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annotate lispref/help.texi @ 31729:3f1d7c3629aa
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author | Jeff Bailey <jbailey@raspberryginger.com> |
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date | Tue, 19 Sep 2000 15:47:02 +0000 |
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6381 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
27189 | 3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999 |
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
6381 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
6 @setfilename ../info/help | |
7 @node Documentation, Files, Modes, Top | |
8 @chapter Documentation | |
9 @cindex documentation strings | |
10 | |
11 GNU Emacs Lisp has convenient on-line help facilities, most of which | |
12 derive their information from the documentation strings associated with | |
13 functions and variables. This chapter describes how to write good | |
14 documentation strings for your Lisp programs, as well as how to write | |
15 programs to access documentation. | |
16 | |
17 Note that the documentation strings for Emacs are not the same thing | |
18 as the Emacs manual. Manuals have their own source files, written in | |
19 the Texinfo language; documentation strings are specified in the | |
20 definitions of the functions and variables they apply to. A collection | |
21 of documentation strings is not sufficient as a manual because a good | |
22 manual is not organized in that fashion; it is organized in terms of | |
23 topics of discussion. | |
24 | |
25 @menu | |
26 * Documentation Basics:: Good style for doc strings. | |
27 Where to put them. How Emacs stores them. | |
28 * Accessing Documentation:: How Lisp programs can access doc strings. | |
29 * Keys in Documentation:: Substituting current key bindings. | |
30 * Describing Characters:: Making printable descriptions of | |
31 non-printing characters and key sequences. | |
32 * Help Functions:: Subroutines used by Emacs help facilities. | |
33 @end menu | |
34 | |
35 @node Documentation Basics | |
36 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
37 @section Documentation Basics | |
38 @cindex documentation conventions | |
39 @cindex writing a documentation string | |
40 @cindex string, writing a doc string | |
41 | |
42 A documentation string is written using the Lisp syntax for strings, | |
43 with double-quote characters surrounding the text of the string. This | |
44 is because it really is a Lisp string object. The string serves as | |
45 documentation when it is written in the proper place in the definition | |
46 of a function or variable. In a function definition, the documentation | |
47 string follows the argument list. In a variable definition, the | |
48 documentation string follows the initial value of the variable. | |
49 | |
50 When you write a documentation string, make the first line a complete | |
51 sentence (or two complete sentences) since some commands, such as | |
52 @code{apropos}, show only the first line of a multi-line documentation | |
53 string. Also, you should not indent the second line of a documentation | |
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54 string, if it has one, because that looks odd when you use @kbd{C-h f} |
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55 (@code{describe-function}) or @kbd{C-h v} (@code{describe-variable}) to |
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56 view the documentation string. @xref{Documentation Tips}. |
6381 | 57 |
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58 Documentation strings can contain several special substrings, which |
6381 | 59 stand for key bindings to be looked up in the current keymaps when the |
60 documentation is displayed. This allows documentation strings to refer | |
61 to the keys for related commands and be accurate even when a user | |
62 rearranges the key bindings. (@xref{Accessing Documentation}.) | |
63 | |
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64 In Emacs Lisp, a documentation string is accessible through the |
6381 | 65 function or variable that it describes: |
66 | |
67 @itemize @bullet | |
68 @item | |
69 The documentation for a function is stored in the function definition | |
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70 itself (@pxref{Lambda Expressions}). The function @code{documentation} |
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71 knows how to extract it. |
6381 | 72 |
73 @item | |
74 @kindex variable-documentation | |
75 The documentation for a variable is stored in the variable's property | |
76 list under the property name @code{variable-documentation}. The | |
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77 function @code{documentation-property} knows how to retrieve it. |
6381 | 78 @end itemize |
79 | |
80 @cindex @file{DOC} (documentation) file | |
81 @cindex @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} | |
82 @cindex @file{etc/DOC-@var{version}} | |
83 To save space, the documentation for preloaded functions and variables | |
7254 | 84 (including primitive functions and autoloaded functions) is stored in |
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85 the file @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}}---not inside Emacs. The |
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86 documentation strings for functions and variables loaded during the |
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87 Emacs session from byte-compiled files are stored in those files |
