annotate doc/lispref/variables.texi @ 92719:dc9438eed764

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author Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
date Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:59:11 +0000
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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
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2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
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3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000,
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4 @c 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
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6 @setfilename ../../info/variables
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7 @node Variables, Functions, Control Structures, Top
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8 @chapter Variables
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9 @cindex variable
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10
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11 A @dfn{variable} is a name used in a program to stand for a value.
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12 Nearly all programming languages have variables of some sort. In the
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13 text of a Lisp program, variables are written using the syntax for
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14 symbols.
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15
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16 In Lisp, unlike most programming languages, programs are represented
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17 primarily as Lisp objects and only secondarily as text. The Lisp
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18 objects used for variables are symbols: the symbol name is the variable
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19 name, and the variable's value is stored in the value cell of the
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20 symbol. The use of a symbol as a variable is independent of its use as
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21 a function name. @xref{Symbol Components}.
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22
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23 The Lisp objects that constitute a Lisp program determine the textual
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24 form of the program---it is simply the read syntax for those Lisp
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25 objects. This is why, for example, a variable in a textual Lisp program
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26 is written using the read syntax for the symbol that represents the
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27 variable.
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28
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29 @menu
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30 * Global Variables:: Variable values that exist permanently, everywhere.
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31 * Constant Variables:: Certain "variables" have values that never change.
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32 * Local Variables:: Variable values that exist only temporarily.
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33 * Void Variables:: Symbols that lack values.
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34 * Defining Variables:: A definition says a symbol is used as a variable.
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35 * Tips for Defining:: Things you should think about when you
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36 define a variable.
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37 * Accessing Variables:: Examining values of variables whose names
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38 are known only at run time.
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39 * Setting Variables:: Storing new values in variables.
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40 * Variable Scoping:: How Lisp chooses among local and global values.
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41 * Buffer-Local Variables:: Variable values in effect only in one buffer.
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42 * Future Local Variables:: New kinds of local values we might add some day.
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43 * File Local Variables:: Handling local variable lists in files.
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44 * Variable Aliases:: Variables that are aliases for other variables.
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45 * Variables with Restricted Values:: Non-constant variables whose value can
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46 @emph{not} be an arbitrary Lisp object.
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47 @end menu
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48
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49 @node Global Variables
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50 @section Global Variables
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51 @cindex global variable
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52
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53 The simplest way to use a variable is @dfn{globally}. This means that
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54 the variable has just one value at a time, and this value is in effect
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55 (at least for the moment) throughout the Lisp system. The value remains
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56 in effect until you specify a new one. When a new value replaces the
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57 old one, no trace of the old value remains in the variable.
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58
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59 You specify a value for a symbol with @code{setq}. For example,
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60
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61 @example
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62 (setq x '(a b))
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63 @end example
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64
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65 @noindent
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66 gives the variable @code{x} the value @code{(a b)}. Note that
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67 @code{setq} does not evaluate its first argument, the name of the
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68 variable, but it does evaluate the second argument, the new value.
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69
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70 Once the variable has a value, you can refer to it by using the symbol
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71 by itself as an expression. Thus,
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72
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73 @example
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74 @group
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75 x @result{} (a b)
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76 @end group
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77 @end example
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78
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79 @noindent
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80 assuming the @code{setq} form shown above has already been executed.
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81
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82 If you do set the same variable again, the new value replaces the old
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83 one:
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84
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85 @example
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86 @group
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87 x
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88 @result{} (a b)
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89 @end group
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90 @group
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91 (setq x 4)
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92 @result{} 4
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93 @end group
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94 @group
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95 x
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96 @result{} 4
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97 @end group
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98 @end example
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99
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100 @node Constant Variables
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101 @section Variables that Never Change
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102 @kindex setting-constant
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103 @cindex keyword symbol
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104 @cindex variable with constant value
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105 @cindex constant variables
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106 @cindex symbol that evaluates to itself
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107 @cindex symbol with constant value
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108
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109 In Emacs Lisp, certain symbols normally evaluate to themselves. These
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110 include @code{nil} and @code{t}, as well as any symbol whose name starts
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111 with @samp{:} (these are called @dfn{keywords}). These symbols cannot
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112 be rebound, nor can their values be changed. Any attempt to set or bind
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113 @code{nil} or @code{t} signals a @code{setting-constant} error. The
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114 same is true for a keyword (a symbol whose name starts with @samp{:}),
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115 if it is interned in the standard obarray, except that setting such a
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116 symbol to itself is not an error.
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117
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118 @example
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119 @group
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120 nil @equiv{} 'nil
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121 @result{} nil
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122 @end group
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123 @group
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124 (setq nil 500)
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125 @error{} Attempt to set constant symbol: nil
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126 @end group
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127 @end example
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128
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129 @defun keywordp object
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130 function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a symbol whose name
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131 starts with @samp{:}, interned in the standard obarray, and returns
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132 @code{nil} otherwise.
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133 @end defun
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134
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135 @node Local Variables
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136 @section Local Variables
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137 @cindex binding local variables
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138 @cindex local variables
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139 @cindex local binding
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140 @cindex global binding
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141
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142 Global variables have values that last until explicitly superseded
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143 with new values. Sometimes it is useful to create variable values that
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144 exist temporarily---only until a certain part of the program finishes.
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145 These values are called @dfn{local}, and the variables so used are
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146 called @dfn{local variables}.
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147
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148 For example, when a function is called, its argument variables receive
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149 new local values that last until the function exits. The @code{let}
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150 special form explicitly establishes new local values for specified
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151 variables; these last until exit from the @code{let} form.
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152
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153 @cindex shadowing of variables
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154 Establishing a local value saves away the previous value (or lack of
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155 one) of the variable. When the life span of the local value is over,
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156 the previous value is restored. In the mean time, we say that the
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157 previous value is @dfn{shadowed} and @dfn{not visible}. Both global and
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158 local values may be shadowed (@pxref{Scope}).
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159
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160 If you set a variable (such as with @code{setq}) while it is local,
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161 this replaces the local value; it does not alter the global value, or
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162 previous local values, that are shadowed. To model this behavior, we
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163 speak of a @dfn{local binding} of the variable as well as a local value.
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164
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165 The local binding is a conceptual place that holds a local value.
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166 Entry to a function, or a special form such as @code{let}, creates the
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167 local binding; exit from the function or from the @code{let} removes the
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168 local binding. As long as the local binding lasts, the variable's value
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169 is stored within it. Use of @code{setq} or @code{set} while there is a
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170 local binding stores a different value into the local binding; it does
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171 not create a new binding.
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172
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173 We also speak of the @dfn{global binding}, which is where
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174 (conceptually) the global value is kept.
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175
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176 @cindex current binding
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177 A variable can have more than one local binding at a time (for
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178 example, if there are nested @code{let} forms that bind it). In such a
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179 case, the most recently created local binding that still exists is the
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180 @dfn{current binding} of the variable. (This rule is called
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181 @dfn{dynamic scoping}; see @ref{Variable Scoping}.) If there are no
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182 local bindings, the variable's global binding is its current binding.
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183 We sometimes call the current binding the @dfn{most-local existing
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184 binding}, for emphasis. Ordinary evaluation of a symbol always returns
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185 the value of its current binding.
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186
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187 The special forms @code{let} and @code{let*} exist to create
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188 local bindings.
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189
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190 @defspec let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
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191 This special form binds variables according to @var{bindings} and then
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192 evaluates all of the @var{forms} in textual order. The @code{let}-form
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193 returns the value of the last form in @var{forms}.
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194
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195 Each of the @var{bindings} is either @w{(i) a} symbol, in which case
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196 that symbol is bound to @code{nil}; or @w{(ii) a} list of the form
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197 @code{(@var{symbol} @var{value-form})}, in which case @var{symbol} is
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198 bound to the result of evaluating @var{value-form}. If @var{value-form}
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199 is omitted, @code{nil} is used.
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200
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201 All of the @var{value-form}s in @var{bindings} are evaluated in the
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202 order they appear and @emph{before} binding any of the symbols to them.
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203 Here is an example of this: @code{z} is bound to the old value of
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204 @code{y}, which is 2, not the new value of @code{y}, which is 1.
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205
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206 @example
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207 @group
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208 (setq y 2)
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209 @result{} 2
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210 @end group
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211 @group
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212 (let ((y 1)
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213 (z y))
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214 (list y z))
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215 @result{} (1 2)
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216 @end group
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217 @end example
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218 @end defspec
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219
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220 @defspec let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
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221 This special form is like @code{let}, but it binds each variable right
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222 after computing its local value, before computing the local value for
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223 the next variable. Therefore, an expression in @var{bindings} can
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224 reasonably refer to the preceding symbols bound in this @code{let*}
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225 form. Compare the following example with the example above for
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226 @code{let}.
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227
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228 @example
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229 @group
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230 (setq y 2)
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231 @result{} 2
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232 @end group
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233 @group
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234 (let* ((y 1)
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235 (z y)) ; @r{Use the just-established value of @code{y}.}
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236 (list y z))
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237 @result{} (1 1)
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238 @end group
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239 @end example
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240 @end defspec
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241
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242 Here is a complete list of the other facilities that create local
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243 bindings:
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244
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245 @itemize @bullet
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246 @item
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247 Function calls (@pxref{Functions}).
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248
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249 @item
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250 Macro calls (@pxref{Macros}).
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251
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252 @item
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253 @code{condition-case} (@pxref{Errors}).
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254 @end itemize
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255
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256 Variables can also have buffer-local bindings (@pxref{Buffer-Local
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257 Variables}); a few variables have terminal-local bindings
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258 (@pxref{Multiple Displays}). These kinds of bindings work somewhat
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259 like ordinary local bindings, but they are localized depending on
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260 ``where'' you are in Emacs, rather than localized in time.
