-parameter frame
1310 'width)}.
1311
1312 If the text area of @var{frame} measured in pixles is not a multiple of
1313 its default font size, the values returned by this functions are rounded
1314 down to the number of characters of the default font that fully fit into
1315 the text area.
1316 @end defun
1317
1318 @defopt frame-resize-pixelwise
1319 If this option is @code{nil}, a frame's size is usually rounded to a
1320 multiple of the current values of that frame's @code{frame-char-height}
1321 and @code{frame-char-width}. If this is non-@code{nil}, no rounding
1322 occurs, hence frame sizes can increase/decrease by one pixel.
1323
1324 Setting this causes the next resize operation to pass the corresponding
1325 size hints to the window manager. This means that this variable should
1326 be set only in a user's initial file; applications should never bind it
1327 temporarily.
1328
1329 The precise meaning of a value of @code{nil} for this option depends
1330 on the toolkit used. Dragging the frame border with the mouse is usually
1331 done character-wise. Calling @code{set-frame-size} (see below)
1332 with arguments that do not specify the frame size as an integer multiple
1333 of its character size, however, may: be ignored, cause a
1334 rounding (GTK+), or be accepted (Lucid, Motif, MS-Windows).
1335
1336 With some window managers you may have to set this to non-@code{nil} in
1337 order to make a frame appear truly ``maximized'' or ``fullscreen''.
1338 @end defopt
1339
1340 @defun set-frame-size frame width height pixelwise
1341 This function sets the size of the text area of @var{frame}, measured in
1342 characters; @var{width} and @var{height} specify the new width in
1343 columns and the new height in lines.
1344
1345 The optional argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means to measure
1346 the new width and height in units of pixels instead. Note that if
1347 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
1348 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame size
1349 to a multiple of its character size.
1350 @end defun
1351
1352 @defun set-frame-height frame height &optional pretend pixelwise
1353 This function resizes the text area of @var{frame} to a height of
1354 @var{height} lines. The sizes of existing windows in @var{frame} are
1355 altered proportionally to fit.
1356
1357 If @var{pretend} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs displays @var{height}
1358 lines of output in @var{frame}, but does not change its value for the
1359 actual height of the frame. This is only useful on text terminals.
1360 Using a smaller height than the terminal actually implements may be
1361 useful to reproduce behavior observed on a smaller screen, or if the
1362 terminal malfunctions when using its whole screen. Setting the frame
1363 height ``for real'' does not always work, because knowing the correct
1364 actual size may be necessary for correct cursor positioning on
1365 text terminals.
1366
1367 The optional fourth argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means that
1368 @var{frame} should be @var{height} pixels high. Note that if
1369 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
1370 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame
1371 height to a multiple of its character height.
1372 @end defun
1373
1374 @defun set-frame-width frame width &optional pretend pixelwise
1375 This function sets the width of the text area of @var{frame}, measured
1376 in characters. The argument @var{pretend} has the same meaning as in
1377 @code{set-frame-height}.
1378
1379 The optional fourth argument @var{pixelwise} non-@code{nil} means that
1380 @var{frame} should be @var{width} pixels wide. Note that if
1381 @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} is @code{nil}, some toolkits may refuse to
1382 fully honor the request if it does not increase/decrease the frame width
1383 to a multiple of its character width.
1384 @end defun
1385
1386 None of these three functions will make a frame smaller than needed to
1387 display all of its windows together with their scroll bars, fringes,
1388 margins, dividers, mode and header lines. This contrasts with requests
1389 by the window manager triggered, for example, by dragging the external
1390 border of a frame with the mouse. Such requests are always honored by
1391 clipping, if necessary, portions that cannot be displayed at the right,
1392 bottom corner of the frame.
1393
1394 By default, Emacs tries to keep the number of lines and columns of a
1395 frame's text area unaltered when, for example, adding or removing a menu
1396 bar, changing the default font or setting the width of the frame's
1397 scroll bars. This means, however, that in such case Emacs must ask the
1398 window manager to resize the display area of the frame in order to
1399 accommodate the size change. Note that wrapping a menu or tool bar
1400 usually does not resize the frame's display area, hence this will alter
1401 the number of displayed lines.
1402
1403 Occasionally, such implied resizing of the display area may be
1404 unwanted, for example, when the frame is maximized or made fullscreen
1405 where it's turned off by default. In other cases you can disable
1406 implied resizing with the following option:
1407
1408 @defopt frame-inhibit-implied-resize
1409 If this option is @code{nil}, changing font, menu bar, tool bar,
1410 internal borders, fringes or scroll bars of a specific frame may
1411 implicitly resize the frame's display area in order to preserve the
1412 number of columns or lines the frame displays. If this option is
1413 non-@code{nil}, no implied resizing is done.
1414
1415 The value of this option can be also be a list of frame parameters. In
1416 that case, implied resizing is inhibited when changing a parameter that
1417 appears in this list. The frame parameters currently handled by this
1418 option are: @code{font}, @code{font-backend},
1419 @code{internal-border-width}, @code{menu-bar-lines} and
1420 @code{tool-bar-lines}.
1421
1422 Changing any of the @code{scroll-bar-width}, @code{scroll-bar-height},
1423 @code{vertical-scroll-bars}, @code{horizontal-scroll-bars},
1424 @code{left-fringe} and @code{right-fringe} frame parameters is handled
1425 as if the frame contained just one live window. This means, for
1426 example, that removing vertical scroll bars on a frame containing
1427 several side by side windows will shrink the frame width by the width of
1428 one scroll bar provided this option is @code{nil} and keep it unchanged
1429 if this option is either @code{t} or a list containing
1430 @code{vertical-scroll-bars}.
1431
1432 The default value is @code{'(tool-bar-lines)} for Lucid, Motif and
1433 Windows (which means that adding/removing a tool bar there does not
1434 change the frame height), @code{nil} on all other window systems
1435 including GTK+ (which means that changing any of the parameters listed
1436 above may change the size of the frame), and @code{t} otherwise (which
1437 means the frame size never changes implicitly when there's no window
1438 system support).
1439
1440 Note that when a frame is not large enough to accommodate a change of
1441 any of the parameters listed above, Emacs may try to enlarge the frame
1442 even if this option is non-@code{nil}.
1443 @end defopt
1444
1445 @c FIXME? Belongs more in Emacs manual than here?
1446 @c But, e.g., fit-window-to-buffer is in this manual.
1447 If you have a frame that displays only one window, you can fit that
1448 frame to its buffer using the command @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}.
1449
1450 @deffn Command fit-frame-to-buffer &optional frame max-height min-height max-width min-width only
1451 This command adjusts the size of @var{frame} to display the contents of
1452 its buffer exactly. @var{frame} can be any live frame and defaults to
1453 the selected one. Fitting is done only if @var{frame}'s root window is
1454 live. The arguments @var{max-height}, @var{min-height}, @var{max-width}
1455 and @var{min-width} specify bounds on the new total size of
1456 @var{frame}'s root window. @var{min-height} and @var{min-width} default
1457 to the values of @code{window-min-height} and @code{window-min-width}
1458 respectively.
1459
1460 If the optional argument @var{only} is @code{vertically}, this function
1461 may resize the frame vertically only. If @var{only} is
1462 @code{horizontally}, it may resize the frame horizontally only.
1463 @end deffn
1464
1465 The behavior of @code{fit-frame-to-buffer} can be controlled with the
1466 help of the two options listed next.
1467
1468 @defopt fit-frame-to-buffer-margins
1469 This option can be used to specify margins around frames to be fit by
1470 @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}. Such margins can be useful to avoid, for
1471 example, that such frames overlap the taskbar.
1472
1473 It specifies the numbers of pixels to be left free on the left, above,
1474 the right, and below a frame that shall be fit. The default specifies
1475 @code{nil} for each which means to use no margins. The value specified
1476 here can be overridden for a specific frame by that frame's
1477 @code{fit-frame-to-buffer-margins} parameter, if present.
1478 @end defopt
1479
1480 @defopt fit-frame-to-buffer-sizes
1481 This option specifies size boundaries for @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}.
1482 It specifies the total maximum and minimum lines and maximum and minimum
1483 columns of the root window of any frame that shall be fit to its buffer.
1484 If any of these values is non-@code{nil}, it overrides the corresponding
1485 argument of @code{fit-frame-to-buffer}.
