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annotate lispref/loading.texi @ 27301:8c79b30d8475
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author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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date | Wed, 12 Jan 2000 05:22:30 +0000 |
parents | 89afca54a135 |
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6453 | 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. | |
6453 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
6 @setfilename ../info/loading | |
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7 @node Loading, Byte Compilation, Customization, Top |
6453 | 8 @chapter Loading |
9 @cindex loading | |
10 @cindex library | |
11 @cindex Lisp library | |
12 | |
13 Loading a file of Lisp code means bringing its contents into the Lisp | |
14 environment in the form of Lisp objects. Emacs finds and opens the | |
15 file, reads the text, evaluates each form, and then closes the file. | |
16 | |
17 The load functions evaluate all the expressions in a file just | |
18 as the @code{eval-current-buffer} function evaluates all the | |
19 expressions in a buffer. The difference is that the load functions | |
20 read and evaluate the text in the file as found on disk, not the text | |
21 in an Emacs buffer. | |
22 | |
23 @cindex top-level form | |
24 The loaded file must contain Lisp expressions, either as source code | |
7212 | 25 or as byte-compiled code. Each form in the file is called a |
26 @dfn{top-level form}. There is no special format for the forms in a | |
6453 | 27 loadable file; any form in a file may equally well be typed directly |
28 into a buffer and evaluated there. (Indeed, most code is tested this | |
29 way.) Most often, the forms are function definitions and variable | |
30 definitions. | |
31 | |
32 A file containing Lisp code is often called a @dfn{library}. Thus, | |
33 the ``Rmail library'' is a file containing code for Rmail mode. | |
34 Similarly, a ``Lisp library directory'' is a directory of files | |
35 containing Lisp code. | |
36 | |
37 @menu | |
38 * How Programs Do Loading:: The @code{load} function and others. | |
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39 * Library Search:: Finding a library to load. |
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40 * Loading Non-ASCII:: Non-@sc{ascii} characters in Emacs Lisp files. |
6453 | 41 * Autoload:: Setting up a function to autoload. |
42 * Repeated Loading:: Precautions about loading a file twice. | |
12098 | 43 * Named Features:: Loading a library if it isn't already loaded. |
6453 | 44 * Unloading:: How to ``unload'' a library that was loaded. |
45 * Hooks for Loading:: Providing code to be run when | |
46 particular libraries are loaded. | |
47 @end menu | |
48 | |
49 @node How Programs Do Loading | |
50 @section How Programs Do Loading | |
51 | |
52 Emacs Lisp has several interfaces for loading. For example, | |
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53 @code{autoload} creates a placeholder object for a function defined in a |
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54 file; trying to call the autoloading function loads the file to get the |
6453 | 55 function's real definition (@pxref{Autoload}). @code{require} loads a |
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56 file if it isn't already loaded (@pxref{Named Features}). Ultimately, |
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57 all these facilities call the @code{load} function to do the work. |
6453 | 58 |
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59 @defun load filename &optional missing-ok nomessage nosuffix must-suffix |
6453 | 60 This function finds and opens a file of Lisp code, evaluates all the |
61 forms in it, and closes the file. | |
62 | |
63 To find the file, @code{load} first looks for a file named | |
64 @file{@var{filename}.elc}, that is, for a file whose name is | |
65 @var{filename} with @samp{.elc} appended. If such a file exists, it is | |
66 loaded. If there is no file by that name, then @code{load} looks for a | |
7212 | 67 file named @file{@var{filename}.el}. If that file exists, it is loaded. |
6453 | 68 Finally, if neither of those names is found, @code{load} looks for a |
69 file named @var{filename} with nothing appended, and loads it if it | |
70 exists. (The @code{load} function is not clever about looking at | |
71 @var{filename}. In the perverse case of a file named @file{foo.el.el}, | |
72 evaluation of @code{(load "foo.el")} will indeed find it.) | |
73 | |
74 If the optional argument @var{nosuffix} is non-@code{nil}, then the | |
75 suffixes @samp{.elc} and @samp{.el} are not tried. In this case, you | |
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76 must specify the precise file name you want. By specifying the precise |
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77 file name and using @code{t} for @var{nosuffix}, you can prevent |
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78 perverse file names such as @file{foo.el.el} from being tried. |
6453 | 79 |
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80 If the optional argument @var{must-suffix} is non-@code{nil}, then |
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81 @code{load} insists that the file name used must end in either |
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82 @samp{.el} or @samp{.elc}, unless it contains an explicit directory |
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83 name. If @var{filename} does not contain an explicit directory name, |
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84 and does not end in a suffix, then @code{load} insists on adding one. |
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85 |
6453 | 86 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, such as @file{foo} or |
87 @file{baz/foo.bar}, @code{load} searches for the file using the variable | |
88 @code{load-path}. It appends @var{filename} to each of the directories | |
89 listed in @code{load-path}, and loads the first file it finds whose name | |
90 matches. The current default directory is tried only if it is specified | |
91 in @code{load-path}, where @code{nil} stands for the default directory. | |
92 @code{load} tries all three possible suffixes in the first directory in | |
93 @code{load-path}, then all three suffixes in the second directory, and | |
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94 so on. @xref{Library Search}. |
6453 | 95 |
96 If you get a warning that @file{foo.elc} is older than @file{foo.el}, it | |
97 means you should consider recompiling @file{foo.el}. @xref{Byte | |
98 Compilation}. | |
99 | |
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100 When loading a source file (not compiled), @code{load} performs |
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101 character set translation just as Emacs would do when visiting the file. |
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102 @xref{Coding Systems}. |
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103 |
6453 | 104 Messages like @samp{Loading foo...} and @samp{Loading foo...done} appear |
105 in the echo area during loading unless @var{nomessage} is | |
