Mercurial > emacs
annotate lispref/help.texi @ 10781:e47bb69af803
Recognize lynx* as lynxos.
author | Doug Evans <dje@gnu.org> |
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date | Sat, 18 Feb 1995 17:18:21 +0000 |
parents | ae9c4159e36a |
children | a6eb5f12b0f3 |
rev | line source |
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6381 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
4 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. | |
5 @setfilename ../info/help | |
6 @node Documentation, Files, Modes, Top | |
7 @chapter Documentation | |
8 @cindex documentation strings | |
9 | |
10 GNU Emacs Lisp has convenient on-line help facilities, most of which | |
11 derive their information from the documentation strings associated with | |
12 functions and variables. This chapter describes how to write good | |
13 documentation strings for your Lisp programs, as well as how to write | |
14 programs to access documentation. | |
15 | |
16 Note that the documentation strings for Emacs are not the same thing | |
17 as the Emacs manual. Manuals have their own source files, written in | |
18 the Texinfo language; documentation strings are specified in the | |
19 definitions of the functions and variables they apply to. A collection | |
20 of documentation strings is not sufficient as a manual because a good | |
21 manual is not organized in that fashion; it is organized in terms of | |
22 topics of discussion. | |
23 | |
24 @menu | |
25 * Documentation Basics:: Good style for doc strings. | |
26 Where to put them. How Emacs stores them. | |
27 * Accessing Documentation:: How Lisp programs can access doc strings. | |
28 * Keys in Documentation:: Substituting current key bindings. | |
29 * Describing Characters:: Making printable descriptions of | |
30 non-printing characters and key sequences. | |
31 * Help Functions:: Subroutines used by Emacs help facilities. | |
32 @end menu | |
33 | |
34 @node Documentation Basics | |
35 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
36 @section Documentation Basics | |
37 @cindex documentation conventions | |
38 @cindex writing a documentation string | |
39 @cindex string, writing a doc string | |
40 | |
41 A documentation string is written using the Lisp syntax for strings, | |
42 with double-quote characters surrounding the text of the string. This | |
43 is because it really is a Lisp string object. The string serves as | |
44 documentation when it is written in the proper place in the definition | |
45 of a function or variable. In a function definition, the documentation | |
46 string follows the argument list. In a variable definition, the | |
47 documentation string follows the initial value of the variable. | |
48 | |
49 When you write a documentation string, make the first line a complete | |
50 sentence (or two complete sentences) since some commands, such as | |
51 @code{apropos}, show only the first line of a multi-line documentation | |
52 string. Also, you should not indent the second line of a documentation | |
53 string, if you have one, because that looks odd when you use @kbd{C-h f} | |
54 (@code{describe-function}) or @kbd{C-h v} (@code{describe-variable}). | |
55 @xref{Documentation Tips}. | |
56 | |
57 Documentation strings may contain several special substrings, which | |
58 stand for key bindings to be looked up in the current keymaps when the | |
59 documentation is displayed. This allows documentation strings to refer | |
60 to the keys for related commands and be accurate even when a user | |
61 rearranges the key bindings. (@xref{Accessing Documentation}.) | |
62 | |
63 Within the Lisp world, a documentation string is kept with the | |
64 function or variable that it describes: | |
65 | |
66 @itemize @bullet | |
67 @item | |
68 The documentation for a function is stored in the function definition | |
69 itself (@pxref{Lambda Expressions}). The function | |
70 @code{documentation} knows how to extract it. | |
71 | |
72 @item | |
73 @kindex variable-documentation | |
74 The documentation for a variable is stored in the variable's property | |
75 list under the property name @code{variable-documentation}. The | |
76 function @code{documentation-property} knows how to extract it. | |
77 @end itemize | |
78 | |
79 @cindex @file{DOC} (documentation) file | |
80 @cindex @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} | |
81 @cindex @file{etc/DOC-@var{version}} | |
82 To save space, the documentation for preloaded functions and variables | |
7254 | 83 (including primitive functions and autoloaded functions) is stored in |
6381 | 84 the file @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}}. The data structure inside |
85 Emacs has an integer offset into the file, where the documentation | |