1486 @end defopt
1487
1488
1489 @node Geometry
1490 @subsection Geometry
1491
1492 Here's how to examine the data in an X-style window geometry
1493 specification:
1494
1495 @defun x-parse-geometry geom
1496 @cindex geometry specification
1497 The function @code{x-parse-geometry} converts a standard X window
1498 geometry string to an alist that you can use as part of the argument to
1499 @code{make-frame}.
1500
1501 The alist describes which parameters were specified in @var{geom}, and
1502 gives the values specified for them. Each element looks like
1503 @code{(@var{parameter} . @var{value})}. The possible @var{parameter}
1504 values are @code{left}, @code{top}, @code{width}, and @code{height}.
1505
1506 For the size parameters, the value must be an integer. The position
1507 parameter names @code{left} and @code{top} are not totally accurate,
1508 because some values indicate the position of the right or bottom edges
1509 instead. The @var{value} possibilities for the position parameters are:
1510 an integer, a list @code{(+ @var{pos})}, or a list @code{(- @var{pos})};
1511 as previously described (@pxref{Position Parameters}).
1512
1513 Here is an example:
1514
1515 @example
1516 (x-parse-geometry "35x70+0-0")
1517 @result{} ((height . 70) (width . 35)
1518 (top - 0) (left . 0))
1519 @end example
1520 @end defun
1521
1522 @node Terminal Parameters
1523 @section Terminal Parameters
1524 @cindex terminal parameters
1525
1526 Each terminal has a list of associated parameters. These
1527 @dfn{terminal parameters} are mostly a convenient way of storage for
1528 terminal-local variables, but some terminal parameters have a special
1529 meaning.
1530
1531 This section describes functions to read and change the parameter values
1532 of a terminal. They all accept as their argument either a terminal or
1533 a frame; the latter means use that frame's terminal. An argument of
1534 @code{nil} means the selected frame's terminal.
1535
1536 @defun terminal-parameters &optional terminal
1537 This function returns an alist listing all the parameters of
1538 @var{terminal} and their values.
1539 @end defun
1540
1541 @defun terminal-parameter terminal parameter
1542 This function returns the value of the parameter @var{parameter} (a
1543 symbol) of @var{terminal}. If @var{terminal} has no setting for
1544 @var{parameter}, this function returns @code{nil}.
1545 @end defun
1546
1547 @defun set-terminal-parameter terminal parameter value
1548 This function sets the parameter @var{parm} of @var{terminal} to the
1549 specified @var{value}, and returns the previous value of that
1550 parameter.
1551 @end defun
1552
1553 Here's a list of a few terminal parameters that have a special
1554 meaning:
1555
1556 @table @code
1557 @item background-mode
1558 The classification of the terminal's background color, either
1559 @code{light} or @code{dark}.
1560 @item normal-erase-is-backspace
1561 Value is either 1 or 0, depending on whether
1562 @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode} is turned on or off on this
1563 terminal. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete,,, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
1564 @item terminal-initted
1565 After the terminal is initialized, this is set to the
1566 terminal-specific initialization function.
1567 @item tty-mode-set-strings
1568 When present, a list of strings containing escape sequences that Emacs
1569 will output while configuring a tty for rendering. Emacs emits these
1570 strings only when configuring a terminal: if you want to enable a mode
1571 on a terminal that is already active (for example, while in
1572 @code{tty-setup-hook}), explicitly output the necessary escape
1573 sequence using @code{send-string-to-terminal} in addition to adding
1574 the sequence to @code{tty-mode-set-strings}.
1575 @item tty-mode-reset-strings
1576 When present, a list of strings that undo the effects of the strings
1577 in @code{tty-mode-set-strings}. Emacs emits these strings when
1578 exiting, deleting a terminal, or suspending itself.
1579 @end table
1580
1581 @node Frame Titles
1582 @section Frame Titles
1583 @cindex frame title
1584
1585 Every frame has a @code{name} parameter; this serves as the default
1586 for the frame title which window systems typically display at the top of
1587 the frame. You can specify a name explicitly by setting the @code{name}
1588 frame property.
1589
1590 Normally you don't specify the name explicitly, and Emacs computes the
1591 frame name automatically based on a template stored in the variable
1592 @code{frame-title-format}. Emacs recomputes the name each time the
1593 frame is redisplayed.
1594
1595 @defvar frame-title-format
1596 This variable specifies how to compute a name for a frame when you have
1597 not explicitly specified one. The variable's value is actually a mode
1598 line construct, just like @code{mode-line-format}, except that the
1599 @samp{%c} and @samp{%l} constructs are ignored. @xref{Mode Line
1600 Data}.
1601 @end defvar
1602
1603 @defvar icon-title-format
1604 This variable specifies how to compute the name for an iconified frame,
1605 when you have not explicitly specified the frame title. This title
1606 appears in the icon itself.
1607 @end defvar
1608
1609 @defvar multiple-frames
1610 This variable is set automatically by Emacs. Its value is @code{t} when
1611 there are two or more frames (not counting minibuffer-only frames or
1612 invisible frames). The default value of @code{frame-title-format} uses
1613 @code{multiple-frames} so as to put the buffer name in the frame title
1614 only when there is more than one frame.
1615
1616 The value of this variable is not guaranteed to be accurate except
1617 while processing @code{frame-title-format} or
1618 @code{icon-title-format}.
1619 @end defvar
1620
1621 @node Deleting Frames
1622 @section Deleting Frames
1623 @cindex deleting frames
1624
1625 A @dfn{live frame} is one that has not been deleted. When a frame
1626 is deleted, it is removed from its terminal display, although it may
1627 continue to exist as a Lisp object until there are no more references
1628 to it.
1629
1630 @deffn Command delete-frame &optional frame force
1631 @vindex delete-frame-functions
1632 This function deletes the frame @var{frame}. Unless @var{frame} is a
1633 tooltip, it first runs the hook @code{delete-frame-functions} (each
1634 function gets one argument, @var{frame}). By default, @var{frame} is
1635 the selected frame.
1636
1637 A frame cannot be deleted as long as its minibuffer serves as surrogate
1638 minibuffer for another frame (@pxref{Minibuffers and Frames}).
1639 Normally, you cannot delete a frame if all other frames are invisible,
1640 but if @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, then you are allowed to do so.
1641 @end deffn
1642
1643 @defun frame-live-p frame
1644 The function @code{frame-live-p} returns non-@code{nil} if the frame
1645 @var{frame} has not been deleted. The possible non-@code{nil} return
1646 values are like those of @code{framep}. @xref{Frames}.
1647 @end defun
1648
1649 Some window managers provide a command to delete a window. These work
1650 by sending a special message to the program that operates the window.
1651 When Emacs gets one of these commands, it generates a
1652 @code{delete-frame} event, whose normal definition is a command that
1653 calls the function @code{delete-frame}. @xref{Misc Events}.
1654
1655 @node Finding All Frames
1656 @section Finding All Frames
1657 @cindex frames, scanning all
1658
1659 @defun frame-list
1660 This function returns a list of all the live frames, i.e., those that
1661 have not been deleted. It is analogous to @code{buffer-list} for
1662 buffers, and includes frames on all terminals. The list that you get
1663 is newly created, so modifying the list doesn't have any effect on the
1664 internals of Emacs.
1665 @end defun
1666
1667 @defun visible-frame-list
1668 This function returns a list of just the currently visible frames.
1669 @xref{Visibility of Frames}. Frames on text terminals always count as
1670 ``visible'', even though only the selected one is actually displayed.
1671 @end defun
1672
1673 @defun next-frame &optional frame minibuf
1674 This function lets you cycle conveniently through all the frames on
1675 the current display from an arbitrary starting point. It returns the
1676 ``next'' frame after @var{frame} in the cycle. If @var{frame} is
1677 omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to the selected frame (@pxref{Input
1678 Focus}).
1679
1680 The second argument, @var{minibuf}, says which frames to consider:
1681
1682 @table @asis
1683 @item @code{nil}
1684 Exclude minibuffer-only frames.
1685 @item @code{visible}
1686 Consider all visible frames.
1687 @item 0
1688 Consider all visible or iconified frames.
1689 @item a window
1690 Consider only the frames using that particular window as their
1691 minibuffer.
