comparison etc/NEWS.4 @ 30922:6c3081f54e62

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author Gerd Moellmann <gerd@gnu.org>
date Thu, 17 Aug 2000 15:38:59 +0000
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1 GNU Emacs NEWS -- history of user-visible changes. 1992.
2 Copyright (C) 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 See the end for copying conditions.
4
5 For older news, see the file NEWS.3.
6
7 Changes in version 18.58.
8
9 * RMAIL reply now properly parses nested comments in addesses.
10
11 * The "visual bell" feature when used with X windows
12 now flashes only 1/4 of the window's total area. This is because
13 flashing the whole window is too slow on some systems.
14
15 * `call-process' and `call-process-region' now return an indication
16 of the exit status of the subprocess: either a numeric exit code
17 or a string describing the signal which caused termination.
18
19 * It is possible for regular expression matching to overflow the stack
20 of failure points. In the past, such overflow was treated as simple
21 failure to match. Now it causes an error.
22
23 * You can use C-u to end a numeric argument. Thus, type C-u 1 0 0 C-u 1
24 to insert 100 1's.
25
26 * Emacs now knows how to get resource values from the X server.
27
28 * Job control commands in shell mode work properly on more systems
29 because they now work by "typing" signal characters such as C-c.
30
31 * copy-keymap no longer recursively copies keymaps reached through
32 symbols' function definitions (i.e., those that have names). It does
33 copy nested keymaps that appear directly in the other copied keymaps.
34
35 Changes in version 18.56.
36
37 * C-g should now work to interrupt a running program
38 on all kinds of systems even when using X windows.
39
40 * Quitting is inhibited while a filter or sentinel is running.
41 Those functions can run asynchronously while Emacs is waiting
42 for keyboard input, and if they allow quitting, they
43 make the behavior of C-g unpredictable.
44
45 * Storing text into the X windows cut buffer
46 now clears out any selection.
47
48 * The undo facility is completely rewritten, and now
49 uses Lisp data structures. It can record much more
50 information. You can use the variables undo-threshold
51 and undo-high-threshold to control how much.
52
53 * There is no longer a maximum screen height or width.
54
55 Changes in version 18.52.
56
57 * X windows version 10 is supported under system V.
58
59 * Pop-up menus are now supported with the same Lisp interface in
60 both version 10 and 11 of X windows.
61
62 * C-x 4 a is a new command to edit a change-log entry in another window.
63
64 * The emacs client program now allows an option +NNN to specify the
65 line number to go to in the file whose name follows. Thus,
66 emacsclient foo.c +45 bar.c
67 will find the files `foo.c' and `bar.c', going to line 45 in `bar.c'.
68
69 * Dired allows empty directories to be deleted like files.
70
71 * When the terminal type is used to find a terminal-specific file to
72 run, Emacs now tries the entire terminal type first. If that doesn't
73 yield a file that exists, the last hyphen and what follows it is
74 stripped. If that doesn't yield a file that exists, the previous
75 hyphen is stripped, and so on until all hyphens are gone. For
76 example, if the terminal type is `aaa-48-foo', Emacs will try first
77 `term/aaa-48-foo.el', then `term/aaa-48.el' and finally `term/aaa.el'.
78
79 Underscores now receive the same treatment as hyphens.
80
81 * Texinfo features: @defun, etc. texinfo-show-structure.
82 New template commands. texinfo-format-region.
83
84 * The special "local variable" `eval' is now ignored if you are running
85 as root.
86
87 * New command `c-macro-expand' shows the result of C macro expansion
88 in the region. It works using the C preprocessor, so its results
89 are completely accurate.
90
91 * Errors in trying to auto save now flash error messages for a few seconds.
92
93 * Killing a buffer now sends SIGHUP to the buffer's process.
94
95 * New hooks.
96
97 ** `spell-region' now allows you to filter the text before spelling-checking.
98 If the value of `spell-filter' is non-nil, it is called, with no arguments,
99 looking at a temporary buffer containing a copy of the text to be checked.
100 It can alter the text freely before the spell program sees it.
101
102 ** The variable `lpr-command' now specifies the command to be used when
103 you use the commands to print text (such as M-x print-buffer).
104
105 ** Posting netnews now calls the value of `news-inews-hook' (if not nil)
106 as a function of no arguments before the actual posting.
107
108 ** Rmail now calls the value of `rmail-show-message-hook' (if not nil)
109 as a function of no arguments, each time a new message is selected.
110
111 ** `kill-emacs' calls the value of `kill-emacs-hook' as a function of no args
112 unless Emacs is running in batch mode.
113
114 * New libraries.
115 See the source code of each library for more information.
116
117 ** icon.el: a major mode for editing programs written in Icon.
118
119 ** life.el: a simulator for the cellular automaton "life". Load the
120 library and run M-x life.
121
122 ** doctex.el: a library for converting the Emacs `etc/DOC' file of
123 documentation strings into TeX input.
124
125 ** saveconf.el: a library which records the arrangement of windows and
126 buffers when you exit Emacs, and automatically recreates the same
127 setup the next time you start Emacs.
128
129 ** uncompress.el: a library that automatically uncompresses files
130 when you visit them.
131
132 ** c-fill.el: a mode for editing filled comments in C.
133
134 ** kermit.el: an extended version of shell-mode designed for running kermit.
135
136 ** spook.el: a library for adding some "distract the NSA" keywords to every
137 message you send.
138
139 ** hideif.el: a library for hiding parts of a C program based on preprocessor
140 conditionals.
141
142 ** autoinsert.el: a library to put in some initial text when you visit
143 a nonexistent file. The text used depends on the major mode, and
144 comes from a directory of files created by you.
145
146 * New programming features.
147
148 ** The variable `window-system-version' now contains the version number
149 of the window system you are using (if appropriate). When using X windows,
150 its value is either 10 or 11.
151
152 ** (interactive "N") uses the prefix argument if any; otherwise, it reads
153 a number using the minibuffer.
154
155 ** VMS: there are two new functions `vms-system-info' and `shrink-to-icon'.
156 The former allows you to get many kinds of system status information.
157 See its self-documentation for full details.
158 The second is used with the window system: it iconifies the Emacs window.
159
160 ** VMS: the new function `define-logical-name' allows you to create
161 job-wide logical names. The old function `define-dcl-symbol' has been
162 removed.
163
164 Changes in version 18.50.
165
166 * X windows version 11 is supported.
167
168 Define X11 in config.h if you want X version 11 instead of version 10.
169
170 * The command M-x gdb runs the GDB debugger as an inferior.
171 It asks for the filename of the executable you want to debug.
172
173 GDB runs as an inferior with I/O through an Emacs buffer. All the
174 facilities of Shell mode are available. In addition, each time your
175 program stops, and each time you select a new stack frame, the source
176 code is displayed in another window with an arrow added to the line
177 where the program is executing.
178
179 Special GDB-mode commands include M-s, M-n, M-i, M-u, M-d, and C-c C-f
180 which send the GDB commands `step', `next', `stepi', `up', `down'
181 and `finish'.
182
183 In any source file, the commands C-x SPC tells GDB to set a breakpoint
184 on the current line.
185
186 * M-x calendar displays a three-month calendar.
187
188 * C-u 0 C-x C-s never makes a backup file.
189
190 This is a way you can explicitly request not to make a backup.
191
192 * `term-setup-hook' is for users only.
193
194 Emacs never uses this variable for internal purposes, so you can freely
195 set it in your `.emacs' file to make Emacs do something special after
196 loading any terminal-specific setup file from `lisp/term'.
197
198 * `copy-keymap' now copies recursive submaps.
199
200 * New overlay-arrow feature.
201
202 If you set the variable `overlay-arrow-string' to a string
203 and `overlay-arrow-position' to a marker, that string is displayed on
204 the screen at the position of that marker, hiding whatever text would
205 have appeared there. If that position isn't on the screen, or if
206 the buffer the marker points into isn't displayed, there is no effect.
207
208 * -batch mode can read from the terminal.
209
210 It now works to use `read-char' to do terminal input in a noninteractive
211 Emacs run. End of file causes Emacs to exit.
212
213 * Variables `data-bytes-used' and `data-bytes-free' removed.
214
215 These variables cannot really work because the 24-bit range of an
216 integer in (most ports of) GNU Emacs is not large enough to hold their
217 values on many systems.