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261
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262 @defvar max-specpdl-size
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263 @anchor{Definition of max-specpdl-size}
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264 @cindex variable limit error
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265 @cindex evaluation error
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266 @cindex infinite recursion
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267 This variable defines the limit on the total number of local variable
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268 bindings and @code{unwind-protect} cleanups (@pxref{Cleanups,,
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269 Cleaning Up from Nonlocal Exits}) that are allowed before signaling an
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270 error (with data @code{"Variable binding depth exceeds
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271 max-specpdl-size"}).
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272
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273 This limit, with the associated error when it is exceeded, is one way
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274 that Lisp avoids infinite recursion on an ill-defined function.
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275 @code{max-lisp-eval-depth} provides another limit on depth of nesting.
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276 @xref{Definition of max-lisp-eval-depth,, Eval}.
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277
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278 The default value is 1000. Entry to the Lisp debugger increases the
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279 value, if there is little room left, to make sure the debugger itself
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280 has room to execute.
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281 @end defvar
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282
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283 @node Void Variables
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284 @section When a Variable is ``Void''
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285 @kindex void-variable
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286 @cindex void variable
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287
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288 If you have never given a symbol any value as a global variable, we
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289 say that that symbol's global value is @dfn{void}. In other words, the
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290 symbol's value cell does not have any Lisp object in it. If you try to
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291 evaluate the symbol, you get a @code{void-variable} error rather than
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292 a value.
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293
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294 Note that a value of @code{nil} is not the same as void. The symbol
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295 @code{nil} is a Lisp object and can be the value of a variable just as any
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296 other object can be; but it is @emph{a value}. A void variable does not
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297 have any value.
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298
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299 After you have given a variable a value, you can make it void once more
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300 using @code{makunbound}.
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301
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302 @defun makunbound symbol
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303 This function makes the current variable binding of @var{symbol} void.
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304 Subsequent attempts to use this symbol's value as a variable will signal
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305 the error @code{void-variable}, unless and until you set it again.
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306
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307 @code{makunbound} returns @var{symbol}.
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308
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309 @example
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310 @group
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311 (makunbound 'x) ; @r{Make the global value of @code{x} void.}
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312 @result{} x
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313 @end group
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314 @group
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315 x
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316 @error{} Symbol's value as variable is void: x
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317 @end group
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318 @end example
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319
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320 If @var{symbol} is locally bound, @code{makunbound} affects the most
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321 local existing binding. This is the only way a symbol can have a void
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322 local binding, since all the constructs that create local bindings
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323 create them with values. In this case, the voidness lasts at most as
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324 long as the binding does; when the binding is removed due to exit from
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325 the construct that made it, the previous local or global binding is
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326 reexposed as usual, and the variable is no longer void unless the newly
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327 reexposed binding was void all along.
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328
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329 @smallexample
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330 @group
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331 (setq x 1) ; @r{Put a value in the global binding.}
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332 @result{} 1
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333 (let ((x 2)) ; @r{Locally bind it.}
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334 (makunbound 'x) ; @r{Void the local binding.}
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335 x)
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336 @error{} Symbol's value as variable is void: x
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337 @end group
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338 @group
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339 x ; @r{The global binding is unchanged.}
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340 @result{} 1
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341
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342 (let ((x 2)) ; @r{Locally bind it.}
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343 (let ((x 3)) ; @r{And again.}
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344 (makunbound 'x) ; @r{Void the innermost-local binding.}
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345 x)) ; @r{And refer: it's void.}
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346 @error{} Symbol's value as variable is void: x
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347 @end group
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348
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349 @group
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350 (let ((x 2))
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351 (let ((x 3))
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352 (makunbound 'x)) ; @r{Void inner binding, then remove it.}
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353 x) ; @r{Now outer @code{let} binding is visible.}
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354 @result{} 2
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355 @end group
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356 @end smallexample
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357 @end defun
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358
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359 A variable that has been made void with @code{makunbound} is
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360 indistinguishable from one that has never received a value and has
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361 always been void.
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362
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363 You can use the function @code{boundp} to test whether a variable is
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364 currently void.
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365
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366 @defun boundp variable
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367 @code{boundp} returns @code{t} if @var{variable} (a symbol) is not void;
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368 more precisely, if its current binding is not void. It returns
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369 @code{nil} otherwise.
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370
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371 @smallexample
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372 @group
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373 (boundp 'abracadabra) ; @r{Starts out void.}
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374 @result{} nil
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375 @end group
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376 @group
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377 (let ((abracadabra 5)) ; @r{Locally bind it.}
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378 (boundp 'abracadabra))
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379 @result{} t
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380 @end group
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381 @group
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382 (boundp 'abracadabra) ; @r{Still globally void.}
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383 @result{} nil
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384 @end group
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385 @group
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386 (setq abracadabra 5) ; @r{Make it globally nonvoid.}
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387 @result{} 5
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388 @end group
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389 @group
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390 (boundp 'abracadabra)
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391 @result{} t
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392 @end group
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393 @end smallexample
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394 @end defun
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395
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396 @node Defining Variables
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397 @section Defining Global Variables
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398 @cindex variable definition
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399
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400 You may announce your intention to use a symbol as a global variable
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401 with a @dfn{variable definition}: a special form, either @code{defconst}
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402 or @code{defvar}.
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403
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404 In Emacs Lisp, definitions serve three purposes. First, they inform
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405 people who read the code that certain symbols are @emph{intended} to be
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406 used a certain way (as variables). Second, they inform the Lisp system
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407 of these things, supplying a value and documentation. Third, they
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408 provide information to utilities such as @code{etags} and
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409 @code{make-docfile}, which create data bases of the functions and
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410 variables in a program.
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411
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412 The difference between @code{defconst} and @code{defvar} is primarily
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413 a matter of intent, serving to inform human readers of whether the value
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414 should ever change. Emacs Lisp does not restrict the ways in which a
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415 variable can be used based on @code{defconst} or @code{defvar}
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416 declarations. However, it does make a difference for initialization:
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417 @code{defconst} unconditionally initializes the variable, while
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418 @code{defvar} initializes it only if it is void.
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419
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420 @ignore
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421 One would expect user option variables to be defined with
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422 @code{defconst}, since programs do not change them. Unfortunately, this
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423 has bad results if the definition is in a library that is not preloaded:
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424 @code{defconst} would override any prior value when the library is
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425 loaded. Users would like to be able to set user options in their init
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426 files, and override the default values given in the definitions. For
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427 this reason, user options must be defined with @code{defvar}.
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428 @end ignore
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429
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430 @defspec defvar symbol [value [doc-string]]
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431 This special form defines @var{symbol} as a variable and can also
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432 initialize and document it. The definition informs a person reading
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433 your code that @var{symbol} is used as a variable that might be set or
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434 changed. Note that @var{symbol} is not evaluated; the symbol to be
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435 defined must appear explicitly in the @code{defvar}.
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436
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437 If @var{symbol} is void and @var{value} is specified, @code{defvar}
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438 evaluates it and sets @var{symbol} to the result. But if @var{symbol}
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439 already has a value (i.e., it is not void), @var{value} is not even
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440 evaluated, and @var{symbol}'s value remains unchanged. If @var{value}
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441 is omitted, the value of @var{symbol} is not changed in any case.
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442
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443 If @var{symbol} has a buffer-local binding in the current buffer,
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444 @code{defvar} operates on the default value, which is buffer-independent,
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445 not the current (buffer-local) binding. It sets the default value if
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446 the default value is void. @xref{Buffer-Local Variables}.
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447
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448 When you evaluate a top-level @code{defvar} form with @kbd{C-M-x} in
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449 Emacs Lisp mode (@code{eval-defun}), a special feature of
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450 @code{eval-defun} arranges to set the variable unconditionally, without
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451 testing whether its value is void.
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452
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453 If the @var{doc-string} argument appears, it specifies the documentation
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454 for the variable. (This opportunity to specify documentation is one of
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455 the main benefits of defining the variable.) The documentation is
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456 stored in the symbol's @code{variable-documentation} property. The
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457 Emacs help functions (@pxref{Documentation}) look for this property.
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458
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459 If the variable is a user option that users would want to set
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460 interactively, you should use @samp{*} as the first character of
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461 @var{doc-string}. This lets users set the variable conveniently using
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462 the @code{set-variable} command. Note that you should nearly always
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463 use @code{defcustom} instead of @code{defvar} to define these
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464 variables, so that users can use @kbd{M-x customize} and related
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465 commands to set them. @xref{Customization}.
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466
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467 Here are some examples. This form defines @code{foo} but does not
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468 initialize it:
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469
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470 @example
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471 @group
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472 (defvar foo)
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473 @result{} foo
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474 @end group
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475 @end example
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476
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477 This example initializes the value of @code{bar} to @code{23}, and gives
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478 it a documentation string:
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479
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480 @example
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481 @group
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482 (defvar bar 23
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483 "The normal weight of a bar.")
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484 @result{} bar
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485 @end group
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486 @end example
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487
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488 The following form changes the documentation string for @code{bar},
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489 making it a user option, but does not change the value, since @code{bar}
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490 already has a value. (The addition @code{(1+ nil)} would get an error
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491 if it were evaluated, but since it is not evaluated, there is no error.)
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492
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493 @example
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494 @group
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495 (defvar bar (1+ nil)
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496 "*The normal weight of a bar.")
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497 @result{} bar
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498 @end group
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499 @group
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500 bar
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501 @result{} 23
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502 @end group
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503 @end example
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504
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505 Here is an equivalent expression for the @code{defvar} special form:
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506
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507 @example
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508 @group
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509 (defvar @var{symbol} @var{value} @var{doc-string})
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510 @equiv{}
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511 (progn
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512 (if (not (boundp '@var{symbol}))
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513 (setq @var{symbol} @var{value}))
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514 (if '@var{doc-string}
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515 (put '@var{symbol} 'variable-documentation '@var{doc-string}))
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516 '@var{symbol})
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517 @end group
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518 @end example
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519
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520 The @code{defvar} form returns @var{symbol}, but it is normally used
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521 at top level in a file where its value does not matter.
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522 @end defspec
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523
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524 @defspec defconst symbol value [doc-string]
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525 This special form defines @var{symbol} as a value and initializes it.
