comparison doc/lispref/display.texi @ 100978:d14fcdc20167

(Attribute Functions): Note that a function value :height is relative, and that compatibility functions work by calling set-face-attribute. (Displaying Faces): Reorder list in order of increasing priority. (Face Remapping): New node. Content moved here from Displaying Faces. (Glyphs): Link to Face Functions.

100977:26225b02af03

@menu
* Defining Faces::      How to define a face with @code{defface}.
* Face Attributes::     What is in a face?
* Attribute Functions::  Functions to examine and set face attributes.
* Displaying Faces::     How Emacs combines the faces specified for a character.
* Font Selection::      Finding the best available font for a face.
* Face Functions::      How to define and examine faces.
* Auto Faces::          Hook for automatic face assignment.
* Font Lookup::         Looking up the names of available fonts
                          and information about them.

value of the face attribute @var{attribute}, is relative.  This means
it would modify, rather than completely override, any value that comes
from a subsequent face in the face list or that is inherited from
another face.

@code{unspecified} is a relative value for all attributes.
For @code{:height}, floating point values are also relative.

For example:

@example
(face-attribute-relative-p :height 2.0)

@var{value2}; otherwise, if @var{value1} is an absolute value for the
face attribute @var{attribute}, returns @var{value1} unchanged.
@end defun

  The following functions provide compatibility with Emacs 20 and
below.  They use values of @code{t} and @code{nil} for @var{frame}
just like @code{set-face-attribute} and @code{face-attribute}.

@defun set-face-foreground face color &optional frame
@defunx set-face-background face color &optional frame
These functions set the foreground (or background, respectively) color
of face @var{face} to @var{color}.  The argument @var{color} should be
a string, the name of a color.
@end defun

@defun set-face-stipple face pattern &optional frame
This function sets the background stipple pattern of face @var{face}
to @var{pattern}.  The argument PATTERN should be the name of a
stipple pattern defined by the X server, or actual bitmap data
(@pxref{Face Attributes}), or `nil' meaning don't use stipple.
@end defun

@defun set-face-font face font &optional frame
This function sets the font of face @var{face}.  This actually sets
the attributes @code{:family}, @code{:width}, @code{:height},
@code{:weight}, and @code{:slant} according to the font name
@var{font}.
@end defun

@defun set-face-bold-p face bold-p &optional frame
This function specifies whether @var{face} should be bold.  If
@var{bold-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means yes; @code{nil} means no.
This actually sets the @code{:weight} attribute.
@end defun

@defun set-face-italic-p face italic-p &optional frame
This function specifies whether @var{face} should be italic.  If
@var{italic-p} is non-@code{nil}, that means yes; @code{nil} means no.
This actually sets the @code{:slant} attribute.
@end defun

@defun set-face-underline-p face underline &optional frame
This function sets the underline attribute of face @var{face}.
Non-@code{nil} means do underline; @code{nil} means don't.
If @var{underline} is a string, underline with that color.
@end defun

@defun set-face-inverse-video-p face inverse-video-p &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of face
@var{face}.
@end defun

@defun invert-face face &optional frame
This function swaps the foreground and background colors of face
@var{face}.
@end defun

  These functions examine the attributes of a face.  If you don't
specify @var{frame}, they refer to the selected frame; @code{t} refers
to the default data for new frames.  They return the symbol
@code{unspecified} if the face doesn't define any value for that
attribute.

@defun face-foreground face &optional frame inherit
@defunx face-background face &optional frame inherit

@defun face-font face &optional frame
This function returns the name of the font of face @var{face}.
@end defun

@defun face-bold-p face &optional frame
This function returns @code{t} if @var{face} is bold---that is, if it is
bolder than normal.  It returns @code{nil} otherwise.
@end defun

@defun face-italic-p face &optional frame
This function returns @code{t} if @var{face} is italic or oblique,
@code{nil} otherwise.
@end defun

@defun face-underline-p face &optional frame
This function returns the @code{:underline} attribute of face @var{face}.

@end defun

@node Displaying Faces
@subsection Displaying Faces

  Here are the ways to specify which faces to use for display of text:

@itemize @bullet
@item
With defaults.  The @code{default} face is used as the ultimate
default for all text.  (In Emacs 19 and 20, the @code{default}
face is used only when no other face is specified.)

@item
For a mode line or header line, the face @code{mode-line} or
@code{mode-line-inactive}, or @code{header-line}, is merged in just
before @code{default}.

@item
With text properties.  A character can have a @code{face} property; if
so, the faces and face attributes specified there apply.  @xref{Special
Properties}.

If the character has a @code{mouse-face} property, that is used instead
of the @code{face} property when the mouse is ``near enough'' to the
character.

@item
With overlays.  An overlay can have @code{face} and @code{mouse-face}
properties too; they apply to all the text covered by the overlay.

@item
With a region that is active.  In Transient Mark mode, the region is
highlighted with the face @code{region} (@pxref{Standard Faces,,,
emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).