7254 | 86 string ought to be. The functions @code{documentation} and |
6381 | 87 @code{documentation-property} read the documentation from the file |
88 @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} when they notice the integer there; | |
89 this is transparent to the user. Keeping the documentation strings out | |
90 of the Emacs core image saves a significant amount of space. | |
91 @xref{Building Emacs}. | |
92 | |
93 For information on the uses of documentation strings, see @ref{Help, , | |
94 Help, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
95 | |
96 @c Wordy to prevent overfull hbox. --rjc 15mar92 | |
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97 The @file{emacs/lib-src} directory contains two utilities that you can |
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98 use to print nice-looking hardcopy for the file |
6381 | 99 @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}}. These are @file{sorted-doc.c} and |
100 @file{digest-doc.c}. | |
101 | |
102 @node Accessing Documentation | |
103 @section Access to Documentation Strings | |
104 | |
105 @defun documentation-property symbol property &optional verbatim | |
106 This function returns the documentation string that is recorded | |
107 @var{symbol}'s property list under property @var{property}. It | |
108 retrieves the text from the file @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} if | |
109 necessary, and runs @code{substitute-command-keys} to substitute actual | |
110 key bindings. (This substitution is not done if @var{verbatim} is | |
111 non-@code{nil}; the @var{verbatim} argument exists only as of Emacs 19.) | |
112 | |
113 @smallexample | |
114 @group | |
115 (documentation-property 'command-line-processed | |
116 'variable-documentation) | |
117 @result{} "t once command line has been processed" | |
118 @end group | |
119 @group | |
120 (symbol-plist 'command-line-processed) | |
121 @result{} (variable-documentation 188902) | |
122 @end group | |
123 @end smallexample | |
124 @end defun | |
125 | |
126 @defun documentation function &optional verbatim | |
127 This function returns the documentation string of @var{function}. | |
128 This function will access the documentation string if it is stored in | |
129 the @file{emacs/etc/DOC-@var{version}} file. | |
130 | |
131 In addition, @code{documentation} runs @code{substitute-command-keys} | |
132 on the resulting string, so the value contains the actual (current) key | |
133 bindings. (This is not done if @var{verbatim} is non-@code{nil}; the | |
134 @var{verbatim} argument exists only as of Emacs 19.) | |
135 | |
136 The function @code{documentation} signals a @code{void-function} error | |
7254 | 137 if @var{function} has no function definition. However, it is ok if |
6381 | 138 the function definition has no documentation string. In that case, |
139 @code{documentation} returns @code{nil}. | |
140 @end defun | |
141 | |
142 @c Wordy to prevent overfull hboxes. --rjc 15mar92 | |
7254 | 143 Here is an example of using the two functions, @code{documentation} and |
6381 | 144 @code{documentation-property}, to display the documentation strings for |
145 several symbols in a @samp{*Help*} buffer. | |
146 | |
147 @smallexample | |
148 @group | |
149 (defun describe-symbols (pattern) | |
150 "Describe the Emacs Lisp symbols matching PATTERN. | |
151 All symbols that have PATTERN in their name are described | |
152 in the `*Help*' buffer." | |
153 (interactive "sDescribe symbols matching: ") | |
154 (let ((describe-func | |
155 (function | |
156 (lambda (s) | |
157 @end group | |
158 @group | |
159 ;; @r{Print description of symbol.} | |
160 (if (fboundp s) ; @r{It is a function.} | |
161 (princ | |
162 (format "%s\t%s\n%s\n\n" s | |
163 (if (commandp s) | |
164 (let ((keys (where-is-internal s))) | |
165 (if keys | |
166 (concat | |
167 "Keys: " | |
168 (mapconcat 'key-description | |
169 keys " ")) | |
170 "Keys: none")) | |
171 "Function") | |
172 @end group | |
173 @group | |
174 (or (documentation s) | |
175 "not documented")))) | |
176 | |
177 (if (boundp s) ; @r{It is a variable.} | |
178 @end group | |
179 @group | |
180 (princ | |
181 (format "%s\t%s\n%s\n\n" s | |
182 (if (user-variable-p s) | |
183 "Option " "Variable") | |
184 @end group | |
185 @group | |
186 (or (documentation-property | |
187 s 'variable-documentation) | |
188 "not documented"))))))) | |
189 sym-list) | |
190 @end group | |
191 | |
192 @group | |
193 ;; @r{Build a list of symbols that match pattern.} | |
194 (mapatoms (function | |
195 (lambda (sym) | |
196 (if (string-match pattern (symbol-name sym)) | |
197 (setq sym-list (cons sym sym-list)))))) | |
198 @end group | |
199 | |
200 @group | |
201 ;; @r{Display the data.} | |
202 (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*" | |
