comparison doc/misc/faq.texi @ 103384:1a60127fa212

(Viewing Info files outside of Emacs): Xinfo is no more. (Help installing Emacs): Remove reference to deleted X11 node. (Associating modes with files): Interpreter-mode-alist is no longer subservient to auto-mode-alist. (Installing Emacs): Change future Emacs version. (Linking with -lX11 fails): Remove old section. (Packages that do not come with Emacs): Update ELL location. Emacs Lisp archive is dead. (Emacs for Windows): Remove reference to old CE port. (Emacs for OS/2, Emacs for Atari ST, Emacs for the Amiga ): Remove old ports. (Emacs for GNUstep): Rename from "Emacs for NeXTSTEP" and update. (Removing flashing messages): Remove section about non-existent Gnus option.

103383:288ef1280a95

@code{info}, a stand-alone version of the Info program, comes as part of
the Texinfo package.  @xref{Installing Texinfo documentation}, for
details.

@item
Xinfo, a stand-alone version of the Info program that runs under X
Window system.  You can get it at
@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/xinfo/xinfo-1.01.01.tar.gz} and all
mirrors of @samp{ftp.gnu.org} (see @ref{Current GNU distributions}, for a
list of mirrors).

@item
Tkinfo, an Info viewer that runs under X Window system and uses Tcl/Tk.
You can get Tkinfo at
@uref{http://math-www.uni-paderborn.de/~axel/tkinfo/}.

@end itemize

@section Where can I get help in installing Emacs?
@cindex Installation help
@cindex Help installing Emacs

@xref{Installing Emacs}, for some basic installation hints, and see
@ref{Problems building Emacs}, or @ref{Linking with -lX11 fails}, if you
have problems with the installation.

The web-page @uref{http://www.fsf.org/resources/service/} lists
companies and individuals willing to sell you help in installing or
using Emacs.

@cindex Major mode for shell scripts
Beginning with Emacs 19, the variable @code{interpreter-mode-alist}
specifies which mode to use when loading a shell script.  (Emacs
determines which interpreter you're using by examining the first line of
the script.)  This feature only applies when the file name doesn't
indicate which mode to use.  Use @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x
describe-variable}) on @code{interpreter-mode-alist} to learn more.

@node Highlighting a region, Replacing highlighted text, Associating modes with files, Common requests
@section How can I highlight a region of text in Emacs?
@cindex Highlighting text
@cindex Text, highlighting

@menu
* Installing Emacs::
* Updating Emacs::
* Problems building Emacs::
* Linking with -lX11 fails::
@end menu

@node Installing Emacs, Updating Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs
@section How do I install Emacs?
@cindex Installing Emacs

distribution site, sources are available as

@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-@value{VER}.tar.gz}

The above will obviously change as new versions of Emacs come out.  For
instance, when Emacs 22.42 is released, it will most probably be
available as

@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-22.42.tar.gz}

Again, you should use one of the GNU mirror sites (see @ref{Current GNU
distributions}, and adjust the URL accordingly) so as to reduce load on
@file{ftp.gnu.org}.

Upgrading should overwrite only, @file{/usr/local/bin/emacs} (the Emacs
binary) and documentation in @file{/usr/local/info}.  Back up these
files before you upgrade, and you shouldn't have too much trouble.

@node Problems building Emacs, Linking with -lX11 fails, Updating Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs
@section What should I do if I have trouble building Emacs?
@cindex Problems building Emacs
@cindex Errors when building Emacs

First look in the file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} (where you unpack the Emacs

Please don't post it to @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} or send e-mail to
@email{help-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org}.  For further guidelines, see
@ref{Guidelines for newsgroup postings} and @ref{Reporting bugs}.

@node Linking with -lX11 fails,  , Problems building Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs
@section Why does linking Emacs with -lX11 fail?
@cindex Linking with -lX11 fails
@cindex lX11, linking fails with

Emacs needs to be linked with the static version of the X11 library,
@file{libX11.a}.  This may be missing.