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88 (@pxref{Docs and Compilation}). |
12098 | 89 |
90 The data structure inside Emacs has an integer offset into the file, or | |
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91 a list containing a file name and an integer, in place of the |
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92 documentation string. The functions @code{documentation} and |
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93 @code{documentation-property} use that information to fetch the |
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94 documentation string from the appropriate file; this is transparent to |
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95 the user. |
6381 | 96 |
97 For information on the uses of documentation strings, see @ref{Help, , | |
98 Help, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
99 | |
100 @c Wordy to prevent overfull hbox. --rjc 15mar92 | |
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101 The @file{emacs/lib-src} directory contains two utilities that you can |
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102 use to print nice-looking hardcopy for the file |
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103 @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}}. These are @file{sorted-doc} and |
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104 @file{digest-doc}. |
6381 | 105 |
106 @node Accessing Documentation | |
107 @section Access to Documentation Strings | |
108 | |
109 @defun documentation-property symbol property &optional verbatim | |
110 This function returns the documentation string that is recorded | |
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111 in @var{symbol}'s property list under property @var{property}. It |
12098 | 112 retrieves the text from a file if necessary, and runs |
113 @code{substitute-command-keys} to substitute actual key bindings. (This | |
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114 substitution is not done if @var{verbatim} is non-@code{nil}.) |
6381 | 115 |
116 @smallexample | |
117 @group | |
118 (documentation-property 'command-line-processed | |
119 'variable-documentation) | |
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120 @result{} "Non-nil once command line has been processed" |
6381 | 121 @end group |
122 @group | |
123 (symbol-plist 'command-line-processed) | |
124 @result{} (variable-documentation 188902) | |
125 @end group | |
126 @end smallexample | |
127 @end defun | |
128 | |
129 @defun documentation function &optional verbatim | |
12098 | 130 This function returns the documentation string of @var{function}. It |
131 reads the text from a file if necessary. Then (unless @var{verbatim} is | |
132 non-@code{nil}) it calls @code{substitute-command-keys}, to return a | |
133 value containing the actual (current) key bindings. | |
6381 | 134 |
135 The function @code{documentation} signals a @code{void-function} error | |
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136 if @var{function} has no function definition. However, it is OK if |
6381 | 137 the function definition has no documentation string. In that case, |
138 @code{documentation} returns @code{nil}. | |
139 @end defun | |
140 | |
141 @c Wordy to prevent overfull hboxes. --rjc 15mar92 | |
7254 | 142 Here is an example of using the two functions, @code{documentation} and |
6381 | 143 @code{documentation-property}, to display the documentation strings for |
144 several symbols in a @samp{*Help*} buffer. | |
145 | |
146 @smallexample | |
147 @group | |
148 (defun describe-symbols (pattern) | |
149 "Describe the Emacs Lisp symbols matching PATTERN. | |
150 All symbols that have PATTERN in their name are described | |
151 in the `*Help*' buffer." | |
152 (interactive "sDescribe symbols matching: ") | |
153 (let ((describe-func | |
154 (function | |
155 (lambda (s) | |
156 @end group | |
157 @group | |
158 ;; @r{Print description of symbol.} | |
159 (if (fboundp s) ; @r{It is a function.} | |
160 (princ | |
161 (format "%s\t%s\n%s\n\n" s | |
162 (if (commandp s) | |
163 (let ((keys (where-is-internal s))) | |
164 (if keys | |
165 (concat | |
166 "Keys: " | |
167 (mapconcat 'key-description | |
168 keys " ")) | |
169 "Keys: none")) | |
170 "Function") | |
171 @end group | |
172 @group | |
173 (or (documentation s) | |
174 "not documented")))) | |
175 | |
176 (if (boundp s) ; @r{It is a variable.} | |
177 @end group | |
178 @group | |
179 (princ | |
180 (format "%s\t%s\n%s\n\n" s | |
181 (if (user-variable-p s) | |
182 "Option " "Variable") | |
183 @end group | |
184 @group | |
185 (or (documentation-property | |
186 s 'variable-documentation) | |
187 "not documented"))))))) | |
188 sym-list) | |
189 @end group | |
190 | |
191 @group | |
192 ;; @r{Build a list of symbols that match pattern.} | |
193 (mapatoms (function | |
194 (lambda (sym) | |
195 (if (string-match pattern (symbol-name sym)) | |
196 (setq sym-list (cons sym sym-list)))))) | |
197 @end group | |
198 | |
199 @group | |
200 ;; @r{Display the data.} | |
201 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*" | |
202 (mapcar describe-func (sort sym-list 'string<)) | |
203 (print-help-return-message)))) | |
204 @end group | |
205 @end smallexample | |
206 | |
207 The @code{describe-symbols} function works like @code{apropos}, | |
208 but provides more information. | |
209 | |
210 @smallexample | |
211 @group | |
212 (describe-symbols "goal") | |
213 | |
