Mercurial > emacs
view man/ses.texi @ 76273:1af36c639a87
Note added about the Visual Studio 2005 problem.
author | Jason Rumney <jasonr@gnu.org> |
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date | Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:18:47 +0000 |
parents | 3d45362f1d38 |
children | 88224dc74061 95d0cdf160ea |
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\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- @c %**start of header @setfilename ../info/ses @settitle SES: Simple Emacs Spreadsheet @setchapternewpage off @syncodeindex fn cp @syncodeindex vr cp @syncodeindex ky cp @c %**end of header @copying This file documents SES: the Simple Emacs Spreadsheet. Copyright @copyright{} 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @quotation Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,'' and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License'' in the Emacs manual. (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.'' This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license. @end quotation @end copying @dircategory Emacs @direntry * SES: (ses). Simple Emacs Spreadsheet @end direntry @finalout @titlepage @title SES @subtitle Simple Emacs Spreadsheet @author Jonathan A. Yavner @author @email{jyavner@@member.fsf.org} @page @vskip 0pt plus 1filll @insertcopying @end titlepage @contents @c =================================================================== @ifnottex @node Top, Sales Pitch, (dir), (dir) @comment node-name, next, previous, up @top SES: Simple Emacs Spreadsheet @display SES is a major mode for GNU Emacs to edit spreadsheet files, which contain a rectangular grid of cells. The cells' values are specified by formulas that can refer to the values of other cells. @end display @end ifnottex To report bugs, send email to @email{jyavner@@member.fsf.org}. @menu * Sales Pitch:: Why use SES? * The Basics:: Basic spreadsheet commands * Advanced Features:: Want to know more? * For Gurus:: Want to know @emph{even more}? * Index:: Concept, Function and Variable Index * Acknowledgements:: Acknowledgements @end menu @c =================================================================== @node Sales Pitch, The Basics, Top, Top @comment node-name, next, previous, up @chapter Sales Pitch @cindex features @itemize @bullet @item Create and edit simple spreadsheets with a minimum of fuss. @item Full undo/redo/autosave. @item Immune to viruses in spreadsheet files. @item Cell formulas are straight Emacs Lisp. @item Printer functions for control of cell appearance. @item Intuitive keystroke commands: C-o = insert row, M-o = insert column, etc. @item ``Spillover'' of lengthy cell values into following blank cells. @item Header line shows column letters or a selected row. @item Completing-read for entering symbols as cell values. @item Cut, copy, and paste can transfer formulas and printer functions. @item Import and export of tab-separated values or tab-separated formulas. @item Plaintext, easily-hacked file format. @end itemize @c =================================================================== @node The Basics, Advanced Features, Sales Pitch, Top @comment node-name, next, previous, up @chapter The Basics @cindex basic commands @findex ses-jump @findex ses-mark-row @findex ses-mark-column @findex ses-mark-whole-buffer @findex set-mark-command @findex keyboard-quit A @dfn{cell identifier} is a symbol with a column letter and a row number. Cell B7 is the 2nd column of the 7th row. For very wide spreadsheets, there are two column letters: cell AB7 is the 28th column of the 7th row. @table @kbd @item j Moves point to cell, specified by identifier (@code{ses-jump}). @end table Point is always at the left edge of a cell, or at the empty endline. When mark is inactive, the current cell is underlined. When mark is active, the range is the highlighted rectangle of cells (SES always uses transient mark mode). Drag the mouse from A1 to A3 to create the range A1-A2. Many SES commands operate only on single cells, not ranges. @table @kbd @item C-SPC @itemx C-@@ Set mark at point (@code{set-mark-command}). @item C-g Turn off the mark (@code{keyboard-quit}). @item M-h Highlight current row (@code{ses-mark-row}). @item S-M-h Highlight current column (@code{ses-mark-column}). @item C-x h Highlight all cells (@code{mark-whole-buffer}). @end table @menu * Formulas:: * Resizing:: * Printer functions:: * Clearing cells:: * Copy/cut/paste:: * Customizing SES:: @end menu @node Formulas, Resizing, The Basics, The Basics @section Cell