On OpenWindows, you may need to use @code{add_services} to add the
``OpenWindows Programmers'' optional software category from the CD-ROM.

On HP-UX 8.0, you may need to run @code{update} again to load the
X11-PRG ``fileset.''  This may be missing even if you specified ``all
filesets'' the first time.  If @file{libcurses.a} is missing, you may
need to load the ``Berkeley Development Option.''

@email{zoo@@armadillo.com, David Zuhn} says that MIT X builds shared
libraries by default, and only shared libraries, on those platforms that
support them.  These shared libraries can't be used when undumping
@code{temacs} (the last stage of the Emacs build process).  To get
regular libraries in addition to shared libraries, add this to
@file{site.cf}:

@example
#define ForceNormalLib YES
@end example

Other systems may have similar problems.  You can always define
@code{CANNOT_DUMP} and link with the shared libraries instead.

@cindex X Menus don't work
To get the Xmenu stuff to work, you need to find a copy of MIT's
@file{liboldX.a}.

@c ------------------------------------------------------------
@node Finding Emacs and related packages, Major packages and programs, Compiling and installing Emacs, Top
@chapter Finding Emacs and related packages
@cindex Finding Emacs and related packages

* Current GNU distributions::
* Difference between Emacs and XEmacs::
* Emacs for minimalists::
* Emacs for MS-DOS::
* Emacs for Windows::
* Emacs for OS/2::
* Emacs for Atari ST::
* Emacs for the Amiga ::
* Emacs for NeXTSTEP::
* Emacs for Apple computers::
* Emacs for VMS and DECwindows::
* Modes for various languages::
@end menu

@node Finding Emacs on the Internet, Finding a package with particular functionality, Finding Emacs and related packages, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs on the net (or by snail mail)?

@cindex Lisp packages that do not come with Emacs
@cindex Packages, those that do not come with Emacs
@cindex Emacs Lisp List
@cindex Emacs Lisp Archive

@uref{http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/~stephen/emacs/ell.html, The Emacs Lisp
List (ELL)}, maintained by @email{stephen@@anc.ed.ac.uk, Stephen Eglen},
aims to provide one compact list with links to all of the current Emacs
Lisp files on the Internet.  The ELL can be browsed over the web, or
from Emacs with @uref{http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/~stephen/emacs/ell.el,
the @file{ell} package}.

Many authors post their packages to the @uref{news:gnu.emacs.sources,
Emacs sources newsgroup}.  You can search the archives of this
group with @uref{http://groups.google.com/group/gnu.emacs.sources, Google},
or @uref{http://dir.gmane.org/gmane.emacs.sources, Gmane}, for example.

Several packages are stored in
@uref{http://emacswiki.org/elisp/, the Lisp area of the Emacs Wiki}.

For a long time, the Emacs Lisp Archive provided a central repository
for Emacs packages.  Sadly, it has not been active for some time,
although you can still access the old files at

@uref{http://www.club.cc.cmu.edu/pub/gnu/elisp-archive/}

Read the file @file{etc/MORE.STUFF} for more information about
external packages.

@node Current GNU distributions, Difference between Emacs and XEmacs, Packages that do not come with Emacs, Finding Emacs and related packages

@uref{ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.emacs/}

Note that while many of these programs look similar to Emacs, they often
lack certain features, such as the Emacs Lisp extension language.

@node Emacs for Windows, Emacs for OS/2, Emacs for MS-DOS, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for Microsoft Windows?
@cindex FAQ for NT Emacs
@cindex Emacs for MS-Windows
@cindex Microsoft Windows, Emacs for
@cindex Windows 9X, ME, NT, 2K, and CE, Emacs for

@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs.html}

@xref{Emacs for MS-DOS}, for Windows 3.1.