218
219 Changes in version 18.45, since version 18.41.
220
221 * C indentation parameter `c-continued-brace-offset'.
222
223 This parameter's value is added to the indentation of any
224 line that is in a continuation context and starts with an open-brace.
225 For example, it applies to the open brace shown here:
226
227 if (x)
228 {
229
230 The default value is zero.
231
232 * Dabbrev expansion (Meta-/) preserves case.
233
234 When you use Meta-/ to search the buffer for an expansion of an
235 abbreviation, if the expansion found is all lower case except perhaps
236 for its first letter, then the case pattern of the abbreviation
237 is carried over to the expansion that replaces it.
238
239 * TeX-mode syntax.
240
241 \ is no longer given "escape character" syntax in TeX mode. It now
242 has the syntax of an ordinary punctuation character. As a result,
243 \[...\] and such like are considered to balance each other.
244
245 * Mail-mode automatic Reply-to field.
246
247 If the variable `mail-default-reply-to' is non-`nil', then each time
248 you start to compose a message, a Reply-to field is inserted with
249 its contents taken from the value of `mail-default-reply-to'.
250
251 * Where is your .emacs file?
252
253 If you run Emacs under `su', so your real and effective uids are
254 different, Emacs uses the home directory associated with the real uid
255 (the name you actually logged in under) to find the .emacs file.
256
257 Otherwise, Emacs uses the environment variable HOME to find the .emacs
258 file.
259
260 The .emacs file is not loaded at all if -batch is specified.
261
262 * Prolog mode is the default for ".pl" files.
263
264 * File names are not case-sensitive on VMS.
265
266 On VMS systems, all file names that you specify are converted to upper
267 case. You can use either upper or lower case indiscriminately.
268
269 * VMS-only function 'define-dcl-symbol'.
270
271 This is a new name for the function formerly called
272 `define-logical-name'.
273
274 Editing Changes in Emacs 18
275
276 * Additional systems and machines are supported.
277
278 GNU Emacs now runs on Vax VMS. However, many facilities that are normally
279 implemented by running subprocesses do not work yet. This includes listing
280 a directory and sending mail. There are features for running subprocesses
281 but they are incompatible with those on Unix. I hope that some of
282 the VMS users can reimplement these features for VMS (compatibly for
283 the user, if possible).
284
285 VMS wizards are also asked to work on making the subprocess facilities
286 more upward compatible with those on Unix, and also to rewrite their
287 internals to use the same Lisp objects that are used on Unix to
288 represent processes.
289
290 In addition, the TI Nu machine running Unix system V, the AT&T 3b, and
291 the Wicat, Masscomp, Integrated Solutions, Alliant, Amdahl uts, Mips,
292 Altos 3068 and Gould Unix systems are now supported. The IBM PC-RT is
293 supported under 4.2, but not yet under system V. The GEC 93 is close
294 to working. The port for the Elxsi is partly merged. See the file
295 MACHINES for full status information and machine-specific installation
296 advice.
297
298 * Searching is faster.
299
300 Forward search for a text string, or for a regexp that is equivalent
301 to a text string, is now several times faster. Motion by lines and
302 counting lines is also faster.
303
304 * Memory usage improvements.
305
306 It is no longer possible to run out of memory during garbage
307 collection. As a result, running out of memory is never fatal. This
308 is due to a new garbage collection algorithm which compactifies
309 strings in place rather than copying them. Another consequence of the
310 change is a reduction in total memory usage and a slight increase in
311 garbage collection speed.
312
313 * Display changes.
314
315 ** Editing above top of screen.
316
317 When you delete or kill or alter text that reaches to the top of the
318 screen or above it, so that display would start in the middle of a
319 line, Emacs will usually attempt to scroll the text so that display
320 starts at the beginning of a line again.
321
322 ** Yanking in the minibuffer.
323
324 The message "Mark Set" is no longer printed when the minibuffer is
325 active. This is convenient with many commands, including C-y, that
326 normally print such a message.
327
328 ** Cursor appears in last line during y-or-n questions.
329
330 Questions that want a `y' or `n' answer now move the cursor
331 to the last line, following the question.
332
333 * Library loading changes.
334
335 `load' now considers all possible suffixes (`.elc', `.el' and none)
336 for each directory in `load-path' before going on to the next directory.
337 It now accepts an optional fourth argument which, if non-nil, says to
338 use no suffixes; then the file name must be given in full. The search
339 of the directories in `load-path' goes on as usual in this case, but
340 it too can be prevented by passing an absolute file name.
341
342 The value of `load-path' no longer by default includes nil (meaning to
343 look in the current default directory). The idea is that `load' should
344 be used to search the path only for libraries to be found in the standard
345 places. If you want to override system libraries with your own, place
346 your own libraries in one special directory and add that directory to the
347 front of `load-path'.
348
349 The function `load' is no longer a command; that is to say, `M-x load'
350 is no longer allowed. Instead, there are two commands for loading files.
351 `M-x load-library' is equivalent to the old meaning of `M-x load'.
352 `M-x load-file' reads a file name with completion and defaulting
353 and then loads exactly that file, with no searching and no suffixes.
354
355 * Emulation of other editors.
356
357 ** `edt-emulation-on' starts emulating DEC's EDT editor.
358
359 Do `edt-emulation-off' to return Emacs to normal.
360
361 ** `vi-mode' and `vip-mode' starts emulating vi.
362
363 These are two different vi emulations provided by GNU Emacs users.
364 We are interested in feedback as to which emulation is preferable.
365
366 See the documentation and source code for these functions
367 for more information.
368
369 ** `set-gosmacs-bindings' emulates Gosling Emacs.
370
371 This command changes many global bindings to resemble those of
372 Gosling Emacs. The previous bindings are saved and can be restored using
373 `set-gnu-bindings'.
374
375 * Emulation of a display terminal.
376
377 Within Emacs it is now possible to run programs (such as emacs or
378 supdup) which expect to do output to a visual display terminal.
379
380 See the function `terminal-emulator' for more information.
381
382 * New support for keypads and function keys.
383
384 There is now a first attempt at terminal-independent support for
385 keypad and function keys.
386
387 Emacs now defines a standard set of key-names for function and keypad
388 keys, and provides standard hooks for defining them. Most of the
389 standard key-names have default definitions built into Emacs; you can
390 override these in a terminal-independent manner. The default definitions
391 and the conventions for redefining them are in the file `lisp/keypad.el'.
392
393 These keys on the terminal normally work by sending sequences of
394 characters starting with ESC. The exact sequences used vary from
395 terminal to terminal. Emacs interprets them in two stages:
396 in the first stage, terminal-dependent sequences are mapped into
397 the standard key-names; then second stage maps the standard key-names
398 into their definitions in a terminal-independent fashion.
399
400 The terminal-specific file `term/$TERM.el' now is responsible only for
401 establishing the mapping from the terminal's escape sequences into
402 standard key-names. It no longer knows what Emacs commands are
403 assigned to the standard key-names.
404
405 One other change in terminal-specific files: if the value of the TERM
406 variable contains a hyphen, only the part before the first hyphen is
407 used in forming the name of the terminal-specific file. Thus, for
408 terminal type `aaa-48', the file loaded is now `term/aaa.el' rather
409 than `term/aaa-48.el'.
410
411 * New startup command line options.
412
413 `-i FILE' or `-insert FILE' in the command line to Emacs tells Emacs to
414 insert the contents of FILE into the current buffer at that point in
415 command line processing. This is like using the command M-x insert-file.
416
417 `-funcall', `-load', `-user' and `-no-init-file' are new synonyms for
418 `-f', `-l', `-u' and `-q'.
419
420 `-nw' means don't use a window system. If you are using a terminal
421 emulator on the X window system and you want to run Emacs to work through
422 the terminal emulator instead of working directly with the window system,
423 use this switch.
424
425 * Buffer-sorting commands.
426
427 Various M-x commands whose names start with `sort-' sort parts of
428 the region:
429
430 sort-lines divides the region into lines and sorts them alphabetically.
431 sort-pages divides into pages and sorts them alphabetically.
432 sort-paragraphs divides into paragraphs and sorts them alphabetically.
433 sort-fields divides into lines and sorts them alphabetically
434 according to one field in the line.