214 ---------- Buffer: *Help* ---------- | |
215 goal-column Option | |
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216 *Semipermanent goal column for vertical motion, as set by @dots{} |
6381 | 217 @end group |
218 @c Do not blithely break or fill these lines. | |
219 @c That makes them incorrect. | |
220 | |
221 @group | |
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222 set-goal-column Keys: C-x C-n |
6381 | 223 Set the current horizontal position as a goal for C-n and C-p. |
224 @end group | |
225 @c DO NOT put a blank line here! That is factually inaccurate! | |
226 @group | |
227 Those commands will move to this position in the line moved to | |
228 rather than trying to keep the same horizontal position. | |
229 With a non-nil argument, clears out the goal column | |
230 so that C-n and C-p resume vertical motion. | |
231 The goal column is stored in the variable `goal-column'. | |
232 @end group | |
233 | |
234 @group | |
235 temporary-goal-column Variable | |
236 Current goal column for vertical motion. | |
237 It is the column where point was | |
238 at the start of current run of vertical motion commands. | |
239 When the `track-eol' feature is doing its job, the value is 9999. | |
240 ---------- Buffer: *Help* ---------- | |
241 @end group | |
242 @end smallexample | |
243 | |
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244 The asterisk @samp{*} as the first character of a variable's doc string, |
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245 as shown above for the @code{goal-column} variable, means that it is a |
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246 user option; see the description of @code{defvar} in @ref{Defining |
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247 Variables}. |
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248 |
6381 | 249 @defun Snarf-documentation filename |
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250 This function is used only during Emacs initialization, just before |
6381 | 251 the runnable Emacs is dumped. It finds the file offsets of the |
252 documentation strings stored in the file @var{filename}, and records | |
253 them in the in-core function definitions and variable property lists in | |
254 place of the actual strings. @xref{Building Emacs}. | |
255 | |
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256 Emacs reads the file @var{filename} from the @file{emacs/etc} directory. |
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257 When the dumped Emacs is later executed, the same file will be looked |
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258 for in the directory @code{doc-directory}. Usually @var{filename} is |
6381 | 259 @code{"DOC-@var{version}"}. |
260 @end defun | |
261 | |
262 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
263 @defvar doc-directory | |
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264 This variable holds the name of the directory which should contain the |
6381 | 265 file @code{"DOC-@var{version}"} that contains documentation strings for |
266 built-in and preloaded functions and variables. | |
267 | |
268 In most cases, this is the same as @code{data-directory}. They may be | |
269 different when you run Emacs from the directory where you built it, | |
270 without actually installing it. See @code{data-directory} in @ref{Help | |
271 Functions}. | |
272 | |
273 In older Emacs versions, @code{exec-directory} was used for this. | |
274 @end defvar | |
275 | |
276 @node Keys in Documentation | |
277 @section Substituting Key Bindings in Documentation | |
278 @cindex documentation, keys in | |
279 @cindex keys in documentation strings | |
280 @cindex substituting keys in documentation | |
281 | |
7254 | 282 When documentation strings refer to key sequences, they should use the |
283 current, actual key bindings. They can do so using certain special text | |
284 sequences described below. Accessing documentation strings in the usual | |
285 way substitutes current key binding information for these special | |
286 sequences. This works by calling @code{substitute-command-keys}. You | |
287 can also call that function yourself. | |
6381 | 288 |
289 Here is a list of the special sequences and what they mean: | |
290 | |
291 @table @code | |
292 @item \[@var{command}] | |
293 stands for a key sequence that will invoke @var{command}, or @samp{M-x | |
294 @var{command}} if @var{command} has no key bindings. | |
295 | |
296 @item \@{@var{mapvar}@} | |
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297 stands for a summary of the keymap which is the value of the variable |
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298 @var{mapvar}. The summary is made using @code{describe-bindings}. |
6381 | 299 |
300 @item \<@var{mapvar}> | |
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301 stands for no text itself. It is used only for a side effect: it |
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302 specifies @var{mapvar}'s value as the keymap for any following |
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303 @samp{\[@var{command}]} sequences in this documentation string. |
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304 |
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305 @item \= |
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306 quotes the following character and is discarded; thus, @samp{\=\[} puts |
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307 @samp{\[} into the output, and @samp{\=\=} puts @samp{\=} into the |