106 non-@code{nil}. | |
107 | |
108 @cindex load errors | |
109 Any unhandled errors while loading a file terminate loading. If the | |
7212 | 110 load was done for the sake of @code{autoload}, any function definitions |
111 made during the loading are undone. | |
6453 | 112 |
113 @kindex file-error | |
114 If @code{load} can't find the file to load, then normally it signals the | |
115 error @code{file-error} (with @samp{Cannot open load file | |
116 @var{filename}}). But if @var{missing-ok} is non-@code{nil}, then | |
117 @code{load} just returns @code{nil}. | |
118 | |
12067 | 119 You can use the variable @code{load-read-function} to specify a function |
120 for @code{load} to use instead of @code{read} for reading expressions. | |
121 See below. | |
122 | |
6453 | 123 @code{load} returns @code{t} if the file loads successfully. |
124 @end defun | |
125 | |
126 @deffn Command load-file filename | |
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127 This command loads the file @var{filename}. If @var{filename} is a |
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128 relative file name, then the current default directory is assumed. |
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129 @code{load-path} is not used, and suffixes are not appended. Use this |
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130 command if you wish to specify precisely the file name to load. |
6453 | 131 @end deffn |
132 | |
133 @deffn Command load-library library | |
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134 This command loads the library named @var{library}. It is equivalent to |
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135 @code{load}, except in how it reads its argument interactively. |
6453 | 136 @end deffn |
137 | |
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138 @defvar load-in-progress |
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139 This variable is non-@code{nil} if Emacs is in the process of loading a |
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140 file, and it is @code{nil} otherwise. |
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141 @end defvar |
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142 |
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143 @defvar load-read-function |
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144 This variable specifies an alternate expression-reading function for |
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145 @code{load} and @code{eval-region} to use instead of @code{read}. |
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146 The function should accept one argument, just as @code{read} does. |
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147 |
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148 Normally, the variable's value is @code{nil}, which means those |
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149 functions should use @code{read}. |
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150 |
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151 @strong{Note:} Instead of using this variable, it is cleaner to use |
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152 another, newer feature: to pass the function as the @var{read-function} |
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153 argument to @code{eval-region}. @xref{Eval}. |
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154 @end defvar |
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155 |
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156 For information about how @code{load} is used in building Emacs, see |
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157 @ref{Building Emacs}. |
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158 |
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159 @node Library Search |
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160 @section Library Search |
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161 |
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162 When Emacs loads a Lisp library, it searches for the library |
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163 in a list of directories specified by the variable @code{load-path}. |
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164 |
6453 | 165 @defopt load-path |
166 @cindex @code{EMACSLOADPATH} environment variable | |
167 The value of this variable is a list of directories to search when | |
168 loading files with @code{load}. Each element is a string (which must be | |
169 a directory name) or @code{nil} (which stands for the current working | |
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170 directory). |
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171 @end defopt |
6453 | 172 |
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173 The value of @code{load-path} is initialized from the environment |
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174 variable @code{EMACSLOADPATH}, if that exists; otherwise its default |
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175 value is specified in @file{emacs/src/paths.h} when Emacs is built. |
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176 Then the list is expanded by adding subdirectories of the directories |
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177 in the list. |
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178 |
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179 The syntax of @code{EMACSLOADPATH} is the same as used for @code{PATH}; |
12098 | 180 @samp{:} (or @samp{;}, according to the operating system) separates |
181 directory names, and @samp{.} is used for the current default directory. | |
182 Here is an example of how to set your @code{EMACSLOADPATH} variable from | |
183 a @code{csh} @file{.login} file: | |
6453 | 184 |
185 @smallexample | |
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186 setenv EMACSLOADPATH .:/user/bil/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/20.3/lisp |
6453 | 187 @end smallexample |
188 | |
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189 Here is how to set it using @code{sh}: |
6453 | 190 |
191 @smallexample | |
192 export EMACSLOADPATH | |
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193 EMACSLOADPATH=.:/user/bil/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/20.3/lisp |
6453 | 194 @end smallexample |
195 | |
25875 | 196 Here is an example of code you can place in your init file (@pxref{Init |
197 File}) to add several directories to the front of your default | |
198 @code{load-path}: | |
6453 | 199 |
200 @smallexample | |
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201 @group |
6453 | 202 (setq load-path |
203 (append (list nil "/user/bil/emacs" | |
204 "/usr/local/lisplib" | |
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205 "~/emacs") |
6453 | 206 load-path)) |
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207 @end group |
6453 | 208 @end smallexample |
209 | |
210 @c Wordy to rid us of an overfull hbox. --rjc 15mar92 | |
211 @noindent | |
212 In this example, the path searches the current working directory first, | |
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213 followed then by the @file{/user/bil/emacs} directory, the |