435 The numeric argument specifies which field (counting
436 from field 1 at the beginning of the line). Fields in a line
437 are separated by whitespace.
438 sort-numeric-fields
439 is similar but converts the specified fields to numbers
440 and sorts them numerically.
441 sort-columns divides into lines and sorts them according to the contents
442 of a specified range of columns.
443
444 Refer to the self-documentation of these commands for full usage information.
445
446 * Changes in various commands.
447
448 ** `occur' output now serves as a menu. `occur-menu' command deleted.
449
450 `M-x occur' now allows you to move quickly to any of the occurrences
451 listed. Select the `*Occur*' buffer that contains the output of `occur',
452 move point to the occurrence you want, and type C-c C-c.
453 This will move point to the same occurrence in the buffer that the
454 occurrences were found in.
455
456 The command `occur-menu' is thus obsolete, and has been deleted.
457
458 One way to get a list of matching lines without line numbers is to
459 copy the text to another buffer and use the command `keep-lines'.
460
461 ** Incremental search changes.
462
463 Ordinary and regexp incremental searches now have distinct default
464 search strings. Thus, regexp searches recall only previous regexp
465 searches.
466
467 If you exit an incremental search when the search string is empty,
468 the old default search string is kept. The default does not become
469 empty.
470
471 Reversing the direction of an incremental search with C-s or C-r
472 when the search string is empty now does not get the default search
473 string. It leaves the search string empty. A second C-s or C-r
474 will get the default search string. As a result, you can do a reverse
475 incremental regexp search with C-M-s C-r.
476
477 If you add a `*', `?' or `\|' to an incremental search regexp,
478 point will back up if that is appropriate. For example, if
479 you have searched for `ab' and add a `*', point moves to the
480 first match for `ab*', which may be before the match for `ab'
481 that was previously found.
482
483 If an incremental search is failing and you ask to repeat it,
484 it will start again from the beginning of the buffer (or the end,
485 if it is a backward search).
486
487 The search-controlling parameters `isearch-slow-speed' and
488 `isearch-slow-window-lines' have now been renamed to start with
489 `search' instead of `isearch'. Now all the parameters' names start
490 with `search'.
491
492 If `search-slow-window-lines' is negative, the slow search window
493 is put at the top of the screen, and the absolute value or the
494 negative number specifies the height of it.
495
496 ** Undo changes
497
498 The undo command now will mark the buffer as unmodified only when it is
499 identical to the contents of the visited file.
500
501 ** C-M-v in minibuffer.
502
503 If while in the minibuffer you request help in a way that uses a
504 window to display something, then until you exit the minibuffer C-M-v
505 in the minibuffer window scrolls the window of help.
506
507 For example, if you request a list of possible completions, C-M-v can
508 be used reliably to scroll the completion list.
509
510 ** M-TAB command.
511
512 Meta-TAB performs completion on the Emacs Lisp symbol names. The sexp
513 in the buffer before point is compared against all existing nontrivial
514 Lisp symbols and completed as far as is uniquely determined by them.
515 Nontrivial symbols are those with either function definitions, values
516 or properties.
517
518 If there are multiple possibilities for the very next character, a
519 list of possible completions is displayed.
520
521 ** Dynamic abbreviation package.
522
523 The new command Meta-/ expands an abbreviation in the buffer before point
524 by searching the buffer for words that start with the abbreviation.
525
526 ** Changes in saving kbd macros.
527
528 The commands `write-kbd-macro' and `append-kbd-macro' have been
529 deleted. The way to save a keyboard macro is to use the new command
530 `insert-kbd-macro', which inserts Lisp code to define the macro as
531 it is currently defined into the buffer before point. Visit a Lisp
532 file such as your Emacs init file `~/.emacs', insert the macro
533 definition (perhaps deleting an old definition for the same macro)
534 and then save the file.
535
536 ** C-x ' command.
537
538 The new command C-x ' (expand-abbrev) expands the word before point as
539 an abbrev, even if abbrev-mode is not turned on.
540
541 ** Sending to inferior Lisp.
542
543 The command C-M-x in Lisp mode, which sends the current defun to
544 an inferior Lisp process, now works by writing the text into a temporary
545 file and actually sending only a `load'-form to load the file.
546 As a result, it avoids the Unix bugs that used to strike when the
547 text was above a certain length.
548
549 With a prefix argument, this command now makes the inferior Lisp buffer
550 appear on the screen and scrolls it so that the bottom is showing.
551
552 Two variables `inferior-lisp-load-command' and `inferior-lisp-prompt',
553 exist to customize these feature for different Lisp implementations.
554
555 ** C-x n p now disabled.
556
557 The command C-x n p, a nonrecomended command which narrows to the current
558 page, is now initially disabled like C-x n n.
559
560 * Dealing with files.
561
562 ** C-x C-v generalized
563
564 This command is now allowed even if the current buffer is not visiting
565 a file. As usual, it kills the current buffer and replaces it with a
566 newly found file.
567
568 ** M-x recover-file improved; auto save file names changed.
569
570 M-x recover-file now checks whether the last auto-save file is more
571 recent than the real visited file before offering to read in the
572 auto-save file. If the auto-save file is newer, a directory listing
573 containing the two files is displayed while you are asked whether you
574 want the auto save file.
575
576 Visiting a file also makes this check. If the auto-save file is more recent,
577 a message is printed suggesting that you consider using M-x recover file.
578
579 Auto save file names now by default have a `#' at the end as well
580 as at the beginning. This is so that `*.c' in a shell command
581 will never match auto save files.
582
583 On VMS, auto save file names are made by appending `_$' at the front
584 and `$' at the end.
585
586 When you change the visited file name of a buffer, the auto save file
587 is now renamed to belong to the new visited file name.
588
589 You can customize the way auto save file names are made by redefining
590 the two functions `make-auto-save-file-name' and `auto-save-file-name-p',
591 both of which are defined in `files.el'.
592
593 ** Modifying a buffer whose file is changed on disk is detected instantly.
594
595 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
596 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
597 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or saved.
598 If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change the buffer.
599
600 ** Exiting Emacs offers to save `*mail*'.
601
602 Emacs can now know about buffers that it should offer to save on exit
603 even though they are not visiting files. This is done for any buffer
604 which has a non-nil local value of `buffer-offer-save'. By default,
605 Mail mode provides such a local value.
606
607 ** Backup file changes.
608
609 If a backup file cannot be written in the directory of the visited file
610 due to fascist file protection, a backup file is now written in your home
611 directory as `~/%backup%~'. Only one such file is made, ever, so only
612 the most recently made such backup is available.
613
614 When backup files are made by copying, the last-modification time of the
615 original file is now preserved in the backup copy.
616
617 ** Visiting remote files.
618
619 On an internet host, you can now visit and save files on any other
620 internet host directly from Emacs with the commands M-x ftp-find-file
621 and M-x ftp-write-file. Specify an argument of the form HOST:FILENAME.
622 Since standard internet FTP is used, the other host may be any kind
623 of machine and is not required to have any special facilities.
624
625 The first time any one remote host is accessed, you will be asked to
626 give the user name and password for use on that host. FTP is reinvoked
627 each time you ask to use it, but previously specified user names and
628 passwords are remembered automatically.
629
630 ** Dired `g' command.
631
632 `g' in Dired mode is equivalent to M-x revert-buffer; it causes the
633 current contents of the same directory to be read in.
634
635 * Changes in major modes.
636
637 ** C mode indentation change.
638
639 The binding of Linefeed is no longer changed by C mode. It once again
640 has its normal meaning, which is to insert a newline and then indent
641 afterward.
642
643 The old definition did one additional thing: it reindented the line
644 before the new newline. This has been removed because it made the
645 command twice as slow. The only time it was really useful was after the
646 insertion of an `else', since the fact of starting with `else' may change
647 the way that line is indented. Now you will have to type TAB again
648 yourself to reindent the `else' properly.
649
650 If the variable `c-tab-always-indent' is set to `nil', the TAB command
651 in C mode, with no argument, will just insert a tab character if there
652 is non-whitespace preceding point on the current line. Giving it a
653 prefix argument will force reindentation of the line (as well as
654 of the compound statement that begins after point, if any).
655
656 ** Fortran mode now exists.