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526 It informs a person reading your code that @var{symbol} has a standard
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527 global value, established here, that should not be changed by the user
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528 or by other programs. Note that @var{symbol} is not evaluated; the
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529 symbol to be defined must appear explicitly in the @code{defconst}.
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530
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diff changeset
531 @code{defconst} always evaluates @var{value}, and sets the value of
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532 @var{symbol} to the result. If @var{symbol} does have a buffer-local
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533 binding in the current buffer, @code{defconst} sets the default value,
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534 not the buffer-local value. (But you should not be making
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diff changeset
535 buffer-local bindings for a symbol that is defined with
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diff changeset
536 @code{defconst}.)
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diff changeset
537
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diff changeset
538 Here, @code{pi} is a constant that presumably ought not to be changed
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539 by anyone (attempts by the Indiana State Legislature notwithstanding).
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diff changeset
540 As the second form illustrates, however, this is only advisory.
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diff changeset
541
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542 @example
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diff changeset
543 @group
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diff changeset
544 (defconst pi 3.1415 "Pi to five places.")
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diff changeset
545 @result{} pi
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546 @end group
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547 @group
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diff changeset
548 (setq pi 3)
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diff changeset
549 @result{} pi
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550 @end group
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551 @group
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552 pi
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553 @result{} 3
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554 @end group
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555 @end example
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556 @end defspec
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557
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diff changeset
558 @defun user-variable-p variable
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diff changeset
559 @cindex user option
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diff changeset
560 This function returns @code{t} if @var{variable} is a user option---a
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561 variable intended to be set by the user for customization---and
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562 @code{nil} otherwise. (Variables other than user options exist for the
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563 internal purposes of Lisp programs, and users need not know about them.)
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564
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565 User option variables are distinguished from other variables either
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diff changeset
566 though being declared using @code{defcustom}@footnote{They may also be
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diff changeset
567 declared equivalently in @file{cus-start.el}.} or by the first character
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diff changeset
568 of their @code{variable-documentation} property. If the property exists
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diff changeset
569 and is a string, and its first character is @samp{*}, then the variable
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570 is a user option. Aliases of user options are also user options.
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571 @end defun
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572
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573 @kindex variable-interactive
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diff changeset
574 If a user option variable has a @code{variable-interactive} property,
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575 the @code{set-variable} command uses that value to control reading the
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576 new value for the variable. The property's value is used as if it were
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577 specified in @code{interactive} (@pxref{Using Interactive}). However,
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diff changeset
578 this feature is largely obsoleted by @code{defcustom}
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579 (@pxref{Customization}).
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580
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diff changeset
581 @strong{Warning:} If the @code{defconst} and @code{defvar} special
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diff changeset
582 forms are used while the variable has a local binding (made with
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diff changeset
583 @code{let}, or a function argument), they set the local-binding's
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diff changeset
584 value; the top-level binding is not changed. This is not what you
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diff changeset
585 usually want. To prevent it, use these special forms at top level in
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diff changeset
586 a file, where normally no local binding is in effect, and make sure to
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587 load the file before making a local binding for the variable.
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588
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589 @node Tips for Defining
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diff changeset
590 @section Tips for Defining Variables Robustly
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diff changeset
591
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diff changeset
592 When you define a variable whose value is a function, or a list of
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diff changeset
593 functions, use a name that ends in @samp{-function} or
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diff changeset
594 @samp{-functions}, respectively.
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diff changeset
595
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diff changeset
596 There are several other variable name conventions;
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diff changeset
597 here is a complete list:
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diff changeset
598
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diff changeset
599 @table @samp
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diff changeset
600 @item @dots{}-hook
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diff changeset
601 The variable is a normal hook (@pxref{Hooks}).
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diff changeset
602
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diff changeset
603 @item @dots{}-function
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diff changeset
604 The value is a function.
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diff changeset
605
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diff changeset
606 @item @dots{}-functions
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parents:
diff changeset
607 The value is a list of functions.
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parents:
diff changeset
608
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diff changeset
609 @item @dots{}-form
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diff changeset
610 The value is a form (an expression).
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diff changeset
611
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diff changeset
612 @item @dots{}-forms
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parents:
diff changeset
613 The value is a list of forms (expressions).
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parents:
diff changeset
614
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diff changeset
615 @item @dots{}-predicate
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diff changeset
616 The value is a predicate---a function of one argument that returns
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617 non-@code{nil} for ``good'' arguments and @code{nil} for ``bad''
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618 arguments.
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diff changeset
619
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diff changeset
620 @item @dots{}-flag
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diff changeset
621 The value is significant only as to whether it is @code{nil} or not.
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622
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diff changeset
623 @item @dots{}-program
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624 The value is a program name.
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625
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diff changeset
626 @item @dots{}-command
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parents:
diff changeset
627 The value is a whole shell command.
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628
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diff changeset
629 @item @dots{}-switches
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diff changeset
630 The value specifies options for a command.
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parents:
diff changeset
631 @end table
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632
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633 When you define a variable, always consider whether you should mark
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diff changeset
634 it as ``risky''; see @ref{File Local Variables}.
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635
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diff changeset
636 When defining and initializing a variable that holds a complicated
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diff changeset
637 value (such as a keymap with bindings in it), it's best to put the
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diff changeset
638 entire computation of the value into the @code{defvar}, like this:
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diff changeset
639
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640 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
641 (defvar my-mode-map
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diff changeset
642 (let ((map (make-sparse-keymap)))
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diff changeset
643 (define-key map "\C-c\C-a" 'my-command)
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diff changeset
644 @dots{}
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645 map)
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diff changeset
646 @var{docstring})
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diff changeset
647 @end example
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648
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diff changeset
649 @noindent
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diff changeset
650 This method has several benefits. First, if the user quits while
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diff changeset
651 loading the file, the variable is either still uninitialized or
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652 initialized properly, never in-between. If it is still uninitialized,
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diff changeset
653 reloading the file will initialize it properly. Second, reloading the
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diff changeset
654 file once the variable is initialized will not alter it; that is
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diff changeset
655 important if the user has run hooks to alter part of the contents (such
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diff changeset
656 as, to rebind keys). Third, evaluating the @code{defvar} form with
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diff changeset
657 @kbd{C-M-x} @emph{will} reinitialize the map completely.
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diff changeset
658
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diff changeset
659 Putting so much code in the @code{defvar} form has one disadvantage:
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diff changeset
660 it puts the documentation string far away from the line which names the
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diff changeset
661 variable. Here's a safe way to avoid that:
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diff changeset
662
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diff changeset
663 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
664 (defvar my-mode-map nil
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parents:
diff changeset
665 @var{docstring})
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parents:
diff changeset
666 (unless my-mode-map
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parents:
diff changeset
667 (let ((map (make-sparse-keymap)))
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diff changeset
668 (define-key map "\C-c\C-a" 'my-command)
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parents:
diff changeset
669 @dots{}
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parents:
diff changeset
670 (setq my-mode-map map)))
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diff changeset
671 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
672
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parents:
diff changeset
673 @noindent
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parents:
diff changeset
674 This has all the same advantages as putting the initialization inside
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parents:
diff changeset
675 the @code{defvar}, except that you must type @kbd{C-M-x} twice, once on
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parents:
diff changeset
676 each form, if you do want to reinitialize the variable.
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parents:
diff changeset
677
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parents:
diff changeset
678 But be careful not to write the code like this:
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parents:
diff changeset
679
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parents:
diff changeset
680 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
681 (defvar my-mode-map nil
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parents:
diff changeset
682 @var{docstring})
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
683 (unless my-mode-map
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parents:
diff changeset
684 (setq my-mode-map (make-sparse-keymap))
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parents:
diff changeset
685 (define-key my-mode-map "\C-c\C-a" 'my-command)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
686 @dots{})
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parents:
diff changeset
687 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
688
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parents:
diff changeset
689 @noindent
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parents:
diff changeset
690 This code sets the variable, then alters it, but it does so in more than
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parents:
diff changeset
691 one step. If the user quits just after the @code{setq}, that leaves the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
692 variable neither correctly initialized nor void nor @code{nil}. Once
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parents:
diff changeset
693 that happens, reloading the file will not initialize the variable; it
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
694 will remain incomplete.
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parents:
diff changeset
695
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parents:
diff changeset
696 @node Accessing Variables
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parents:
diff changeset
697 @section Accessing Variable Values
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
698
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
699 The usual way to reference a variable is to write the symbol which
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parents:
diff changeset
700 names it (@pxref{Symbol Forms}). This requires you to specify the
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parents:
diff changeset
701 variable name when you write the program. Usually that is exactly what
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
702 you want to do. Occasionally you need to choose at run time which
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parents:
diff changeset
703 variable to reference; then you can use @code{symbol-value}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
704
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parents:
diff changeset
705 @defun symbol-value symbol
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
706 This function returns the value of @var{symbol}. This is the value in
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
707 the innermost local binding of the symbol, or its global value if it
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
708 has no local bindings.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
709
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
710 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
711 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
712 (setq abracadabra 5)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
713 @result{} 5
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parents:
diff changeset
714 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
715 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
716 (setq foo 9)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
717 @result{} 9
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
718 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
719
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parents:
diff changeset
720 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
721 ;; @r{Here the symbol @code{abracadabra}}
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parents:
diff changeset
722 ;; @r{is the symbol whose value is examined.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
723 (let ((abracadabra 'foo))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
724 (symbol-value 'abracadabra))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
725 @result{} foo
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
726 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
727
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
728 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
729 ;; @r{Here, the value of @code{abracadabra},}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
730 ;; @r{which is @code{foo},}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
731 ;; @r{is the symbol whose value is examined.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
732 (let ((abracadabra 'foo))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
733 (symbol-value abracadabra))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
734 @result{} 9
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
735 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
736
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
737 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
738 (symbol-value 'abracadabra)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
739 @result{} 5
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
740 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
741 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
742
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
743 A @code{void-variable} error is signaled if the current binding of
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
744 @var{symbol} is void.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
745 @end defun
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
746
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
747 @node Setting Variables
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
748 @section How to Alter a Variable Value
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
749
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
750 The usual way to change the value of a variable is with the special
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
751 form @code{setq}. When you need to compute the choice of variable at
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
752 run time, use the function @code{set}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
753
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
754 @defspec setq [symbol form]@dots{}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
755 This special form is the most common method of changing a variable's
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
756 value. Each @var{symbol} is given a new value, which is the result of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
757 evaluating the corresponding @var{form}. The most-local existing
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
758 binding of the symbol is changed.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
759
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
760 @code{setq} does not evaluate @var{symbol}; it sets the symbol that you
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
761 write. We say that this argument is @dfn{automatically quoted}. The
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
762 @samp{q} in @code{setq} stands for ``quoted.''
