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annotate doc/lispref/syntax.texi @ 98978:f570df2cc52d
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author | Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> |
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date | Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:46:08 +0000 |
parents | 107ccd98fa12 |
children | cb5d2387102c |
rev | line source |
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84102 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, | |
87649 | 4 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
84102 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
84116
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Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org>
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6 @setfilename ../../info/syntax |
84102 | 7 @node Syntax Tables, Abbrevs, Searching and Matching, Top |
8 @chapter Syntax Tables | |
9 @cindex parsing buffer text | |
10 @cindex syntax table | |
11 @cindex text parsing | |
12 | |
13 A @dfn{syntax table} specifies the syntactic textual function of each | |
14 character. This information is used by the @dfn{parsing functions}, the | |
15 complex movement commands, and others to determine where words, symbols, | |
16 and other syntactic constructs begin and end. The current syntax table | |
17 controls the meaning of the word motion functions (@pxref{Word Motion}) | |
18 and the list motion functions (@pxref{List Motion}), as well as the | |
19 functions in this chapter. | |
20 | |
21 @menu | |
22 * Basics: Syntax Basics. Basic concepts of syntax tables. | |
23 * Desc: Syntax Descriptors. How characters are classified. | |
24 * Syntax Table Functions:: How to create, examine and alter syntax tables. | |
25 * Syntax Properties:: Overriding syntax with text properties. | |
26 * Motion and Syntax:: Moving over characters with certain syntaxes. | |
27 * Parsing Expressions:: Parsing balanced expressions | |
28 using the syntax table. | |
29 * Standard Syntax Tables:: Syntax tables used by various major modes. | |
30 * Syntax Table Internals:: How syntax table information is stored. | |
31 * Categories:: Another way of classifying character syntax. | |
32 @end menu | |
33 | |
34 @node Syntax Basics | |
35 @section Syntax Table Concepts | |
36 | |
37 @ifnottex | |
38 A @dfn{syntax table} provides Emacs with the information that | |
39 determines the syntactic use of each character in a buffer. This | |
40 information is used by the parsing commands, the complex movement | |
41 commands, and others to determine where words, symbols, and other | |
42 syntactic constructs begin and end. The current syntax table controls | |
43 the meaning of the word motion functions (@pxref{Word Motion}) and the | |
44 list motion functions (@pxref{List Motion}) as well as the functions in | |
45 this chapter. | |
46 @end ifnottex | |
47 | |
48 A syntax table is a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}). The element at | |
49 index @var{c} describes the character with code @var{c}. The element's | |
50 value should be a list that encodes the syntax of the character in | |
51 question. | |
52 | |
53 Syntax tables are used only for moving across text, not for the Emacs | |
54 Lisp reader. Emacs Lisp uses built-in syntactic rules when reading Lisp | |
55 expressions, and these rules cannot be changed. (Some Lisp systems | |
56 provide ways to redefine the read syntax, but we decided to leave this | |
57 feature out of Emacs Lisp for simplicity.) | |
58 | |
59 Each buffer has its own major mode, and each major mode has its own | |
60 idea of the syntactic class of various characters. For example, in Lisp | |
61 mode, the character @samp{;} begins a comment, but in C mode, it | |
62 terminates a statement. To support these variations, Emacs makes the | |
63 choice of syntax table local to each buffer. Typically, each major | |
64 mode has its own syntax table and installs that table in each buffer | |
65 that uses that mode. Changing this table alters the syntax in all | |
66 those buffers as well as in any buffers subsequently put in that mode. | |
67 Occasionally several similar modes share one syntax table. | |
68 @xref{Example Major Modes}, for an example of how to set up a syntax | |
69 table. | |
70 | |
71 A syntax table can inherit the data for some characters from the | |
72 standard syntax table, while specifying other characters itself. The | |
73 ``inherit'' syntax class means ``inherit this character's syntax from | |
74 the standard syntax table.'' Just changing the standard syntax for a | |
75 character affects all syntax tables that inherit from it. | |
76 | |
77 @defun syntax-table-p object | |
78 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a syntax table. | |
79 @end defun | |
80 | |
81 @node Syntax Descriptors | |
82 @section Syntax Descriptors | |
83 @cindex syntax class | |
84 | |
85 This section describes the syntax classes and flags that denote the | |
86 syntax of a character, and how they are represented as a @dfn{syntax | |
87 descriptor}, which is a Lisp string that you pass to | |
88 @code{modify-syntax-entry} to specify the syntax you want. | |
89 | |
90 The syntax table specifies a syntax class for each character. There | |
91 is no necessary relationship between the class of a character in one | |
92 syntax table and its class in any other table. | |
93 | |
94 Each class is designated by a mnemonic character, which serves as the | |
95 name of the class when you need to specify a class. Usually the | |
96 designator character is one that is often assigned that class; however, | |
97 its meaning as a designator is unvarying and independent of what syntax | |
98 that character currently has. Thus, @samp{\} as a designator character | |
99 always gives ``escape character'' syntax, regardless of what syntax | |
100 @samp{\} currently has. | |
101 | |
102 @cindex syntax descriptor | |
103 A syntax descriptor is a Lisp string that specifies a syntax class, a | |
104 matching character (used only for the parenthesis classes) and flags. | |
105 The first character is the designator for a syntax class. The second | |
106 character is the character to match; if it is unused, put a space there. | |
107 Then come the characters for any desired flags. If no matching | |
108 character or flags are needed, one character is sufficient. | |
109 | |
110 For example, the syntax descriptor for the character @samp{*} in C | |
111 mode is @samp{@w{. 23}} (i.e., punctuation, matching character slot | |
112 unused, second character of a comment-starter, first character of a | |
113 comment-ender), and the entry for @samp{/} is @samp{@w{. 14}} (i.e., | |
114 punctuation, matching character slot unused, first character of a | |
115 comment-starter, second character of a comment-ender). | |