203 (mapcar describe-func (sort sym-list 'string<)) | |
204 (print-help-return-message)))) | |
205 @end group | |
206 @end smallexample | |
207 | |
208 The @code{describe-symbols} function works like @code{apropos}, | |
209 but provides more information. | |
210 | |
211 @smallexample | |
212 @group | |
213 (describe-symbols "goal") | |
214 | |
215 ---------- Buffer: *Help* ---------- | |
216 goal-column Option | |
217 *Semipermanent goal column for vertical motion, as set by C-x C-n, or nil. | |
218 @end group | |
219 @c Do not blithely break or fill these lines. | |
220 @c That makes them incorrect. | |
221 | |
222 @group | |
223 set-goal-column Command: C-x C-n | |
224 Set the current horizontal position as a goal for C-n and C-p. | |
225 @end group | |
226 @c DO NOT put a blank line here! That is factually inaccurate! | |
227 @group | |
228 Those commands will move to this position in the line moved to | |
229 rather than trying to keep the same horizontal position. | |
230 With a non-nil argument, clears out the goal column | |
231 so that C-n and C-p resume vertical motion. | |
232 The goal column is stored in the variable `goal-column'. | |
233 @end group | |
234 | |
235 @group | |
236 temporary-goal-column Variable | |
237 Current goal column for vertical motion. | |
238 It is the column where point was | |
239 at the start of current run of vertical motion commands. | |
240 When the `track-eol' feature is doing its job, the value is 9999. | |
241 ---------- Buffer: *Help* ---------- | |
242 @end group | |
243 @end smallexample | |
244 | |
245 @defun Snarf-documentation filename | |
246 This function is used only during Emacs initialization, just before | |
247 the runnable Emacs is dumped. It finds the file offsets of the | |
248 documentation strings stored in the file @var{filename}, and records | |
249 them in the in-core function definitions and variable property lists in | |
250 place of the actual strings. @xref{Building Emacs}. | |
251 | |
252 Emacs finds the file @var{filename} in the @file{emacs/etc} directory. | |
253 When the dumped Emacs is later executed, the same file is found in the | |
254 directory @code{doc-directory}. Usually @var{filename} is | |
255 @code{"DOC-@var{version}"}. | |
256 @end defun | |
257 | |
258 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
259 @defvar doc-directory | |
260 This variable holds the name of the directory which should contion the | |
261 file @code{"DOC-@var{version}"} that contains documentation strings for | |
262 built-in and preloaded functions and variables. | |
263 | |
264 In most cases, this is the same as @code{data-directory}. They may be | |
265 different when you run Emacs from the directory where you built it, | |
266 without actually installing it. See @code{data-directory} in @ref{Help | |
267 Functions}. | |
268 | |
269 In older Emacs versions, @code{exec-directory} was used for this. | |
270 @end defvar | |
271 | |
272 @node Keys in Documentation | |
273 @section Substituting Key Bindings in Documentation | |
274 @cindex documentation, keys in | |
275 @cindex keys in documentation strings | |
276 @cindex substituting keys in documentation | |
277 | |
7254 | 278 When documentation strings refer to key sequences, they should use the |
279 current, actual key bindings. They can do so using certain special text | |
280 sequences described below. Accessing documentation strings in the usual | |
281 way substitutes current key binding information for these special | |
282 sequences. This works by calling @code{substitute-command-keys}. You | |
283 can also call that function yourself. | |
6381 | 284 |
285 Here is a list of the special sequences and what they mean: | |
286 | |
287 @table @code | |
288 @item \[@var{command}] | |
289 stands for a key sequence that will invoke @var{command}, or @samp{M-x | |
290 @var{command}} if @var{command} has no key bindings. | |
291 | |
292 @item \@{@var{mapvar}@} | |
293 stands for a summary of the value of @var{mapvar}, which should be a | |
294 keymap. The summary is made by @code{describe-bindings}. | |
295 | |
296 @item \<@var{mapvar}> | |
297 stands for no text itself. It is used for a side effect: it specifies | |
298 @var{mapvar} as the keymap for any following @samp{\[@var{command}]} | |
299 sequences in this documentation string. | |
300 @end table | |
301 | |
7254 | 302 @strong{Please note:} Each @samp{\} must be doubled when written in a |
6381 | 303 string in Emacs Lisp. |
304 | |
305 @defun substitute-command-keys string | |
306 This function scans @var{string} for the above special sequences and | |
307 replaces them by what they stand for, returning the result as a string. | |
308 This permits display of documentation that refers accurately to the | |
7254 | 309 user's own customized key bindings. |