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214 @file{/usr/local/lisplib} directory, and the @file{~/emacs} directory, |
6453 | 215 which are then followed by the standard directories for Lisp code. |
216 | |
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217 Dumping Emacs uses a special value of @code{load-path}. If the value of |
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218 @code{load-path} at the end of dumping is unchanged (that is, still the |
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219 same special value), the dumped Emacs switches to the ordinary |
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220 @code{load-path} value when it starts up, as described above. But if |
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221 @code{load-path} has any other value at the end of dumping, that value |
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222 is used for execution of the dumped Emacs also. |
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223 |
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224 Therefore, if you want to change @code{load-path} temporarily for |
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225 loading a few libraries in @file{site-init.el} or @file{site-load.el}, |
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226 you should bind @code{load-path} locally with @code{let} around the |
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227 calls to @code{load}. |
6453 | 228 |
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229 The default value of @code{load-path}, when running an Emacs which has |
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230 been installed on the system, includes two special directories (and |
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231 their subdirectories as well): |
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232 |
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233 @smallexample |
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234 "/usr/local/share/emacs/@var{version}/site-lisp" |
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235 @end smallexample |
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236 |
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237 @noindent |
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238 and |
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239 |
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240 @smallexample |
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241 "/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp" |
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242 @end smallexample |
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243 |
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244 @noindent |
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245 The first one is for locally installed packages for a particular Emacs |
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246 version; the second is for locally installed packages meant for use with |
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247 all installed Emacs versions. |
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248 |
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249 There are several reasons why a Lisp package that works well in one |
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250 Emacs version can cause trouble in another. Sometimes packages need |
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251 updating for incompatible changes in Emacs; sometimes they depend on |
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252 undocumented internal Emacs data that can change without notice; |
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253 sometimes a newer Emacs version incorporates a version of the package, |
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254 and should be used only with that version. |
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255 |
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256 Emacs finds these directories' subdirectories and adds them to |
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257 @code{load-path} when it starts up. Both immediate subdirectories and |
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258 subdirectories multiple levels down are added to @code{load-path}. |
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259 |
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260 Not all subdirectories are included, though. Subdirectories whose |
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261 names do not start with a letter or digit are excluded. Subdirectories |
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262 named @file{RCS} or @file{CVS} are excluded. Also, a subdirectory which |
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263 contains a file named @file{.nosearch} is excluded. You can use these |
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264 methods to prevent certain subdirectories of the @file{site-lisp} |
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265 directories from being searched. |
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266 |
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267 If you run Emacs from the directory where it was built---that is, an |
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268 executable that has not been formally installed---then @code{load-path} |
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269 normally contains two additional directories. These are the @code{lisp} |
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270 and @code{site-lisp} subdirectories of the main build directory. (Both |
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271 are represented as absolute file names.) |
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272 |
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273 @deffn Command locate-library library &optional nosuffix path interactive-call |
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274 This command finds the precise file name for library @var{library}. It |
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275 searches for the library in the same way @code{load} does, and the |
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276 argument @var{nosuffix} has the same meaning as in @code{load}: don't |
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277 add suffixes @samp{.elc} or @samp{.el} to the specified name |
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278 @var{library}. |
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279 |
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280 If the @var{path} is non-@code{nil}, that list of directories is used |
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281 instead of @code{load-path}. |
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282 |
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283 When @code{locate-library} is called from a program, it returns the file |
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284 name as a string. When the user runs @code{locate-library} |