116 | |
117 @menu | |
118 * Syntax Class Table:: Table of syntax classes. | |
119 * Syntax Flags:: Additional flags each character can have. | |
120 @end menu | |
121 | |
122 @node Syntax Class Table | |
123 @subsection Table of Syntax Classes | |
124 | |
125 Here is a table of syntax classes, the characters that stand for them, | |
126 their meanings, and examples of their use. | |
127 | |
128 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{whitespace character} | |
129 @dfn{Whitespace characters} (designated by @w{@samp{@ }} or @samp{-}) | |
130 separate symbols and words from each other. Typically, whitespace | |
131 characters have no other syntactic significance, and multiple whitespace | |
132 characters are syntactically equivalent to a single one. Space, tab, | |
133 newline and formfeed are classified as whitespace in almost all major | |
134 modes. | |
135 @end deffn | |
136 | |
137 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{word constituent} | |
138 @dfn{Word constituents} (designated by @samp{w}) are parts of words in | |
139 human languages, and are typically used in variable and command names | |
140 in programs. All upper- and lower-case letters, and the digits, are | |
141 typically word constituents. | |
142 @end deffn | |
143 | |
144 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{symbol constituent} | |
145 @dfn{Symbol constituents} (designated by @samp{_}) are the extra | |
146 characters that are used in variable and command names along with word | |
147 constituents. For example, the symbol constituents class is used in | |
148 Lisp mode to indicate that certain characters may be part of symbol | |
149 names even though they are not part of English words. These characters | |
150 are @samp{$&*+-_<>}. In standard C, the only non-word-constituent | |
151 character that is valid in symbols is underscore (@samp{_}). | |
152 @end deffn | |
153 | |
154 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{punctuation character} | |
155 @dfn{Punctuation characters} (designated by @samp{.}) are those | |
156 characters that are used as punctuation in English, or are used in some | |
157 way in a programming language to separate symbols from one another. | |
158 Some programming language modes, such as Emacs Lisp mode, have no | |
159 characters in this class since the few characters that are not symbol or | |
160 word constituents all have other uses. Other programming language modes, | |
161 such as C mode, use punctuation syntax for operators. | |
162 @end deffn | |
163 | |
164 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{open parenthesis character} | |
165 @deffnx {Syntax class} @w{close parenthesis character} | |
166 @cindex parenthesis syntax | |
167 Open and close @dfn{parenthesis characters} are characters used in | |
168 dissimilar pairs to surround sentences or expressions. Such a grouping | |
169 is begun with an open parenthesis character and terminated with a close. | |
170 Each open parenthesis character matches a particular close parenthesis | |
171 character, and vice versa. Normally, Emacs indicates momentarily the | |
172 matching open parenthesis when you insert a close parenthesis. | |
173 @xref{Blinking}. | |
174 | |
175 The class of open parentheses is designated by @samp{(}, and that of | |
176 close parentheses by @samp{)}. | |
177 | |
178 In English text, and in C code, the parenthesis pairs are @samp{()}, | |
179 @samp{[]}, and @samp{@{@}}. In Emacs Lisp, the delimiters for lists and | |
180 vectors (@samp{()} and @samp{[]}) are classified as parenthesis | |
181 characters. | |
182 @end deffn | |
183 | |
184 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{string quote} | |
185 @dfn{String quote characters} (designated by @samp{"}) are used in | |
186 many languages, including Lisp and C, to delimit string constants. The | |
187 same string quote character appears at the beginning and the end of a | |
188 string. Such quoted strings do not nest. | |
189 | |
190 The parsing facilities of Emacs consider a string as a single token. | |
191 The usual syntactic meanings of the characters in the string are | |
192 suppressed. | |
193 | |
194 The Lisp modes have two string quote characters: double-quote (@samp{"}) | |
195 and vertical bar (@samp{|}). @samp{|} is not used in Emacs Lisp, but it | |
196 is used in Common Lisp. C also has two string quote characters: | |
197 double-quote for strings, and single-quote (@samp{'}) for character | |
198 constants. | |
199 | |
200 English text has no string quote characters because English is not a | |
201 programming language. Although quotation marks are used in English, | |
202 we do not want them to turn off the usual syntactic properties of | |
203 other characters in the quotation. | |
204 @end deffn | |
205 | |
206 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{escape-syntax character} | |
207 An @dfn{escape character} (designated by @samp{\}) starts an escape | |
208 sequence such as is used in C string and character constants. The | |
209 character @samp{\} belongs to this class in both C and Lisp. (In C, it | |
210 is used thus only inside strings, but it turns out to cause no trouble | |
211 to treat it this way throughout C code.) | |
212 | |
213 Characters in this class count as part of words if | |
214 @code{words-include-escapes} is non-@code{nil}. @xref{Word Motion}. | |
215 @end deffn | |
216 | |
217 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{character quote} | |
218 A @dfn{character quote character} (designated by @samp{/}) quotes the | |
219 following character so that it loses its normal syntactic meaning. This | |
220 differs from an escape character in that only the character immediately | |
221 following is ever affected. | |
222 | |
223 Characters in this class count as part of words if | |
224 @code{words-include-escapes} is non-@code{nil}. @xref{Word Motion}. | |
225 | |
226 This class is used for backslash in @TeX{} mode. | |
227 @end deffn | |
228 | |
229 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{paired delimiter} | |
230 @dfn{Paired delimiter characters} (designated by @samp{$}) are like | |
231 string quote characters except that the syntactic properties of the | |
232 characters between the delimiters are not suppressed. Only @TeX{} mode | |
233 uses a paired delimiter presently---the @samp{$} that both enters and | |
234 leaves math mode. | |
235 @end deffn | |
236 | |
237 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{expression prefix} | |
238 An @dfn{expression prefix operator} (designated by @samp{'}) is used for | |
239 syntactic operators that are considered as part of an expression if they | |
240 appear next to one. In Lisp modes, these characters include the | |
241 apostrophe, @samp{'} (used for quoting), the comma, @samp{,} (used in | |