1692 @item anything else
1693 Consider all frames.
1694 @end table
1695 @end defun
1696
1697 @defun previous-frame &optional frame minibuf
1698 Like @code{next-frame}, but cycles through all frames in the opposite
1699 direction.
1700 @end defun
1701
1702 See also @code{next-window} and @code{previous-window}, in @ref{Cyclic
1703 Window Ordering}.
1704
1705 @node Minibuffers and Frames
1706 @section Minibuffers and Frames
1707
1708 Normally, each frame has its own minibuffer window at the bottom, which
1709 is used whenever that frame is selected. If the frame has a minibuffer,
1710 you can get it with @code{minibuffer-window} (@pxref{Definition of
1711 minibuffer-window}).
1712
1713 @cindex frame without a minibuffer
1714 @cindex surrogate minibuffer frame
1715 However, you can also create a frame without a minibuffer. Such a frame
1716 must use the minibuffer window of some other frame. That other frame
1717 will serve as @dfn{surrogate minibuffer frame} for this frame and cannot
1718 be deleted via @code{delete-frame} (@pxref{Deleting Frames}) as long as
1719 this frame is live.
1720
1721 When you create the frame, you can explicitly specify the minibuffer
1722 window to use (in some other frame). If you don't, then the minibuffer
1723 is found in the frame which is the value of the variable
1724 @code{default-minibuffer-frame}. Its value should be a frame that does
1725 have a minibuffer.
1726
1727 If you use a minibuffer-only frame, you might want that frame to raise
1728 when you enter the minibuffer. If so, set the variable
1729 @code{minibuffer-auto-raise} to @code{t}. @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1730
1731 @defvar default-minibuffer-frame
1732 This variable specifies the frame to use for the minibuffer window, by
1733 default. It does not affect existing frames. It is always local to
1734 the current terminal and cannot be buffer-local. @xref{Multiple
1735 Terminals}.
1736 @end defvar
1737
1738 @node Input Focus
1739 @section Input Focus
1740 @cindex input focus
1741 @c @cindex selected frame Duplicates selected-frame, same for selected-window.
1742
1743 At any time, one frame in Emacs is the @dfn{selected frame}. The selected
1744 window always resides on the selected frame.
1745
1746 When Emacs displays its frames on several terminals (@pxref{Multiple
1747 Terminals}), each terminal has its own selected frame. But only one
1748 of these is ``@emph{the} selected frame'': it's the frame that belongs
1749 to the terminal from which the most recent input came. That is, when
1750 Emacs runs a command that came from a certain terminal, the selected
1751 frame is the one of that terminal. Since Emacs runs only a single
1752 command at any given time, it needs to consider only one selected
1753 frame at a time; this frame is what we call @dfn{the selected frame}
1754 in this manual. The display on which the selected frame is shown is
1755 the @dfn{selected frame's display}.
1756
1757 @defun selected-frame
1758 This function returns the selected frame.
1759 @end defun
1760
1761 Some window systems and window managers direct keyboard input to the
1762 window object that the mouse is in; others require explicit clicks or
1763 commands to @dfn{shift the focus} to various window objects. Either
1764 way, Emacs automatically keeps track of which frame has the focus. To
1765 explicitly switch to a different frame from a Lisp function, call
1766 @code{select-frame-set-input-focus}.
1767
1768 Lisp programs can also switch frames ``temporarily'' by calling the
1769 function @code{select-frame}. This does not alter the window system's
1770 concept of focus; rather, it escapes from the window manager's control
1771 until that control is somehow reasserted.
1772
1773 When using a text terminal, only one frame can be displayed at a time
1774 on the terminal, so after a call to @code{select-frame}, the next
1775 redisplay actually displays the newly selected frame. This frame
1776 remains selected until a subsequent call to @code{select-frame}. Each
1777 frame on a text terminal has a number which appears in the mode line
1778 before the buffer name (@pxref{Mode Line Variables}).
1779
1780 @defun select-frame-set-input-focus frame &optional norecord
1781 This function selects @var{frame}, raises it (should it happen to be
1782 obscured by other frames) and tries to give it the X server's focus.
1783 On a text terminal, the next redisplay displays the new frame on the
1784 entire terminal screen. The optional argument @var{norecord} has the
1785 same meaning as for @code{select-frame} (see below). The return value
1786 of this function is not significant.
1787 @end defun
1788
1789 @deffn Command select-frame frame &optional norecord
1790 This function selects frame @var{frame}, temporarily disregarding the
1791 focus of the X server if any. The selection of @var{frame} lasts until
1792 the next time the user does something to select a different frame, or
1793 until the next time this function is called. (If you are using a
1794 window system, the previously selected frame may be restored as the
1795 selected frame after return to the command loop, because it still may
1796 have the window system's input focus.)
1797
1798 The specified @var{frame} becomes the selected frame, and its terminal
1799 becomes the selected terminal. This function then calls
1800 @code{select-window} as a subroutine, passing the window selected
1801 within @var{frame} as its first argument and @var{norecord} as its
1802 second argument (hence, if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, this
1803 avoids changing the order of recently selected windows nor the buffer
1804 list). @xref{Selecting Windows}.
1805
1806 This function returns @var{frame}, or @code{nil} if @var{frame} has
1807 been deleted.
1808
1809 In general, you should never use @code{select-frame} in a way that
1810 could switch to a different terminal without switching back when
1811 you're done.
1812 @end deffn
1813
1814 Emacs cooperates with the window system by arranging to select frames as
1815 the server and window manager request. It does so by generating a
1816 special kind of input event, called a @dfn{focus} event, when
1817 appropriate. The command loop handles a focus event by calling
1818 @code{handle-switch-frame}. @xref{Focus Events}.
1819
1820 @deffn Command handle-switch-frame frame
1821 This function handles a focus event by selecting frame @var{frame}.
1822
1823 Focus events normally do their job by invoking this command.
1824 Don't call it for any other reason.
1825 @end deffn
1826
1827 @defun redirect-frame-focus frame &optional focus-frame
1828 This function redirects focus from @var{frame} to @var{focus-frame}.
1829 This means that @var{focus-frame} will receive subsequent keystrokes and
1830 events intended for @var{frame}. After such an event, the value of
1831 @code{last-event-frame} will be @var{focus-frame}. Also, switch-frame
1832 events specifying @var{frame} will instead select @var{focus-frame}.
1833
1834 If @var{focus-frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, that cancels any existing
1835 redirection for @var{frame}, which therefore once again receives its own
1836 events.
1837
1838 One use of focus redirection is for frames that don't have minibuffers.
1839 These frames use minibuffers on other frames. Activating a minibuffer
1840 on another frame redirects focus to that frame. This puts the focus on
1841 the minibuffer's frame, where it belongs, even though the mouse remains
1842 in the frame that activated the minibuffer.
1843
1844 Selecting a frame can also change focus redirections. Selecting frame
1845 @code{bar}, when @code{foo} had been selected, changes any redirections
1846 pointing to @code{foo} so that they point to @code{bar} instead. This
1847 allows focus redirection to work properly when the user switches from
1848 one frame to another using @code{select-window}.
1849
1850 This means that a frame whose focus is redirected to itself is treated
1851 differently from a frame whose focus is not redirected.
1852 @code{select-frame} affects the former but not the latter.
1853
1854 The redirection lasts until @code{redirect-frame-focus} is called to
1855 change it.
1856 @end defun
1857
1858 @defvar focus-in-hook
1859 This is a normal hook run when an Emacs frame gains input focus.
1860 @end defvar
1861
1862 @defvar focus-out-hook
1863 This is a normal hook run when an Emacs frame loses input focus.
1864 @end defvar
1865
1866 @defopt focus-follows-mouse
1867 This option is how you inform Emacs whether the window manager transfers
1868 focus when the user moves the mouse. Non-@code{nil} says that it does.
1869 When this is so, the command @code{other-frame} moves the mouse to a
1870 position consistent with the new selected frame.
1871 @end defopt
1872
1873 @node Visibility of Frames
1874 @section Visibility of Frames
1875 @cindex visible frame
1876 @cindex invisible frame
1877 @cindex iconified frame
1878 @cindex minimized frame
1879 @cindex frame visibility
1880
1881 A frame on a graphical display may be @dfn{visible}, @dfn{invisible},
1882 or @dfn{iconified}. If it is visible, its contents are displayed in
1883 the usual manner. If it is iconified, its contents are not displayed,
1884 but there is a little icon somewhere to bring the frame back into view
1885 (some window managers refer to this state as @dfn{minimized} rather
1886 than @dfn{iconified}, but from Emacs' point of view they are the same
1887 thing). If a frame is invisible, it is not displayed at all.