formulas @cindex formulas @cindex formulas, entering @findex ses-read-cell @findex ses-read-symbol @findex ses-edit-cell @findex ses-recalculate-cell @findex ses-recalculate-all To enter a number into the current cell, just start typing: @table @kbd @item 0..9 Self-insert a digit (@code{ses-read-cell}). @item - Self-insert a negative number (@code{ses-read-cell}). @item . Self-insert a fractional number (@code{ses-read-cell}). @item " Self-insert a quoted string. The ending double-quote is inserted for you (@code{ses-read-cell}). @item ( Self-insert an expression. The right-parenthesis is inserted for you (@code{ses-read-cell}). To access another cell's value, just use its identifier in your expression. Whenever the other cell is changed, this cell's formula will be reevaluated. While typing in the expression, you can use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to complete symbol names. @item ' @r{(apostrophe)} Enter a symbol (ses-read-symbol). SES remembers all symbols that have been used as formulas, so you can type just the beginning of a symbol and use @kbd{@key{SPC}}, @kbd{@key{TAB}}, and @kbd{?} to complete it. @end table To enter something else (e.g., a vector), begin with a digit, then erase the digit and type whatever you want. @table @kbd @item RET Edit the existing formula in the current cell (@code{ses-edit-cell}). @item C-c C-c Force recalculation of the current cell or range (@code{ses-recalculate-cell}). @item C-c C-l Recalculate the entire spreadsheet (@code{ses-recalculate-all}). @end table @node Resizing, Printer functions, Formulas, The Basics @section Resizing the spreadsheet @cindex resizing spreadsheets @findex ses-insert-row @findex ses-insert-column @findex ses-delete-row @findex ses-delete-column @findex ses-set-column-width @findex ses-forward-or-insert @findex ses-append-row-jump-first-column Basic commands: @table @kbd @item C-o (@code{ses-insert-row}) @item M-o (@code{ses-insert-column}) @item C-k (@code{ses-delete-row}) @item M-k (@code{ses-delete-column}) @item w (@code{ses-set-column-width}) @item TAB Moves point to the next rightward cell, or inserts a new column if already at last cell on line, or inserts a new row if at endline (@code{ses-forward-or-insert}). @item C-j Linefeed inserts below the current row and moves to column A (@code{ses-append-row-jump-first-column}). @end table Resizing the spreadsheet (unless you're just changing a column width) relocates all the cell-references in formulas so they still refer to the same cells. If a formula mentioned B1 and you insert a new first row, the formula will now mention B2. If you delete a cell that a formula refers to, the cell-symbol is deleted from the formula, so @code{(+ A1 B1 C1)} after deleting the third column becomes @code{(+ A1 B1)}. In case this is not what you wanted: @table @kbd @item C-_ @itemx C-x u Undo previous action (@code{(undo)}). @end table @node Printer functions, Clearing cells, Resizing, The Basics @section Printer functions @cindex printer functions @findex ses-read-cell-printer @findex ses-read-column-printer @findex ses-read-default-printer @findex ses-center @findex ses-center-span @findex ses-dashfill @findex ses-dashfill-span @findex ses-tildefill-span Printer functions convert binary cell values into the print forms that Emacs will display on the screen. A printer can be a format string, like @samp{"$%.2f"}. The result string is right-aligned within the print cell. To get left-alignment, use parentheses: @samp{("$%.2f")}. A printer can also be a one-argument function (a symbol or a lambda), whose result is a string (right-aligned) or list of one string (left-aligned). While typing in a lambda, you can use @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} to complete the names of symbols. Each cell has a printer. If @code{nil}, the column-printer for the cell's column is used. If that is also @code{nil}, the default-printer for the spreadsheet is used. @table @kbd @item p Enter a printer for current cell or range (@code{ses-read-cell-printer}). @item M-p Enter a printer for the current column (@code{ses-read-column-printer}). @item C-c C-p Enter the default printer for the spreadsheet (@code{ses-read-default-printer}). @end table The @code{ses-read-@r{XXX}-printer} commands have their own minibuffer history, which is preloaded with the set of all printers used in this spreadsheet, plus the standard printers. The standard printers are suitable only for cells, not columns or default, because they format the value using the column-printer (or default-printer if @code{nil}) and then center the result: @table @code @item ses-center Just centering. @item ses-center-span Centering with spill-over to following blank cells. @item ses-dashfill Centering using dashes (-) instead of spaces. @item ses-dashfill-span Centering with dashes and spill-over. @item ses-tildefill-span Centering with tildes (~) and spill-over. @end table @node Clearing cells, Copy/cut/paste, Printer functions, The Basics @section Clearing cells @cindex clearing commands @findex ses-clear-cell-backward @findex ses-clear-cell-forward These commands set both formula and printer to @code{nil}: @table @kbd @item DEL Clear cell and move left (@code{ses-clear-cell-backward}). @item C-d Clear cell and move right (@code{ses-clear-cell-forward}). @end table @node Copy/cut/paste, Customizing SES, Clearing cells, The Basics @section Copy, cut, and paste @cindex copy @cindex cut @cindex paste @findex kill-ring-save @findex mouse-set-region @findex mouse-set-secondary @findex ses-kill-override @findex yank @findex clipboard-yank @findex mouse-yank-at-click @findex mouse-yank-at-secondary @findex ses-yank-pop The copy functions work on rectangular regions of cells. You can paste the copies into non-SES buffers to export the print text. @table @kbd @item M-w @itemx [copy] @itemx [C-insert] Copy the highlighted cells to kill ring and primary clipboard (@code{kill-ring-save}). @item [drag-mouse-1] Mark a region and copy it to kill ring and primary clipboard (@code{mouse-set-region}). @item [M-drag-mouse-1] Mark a region and copy it to kill ring and secondary clipboard (@code{mouse-set-secondary}). @item C-w @itemx [cut] @itemx [S-delete] The cut functions do not actually delete rows or columns---they copy and then clear (@code{ses-kill-override}). @item C-y @itemx [S-insert] Paste from kill ring (@code{yank}). The paste functions behave differently depending on the format of the text being inserted: @itemize @bullet @item When pasting cells that were cut from a SES buffer, the print text is ignored and only the attached formula and printer are inserted; cell references in the formula are relocated unless you use @kbd{C-u}. @item The pasted text overwrites a rectangle of cells whose top left corner is the current cell. If part of the rectangle is beyond the edges of the spreadsheet, you must confirm the increase in spreadsheet size. @item Non-SES text is usually inserted as a replacement formula for the current cell. If the formula would be a symbol, it's treated as a string unless you use @kbd{C-u}. Pasted formulas with syntax errors are always treated as strings. @end itemize @item [paste] Paste from primary clipboard or kill ring (@code{clipboard-yank}). @item [mouse-2] Set point and paste from primary clipboard (@code{mouse-yank-at-click}). @item [M-mouse-2] Set point and paste from secondary clipboard (@code{mouse-yank-secondary}). @item M-y Immediately after a paste, you can replace the text with a preceding element from the kill ring (@code{ses-yank-pop}). Unlike the standard Emacs yank-pop, the SES version uses @code{undo} to delete the old yank. This doesn't make any difference? @end table @node Customizing SES, , Copy/cut/paste, The Basics @section Customizing SES @cindex customizing @vindex enable-local-eval @vindex ses-mode-hook @vindex safe-functions @vindex enable-local-eval By default, a newly-created spreadsheet has 1 row and 1 column. The column width is 7 and the default printer is @samp{"%.7g"}. Each of these can be customized. Look in group ``ses''. After entering a cell value, point normally moves right to the next cell. You can customize @code{ses-after-entry-functions} to move left or up or down. For diagonal movement, select two functions from the list. @code{ses-mode-hook} is a normal mode hook (list of functions to execute when starting SES mode for a buffer). The variable @code{safe-functions} is a list of possibly-unsafe functions to be treated as safe when analysing formulas and printers. @xref{Virus protection}. Before customizing @code{safe-functions}, think about how much you trust the person who's suggesting this change. The value @code{t} turns off all anti-virus protection. A list-of-functions value might enable a ``gee whiz'' spreadsheet, but it also creates trapdoors in your anti-virus armor. In order for virus protection to work, you must always press @kbd{n} when presented with a virus warning, unless you understand what the questionable code is trying to do. Do not listen to those who tell you to customize @code{enable-local-eval}---this variable is for people who don't wear safety belts! @c =================================================================== @node Advanced Features, For Gurus, The Basics, Top @chapter Advanced Features @cindex advanced features @findex ses-read-header-row @table @kbd @item C-c M-C-h (@code{ses-set-header-row}). The header line at the top of the SES window normally shows the column letter for each column. You can set it to show a copy of some row, such as a row of column titles, so that row will always be visible. Default is to set the current row as the header; use C-u to prompt for header row. Set the header to row 0 to show column letters again. @item [header-line mouse-3] Pops up a menu to set the current row as the header, or revert to column letters. @end table @menu * The print area:: * Ranges in formulas:: * Sorting by column:: * Standard formula functions:: * More on cell printing:: * Import and export:: * Virus protection:: * Spreadsheets with details and summary:: @end menu @node The print area, Ranges in formulas, Advanced Features, Advanced Features @section The print area @cindex print area @findex widen @findex ses-renarrow-buffer @findex ses-reprint-all A SES file consists of a print area and a data area. Normally the buffer is narrowed to show only the print area. The print area is read-only except for special SES commands; it contains cell values formatted by printer functions. The data area records the formula and printer functions, etc. @table @kbd @item C-x n w Show print and data areas (@code{widen}). @item C-c C-n Show only print area (@code{ses-renarrow-buffer}). @item S-C-l @itemx M-C-l Recreate print area by reevaluating printer functions for all cells (@code{ses-reprint-all}). @end table @node Ranges in formulas, Sorting by column, The print area, Advanced Features @section Ranges in formulas @cindex ranges @findex ses-insert-range-click @findex ses-insert-range @findex ses-insert-ses-range-click @findex ses-insert-ses-range @vindex from @vindex to A formula like @lisp (+ A1 A2 A3) @end lisp is the sum of three specific cells. If you insert a new second row, the formula becomes @lisp (+ A1 A3 A4) @end lisp and the new row is not included in the sum. The macro @code{(ses-range @var{from} @var{to})} evaluates to a list of the values in a rectangle of cells. If your formula is @lisp (apply '+ (ses-range A1 A3)) @end lisp and you insert a new second row, it becomes @lisp (apply '+ (ses-range A1 A4)) @end lisp and the new row is included in the sum. While entering or editing a formula in the minibuffer, you can select a range in the spreadsheet (using mouse or keyboard), then paste a representation of that range into your formula. Suppose you select A1-C1: @table @kbd @item [S-mouse-3] Inserts "A1 B1 C1" @code{(ses-insert-range-click}) @item C-c C-r Keyboard version (@code{ses-insert-range}). @item [C-S-mouse-3] Inserts "(ses-range A1 C1)" (@code{ses-insert-ses-range-click}). @item C-c C-s Keyboard version (@code{ses-insert-ses-range}). @end table If you delete the @var{from} or @var{to} cell for a range, the nearest still-existing cell is used instead. If you delete the entire range, the formula relocator will delete the ses-range from the formula. If you insert a new row just beyond the end of a one-column range, or a new column just beyond a one-row range, the new cell is included in the range. New cells inserted just before a range are not included. @node Sorting by column, Standard formula functions, Ranges in formulas, Advanced Features @section Sorting by column @cindex sorting @findex ses-sort-column @findex ses-sort-column-click @table @kbd @item C-c M-C-s Sort the cells of a range using one of the columns (@code{ses-sort-column}). The rows (or partial rows if the range doesn't include all columns) are rearranged so the chosen column will be in order. @item [header-line mouse-2] The easiest way to sort is to click mouse-2 on the chosen column's header row (@code{ses-sort-column-click}). @end table The sort comparison uses @code{string<}, which works well for right-justified numbers and left-justified strings. With prefix arg, sort is in descending order. Rows are moved one at a time, with relocation of formulas. This works well if formulas refer to other cells in their row, not so well for formulas that refer to other rows in the range or to cells outside the range. @node Standard formula functions, More on cell printing, Sorting by column, Advanced Features @section Standard formula functions @cindex standard