242 macros), and @samp{#} (used in the read syntax for certain data types). | |
243 @end deffn | |
244 | |
245 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{comment starter} | |
246 @deffnx {Syntax class} @w{comment ender} | |
247 @cindex comment syntax | |
248 The @dfn{comment starter} and @dfn{comment ender} characters are used in | |
249 various languages to delimit comments. These classes are designated | |
250 by @samp{<} and @samp{>}, respectively. | |
251 | |
252 English text has no comment characters. In Lisp, the semicolon | |
253 (@samp{;}) starts a comment and a newline or formfeed ends one. | |
254 @end deffn | |
255 | |
256 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{inherit standard syntax} | |
257 This syntax class does not specify a particular syntax. It says to look | |
258 in the standard syntax table to find the syntax of this character. The | |
259 designator for this syntax class is @samp{@@}. | |
260 @end deffn | |
261 | |
262 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{generic comment delimiter} | |
263 A @dfn{generic comment delimiter} (designated by @samp{!}) starts | |
264 or ends a special kind of comment. @emph{Any} generic comment delimiter | |
265 matches @emph{any} generic comment delimiter, but they cannot match | |
266 a comment starter or comment ender; generic comment delimiters can only | |
267 match each other. | |
268 | |
269 This syntax class is primarily meant for use with the | |
270 @code{syntax-table} text property (@pxref{Syntax Properties}). You can | |
271 mark any range of characters as forming a comment, by giving the first | |
272 and last characters of the range @code{syntax-table} properties | |
273 identifying them as generic comment delimiters. | |
274 @end deffn | |
275 | |
276 @deffn {Syntax class} @w{generic string delimiter} | |
277 A @dfn{generic string delimiter} (designated by @samp{|}) starts or ends | |
278 a string. This class differs from the string quote class in that @emph{any} | |
279 generic string delimiter can match any other generic string delimiter; but | |
280 they do not match ordinary string quote characters. | |
281 | |
282 This syntax class is primarily meant for use with the | |
283 @code{syntax-table} text property (@pxref{Syntax Properties}). You can | |
284 mark any range of characters as forming a string constant, by giving the | |
285 first and last characters of the range @code{syntax-table} properties | |
286 identifying them as generic string delimiters. | |
287 @end deffn | |
288 | |
289 @node Syntax Flags | |
290 @subsection Syntax Flags | |
291 @cindex syntax flags | |
292 | |
293 In addition to the classes, entries for characters in a syntax table | |
294 can specify flags. There are seven possible flags, represented by the | |
295 characters @samp{1}, @samp{2}, @samp{3}, @samp{4}, @samp{b}, @samp{n}, | |
296 and @samp{p}. | |
297 | |
298 All the flags except @samp{n} and @samp{p} are used to describe | |
299 multi-character comment delimiters. The digit flags indicate that a | |
300 character can @emph{also} be part of a comment sequence, in addition to | |
301 the syntactic properties associated with its character class. The flags | |
302 are independent of the class and each other for the sake of characters | |
303 such as @samp{*} in C mode, which is a punctuation character, @emph{and} | |
304 the second character of a start-of-comment sequence (@samp{/*}), | |
305 @emph{and} the first character of an end-of-comment sequence | |
306 (@samp{*/}). | |
307 | |
308 Here is a table of the possible flags for a character @var{c}, | |
309 and what they mean: | |
310 | |
311 @itemize @bullet | |
312 @item | |
313 @samp{1} means @var{c} is the start of a two-character comment-start | |
314 sequence. | |
315 | |
316 @item | |
317 @samp{2} means @var{c} is the second character of such a sequence. | |
318 | |
319 @item | |
320 @samp{3} means @var{c} is the start of a two-character comment-end | |
321 sequence. | |
322 | |
323 @item | |
324 @samp{4} means @var{c} is the second character of such a sequence. | |
325 | |
326 @item | |
327 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
328 @samp{b} means that @var{c} as a comment delimiter belongs to the | |
329 alternative ``b'' comment style. | |
330 | |
331 Emacs supports two comment styles simultaneously in any one syntax | |
332 table. This is for the sake of C++. Each style of comment syntax has | |
333 its own comment-start sequence and its own comment-end sequence. Each | |
334 comment must stick to one style or the other; thus, if it starts with | |
335 the comment-start sequence of style ``b,'' it must also end with the | |
336 comment-end sequence of style ``b.'' | |
337 | |
338 The two comment-start sequences must begin with the same character; only | |
339 the second character may differ. Mark the second character of the | |
340 ``b''-style comment-start sequence with the @samp{b} flag. | |
341 | |
342 A comment-end sequence (one or two characters) applies to the ``b'' | |
343 style if its first character has the @samp{b} flag set; otherwise, it | |
344 applies to the ``a'' style. | |
345 | |
346 The appropriate comment syntax settings for C++ are as follows: | |
347 | |
348 @table @asis | |
349 @item @samp{/} | |
350 @samp{124b} | |
351 @item @samp{*} | |
352 @samp{23} | |
353 @item newline | |
354 @samp{>b} | |
355 @end table | |
356 | |
357 This defines four comment-delimiting sequences: | |
358 | |
359 @table @asis | |
360 @item @samp{/*} | |
361 This is a comment-start sequence for ``a'' style because the | |
362 second character, @samp{*}, does not have the @samp{b} flag. | |
363 | |
364 @item @samp{//} | |
365 This is a comment-start sequence for ``b'' style because the second | |
366 character, @samp{/}, does have the @samp{b} flag. | |
367 | |
368 @item @samp{*/} | |
369 This is a comment-end sequence for ``a'' style because the first | |
370 character, @samp{*}, does not have the @samp{b} flag. | |
371 | |
372 @item newline | |
373 This is a comment-end sequence for ``b'' style, because the newline | |
374 character has the @samp{b} flag. | |
375 @end table | |
376 | |
377 @item | |
378 @samp{n} on a comment delimiter character specifies | |
379 that this kind of comment can be nested. For a two-character | |
380 comment delimiter, @samp{n} on either character makes it | |
381 nestable. | |
382 | |
383 @item | |
384 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
385 @samp{p} identifies an additional ``prefix character'' for Lisp syntax. | |
386 These characters are treated as whitespace when they appear between | |
387 expressions. When they appear within an expression, they are handled | |
388 according to their usual syntax classes. | |
389 | |
390 The function @code{backward-prefix-chars} moves back over these | |
391 characters, as well as over characters whose primary syntax class is | |