1888
1889 Visibility is meaningless on text terminals, since only the selected
1890 one is actually displayed in any case.
1891
1892 @defun frame-visible-p frame
1893 This function returns the visibility status of frame @var{frame}. The
1894 value is @code{t} if @var{frame} is visible, @code{nil} if it is
1895 invisible, and @code{icon} if it is iconified.
1896
1897 On a text terminal, all frames are considered ``visible'' for the
1898 purposes of this function, even though only one frame is displayed.
1899 @xref{Raising and Lowering}.
1900 @end defun
1901
1902 @deffn Command iconify-frame &optional frame
1903 This function iconifies frame @var{frame}. If you omit @var{frame}, it
1904 iconifies the selected frame.
1905 @end deffn
1906
1907 @deffn Command make-frame-visible &optional frame
1908 This function makes frame @var{frame} visible. If you omit
1909 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame visible. This does not raise
1910 the frame, but you can do that with @code{raise-frame} if you wish
1911 (@pxref{Raising and Lowering}).
1912 @end deffn
1913
1914 @deffn Command make-frame-invisible &optional frame force
1915 This function makes frame @var{frame} invisible. If you omit
1916 @var{frame}, it makes the selected frame invisible.
1917
1918 Unless @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, this function refuses to make
1919 @var{frame} invisible if all other frames are invisible..
1920 @end deffn
1921
1922 The visibility status of a frame is also available as a frame
1923 parameter. You can read or change it as such. @xref{Management
1924 Parameters}. The user can also iconify and deiconify frames with the
1925 window manager. This happens below the level at which Emacs can exert
1926 any control, but Emacs does provide events that you can use to keep
1927 track of such changes. @xref{Misc Events}.
1928
1929 @node Raising and Lowering
1930 @section Raising and Lowering Frames
1931
1932 @cindex raising a frame
1933 @cindex lowering a frame
1934 Most window systems use a desktop metaphor. Part of this metaphor
1935 is the idea that system-level windows (e.g., Emacs frames) are
1936 stacked in a notional third dimension perpendicular to the screen
1937 surface. Where two overlap, the one higher up covers the one
1938 underneath. You can @dfn{raise} or @dfn{lower} a frame using the
1939 functions @code{raise-frame} and @code{lower-frame}.
1940
1941 @deffn Command raise-frame &optional frame
1942 This function raises frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1943 If @var{frame} is invisible or iconified, this makes it visible.
1944 @end deffn
1945
1946 @deffn Command lower-frame &optional frame
1947 This function lowers frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
1948 @end deffn
1949
1950 @defopt minibuffer-auto-raise
1951 If this is non-@code{nil}, activation of the minibuffer raises the frame
1952 that the minibuffer window is in.
1953 @end defopt
1954
1955 On window systems, you can also enable auto-raising (on frame
1956 selection) or auto-lowering (on frame deselection) using frame
1957 parameters. @xref{Management Parameters}.
1958
1959 @cindex top frame
1960 The concept of raising and lowering frames also applies to text
1961 terminal frames. On each text terminal, only the top frame is
1962 displayed at any one time.
1963
1964 @defun tty-top-frame terminal
1965 This function returns the top frame on @var{terminal}. @var{terminal}
1966 should be a terminal object, a frame (meaning that frame's terminal),
1967 or @code{nil} (meaning the selected frame's terminal). If it does not
1968 refer to a text terminal, the return value is @code{nil}.
1969 @end defun
1970
1971 @node Frame Configurations
1972 @section Frame Configurations
1973 @cindex frame configuration
1974
1975 A @dfn{frame configuration} records the current arrangement of frames,
1976 all their properties, and the window configuration of each one.
1977 (@xref{Window Configurations}.)
1978
1979 @defun current-frame-configuration
1980 This function returns a frame configuration list that describes
1981 the current arrangement of frames and their contents.
1982 @end defun
1983
1984 @defun set-frame-configuration configuration &optional nodelete
1985 This function restores the state of frames described in
1986 @var{configuration}. However, this function does not restore deleted
1987 frames.
1988
1989 Ordinarily, this function deletes all existing frames not listed in
1990 @var{configuration}. But if @var{nodelete} is non-@code{nil}, the
1991 unwanted frames are iconified instead.
1992 @end defun
1993
1994 @node Mouse Tracking
1995 @section Mouse Tracking
1996 @cindex mouse tracking
1997 @c @cindex tracking the mouse Duplicates track-mouse
1998
1999 Sometimes it is useful to @dfn{track} the mouse, which means to display
2000 something to indicate where the mouse is and move the indicator as the
2001 mouse moves. For efficient mouse tracking, you need a way to wait until
2002 the mouse actually moves.
2003
2004 The convenient way to track the mouse is to ask for events to represent
2005 mouse motion. Then you can wait for motion by waiting for an event. In
2006 addition, you can easily handle any other sorts of events that may
2007 occur. That is useful, because normally you don't want to track the
2008 mouse forever---only until some other event, such as the release of a
2009 button.
2010
2011 @defspec track-mouse body@dots{}
2012 This special form executes @var{body}, with generation of mouse motion
2013 events enabled. Typically, @var{body} would use @code{read-event} to
2014 read the motion events and modify the display accordingly. @xref{Motion
2015 Events}, for the format of mouse motion events.
2016
2017 The value of @code{track-mouse} is that of the last form in @var{body}.
2018 You should design @var{body} to return when it sees the up-event that
2019 indicates the release of the button, or whatever kind of event means
2020 it is time to stop tracking.
2021
2022 The @code{track-mouse} form causes Emacs to generate mouse motion
2023 events by binding the variable @code{mouse-tracking} to a
2024 non-@code{nil} value. If that variable has the special value
2025 @code{dragging}, it additionally instructs the display engine to
2026 refrain from changing the shape of the mouse pointer. This is
2027 desirable in Lisp programs that require mouse dragging across large
2028 portions of Emacs display, which might otherwise cause the mouse
2029 pointer to change its shape according to the display portion it hovers
2030 on (@pxref{Pointer Shape}). Therefore, Lisp programs that need the
2031 mouse pointer to retain its original shape during dragging should bind
2032 @code{track-mouse} to the value @code{dragging} at the beginning of
2033 their @var{body}.
2034 @end defspec
2035
2036 The usual purpose of tracking mouse motion is to indicate on the screen
2037 the consequences of pushing or releasing a button at the current
2038 position.
2039
2040 In many cases, you can avoid the need to track the mouse by using
2041 the @code{mouse-face} text property (@pxref{Special Properties}).
2042 That works at a much lower level and runs more smoothly than
2043 Lisp-level mouse tracking.
2044
2045 @ignore
2046 @c These are not implemented yet.
2047
2048 These functions change the screen appearance instantaneously. The
2049 effect is transient, only until the next ordinary Emacs redisplay. That
2050 is OK for mouse tracking, since it doesn't make sense for mouse tracking
2051 to change the text, and the body of @code{track-mouse} normally reads
2052 the events itself and does not do redisplay.
2053
2054 @defun x-contour-region window beg end
2055 This function draws lines to make a box around the text from @var{beg}
2056 to @var{end}, in window @var{window}.
2057 @end defun
2058
2059 @defun x-uncontour-region window beg end
2060 This function erases the lines that would make a box around the text
2061 from @var{beg} to @var{end}, in window @var{window}. Use it to remove
2062 a contour that you previously made by calling @code{x-contour-region}.
2063 @end defun
2064
2065 @defun x-draw-rectangle frame left top right bottom
2066 This function draws a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
2067 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
2068 left corner. It uses the cursor color, the one used for indicating the
2069 location of point.
2070 @end defun
2071
2072 @defun x-erase-rectangle frame left top right bottom
2073 This function erases a hollow rectangle on frame @var{frame} with the
2074 specified edge coordinates, all measured in pixels from the inside top
2075 left corner. Erasure means redrawing the text and background that
2076 normally belong in the specified rectangle.