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285 interactively, the argument @var{interactive-call} is @code{t}, and this |
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286 tells @code{locate-library} to display the file name in the echo area. |
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287 @end deffn |
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288 |
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289 @node Loading Non-ASCII |
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290 @section Loading Non-ASCII Characters |
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291 |
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292 When Emacs Lisp programs contain string constants with non-@sc{ascii} |
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293 characters, these can be represented within Emacs either as unibyte |
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294 strings or as multibyte strings (@pxref{Text Representations}). Which |
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295 representation is used depends on how the file is read into Emacs. If |
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296 it is read with decoding into multibyte representation, the text of the |
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297 Lisp program will be multibyte text, and its string constants will be |
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298 multibyte strings. If a file containing Latin-1 characters (for |
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299 example) is read without decoding, the text of the program will be |
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300 unibyte text, and its string constants will be unibyte strings. |
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301 @xref{Coding Systems}. |
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302 |
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303 To make the results more predictable, Emacs always performs decoding |
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304 into the multibyte representation when loading Lisp files, even if it |
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305 was started with the @samp{--unibyte} option. This means that string |
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306 constants with non-@sc{ascii} characters translate into multibyte |
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307 strings. The only exception is when a particular file specifies no |
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308 decoding. |
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309 |
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310 The reason Emacs is designed this way is so that Lisp programs give |
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311 predictable results, regardless of how Emacs was started. In addition, |
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312 this enables programs that depend on using multibyte text to work even |
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313 in a unibyte Emacs. Of course, such programs should be designed to |
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314 notice whether the user prefers unibyte or multibyte text, by checking |
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315 @code{default-enable-multibyte-characters}, and convert representations |
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316 appropriately. |
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317 |
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318 In most Emacs Lisp programs, the fact that non-@sc{ascii} strings are |
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319 multibyte strings should not be noticeable, since inserting them in |
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320 unibyte buffers converts them to unibyte automatically. However, if |
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321 this does make a difference, you can force a particular Lisp file to be |
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322 interpreted as unibyte by writing @samp{-*-unibyte: t;-*-} in a |
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323 comment on the file's first line. With that designator, the file will |
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324 unconditionally be interpreted as unibyte, even in an ordinary |
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325 multibyte Emacs session. |
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326 |
6453 | 327 @node Autoload |
328 @section Autoload | |
329 @cindex autoload | |
330 | |
331 The @dfn{autoload} facility allows you to make a function or macro | |
12098 | 332 known in Lisp, but put off loading the file that defines it. The first |
333 call to the function automatically reads the proper file to install the | |
334 real definition and other associated code, then runs the real definition | |
6453 | 335 as if it had been loaded all along. |
336 | |
337 There are two ways to set up an autoloaded function: by calling | |
338 @code{autoload}, and by writing a special ``magic'' comment in the | |
339 source before the real definition. @code{autoload} is the low-level | |
340 primitive for autoloading; any Lisp program can call @code{autoload} at | |
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341 any time. Magic comments are the most convenient way to make a function |
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342 autoload, for packages installed along with Emacs. These comments do |
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343 nothing on their own, but they serve as a guide for the command |
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344 @code{update-file-autoloads}, which constructs calls to @code{autoload} |
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345 and arranges to execute them when Emacs is built. |
6453 | 346 |
7212 | 347 @defun autoload function filename &optional docstring interactive type |
348 This function defines the function (or macro) named @var{function} so as | |
6453 | 349 to load automatically from @var{filename}. The string @var{filename} |
350 specifies the file to load to get the real definition of @var{function}. | |
351 | |
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352 If @var{filename} does not contain either a directory name, or the |
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353 suffix @code{.el} or @code{.elc}, then @code{autoload} insists on adding |
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354 one of these suffixes, and it will not load from a file whose name is |
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355 just @var{filename} with no added suffix. |
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356 |
6453 | 357 The argument @var{docstring} is the documentation string for the |
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358 function. Normally, this should be identical to the documentation string |
6453 | 359 in the function definition itself. Specifying the documentation string |
360 in the call to @code{autoload} makes it possible to look at the | |