657
658 This mode provides commands for motion and indentation of Fortran code,
659 plus built-in abbrevs for Fortran keywords. For details, see the manual
660 or the on-line documentation of the command `fortran-mode'.
661
662 ** Scribe mode now exists.
663
664 This mode does something useful for editing files of Scribe input.
665 It is used automatically for files with names ending in ".mss".
666
667 ** Modula2 and Prolog modes now exist.
668
669 These modes are for editing programs in the languages of the same names.
670 They can be selected with M-x modula-2-mode and M-x prolog-mode.
671
672 ** Telnet mode changes.
673
674 The telnet mode special commands have now been assigned to C-c keys.
675 Most of them are the same as in Shell mode.
676
677 ** Picture mode changes.
678
679 The special picture-mode commands to specify the direction of cursor
680 motion after insertion have been moved to C-c keys. The commands to
681 specify diagonal motion were already C-c keys; they are unchanged.
682 The keys to specify horizontal or vertical motion are now
683 C-c < (left), C-c > (right), C-c ^ (up) and C-c . (down).
684
685 ** Nroff mode comments.
686
687 Comments are now supported in Nroff mode. The standard comment commands
688 such as M-; and C-x ; know how to insert, align and delete comments
689 that start with backslash-doublequote.
690
691 ** LaTeX mode.
692
693 LaTeX mode now exists. Use M-x latex-mode to select this mode, and
694 M-x plain-tex-mode to select the previously existing mode for Plain
695 TeX. M-x tex-mode attempts to examine the contents of the buffer and
696 choose between latex-mode and plain-tex-mode accordingly; if the
697 buffer is empty or it cannot tell, the variable `TeX-default-mode'
698 controls the choice. Its value should be the symbol for the mode to
699 be used.
700
701 The facilities for running TeX on all or part of the buffer
702 work with LaTeX as well.
703
704 Some new commands available in both modes:
705
706 C-c C-l recenter the window showing the TeX output buffer
707 so most recent line of output can be seen.
708 C-c C-k kill the TeX subprocess.
709 C-c C-q show the printer queue.
710 C-c C-f close a block (appropriate for LaTeX only).
711 If the current line contains a \begin{...},
712 this inserts an \end{...} on the following line
713 and puts point on a blank line between them.
714
715 ** Outline mode changes.
716
717 Invisible lines in outline mode are now indicated by `...' at the
718 end of the previous visible line.
719
720 The special outline heading motion commands are now all on C-c keys.
721 A few new ones have been added. Here is a full list:
722
723 C-c C-n Move to next visible heading (formerly M-})
724 C-c C-p Move to previous visible heading (formerly M-{)
725 C-c C-f Move to next visible heading at the same level.
726 Thus, if point is on a level-2 heading line,
727 this command moves to the next visible level-2 heading.
728 C-c C-b Move to previous visible heading at the same level.
729 C-c C-u Move up to previous visible heading at a higher level.
730
731 The variable `outline-regexp' now controls recognition of heading lines.
732 Any line whose beginning matches this regexp is a heading line.
733 The depth in outline structure is determined by the length of
734 the string that matches.
735
736 A line starting with a ^L (formfeed) is now by default considered
737 a header line.
738
739 * Mail reading and sending.
740
741 ** MH-E changes.
742
743 MH-E has been extensively modified and improved since the v17 release.
744 It contains many new features, including commands to: extracted failed
745 messages, kill a draft message, undo changes to a mail folder, monitor
746 delivery of a letter, print multiple messages, page digests backwards,
747 insert signatures, and burst digests. Also, many commands have been
748 made to able to deal with named sequences of messages, instead of
749 single messages. MH-E also has had numerous bugs fixed and commands
750 made to run faster. Furthermore, its keybindings have been changed to
751 be compatible with Rmail and the rest of GNU Emacs.
752
753 ** Mail mode changes.
754
755 The C-c commands of mail mode have been rearranged:
756
757 C-c s, C-c c, C-c t and C-c b (move point to various header fields)
758 have been reassigned as C-c C-f C-s, C-c C-f C-c, C-c C-f C-t and C-c
759 C-f C-b. C-c C-f is for "field".
760
761 C-c y, C-c w and C-c q have been changed to C-c C-y, C-c C-w and C-c C-q.
762
763 Thus, C-c LETTER is always unassigned.
764
765 ** Rmail C-r command changed to w.
766
767 The Rmail command to edit the current message is now `w'. This change
768 has been made because people frequently type C-r while in Rmail hoping
769 to do a reverse incremental search. That now works.
770
771 * Rnews changes.
772
773 ** Caesar rotation added.
774
775 The function news-caesar-buffer-body performs the rot13 code on the
776 body of a news message. You can also specify the number to rotate by,
777 as a prefix argument. The function is bound to C-c C-r in both
778 News mode and News Reply mode.
779
780 ** rmail-output command added.
781
782 The C-o command has been bound to rmail-output in news-mode.
783 This allows one to append an article to a file which is in either Unix
784 mail or RMAIL format.
785
786 ** news-reply-mode changes.
787
788 The C-c commands of news reply mode have been rearranged and changed,
789 so that C-c LETTER is always unassigned:
790
791 C-c y, C-c w and C-c q have been changed to C-c C-y, C-c C-w and C-c C-q.
792
793 C-c c, C-c t, and C-c b (move to various mail header fields) have been
794 deleted (they make no sense for posting and replying to USENET).
795
796 C-c s (move to Subject: header field) has been reassigned as C-c C-f
797 C-s. C-c C-f is for "field". Several additional move to news header
798 field commands have been added.
799
800 The local news-reply-mode bindings now look like this:
801
802 C-c C-s news-inews (post the message) C-c C-c news-inews
803 C-c C-f move to a header field (and create it if there isn't):
804 C-c C-f C-n move to Newsgroups: C-c C-f C-s move to Subj:
805 C-c C-f C-f move to Followup-To: C-c C-f C-k move to Keywords:
806 C-c C-f C-d move to Distribution: C-c C-f C-a move to Summary:
807 C-c C-y news-reply-yank-original (insert current message, in NEWS).
808 C-c C-q mail-fill-yanked-message (fill what was yanked).
809 C-c C-r caesar rotate all letters by 13 places in the article's body (rot13).
810
811 * Changes in tags handling.
812
813 ** M-. (`find-tag') and similar commands now look first for an exact
814 match in the tags table, and try substring matches only afterward.
815
816 ** The new command `find-tag-regexp' visits successively the tags that
817 match a specified regular expression.
818
819 ** You can now use more than one tags table. Using `visit-tags-table'
820 to load a new tags table does not discard the other tables previously
821 loaded. The other tags commands use all the tags tables that are loaded;
822 the first tags table used is the one that mentions the current visited file.
823
824 ** Tags tables can now be told to "include" other tags tables. This means
825 the tags table gives the file names of other tags tables. Tags command
826 then search included tags tables after the including table (but before any
827 other tags tables you have loaded). Included tags tables can make it much
828 easier and more efficient to maintain a tags table for a large package with
829 many subdirectories--there is one tags table for each subdirectory, and a
830 master tags table that includes each subdirectory table. You use `-i'
831 options to `etags' when creating the tags table to give the file names of
832 the included tables.
833
834 ** You can now use the tags table for completion of names during
835 ordinary editing. The command M-TAB (except in Emacs Lisp mode)
836 completes the identifier in the buffer before point, using the set of
837 all tags as the list of possible completions.
838
839 ** `tags-query-replace' and `tags-search' changes.
840
841 These functions no longer permanently create buffers for files that
842 are searched but that do not contain any matches for the search
843 pattern.
844
845 * Existing Emacs usable as a server.
846
847 Programs such as mailers that invoke "the editor" as an inferior
848 to edit some text can now be told to use an existing Emacs process
849 instead of creating a new editor.
850
851 To do this, you must have an Emacs process running and capable of
852 doing terminal I/O at the time you want to invoke it. This means that
853 either you are using a window system and give Emacs a separate window
854 or you run the other programs as inferiors of Emacs (such as, using
855 M-x shell).
856
857 First prepare the existing Emacs process by loading the `server'
858 library and executing M-x server-start. (Your .emacs can do this
859 automatically.)
860
861 Now tell the other programs to use, as "the editor", the Emacs client
862 program (etc/emacsclient, located in the same directory as this file).