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
763
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
764 The value of the @code{setq} form is the value of the last @var{form}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
765
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
766 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
767 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
768 (setq x (1+ 2))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
769 @result{} 3
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
770 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
771 x ; @r{@code{x} now has a global value.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
772 @result{} 3
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
773 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
774 (let ((x 5))
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
775 (setq x 6) ; @r{The local binding of @code{x} is set.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
776 x)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
777 @result{} 6
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
778 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
779 x ; @r{The global value is unchanged.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
780 @result{} 3
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
781 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
782
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
783 Note that the first @var{form} is evaluated, then the first
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
784 @var{symbol} is set, then the second @var{form} is evaluated, then the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
785 second @var{symbol} is set, and so on:
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
786
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
787 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
788 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
789 (setq x 10 ; @r{Notice that @code{x} is set before}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
790 y (1+ x)) ; @r{the value of @code{y} is computed.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
791 @result{} 11
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parents:
diff changeset
792 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
793 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
794 @end defspec
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
795
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
796 @defun set symbol value
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
797 This function sets @var{symbol}'s value to @var{value}, then returns
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
798 @var{value}. Since @code{set} is a function, the expression written for
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
799 @var{symbol} is evaluated to obtain the symbol to set.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
800
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parents:
diff changeset
801 The most-local existing binding of the variable is the binding that is
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
802 set; shadowed bindings are not affected.
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parents:
diff changeset
803
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parents:
diff changeset
804 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
805 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
806 (set one 1)
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parents:
diff changeset
807 @error{} Symbol's value as variable is void: one
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parents:
diff changeset
808 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
809 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
810 (set 'one 1)
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parents:
diff changeset
811 @result{} 1
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diff changeset
812 @end group
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diff changeset
813 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
814 (set 'two 'one)
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diff changeset
815 @result{} one
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diff changeset
816 @end group
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diff changeset
817 @group
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diff changeset
818 (set two 2) ; @r{@code{two} evaluates to symbol @code{one}.}
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parents:
diff changeset
819 @result{} 2
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820 @end group
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diff changeset
821 @group
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diff changeset
822 one ; @r{So it is @code{one} that was set.}
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parents:
diff changeset
823 @result{} 2
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parents:
diff changeset
824 (let ((one 1)) ; @r{This binding of @code{one} is set,}
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parents:
diff changeset
825 (set 'one 3) ; @r{not the global value.}
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parents:
diff changeset
826 one)
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diff changeset
827 @result{} 3
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diff changeset
828 @end group
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diff changeset
829 @group
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830 one
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diff changeset
831 @result{} 2
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832 @end group
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833 @end example
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diff changeset
834
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diff changeset
835 If @var{symbol} is not actually a symbol, a @code{wrong-type-argument}
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diff changeset
836 error is signaled.
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837
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diff changeset
838 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
839 (set '(x y) 'z)
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diff changeset
840 @error{} Wrong type argument: symbolp, (x y)
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diff changeset
841 @end example
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842
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diff changeset
843 Logically speaking, @code{set} is a more fundamental primitive than
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parents:
diff changeset
844 @code{setq}. Any use of @code{setq} can be trivially rewritten to use
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parents:
diff changeset
845 @code{set}; @code{setq} could even be defined as a macro, given the
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diff changeset
846 availability of @code{set}. However, @code{set} itself is rarely used;
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parents:
diff changeset
847 beginners hardly need to know about it. It is useful only for choosing
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parents:
diff changeset
848 at run time which variable to set. For example, the command
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parents:
diff changeset
849 @code{set-variable}, which reads a variable name from the user and then
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parents:
diff changeset
850 sets the variable, needs to use @code{set}.
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parents:
diff changeset
851
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parents:
diff changeset
852 @cindex CL note---@code{set} local
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parents:
diff changeset
853 @quotation
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parents:
diff changeset
854 @b{Common Lisp note:} In Common Lisp, @code{set} always changes the
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parents:
diff changeset
855 symbol's ``special'' or dynamic value, ignoring any lexical bindings.
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parents:
diff changeset
856 In Emacs Lisp, all variables and all bindings are dynamic, so @code{set}
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parents:
diff changeset
857 always affects the most local existing binding.
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diff changeset
858 @end quotation
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diff changeset
859 @end defun
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parents:
diff changeset
860
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diff changeset
861 @node Variable Scoping
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parents:
diff changeset
862 @section Scoping Rules for Variable Bindings
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parents:
diff changeset
863
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parents:
diff changeset
864 A given symbol @code{foo} can have several local variable bindings,
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parents:
diff changeset
865 established at different places in the Lisp program, as well as a global
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parents:
diff changeset
866 binding. The most recently established binding takes precedence over
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parents:
diff changeset
867 the others.
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parents:
diff changeset
868
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parents:
diff changeset
869 @cindex scope
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parents:
diff changeset
870 @cindex extent
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parents:
diff changeset
871 @cindex dynamic scoping
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parents:
diff changeset
872 @cindex lexical scoping
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parents:
diff changeset
873 Local bindings in Emacs Lisp have @dfn{indefinite scope} and
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parents:
diff changeset
874 @dfn{dynamic extent}. @dfn{Scope} refers to @emph{where} textually in
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parents:
diff changeset
875 the source code the binding can be accessed. ``Indefinite scope'' means
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parents:
diff changeset
876 that any part of the program can potentially access the variable
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
877 binding. @dfn{Extent} refers to @emph{when}, as the program is
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parents:
diff changeset
878 executing, the binding exists. ``Dynamic extent'' means that the binding
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parents:
diff changeset
879 lasts as long as the activation of the construct that established it.
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parents:
diff changeset
880
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parents:
diff changeset
881 The combination of dynamic extent and indefinite scope is called
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parents:
diff changeset
882 @dfn{dynamic scoping}. By contrast, most programming languages use
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parents:
diff changeset
883 @dfn{lexical scoping}, in which references to a local variable must be
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parents:
diff changeset
884 located textually within the function or block that binds the variable.
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parents:
diff changeset
885
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diff changeset
886 @cindex CL note---special variables
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parents:
diff changeset
887 @quotation
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parents:
diff changeset
888 @b{Common Lisp note:} Variables declared ``special'' in Common Lisp are
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parents:
diff changeset
889 dynamically scoped, like all variables in Emacs Lisp.
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parents:
diff changeset
890 @end quotation
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parents:
diff changeset
891
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parents:
diff changeset
892 @menu
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parents:
diff changeset
893 * Scope:: Scope means where in the program a value is visible.
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parents:
diff changeset
894 Comparison with other languages.
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parents:
diff changeset
895 * Extent:: Extent means how long in time a value exists.
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parents:
diff changeset
896 * Impl of Scope:: Two ways to implement dynamic scoping.
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parents:
diff changeset
897 * Using Scoping:: How to use dynamic scoping carefully and avoid problems.
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parents:
diff changeset
898 @end menu
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parents:
diff changeset
899
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parents:
diff changeset
900 @node Scope
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parents:
diff changeset
901 @subsection Scope
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parents:
diff changeset
902
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parents:
diff changeset
903 Emacs Lisp uses @dfn{indefinite scope} for local variable bindings.
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parents:
diff changeset
904 This means that any function anywhere in the program text might access a
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parents:
diff changeset
905 given binding of a variable. Consider the following function
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parents:
diff changeset
906 definitions:
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parents:
diff changeset
907
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parents:
diff changeset
908 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
909 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
910 (defun binder (x) ; @r{@code{x} is bound in @code{binder}.}
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parents:
diff changeset
911 (foo 5)) ; @r{@code{foo} is some other function.}
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parents:
diff changeset
912 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
913
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diff changeset
914 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
915 (defun user () ; @r{@code{x} is used ``free'' in @code{user}.}
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parents:
diff changeset
916 (list x))
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parents:
diff changeset
917 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
918 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
919
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parents:
diff changeset
920 In a lexically scoped language, the binding of @code{x} in
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parents:
diff changeset
921 @code{binder} would never be accessible in @code{user}, because
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parents:
diff changeset
922 @code{user} is not textually contained within the function
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parents:
diff changeset
923 @code{binder}. However, in dynamically-scoped Emacs Lisp, @code{user}
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parents:
diff changeset
924 may or may not refer to the binding of @code{x} established in
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parents:
diff changeset
925 @code{binder}, depending on the circumstances:
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parents:
diff changeset
926
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parents:
diff changeset
927 @itemize @bullet
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parents:
diff changeset
928 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
929 If we call @code{user} directly without calling @code{binder} at all,
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parents:
diff changeset
930 then whatever binding of @code{x} is found, it cannot come from
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diff changeset
931 @code{binder}.