2077 @end defun
2078 @end ignore
2079
2080 @node Mouse Position
2081 @section Mouse Position
2082 @cindex mouse position
2083 @cindex position of mouse
2084
2085 The functions @code{mouse-position} and @code{set-mouse-position}
2086 give access to the current position of the mouse.
2087
2088 @defun mouse-position
2089 This function returns a description of the position of the mouse. The
2090 value looks like @code{(@var{frame} @var{x} . @var{y})}, where @var{x}
2091 and @var{y} are integers giving the position in characters relative to
2092 the top left corner of the inside of @var{frame}.
2093 @end defun
2094
2095 @defvar mouse-position-function
2096 If non-@code{nil}, the value of this variable is a function for
2097 @code{mouse-position} to call. @code{mouse-position} calls this
2098 function just before returning, with its normal return value as the
2099 sole argument, and it returns whatever this function returns to it.
2100
2101 This abnormal hook exists for the benefit of packages like
2102 @file{xt-mouse.el} that need to do mouse handling at the Lisp level.
2103 @end defvar
2104
2105 @defun set-mouse-position frame x y
2106 This function @dfn{warps the mouse} to position @var{x}, @var{y} in
2107 frame @var{frame}. The arguments @var{x} and @var{y} are integers,
2108 giving the position in characters relative to the top left corner of the
2109 inside of @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not visible, this function
2110 does nothing. The return value is not significant.
2111 @end defun
2112
2113 @defun mouse-pixel-position
2114 This function is like @code{mouse-position} except that it returns
2115 coordinates in units of pixels rather than units of characters.
2116 @end defun
2117
2118 @defun set-mouse-pixel-position frame x y
2119 This function warps the mouse like @code{set-mouse-position} except that
2120 @var{x} and @var{y} are in units of pixels rather than units of
2121 characters. These coordinates are not required to be within the frame.
2122
2123 If @var{frame} is not visible, this function does nothing. The return
2124 value is not significant.
2125 @end defun
2126
2127 @defun frame-pointer-visible-p &optional frame
2128 This predicate function returns non-@code{nil} if the mouse pointer
2129 displayed on @var{frame} is visible; otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
2130 @var{frame} omitted or @code{nil} means the selected frame. This is
2131 useful when @code{make-pointer-invisible} is set to @code{t}: it
2132 allows to know if the pointer has been hidden.
2133 @xref{Mouse Avoidance,,,emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
2134 @end defun
2135
2136 @need 3000
2137
2138 @node Pop-Up Menus
2139 @section Pop-Up Menus
2140 @cindex menus, popup
2141
2142 A Lisp program can pop up a menu so that the user can choose an
2143 alternative with the mouse. On a text terminal, if the mouse is not
2144 available, the user can choose an alternative using the keyboard
2145 motion keys---@kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-p}, or up- and down-arrow keys.
2146
2147 @defun x-popup-menu position menu
2148 This function displays a pop-up menu and returns an indication of
2149 what selection the user makes.
2150
2151 The argument @var{position} specifies where on the screen to put the
2152 top left corner of the menu. It can be either a mouse button event
2153 (which says to put the menu where the user actuated the button) or a
2154 list of this form:
2155
2156 @example
2157 ((@var{xoffset} @var{yoffset}) @var{window})
2158 @end example
2159
2160 @noindent
2161 where @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} are coordinates, measured in
2162 pixels, counting from the top left corner of @var{window}. @var{window}
2163 may be a window or a frame.
2164
2165 If @var{position} is @code{t}, it means to use the current mouse
2166 position (or the top-left corner of the frame if the mouse is not
2167 available on a text terminal). If @var{position} is @code{nil}, it
2168 means to precompute the key binding equivalents for the keymaps
2169 specified in @var{menu}, without actually displaying or popping up the
2170 menu.
2171
2172 The argument @var{menu} says what to display in the menu. It can be a
2173 keymap or a list of keymaps (@pxref{Menu Keymaps}). In this case, the
2174 return value is the list of events corresponding to the user's choice.
2175 This list has more than one element if the choice occurred in a
2176 submenu. (Note that @code{x-popup-menu} does not actually execute the
2177 command bound to that sequence of events.) On text terminals and
2178 toolkits that support menu titles, the title is taken from the prompt
2179 string of @var{menu} if @var{menu} is a keymap, or from the prompt
2180 string of the first keymap in @var{menu} if it is a list of keymaps
2181 (@pxref{Defining Menus}).
2182
2183 Alternatively, @var{menu} can have the following form:
2184
2185 @example
2186 (@var{title} @var{pane1} @var{pane2}...)
2187 @end example
2188
2189 @noindent
2190 where each pane is a list of form
2191
2192 @example
2193 (@var{title} @var{item1} @var{item2}...)
2194 @end example
2195
2196 Each @var{item} should be a cons cell, @code{(@var{line} . @var{value})},
2197 where @var{line} is a string and @var{value} is the value to return if
2198 that @var{line} is chosen. Unlike in a menu keymap, a @code{nil}
2199 @var{value} does not make the menu item non-selectable.
2200 Alternatively, each @var{item} can be a string rather than a cons
2201 cell; this makes a non-selectable menu item.
2202
2203 If the user gets rid of the menu without making a valid choice, for
2204 instance by clicking the mouse away from a valid choice or by typing
2205 @kbd{C-g}, then this normally results in a quit and
2206 @code{x-popup-menu} does not return. But if @var{position} is a mouse
2207 button event (indicating that the user invoked the menu with the
2208 mouse) then no quit occurs and @code{x-popup-menu} returns @code{nil}.
2209 @end defun
2210
2211 @strong{Usage note:} Don't use @code{x-popup-menu} to display a menu
2212 if you could do the job with a prefix key defined with a menu keymap.
2213 If you use a menu keymap to implement a menu, @kbd{C-h c} and @kbd{C-h
2214 a} can see the individual items in that menu and provide help for them.
2215 If instead you implement the menu by defining a command that calls
2216 @code{x-popup-menu}, the help facilities cannot know what happens inside
2217 that command, so they cannot give any help for the menu's items.
2218
2219 The menu bar mechanism, which lets you switch between submenus by
2220 moving the mouse, cannot look within the definition of a command to see
2221 that it calls @code{x-popup-menu}. Therefore, if you try to implement a
2222 submenu using @code{x-popup-menu}, it cannot work with the menu bar in
2223 an integrated fashion. This is why all menu bar submenus are
2224 implemented with menu keymaps within the parent menu, and never with
2225 @code{x-popup-menu}. @xref{Menu Bar}.
2226
2227 If you want a menu bar submenu to have contents that vary, you should
2228 still use a menu keymap to implement it. To make the contents vary, add
2229 a hook function to @code{menu-bar-update-hook} to update the contents of
2230 the menu keymap as necessary.
2231
2232 @node Dialog Boxes
2233 @section Dialog Boxes
2234 @cindex dialog boxes
2235
2236 A dialog box is a variant of a pop-up menu---it looks a little
2237 different, it always appears in the center of a frame, and it has just
2238 one level and one or more buttons. The main use of dialog boxes is
2239 for asking questions that the user can answer with ``yes'', ``no'',
2240 and a few other alternatives. With a single button, they can also
2241 force the user to acknowledge important information. The functions
2242 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{yes-or-no-p} use dialog boxes instead of the
2243 keyboard, when called from commands invoked by mouse clicks.
2244
2245 @defun x-popup-dialog position contents &optional header
2246 This function displays a pop-up dialog box and returns an indication of
2247 what selection the user makes. The argument @var{contents} specifies
2248 the alternatives to offer; it has this format:
2249
2250 @example
2251 (@var{title} (@var{string} . @var{value})@dots{})
2252 @end example
2253
2254 @noindent
2255 which looks like the list that specifies a single pane for
2256 @code{x-popup-menu}.
2257
2258 The return value is @var{value} from the chosen alternative.
2259
2260 As for @code{x-popup-menu}, an element of the list may be just a
2261 string instead of a cons cell @code{(@var{string} . @var{value})}.
2262 That makes a box that cannot be selected.
2263
2264 If @code{nil} appears in the list, it separates the left-hand items from
2265 the right-hand items; items that precede the @code{nil} appear on the
2266 left, and items that follow the @code{nil} appear on the right. If you
2267 don't include a @code{nil} in the list, then approximately half the
2268 items appear on each side.
