comparison lispref/display.texi @ 72822:f55964fec436

(Glyphs): Clarifications.

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@cindex glyph
  A @dfn{glyph} is a generalization of a character; it stands for an
image that takes up a single character position on the screen.  Glyphs
are represented in Lisp as integers, just as characters are.  Normally
Emacs finds glyphs in the display table (@pxref{Display Tables}).

  A glyph can be @dfn{simple} or it can be defined by the @dfn{glyph
table}.  A simple glyph is just a way of specifying a character and a
face to output it in.  The glyph code for a simple glyph, mod 524288,
is the character to output, and the glyph code divided by 524288
specifies the face number (@pxref{Face Functions}) to use while
outputting it.  (524288 is
@ifnottex
2**19.)
@end ifnottex
@tex
$2^{19}$.)
@end tex
@xref{Faces}.

  On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
the meaning of glyph codes.  The glyph codes is the value of the
variable @code{glyph-table}.

@defvar glyph-table
The value of this variable is the current glyph table.  It should be a
vector; the @var{g}th element defines glyph code @var{g}.

If a glyph code is greater than or equal to the length of the glyph
table, that code is automatically simple.  If the value of
@code{glyph-table} is @code{nil} instead of a vector, then all glyphs
are simple.  The glyph table is not used on graphical displays, only
on character terminals.  On graphical displays, all glyphs are simple.
@end defvar

  Here are the possible types of elements in the glyph table:

@table @asis
@item @var{string}
Send the characters in @var{string} to the terminal to output
this glyph.  This alternative is available on character terminals,
but not on graphical displays.

@item @var{integer}
Define this glyph code as an alias for glyph code @var{integer}.  You
can use an alias to specify a face code for the glyph and use a small
number as its code.

@item @code{nil}
This glyph is simple.
@end table

@defun create-glyph string
This function returns a newly-allocated glyph code which is set up to
display by sending @var{string} to the terminal.

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@cindex glyph
  A @dfn{glyph} is a generalization of a character; it stands for an
image that takes up a single character position on the screen.  Glyphs
are represented in Lisp as integers, just as characters are.  Normally
glyph come from vectors in the display table (@pxref{Display Tables}).

  A glyph code can be @dfn{simple} or it can be defined by the
@dfn{glyph table}.  A simple glyph code is just a way of specifying a
character and a face to output it in.  When a glyph code is simple,
the code, mod 524288, is the character to output, and the code divided
by 524288 specifies the face number (@pxref{Face Functions}) to use
while outputting it.  (524288 is
@ifnottex
2**19.)
@end ifnottex
@tex
$2^{19}$.)
@end tex
@xref{Faces}.

  On character terminals, you can set up a @dfn{glyph table} to define
the meaning of glyph codes.

@defvar glyph-table
The value of this variable is the current glyph table.  It should be
@code{nil} or a vector whose @var{g}th element defines glyph code
@var{g}.

If a glyph code is greater than or equal to the length of the glyph
table, that code is automatically simple.  If @code{glyph-table} is
@code{nil} then all glyph codes are simple.

The glyph table is used only on character terminals.  On graphical
displays, all glyph codes are simple.
@end defvar

  Here are the meaningful types of elements in the glyph table:

@table @asis
@item @var{string}
Send the characters in @var{string} to the terminal to output
this glyph code.

@item @var{integer}
Define this glyph code as an alias for glyph code @var{integer}.  You
can use such an alias to define a small-numbered glyph code which
specifies a face.

@item @code{nil}
This glyph code is simple.
@end table

@defun create-glyph string
This function returns a newly-allocated glyph code which is set up to
display by sending @var{string} to the terminal.