@item
With special glyphs.  Each glyph can specify a particular face
number.  @xref{Glyphs}.
@end itemize

  If these various sources together specify more than one face for a
particular character, Emacs merges the attributes of the various faces
specified.  For each attribute, Emacs tries first the face of any
special glyph; then the face for region highlighting, if appropriate;
then the faces specified by overlays, followed by those specified by
text properties, then the @code{mode-line} or
@code{mode-line-inactive} or @code{header-line} face (if in a mode
line or a header line), and last the @code{default} face.

  When multiple overlays cover one character, an overlay with higher
priority overrides those with lower priority.  @xref{Overlays}.

@defvar face-remapping-alist
  This variable is used for buffer-local or global changes in the
appearance of a face, for instance making the @code{default} face a
variable-pitch face in a particular buffer.

  Its value should be an alist, whose elements have the form
@code{(@var{face} @var{remapping...})}.  This causes Emacs to display
text using the face @var{face} using @var{remapping...} instead of
@var{face}'s global definition.  @var{remapping...} may be any face
specification suitable for a @code{face} text property, usually a face
name, but also perhaps a property list of face attribute/value pairs.
@xref{Special Properties}.

  To affect display only in a single buffer,
@code{face-remapping-alist} should be made buffer-local.

Two points bear emphasizing:

@enumerate
@item

@noindent
then the new definition of the @code{mode-line} face inherits from the
@code{italic} face, and the @emph{normal} (non-remapped) definition of
@code{mode-line} face.
@end enumerate

  A typical use of the @code{face-remapping-alist} is to change a
buffer's @code{default} face; for example, the following changes a
buffer's @code{default} face to use the @code{variable-pitch} face,
with the height doubled:

@example
(set (make-local-variable 'face-remapping-alist)
     '((default variable-pitch :height 2.0)))
@end example

@end defvar

@noindent
The following functions implement a somewhat higher-level interface to
@code{face-remapping-alist}, making it easier to use
``cooperatively''.  They are mainly intended for buffer-local use, and
so all make @code{face-remapping-alist} variable buffer-local as a
side-effect.

These functions use entries in @code{face-remapping-alist} which have
the general form:

@example
  (@var{face} @var{relative_specs_1} @var{relative_specs_2} @var{...} @var{base_specs})
@end example

@end defun

@defun glyph-face glyph
This function returns face of simple glyph code @var{glyph}, or
@code{nil} if @var{glyph} has the default face (face-id 0).
@end defun

  On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
the meaning of glyph codes (represented as small integers).

100978:d14fcdc20167

@menu
* Defining Faces::      How to define a face with @code{defface}.
* Face Attributes::     What is in a face?
* Attribute Functions::  Functions to examine and set face attributes.
* Displaying Faces::     How Emacs combines the faces specified for a character.
* Face Remapping::     Remapping faces to alternative definitions.
* Font Selection::      Finding the best available font for a face.
* Face Functions::      How to define and examine faces.
* Auto Faces::          Hook for automatic face assignment.
* Font Lookup::         Looking up the names of available fonts
                          and information about them.

value of the face attribute @var{attribute}, is relative.  This means
it would modify, rather than completely override, any value that comes
from a subsequent face in the face list or that is inherited from
another face.

@code{unspecified} is a relative value for all attributes.  For
@code{:height}, floating point and function values are also relative.

For example:

@example
(face-attribute-relative-p :height 2.0)

@var{value2}; otherwise, if @var{value1} is an absolute value for the
face attribute @var{attribute}, returns @var{value1} unchanged.
@end defun

  The following functions provide compatibility with Emacs 20 and
below.  They work by calling @code{set-face-attribute}.  Values of
@code{t} and @code{nil} for their @var{frame} argument are handled
just like @code{set-face-attribute} and @code{face-attribute}.

@defun set-face-foreground face color &optional frame
@defunx set-face-background face color &optional frame
These functions set the @code{:foreground} attribute (or
@code{:background} attribute, respectively) of @var{face} to
@var{color}.
@end defun

@defun set-face-stipple face pattern &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:stipple} attribute of @var{face} to
@var{pattern}.
@end defun

@defun set-face-font face font &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:font} attribute of @var{face} to
@var{font}.
@end defun

@defun set-face-bold-p face bold-p &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:weight} attribute of @var{face} to
@var{normal} if @var{bold-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{bold}
otherwise.
@end defun

@defun set-face-italic-p face italic-p &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:slant} attribute of @var{face} to
@var{normal} if @var{italic-p} is @code{nil}, and to @var{italic}
otherwise.
@end defun

@defun set-face-underline-p face underline &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:underline} attribute of @var{face} to
@var{underline}.
@end defun

@defun set-face-inverse-video-p face inverse-video-p &optional frame
This function sets the @code{:inverse-video} attribute of @var{face}
to @var{inverse-video-p}.
@end defun

@defun invert-face face &optional frame
This function swaps the foreground and background colors of face
@var{face}.
@end defun

  The following functions examine the attributes of a face.  If you
don't specify @var{frame}, they refer to the selected frame; @code{t}
refers to the default data for new frames.  They return the symbol
@code{unspecified} if the face doesn't define any value for that
attribute.