A port of Emacs 20.7 for Windows CE, based on NTEmacs, is available at

@uref{http://www.rainer-keuchel.de/software.html}

@noindent
This port was done by @email{coyxc@@rainer-keuchel.de, Rainer Keuchel},
and supports all Emacs features except async subprocesses and menus.
You will need MSVC 6.0 and a Windows CE SDK to build this port.

@node Emacs for OS/2, Emacs for Atari ST, Emacs for Windows, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for my PC running OS/2?
@cindex OS/2, Emacs for

Emacs 20.6 is ported for emx on OS/2 2.0 or 2.1, and is available at

@uref{ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/editors/emacs/}

@noindent
and also at

@uref{http://www.dotemacs.de/os2/emacs.html}

Instructions for installation, basic setup, and other useful information
for OS/2 users of Emacs can be found at

@uref{http://home.snafu.de/ohei/emacs/emacs206-os2.html}

@node Emacs for Atari ST, Emacs for the Amiga , Emacs for OS/2, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for my Atari ST?
@cindex Atari ST, Emacs for
@cindex TOS, Emacs for

Roland Sch@"auble reports that Emacs 18.58 running on plain TOS and MiNT
is available at
@uref{ftp://atari.archive.umich.edu/Editors/Emacs-18-58/1858b-d3.zoo}.

@node Emacs for the Amiga , Emacs for NeXTSTEP, Emacs for Atari ST, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for my Amiga?
@cindex Amiga, Emacs for

The files you need are available at

@uref{ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/pub/aminet/util/gnu/}

@email{dgilbert@@gamiga.guelphnet.dweomer.org, David Gilbert} has released a
beta version of Emacs 19.25 for the Amiga.  You can get the binary at

@uref{ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/pub/aminet/util/gnu/a2.0bEmacs-bin.lha}

@node Emacs for NeXTSTEP, Emacs for Apple computers, Emacs for the Amiga , Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for NeXTSTEP?
@cindex NeXTSTEP, Emacs for

Emacs.app is a NeXTSTEP version of Emacs 19.34 which supports colors,
menus, and multiple frames.  You can get it from

@uref{ftp://next-ftp.peak.org/pub/next-ftp/next/apps/emacs/Emacs_for_NeXTstep.4.20a1.NIHS.b.tar.gz}

@node Emacs for Apple computers, Emacs for VMS and DECwindows, Emacs for NeXTSTEP, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for my Apple computer?
@cindex Apple computers, Emacs for
@cindex Macintosh, Emacs for

Beginning with version 22.1, Emacs supports Mac OS X natively.

@node Emacs for VMS and DECwindows, Modes for various languages, Emacs for Apple computers, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where do I get Emacs that runs on VMS under DECwindows?
@cindex DECwindows, Emacs for
@cindex VMS, Emacs for

Up-to-date information about GNU software (including Emacs) for VMS is
available at @uref{http://www.lp.se/gnu-vms/}.

@node Modes for various languages,  , Emacs for VMS and DECwindows, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get modes for Lex, Yacc/Bison, Bourne shell, csh, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Pascal, Java, and Awk?
@cindex Awk, mode for
@cindex @code{awk-mode}
@cindex Bison, mode for
@cindex Bourne Shell, mode for

* Viewing articles with embedded underlining::
* Saving a multi-part Gnus posting::
* Starting Gnus faster::
* Catching up in all newsgroups::
* Killing based on nonstandard headers::
* Removing flashing messages::
* Catch-up is slow in Gnus::
* Gnus hangs for a long time::
* Learning more about Gnus::
@end menu

In the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer, type @kbd{M-< C-x ( c y C-x ) M-0 C-x e}

Leave off the initial @kbd{M-<} if you only want to catch up from point
to the end of the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer.