863 This can be done by setting the environment variable EDITOR.
864
865 When another program invokes the emacsclient as "the editor", the
866 client actually transfers the file names to be edited to the existing
867 Emacs, which automatically visits the files.
868
869 When you are done editing a buffer for a client, do C-x # (server-edit).
870 This marks that buffer as done, and selects the next buffer that the client
871 asked for. When all the buffers requested by a client are marked in this
872 way, Emacs tells the client program to exit, so that the program that
873 invoked "the editor" will resume execution.
874
875 You can only have one server Emacs at a time, but multiple client programs
876 can put in requests at the same time.
877
878 The client/server work only on Berkeley Unix, since they use the Berkeley
879 sockets mechanism for their communication.
880
881 Changes in Lisp programming in Emacs version 18.
882
883 * Init file changes.
884
885 ** Suffixes no longer accepted on `.emacs'.
886
887 Emacs will no longer load a file named `.emacs.el' or `emacs.elc'
888 in place of `.emacs'. This is so that it will take less time to
889 find `.emacs'. If you want to compile your init file, give it another
890 name and make `.emacs' a link to the `.elc' file, or make it contain
891 a call to `load' to load the `.elc' file.
892
893 ** `default-profile' renamed to `default', and loaded after `.emacs'.
894
895 It used to be the case that the file `default-profile' was loaded if
896 and only if `.emacs' was not found.
897
898 Now the name `default-profile' is not used at all. Instead, a library
899 named `default' is loaded after the `.emacs' file. `default' is loaded
900 whether the `.emacs' file exists or not. However, loading of `default'
901 can be prevented if the `.emacs' file sets `inhibit-default-init' to non-nil.
902
903 In fact, you would call the default file `default.el' and probably would
904 byte-compile it to speed execution.
905
906 Note that for most purposes you are better off using a `site-init' library
907 since that will be loaded before the runnable Emacs is dumped. By using
908 a `site-init' library, you avoid taking up time each time Emacs is started.
909
910 ** inhibit-command-line has been eliminated.
911
912 This variable used to exist for .emacs files to set. It has been
913 eliminated because you can get the same effect by setting
914 command-line-args to nil and setting inhibit-startup-message to t.
915
916 * `apply' is more general.
917
918 `apply' now accepts any number of arguments. The first one is a function;
919 the rest are individual arguments to pass to that function, except for the
920 last, which is a list of arguments to pass.
921
922 Previously, `apply' required exactly two arguments. Its old behavior
923 follows as a special case of the new definition.
924
925 * New code-letter for `interactive'.
926
927 (interactive "NFoo: ") is like (interactive "nFoo: ") in reading
928 a number using the minibuffer to serve as the argument; however,
929 if a prefix argument was specified, it uses the prefix argument
930 value as the argument, and does not use the minibuffer at all.
931
932 This is used by the `goto-line' and `goto-char' commands.
933
934 * Semantics of variables.
935
936 ** Built-in per-buffer variables improved.
937
938 Several built-in variables which in the past had a different value in
939 each buffer now behave exactly as if `make-variable-buffer-local' had
940 been done to them.
941
942 These variables are `tab-width', `ctl-arrow', `truncate-lines',
943 `fill-column', `left-margin', `mode-line-format', `abbrev-mode',
944 `overwrite-mode', `case-fold-search', `auto-fill-hook',
945 `selective-display', `selective-display-ellipses'.
946
947 To be precise, each variable has a default value which shows through
948 in most buffers and can be accessed with `default-value' and set with
949 `set-default'. Setting the variable with `setq' makes the variable
950 local to the current buffer. Changing the default value has retroactive
951 effect on all buffers in which the variable is not local.
952
953 The variables `default-case-fold-search', etc., are now obsolete.
954 They now refer to the default value of the variable, which is not
955 quite the same behavior as before, but it should enable old init files
956 to continue to work.
957
958 ** New per-buffer variables.
959
960 The variables `fill-prefix', `comment-column' and `indent-tabs-mode'
961 are now per-buffer. They work just like `fill-column', etc.
962
963 ** New function `setq-default'.
964
965 `setq-default' sets the default value of a variable, and uses the
966 same syntax that `setq' accepts: the variable name is not evaluated
967 and need not be quoted.
968
969 `(setq-default case-fold-search nil)' would make searches case-sensitive
970 in all buffers that do not have local values for `case-fold-search'.
971
972 You can set multiple variables sequentially, each with its own value,
973 in `setq-default' just as in `setq'.
974
975 ** Functions `global-set' and `global-value' deleted.
976
977 These functions were never used except by mistake by users expecting
978 the functionality of `set-default' and `default-value'.
979
980 * Changes in defaulting of major modes.
981
982 When `default-major-mode' is `nil', new buffers are supposed to
983 get their major mode from the buffer that is current. However,
984 certain major modes (such as Dired mode, Rmail mode, Rmail Summary mode,
985 and others) are not reasonable to use in this way.
986
987 Now such modes' names have been given non-`nil' `mode-class' properties.
988 If the current buffer's mode has such a property, Fundamental mode is
989 used as the default for newly created buffers.
990
991 * `where-is-internal' requires additional arguments.
992
993 This function now accepts three arguments, two of them required:
994 DEFINITION, the definition to search for; LOCAL-KEYMAP, the keymap
995 to use as the local map when doing the searching, and FIRST-ONLY,
996 which is nonzero to return only the first key found.
997
998 This function returns a list of keys (strings) whose definitions
999 (in the LOCAL-KEYMAP or the current global map) are DEFINITION.
1000
1001 If FIRST-ONLY is non-nil, it returns a single key (string).
1002
1003 This function has changed incompatibly in that now two arguments
1004 are required when previously only one argument was allowed. To get
1005 the old behavior of this function, write `(current-local-map)' as
1006 the expression for the second argument.
1007
1008 The incompatibility is sad, but `nil' is a legitimate value for the
1009 second argument (it means there is no local keymap), so it cannot also
1010 serve as a default meaning to use the current local keymap.
1011
1012 * Abbrevs with hooks.
1013
1014 When an abbrev defined with a hook is expanded, it now performs the
1015 usual replacement of the abbrev with the expansion before running the
1016 hook. Previously the abbrev itself was deleted but the expansion was
1017 not inserted.
1018
1019 * Function `scan-buffer' deleted.
1020
1021 Use `search-forward' or `search-backward' in place of `scan-buffer'.
1022 You will have to rearrange the arguments.
1023
1024 * X window interface improvements.
1025
1026 ** Detect release of mouse buttons.
1027
1028 Button-up events can now be detected. See the file `lisp/x-mouse.el'
1029 for details.
1030
1031 ** New pop-up menu facility.
1032
1033 The new function `x-popup-menu' pops up a menu (in a X window)
1034 and returns an indication of which selection the user made.
1035 For more information, see its self-documentation.
1036
1037 * M-x disassemble.
1038
1039 This command prints the disassembly of a byte-compiled Emacs Lisp function.
1040
1041 Would anyone like to interface this to the debugger?
1042
1043 * `insert-buffer-substring' can insert part of the current buffer.
1044
1045 The old restriction that the text being inserted had to come from
1046 a different buffer is now lifted.
1047
1048 When inserting text from the current buffer, the text to be inserted
1049 is determined from the specified bounds before any copying takes place.
1050
1051 * New function `substitute-key-definition'.
1052
1053 This is a new way to replace one command with another command as the
1054 binding of whatever keys may happen to refer to it.
1055
1056 (substitute-key-definition OLDDEF NEWDEF KEYMAP) looks through KEYMAP
1057 for keys defined to run OLDDEF, and rebinds those keys to run NEWDEF
1058 instead.
1059
1060 * New function `insert-char'.
1061
1062 Insert a specified character, a specified number of times.
1063
1064 * `mark-marker' changed.
1065
1066 When there is no mark, this now returns a marker that points
1067 nowhere, rather than `nil'.
1068
1069 * `ding' accepts argument.
1070
1071 When given an argument, the function `ding' does not terminate
1072 execution of a keyboard macro. Normally, `ding' does terminate
1073 all macros that are currently executing.
1074
1075 * New function `minibuffer-depth'.
1076
1077 This function returns the current depth in minibuffer activations.
1078 The value is zero when the minibuffer is not in use.
1079 Values greater than one are possible if the user has entered the
1080 minibuffer recursively.