2269
2270 Dialog boxes always appear in the center of a frame; the argument
2271 @var{position} specifies which frame. The possible values are as in
2272 @code{x-popup-menu}, but the precise coordinates or the individual
2273 window don't matter; only the frame matters.
2274
2275 If @var{header} is non-@code{nil}, the frame title for the box is
2276 @samp{Information}, otherwise it is @samp{Question}. The former is used
2277 for @code{message-box} (@pxref{message-box}). (On text terminals, the
2278 box title is not displayed.)
2279
2280 In some configurations, Emacs cannot display a real dialog box; so
2281 instead it displays the same items in a pop-up menu in the center of the
2282 frame.
2283
2284 If the user gets rid of the dialog box without making a valid choice,
2285 for instance using the window manager, then this produces a quit and
2286 @code{x-popup-dialog} does not return.
2287 @end defun
2288
2289 @node Pointer Shape
2290 @section Pointer Shape
2291 @cindex pointer shape
2292 @cindex mouse pointer shape
2293
2294 You can specify the mouse pointer style for particular text or
2295 images using the @code{pointer} text property, and for images with the
2296 @code{:pointer} and @code{:map} image properties. The values you can
2297 use in these properties are @code{text} (or @code{nil}), @code{arrow},
2298 @code{hand}, @code{vdrag}, @code{hdrag}, @code{modeline}, and
2299 @code{hourglass}. @code{text} stands for the usual mouse pointer
2300 style used over text.
2301
2302 Over void parts of the window (parts that do not correspond to any
2303 of the buffer contents), the mouse pointer usually uses the
2304 @code{arrow} style, but you can specify a different style (one of
2305 those above) by setting @code{void-text-area-pointer}.
2306
2307 @defopt void-text-area-pointer
2308 This variable specifies the mouse pointer style for void text areas.
2309 These include the areas after the end of a line or below the last line
2310 in the buffer. The default is to use the @code{arrow} (non-text)
2311 pointer style.
2312 @end defopt
2313
2314 When using X, you can specify what the @code{text} pointer style
2315 really looks like by setting the variable @code{x-pointer-shape}.
2316
2317 @defvar x-pointer-shape
2318 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use ordinarily in the
2319 Emacs frame, for the @code{text} pointer style.
2320 @end defvar
2321
2322 @defvar x-sensitive-text-pointer-shape
2323 This variable specifies the pointer shape to use when the mouse
2324 is over mouse-sensitive text.
2325 @end defvar
2326
2327 These variables affect newly created frames. They do not normally
2328 affect existing frames; however, if you set the mouse color of a
2329 frame, that also installs the current value of those two variables.
2330 @xref{Font and Color Parameters}.
2331
2332 The values you can use, to specify either of these pointer shapes, are
2333 defined in the file @file{lisp/term/x-win.el}. Use @kbd{M-x apropos
2334 @key{RET} x-pointer @key{RET}} to see a list of them.
2335
2336 @node Window System Selections
2337 @section Window System Selections
2338 @cindex selection (for window systems)
2339 @cindex clipboard
2340 @cindex primary selection
2341 @cindex secondary selection
2342
2343 In the X window system, data can be transferred between different
2344 applications by means of @dfn{selections}. X defines an arbitrary
2345 number of @dfn{selection types}, each of which can store its own data;
2346 however, only three are commonly used: the @dfn{clipboard},
2347 @dfn{primary selection}, and @dfn{secondary selection}. @xref{Cut and
2348 Paste,, Cut and Paste, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for Emacs
2349 commands that make use of these selections. This section documents
2350 the low-level functions for reading and setting X selections.
2351
2352 @deffn Command x-set-selection type data
2353 This function sets an X selection. It takes two arguments: a
2354 selection type @var{type}, and the value to assign to it, @var{data}.
2355
2356 @var{type} should be a symbol; it is usually one of @code{PRIMARY},
2357 @code{SECONDARY} or @code{CLIPBOARD}. These are symbols with
2358 upper-case names, in accord with X Window System conventions. If
2359 @var{type} is @code{nil}, that stands for @code{PRIMARY}.
2360
2361 If @var{data} is @code{nil}, it means to clear out the selection.
2362 Otherwise, @var{data} may be a string, a symbol, an integer (or a cons
2363 of two integers or list of two integers), an overlay, or a cons of two
2364 markers pointing to the same buffer. An overlay or a pair of markers
2365 stands for text in the overlay or between the markers. The argument
2366 @var{data} may also be a vector of valid non-vector selection values.
2367
2368 This function returns @var{data}.
2369 @end deffn
2370
2371 @defun x-get-selection &optional type data-type
2372 This function accesses selections set up by Emacs or by other X
2373 clients. It takes two optional arguments, @var{type} and
2374 @var{data-type}. The default for @var{type}, the selection type, is
2375 @code{PRIMARY}.
2376
2377 The @var{data-type} argument specifies the form of data conversion to
2378 use, to convert the raw data obtained from another X client into Lisp
2379 data. Meaningful values include @code{TEXT}, @code{STRING},
2380 @code{UTF8_STRING}, @code{TARGETS}, @code{LENGTH}, @code{DELETE},
2381 @code{FILE_NAME}, @code{CHARACTER_POSITION}, @code{NAME},
2382 @code{LINE_NUMBER}, @code{COLUMN_NUMBER}, @code{OWNER_OS},
2383 @code{HOST_NAME}, @code{USER}, @code{CLASS}, @code{ATOM}, and
2384 @code{INTEGER}. (These are symbols with upper-case names in accord
2385 with X conventions.) The default for @var{data-type} is
2386 @code{STRING}.
2387 @end defun
2388
2389 @defopt selection-coding-system
2390 This variable specifies the coding system to use when reading and
2391 writing selections or the clipboard. @xref{Coding
2392 Systems}. The default is @code{compound-text-with-extensions}, which
2393 converts to the text representation that X11 normally uses.
2394 @end defopt
2395
2396 @cindex clipboard support (for MS-Windows)
2397 When Emacs runs on MS-Windows, it does not implement X selections in
2398 general, but it does support the clipboard. @code{x-get-selection}
2399 and @code{x-set-selection} on MS-Windows support the text data type
2400 only; if the clipboard holds other types of data, Emacs treats the
2401 clipboard as empty.
2402
2403 @node Drag and Drop
2404 @section Drag and Drop
2405 @cindex drag and drop
2406
2407 @vindex x-dnd-test-function
2408 @vindex x-dnd-known-types
2409 When a user drags something from another application over Emacs, that other
2410 application expects Emacs to tell it if Emacs can handle the data that is
2411 dragged. The variable @code{x-dnd-test-function} is used by Emacs to determine
2412 what to reply. The default value is @code{x-dnd-default-test-function}
2413 which accepts drops if the type of the data to be dropped is present in
2414 @code{x-dnd-known-types}. You can customize @code{x-dnd-test-function} and/or
2415 @code{x-dnd-known-types} if you want Emacs to accept or reject drops based
2416 on some other criteria.
2417
2418 @vindex x-dnd-types-alist
2419 If you want to change the way Emacs handles drop of different types
2420 or add a new type, customize @code{x-dnd-types-alist}. This requires
2421 detailed knowledge of what types other applications use for drag and
2422 drop.
2423
2424 @vindex dnd-protocol-alist
2425 When an URL is dropped on Emacs it may be a file, but it may also be
2426 another URL type (ftp, http, etc.). Emacs first checks
2427 @code{dnd-protocol-alist} to determine what to do with the URL@. If
2428 there is no match there and if @code{browse-url-browser-function} is
2429 an alist, Emacs looks for a match there. If no match is found the
2430 text for the URL is inserted. If you want to alter Emacs behavior,
2431 you can customize these variables.
2432
2433 @node Color Names
2434 @section Color Names
2435
2436 @cindex color names
2437 @cindex specify color
2438 @cindex numerical RGB color specification
2439 A color name is text (usually in a string) that specifies a color.
2440 Symbolic names such as @samp{black}, @samp{white}, @samp{red}, etc.,
2441 are allowed; use @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} to see a list of
2442 defined names. You can also specify colors numerically in forms such
2443 as @samp{#@var{rgb}} and @samp{RGB:@var{r}/@var{g}/@var{b}}, where
2444 @var{r} specifies the red level, @var{g} specifies the green level,
2445 and @var{b} specifies the blue level. You can use either one, two,
2446 three, or four hex digits for @var{r}; then you must use the same
2447 number of hex digits for all @var{g} and @var{b} as well, making
2448 either 3, 6, 9 or 12 hex digits in all. (See the documentation of the
2449 X Window System for more details about numerical RGB specification of
2450 colors.)