@node Killing based on nonstandard headers, Removing flashing messages, Catching up in all newsgroups, Mail and news
@section Why can't I kill in Gnus based on the Newsgroups/Keywords/Control headers?
@cindex Killing articles based on nonstandard headers
@cindex Newsgroups header, killing articles based on
@cindex Keywords header, killing articles based on
@cindex Control header, killing articles based on

@lisp
(gnus-kill nil "^Newsgroups: .*\\(bad\\.group\\|worse\\.group\\)")
@end lisp

@node Removing flashing messages, Catch-up is slow in Gnus, Killing based on nonstandard headers, Mail and news
@section How do I get rid of flashing messages in Gnus for slow connections?
@cindex Flashing Gnus messages, removing
@cindex Removing flashing Gnus messages
@cindex Slow connections causing flashing messages in Gnus
@cindex Gnus, flashing messages in

Set @code{nntp-debug-read} to @code{nil}.

@node Catch-up is slow in Gnus, Gnus hangs for a long time, Removing flashing messages, Mail and news
@section Why is catch up slow in Gnus?
@cindex Slow catch up in Gnus
@cindex Gnus is slow when catching up
@cindex Crosspostings make Gnus catching up slow

103384:1a60127fa212

@code{info}, a stand-alone version of the Info program, comes as part of
the Texinfo package.  @xref{Installing Texinfo documentation}, for
details.

@item
Tkinfo, an Info viewer that runs under X Window system and uses Tcl/Tk.
You can get Tkinfo at
@uref{http://math-www.uni-paderborn.de/~axel/tkinfo/}.

@end itemize

@section Where can I get help in installing Emacs?
@cindex Installation help
@cindex Help installing Emacs

@xref{Installing Emacs}, for some basic installation hints, and see
@ref{Problems building Emacs}, if you have problems with the installation.

The web-page @uref{http://www.fsf.org/resources/service/} lists
companies and individuals willing to sell you help in installing or
using Emacs.

@cindex Major mode for shell scripts
Beginning with Emacs 19, the variable @code{interpreter-mode-alist}
specifies which mode to use when loading a shell script.  (Emacs
determines which interpreter you're using by examining the first line of
the script.)  Use @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x describe-variable})
on @code{interpreter-mode-alist} to learn more.

@node Highlighting a region, Replacing highlighted text, Associating modes with files, Common requests
@section How can I highlight a region of text in Emacs?
@cindex Highlighting text
@cindex Text, highlighting

@menu
* Installing Emacs::
* Updating Emacs::
* Problems building Emacs::
@end menu

@node Installing Emacs, Updating Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs
@section How do I install Emacs?
@cindex Installing Emacs

distribution site, sources are available as

@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-@value{VER}.tar.gz}

The above will obviously change as new versions of Emacs come out.  For
instance, when Emacs 24.3 is released, it will most probably be
available as

@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-24.3.tar.gz}

Again, you should use one of the GNU mirror sites (see @ref{Current GNU
distributions}, and adjust the URL accordingly) so as to reduce load on
@file{ftp.gnu.org}.

Upgrading should overwrite only, @file{/usr/local/bin/emacs} (the Emacs
binary) and documentation in @file{/usr/local/info}.  Back up these
files before you upgrade, and you shouldn't have too much trouble.

@node Problems building Emacs,  , Updating Emacs, Compiling and installing Emacs
@section What should I do if I have trouble building Emacs?
@cindex Problems building Emacs
@cindex Errors when building Emacs

First look in the file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} (where you unpack the Emacs

Please don't post it to @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} or send e-mail to
@email{help-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org}.  For further guidelines, see
@ref{Guidelines for newsgroup postings} and @ref{Reporting bugs}.


@c ------------------------------------------------------------
@node Finding Emacs and related packages, Major packages and programs, Compiling and installing Emacs, Top
@chapter Finding Emacs and related packages
@cindex Finding Emacs and related packages

* Current GNU distributions::
* Difference between Emacs and XEmacs::
* Emacs for minimalists::
* Emacs for MS-DOS::
* Emacs for Windows::
* Emacs for GNUstep::
* Emacs for Apple computers::
* Modes for various languages::
@end menu

@node Finding Emacs on the Internet, Finding a package with particular functionality, Finding Emacs and related packages, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs on the net (or by snail mail)?