392 prefix (@samp{'}). @xref{Motion and Syntax}. | |
393 @end itemize | |
394 | |
395 @node Syntax Table Functions | |
396 @section Syntax Table Functions | |
397 | |
398 In this section we describe functions for creating, accessing and | |
399 altering syntax tables. | |
400 | |
401 @defun make-syntax-table &optional table | |
402 This function creates a new syntax table, with all values initialized | |
403 to @code{nil}. If @var{table} is non-@code{nil}, it becomes the | |
404 parent of the new syntax table, otherwise the standard syntax table is | |
405 the parent. Like all char-tables, a syntax table inherits from its | |
406 parent. Thus the original syntax of all characters in the returned | |
407 syntax table is determined by the parent. @xref{Char-Tables}. | |
408 | |
409 Most major mode syntax tables are created in this way. | |
410 @end defun | |
411 | |
412 @defun copy-syntax-table &optional table | |
413 This function constructs a copy of @var{table} and returns it. If | |
414 @var{table} is not supplied (or is @code{nil}), it returns a copy of the | |
415 standard syntax table. Otherwise, an error is signaled if @var{table} is | |
416 not a syntax table. | |
417 @end defun | |
418 | |
419 @deffn Command modify-syntax-entry char syntax-descriptor &optional table | |
420 This function sets the syntax entry for @var{char} according to | |
421 @var{syntax-descriptor}. The syntax is changed only for @var{table}, | |
422 which defaults to the current buffer's syntax table, and not in any | |
423 other syntax table. The argument @var{syntax-descriptor} specifies the | |
424 desired syntax; this is a string beginning with a class designator | |
425 character, and optionally containing a matching character and flags as | |
426 well. @xref{Syntax Descriptors}. | |
427 | |
428 This function always returns @code{nil}. The old syntax information in | |
429 the table for this character is discarded. | |
430 | |
431 An error is signaled if the first character of the syntax descriptor is not | |
432 one of the seventeen syntax class designator characters. An error is also | |
433 signaled if @var{char} is not a character. | |
434 | |
435 @example | |
436 @group | |
437 @exdent @r{Examples:} | |
438 | |
439 ;; @r{Put the space character in class whitespace.} | |
440 (modify-syntax-entry ?\s " ") | |
441 @result{} nil | |
442 @end group | |
443 | |
444 @group | |
445 ;; @r{Make @samp{$} an open parenthesis character,} | |
446 ;; @r{with @samp{^} as its matching close.} | |
447 (modify-syntax-entry ?$ "(^") | |
448 @result{} nil | |
449 @end group | |
450 | |
451 @group | |
452 ;; @r{Make @samp{^} a close parenthesis character,} | |
453 ;; @r{with @samp{$} as its matching open.} | |
454 (modify-syntax-entry ?^ ")$") | |
455 @result{} nil | |
456 @end group | |
457 | |
458 @group | |
459 ;; @r{Make @samp{/} a punctuation character,} | |
460 ;; @r{the first character of a start-comment sequence,} | |
461 ;; @r{and the second character of an end-comment sequence.} | |
462 ;; @r{This is used in C mode.} | |
463 (modify-syntax-entry ?/ ". 14") | |
464 @result{} nil | |
465 @end group | |
466 @end example | |
467 @end deffn | |
468 | |
469 @defun char-syntax character | |
470 This function returns the syntax class of @var{character}, represented | |
471 by its mnemonic designator character. This returns @emph{only} the | |
472 class, not any matching parenthesis or flags. | |
473 | |
474 An error is signaled if @var{char} is not a character. | |
475 | |
476 The following examples apply to C mode. The first example shows that | |
477 the syntax class of space is whitespace (represented by a space). The | |
478 second example shows that the syntax of @samp{/} is punctuation. This | |
479 does not show the fact that it is also part of comment-start and -end | |
480 sequences. The third example shows that open parenthesis is in the class | |
481 of open parentheses. This does not show the fact that it has a matching | |
482 character, @samp{)}. | |
483 | |
484 @example | |
485 @group | |
486 (string (char-syntax ?\s)) | |
487 @result{} " " | |
488 @end group | |
489 | |
490 @group | |
491 (string (char-syntax ?/)) | |
492 @result{} "." | |
493 @end group | |
494 | |
495 @group | |
496 (string (char-syntax ?\()) | |
497 @result{} "(" | |
498 @end group | |
499 @end example | |
500 | |
501 We use @code{string} to make it easier to see the character returned by | |
502 @code{char-syntax}. | |
503 @end defun | |
504 | |
505 @defun set-syntax-table table | |
506 This function makes @var{table} the syntax table for the current buffer. | |
507 It returns @var{table}. | |
508 @end defun | |
509 | |
510 @defun syntax-table | |
511 This function returns the current syntax table, which is the table for | |
512 the current buffer. | |
513 @end defun | |
514 | |
515 @defmac with-syntax-table @var{table} @var{body}@dots{} | |
516 This macro executes @var{body} using @var{table} as the current syntax | |
517 table. It returns the value of the last form in @var{body}, after | |
518 restoring the old current syntax table. | |
519 | |
520 Since each buffer has its own current syntax table, we should make that | |
521 more precise: @code{with-syntax-table} temporarily alters the current | |
522 syntax table of whichever buffer is current at the time the macro | |
523 execution starts. Other buffers are not affected. | |
524 @end defmac | |
525 | |
526 @node Syntax Properties | |
527 @section Syntax Properties | |
528 @kindex syntax-table @r{(text property)} | |
529 | |
530 When the syntax table is not flexible enough to specify the syntax of | |
531 a language, you can use @code{syntax-table} text properties to | |
532 override the syntax table for specific character occurrences in the | |
533 buffer. @xref{Text Properties}. You can use Font Lock mode to set | |
534 @code{syntax-table} text properties. @xref{Setting Syntax | |
535 Properties}. | |
536 | |
537 The valid values of @code{syntax-table} text property are: | |
538 | |
539 @table @asis | |
540 @item @var{syntax-table} | |
541 If the property value is a syntax table, that table is used instead of | |
542 the current buffer's syntax table to determine the syntax for this | |
543 occurrence of the character. | |
544 | |
545 @item @code{(@var{syntax-code} . @var{matching-char})} | |
546 A cons cell of this format specifies the syntax for this | |
547 occurrence of the character. (@pxref{Syntax Table Internals}) | |
548 | |
549 @item @code{nil} | |
550 If the property is @code{nil}, the character's syntax is determined from | |
551 the current syntax table in the usual way. | |
552 @end table | |
553 | |
554 @defvar parse-sexp-lookup-properties | |
555 If this is non-@code{nil}, the syntax scanning functions pay attention | |
556 to syntax text properties. Otherwise they use only the current syntax | |
557 table. | |