2451
2452 These functions provide a way to determine which color names are
2453 valid, and what they look like. In some cases, the value depends on the
2454 @dfn{selected frame}, as described below; see @ref{Input Focus}, for the
2455 meaning of the term ``selected frame''.
2456
2457 To read user input of color names with completion, use
2458 @code{read-color} (@pxref{High-Level Completion, read-color}).
2459
2460 @defun color-defined-p color &optional frame
2461 This function reports whether a color name is meaningful. It returns
2462 @code{t} if so; otherwise, @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} says
2463 which frame's display to ask about; if @var{frame} is omitted or
2464 @code{nil}, the selected frame is used.
2465
2466 Note that this does not tell you whether the display you are using
2467 really supports that color. When using X, you can ask for any defined
2468 color on any kind of display, and you will get some result---typically,
2469 the closest it can do. To determine whether a frame can really display
2470 a certain color, use @code{color-supported-p} (see below).
2471
2472 @findex x-color-defined-p
2473 This function used to be called @code{x-color-defined-p},
2474 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2475 @end defun
2476
2477 @defun defined-colors &optional frame
2478 This function returns a list of the color names that are defined
2479 and supported on frame @var{frame} (default, the selected frame).
2480 If @var{frame} does not support colors, the value is @code{nil}.
2481
2482 @findex x-defined-colors
2483 This function used to be called @code{x-defined-colors},
2484 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2485 @end defun
2486
2487 @defun color-supported-p color &optional frame background-p
2488 This returns @code{t} if @var{frame} can really display the color
2489 @var{color} (or at least something close to it). If @var{frame} is
2490 omitted or @code{nil}, the question applies to the selected frame.
2491
2492 Some terminals support a different set of colors for foreground and
2493 background. If @var{background-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means you are
2494 asking whether @var{color} can be used as a background; otherwise you
2495 are asking whether it can be used as a foreground.
2496
2497 The argument @var{color} must be a valid color name.
2498 @end defun
2499
2500 @defun color-gray-p color &optional frame
2501 This returns @code{t} if @var{color} is a shade of gray, as defined on
2502 @var{frame}'s display. If @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the
2503 question applies to the selected frame. If @var{color} is not a valid
2504 color name, this function returns @code{nil}.
2505 @end defun
2506
2507 @defun color-values color &optional frame
2508 @cindex rgb value
2509 This function returns a value that describes what @var{color} should
2510 ideally look like on @var{frame}. If @var{color} is defined, the
2511 value is a list of three integers, which give the amount of red, the
2512 amount of green, and the amount of blue. Each integer ranges in
2513 principle from 0 to 65535, but some displays may not use the full
2514 range. This three-element list is called the @dfn{rgb values} of the
2515 color.
2516
2517 If @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2518
2519 @example
2520 (color-values "black")
2521 @result{} (0 0 0)
2522 (color-values "white")
2523 @result{} (65280 65280 65280)
2524 (color-values "red")
2525 @result{} (65280 0 0)
2526 (color-values "pink")
2527 @result{} (65280 49152 51968)
2528 (color-values "hungry")
2529 @result{} nil
2530 @end example
2531
2532 The color values are returned for @var{frame}'s display. If
2533 @var{frame} is omitted or @code{nil}, the information is returned for
2534 the selected frame's display. If the frame cannot display colors, the
2535 value is @code{nil}.
2536
2537 @findex x-color-values
2538 This function used to be called @code{x-color-values},
2539 and that name is still supported as an alias.
2540 @end defun
2541
2542 @node Text Terminal Colors
2543 @section Text Terminal Colors
2544 @cindex colors on text terminals
2545
2546 Text terminals usually support only a small number of colors, and
2547 the computer uses small integers to select colors on the terminal.
2548 This means that the computer cannot reliably tell what the selected
2549 color looks like; instead, you have to inform your application which
2550 small integers correspond to which colors. However, Emacs does know
2551 the standard set of colors and will try to use them automatically.
2552
2553 The functions described in this section control how terminal colors
2554 are used by Emacs.
2555
2556 Several of these functions use or return @dfn{rgb values}, described
2557 in @ref{Color Names}.
2558
2559 These functions accept a display (either a frame or the name of a
2560 terminal) as an optional argument. We hope in the future to make
2561 Emacs support different colors on different text terminals; then this
2562 argument will specify which terminal to operate on (the default being
2563 the selected frame's terminal; @pxref{Input Focus}). At present,
2564 though, the @var{frame} argument has no effect.
2565
2566 @defun tty-color-define name number &optional rgb frame
2567 This function associates the color name @var{name} with
2568 color number @var{number} on the terminal.
2569
2570 The optional argument @var{rgb}, if specified, is an rgb value, a list
2571 of three numbers that specify what the color actually looks like.
2572 If you do not specify @var{rgb}, then this color cannot be used by
2573 @code{tty-color-approximate} to approximate other colors, because
2574 Emacs will not know what it looks like.
2575 @end defun
2576
2577 @defun tty-color-clear &optional frame
2578 This function clears the table of defined colors for a text terminal.
2579 @end defun
2580
2581 @defun tty-color-alist &optional frame
2582 This function returns an alist recording the known colors supported by
2583 a text terminal.
2584
2585 Each element has the form @code{(@var{name} @var{number} . @var{rgb})}
2586 or @code{(@var{name} @var{number})}. Here, @var{name} is the color
2587 name, @var{number} is the number used to specify it to the terminal.
2588 If present, @var{rgb} is a list of three color values (for red, green,
2589 and blue) that says what the color actually looks like.
2590 @end defun
2591
2592 @defun tty-color-approximate rgb &optional frame
2593 This function finds the closest color, among the known colors
2594 supported for @var{display}, to that described by the rgb value
2595 @var{rgb} (a list of color values). The return value is an element of
2596 @code{tty-color-alist}.
2597 @end defun
2598
2599 @defun tty-color-translate color &optional frame
2600 This function finds the closest color to @var{color} among the known
2601 colors supported for @var{display} and returns its index (an integer).
2602 If the name @var{color} is not defined, the value is @code{nil}.
2603 @end defun
2604
2605 @node Resources
2606 @section X Resources
2607
2608 This section describes some of the functions and variables for
2609 querying and using X resources, or their equivalent on your operating
2610 system. @xref{X Resources,, X Resources, emacs, The GNU Emacs
2611 Manual}, for more information about X resources.
2612
2613 @defun x-get-resource attribute class &optional component subclass
2614 The function @code{x-get-resource} retrieves a resource value from the X
2615 Window defaults database.
2616
2617 Resources are indexed by a combination of a @dfn{key} and a @dfn{class}.
2618 This function searches using a key of the form
2619 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{attribute}} (where @var{instance} is the name
2620 under which Emacs was invoked), and using @samp{Emacs.@var{class}} as
2621 the class.
2622
2623 The optional arguments @var{component} and @var{subclass} add to the key
2624 and the class, respectively. You must specify both of them or neither.
2625 If you specify them, the key is
2626 @samp{@var{instance}.@var{component}.@var{attribute}}, and the class is
2627 @samp{Emacs.@var{class}.@var{subclass}}.
2628 @end defun
2629
2630 @defvar x-resource-class
2631 This variable specifies the application name that @code{x-get-resource}
2632 should look up. The default value is @code{"Emacs"}. You can examine X
2633 resources for application names other than ``Emacs'' by binding this
2634 variable to some other string, around a call to @code{x-get-resource}.
2635 @end defvar
2636
2637 @defvar x-resource-name
2638 This variable specifies the instance name that @code{x-get-resource}
2639 should look up. The default value is the name Emacs was invoked with,
2640 or the value specified with the @samp{-name} or @samp{-rn} switches.