6381 | 310 @end defun |
311 | |
312 Here are examples of the special sequences: | |
313 | |
314 @smallexample | |
315 @group | |
316 (substitute-command-keys | |
317 "To abort recursive edit, type: \\[abort-recursive-edit]") | |
318 @result{} "To abort recursive edit, type: C-]" | |
319 @end group | |
320 | |
321 @group | |
322 (substitute-command-keys | |
323 "The keys that are defined for the minibuffer here are: | |
324 \\@{minibuffer-local-must-match-map@}") | |
325 @result{} "The keys that are defined for the minibuffer here are: | |
326 @end group | |
327 | |
328 ? minibuffer-completion-help | |
329 SPC minibuffer-complete-word | |
330 TAB minibuffer-complete | |
331 LFD minibuffer-complete-and-exit | |
332 RET minibuffer-complete-and-exit | |
333 C-g abort-recursive-edit | |
334 " | |
335 | |
336 @group | |
337 (substitute-command-keys | |
338 "To abort a recursive edit from the minibuffer, type\ | |
339 \\<minibuffer-local-must-match-map>\\[abort-recursive-edit].") | |
340 @result{} "To abort a recursive edit from the minibuffer, type C-g." | |
341 @end group | |
342 @end smallexample | |
343 | |
344 @node Describing Characters | |
345 @section Describing Characters for Help Messages | |
346 | |
347 These functions convert events, key sequences or characters to textual | |
348 descriptions. These descriptions are useful for including arbitrary | |
349 text characters or key sequences in messages, because they convert | |
350 non-printing and whitespace characters to sequences of printing | |
351 characters. The description of a non-whitespace printing character is | |
352 the character itself. | |
353 | |
354 @defun key-description sequence | |
355 @cindex Emacs event standard notation | |
356 This function returns a string containing the Emacs standard notation | |
357 for the input events in @var{sequence}. The argument @var{sequence} may | |
358 be a string, vector or list. @xref{Input Events}, for more information | |
359 about valid events. See also the examples for | |
360 @code{single-key-description}, below. | |
361 @end defun | |
362 | |
363 @defun single-key-description event | |
364 @cindex event printing | |
365 @cindex character printing | |
366 @cindex control character printing | |
367 @cindex meta character printing | |
368 This function returns a string describing @var{event} in the standard | |
369 Emacs notation for keyboard input. A normal printing character appears | |
370 as itself, but a control character turns into a string starting with | |
371 @samp{C-}, a meta character turns into a string starting with @samp{M-}, | |
372 and space, linefeed, etc.@: appear as @samp{SPC}, @samp{LFD}, etc. A | |
7254 | 373 function key symbol appears as itself. An event that is a list appears |
6381 | 374 as the name of the symbol in the @sc{car} of the list. |
375 | |
376 @smallexample | |
377 @group | |
378 (single-key-description ?\C-x) | |
379 @result{} "C-x" | |
380 @end group | |
381 @group | |
382 (key-description "\C-x \M-y \n \t \r \f123") | |
383 @result{} "C-x SPC M-y SPC LFD SPC TAB SPC RET SPC C-l 1 2 3" | |
384 @end group | |
385 @group | |
386 (single-key-description 'C-mouse-1) | |
387 @result{} "C-mouse-1" | |
388 @end group | |
389 @end smallexample | |
390 @end defun | |
391 | |
392 @defun text-char-description character | |
393 This function returns a string describing @var{character} in the | |
394 standard Emacs notation for characters that appear in text---like | |
395 @code{single-key-description}, except that control characters are | |
396 represented with a leading caret (which is how control characters in | |
397 Emacs buffers are usually displayed). | |
398 | |
399 @smallexample | |
400 @group | |
401 (text-char-description ?\C-c) | |
402 @result{} "^C" | |
403 @end group | |
404 @group | |
405 (text-char-description ?\M-m) | |
406 @result{} "M-m" | |
407 @end group | |
408 @group | |
409 (text-char-description ?\C-\M-m) | |
410 @result{} "M-^M" | |
411 @end group | |
412 @end smallexample | |
413 @end defun | |
414 | |
415 @node Help Functions | |
416 @section Help Functions | |
417 | |
418 Emacs provides a variety of on-line help functions, all accessible to | |
419 the user as subcommands of the prefix @kbd{C-h}. For more information | |
420 about them, see @ref{Help, , Help, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. Here | |
421 we describe some program-level interfaces to the same information. | |
422 | |
423 @deffn Command apropos regexp &optional do-all predicate | |
7254 | 424 This function finds all symbols whose names contain a match for the |
425 regular expression @var{regexp}, and returns a list of them | |
426 (@pxref{Regular Expressions}). It also displays the symbols in a buffer | |
427 named @samp{*Help*}, each with a one-line description. | |