558 @end defvar | |
559 | |
560 @node Motion and Syntax | |
561 @section Motion and Syntax | |
562 | |
563 This section describes functions for moving across characters that | |
564 have certain syntax classes. | |
565 | |
566 @defun skip-syntax-forward syntaxes &optional limit | |
567 This function moves point forward across characters having syntax | |
568 classes mentioned in @var{syntaxes} (a string of syntax class | |
569 characters). It stops when it encounters the end of the buffer, or | |
570 position @var{limit} (if specified), or a character it is not supposed | |
571 to skip. | |
572 | |
573 If @var{syntaxes} starts with @samp{^}, then the function skips | |
574 characters whose syntax is @emph{not} in @var{syntaxes}. | |
575 | |
576 The return value is the distance traveled, which is a nonnegative | |
577 integer. | |
578 @end defun | |
579 | |
580 @defun skip-syntax-backward syntaxes &optional limit | |
581 This function moves point backward across characters whose syntax | |
582 classes are mentioned in @var{syntaxes}. It stops when it encounters | |
583 the beginning of the buffer, or position @var{limit} (if specified), or | |
584 a character it is not supposed to skip. | |
585 | |
586 If @var{syntaxes} starts with @samp{^}, then the function skips | |
587 characters whose syntax is @emph{not} in @var{syntaxes}. | |
588 | |
589 The return value indicates the distance traveled. It is an integer that | |
590 is zero or less. | |
591 @end defun | |
592 | |
593 @defun backward-prefix-chars | |
594 This function moves point backward over any number of characters with | |
595 expression prefix syntax. This includes both characters in the | |
596 expression prefix syntax class, and characters with the @samp{p} flag. | |
597 @end defun | |
598 | |
599 @node Parsing Expressions | |
600 @section Parsing Expressions | |
601 | |
602 This section describes functions for parsing and scanning balanced | |
603 expressions, also known as @dfn{sexps}. Basically, a sexp is either a | |
604 balanced parenthetical grouping, a string, or a symbol name (a | |
605 sequence of characters whose syntax is either word constituent or | |
606 symbol constituent). However, characters whose syntax is expression | |
607 prefix are treated as part of the sexp if they appear next to it. | |
608 | |
609 The syntax table controls the interpretation of characters, so these | |
610 functions can be used for Lisp expressions when in Lisp mode and for C | |
611 expressions when in C mode. @xref{List Motion}, for convenient | |
612 higher-level functions for moving over balanced expressions. | |
613 | |
614 A character's syntax controls how it changes the state of the | |
615 parser, rather than describing the state itself. For example, a | |
616 string delimiter character toggles the parser state between | |
617 ``in-string'' and ``in-code,'' but the syntax of characters does not | |
618 directly say whether they are inside a string. For example (note that | |
619 15 is the syntax code for generic string delimiters), | |
620 | |
621 @example | |
622 (put-text-property 1 9 'syntax-table '(15 . nil)) | |
623 @end example | |
624 | |
625 @noindent | |
626 does not tell Emacs that the first eight chars of the current buffer | |
627 are a string, but rather that they are all string delimiters. As a | |
628 result, Emacs treats them as four consecutive empty string constants. | |
629 | |
630 @menu | |
631 * Motion via Parsing:: Motion functions that work by parsing. | |
632 * Position Parse:: Determining the syntactic state of a position. | |
633 * Parser State:: How Emacs represents a syntactic state. | |
634 * Low-Level Parsing:: Parsing across a specified region. | |
635 * Control Parsing:: Parameters that affect parsing. | |
636 @end menu | |
637 | |
638 @node Motion via Parsing | |
639 @subsection Motion Commands Based on Parsing | |
640 | |
641 This section describes simple point-motion functions that operate | |
642 based on parsing expressions. | |
643 | |
644 @defun scan-lists from count depth | |
645 This function scans forward @var{count} balanced parenthetical groupings | |
646 from position @var{from}. It returns the position where the scan stops. | |
647 If @var{count} is negative, the scan moves backwards. | |
648 | |
649 If @var{depth} is nonzero, parenthesis depth counting begins from that | |
650 value. The only candidates for stopping are places where the depth in | |
651 parentheses becomes zero; @code{scan-lists} counts @var{count} such | |
652 places and then stops. Thus, a positive value for @var{depth} means go | |
653 out @var{depth} levels of parenthesis. | |
654 | |
655 Scanning ignores comments if @code{parse-sexp-ignore-comments} is | |
656 non-@code{nil}. | |
657 | |
658 If the scan reaches the beginning or end of the buffer (or its | |
659 accessible portion), and the depth is not zero, an error is signaled. | |
660 If the depth is zero but the count is not used up, @code{nil} is | |
661 returned. | |
662 @end defun | |
663 | |
664 @defun scan-sexps from count | |
665 This function scans forward @var{count} sexps from position @var{from}. | |
666 It returns the position where the scan stops. If @var{count} is | |
667 negative, the scan moves backwards. | |
668 | |
669 Scanning ignores comments if @code{parse-sexp-ignore-comments} is | |
670 non-@code{nil}. | |
671 | |
672 If the scan reaches the beginning or end of (the accessible part of) the | |
673 buffer while in the middle of a parenthetical grouping, an error is | |
674 signaled. If it reaches the beginning or end between groupings but | |
675 before count is used up, @code{nil} is returned. | |
676 @end defun | |
677 | |
678 @defun forward-comment count | |
679 This function moves point forward across @var{count} complete comments | |
680 (that is, including the starting delimiter and the terminating | |
681 delimiter if any), plus any whitespace encountered on the way. It | |
682 moves backward if @var{count} is negative. If it encounters anything | |
683 other than a comment or whitespace, it stops, leaving point at the | |
684 place where it stopped. This includes (for instance) finding the end | |
685 of a comment when moving forward and expecting the beginning of one. | |
686 The function also stops immediately after moving over the specified | |
687 number of complete comments. If @var{count} comments are found as | |
688 expected, with nothing except whitespace between them, it returns | |
689 @code{t}; otherwise it returns @code{nil}. | |
690 | |
691 This function cannot tell whether the ``comments'' it traverses are | |
692 embedded within a string. If they look like comments, it treats them | |
693 as comments. | |
694 @end defun | |
695 | |
696 To move forward over all comments and whitespace following point, use | |
697 @code{(forward-comment (buffer-size))}. @code{(buffer-size)} is a good | |