361 documentation without loading the function's real definition. | |
362 | |
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363 If @var{interactive} is non-@code{nil}, that says @var{function} can be |
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364 called interactively. This lets completion in @kbd{M-x} work without |
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365 loading @var{function}'s real definition. The complete interactive |
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366 specification is not given here; it's not needed unless the user |
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367 actually calls @var{function}, and when that happens, it's time to load |
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368 the real definition. |
6453 | 369 |
370 You can autoload macros and keymaps as well as ordinary functions. | |
371 Specify @var{type} as @code{macro} if @var{function} is really a macro. | |
372 Specify @var{type} as @code{keymap} if @var{function} is really a | |
373 keymap. Various parts of Emacs need to know this information without | |
374 loading the real definition. | |
375 | |
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376 An autoloaded keymap loads automatically during key lookup when a prefix |
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377 key's binding is the symbol @var{function}. Autoloading does not occur |
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378 for other kinds of access to the keymap. In particular, it does not |
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379 happen when a Lisp program gets the keymap from the value of a variable |
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380 and calls @code{define-key}; not even if the variable name is the same |
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381 symbol @var{function}. |
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382 |
6453 | 383 @cindex function cell in autoload |
7212 | 384 If @var{function} already has a non-void function definition that is not |
6453 | 385 an autoload object, @code{autoload} does nothing and returns @code{nil}. |
7212 | 386 If the function cell of @var{function} is void, or is already an autoload |
6453 | 387 object, then it is defined as an autoload object like this: |
388 | |
389 @example | |
390 (autoload @var{filename} @var{docstring} @var{interactive} @var{type}) | |
391 @end example | |
392 | |
393 For example, | |
394 | |
395 @example | |
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396 @group |
6453 | 397 (symbol-function 'run-prolog) |
398 @result{} (autoload "prolog" 169681 t nil) | |
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399 @end group |
6453 | 400 @end example |
401 | |
402 @noindent | |
403 In this case, @code{"prolog"} is the name of the file to load, 169681 | |
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404 refers to the documentation string in the |
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405 @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} file (@pxref{Documentation Basics}), |
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406 @code{t} means the function is interactive, and @code{nil} that it is |
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407 not a macro or a keymap. |
6453 | 408 @end defun |
409 | |
410 @cindex autoload errors | |
411 The autoloaded file usually contains other definitions and may require | |
412 or provide one or more features. If the file is not completely loaded | |
413 (due to an error in the evaluation of its contents), any function | |
414 definitions or @code{provide} calls that occurred during the load are | |
415 undone. This is to ensure that the next attempt to call any function | |
416 autoloading from this file will try again to load the file. If not for | |
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417 this, then some of the functions in the file might be defined by the |
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418 aborted load, but fail to work properly for the lack of certain |
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419 subroutines not loaded successfully because they come later in the file. |
6453 | 420 |
421 If the autoloaded file fails to define the desired Lisp function or | |
422 macro, then an error is signaled with data @code{"Autoloading failed to | |
423 define function @var{function-name}"}. | |
424 | |
425 @findex update-file-autoloads | |
426 @findex update-directory-autoloads | |
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427 A magic autoload comment consists of @samp{;;;###autoload}, on a line |
6453 | 428 by itself, just before the real definition of the function in its |
429 autoloadable source file. The command @kbd{M-x update-file-autoloads} | |
430 writes a corresponding @code{autoload} call into @file{loaddefs.el}. | |
431 Building Emacs loads @file{loaddefs.el} and thus calls @code{autoload}. | |
432 @kbd{M-x update-directory-autoloads} is even more powerful; it updates | |
433 autoloads for all files in the current directory. | |
434 | |
435 The same magic comment can copy any kind of form into | |
436 @file{loaddefs.el}. If the form following the magic comment is not a | |
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437 function-defining form or a @code{defcustom} form, it is copied |
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438 verbatim. ``Function-defining forms'' include @code{define-skeleton}, |
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439 @code{define-derived-mode}, @code{define-generic-mode} and |
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440 @code{easy-mmode-define-minor-mode} as well as @code{defun} and |
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441 @code{defmacro}. To save space, a @code{defcustom} form is converted to |
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442 a @code{defvar} in @file{loaddefs.el}, with some additional information |
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443 if it uses @code{:require}. |
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444 |
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445 You can also use a magic comment to execute a form at build time |
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446 @emph{without} executing it when the file itself is loaded. To do this, |
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447 write the form @emph{on the same line} as the magic comment. Since it |
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448 is in a comment, it does nothing when you load the source file; but |
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449 @kbd{M-x update-file-autoloads} copies it to @file{loaddefs.el}, where |
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450 it is executed while building Emacs. |
6453 | 451 |
452 The following example shows how @code{doctor} is prepared for | |
453 autoloading with a magic comment: | |
454 | |
455 @smallexample | |
456 ;;;###autoload | |
457 (defun doctor () | |
458 "Switch to *doctor* buffer and start giving psychotherapy." | |
459 (interactive) | |
460 (switch-to-buffer "*doctor*") | |