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308 output. |
6381 | 309 @end table |
310 | |
7254 | 311 @strong{Please note:} Each @samp{\} must be doubled when written in a |
6381 | 312 string in Emacs Lisp. |
313 | |
314 @defun substitute-command-keys string | |
315 This function scans @var{string} for the above special sequences and | |
316 replaces them by what they stand for, returning the result as a string. | |
317 This permits display of documentation that refers accurately to the | |
7254 | 318 user's own customized key bindings. |
6381 | 319 @end defun |
320 | |
321 Here are examples of the special sequences: | |
322 | |
323 @smallexample | |
324 @group | |
325 (substitute-command-keys | |
326 "To abort recursive edit, type: \\[abort-recursive-edit]") | |
327 @result{} "To abort recursive edit, type: C-]" | |
328 @end group | |
329 | |
330 @group | |
331 (substitute-command-keys | |
332 "The keys that are defined for the minibuffer here are: | |
333 \\@{minibuffer-local-must-match-map@}") | |
334 @result{} "The keys that are defined for the minibuffer here are: | |
335 @end group | |
336 | |
337 ? minibuffer-completion-help | |
338 SPC minibuffer-complete-word | |
339 TAB minibuffer-complete | |
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340 C-j minibuffer-complete-and-exit |
6381 | 341 RET minibuffer-complete-and-exit |
342 C-g abort-recursive-edit | |
343 " | |
344 | |
345 @group | |
346 (substitute-command-keys | |
347 "To abort a recursive edit from the minibuffer, type\ | |
348 \\<minibuffer-local-must-match-map>\\[abort-recursive-edit].") | |
349 @result{} "To abort a recursive edit from the minibuffer, type C-g." | |
350 @end group | |
351 @end smallexample | |
352 | |
353 @node Describing Characters | |
354 @section Describing Characters for Help Messages | |
355 | |
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356 These functions convert events, key sequences, or characters to |
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357 textual descriptions. These descriptions are useful for including |
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358 arbitrary text characters or key sequences in messages, because they |
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359 convert non-printing and whitespace characters to sequences of printing |
6381 | 360 characters. The description of a non-whitespace printing character is |
361 the character itself. | |
362 | |
363 @defun key-description sequence | |
364 @cindex Emacs event standard notation | |
365 This function returns a string containing the Emacs standard notation | |
366 for the input events in @var{sequence}. The argument @var{sequence} may | |
367 be a string, vector or list. @xref{Input Events}, for more information | |
368 about valid events. See also the examples for | |
369 @code{single-key-description}, below. | |
370 @end defun | |
371 | |
372 @defun single-key-description event | |
373 @cindex event printing | |
374 @cindex character printing | |
375 @cindex control character printing | |
376 @cindex meta character printing | |
377 This function returns a string describing @var{event} in the standard | |
378 Emacs notation for keyboard input. A normal printing character appears | |
379 as itself, but a control character turns into a string starting with | |
380 @samp{C-}, a meta character turns into a string starting with @samp{M-}, | |
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381 and space, tab, etc.@: appear as @samp{SPC}, @samp{TAB}, etc. A |
7254 | 382 function key symbol appears as itself. An event that is a list appears |
6381 | 383 as the name of the symbol in the @sc{car} of the list. |
384 | |
385 @smallexample | |
386 @group | |
387 (single-key-description ?\C-x) | |
388 @result{} "C-x" | |
389 @end group | |
390 @group | |
391 (key-description "\C-x \M-y \n \t \r \f123") | |
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392 @result{} "C-x SPC M-y SPC C-j SPC TAB SPC RET SPC C-l 1 2 3" |
6381 | 393 @end group |
394 @group | |
395 (single-key-description 'C-mouse-1) | |
396 @result{} "C-mouse-1" | |
397 @end group | |
398 @end smallexample | |
399 @end defun | |
400 | |
401 @defun text-char-description character | |
402 This function returns a string describing @var{character} in the | |
403 standard Emacs notation for characters that appear in text---like | |
404 @code{single-key-description}, except that control characters are | |
405 represented with a leading caret (which is how control characters in | |
406 Emacs buffers are usually displayed). | |
407 | |
408 @smallexample | |
409 @group | |
410 (text-char-description ?\C-c) | |
411 @result{} "^C" | |
412 @end group | |
413 @group | |
414 (text-char-description ?\M-m) | |
415 @result{} "M-m" | |
416 @end group | |
417 @group | |
418 (text-char-description ?\C-\M-m) | |
419 @result{} "M-^M" | |
420 @end group | |
421 @end smallexample | |
422 @end defun | |
423 | |
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424 @defun read-kbd-macro string |
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425 This function is used mainly for operating on keyboard macros, but it |
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426 can also be used as a rough inverse for @code{key-description}. You |
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427 call it with a string containing key descriptions, separated by spaces; |
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428 it returns a string or vector containing the corresponding events. |