698 argument to use, because the number of comments in the buffer cannot | |
699 exceed that many. | |
700 | |
701 @node Position Parse | |
702 @subsection Finding the Parse State for a Position | |
703 | |
704 For syntactic analysis, such as in indentation, often the useful | |
705 thing is to compute the syntactic state corresponding to a given buffer | |
706 position. This function does that conveniently. | |
707 | |
708 @defun syntax-ppss &optional pos | |
709 This function returns the parser state (see next section) that the | |
710 parser would reach at position @var{pos} starting from the beginning | |
711 of the buffer. This is equivalent to @code{(parse-partial-sexp | |
712 (point-min) @var{pos})}, except that @code{syntax-ppss} uses a cache | |
713 to speed up the computation. Due to this optimization, the 2nd value | |
714 (previous complete subexpression) and 6th value (minimum parenthesis | |
715 depth) of the returned parser state are not meaningful. | |
716 @end defun | |
717 | |
718 @code{syntax-ppss} automatically hooks itself to | |
719 @code{before-change-functions} to keep its cache consistent. But | |
720 updating can fail if @code{syntax-ppss} is called while | |
721 @code{before-change-functions} is temporarily let-bound, or if the | |
722 buffer is modified without obeying the hook, such as when using | |
723 @code{inhibit-modification-hooks}. For this reason, it is sometimes | |
724 necessary to flush the cache manually. | |
725 | |
726 @defun syntax-ppss-flush-cache beg | |
727 This function flushes the cache used by @code{syntax-ppss}, starting at | |
728 position @var{beg}. | |
729 @end defun | |
730 | |
731 Major modes can make @code{syntax-ppss} run faster by specifying | |
732 where it needs to start parsing. | |
733 | |
734 @defvar syntax-begin-function | |
735 If this is non-@code{nil}, it should be a function that moves to an | |
736 earlier buffer position where the parser state is equivalent to | |
737 @code{nil}---in other words, a position outside of any comment, | |
738 string, or parenthesis. @code{syntax-ppss} uses it to further | |
739 optimize its computations, when the cache gives no help. | |
740 @end defvar | |
741 | |
742 @node Parser State | |
743 @subsection Parser State | |
744 @cindex parser state | |
745 | |
746 A @dfn{parser state} is a list of ten elements describing the final | |
747 state of parsing text syntactically as part of an expression. The | |
748 parsing functions in the following sections return a parser state as | |
749 the value, and in some cases accept one as an argument also, so that | |
750 you can resume parsing after it stops. Here are the meanings of the | |
751 elements of the parser state: | |
752 | |
753 @enumerate 0 | |
754 @item | |
755 The depth in parentheses, counting from 0. @strong{Warning:} this can | |
756 be negative if there are more close parens than open parens between | |
757 the start of the defun and point. | |
758 | |
759 @item | |
760 @cindex innermost containing parentheses | |
761 The character position of the start of the innermost parenthetical | |
762 grouping containing the stopping point; @code{nil} if none. | |
763 | |
764 @item | |
765 @cindex previous complete subexpression | |
766 The character position of the start of the last complete subexpression | |
767 terminated; @code{nil} if none. | |
768 | |
769 @item | |
770 @cindex inside string | |
771 Non-@code{nil} if inside a string. More precisely, this is the | |
772 character that will terminate the string, or @code{t} if a generic | |
773 string delimiter character should terminate it. | |
774 | |
775 @item | |
776 @cindex inside comment | |
777 @code{t} if inside a comment (of either style), | |
778 or the comment nesting level if inside a kind of comment | |
779 that can be nested. | |
780 | |
781 @item | |
782 @cindex quote character | |
783 @code{t} if point is just after a quote character. | |
784 | |
785 @item | |
786 The minimum parenthesis depth encountered during this scan. | |
787 | |
788 @item | |
789 What kind of comment is active: @code{nil} for a comment of style | |
790 ``a'' or when not inside a comment, @code{t} for a comment of style | |
791 ``b,'' and @code{syntax-table} for a comment that should be ended by a | |
792 generic comment delimiter character. | |
793 | |
794 @item | |
795 The string or comment start position. While inside a comment, this is | |
796 the position where the comment began; while inside a string, this is the | |
797 position where the string began. When outside of strings and comments, | |
798 this element is @code{nil}. | |
799 | |
800 @item | |
801 Internal data for continuing the parsing. The meaning of this | |
802 data is subject to change; it is used if you pass this list | |
803 as the @var{state} argument to another call. | |
804 @end enumerate | |
805 | |
806 Elements 1, 2, and 6 are ignored in a state which you pass as an | |
807 argument to continue parsing, and elements 8 and 9 are used only in | |
808 trivial cases. Those elements serve primarily to convey information | |
809 to the Lisp program which does the parsing. | |
810 | |
811 One additional piece of useful information is available from a | |
812 parser state using this function: | |
813 | |
814 @defun syntax-ppss-toplevel-pos state | |
815 This function extracts, from parser state @var{state}, the last | |
816 position scanned in the parse which was at top level in grammatical | |
817 structure. ``At top level'' means outside of any parentheses, | |
818 comments, or strings. | |
819 | |
820 The value is @code{nil} if @var{state} represents a parse which has | |
821 arrived at a top level position. | |
822 @end defun | |
823 | |
824 We have provided this access function rather than document how the | |
825 data is represented in the state, because we plan to change the | |
826 representation in the future. | |
827 | |
828 @node Low-Level Parsing | |
829 @subsection Low-Level Parsing | |
830 | |
831 The most basic way to use the expression parser is to tell it | |
832 to start at a given position with a certain state, and parse up to | |
833 a specified end position. | |
834 | |
835 @defun parse-partial-sexp start limit &optional target-depth stop-before state stop-comment | |
836 This function parses a sexp in the current buffer starting at | |
837 @var{start}, not scanning past @var{limit}. It stops at position | |
838 @var{limit} or when certain criteria described below are met, and sets | |
839 point to the location where parsing stops. It returns a parser state | |
840 describing the status of the parse at the point where it stops. | |
841 | |
842 @cindex parenthesis depth | |
843 If the third argument @var{target-depth} is non-@code{nil}, parsing | |
844 stops if the depth in parentheses becomes equal to @var{target-depth}. | |