6381 | 428 |
429 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
7254 | 430 If @var{do-all} is non-@code{nil}, then @code{apropos} also shows |
6381 | 431 key bindings for the functions that are found. |
432 | |
7254 | 433 If @var{predicate} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a function to be |
6381 | 434 called on each symbol that has matched @var{regexp}. Only symbols for |
435 which @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value are listed or | |
436 displayed. | |
437 | |
7254 | 438 In the first of the following examples, @code{apropos} finds all the |
6381 | 439 symbols with names containing @samp{exec}. In the second example, it |
440 finds and returns only those symbols that are also commands. | |
441 (We don't show the output that results in the @samp{*Help*} buffer.) | |
442 | |
443 @smallexample | |
444 @group | |
445 (apropos "exec") | |
446 @result{} (Buffer-menu-execute command-execute exec-directory | |
447 exec-path execute-extended-command execute-kbd-macro | |
448 executing-kbd-macro executing-macro) | |
449 @end group | |
450 | |
451 @group | |
452 (apropos "exec" nil 'commandp) | |
453 @result{} (Buffer-menu-execute execute-extended-command) | |
454 @end group | |
455 @ignore | |
456 @group | |
457 ---------- Buffer: *Help* ---------- | |
458 Buffer-menu-execute | |
459 Function: Save and/or delete buffers marked with | |
460 M-x Buffer-menu-save or M-x Buffer-menu-delete commands. | |
461 execute-extended-command ESC x | |
462 Function: Read function name, then read its | |
463 arguments and call it. | |
464 ---------- Buffer: *Help* ---------- | |
465 @end group | |
466 @end ignore | |
467 @end smallexample | |
468 | |
7254 | 469 The command @kbd{C-h a} (@code{command-apropos}) calls @code{apropos}, |
6381 | 470 but specifies a @var{predicate} to restrict the output to symbols that |
471 are commands. The call to @code{apropos} looks like this: | |
472 | |
473 @smallexample | |
474 (apropos string t 'commandp) | |
475 @end smallexample | |
476 @end deffn | |
477 | |
478 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
479 @deffn Command super-apropos regexp &optional do-all | |
480 This function differs from @code{apropos} in that it searches | |
481 documentation strings as well as symbol names for matches for | |
7254 | 482 @var{regexp}. By default, it searches the documentation strings only |
483 for preloaded functions and variables. If @var{do-all} is | |
484 non-@code{nil}, it scans the names and documentation strings of all | |
485 functions and variables. | |
6381 | 486 @end deffn |
487 | |
488 @defvar help-map | |
489 The value of this variable is a local keymap for characters following the | |
490 Help key, @kbd{C-h}. | |
491 @end defvar | |
492 | |
493 @deffn {Prefix Command} help-command | |
494 This symbol is not a function; its function definition is actually the | |
495 keymap known as @code{help-map}. It is defined in @file{help.el} as | |
496 follows: | |
497 | |
498 @smallexample | |
499 @group | |
500 (define-key global-map "\C-h" 'help-command) | |
501 (fset 'help-command help-map) | |
502 @end group | |
503 @end smallexample | |
504 @end deffn | |
505 | |
506 @defun print-help-return-message &optional function | |
7254 | 507 This function builds a string that explains how to restore the previous |
508 state of the windows after a help command. After building the message, | |
509 it applies @var{function} to it if @var{function} is non-@code{nil}. | |
510 Otherwise it calls @code{message} to display it in the echo area. | |
6381 | 511 |
512 This function expects to be called inside a | |
513 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} special form, and expects | |
514 @code{standard-output} to have the value bound by that special form. | |
515 For an example of its use, see the long example in @ref{Accessing | |
516 Documentation}. | |
517 @end defun | |
518 | |
519 @defvar help-char | |
520 The value of this variable is the help character---the character that | |
521 Emacs recognizes as meaning Help. By default, it is 8, which is | |
522 @kbd{C-h}. When Emacs reads this character, if @code{help-form} is | |
523 non-@code{nil} Lisp expression, it evaluates that expression, and | |
524 displays the result in a window if it is a string. | |
525 | |
526 Usually the value of @code{help-form}'s value is @code{nil}. Then the | |
527 help character has no special meaning at the level of command input, and | |
528 it becomes part of a key sequence in the normal way. The standard key | |
529 binding of @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key for several general-purpose help | |
530 features. | |
531 | |
532 The help character is special after prefix keys, too. If it has no | |