461 (doctor-mode)) | |
462 @end smallexample | |
463 | |
464 @noindent | |
465 Here's what that produces in @file{loaddefs.el}: | |
466 | |
467 @smallexample | |
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468 (autoload 'doctor "doctor" "\ |
6453 | 469 Switch to *doctor* buffer and start giving psychotherapy." |
470 t) | |
471 @end smallexample | |
472 | |
473 @noindent | |
474 The backslash and newline immediately following the double-quote are a | |
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475 convention used only in the preloaded uncompiled Lisp files such as |
6453 | 476 @file{loaddefs.el}; they tell @code{make-docfile} to put the |
477 documentation string in the @file{etc/DOC} file. @xref{Building Emacs}. | |
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478 See also the commentary in @file{lib-src/make-docfile.c}. |
6453 | 479 |
480 @node Repeated Loading | |
481 @section Repeated Loading | |
482 @cindex repeated loading | |
483 | |
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484 You can load a given file more than once in an Emacs session. For |
6453 | 485 example, after you have rewritten and reinstalled a function definition |
486 by editing it in a buffer, you may wish to return to the original | |
487 version; you can do this by reloading the file it came from. | |
488 | |
489 When you load or reload files, bear in mind that the @code{load} and | |
490 @code{load-library} functions automatically load a byte-compiled file | |
491 rather than a non-compiled file of similar name. If you rewrite a file | |
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492 that you intend to save and reinstall, you need to byte-compile the new |
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493 version; otherwise Emacs will load the older, byte-compiled file instead |
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494 of your newer, non-compiled file! If that happens, the message |
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495 displayed when loading the file includes, @samp{(compiled; note, source is |
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496 newer)}, to remind you to recompile it. |
6453 | 497 |
498 When writing the forms in a Lisp library file, keep in mind that the | |
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499 file might be loaded more than once. For example, think about whether |
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500 each variable should be reinitialized when you reload the library; |
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501 @code{defvar} does not change the value if the variable is already |
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502 initialized. (@xref{Defining Variables}.) |
6453 | 503 |
504 The simplest way to add an element to an alist is like this: | |
505 | |
506 @example | |
507 (setq minor-mode-alist | |
508 (cons '(leif-mode " Leif") minor-mode-alist)) | |
509 @end example | |
510 | |
511 @noindent | |
512 But this would add multiple elements if the library is reloaded. | |
513 To avoid the problem, write this: | |
514 | |
515 @example | |
516 (or (assq 'leif-mode minor-mode-alist) | |
517 (setq minor-mode-alist | |
518 (cons '(leif-mode " Leif") minor-mode-alist))) | |
519 @end example | |
520 | |
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521 To add an element to a list just once, you can also use @code{add-to-list} |
12098 | 522 (@pxref{Setting Variables}). |
523 | |
6453 | 524 Occasionally you will want to test explicitly whether a library has |
525 already been loaded. Here's one way to test, in a library, whether it | |
526 has been loaded before: | |
527 | |
528 @example | |
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529 (defvar foo-was-loaded nil) |
12098 | 530 |
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531 (unless foo-was-loaded |
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532 @var{execute-first-time-only} |
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533 (setq foo-was-loaded t)) |
6453 | 534 @end example |
535 | |
536 @noindent | |
537 If the library uses @code{provide} to provide a named feature, you can | |
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538 use @code{featurep} earlier in the file to test whether the |
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539 @code{provide} call has been executed before. |
27193 | 540 @ifnottex |
12098 | 541 @xref{Named Features}. |
27193 | 542 @end ifnottex |
6453 | 543 |
12098 | 544 @node Named Features |
6453 | 545 @section Features |
546 @cindex features | |
547 @cindex requiring features | |
548 @cindex providing features | |
549 | |
550 @code{provide} and @code{require} are an alternative to | |
551 @code{autoload} for loading files automatically. They work in terms of | |
552 named @dfn{features}. Autoloading is triggered by calling a specific | |
553 function, but a feature is loaded the first time another program asks | |
554 for it by name. | |
555 | |
556 A feature name is a symbol that stands for a collection of functions, | |
557 variables, etc. The file that defines them should @dfn{provide} the | |
558 feature. Another program that uses them may ensure they are defined by | |
559 @dfn{requiring} the feature. This loads the file of definitions if it | |
560 hasn't been loaded already. | |
561 | |
562 To require the presence of a feature, call @code{require} with the | |
563 feature name as argument. @code{require} looks in the global variable | |
564 @code{features} to see whether the desired feature has been provided | |
565 already. If not, it loads the feature from the appropriate file. This | |
7212 | 566 file should call @code{provide} at the top level to add the feature to |
6453 | 567 @code{features}; if it fails to do so, @code{require} signals an error. |
568 @cindex load error with require | |
569 | |
570 For example, in @file{emacs/lisp/prolog.el}, | |
571 the definition for @code{run-prolog} includes the following code: | |
572 | |
573 @smallexample | |
574 (defun run-prolog () | |
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575 "Run an inferior Prolog process, with I/O via buffer *prolog*." |
6453 | 576 (interactive) |
577 (require 'comint) | |
578 (switch-to-buffer (make-comint "prolog" prolog-program-name)) | |
579 (inferior-prolog-mode)) | |
580 @end smallexample | |
581 | |
582 @noindent | |
583 The expression @code{(require 'comint)} loads the file @file{comint.el} | |
584 if it has not yet been loaded. This ensures that @code{make-comint} is | |
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585 defined. Features are normally named after the files that provide them, |
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586 so that @code{require} need not be given the file name. |
6453 | 587 |
588 The @file{comint.el} file contains the following top-level expression: | |
589 | |
590 @smallexample | |
591 (provide 'comint) | |
592 @end smallexample | |
593 | |
594 @noindent | |
595 This adds @code{comint} to the global @code{features} list, so that | |
596 @code{(require 'comint)} will henceforth know that nothing needs to be | |
597 done. | |
598 | |
599 @cindex byte-compiling @code{require} | |