845 The depth starts at 0, or at whatever is given in @var{state}. | |
846 | |
847 If the fourth argument @var{stop-before} is non-@code{nil}, parsing | |
848 stops when it comes to any character that starts a sexp. If | |
849 @var{stop-comment} is non-@code{nil}, parsing stops when it comes to the | |
850 start of a comment. If @var{stop-comment} is the symbol | |
851 @code{syntax-table}, parsing stops after the start of a comment or a | |
852 string, or the end of a comment or a string, whichever comes first. | |
853 | |
854 If @var{state} is @code{nil}, @var{start} is assumed to be at the top | |
855 level of parenthesis structure, such as the beginning of a function | |
856 definition. Alternatively, you might wish to resume parsing in the | |
857 middle of the structure. To do this, you must provide a @var{state} | |
858 argument that describes the initial status of parsing. The value | |
859 returned by a previous call to @code{parse-partial-sexp} will do | |
860 nicely. | |
861 @end defun | |
862 | |
863 @node Control Parsing | |
864 @subsection Parameters to Control Parsing | |
865 | |
866 @defvar multibyte-syntax-as-symbol | |
867 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{scan-sexps} treats all | |
868 non-@acronym{ASCII} characters as symbol constituents regardless | |
869 of what the syntax table says about them. (However, text properties | |
870 can still override the syntax.) | |
871 @end defvar | |
872 | |
873 @defopt parse-sexp-ignore-comments | |
874 @cindex skipping comments | |
875 If the value is non-@code{nil}, then comments are treated as | |
876 whitespace by the functions in this section and by @code{forward-sexp}, | |
877 @code{scan-lists} and @code{scan-sexps}. | |
878 @end defopt | |
879 | |
880 @vindex parse-sexp-lookup-properties | |
881 The behavior of @code{parse-partial-sexp} is also affected by | |
882 @code{parse-sexp-lookup-properties} (@pxref{Syntax Properties}). | |
883 | |
884 You can use @code{forward-comment} to move forward or backward over | |
885 one comment or several comments. | |
886 | |
887 @node Standard Syntax Tables | |
888 @section Some Standard Syntax Tables | |
889 | |
890 Most of the major modes in Emacs have their own syntax tables. Here | |
891 are several of them: | |
892 | |
893 @defun standard-syntax-table | |
894 This function returns the standard syntax table, which is the syntax | |
895 table used in Fundamental mode. | |
896 @end defun | |
897 | |
898 @defvar text-mode-syntax-table | |
899 The value of this variable is the syntax table used in Text mode. | |
900 @end defvar | |
901 | |
902 @defvar c-mode-syntax-table | |
903 The value of this variable is the syntax table for C-mode buffers. | |
904 @end defvar | |
905 | |
906 @defvar emacs-lisp-mode-syntax-table | |
907 The value of this variable is the syntax table used in Emacs Lisp mode | |
908 by editing commands. (It has no effect on the Lisp @code{read} | |
909 function.) | |
910 @end defvar | |
911 | |
912 @node Syntax Table Internals | |
913 @section Syntax Table Internals | |
914 @cindex syntax table internals | |
915 | |
916 Lisp programs don't usually work with the elements directly; the | |
917 Lisp-level syntax table functions usually work with syntax descriptors | |
918 (@pxref{Syntax Descriptors}). Nonetheless, here we document the | |
919 internal format. This format is used mostly when manipulating | |
920 syntax properties. | |
921 | |
922 Each element of a syntax table is a cons cell of the form | |
923 @code{(@var{syntax-code} . @var{matching-char})}. The @sc{car}, | |
924 @var{syntax-code}, is an integer that encodes the syntax class, and any | |
925 flags. The @sc{cdr}, @var{matching-char}, is non-@code{nil} if | |
926 a character to match was specified. | |
927 | |
928 This table gives the value of @var{syntax-code} which corresponds | |
929 to each syntactic type. | |
930 | |
931 @multitable @columnfractions .05 .3 .3 .31 | |
932 @item | |
933 @tab | |
934 @i{Integer} @i{Class} | |
935 @tab | |
936 @i{Integer} @i{Class} | |
937 @tab | |
938 @i{Integer} @i{Class} | |
939 @item | |
940 @tab | |
941 0 @ @ whitespace | |
942 @tab | |
943 5 @ @ close parenthesis | |
944 @tab | |
945 10 @ @ character quote | |
946 @item | |
947 @tab | |
948 1 @ @ punctuation | |
949 @tab | |
950 6 @ @ expression prefix | |
951 @tab | |
952 11 @ @ comment-start | |
953 @item | |
954 @tab | |
955 2 @ @ word | |
956 @tab | |
957 7 @ @ string quote | |
958 @tab | |
959 12 @ @ comment-end | |
960 @item | |
961 @tab | |
962 3 @ @ symbol | |
963 @tab | |
964 8 @ @ paired delimiter | |
965 @tab | |
966 13 @ @ inherit | |
967 @item | |
968 @tab | |
969 4 @ @ open parenthesis | |
970 @tab | |
971 9 @ @ escape | |
972 @tab | |
973 14 @ @ generic comment | |
974 @item | |
975 @tab | |
976 15 @ generic string | |
977 @end multitable | |
978 | |
979 For example, the usual syntax value for @samp{(} is @code{(4 . 41)}. | |
980 (41 is the character code for @samp{)}.) | |
981 | |
982 The flags are encoded in higher order bits, starting 16 bits from the | |
983 least significant bit. This table gives the power of two which | |
984 corresponds to each syntax flag. | |
985 | |
986 @multitable @columnfractions .05 .3 .3 .3 | |
987 @item | |
988 @tab | |
989 @i{Prefix} @i{Flag} | |
990 @tab | |
991 @i{Prefix} @i{Flag} | |
992 @tab | |
993 @i{Prefix} @i{Flag} | |
994 @item | |
995 @tab | |
996 @samp{1} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 16)} | |
997 @tab | |
998 @samp{4} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 19)} | |
999 @tab | |
1000 @samp{b} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 21)} | |
1001 @item | |
1002 @tab | |
1003 @samp{2} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 17)} | |
1004 @tab | |
1005 @samp{p} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 20)} | |
1006 @tab | |
1007 @samp{n} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 22)} | |
1008 @item | |
1009 @tab | |
1010 @samp{3} @ @ @code{(lsh 1 18)} | |
1011 @end multitable | |
1012 | |
1013 @defun string-to-syntax @var{desc} | |
1014 This function returns the internal form corresponding to the syntax | |
1015 descriptor @var{desc}, a cons cell @code{(@var{syntax-code} | |
1016 . @var{matching-char})}. | |
1017 @end defun | |
1018 | |
1019 @defun syntax-after pos | |
1020 This function returns the syntax code of the character in the buffer | |
1021 after position @var{pos}, taking account of syntax properties as well | |
1022 as the syntax table. If @var{pos} is outside the buffer's accessible | |
1023 portion (@pxref{Narrowing, accessible portion}), this function returns | |
1024 @code{nil}. | |
1025 @end defun | |
1026 | |
1027 @defun syntax-class syntax | |
1028 This function returns the syntax class of the syntax code | |
1029 @var{syntax}. (It masks off the high 16 bits that hold the flags | |
1030 encoded in the syntax descriptor.) If @var{syntax} is @code{nil}, it | |