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parents:
diff changeset
932
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parents:
diff changeset
933 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
934 If we define @code{foo} as follows and then call @code{binder}, then the
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parents:
diff changeset
935 binding made in @code{binder} will be seen in @code{user}:
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parents:
diff changeset
936
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diff changeset
937 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
938 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
939 (defun foo (lose)
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parents:
diff changeset
940 (user))
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diff changeset
941 @end group
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diff changeset
942 @end example
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diff changeset
943
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parents:
diff changeset
944 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
945 However, if we define @code{foo} as follows and then call @code{binder},
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diff changeset
946 then the binding made in @code{binder} @emph{will not} be seen in
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diff changeset
947 @code{user}:
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parents:
diff changeset
948
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parents:
diff changeset
949 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
950 (defun foo (x)
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parents:
diff changeset
951 (user))
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parents:
diff changeset
952 @end example
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parents:
diff changeset
953
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parents:
diff changeset
954 @noindent
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parents:
diff changeset
955 Here, when @code{foo} is called by @code{binder}, it binds @code{x}.
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parents:
diff changeset
956 (The binding in @code{foo} is said to @dfn{shadow} the one made in
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parents:
diff changeset
957 @code{binder}.) Therefore, @code{user} will access the @code{x} bound
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parents:
diff changeset
958 by @code{foo} instead of the one bound by @code{binder}.
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parents:
diff changeset
959 @end itemize
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parents:
diff changeset
960
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diff changeset
961 Emacs Lisp uses dynamic scoping because simple implementations of
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parents:
diff changeset
962 lexical scoping are slow. In addition, every Lisp system needs to offer
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parents:
diff changeset
963 dynamic scoping at least as an option; if lexical scoping is the norm,
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diff changeset
964 there must be a way to specify dynamic scoping instead for a particular
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diff changeset
965 variable. It might not be a bad thing for Emacs to offer both, but
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diff changeset
966 implementing it with dynamic scoping only was much easier.
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967
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diff changeset
968 @node Extent
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diff changeset
969 @subsection Extent
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970
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diff changeset
971 @dfn{Extent} refers to the time during program execution that a
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parents:
diff changeset
972 variable name is valid. In Emacs Lisp, a variable is valid only while
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parents:
diff changeset
973 the form that bound it is executing. This is called @dfn{dynamic
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diff changeset
974 extent}. ``Local'' or ``automatic'' variables in most languages,
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parents:
diff changeset
975 including C and Pascal, have dynamic extent.
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976
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diff changeset
977 One alternative to dynamic extent is @dfn{indefinite extent}. This
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parents:
diff changeset
978 means that a variable binding can live on past the exit from the form
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diff changeset
979 that made the binding. Common Lisp and Scheme, for example, support
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diff changeset
980 this, but Emacs Lisp does not.
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981
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diff changeset
982 To illustrate this, the function below, @code{make-add}, returns a
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parents:
diff changeset
983 function that purports to add @var{n} to its own argument @var{m}. This
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parents:
diff changeset
984 would work in Common Lisp, but it does not do the job in Emacs Lisp,
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parents:
diff changeset
985 because after the call to @code{make-add} exits, the variable @code{n}
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986 is no longer bound to the actual argument 2.
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987
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988 @example
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diff changeset
989 (defun make-add (n)
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990 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))) ; @r{Return a function.}
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991 @result{} make-add
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992 (fset 'add2 (make-add 2)) ; @r{Define function @code{add2}}
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parents:
diff changeset
993 ; @r{with @code{(make-add 2)}.}
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994 @result{} (lambda (m) (+ n m))
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diff changeset
995 (add2 4) ; @r{Try to add 2 to 4.}
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996 @error{} Symbol's value as variable is void: n
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997 @end example
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998
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999 @cindex closures not available
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1000 Some Lisp dialects have ``closures,'' objects that are like functions
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1001 but record additional variable bindings. Emacs Lisp does not have
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1002 closures.
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1003
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1004 @node Impl of Scope
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parents:
diff changeset
1005 @subsection Implementation of Dynamic Scoping
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parents:
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1006 @cindex deep binding
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diff changeset
1007
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diff changeset
1008 A simple sample implementation (which is not how Emacs Lisp actually
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parents:
diff changeset
1009 works) may help you understand dynamic binding. This technique is
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1010 called @dfn{deep binding} and was used in early Lisp systems.
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1011
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1012 Suppose there is a stack of bindings, which are variable-value pairs.
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1013 At entry to a function or to a @code{let} form, we can push bindings
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1014 onto the stack for the arguments or local variables created there. We
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1015 can pop those bindings from the stack at exit from the binding
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1016 construct.
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1017
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1018 We can find the value of a variable by searching the stack from top to
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parents:
diff changeset
1019 bottom for a binding for that variable; the value from that binding is
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diff changeset
1020 the value of the variable. To set the variable, we search for the
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1021 current binding, then store the new value into that binding.
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1022
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1023 As you can see, a function's bindings remain in effect as long as it
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1024 continues execution, even during its calls to other functions. That is
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diff changeset
1025 why we say the extent of the binding is dynamic. And any other function
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1026 can refer to the bindings, if it uses the same variables while the
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diff changeset
1027 bindings are in effect. That is why we say the scope is indefinite.
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1028
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1029 @cindex shallow binding
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parents:
diff changeset
1030 The actual implementation of variable scoping in GNU Emacs Lisp uses a
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diff changeset
1031 technique called @dfn{shallow binding}. Each variable has a standard
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diff changeset
1032 place in which its current value is always found---the value cell of the
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1033 symbol.
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1034
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1035 In shallow binding, setting the variable works by storing a value in
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diff changeset
1036 the value cell. Creating a new binding works by pushing the old value
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1037 (belonging to a previous binding) onto a stack, and storing the new
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parents:
diff changeset
1038 local value in the value cell. Eliminating a binding works by popping
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parents:
diff changeset
1039 the old value off the stack, into the value cell.
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1040
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parents:
diff changeset
1041 We use shallow binding because it has the same results as deep
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parents:
diff changeset
1042 binding, but runs faster, since there is never a need to search for a
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1043 binding.
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1044
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parents:
diff changeset
1045 @node Using Scoping
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parents:
diff changeset
1046 @subsection Proper Use of Dynamic Scoping
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parents:
diff changeset
1047
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diff changeset
1048 Binding a variable in one function and using it in another is a
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parents:
diff changeset
1049 powerful technique, but if used without restraint, it can make programs
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parents:
diff changeset
1050 hard to understand. There are two clean ways to use this technique:
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diff changeset
1051
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parents:
diff changeset
1052 @itemize @bullet
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parents:
diff changeset
1053 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
1054 Use or bind the variable only in a few related functions, written close
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parents:
diff changeset
1055 together in one file. Such a variable is used for communication within
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diff changeset
1056 one program.
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1057
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diff changeset
1058 You should write comments to inform other programmers that they can see
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parents:
diff changeset
1059 all uses of the variable before them, and to advise them not to add uses
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diff changeset
1060 elsewhere.
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diff changeset
1061
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diff changeset
1062 @item
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parents:
diff changeset
1063 Give the variable a well-defined, documented meaning, and make all
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parents:
diff changeset
1064 appropriate functions refer to it (but not bind it or set it) wherever
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parents:
diff changeset
1065 that meaning is relevant. For example, the variable
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1066 @code{case-fold-search} is defined as ``non-@code{nil} means ignore case
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parents:
diff changeset
1067 when searching''; various search and replace functions refer to it
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parents:
diff changeset
1068 directly or through their subroutines, but do not bind or set it.
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1069
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diff changeset
1070 Then you can bind the variable in other programs, knowing reliably what
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parents:
diff changeset
1071 the effect will be.
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parents:
diff changeset
1072 @end itemize
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parents:
diff changeset
1073
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diff changeset
1074 In either case, you should define the variable with @code{defvar}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1075 This helps other people understand your program by telling them to look
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parents:
diff changeset
1076 for inter-function usage. It also avoids a warning from the byte
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parents:
diff changeset
1077 compiler. Choose the variable's name to avoid name conflicts---don't
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parents:
diff changeset
1078 use short names like @code{x}.
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1079
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1080 @node Buffer-Local Variables
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parents:
diff changeset
1081 @section Buffer-Local Variables
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parents:
diff changeset
1082 @cindex variable, buffer-local
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diff changeset
1083 @cindex buffer-local variables
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1084
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diff changeset
1085 Global and local variable bindings are found in most programming
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parents: 84116
diff changeset
1086 languages in one form or another. Emacs, however, also supports
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parents: 84116
diff changeset
1087 additional, unusual kinds of variable binding, such as
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diff changeset
1088 @dfn{buffer-local} bindings, which apply only in one buffer. Having
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parents: 84116
diff changeset
1089 different values for a variable in different buffers is an important
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1090 customization method. (A few variables have bindings that are local
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diff changeset
1091 to each terminal; see @ref{Multiple Displays}.)
84109
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diff changeset
1092
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diff changeset
1093 @menu
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parents:
diff changeset
1094 * Intro to Buffer-Local:: Introduction and concepts.
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parents:
diff changeset
1095 * Creating Buffer-Local:: Creating and destroying buffer-local bindings.
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parents:
diff changeset
1096 * Default Value:: The default value is seen in buffers
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diff changeset
1097 that don't have their own buffer-local values.
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diff changeset
1098 @end menu
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diff changeset
1099
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1100 @node Intro to Buffer-Local
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diff changeset
1101 @subsection Introduction to Buffer-Local Variables
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1102
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1103 A buffer-local variable has a buffer-local binding associated with a
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1104 particular buffer. The binding is in effect when that buffer is
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diff changeset
1105 current; otherwise, it is not in effect. If you set the variable while
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1106 a buffer-local binding is in effect, the new value goes in that binding,
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diff changeset
1107 so its other bindings are unchanged. This means that the change is
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parents:
diff changeset
1108 visible only in the buffer where you made it.
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diff changeset
1109
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1110 The variable's ordinary binding, which is not associated with any
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diff changeset
1111 specific buffer, is called the @dfn{default binding}. In most cases,
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1112 this is the global binding.
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1113
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1114 A variable can have buffer-local bindings in some buffers but not in
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1115 other buffers. The default binding is shared by all the buffers that
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1116 don't have their own bindings for the variable. (This includes all
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1117 newly-created buffers.) If you set the variable in a buffer that does
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parents: 84116
diff changeset
1118 not have a buffer-local binding for it, this sets the default binding,
84109
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parents:
diff changeset
1119 so the new value is visible in all the buffers that see the default
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parents:
diff changeset
1120 binding.