1081
1082 * New function `documentation-property'.
1083
1084 (documentation-property SYMBOL PROPNAME) is like (get SYMBOL PROPNAME),
1085 except that if the property value is a number `documentation-property'
1086 will take that number (or its absolute value) as a character position
1087 in the DOC file and return the string found there.
1088
1089 (documentation-property VAR 'variable-documentation) is the proper
1090 way for a Lisp program to get the documentation of variable VAR.
1091
1092 * New documentation-string expansion feature.
1093
1094 If a documentation string (for a variable or function) contains text
1095 of the form `\<FOO>', it means that all command names specified in
1096 `\[COMMAND]' construct from that point on should be turned into keys
1097 using the value of the variable FOO as the local keymap. Thus, for example,
1098
1099 `\<emacs-lisp-mode-map>\[eval-defun] evaluates the defun containing point.'
1100
1101 will expand into
1102
1103 "ESC C-x evaluates the defun containing point."
1104
1105 regardless of the current major mode, because ESC C-x is defined to
1106 run `eval-defun' in the keymap `emacs-lisp-mode-map'. The effect is
1107 to show the key for `eval-defun' in Emacs Lisp mode regardless of the
1108 current major mode.
1109
1110 The `\<...>' construct applies to all `\[...]' constructs that follow it,
1111 up to the end of the documentation string or the next `\<...>'.
1112
1113 Without `\<...>', the keys for commands specified in `\[...]' are found
1114 in the current buffer's local map.
1115
1116 The current global keymap is always searched second, whether `\<...>'
1117 has been used or not.
1118
1119 * Multiple hooks allowed in certain contexts.
1120
1121 The old hook variables `find-file-hook', `find-file-not-found-hook' and
1122 `write-file-hook' have been replaced.
1123
1124 The replacements are `find-file-hooks', `find-file-not-found-hooks'
1125 and `write-file-hooks'. Each holds a list of functions to be called;
1126 by default, `nil', for no functions. The functions are called in
1127 order of appearance in the list.
1128
1129 In the case of `find-file-hooks', all the functions are executed.
1130
1131 In the case of `find-file-not-found-hooks', if any of the functions
1132 returns non-`nil', the rest of the functions are not called.
1133
1134 In the case of `write-file-hooks', if any of the functions returns
1135 non-`nil', the rest of the functions are not called, and the file is
1136 considered to have been written already; so actual writing in the
1137 usual way is not done. If `write-file-hooks' is local to a buffer,
1138 it is set to its global value if `set-visited-file-name' is called
1139 (and thus by C-x C-w as well).
1140
1141 `find-file-not-found-hooks' and `write-file-hooks' can be used
1142 together to implement editing of files that are not stored as Unix
1143 files: stored in archives, or inside version control systems, or on
1144 other machines running other operating systems and accessible via ftp.
1145
1146 * New hooks for suspending Emacs.
1147
1148 Suspending Emacs runs the hook `suspend-hook' before suspending
1149 and the hook `suspend-resume-hook' if the suspended Emacs is resumed.
1150 Running a hook is done by applying the variable's value to no arguments
1151 if the variable has a non-`nil' value. If `suspend-hook' returns
1152 non-`nil', then suspending is inhibited and so is running the
1153 `suspend-resume-hook'. The non-`nil' value means that the `suspend-hook'
1154 has done whatever suspending is required.
1155
1156 * Disabling commands can print a special message.
1157
1158 A command is disabled by giving it a non-`nil' `disabled' property.
1159 Now, if this property is a string, it is included in the message
1160 printed when the user tries to run the command.
1161
1162 * Emacs can open TCP connections.
1163
1164 The function `open-network-stream' opens a TCP connection to
1165 a specified host and service. Its value is a Lisp object that represents
1166 the connection. The object is a kind of "subprocess", and I/O are
1167 done like I/O to subprocesses.
1168
1169 * Display-related changes.
1170
1171 ** New mode-line control features.
1172
1173 The display of the mode line used to be controlled by a format-string
1174 that was the value of the variable `mode-line-format'.
1175
1176 This variable still exists, but it now allows more general values,
1177 not just strings. Lists, cons cells and symbols are also meaningful.
1178
1179 The mode line contents are created by outputting various mode elements
1180 one after the other. Here are the kinds of objects that can be
1181 used as mode elements, and what they do in the display:
1182
1183 string the contents of the string are output to the mode line,
1184 and %-constructs are replaced by other text.
1185
1186 t or nil ignored; no output results.
1187
1188 symbol the symbol's value is used. If the value is a string,
1189 the string is output verbatim to the mode line
1190 (so %-constructs are not interpreted). Otherwise,
1191 the symbol's value is processed as a mode element.
1192
1193 list (whose first element is a string or list or cons cell)
1194 the elements of the list are treated as as mode elements,
1195 so that the output they generate is concatenated,
1196
1197 list (whose car is a symbol)
1198 if the symbol's value is non-nil, the second element of the
1199 list is treated as a mode element. Otherwise, the third
1200 element (if any) of the list is treated as a mode element.
1201
1202 cons (whose car is a positive integer)
1203 the cdr of the cons is used as a mode element, but
1204 the text it produces is padded, if necessary, to have
1205 at least the width specified by the integer.
1206
1207 cons (whose car is a negative integer)
1208 the cdr of the cons is used as a mode element, but
1209 the text it produces is truncated, if necessary, to have
1210 at most the width specified by the integer.
1211
1212 There is always one mode element to start with, that being the value of
1213 `mode-line-format', but if this value is a list then it leads to several
1214 more mode elements, which can lead to more, and so on.
1215
1216 There is one new %-construct for mode elements that are strings:
1217 `%n' displays ` Narrow' for a buffer that is narrowed.
1218
1219 The default value of `mode-line-format' refers to several other variables.
1220 These variables are `mode-name', `mode-line-buffer-identification',
1221 `mode-line-process', `mode-line-modified', `global-mode-string' and
1222 `minor-mode-alist'. The first four are local in every buffer in which they
1223 are changed from the default.
1224
1225 mode-name Name of buffer's major mode. Local in every buffer.
1226
1227 mode-line-buffer-identification
1228 Normally the list ("Emacs: %17b"), it is responsible
1229 for displaying text to indicate what buffer is being shown
1230 and what kind of editing it is doing. `Emacs' means
1231 that a file of characters is being edited. Major modes
1232 such as Info and Dired which edit or view other kinds
1233 of data often change this value. This variables becomes
1234 local to the current buffer if it is setq'd.
1235
1236 mode-line-process
1237 Normally nil, this variable is responsible for displaying
1238 information about the process running in the current buffer.
1239 M-x shell-mode and M-x compile alter this variable.
1240
1241 mode-line-modified
1242 This variable is responsible for displaying the indication
1243 of whether the current buffer is modified or read-only.
1244 By default its value is `("--%*%*-")'.
1245
1246 minor-mode-alist
1247 This variable is responsible for displaying text for those
1248 minor modes that are currently enabled. Its value
1249 is a list of elements of the form (VARIABLE STRING),
1250 where STRING is to be displayed if VARIABLE's value
1251 (in the buffer whose mode line is being displayed)
1252 is non-nil. This variable is not made local to particular
1253 buffers, but loading some libraries may add elements to it.
1254
1255 global-mode-string
1256 This variable is used to display the time, if you ask
1257 for that.
1258
1259 The idea of these variables is to eliminate the need for major modes
1260 to alter mode-line-format itself.
1261
1262 ** `window-point' valid for selected window.
1263
1264 The value returned by `window-point' used to be incorrect when its
1265 argument was the selected window. Now the value is correct.
1266
1267 ** Window configurations may be saved as Lisp objects.
1268
1269 The function `current-window-configuration' returns a special type of
1270 Lisp object that represents the current layout of windows: the
1271 sizes and positions of windows, which buffers appear in them, and
1272 which parts of the buffers appear on the screen.
1273
1274 The function `set-window-configuration' takes one argument, which must
1275 be a window configuration object, and restores that configuration.
1276
1277 ** New hook `temp-output-buffer-show-hook'.
1278
1279 This hook allows you to control how help buffers are displayed.
1280 Whenever `with-output-to-temp-buffer' has executed its body and wants
1281 to display the temp buffer, if this variable is bound and non-`nil'
1282 then its value is called with one argument, the temp buffer.