@defun face-foreground face &optional frame inherit
@defunx face-background face &optional frame inherit

@defun face-font face &optional frame
This function returns the name of the font of face @var{face}.
@end defun

@defun face-bold-p face &optional frame
This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:weight}
attribute of @var{face} is bolder than normal (i.e., one of
@code{semi-bold}, @code{bold}, @code{extra-bold}, or
@code{ultra-bold}).  Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}.
@end defun

@defun face-italic-p face &optional frame
This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if the @code{:slant}
attribute of @var{face} is @code{italic} or @code{oblique}, and
@code{nil} otherwise.
@end defun

@defun face-underline-p face &optional frame
This function returns the @code{:underline} attribute of face @var{face}.

@end defun

@node Displaying Faces
@subsection Displaying Faces

  Here is how Emacs determines the face to use for displaying any
given piece of text:

@itemize @bullet
@item
If the text consists of a special glyph, the glyph can specify a
particular face.  @xref{Glyphs}.

@item
If the text lies within an active region, Emacs highlights it using
the @code{region} face.  @xref{Standard Faces,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs
Manual}.

@item
If the text lies within an overlay with a non-@code{nil} @code{face}
property, Emacs applies the face or face attributes specified by that
property.  If the overlay has a @code{mouse-face} property and the
mouse is ``near enough'' to the overlay, Emacs applies the face or
face attributes specified by the @code{mouse-face} property instead.
@xref{Overlay Properties}.

When multiple overlays cover one character, an overlay with higher
priority overrides those with lower priority.  @xref{Overlays}.

@item
If the text contains a @code{face} or @code{mouse-face} property,
Emacs applies the specified faces and face attributes.  @xref{Special
Properties}.  (This is how Font Lock mode faces are applied.
@xref{Font Lock Mode}.)

@item
If the text lies within the mode line of the selected window, Emacs
applies the @code{mode-line} face.  For the mode line of a
non-selected window, Emacs applies the @code{mode-line-inactive} face.
For a header line, Emacs applies the @code{header-line} face.

@item
If any given attribute has not been specified during the preceding
steps, Emacs applies the attribute of the @code{default} face.
@end itemize

  If these various sources together specify more than one face for a
particular character, Emacs merges the attributes of the various faces
specified.  For each attribute, Emacs tries using the above order
(i.e., first the face of any special glyph; then the face for region
highlighting, if appropriate; then faces specified by overlays, then
faces specified by text properties, then the @code{mode-line} or
@code{mode-line-inactive} or @code{header-line} face, if appropriate,
and finally the @code{default} face).

@node Face Remapping
@subsection Face Remapping

  The variable @code{face-remapping-alist} is used for buffer-local or
global changes in the appearance of a face.  For instance, it can be
used to make the @code{default} face a variable-pitch face within a
particular buffer.

@defvar face-remapping-alist
An alist whose elements have the form @code{(@var{face}
@var{remapping...})}.  This causes Emacs to display text using the
face @var{face} using @var{remapping...} instead of @var{face}'s
ordinary definition.  @var{remapping...} may be any face specification
suitable for a @code{face} text property: either a face name, or a
property list of attribute/value pairs.  @xref{Special Properties}.

If @code{face-remapping-alist} is buffer-local, its local value takes
effect only within that buffer.

Two points bear emphasizing:

@enumerate
@item

@noindent
then the new definition of the @code{mode-line} face inherits from the
@code{italic} face, and the @emph{normal} (non-remapped) definition of
@code{mode-line} face.
@end enumerate
@end defvar

  A typical use of the @code{face-remapping-alist} is to change a
buffer's @code{default} face; for example, the following changes a
buffer's @code{default} face to use the @code{variable-pitch} face,
with the height doubled:

@example
(set (make-local-variable 'face-remapping-alist)
     '((default variable-pitch :height 2.0)))
@end example

  The following functions implement a higher-level interface to
@code{face-remapping-alist}, making it easier to use
``cooperatively''.  They are mainly intended for buffer-local use, and
so all make @code{face-remapping-alist} variable buffer-local as a
side-effect.  They use entries in @code{face-remapping-alist} which
have the general form:

@example
  (@var{face} @var{relative_specs_1} @var{relative_specs_2} @var{...} @var{base_specs})
@end example

@end defun

@defun glyph-face glyph
This function returns face of simple glyph code @var{glyph}, or
@code{nil} if @var{glyph} has the default face (face-id 0).
@xref{Face Functions}.
@end defun

  On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
the meaning of glyph codes (represented as small integers).