formula functions @cindex *skip* @cindex *error* @findex ses-delete-blanks @findex ses-average @findex ses+ Oftentimes you want a calculation to exclude the blank cells. Here are some useful functions to call from your formulas: @table @code @item (ses-delete-blanks &rest @var{args}) Returns a list from which all blank cells (value is either @code{nil} or '*skip*) have been deleted. @item (ses+ &rest @var{args}) Sum of non-blank arguments. @item (ses-average @var{list}) Average of non-blank elements in @var{list}. Here the list is passed as a single argument, since you'll probably use it with @code{ses-range}. @end table @node More on cell printing, Import and export, Standard formula functions, Advanced Features @section More on cell printing @cindex cell printing, more @findex ses-truncate-cell @findex ses-recalculate-cell Special cell values: @itemize @item nil prints the same as "", but allows previous cell to spill over. @item '*skip* replaces nil when the previous cell actually does spill over; nothing is printed for it. @item '*error* indicates that the formula signaled an error instead of producing a value: the print cell is filled with hash marks (#). @end itemize If the result from the printer function is too wide for the cell and the following cell is @code{nil}, the result will spill over into the following cell. Very wide results can spill over several cells. If the result is too wide for the available space (up to the end of the row or the next non-@code{nil} cell), the result is truncated if the cell's value is a string, or replaced with hash marks otherwise. SES could get confused by printer results that contain newlines or tabs, so these are replaced with question marks. @table @kbd @item C-c C-t Confine a cell to its own column (@code{ses-truncate-cell}). This allows you to move point to a rightward cell that would otherwise be covered by a spill-over. If you don't change the rightward cell, the confined cell will spill over again the next time it is reprinted. @item C-c C-c When applied to a single cell, this command displays in the echo area any formula error or printer error that occurred during recalculation/reprinting (@code{ses-recalculate-cell}). @end table When a printer function signals an error, the default printer @samp{"%s"} is substituted. This is useful when your column printer is numeric-only and you use a string as a cell value. @node Import and export, Virus protection, More on cell printing, Advanced Features @section Import and export @cindex import and export @cindex export, and import @findex ses-export-tsv @findex ses-export-tsf @table @kbd @item x t Export a range of cells as tab-separated values (@code{ses-export-tsv}). @item x T Export a range of cells as tab-separated formulas (@code{ses-export-tsf}). @end table The exported text goes to the kill ring --- you can paste it into another buffer. Columns are separated by tabs, rows by newlines. To import text, use any of the yank commands where the text to paste contains tabs and/or newlines. Imported formulas are not relocated. @node Virus protection, Spreadsheets with details and summary, Import and export, Advanced Features @section Virus protection @cindex virus protection Whenever a formula or printer is read from a file or is pasted into the spreadsheet, it receives a ``needs safety check'' marking. Later, when the formula or printer is evaluated for the first time, it is checked for safety using the @code{unsafep} predicate; if found to be ``possibly unsafe'', the questionable formula or printer is displayed and you must press Y to approve it or N to use a substitute. The substitute always signals an error. Formulas or printers that you type in are checked immediately for safety. If found to be possibly unsafe and you press N to disapprove, the action is canceled and the old formula or printer will remain. Besides viruses (which try to copy themselves to other files), @code{unsafep} can also detect all other kinds of Trojan horses, such as spreadsheets that delete files, send email, flood Web sites, alter your Emacs settings, etc. Generally, spreadsheet formulas and printers are simple things that don't need to do any fancy computing, so all potentially-dangerous parts of the Emacs Lisp environment can be excluded without cramping your style as a formula-writer. See the documentation in @file{unsafep.el} for more info on how Lisp forms are classified as safe or unsafe. @node Spreadsheets with details and summary, , Virus protection, Advanced Features @section Spreadsheets