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429 (This may or may not be a single valid key sequence, depending on what |
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430 events you use; @pxref{Keymap Terminology}.) |
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431 @end defun |
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432 |
6381 | 433 @node Help Functions |
434 @section Help Functions | |
435 | |
436 Emacs provides a variety of on-line help functions, all accessible to | |
437 the user as subcommands of the prefix @kbd{C-h}. For more information | |
438 about them, see @ref{Help, , Help, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. Here | |
439 we describe some program-level interfaces to the same information. | |
440 | |
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441 @deffn Command apropos regexp &optional do-all |
7254 | 442 This function finds all symbols whose names contain a match for the |
443 regular expression @var{regexp}, and returns a list of them | |
444 (@pxref{Regular Expressions}). It also displays the symbols in a buffer | |
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445 named @samp{*Help*}, each with a one-line description taken from the |
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446 beginning of its documentation string. |
6381 | 447 |
448 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
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449 If @var{do-all} is non-@code{nil}, then @code{apropos} also shows key |
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450 bindings for the functions that are found; it also shows all symbols, |
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451 even those that are neither functions nor variables. |
6381 | 452 |
7254 | 453 In the first of the following examples, @code{apropos} finds all the |
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454 symbols with names containing @samp{exec}. (We don't show here the |
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455 output that results in the @samp{*Help*} buffer.) |
6381 | 456 |
457 @smallexample | |
458 @group | |
459 (apropos "exec") | |
460 @result{} (Buffer-menu-execute command-execute exec-directory | |
461 exec-path execute-extended-command execute-kbd-macro | |
462 executing-kbd-macro executing-macro) | |
463 @end group | |
464 @end smallexample | |
465 @end deffn | |
466 | |
467 @defvar help-map | |
468 The value of this variable is a local keymap for characters following the | |
469 Help key, @kbd{C-h}. | |
470 @end defvar | |
471 | |
472 @deffn {Prefix Command} help-command | |
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473 This symbol is not a function; its function definition cell holds the |
6381 | 474 keymap known as @code{help-map}. It is defined in @file{help.el} as |
475 follows: | |
476 | |
477 @smallexample | |
478 @group | |
479 (define-key global-map "\C-h" 'help-command) | |
480 (fset 'help-command help-map) | |
481 @end group | |
482 @end smallexample | |
483 @end deffn | |
484 | |
485 @defun print-help-return-message &optional function | |
7254 | 486 This function builds a string that explains how to restore the previous |
487 state of the windows after a help command. After building the message, | |
488 it applies @var{function} to it if @var{function} is non-@code{nil}. | |
489 Otherwise it calls @code{message} to display it in the echo area. | |
6381 | 490 |
491 This function expects to be called inside a | |
492 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} special form, and expects | |
493 @code{standard-output} to have the value bound by that special form. | |
494 For an example of its use, see the long example in @ref{Accessing | |
495 Documentation}. | |
496 @end defun | |
497 | |
498 @defvar help-char | |
499 The value of this variable is the help character---the character that | |
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500 Emacs recognizes as meaning Help. By default, its value is 8, which |
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501 stands for @kbd{C-h}. When Emacs reads this character, if |
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502 @code{help-form} is a non-@code{nil} Lisp expression, it evaluates that |
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503 expression, and displays the result in a window if it is a string. |
6381 | 504 |
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505 Usually the value of @code{help-form} is @code{nil}. Then the |
6381 | 506 help character has no special meaning at the level of command input, and |
507 it becomes part of a key sequence in the normal way. The standard key | |
508 binding of @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key for several general-purpose help | |
509 features. | |
510 | |
511 The help character is special after prefix keys, too. If it has no | |
512 binding as a subcommand of the prefix key, it runs | |
513 @code{describe-prefix-bindings}, which displays a list of all the | |
514 subcommands of the prefix key. | |
515 @end defvar | |
516 | |
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517 @defvar help-event-list |
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518 The value of this variable is a list of event types that serve as |
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519 alternative ``help characters.'' These events are handled just like the |
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520 event specified by @code{help-char}. |