533 binding as a subcommand of the prefix key, it runs | |
534 @code{describe-prefix-bindings}, which displays a list of all the | |
535 subcommands of the prefix key. | |
536 @end defvar | |
537 | |
538 @defvar help-form | |
539 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, its value is a form to evaluate | |
540 whenever the character @code{help-char} is read. If evaluating the form | |
541 produces a string, that string is displayed. | |
542 | |
543 A command that calls @code{read-event} or @code{read-char} probably | |
544 should bind @code{help-form} to a non-@code{nil} expression while it | |
545 does input. (The exception is when @kbd{C-h} is meaningful input.) | |
546 Evaluating this expression should result in a string that explains what | |
547 the input is for and how to enter it properly. | |
548 | |
549 Entry to the minibuffer binds this variable to the value of | |
550 @code{minibuffer-help-form} (@pxref{Minibuffer Misc}). | |
551 @end defvar | |
552 | |
553 @defvar prefix-help-command | |
554 This variable holds a function to print help for a prefix character. | |
555 The function is called when the user types a prefix key followed by the | |
556 help character, and the help character has no binding after that prefix. | |
557 The variable's default value is @code{describe-prefix-bindings}. | |
558 @end defvar | |
559 | |
560 @defun describe-prefix-bindings | |
561 This function calls @code{describe-bindings} to display a list of all | |
562 the subcommands of the prefix key of the most recent key sequence. The | |
563 prefix described consists of all but the last event of that key | |
7254 | 564 sequence. (The last event is, presumably, the help character.) |
6381 | 565 @end defun |
566 | |
567 The following two functions are found in the library @file{helper}. | |
568 They are for modes that want to provide help without relinquishing | |
569 control, such as the ``electric'' modes. You must load that library | |
570 with @code{(require 'helper)} in order to use them. Their names begin | |
571 with @samp{Helper} to distinguish them from the ordinary help functions. | |
572 | |
573 @deffn Command Helper-describe-bindings | |
574 This command pops up a window displaying a help buffer containing a | |
575 listing of all of the key bindings from both the local and global keymaps. | |
576 It works by calling @code{describe-bindings}. | |
577 @end deffn | |
578 | |
579 @deffn Command Helper-help | |
580 This command provides help for the current mode. It prompts the user | |
581 in the minibuffer with the message @samp{Help (Type ? for further | |
582 options)}, and then provides assistance in finding out what the key | |
583 bindings are, and what the mode is intended for. It returns @code{nil}. | |
584 | |
585 This can be customized by changing the map @code{Helper-help-map}. | |
586 @end deffn | |
587 | |
588 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
589 @defvar data-directory | |
590 This variable holds the name of the directory in which Emacs finds | |
591 certain documentation and text files that come with Emacs. In older | |
592 Emacs versions, @code{exec-directory} was used for this. | |
593 @end defvar | |
594 | |
595 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
596 @defmac make-help-screen fname help-line help-text help-map | |
7254 | 597 This macro defines a help command named @var{fname} that acts like a |
598 prefix key that shows a list of the subcommands it offers. | |
6381 | 599 |
600 When invoked, @var{fname} displays @var{help-text} in a window, then | |
601 reads and executes a key sequence according to @var{help-map}. The | |
7254 | 602 string @var{help-text} should describe the bindings available in |
6381 | 603 @var{help-map}. |
604 | |
605 The command @var{fname} is defined to handle a few events itself, by | |
606 scrolling the display of @var{help-text}. When @var{fname} reads one of | |
607 those special events, it does the scrolling and then reads another | |
7254 | 608 event. When it reads an event that is not one of those few, and which |
6381 | 609 has a binding in @var{help-map}, it executes that key's binding and |
610 then returns. | |
611 | |
612 The argument @var{help-line} should be a single-line summary of the | |
613 alternatives in @var{help-map}. In the current version of Emacs, this | |
614 argument is used only if you set the option @code{three-step-help} to | |
615 @code{t}. | |
616 @end defmac | |
617 | |
618 @defopt three-step-help | |
619 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, commands defined with | |
620 @code{make-help-screen} display their @var{help-line} strings in the | |
621 echo area at first, and display the longer @var{help-text} strings only | |
622 if the user types the help character again. | |
623 @end defopt |