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parents:
diff changeset
1121
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parents:
diff changeset
1122 The most common use of buffer-local bindings is for major modes to change
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parents:
diff changeset
1123 variables that control the behavior of commands. For example, C mode and
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parents:
diff changeset
1124 Lisp mode both set the variable @code{paragraph-start} to specify that only
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parents:
diff changeset
1125 blank lines separate paragraphs. They do this by making the variable
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parents:
diff changeset
1126 buffer-local in the buffer that is being put into C mode or Lisp mode, and
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parents:
diff changeset
1127 then setting it to the new value for that mode. @xref{Major Modes}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1128
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parents:
diff changeset
1129 The usual way to make a buffer-local binding is with
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diff changeset
1130 @code{make-local-variable}, which is what major mode commands typically
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parents:
diff changeset
1131 use. This affects just the current buffer; all other buffers (including
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parents:
diff changeset
1132 those yet to be created) will continue to share the default value unless
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parents:
diff changeset
1133 they are explicitly given their own buffer-local bindings.
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parents:
diff changeset
1134
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diff changeset
1135 @cindex automatically buffer-local
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parents:
diff changeset
1136 A more powerful operation is to mark the variable as
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parents:
diff changeset
1137 @dfn{automatically buffer-local} by calling
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parents:
diff changeset
1138 @code{make-variable-buffer-local}. You can think of this as making the
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parents:
diff changeset
1139 variable local in all buffers, even those yet to be created. More
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parents:
diff changeset
1140 precisely, the effect is that setting the variable automatically makes
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parents:
diff changeset
1141 the variable local to the current buffer if it is not already so. All
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parents:
diff changeset
1142 buffers start out by sharing the default value of the variable as usual,
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parents:
diff changeset
1143 but setting the variable creates a buffer-local binding for the current
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parents:
diff changeset
1144 buffer. The new value is stored in the buffer-local binding, leaving
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parents:
diff changeset
1145 the default binding untouched. This means that the default value cannot
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parents:
diff changeset
1146 be changed with @code{setq} in any buffer; the only way to change it is
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parents:
diff changeset
1147 with @code{setq-default}.
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parents:
diff changeset
1148
85688
b210bba3f477 Merge from emacs--rel--22
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 84116
diff changeset
1149 @strong{Warning:} When a variable has buffer-local
84109
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parents:
diff changeset
1150 bindings in one or more buffers, @code{let} rebinds the binding that's
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1151 currently in effect. For instance, if the current buffer has a
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1152 buffer-local value, @code{let} temporarily rebinds that. If no
85688
b210bba3f477 Merge from emacs--rel--22
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 84116
diff changeset
1153 buffer-local bindings are in effect, @code{let} rebinds
84109
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parents:
diff changeset
1154 the default value. If inside the @code{let} you then change to a
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parents:
diff changeset
1155 different current buffer in which a different binding is in effect,
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1156 you won't see the @code{let} binding any more. And if you exit the
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parents:
diff changeset
1157 @code{let} while still in the other buffer, you won't see the
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parents:
diff changeset
1158 unbinding occur (though it will occur properly). Here is an example
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parents:
diff changeset
1159 to illustrate:
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parents:
diff changeset
1160
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parents:
diff changeset
1161 @example
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parents:
diff changeset
1162 @group
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parents:
diff changeset
1163 (setq foo 'g)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1164 (set-buffer "a")
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parents:
diff changeset
1165 (make-local-variable 'foo)
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parents:
diff changeset
1166 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
1167 (setq foo 'a)
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parents:
diff changeset
1168 (let ((foo 'temp))
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
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parents:
diff changeset
1169 ;; foo @result{} 'temp ; @r{let binding in buffer @samp{a}}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1170 (set-buffer "b")
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parents:
diff changeset
1171 ;; foo @result{} 'g ; @r{the global value since foo is not local in @samp{b}}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1172 @var{body}@dots{})
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parents:
diff changeset
1173 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1174 foo @result{} 'g ; @r{exiting restored the local value in buffer @samp{a},}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1175 ; @r{but we don't see that in buffer @samp{b}}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1176 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1177 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1178 (set-buffer "a") ; @r{verify the local value was restored}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1179 foo @result{} 'a
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1180 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
1181 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1182
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1183 Note that references to @code{foo} in @var{body} access the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1184 buffer-local binding of buffer @samp{b}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1185
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parents:
diff changeset
1186 When a file specifies local variable values, these become buffer-local
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parents:
diff changeset
1187 values when you visit the file. @xref{File Variables,,, emacs, The
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1188 GNU Emacs Manual}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1189
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parents:
diff changeset
1190 @node Creating Buffer-Local
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1191 @subsection Creating and Deleting Buffer-Local Bindings
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1192
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parents:
diff changeset
1193 @deffn Command make-local-variable variable
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1194 This function creates a buffer-local binding in the current buffer for
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1195 @var{variable} (a symbol). Other buffers are not affected. The value
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1196 returned is @var{variable}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1197
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1198 @c Emacs 19 feature
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1199 The buffer-local value of @var{variable} starts out as the same value
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1200 @var{variable} previously had. If @var{variable} was void, it remains
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1201 void.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1202
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1203 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1204 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1205 ;; @r{In buffer @samp{b1}:}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1206 (setq foo 5) ; @r{Affects all buffers.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1207 @result{} 5
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1208 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1209 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1210 (make-local-variable 'foo) ; @r{Now it is local in @samp{b1}.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1211 @result{} foo
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1212 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1213 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1214 foo ; @r{That did not change}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1215 @result{} 5 ; @r{the value.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1216 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1217 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1218 (setq foo 6) ; @r{Change the value}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1219 @result{} 6 ; @r{in @samp{b1}.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1220 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1221 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1222 foo
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1223 @result{} 6
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1224 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1225
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1226 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1227 ;; @r{In buffer @samp{b2}, the value hasn't changed.}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1228 (save-excursion
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1229 (set-buffer "b2")
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1230 foo)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1231 @result{} 5
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1232 @end group
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parents:
diff changeset
1233 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1234
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1235 Making a variable buffer-local within a @code{let}-binding for that
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1236 variable does not work reliably, unless the buffer in which you do this
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1237 is not current either on entry to or exit from the @code{let}. This is
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1238 because @code{let} does not distinguish between different kinds of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1239 bindings; it knows only which variable the binding was made for.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1240
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1241 If the variable is terminal-local, this function signals an error. Such
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1242 variables cannot have buffer-local bindings as well. @xref{Multiple
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1243 Displays}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1244
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1245 @strong{Warning:} do not use @code{make-local-variable} for a hook
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1246 variable. The hook variables are automatically made buffer-local as
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1247 needed if you use the @var{local} argument to @code{add-hook} or
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1248 @code{remove-hook}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1249 @end deffn
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1250
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1251 @deffn Command make-variable-buffer-local variable
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1252 This function marks @var{variable} (a symbol) automatically
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1253 buffer-local, so that any subsequent attempt to set it will make it
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1254 local to the current buffer at the time.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1255
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1256 A peculiar wrinkle of this feature is that binding the variable (with
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1257 @code{let} or other binding constructs) does not create a buffer-local
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1258 binding for it. Only setting the variable (with @code{set} or
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1259 @code{setq}), while the variable does not have a @code{let}-style
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1260 binding that was made in the current buffer, does so.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1261
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1262 If @var{variable} does not have a default value, then calling this
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1263 command will give it a default value of @code{nil}. If @var{variable}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1264 already has a default value, that value remains unchanged.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
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parents:
diff changeset
1265 Subsequently calling @code{makunbound} on @var{variable} will result
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1266 in a void buffer-local value and leave the default value unaffected.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1267
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parents:
diff changeset
1268 The value returned is @var{variable}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1269
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parents:
diff changeset
1270 @strong{Warning:} Don't assume that you should use
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1271 @code{make-variable-buffer-local} for user-option variables, simply
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1272 because users @emph{might} want to customize them differently in
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1273 different buffers. Users can make any variable local, when they wish
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1274 to. It is better to leave the choice to them.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1275
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1276 The time to use @code{make-variable-buffer-local} is when it is crucial
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1277 that no two buffers ever share the same binding. For example, when a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1278 variable is used for internal purposes in a Lisp program which depends
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1279 on having separate values in separate buffers, then using
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1280 @code{make-variable-buffer-local} can be the best solution.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1281 @end deffn
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1282
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1283 @defun local-variable-p variable &optional buffer
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1284 This returns @code{t} if @var{variable} is buffer-local in buffer
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1285 @var{buffer} (which defaults to the current buffer); otherwise,
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1286 @code{nil}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1287 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1288
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1289 @defun local-variable-if-set-p variable &optional buffer
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1290 This returns @code{t} if @var{variable} will become buffer-local in
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1291 buffer @var{buffer} (which defaults to the current buffer) if it is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1292 set there.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1293 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1294
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1295 @defun buffer-local-value variable buffer
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1296 This function returns the buffer-local binding of @var{variable} (a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1297 symbol) in buffer @var{buffer}. If @var{variable} does not have a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1298 buffer-local binding in buffer @var{buffer}, it returns the default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1299 value (@pxref{Default Value}) of @var{variable} instead.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1300 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1301
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1302 @defun buffer-local-variables &optional buffer
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1303 This function returns a list describing the buffer-local variables in
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1304 buffer @var{buffer}. (If @var{buffer} is omitted, the current buffer is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1305 used.) It returns an association list (@pxref{Association Lists}) in
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1306 which each element contains one buffer-local variable and its value.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1307 However, when a variable's buffer-local binding in @var{buffer} is void,
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1308 then the variable appears directly in the resulting list.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1309
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1310 @example
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1311 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1312 (make-local-variable 'foobar)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1313 (makunbound 'foobar)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1314 (make-local-variable 'bind-me)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1315 (setq bind-me 69)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1316 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1317 (setq lcl (buffer-local-variables))
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1318 ;; @r{First, built-in variables local in all buffers:}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1319 @result{} ((mark-active . nil)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1320 (buffer-undo-list . nil)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1321 (mode-name . "Fundamental")
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1322 @dots{}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1323 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1324 ;; @r{Next, non-built-in buffer-local variables.}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1325 ;; @r{This one is buffer-local and void:}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1326 foobar
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1327 ;; @r{This one is buffer-local and nonvoid:}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1328 (bind-me . 69))
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1329 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1330 @end example
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1331
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1332 Note that storing new values into the @sc{cdr}s of cons cells in this
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1333 list does @emph{not} change the buffer-local values of the variables.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1334 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1335
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1336 @deffn Command kill-local-variable variable
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1337 This function deletes the buffer-local binding (if any) for
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1338 @var{variable} (a symbol) in the current buffer. As a result, the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1339 default binding of @var{variable} becomes visible in this buffer. This
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1340 typically results in a change in the value of @var{variable}, since the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1341 default value is usually different from the buffer-local value just
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1342 eliminated.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1343
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1344 If you kill the buffer-local binding of a variable that automatically
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1345 becomes buffer-local when set, this makes the default value visible in
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1346 the current buffer. However, if you set the variable again, that will
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1347 once again create a buffer-local binding for it.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1348
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1349 @code{kill-local-variable} returns @var{variable}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1350
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1351 This function is a command because it is sometimes useful to kill one
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1352 buffer-local variable interactively, just as it is useful to create
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1353 buffer-local variables interactively.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1354 @end deffn
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1355
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1356 @defun kill-all-local-variables
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1357 This function eliminates all the buffer-local variable bindings of the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1358 current buffer except for variables marked as ``permanent.'' As a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1359 result, the buffer will see the default values of most variables.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1360
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1361 This function also resets certain other information pertaining to the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1362 buffer: it sets the local keymap to @code{nil}, the syntax table to the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1363 value of @code{(standard-syntax-table)}, the case table to
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1364 @code{(standard-case-table)}, and the abbrev table to the value of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1365 @code{fundamental-mode-abbrev-table}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1366
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1367 The very first thing this function does is run the normal hook
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1368 @code{change-major-mode-hook} (see below).