2641 @end defvar
2642
2643 To illustrate some of the above, suppose that you have the line:
2644
2645 @example
2646 xterm.vt100.background: yellow
2647 @end example
2648
2649 @noindent
2650 in your X resources file (whose name is usually @file{~/.Xdefaults}
2651 or @file{~/.Xresources}). Then:
2652
2653 @example
2654 @group
2655 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2656 (x-get-resource "vt100.background" "VT100.Background"))
2657 @result{} "yellow"
2658 @end group
2659 @group
2660 (let ((x-resource-class "XTerm") (x-resource-name "xterm"))
2661 (x-get-resource "background" "VT100" "vt100" "Background"))
2662 @result{} "yellow"
2663 @end group
2664 @end example
2665
2666 @defvar inhibit-x-resources
2667 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs does not look up X
2668 resources, and X resources do not have any effect when creating new
2669 frames.
2670 @end defvar
2671
2672 @node Display Feature Testing
2673 @section Display Feature Testing
2674 @cindex display feature testing
2675
2676 The functions in this section describe the basic capabilities of a
2677 particular display. Lisp programs can use them to adapt their behavior
2678 to what the display can do. For example, a program that ordinarily uses
2679 a popup menu could use the minibuffer if popup menus are not supported.
2680
2681 The optional argument @var{display} in these functions specifies which
2682 display to ask the question about. It can be a display name, a frame
2683 (which designates the display that frame is on), or @code{nil} (which
2684 refers to the selected frame's display, @pxref{Input Focus}).
2685
2686 @xref{Color Names}, @ref{Text Terminal Colors}, for other functions to
2687 obtain information about displays.
2688
2689 @defun display-popup-menus-p &optional display
2690 This function returns @code{t} if popup menus are supported on
2691 @var{display}, @code{nil} if not. Support for popup menus requires
2692 that the mouse be available, since the menu is popped up by clicking
2693 the mouse on some portion of the Emacs display.
2694 @end defun
2695
2696 @defun display-graphic-p &optional display
2697 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} is a graphic display
2698 capable of displaying several frames and several different fonts at
2699 once. This is true for displays that use a window system such as X,
2700 and false for text terminals.
2701 @end defun
2702
2703 @defun display-mouse-p &optional display
2704 @cindex mouse, availability
2705 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} has a mouse available,
2706 @code{nil} if not.
2707 @end defun
2708
2709 @defun display-color-p &optional display
2710 @findex x-display-color-p
2711 This function returns @code{t} if the screen is a color screen.
2712 It used to be called @code{x-display-color-p}, and that name
2713 is still supported as an alias.
2714 @end defun
2715
2716 @defun display-grayscale-p &optional display
2717 This function returns @code{t} if the screen can display shades of gray.
2718 (All color displays can do this.)
2719 @end defun
2720
2721 @defun display-supports-face-attributes-p attributes &optional display
2722 @anchor{Display Face Attribute Testing}
2723 This function returns non-@code{nil} if all the face attributes in
2724 @var{attributes} are supported (@pxref{Face Attributes}).
2725
2726 The definition of ``supported'' is somewhat heuristic, but basically
2727 means that a face containing all the attributes in @var{attributes},
2728 when merged with the default face for display, can be represented in a
2729 way that's
2730
2731 @enumerate
2732 @item
2733 different in appearance than the default face, and
2734
2735 @item
2736 ``close in spirit'' to what the attributes specify, if not exact.
2737 @end enumerate
2738
2739 Point (2) implies that a @code{:weight black} attribute will be
2740 satisfied by any display that can display bold, as will
2741 @code{:foreground "yellow"} as long as some yellowish color can be
2742 displayed, but @code{:slant italic} will @emph{not} be satisfied by
2743 the tty display code's automatic substitution of a ``dim'' face for
2744 italic.
2745 @end defun
2746
2747 @defun display-selections-p &optional display
2748 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} supports selections.
2749 Windowed displays normally support selections, but they may also be
2750 supported in some other cases.
2751 @end defun
2752
2753 @defun display-images-p &optional display
2754 This function returns @code{t} if @var{display} can display images.
2755 Windowed displays ought in principle to handle images, but some
2756 systems lack the support for that. On a display that does not support
2757 images, Emacs cannot display a tool bar.
2758 @end defun
2759
2760 @defun display-screens &optional display
2761 This function returns the number of screens associated with the display.
2762 @end defun
2763
2764 @defun display-pixel-height &optional display
2765 This function returns the height of the screen in pixels.
2766 On a character terminal, it gives the height in characters.
2767
2768 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2769 refers to the pixel height for all physical monitors associated with
2770 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2771 @end defun
2772
2773 @defun display-pixel-width &optional display
2774 This function returns the width of the screen in pixels.
2775 On a character terminal, it gives the width in characters.
2776
2777 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2778 refers to the pixel width for all physical monitors associated with
2779 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2780 @end defun
2781
2782 @defun display-mm-height &optional display
2783 This function returns the height of the screen in millimeters,
2784 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2785
2786 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2787 refers to the height for all physical monitors associated with
2788 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2789 @end defun
2790
2791 @defun display-mm-width &optional display
2792 This function returns the width of the screen in millimeters,
2793 or @code{nil} if Emacs cannot get that information.
2794
2795 For graphical terminals, note that on ``multi-monitor'' setups this
2796 refers to the width for all physical monitors associated with
2797 @var{display}. @xref{Multiple Terminals}.
2798 @end defun
2799
2800 @defopt display-mm-dimensions-alist
2801 This variable allows the user to specify the dimensions of graphical
2802 displays returned by @code{display-mm-height} and
2803 @code{display-mm-width} in case the system provides incorrect values.
2804 @end defopt
2805
2806 @cindex backing store
2807 @defun display-backing-store &optional display
2808 This function returns the backing store capability of the display.
2809 Backing store means recording the pixels of windows (and parts of
2810 windows) that are not exposed, so that when exposed they can be
2811 displayed very quickly.
2812
2813 Values can be the symbols @code{always}, @code{when-mapped}, or
2814 @code{not-useful}. The function can also return @code{nil}
2815 when the question is inapplicable to a certain kind of display.
2816 @end defun
2817
2818 @cindex SaveUnder feature
2819 @defun display-save-under &optional display
2820 This function returns non-@code{nil} if the display supports the
2821 SaveUnder feature. That feature is used by pop-up windows
2822 to save the pixels they obscure, so that they can pop down
2823 quickly.
2824 @end defun
2825
2826 @defun display-planes &optional display
2827 This function returns the number of planes the display supports.
2828 This is typically the number of bits per pixel.
2829 For a tty display, it is log to base two of the number of colors supported.
2830 @end defun
2831
2832 @defun display-visual-class &optional display
2833 This function returns the visual class for the screen. The value is
2834 one of the symbols @code{static-gray} (a limited, unchangeable number
2835 of grays), @code{gray-scale} (a full range of grays),
2836 @code{static-color} (a limited, unchangeable number of colors),
2837 @code{pseudo-color} (a limited number of colors), @code{true-color} (a
2838 full range of colors), and @code{direct-color} (a full range of
2839 colors).
2840 @end defun
2841
2842 @defun display-color-cells &optional display
2843 This function returns the number of color cells the screen supports.
2844 @end defun
2845
2846 These functions obtain additional information about the window
2847 system in use where Emacs shows the specified @var{display}. (Their
2848 names begin with @code{x-} for historical reasons.)
2849
2850 @defun x-server-version &optional display
2851 This function returns the list of version numbers of the GUI window
2852 system running on @var{display}, such as the X server on GNU and Unix
2853 systems. The value is a list of three integers: the major and minor
2854 version numbers of the protocol, and the distributor-specific release
2855 number of the window system software itself. On GNU and Unix systems,
2856 these are normally the version of the X protocol and the
2857 distributor-specific release number of the X server software. On
2858 MS-Windows, this is the version of the Windows OS.
2859 @end defun
2860
2861 @defun x-server-vendor &optional display
2862 This function returns the ``vendor'' that provided the window system
2863 software (as a string). On GNU and Unix systems this really means
2864 whoever distributes the X server. On MS-Windows this is the vendor ID
2865 string of the Windows OS (Microsoft).
2866
2867 When the developers of X labeled software distributors as
2868 ``vendors'', they showed their false assumption that no system could
2869 ever be developed and distributed noncommercially.
2870 @end defun
2871
2872 @ignore
2873 @defvar x-no-window-manager
2874 This variable's value is @code{t} if no X window manager is in use.
2875 @end defvar
2876 @end ignore
2877
2878 @ignore
2879 @item
2880 The functions @code{x-pixel-width} and @code{x-pixel-height} return the
2881 width and height of an X Window frame, measured in pixels.
2882 @end ignore