with details and summary @cindex details and summary @cindex summary, and details A common organization for spreadsheets is to have a bunch of ``detail'' rows, each perhaps describing a transaction, and then a set of ``summary'' rows that each show reduced data for some subset of the details. SES supports this organization via the @code{ses-select} function. @table @code @item (ses-select @var{fromrange} @var{test} @var{torange}) Returns a subset of @var{torange}. For each member in @var{fromrange} that is equal to @var{test}, the corresponding member of @var{torange} is included in the result. @end table Example of use: @lisp (ses-average (ses-select (ses-range A1 A5) 'Smith (ses-range B1 B5))) @end lisp This computes the average of the B column values for those rows whose A column value is the symbol 'Smith. Arguably one could specify only @var{fromrange} plus @var{to-row-offset} and @var{to-column-offset}. The @var{torange} is stated explicitly to ensure that the formula will be recalculated if any cell in either range is changed. File @file{etc/ses-example.el} in the Emacs distribution is an example of a details-and-summary spreadsheet. @c =================================================================== @node For Gurus, Index, Advanced Features, Top @chapter For Gurus @cindex advanced features @menu * Deferred updates:: * Nonrelocatable references:: * The data area:: * Buffer-local variables in spreadsheets:: * Uses of defadvice in SES:: @end menu @node Deferred updates, Nonrelocatable references, For Gurus, For Gurus @section Deferred updates @cindex deferred updates @cindex updates, deferred @vindex run-with-idle-timer To save time by avoiding redundant computations, cells that need recalculation due to changes in other cells are added to a set. At the end of the command, each cell in the set is recalculated once. This can create a new set of cells that need recalculation. The process is repeated until either the set is empty or it stops changing (due to circular references among the cells). In extreme cases, you might see progress messages of the form ``Recalculating... (@var{nnn} cells left)''. If you interrupt the calculation using @kbd{C-g}, the spreadsheet will be left in an inconsistent state, so use @kbd{C-_} or @kbd{C-c C-l} to fix it. To save even more time by avoiding redundant writes, cells that have changes are added to a set instead of being written immediately to the data area. Each cell in the set is written once, at the end of the command. If you change vast quantities of cells, you might see a progress message of the form ``Writing... (@var{nnn} cells left)''. These deferred cell-writes cannot be interrupted by @kbd{C-g}, so you'll just have to wait. SES uses @code{run-with-idle-timer} to move the cell underline when Emacs will be scrolling the buffer after the end of a command, and also to narrow and underline after @kbd{C-x C-v}. This is visible as a momentary glitch after C-x C-v and certain scrolling commands. You can type ahead without worrying about the glitch. @node Nonrelocatable references, The data area, Deferred updates, For Gurus @section Nonrelocatable references @cindex nonrelocatable references @cindex references, nonrelocatable @kbd{C-y} relocates all cell-references in a pasted formula, while @kbd{C-u C-y} relocates none of the cell-references. What about mixed cases? You can use @lisp (symbol-value 'B3) @end lisp to make an @dfn{absolute reference}. The formula relocator skips over quoted things, so this will not be relocated when pasted or when rows/columns are inserted/deleted. However, B3 will not be recorded as a dependency of this cell, so this cell will not be updated automatically when B3 is changed. The variables @code{row} and @code{col} are dynamically bound while a cell formula is being evaluated. You can use @lisp (ses-cell-value row 0) @end lisp to get the value from the leftmost column in the current row. This kind of dependency is also not recorded. @node The data area, Buffer-local variables in spreadsheets, Nonrelocatable references, For Gurus @section The data area @cindex data area @findex ses-reconstruct-all Begins with an 014 character, followed by sets of cell-definition macros for each row, followed by column-widths, column-printers, default-printer, and header-row. Then there's the global parameters (file-format ID, numrows, numcols) and the local variables (specifying SES mode for the buffer, etc.) When a SES file is loaded, first the numrows and numcols values are loaded, then the entire