7212 | 600 When @code{require} is used at top level in a file, it takes effect |
6453 | 601 when you byte-compile that file (@pxref{Byte Compilation}) as well as |
602 when you load it. This is in case the required package contains macros | |
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603 that the byte compiler must know about. It also avoids byte-compiler |
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604 warnings for functions and variables defined in the file loaded with |
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605 @code{require}. |
6453 | 606 |
607 Although top-level calls to @code{require} are evaluated during | |
608 byte compilation, @code{provide} calls are not. Therefore, you can | |
609 ensure that a file of definitions is loaded before it is byte-compiled | |
610 by including a @code{provide} followed by a @code{require} for the same | |
611 feature, as in the following example. | |
612 | |
613 @smallexample | |
614 @group | |
615 (provide 'my-feature) ; @r{Ignored by byte compiler,} | |
616 ; @r{evaluated by @code{load}.} | |
617 (require 'my-feature) ; @r{Evaluated by byte compiler.} | |
618 @end group | |
619 @end smallexample | |
620 | |
7212 | 621 @noindent |
622 The compiler ignores the @code{provide}, then processes the | |
623 @code{require} by loading the file in question. Loading the file does | |
624 execute the @code{provide} call, so the subsequent @code{require} call | |
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625 does nothing when the file is loaded. |
7212 | 626 |
6453 | 627 @defun provide feature |
628 This function announces that @var{feature} is now loaded, or being | |
629 loaded, into the current Emacs session. This means that the facilities | |
630 associated with @var{feature} are or will be available for other Lisp | |
631 programs. | |
632 | |
633 The direct effect of calling @code{provide} is to add @var{feature} to | |
634 the front of the list @code{features} if it is not already in the list. | |
635 The argument @var{feature} must be a symbol. @code{provide} returns | |
636 @var{feature}. | |
637 | |
638 @smallexample | |
639 features | |
640 @result{} (bar bish) | |
641 | |
642 (provide 'foo) | |
643 @result{} foo | |
644 features | |
645 @result{} (foo bar bish) | |
646 @end smallexample | |
647 | |
12098 | 648 When a file is loaded to satisfy an autoload, and it stops due to an |
649 error in the evaluating its contents, any function definitions or | |
650 @code{provide} calls that occurred during the load are undone. | |
651 @xref{Autoload}. | |
6453 | 652 @end defun |
653 | |
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654 @defun require feature &optional filename noerror |
6453 | 655 This function checks whether @var{feature} is present in the current |
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656 Emacs session (using @code{(featurep @var{feature})}; see below). The |
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657 argument @var{feature} must be a symbol. |
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658 |
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659 If the feature is not present, then @code{require} loads @var{filename} |
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660 with @code{load}. If @var{filename} is not supplied, then the name of |
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661 the symbol @var{feature} is used as the base file name to load. |
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662 However, in this case, @code{require} insists on finding @var{feature} |
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663 with an added suffix; a file whose name is just @var{feature} won't be |
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664 used. |
6453 | 665 |
666 If loading the file fails to provide @var{feature}, @code{require} | |
667 signals an error, @samp{Required feature @var{feature} was not | |
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668 provided}, unless @var{noerror} is non-@code{nil}. |
6453 | 669 @end defun |
670 | |
671 @defun featurep feature | |
672 This function returns @code{t} if @var{feature} has been provided in the | |
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673 current Emacs session (i.e., if @var{feature} is a member of |
6453 | 674 @code{features}.) |
675 @end defun | |
676 | |
677 @defvar features | |
678 The value of this variable is a list of symbols that are the features | |
679 loaded in the current Emacs session. Each symbol was put in this list | |
680 with a call to @code{provide}. The order of the elements in the | |
681 @code{features} list is not significant. | |
682 @end defvar | |
683 | |
684 @node Unloading | |
685 @section Unloading | |
686 @cindex unloading | |
687 | |
688 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
689 You can discard the functions and variables loaded by a library to | |
690 reclaim memory for other Lisp objects. To do this, use the function | |
691 @code{unload-feature}: | |
692 | |
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693 @deffn Command unload-feature feature &optional force |
6453 | 694 This command unloads the library that provided feature @var{feature}. |
7212 | 695 It undefines all functions, macros, and variables defined in that |
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696 library with @code{defun}, @code{defalias}, @code{defsubst}, |
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697 @code{defmacro}, @code{defconst}, @code{defvar}, and @code{defcustom}. |
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698 It then restores any autoloads formerly associated with those symbols. |
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699 (Loading saves these in the @code{autoload} property of the symbol.) |
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700 |
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701 Before restoring the previous definitions, @code{unload-feature} runs |
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702 @code{remove-hook} to remove functions in the library from certain |
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703 hooks. These hooks include variables whose names end in @samp{hook} or |
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704 @samp{-hooks}, plus those listed in @code{loadhist-special-hooks}. This |
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705 is to prevent Emacs from ceasing to function because important hooks |
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706 refer to functions that are no longer defined. |
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707 |
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708 @vindex @var{feature}-unload-hook |
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709 If these measures are not sufficient to prevent malfunction, a library |
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710 can define an explicit unload hook. If @code{@var{feature}-unload-hook} |
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711 is defined, it is run as a normal hook before restoring the previous |
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712 definitions, @emph{instead of} the usual hook-removing actions. The |