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521 @end defvar |
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522 |
6381 | 523 @defvar help-form |
524 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, its value is a form to evaluate | |
525 whenever the character @code{help-char} is read. If evaluating the form | |
526 produces a string, that string is displayed. | |
527 | |
528 A command that calls @code{read-event} or @code{read-char} probably | |
529 should bind @code{help-form} to a non-@code{nil} expression while it | |
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530 does input. (The time when you should not do this is when @kbd{C-h} has |
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531 some other meaning.) Evaluating this expression should result in a |
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532 string that explains what the input is for and how to enter it properly. |
6381 | 533 |
534 Entry to the minibuffer binds this variable to the value of | |
535 @code{minibuffer-help-form} (@pxref{Minibuffer Misc}). | |
536 @end defvar | |
537 | |
538 @defvar prefix-help-command | |
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539 This variable holds a function to print help for a prefix key. The |
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540 function is called when the user types a prefix key followed by the help |
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541 character, and the help character has no binding after that prefix. The |
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542 variable's default value is @code{describe-prefix-bindings}. |
6381 | 543 @end defvar |
544 | |
545 @defun describe-prefix-bindings | |
546 This function calls @code{describe-bindings} to display a list of all | |
547 the subcommands of the prefix key of the most recent key sequence. The | |
548 prefix described consists of all but the last event of that key | |
7254 | 549 sequence. (The last event is, presumably, the help character.) |
6381 | 550 @end defun |
551 | |
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552 The following two functions are meant for modes that want to provide |
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553 help without relinquishing control, such as the ``electric'' modes. |
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554 Their names begin with @samp{Helper} to distinguish them from the |
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555 ordinary help functions. |
6381 | 556 |
557 @deffn Command Helper-describe-bindings | |
558 This command pops up a window displaying a help buffer containing a | |
559 listing of all of the key bindings from both the local and global keymaps. | |
560 It works by calling @code{describe-bindings}. | |
561 @end deffn | |
562 | |
563 @deffn Command Helper-help | |
564 This command provides help for the current mode. It prompts the user | |
565 in the minibuffer with the message @samp{Help (Type ? for further | |
566 options)}, and then provides assistance in finding out what the key | |
567 bindings are, and what the mode is intended for. It returns @code{nil}. | |
568 | |
569 This can be customized by changing the map @code{Helper-help-map}. | |
570 @end deffn | |
571 | |
572 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
573 @defvar data-directory | |
574 This variable holds the name of the directory in which Emacs finds | |
575 certain documentation and text files that come with Emacs. In older | |
576 Emacs versions, @code{exec-directory} was used for this. | |
577 @end defvar | |
578 | |
579 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
580 @defmac make-help-screen fname help-line help-text help-map | |
7254 | 581 This macro defines a help command named @var{fname} that acts like a |
582 prefix key that shows a list of the subcommands it offers. | |
6381 | 583 |
584 When invoked, @var{fname} displays @var{help-text} in a window, then | |
585 reads and executes a key sequence according to @var{help-map}. The | |
7254 | 586 string @var{help-text} should describe the bindings available in |
6381 | 587 @var{help-map}. |
588 | |
589 The command @var{fname} is defined to handle a few events itself, by | |
590 scrolling the display of @var{help-text}. When @var{fname} reads one of | |
591 those special events, it does the scrolling and then reads another | |
7254 | 592 event. When it reads an event that is not one of those few, and which |
6381 | 593 has a binding in @var{help-map}, it executes that key's binding and |
594 then returns. | |
595 | |
596 The argument @var{help-line} should be a single-line summary of the | |
597 alternatives in @var{help-map}. In the current version of Emacs, this | |
598 argument is used only if you set the option @code{three-step-help} to | |
599 @code{t}. | |
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600 |
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601 This macro is used in the command @code{help-for-help} which is the |
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602 binding of @kbd{C-h C-h}. |
6381 | 603 @end defmac |
604 | |
605 @defopt three-step-help | |
606 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, commands defined with | |
607 @code{make-help-screen} display their @var{help-line} strings in the | |
608 echo area at first, and display the longer @var{help-text} strings only | |
609 if the user types the help character again. | |
610 @end defopt |