data area is @code{eval}ed, and finally the local variables are processed. You can edit the data area, but don't insert or delete any newlines except in the local-variables part, since SES locates things by counting newlines. Use @kbd{C-x C-e} at the end of a line to install your edits into the spreadsheet data structures (this does not update the print area, use e.g. @kbd{C-c C-l} for that). The data area is maintained as an image of spreadsheet data structures that area stored in buffer-local variables. If the data area gets messed up, you can try reconstructing the data area from the data structures: @table @kbd @item C-c M-C-l (@code{ses-reconstruct-all}). @end table @node Buffer-local variables in spreadsheets, Uses of defadvice in SES, The data area, For Gurus @section Buffer-local variables in spreadsheets @cindex buffer-local variables @cindex variables, buffer-local You can add additional local variables to the list at the bottom of the data area, such as hidden constants you want to refer to in your formulas. You can override the variable @code{symbolic-formulas} to be a list of symbols (as parenthesized strings) to show as completions for the ' command. This initial completions list is used instead of the actual set of symbols-as-formulas in the spreadsheet. For examples of these, see file @file{etc/ses-example.ses}. If (for some reason) you want your formulas or printers to save data into variables, you must declare these variables as buffer-locals in order to avoid a virus warning. You can define functions by making them values for the fake local variable @code{eval}. Such functions can then be used in your formulas and printers, but usually each @code{eval} is presented to the user during file loading as a potential virus --- this can get annoying. You can define functions in your @file{.emacs} file. Other people can still read the print area of your spreadsheet, but they won't be able to recalculate or reprint anything that depends on your functions. To avoid virus warnings, each function used in a formula needs @lisp (put 'your-function-name 'safe-function t) @end lisp @node Uses of defadvice in SES, , Buffer-local variables in spreadsheets, For Gurus @section Uses of defadvice in SES @cindex defadvice @cindex undo-more @cindex copy-region-as-kill @cindex yank @table @code @item undo-more Defines a new undo element format (@var{fun} . @var{args}), which means ``undo by applying @var{fun} to @var{args}''. For spreadsheet buffers, it allows undos in the data area even though that's outside the narrowing. @item copy-region-as-kill When copying from the print area of a spreadsheet, treat the region as a rectangle and attach each cell's formula and printer as 'ses properties. @item yank When yanking into the print area of a spreadsheet, first try to yank as cells (if the yank text has 'ses properties), then as tab-separated formulas, then (if all else fails) as a single formula for the current cell. @end table @c =================================================================== @node Index, Acknowledgements, For Gurus, Top @unnumbered Index @printindex cp @c =================================================================== @node Acknowledgements, , Index, Top @chapter Acknowledgements Coding by: @quotation Jonathan Yavner @email{jyavner@@member.fsf.org}@* Stefan Monnier @email{monnier@@gnu.org} @end quotation @noindent Texinfo manual by: @quotation Jonathan Yavner @email{jyavner@@member.fsf.org}@* Brad Collins <brad@@chenla.org> @end quotation @noindent Ideas from: @quotation Christoph Conrad @email{christoph.conrad@@gmx.de}@* CyberBob @email{cyberbob@@redneck.gacracker.org}@* Syver Enstad @email{syver-en@@online.no}@* Ami Fischman @email{fischman@@zion.bpnetworks.com}@* Thomas Gehrlein @email{Thomas.Gehrlein@@t-online.de}@* Chris F.A. Johnson @email{c.f.a.johnson@@rogers.com}@* Yusong Li @email{lyusong@@hotmail.com}@* Juri Linkov @email{juri@@jurta.org}@* Harald Maier @email{maierh@@myself.com}@* Alan Nash @email{anash@@san.rr.com}@* François Pinard @email{pinard@@iro.umontreal.ca}@* Pedro Pinto @email{ppinto@@cs.cmu.edu}@* Stefan Reichör @email{xsteve@@riic.at}@* Oliver Scholz @email{epameinondas@@gmx.de}@* Richard M. Stallman @email{rms@@gnu.org}@* Luc Teirlinck @email{teirllm@@dms.auburn.edu}@* J. Otto Tennant @email{jotto@@pobox.com}@* Jean-Philippe Theberge @email{jphil@@acs.pagesjaunes.fr} @end quotation @c =================================================================== @bye @ignore arch-tag: 10a4ee1c-7ef4-4c06-8b7a-f975e39f0dec @end ignore