@cindex Lisp packages that do not come with Emacs
@cindex Packages, those that do not come with Emacs
@cindex Emacs Lisp List
@cindex Emacs Lisp Archive

@uref{http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/emacs/ell.html, The Emacs Lisp
List (ELL)}, maintained by @email{S.J.Eglen@@damtp.cam.ac.uk, Stephen Eglen},
aims to provide one compact list with links to all of the current Emacs
Lisp files on the Internet.  The ELL can be browsed over the web, or
from Emacs with @uref{http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/emacs/ell.el,
the @file{ell} package}.

Many authors post their packages to the @uref{news:gnu.emacs.sources,
Emacs sources newsgroup}.  You can search the archives of this
group with @uref{http://groups.google.com/group/gnu.emacs.sources, Google},
or @uref{http://dir.gmane.org/gmane.emacs.sources, Gmane}, for example.

Several packages are stored in
@uref{http://emacswiki.org/elisp/, the Lisp area of the Emacs Wiki}.

Read the file @file{etc/MORE.STUFF} for more information about
external packages.

@node Current GNU distributions, Difference between Emacs and XEmacs, Packages that do not come with Emacs, Finding Emacs and related packages

@uref{ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/comp.emacs/}

Note that while many of these programs look similar to Emacs, they often
lack certain features, such as the Emacs Lisp extension language.

@node Emacs for Windows, Emacs for GNUstep, Emacs for MS-DOS, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for Microsoft Windows?
@cindex FAQ for NT Emacs
@cindex Emacs for MS-Windows
@cindex Microsoft Windows, Emacs for
@cindex Windows 9X, ME, NT, 2K, and CE, Emacs for

@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs.html}

@xref{Emacs for MS-DOS}, for Windows 3.1.


@node Emacs for GNUstep, Emacs for Apple computers, Emacs for Windows, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for GNUstep?
@cindex GNUSTEP, Emacs for

Beginning with version 23.1, Emacs supports GNUstep natively.

@node Emacs for Apple computers, Modes for various languages, Emacs for GNUstep, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get Emacs for my Apple computer?
@cindex Apple computers, Emacs for
@cindex Macintosh, Emacs for

Beginning with version 22.1, Emacs supports Mac OS X natively.

@node Modes for various languages,  , Emacs for Apple computers, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get modes for Lex, Yacc/Bison, Bourne shell, csh, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Pascal, Java, and Awk?
@cindex Awk, mode for
@cindex @code{awk-mode}
@cindex Bison, mode for
@cindex Bourne Shell, mode for

* Viewing articles with embedded underlining::
* Saving a multi-part Gnus posting::
* Starting Gnus faster::
* Catching up in all newsgroups::
* Killing based on nonstandard headers::
* Catch-up is slow in Gnus::
* Gnus hangs for a long time::
* Learning more about Gnus::
@end menu

In the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer, type @kbd{M-< C-x ( c y C-x ) M-0 C-x e}

Leave off the initial @kbd{M-<} if you only want to catch up from point
to the end of the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer.

@node Killing based on nonstandard headers, Catch-up is slow in Gnus, Catching up in all newsgroups, Mail and news
@section Why can't I kill in Gnus based on the Newsgroups/Keywords/Control headers?
@cindex Killing articles based on nonstandard headers
@cindex Newsgroups header, killing articles based on
@cindex Keywords header, killing articles based on
@cindex Control header, killing articles based on

@lisp
(gnus-kill nil "^Newsgroups: .*\\(bad\\.group\\|worse\\.group\\)")
@end lisp

@node Catch-up is slow in Gnus, Gnus hangs for a long time, Killing based on nonstandard headers, Mail and news
@section Why is catch up slow in Gnus?
@cindex Slow catch up in Gnus
@cindex Gnus is slow when catching up
@cindex Crosspostings make Gnus catching up slow