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1369
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1370 Every major mode command begins by calling this function, which has the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1371 effect of switching to Fundamental mode and erasing most of the effects
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1372 of the previous major mode. To ensure that this does its job, the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1373 variables that major modes set should not be marked permanent.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1374
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1375 @code{kill-all-local-variables} returns @code{nil}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1376 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1377
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1378 @defvar change-major-mode-hook
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1379 The function @code{kill-all-local-variables} runs this normal hook
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1380 before it does anything else. This gives major modes a way to arrange
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1381 for something special to be done if the user switches to a different
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1382 major mode. It is also useful for buffer-specific minor modes
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1383 that should be forgotten if the user changes the major mode.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1384
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1385 For best results, make this variable buffer-local, so that it will
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1386 disappear after doing its job and will not interfere with the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1387 subsequent major mode. @xref{Hooks}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1388 @end defvar
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1389
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1390 @c Emacs 19 feature
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1391 @cindex permanent local variable
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1392 A buffer-local variable is @dfn{permanent} if the variable name (a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1393 symbol) has a @code{permanent-local} property that is non-@code{nil}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1394 Permanent locals are appropriate for data pertaining to where the file
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1395 came from or how to save it, rather than with how to edit the contents.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1396
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1397 @node Default Value
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1398 @subsection The Default Value of a Buffer-Local Variable
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1399 @cindex default value
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1400
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1401 The global value of a variable with buffer-local bindings is also
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1402 called the @dfn{default} value, because it is the value that is in
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1403 effect whenever neither the current buffer nor the selected frame has
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1404 its own binding for the variable.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1405
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1406 The functions @code{default-value} and @code{setq-default} access and
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1407 change a variable's default value regardless of whether the current
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1408 buffer has a buffer-local binding. For example, you could use
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1409 @code{setq-default} to change the default setting of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1410 @code{paragraph-start} for most buffers; and this would work even when
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1411 you are in a C or Lisp mode buffer that has a buffer-local value for
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1412 this variable.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1413
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1414 @c Emacs 19 feature
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1415 The special forms @code{defvar} and @code{defconst} also set the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1416 default value (if they set the variable at all), rather than any
85688
b210bba3f477 Merge from emacs--rel--22
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 84116
diff changeset
1417 buffer-local value.
84109
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1418
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1419 @defun default-value symbol
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1420 This function returns @var{symbol}'s default value. This is the value
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1421 that is seen in buffers and frames that do not have their own values for
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1422 this variable. If @var{symbol} is not buffer-local, this is equivalent
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1423 to @code{symbol-value} (@pxref{Accessing Variables}).
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1424 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1425
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1426 @c Emacs 19 feature
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1427 @defun default-boundp symbol
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1428 The function @code{default-boundp} tells you whether @var{symbol}'s
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1429 default value is nonvoid. If @code{(default-boundp 'foo)} returns
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1430 @code{nil}, then @code{(default-value 'foo)} would get an error.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1431
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1432 @code{default-boundp} is to @code{default-value} as @code{boundp} is to
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1433 @code{symbol-value}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1434 @end defun
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1435
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1436 @defspec setq-default [symbol form]@dots{}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1437 This special form gives each @var{symbol} a new default value, which is
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1438 the result of evaluating the corresponding @var{form}. It does not
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1439 evaluate @var{symbol}, but does evaluate @var{form}. The value of the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1440 @code{setq-default} form is the value of the last @var{form}.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1441
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1442 If a @var{symbol} is not buffer-local for the current buffer, and is not
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1443 marked automatically buffer-local, @code{setq-default} has the same
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1444 effect as @code{setq}. If @var{symbol} is buffer-local for the current
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1445 buffer, then this changes the value that other buffers will see (as long
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1446 as they don't have a buffer-local value), but not the value that the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1447 current buffer sees.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1448
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1449 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1450 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1451 ;; @r{In buffer @samp{foo}:}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1452 (make-local-variable 'buffer-local)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1453 @result{} buffer-local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1454 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1455 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1456 (setq buffer-local 'value-in-foo)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1457 @result{} value-in-foo
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1458 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1459 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1460 (setq-default buffer-local 'new-default)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1461 @result{} new-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1462 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1463 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1464 buffer-local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1465 @result{} value-in-foo
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1466 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1467 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1468 (default-value 'buffer-local)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1469 @result{} new-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1470 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1471
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1472 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1473 ;; @r{In (the new) buffer @samp{bar}:}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1474 buffer-local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1475 @result{} new-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1476 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1477 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1478 (default-value 'buffer-local)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1479 @result{} new-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1480 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1481 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1482 (setq buffer-local 'another-default)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1483 @result{} another-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1484 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1485 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1486 (default-value 'buffer-local)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1487 @result{} another-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1488 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1489
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1490 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1491 ;; @r{Back in buffer @samp{foo}:}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1492 buffer-local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1493 @result{} value-in-foo
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1494 (default-value 'buffer-local)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1495 @result{} another-default
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1496 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1497 @end example
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1498 @end defspec
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1499
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1500 @defun set-default symbol value
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1501 This function is like @code{setq-default}, except that @var{symbol} is
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1502 an ordinary evaluated argument.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1503
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1504 @example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1505 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1506 (set-default (car '(a b c)) 23)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1507 @result{} 23
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1508 @end group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1509 @group
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1510 (default-value 'a)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1511 @result{} 23
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1512 @end group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1513 @end example
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1514 @end defun
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1515
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1516 @node Future Local Variables
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1517 @section Possible Future Local Variables
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1518
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1519 We have considered the idea of bindings that are local to a category
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1520 of frames---for example, all color frames, or all frames with dark
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1521 backgrounds. We have not implemented them because it is not clear that
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1522 this feature is really useful. You can get more or less the same
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1523 results by adding a function to @code{after-make-frame-functions}, set up to
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1524 define a particular frame parameter according to the appropriate
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1525 conditions for each frame.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1526
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1527 It would also be possible to implement window-local bindings. We
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1528 don't know of many situations where they would be useful, and it seems
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1529 that indirect buffers (@pxref{Indirect Buffers}) with buffer-local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1530 bindings offer a way to handle these situations more robustly.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1531
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1532 If sufficient application is found for either of these two kinds of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1533 local bindings, we will provide it in a subsequent Emacs version.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1534
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1535 @node File Local Variables
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1536 @section File Local Variables
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1537 @cindex file local variables
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1538
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1539 A file can specify local variable values; Emacs uses these to create
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1540 buffer-local bindings for those variables in the buffer visiting that
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1541 file. @xref{File variables, , Local Variables in Files, emacs, The
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1542 GNU Emacs Manual}, for basic information about file local variables.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1543 This section describes the functions and variables that affect
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1544 processing of file local variables.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1545
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1546 @defopt enable-local-variables
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1547 This variable controls whether to process file local variables.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1548 The possible values are:
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1549
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1550 @table @asis
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1551 @item @code{t} (the default)
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1552 Set the safe variables, and query (once) about any unsafe variables.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1553 @item @code{:safe}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1554 Set only the safe variables and do not query.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1555 @item @code{:all}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1556 Set all the variables and do not query.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1557 @item @code{nil}
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1558 Don't set any variables.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1559 @item anything else
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1560 Query (once) about all the variables.
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1561 @end table
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1562 @end defopt
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1563
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1564 @defun hack-local-variables &optional mode-only
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1565 This function parses, and binds or evaluates as appropriate, any local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1566 variables specified by the contents of the current buffer. The variable
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1567 @code{enable-local-variables} has its effect here. However, this
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1568 function does not look for the @samp{mode:} local variable in the
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1569 @w{@samp{-*-}} line. @code{set-auto-mode} does that, also taking
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1570 @code{enable-local-variables} into account (@pxref{Auto Major Mode}).