1283 The hook function is solely responsible for displaying the buffer.
1284 The standard manner of display--making the buffer appear in a window--is
1285 used only if there is no hook function.
1286
1287 ** New function `minibuffer-window'.
1288
1289 This function returns the window used (sometimes) for displaying
1290 the minibuffer. It can be used even when the minibuffer is not active.
1291
1292 ** New feature to `next-window'.
1293
1294 If the optional second argument is neither `nil' nor `t', the minibuffer
1295 window is omitted from consideration even when active; if the starting
1296 window was the last non-minibuffer window, the value will be the first
1297 non-minibuffer window.
1298
1299 ** New variable `minibuffer-scroll-window'.
1300
1301 When this variable is non-`nil', the command `scroll-other-window'
1302 uses it as the window to be scrolled. Displays of completion-lists
1303 set this variable to the window containing the display.
1304
1305 ** New argument to `sit-for'.
1306
1307 A non-nil second argument to `sit-for' means do not redisplay;
1308 just wait for the specified time or until input is available.
1309
1310 ** Deleted function `set-minor-mode'; minor modes must be changed.
1311
1312 The function `set-minor-mode' has been eliminated. The display
1313 of minor mode names in the mode line is now controlled by the
1314 variable `minor-mode-alist'. To specify display of a new minor
1315 mode, it is sufficient to add an element to this list. Once that
1316 is done, you can turn the mode on and off just by setting a variable,
1317 and the display will show its status automatically.
1318
1319 ** New variable `cursor-in-echo-area'.
1320
1321 If this variable is non-nil, the screen cursor appears on the
1322 last line of the screen, at the end of the text displayed there.
1323
1324 Binding this variable to t is useful at times when reading single
1325 characters of input with `read-char'.
1326
1327 ** New per-buffer variable `selective-display-ellipses'.
1328
1329 If this variable is non-nil, an ellipsis (`...') appears on the screen
1330 at the end of each text line that is followed by invisible text.
1331
1332 If this variable is nil, no ellipses appear. Then there is no sign
1333 on the screen that invisible text is present.
1334
1335 Text is made invisible under the control of the variable
1336 `selective-display'; this is how Outline mode and C-x $ work.
1337
1338 ** New variable `no-redraw-on-reenter'.
1339
1340 If you set this variable non-nil, Emacs will not clear the screen when
1341 you resume it after suspending it. This is for the sake of terminals
1342 with multiple screens of memory, where the termcap entry has been set
1343 up to switch between screens when Emacs is suspended and resumed.
1344
1345 ** New argument to `set-screen-height' or `set-screen-width'.
1346
1347 These functions now take an optional second argument which says
1348 what significance the newly specified height or width has.
1349
1350 If the argument is nil, or absent, it means that Emacs should
1351 believe that the terminal height or width really is as just specified.
1352
1353 If the argument is t, it means Emacs should not believe that the
1354 terminal really is this high or wide, but it should use the
1355 specific height or width as the number of lines or columns to display.
1356 Thus, you could display only 24 lines on a screen known to have 48 lines.
1357
1358 What practical difference is there between using only 24 lines for display
1359 and really believing that the terminal has 24 lines?
1360
1361 1. The "real" height of the terminal says what the terminal command
1362 to move the cursor to the last line will do.
1363
1364 2. The "real" height of the terminal determines how much padding is
1365 needed.
1366
1367 * File-related changes.
1368
1369 ** New parameter `backup-by-copying-when-mismatch'.
1370
1371 If this variable is non-`nil', then when Emacs is about to save a
1372 file, it will create the backup file by copying if that would avoid
1373 changing the file's uid or gid.
1374
1375 The default value of this variable is `nil', because usually it is
1376 useful to have the uid of a file change according to who edited it
1377 last. I recommend thet this variable be left normally `nil' and
1378 changed with a local variables list in those particular files where
1379 the uid needs to be preserved.
1380
1381 ** New parameter `file-precious-flag'.
1382
1383 If this variable is non-`nil', saving the buffer tries to avoid
1384 leaving an incomplete file due to disk full or other I/O errors.
1385 It renames the old file before saving. If saving is successful,
1386 the renamed file is deleted; if saving gets an error, the renamed
1387 file is renamed back to the name you visited.
1388
1389 Backups are always made by copying for such files.
1390
1391 ** New variable `buffer-offer-save'.
1392
1393 If the value of this variable is non-`nil' in a buffer then exiting
1394 Emacs will offer to save the buffer (if it is modified and nonempty)
1395 even if the buffer is not visiting a file. This variable is
1396 automatically made local to the current buffer whenever it is set.
1397
1398 ** `rename-file', `copy-file', `add-name-to-file' and `make-symbolic-link'.
1399
1400 The third argument to these functions used to be `t' or `nil'; `t'
1401 meaning go ahead even if the specified new file name already has a file,
1402 and `nil' meaning to get an error.
1403
1404 Now if the third argument is a number it means to ask the user for
1405 confirmation in this case.
1406
1407 ** New optional argument to `copy-file'.
1408
1409 If `copy-file' receives a non-nil fourth argument, it attempts
1410 to give the new copy the same time-of-last-modification that the
1411 original file has.
1412
1413 ** New function `file-newer-than-file-p'.
1414
1415 (file-newer-than-file-p FILE1 FILE2) returns non-nil if FILE1 has been
1416 modified more recently than FILE2. If FILE1 does not exist, the value
1417 is always nil; otherwise, if FILE2 does not exist, the value is t.
1418 This is meant for use when FILE2 depends on FILE1, to see if changes
1419 in FILE1 make it necessary to recompute FILE2 from it.
1420
1421 ** Changed function `file-exists-p'.
1422
1423 This function is no longer the same as `file-readable-p'.
1424 `file-exists-p' can now return t for a file that exists but which
1425 the fascists won't allow you to read.
1426
1427 ** New function `file-locked-p'.
1428
1429 This function receives a file name as argument and returns `nil'
1430 if the file is not locked, `t' if locked by this Emacs, or a
1431 string giving the name of the user who has locked it.
1432
1433 ** New function `file-name-sans-versions'.
1434
1435 (file-name-sans-versions NAME) returns a substring of NAME, with any
1436 version numbers or other backup suffixes deleted from the end.
1437
1438 ** New functions for directory names.
1439
1440 Although a directory is really a kind of file, specifying a directory
1441 uses a somewhat different syntax from specifying a file.
1442 In Emacs, a directory name is used as part of a file name.
1443
1444 On Unix, the difference is small: a directory name ends in a slash,
1445 while a file name does not: thus, `/usr/rms/' to name a directory,
1446 while `/usr/rms' names the file which holds that directory.
1447
1448 On VMS, the difference is considerable: `du:[rms.foo]' specifies a
1449 directory, but the name of the file that holds that directory is
1450 `du:[rms]foo.dir'.
1451
1452 There are two new functions for converting between directory names
1453 and file names. `directory-file-name' takes a directory name and
1454 returns the name of the file in which that directory's data is stored.
1455 `file-name-as-directory' takes the name of a file and returns
1456 the corresponding directory name. These always understand Unix file name
1457 syntax; on VMS, they understand VMS syntax as well.
1458
1459 For example, (file-name-as-directory "/usr/rms") returns "/usr/rms/"
1460 and (directory-file-name "/usr/rms/") returns "/usr/rms".
1461 On VMS, (file-name-as-directory "du:[rms]foo.dir") returns "du:[rms.foo]"
1462 and (directory-file-name "du:[rms.foo]") returns "du:[rms]foo.dir".
1463
1464 ** Value of `file-attributes' changed.
1465
1466 The function file-attributes returns a list containing many kinds of
1467 information about a file. Now the list has eleven elements.
1468
1469 The tenth element is `t' if deleting the file and creating another
1470 file of the same name would result in a change in the file's group;
1471 `nil' if there would be no change. You can also think of this as
1472 comparing the file's group with the default group for files created in
1473 the same directory by you.
1474
1475 The eleventh element is the inode number of the file.
1476
1477 ** VMS-only function `file-name-all-versions'.
1478
1479 This function returns a list of all the completions, including version
1480 number, of a specified version-number-less file name. This is like
1481 `file-name-all-completions', except that the latter returns values
1482 that do not include version numbers.