1031 returns @code{nil}; this is so evaluating the expression | |
1032 | |
1033 @example | |
1034 (syntax-class (syntax-after pos)) | |
1035 @end example | |
1036 | |
1037 @noindent | |
1038 where @code{pos} is outside the buffer's accessible portion, will | |
1039 yield @code{nil} without throwing errors or producing wrong syntax | |
1040 class codes. | |
1041 @end defun | |
1042 | |
1043 @node Categories | |
1044 @section Categories | |
1045 @cindex categories of characters | |
1046 @cindex character categories | |
1047 | |
1048 @dfn{Categories} provide an alternate way of classifying characters | |
1049 syntactically. You can define several categories as needed, then | |
1050 independently assign each character to one or more categories. Unlike | |
1051 syntax classes, categories are not mutually exclusive; it is normal for | |
1052 one character to belong to several categories. | |
1053 | |
1054 @cindex category table | |
1055 Each buffer has a @dfn{category table} which records which categories | |
1056 are defined and also which characters belong to each category. Each | |
1057 category table defines its own categories, but normally these are | |
1058 initialized by copying from the standard categories table, so that the | |
1059 standard categories are available in all modes. | |
1060 | |
1061 Each category has a name, which is an @acronym{ASCII} printing character in | |
1062 the range @w{@samp{ }} to @samp{~}. You specify the name of a category | |
1063 when you define it with @code{define-category}. | |
1064 | |
1065 The category table is actually a char-table (@pxref{Char-Tables}). | |
1066 The element of the category table at index @var{c} is a @dfn{category | |
1067 set}---a bool-vector---that indicates which categories character @var{c} | |
1068 belongs to. In this category set, if the element at index @var{cat} is | |
1069 @code{t}, that means category @var{cat} is a member of the set, and that | |
1070 character @var{c} belongs to category @var{cat}. | |
1071 | |
1072 For the next three functions, the optional argument @var{table} | |
1073 defaults to the current buffer's category table. | |
1074 | |
1075 @defun define-category char docstring &optional table | |
1076 This function defines a new category, with name @var{char} and | |
1077 documentation @var{docstring}, for the category table @var{table}. | |
1078 @end defun | |
1079 | |
1080 @defun category-docstring category &optional table | |
1081 This function returns the documentation string of category @var{category} | |
1082 in category table @var{table}. | |
1083 | |
1084 @example | |
1085 (category-docstring ?a) | |
1086 @result{} "ASCII" | |
1087 (category-docstring ?l) | |
1088 @result{} "Latin" | |
1089 @end example | |
1090 @end defun | |
1091 | |
1092 @defun get-unused-category &optional table | |
1093 This function returns a category name (a character) which is not | |
1094 currently defined in @var{table}. If all possible categories are in use | |
1095 in @var{table}, it returns @code{nil}. | |
1096 @end defun | |
1097 | |
1098 @defun category-table | |
1099 This function returns the current buffer's category table. | |
1100 @end defun | |
1101 | |
1102 @defun category-table-p object | |
1103 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a category table, | |
1104 otherwise @code{nil}. | |
1105 @end defun | |
1106 | |
1107 @defun standard-category-table | |
1108 This function returns the standard category table. | |
1109 @end defun | |
1110 | |
1111 @defun copy-category-table &optional table | |
1112 This function constructs a copy of @var{table} and returns it. If | |
1113 @var{table} is not supplied (or is @code{nil}), it returns a copy of the | |
1114 standard category table. Otherwise, an error is signaled if @var{table} | |
1115 is not a category table. | |
1116 @end defun | |
1117 | |
1118 @defun set-category-table table | |
1119 This function makes @var{table} the category table for the current | |
1120 buffer. It returns @var{table}. | |
1121 @end defun | |
1122 | |
1123 @defun make-category-table | |
1124 This creates and returns an empty category table. In an empty category | |
1125 table, no categories have been allocated, and no characters belong to | |
1126 any categories. | |
1127 @end defun | |
1128 | |
1129 @defun make-category-set categories | |
1130 This function returns a new category set---a bool-vector---whose initial | |
1131 contents are the categories listed in the string @var{categories}. The | |
1132 elements of @var{categories} should be category names; the new category | |
1133 set has @code{t} for each of those categories, and @code{nil} for all | |
1134 other categories. | |
1135 | |
1136 @example | |
1137 (make-category-set "al") | |
1138 @result{} #&128"\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\2\20\0\0" | |
1139 @end example | |
1140 @end defun | |
1141 | |
1142 @defun char-category-set char | |
1143 This function returns the category set for character @var{char} in the | |
1144 current buffer's category table. This is the bool-vector which | |
1145 records which categories the character @var{char} belongs to. The | |
1146 function @code{char-category-set} does not allocate storage, because | |
1147 it returns the same bool-vector that exists in the category table. | |
1148 | |
1149 @example | |
1150 (char-category-set ?a) | |
1151 @result{} #&128"\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\2\20\0\0" | |
1152 @end example | |
1153 @end defun | |
1154 | |
1155 @defun category-set-mnemonics category-set | |
1156 This function converts the category set @var{category-set} into a string | |
1157 containing the characters that designate the categories that are members | |
1158 of the set. | |
1159 | |
1160 @example | |
1161 (category-set-mnemonics (char-category-set ?a)) | |
1162 @result{} "al" | |
1163 @end example | |
1164 @end defun | |
1165 | |
1166 @defun modify-category-entry character category &optional table reset | |
1167 This function modifies the category set of @var{character} in category | |
1168 table @var{table} (which defaults to the current buffer's category | |
1169 table). | |
1170 | |
1171 Normally, it modifies the category set by adding @var{category} to it. | |
1172 But if @var{reset} is non-@code{nil}, then it deletes @var{category} | |
1173 instead. | |
1174 @end defun | |
1175 | |
1176 @deffn Command describe-categories &optional buffer-or-name | |
1177 This function describes the category specifications in the current | |
1178 category table. It inserts the descriptions in a buffer, and then | |
1179 displays that buffer. If @var{buffer-or-name} is non-@code{nil}, it | |
1180 describes the category table of that buffer instead. | |
1181 @end deffn | |
1182 | |
1183 @ignore | |
1184 arch-tag: 4d914e96-0283-445c-9233-75d33662908c | |
1185 @end ignore |