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1571
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1572 If the optional argument @var{mode-only} is non-@code{nil}, then all
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1573 this function does is return @code{t} if the @w{@samp{-*-}} line or
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1574 the local variables list specifies a mode and @code{nil} otherwise.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1575 It does not set the mode nor any other file local variable.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1576 @end defun
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1577
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1578 If a file local variable could specify a function that would
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1579 be called later, or an expression that would be executed later, simply
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1580 visiting a file could take over your Emacs. Emacs takes several
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1581 measures to prevent this.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1582
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1583 @cindex safe local variable
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1584 You can specify safe values for a variable with a
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1585 @code{safe-local-variable} property. The property has to be
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1586 a function of one argument; any value is safe if the function
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1587 returns non-@code{nil} given that value. Many commonly encountered
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1588 file variables standardly have @code{safe-local-variable} properties,
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1589 including @code{fill-column}, @code{fill-prefix}, and
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1590 @code{indent-tabs-mode}. For boolean-valued variables that are safe,
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1591 use @code{booleanp} as the property value. Lambda expressions should
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1592 be quoted so that @code{describe-variable} can display the predicate.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1593
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1594 @defopt safe-local-variable-values
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1595 This variable provides another way to mark some variable values as
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1596 safe. It is a list of cons cells @code{(@var{var} . @var{val})},
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1597 where @var{var} is a variable name and @var{val} is a value which is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1598 safe for that variable.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1599
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1600 When Emacs asks the user whether or not to obey a set of file local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1601 variable specifications, the user can choose to mark them as safe.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1602 Doing so adds those variable/value pairs to
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1603 @code{safe-local-variable-values}, and saves it to the user's custom
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1604 file.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1605 @end defopt
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1606
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1607 @defun safe-local-variable-p sym val
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1608 This function returns non-@code{nil} if it is safe to give @var{sym}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1609 the value @var{val}, based on the above criteria.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1610 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1611
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1612 @c @cindex risky local variable Duplicates risky-local-variable
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1613 Some variables are considered @dfn{risky}. A variable whose name
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1614 ends in any of @samp{-command}, @samp{-frame-alist}, @samp{-function},
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1615 @samp{-functions}, @samp{-hook}, @samp{-hooks}, @samp{-form},
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1616 @samp{-forms}, @samp{-map}, @samp{-map-alist}, @samp{-mode-alist},
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1617 @samp{-program}, or @samp{-predicate} is considered risky. The
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1618 variables @samp{font-lock-keywords}, @samp{font-lock-keywords}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1619 followed by a digit, and @samp{font-lock-syntactic-keywords} are also
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1620 considered risky. Finally, any variable whose name has a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1621 non-@code{nil} @code{risky-local-variable} property is considered
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1622 risky.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1623
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1624 @defun risky-local-variable-p sym
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1625 This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{sym} is a risky variable,
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1626 based on the above criteria.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1627 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1628
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1629 If a variable is risky, it will not be entered automatically into
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1630 @code{safe-local-variable-values} as described above. Therefore,
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1631 Emacs will always query before setting a risky variable, unless the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1632 user explicitly allows the setting by customizing
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1633 @code{safe-local-variable-values} directly.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1634
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1635 @defvar ignored-local-variables
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1636 This variable holds a list of variables that should not be given local
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1637 values by files. Any value specified for one of these variables is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1638 completely ignored.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1639 @end defvar
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1640
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1641 The @samp{Eval:} ``variable'' is also a potential loophole, so Emacs
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1642 normally asks for confirmation before handling it.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1643
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1644 @defopt enable-local-eval
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1645 This variable controls processing of @samp{Eval:} in @samp{-*-} lines
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1646 or local variables
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1647 lists in files being visited. A value of @code{t} means process them
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1648 unconditionally; @code{nil} means ignore them; anything else means ask
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1649 the user what to do for each file. The default value is @code{maybe}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1650 @end defopt
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1651
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1652 @defopt safe-local-eval-forms
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1653 This variable holds a list of expressions that are safe to
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1654 evaluate when found in the @samp{Eval:} ``variable'' in a file
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1655 local variables list.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1656 @end defopt
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1657
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1658 If the expression is a function call and the function has a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1659 @code{safe-local-eval-function} property, the property value
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1660 determines whether the expression is safe to evaluate. The property
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1661 value can be a predicate to call to test the expression, a list of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1662 such predicates (it's safe if any predicate succeeds), or @code{t}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1663 (always safe provided the arguments are constant).
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1664
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1665 Text properties are also potential loopholes, since their values
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1666 could include functions to call. So Emacs discards all text
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1667 properties from string values specified for file local variables.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1668
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1669 @node Variable Aliases
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1670 @section Variable Aliases
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1671 @cindex variable aliases
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1672
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1673 It is sometimes useful to make two variables synonyms, so that both
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1674 variables always have the same value, and changing either one also
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1675 changes the other. Whenever you change the name of a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1676 variable---either because you realize its old name was not well
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1677 chosen, or because its meaning has partly changed---it can be useful
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1678 to keep the old name as an @emph{alias} of the new one for
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1679 compatibility. You can do this with @code{defvaralias}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1680
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1681 @defun defvaralias new-alias base-variable &optional docstring
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1682 This function defines the symbol @var{new-alias} as a variable alias
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1683 for symbol @var{base-variable}. This means that retrieving the value
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1684 of @var{new-alias} returns the value of @var{base-variable}, and
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1685 changing the value of @var{new-alias} changes the value of
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1686 @var{base-variable}. The two aliased variable names always share the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1687 same value and the same bindings.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1688
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1689 If the @var{docstring} argument is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1690 documentation for @var{new-alias}; otherwise, the alias gets the same
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1691 documentation as @var{base-variable} has, if any, unless
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1692 @var{base-variable} is itself an alias, in which case @var{new-alias} gets
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1693 the documentation of the variable at the end of the chain of aliases.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1694
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1695 This function returns @var{base-variable}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1696 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1697
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1698 Variable aliases are convenient for replacing an old name for a
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1699 variable with a new name. @code{make-obsolete-variable} declares that
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1700 the old name is obsolete and therefore that it may be removed at some
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1701 stage in the future.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1702
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1703 @defun make-obsolete-variable obsolete-name current-name &optional when
86434
1aadc9bdea81 (Variable Aliases): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 85688
diff changeset
1704 This function makes the byte compiler warn that the variable
84109
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1705 @var{obsolete-name} is obsolete. If @var{current-name} is a symbol, it is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1706 the variable's new name; then the warning message says to use
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1707 @var{current-name} instead of @var{obsolete-name}. If @var{current-name}
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1708 is a string, this is the message and there is no replacement variable.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1709
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1710 If provided, @var{when} should be a string indicating when the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1711 variable was first made obsolete---for example, a date or a release
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1712 number.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1713 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1714
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1715 You can make two variables synonyms and declare one obsolete at the
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1716 same time using the macro @code{define-obsolete-variable-alias}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1717
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1718 @defmac define-obsolete-variable-alias obsolete-name current-name &optional when docstring
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1719 This macro marks the variable @var{obsolete-name} as obsolete and also
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1720 makes it an alias for the variable @var{current-name}. It is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1721 equivalent to the following:
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1722
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1723 @example
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1724 (defvaralias @var{obsolete-name} @var{current-name} @var{docstring})
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1725 (make-obsolete-variable @var{obsolete-name} @var{current-name} @var{when})
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1726 @end example
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1727 @end defmac
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1728
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1729 @defun indirect-variable variable
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1730 This function returns the variable at the end of the chain of aliases
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1731 of @var{variable}. If @var{variable} is not a symbol, or if @var{variable} is
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1732 not defined as an alias, the function returns @var{variable}.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1733
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1734 This function signals a @code{cyclic-variable-indirection} error if
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1735 there is a loop in the chain of symbols.
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1736 @end defun
d5d157f50e33 Move here from ../../lispref
Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
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1737
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1738 @example
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1739 (defvaralias 'foo 'bar)
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1740 (indirect-variable 'foo)
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1741 @result{} bar
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1742 (indirect-variable 'bar)
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1743 @result{} bar
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1744 (setq bar 2)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
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1745 bar
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1746 @result{} 2
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
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1747 @group
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
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1748 foo
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parents:
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1749 @result{} 2
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1750 @end group
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1751 (setq foo 0)
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
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1752 bar
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1753 @result{} 0
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1754 foo
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1755 @result{} 0
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
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1756 @end example
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1757
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1758 @node Variables with Restricted Values
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1759 @section Variables with Restricted Values
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1760
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1761 Ordinary Lisp variables can be assigned any value that is a valid
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1762 Lisp object. However, certain Lisp variables are not defined in Lisp,
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1763 but in C. Most of these variables are defined in the C code using
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1764 @code{DEFVAR_LISP}. Like variables defined in Lisp, these can take on
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1765 any value. However, some variables are defined using
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1766 @code{DEFVAR_INT} or @code{DEFVAR_BOOL}. @xref{Defining Lisp
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1767 variables in C,, Writing Emacs Primitives}, in particular the
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1768 description of functions of the type @code{syms_of_@var{filename}},
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1769 for a brief discussion of the C implementation.
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parents:
diff changeset
1770
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1771 Variables of type @code{DEFVAR_BOOL} can only take on the values
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1772 @code{nil} or @code{t}. Attempting to assign them any other value
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parents:
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1773 will set them to @code{t}:
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
parents:
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1774
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parents:
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1775 @example
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1776 (let ((display-hourglass 5))
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1777 display-hourglass)
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parents:
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1778 @result{} t
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1779 @end example
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1780
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1781 @defvar byte-boolean-vars
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1782 This variable holds a list of all variables of type @code{DEFVAR_BOOL}.
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1783 @end defvar
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1784
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1785 Variables of type @code{DEFVAR_INT} can only take on integer values.
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1786 Attempting to assign them any other value will result in an error:
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parents:
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1787
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parents:
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1788 @example
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1789 (setq window-min-height 5.0)
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1790 @error{} Wrong type argument: integerp, 5.0
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1791 @end example
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1792
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1793 @ignore
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1794 arch-tag: 5ff62c44-2b51-47bb-99d4-fea5aeec5d3e
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1795 @end ignore