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713 unload hook ought to undo all the global state changes made by the |
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714 library that might cease to work once the library is unloaded. |
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715 @code{unload-feature} can cause problems with libraries that fail to do |
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716 this, so it should be used with caution. |
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717 |
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718 Ordinarily, @code{unload-feature} refuses to unload a library on which |
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719 other loaded libraries depend. (A library @var{a} depends on library |
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720 @var{b} if @var{a} contains a @code{require} for @var{b}.) If the |
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721 optional argument @var{force} is non-@code{nil}, dependencies are |
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722 ignored and you can unload any library. |
6453 | 723 @end deffn |
724 | |
725 The @code{unload-feature} function is written in Lisp; its actions are | |
726 based on the variable @code{load-history}. | |
727 | |
728 @defvar load-history | |
729 This variable's value is an alist connecting library names with the | |
730 names of functions and variables they define, the features they provide, | |
731 and the features they require. | |
732 | |
733 Each element is a list and describes one library. The @sc{car} of the | |
734 list is the name of the library, as a string. The rest of the list is | |
735 composed of these kinds of objects: | |
736 | |
737 @itemize @bullet | |
738 @item | |
7212 | 739 Symbols that were defined by this library. |
6453 | 740 @item |
741 Lists of the form @code{(require . @var{feature})} indicating | |
742 features that were required. | |
743 @item | |
744 Lists of the form @code{(provide . @var{feature})} indicating | |
745 features that were provided. | |
746 @end itemize | |
747 | |
748 The value of @code{load-history} may have one element whose @sc{car} is | |
749 @code{nil}. This element describes definitions made with | |
750 @code{eval-buffer} on a buffer that is not visiting a file. | |
751 @end defvar | |
752 | |
753 The command @code{eval-region} updates @code{load-history}, but does so | |
754 by adding the symbols defined to the element for the file being visited, | |
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755 rather than replacing that element. @xref{Eval}. |
6453 | 756 |
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757 Preloaded libraries don't contribute initially to @code{load-history}. |
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758 Instead, preloading writes information about preloaded libraries into a |
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759 file, which can be loaded later on to to add information to |
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760 @code{load-history} describing the preloaded files. This file is |
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761 installed in @code{exec-directory} and has a name of the form |
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762 @file{fns-@var{emacsversion}.el}. |
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763 |
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764 @findex symbol-file |
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765 See the source for the function @code{symbol-file}, for an example of |
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766 code that loads this file to find functions in preloaded libraries. |
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767 |
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768 @defvar loadhist-special-hooks |
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769 This variable holds a list of hooks to be scanned before unloading a |
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770 library, to remove functions defined in the library. |
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771 @end defvar |
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772 |
6453 | 773 @node Hooks for Loading |
774 @section Hooks for Loading | |
775 @cindex loading hooks | |
776 @cindex hooks for loading | |
777 | |
778 You can ask for code to be executed if and when a particular library is | |
779 loaded, by calling @code{eval-after-load}. | |
780 | |
781 @defun eval-after-load library form | |
782 This function arranges to evaluate @var{form} at the end of loading the | |
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783 library @var{library}, if and when @var{library} is loaded. If |
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784 @var{library} is already loaded, it evaluates @var{form} right away. |
6453 | 785 |
786 The library name @var{library} must exactly match the argument of | |
787 @code{load}. To get the proper results when an installed library is | |
788 found by searching @code{load-path}, you should not include any | |
789 directory names in @var{library}. | |
790 | |
791 An error in @var{form} does not undo the load, but does prevent | |
792 execution of the rest of @var{form}. | |
793 @end defun | |
794 | |
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795 In general, well-designed Lisp programs should not use this feature. |
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796 The clean and modular ways to interact with a Lisp library are (1) |
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797 examine and set the library's variables (those which are meant for |
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798 outside use), and (2) call the library's functions. If you wish to |
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799 do (1), you can do it immediately---there is no need to wait for when |
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800 the library is loaded. To do (2), you must load the library (preferably |
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801 with @code{require}). |
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802 |
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803 But it is OK to use @code{eval-after-load} in your personal |
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804 customizations if you don't feel they must meet the design standards for |
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805 programs meant for wider use. |
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806 |
6453 | 807 @defvar after-load-alist |
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808 This variable holds an alist of expressions to evaluate if and when |
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809 particular libraries are loaded. Each element looks like this: |
6453 | 810 |
811 @example | |
812 (@var{filename} @var{forms}@dots{}) | |
813 @end example | |
814 | |
815 The function @code{load} checks @code{after-load-alist} in order to | |
816 implement @code{eval-after-load}. | |
817 @end defvar | |
818 | |
819 @c Emacs 19 feature |