1483
1484 ** VMS-only variable `vms-stmlf-recfm'.
1485
1486 On a VMS system, if this variable is non-nil, Emacs will give newly
1487 created files the record format `stmlf'. This is necessary for files
1488 that must contain lines of arbitrary length, such as compiled Emacs
1489 Lisp.
1490
1491 When writing a new version of an existing file, Emacs always keeps
1492 the same record format as the previous version; so this variable has
1493 no effect.
1494
1495 This variable has no effect on Unix systems.
1496
1497 ** `insert-file-contents' on an empty file.
1498
1499 This no longer sets the buffer's "modified" flag.
1500
1501 ** New function (VMS only) `define-logical-name':
1502
1503 (define-logical-name LOGICAL TRANSLATION) defines a VMS logical name
1504 LOGICAL whose translation is TRANSLATION. The new name applies to
1505 the current process only.
1506
1507 ** Deleted variable `ask-about-buffer-names'.
1508
1509 If you want buffer names for files to be generated in a special way,
1510 you must redefine `create-file-buffer'.
1511
1512 * Subprocess-related changes.
1513
1514 ** New function `process-list'.
1515
1516 This function takes no arguments and returns a list of all
1517 of Emacs's asynchronous subprocesses.
1518
1519 ** New function `process-exit-status'.
1520
1521 This function, given a process, process name or buffer as argument,
1522 returns the exit status code or signal number of the process.
1523 If the process has not yet exited or died, this function returns 0.
1524
1525 ** Process output ignores `buffer-read-only'.
1526
1527 Output from a process will go into the process's buffer even if the
1528 buffer is read only.
1529
1530 ** Switching buffers in filter functions and sentinels.
1531
1532 Emacs no longer saves and restore the current buffer around calling
1533 the filter and sentinel functions, so these functions can now
1534 permanently alter the selected buffer in a straightforward manner.
1535
1536 ** Specifying environment variables for subprocesses.
1537
1538 When a subprocess is started with `start-process' or `call-process',
1539 the value of the variable `process-environment' is taken to
1540 specify the environment variables to give the subprocess. The
1541 value should be a list of strings, each of the form "VAR=VALUE".
1542
1543 `process-environment' is initialized when Emacs starts up
1544 based on Emacs's environment.
1545
1546 ** New variable `process-connection-type'.
1547
1548 If this variable is `nil', when a subprocess is created, Emacs uses
1549 a pipe rather than a pty to communicate with it. Normally this
1550 variable is `t', telling Emacs to use a pty if ptys are supported
1551 and one is available.
1552
1553 ** New function `waiting-for-user-input-p'.
1554
1555 This function, given a subprocess as argument, returns `t' if that
1556 subprocess appears to be waiting for input sent from Emacs,
1557 or `nil' otherwise.
1558
1559 ** New hook `shell-set-directory-error-hook'.
1560
1561 The value of this variable is called, with no arguments, whenever
1562 Shell mode gets an error trying to keep track of directory-setting
1563 commands (such as `cd' and `pushd') used in the shell buffer.
1564
1565 * New functions `user-uid' and `user-real-uid'.
1566
1567 These functions take no arguments and return, respectively,
1568 the effective uid and the real uid of the Emacs process.
1569 The value in each case is an integer.
1570
1571 * New variable `print-escape-newlines' controls string printing.
1572
1573 If this variable is non-`nil', then when a Lisp string is printed
1574 by the Lisp printing function `prin1' or `print', newline characters
1575 are printed as `\n' rather than as a literal newline.
1576
1577 * New function `sysnetunam' on HPUX.
1578
1579 This function takes two arguments, a network address PATH and a
1580 login string LOGIN, and executes the system call `netunam'.
1581 It returns `t' if the call succeeds, otherwise `nil'.
1582
1583 News regarding installation:
1584
1585 * Many `s-...' file names changed.
1586
1587 Many `s-...' files have been renamed. All periods in such names,
1588 except the ones just before the final `h', have been changed to
1589 hyphens. Thus, `s-bsd4.2.h' has been renamed to `s-bsd4-2.h'.
1590
1591 This is so a Unix distribution can be moved mechanically to VMS.
1592
1593 * `DOCSTR...' file now called `DOC-...'.
1594
1595 The file of on-line documentation strings, that used to be
1596 `DOCSTR.mm.nn.oo' in this directory, is now called `DOC-mm.nn.oo'.
1597 This is so that it can port to VMS using the standard conventions
1598 for translating filenames for VMS.
1599
1600 This file also now contains the doc strings for variables as
1601 well as functions.
1602
1603 * Emacs no longer uses floating point arithmetic.
1604
1605 This may make it easier to port to some machines.
1606
1607 * Macros `XPNTR' and `XSETPNTR'; flag `DATA_SEG_BITS'.
1608
1609 These macros exclusively are used to unpack a pointer from a Lisp_Object
1610 and to insert a pointer into a Lisp_Object. Redefining them may help
1611 port Emacs to machines in which all pointers to data objects have
1612 certain high bits set.
1613
1614 If `DATA_SEG_BITS' is defined, it should be a number which contains
1615 the high bits to be inclusive or'ed with pointers that are unpacked.
1616
1617 * New flag `HAVE_X_MENU'.
1618
1619 Define this flag in `config.h' in addition to `HAVE_X_WINDOWS'
1620 to enable use of the Emacs interface to X Menus. On some operating
1621 systems, the rest of the X interface works properly but X Menus
1622 do not work; hence this separate flag. See the file `src/xmenu.c'
1623 for more information.
1624
1625 * Macros `ARRAY_MARK_FLAG' and `DONT_COPY_FLAG'.
1626
1627 * `HAVE_ALLOCA' prevents assembly of `alloca.s'.
1628
1629 * `SYSTEM_MALLOC' prevents use of GNU `malloc.c'.
1630
1631 SYSTEM_MALLOC, if defined, means use the system's own `malloc' routines
1632 rather than those that come with Emacs.
1633
1634 Use this only if absolutely necessary, because if it is used you do
1635 not get warnings when space is getting low.
1636
1637 * New flags to control unexec.
1638
1639 See the file `unexec.c' for a long comment on the compilation
1640 switches that suffice to make it work on many machines.
1641
1642 * `PNTR_COMPARISON_TYPE'
1643
1644 Pointers that need to be compared for ordering are converted to this type
1645 first. Normally this is `unsigned int'.
1646
1647 * `HAVE_VFORK', `HAVE_DUP2' and `HAVE_GETTIMEOFDAY'.
1648
1649 These flags just say whether certain system calls are available.
1650
1651 * New macros control compiler switches, linker switches and libraries.
1652
1653 The m- and s- files can now control in a modular fashion the precise
1654 arguments passed to `cc' and `ld'.
1655
1656 LIBS_STANDARD defines the standard C libraries. Default is `-lc'.
1657 LIBS_DEBUG defines the extra libraries to use when debugging. Default `-lg'.
1658 LIBS_SYSTEM can be defined by the s- file to specify extra libraries.
1659 LIBS_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra libraries.
1660 LIBS_TERMCAP defines the libraries for Termcap or Terminfo.
1661 It is defined by default in a complicated fashion but the m- or s- file
1662 can override it.
1663
1664 LD_SWITCH_SYSTEM can be defined by the s- file to specify extra `ld' switches.
1665 The default is `-X' on BSD systems except those few that use COFF object files.
1666 LD_SWITCH_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra `ld' switches.
1667
1668 C_DEBUG_SWITCH defines the switches to give `cc' when debugging. Default `-g'.
1669 C_OPTIMIZE_SWITCH defines the switches to give `cc' to optimize. Default `-O'.
1670 C_SWITCH_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra `cc' switches.
1671
1672 For older news, see the file NEWS.3.
1673
1674 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
1675 Copyright information:
1676
1677 Copyright (C) 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
1678
1679 Permission is granted to anyone to make or distribute verbatim copies
1680 of this document as received, in any medium, provided that the
1681 copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved,
1682 thus giving the recipient permission to redistribute in turn.
1683
1684 Permission is granted to distribute modified versions
1685 of this document, or of portions of it,
1686 under the above conditions, provided also that they
1687 carry prominent notices stating who last changed them.
1688
1689 Local variables:
1690 mode: text
1691 end: