@c This is part of the Emacs manual.@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.@node Microsoft Windows, Manifesto, Mac OS, Top@appendix Emacs and Microsoft Windows/MS-DOS@cindex Microsoft Windows@cindex MS-Windows, Emacs peculiarities This section describes peculiarities of using Emacs on MicrosoftWindows. Some of these peculiarities are also relevant to Microsoft'solder MS-DOS ``operating system'' (also known as ``MS-DOG'').However, Emacs features that are relevant @emph{only} to MS-DOS aredescribed in a separate@iftexmanual (@pxref{MS-DOS,,, emacs-xtra, Specialized Emacs Features}).@end iftex@ifnottexsection (@pxref{MS-DOS}).@end ifnottex The behavior of Emacs on MS-Windows is reasonably similar to what isdocumented in the rest of the manual, including support for long filenames, multiple frames, scroll bars, mouse menus, and subprocesses.However, a few special considerations apply, and they are describedhere.@menu* Text and Binary:: Text files use CRLF to terminate lines.* Windows Files:: File-name conventions on Windows.* ls in Lisp:: Emulation of @code{ls} for Dired.* Windows HOME:: Where Emacs looks for your @file{.emacs}.* Windows Keyboard:: Windows-specific keyboard features.* Windows Mouse:: Windows-specific mouse features.* Windows Processes:: Running subprocesses on Windows.* Windows Printing:: How to specify the printer on MS-Windows.* Windows Misc:: Miscellaneous Windows features.@ifnottex* MS-DOS:: Using Emacs on MS-DOS (otherwise known as @dfn{MS-DOG}).@end ifnottex@end menu@node Text and Binary@section Text Files and Binary Files@cindex text and binary files on MS-DOS/MS-Windows GNU Emacs uses newline characters to separate text lines. This is theconvention used on GNU, Unix, and other Posix-compliant systems.@cindex end-of-line conversion on MS-DOS/MS-Windows By contrast, MS-DOS and MS-Windows normally use carriage-return linefeed,a two-character sequence, to separate text lines. (Linefeed is the samecharacter as newline.) Therefore, convenient editing of typical fileswith Emacs requires conversion of these end-of-line (EOL) sequences.And that is what Emacs normally does: it converts carriage-returnlinefeed into newline when reading files, and converts newline intocarriage-return linefeed when writing files. The same mechanism thathandles conversion of international character codes does this conversionalso (@pxref{Coding Systems}).@cindex cursor location, on MS-DOS@cindex point location, on MS-DOS One consequence of this special format-conversion of most files isthat character positions as reported by Emacs (@pxref{Position Info}) donot agree with the file size information known to the operating system. In addition, if Emacs recognizes from a file's contents that it usesnewline rather than carriage-return linefeed as its line separator, itdoes not perform EOL conversion when reading or writing that file.Thus, you can read and edit files from GNU and Unix systems on MS-DOSwith no special effort, and they will retain their Unix-styleend-of-line convention after you edit them. The mode line indicates whether end-of-line translation was used forthe current buffer. If MS-DOS end-of-line translation is in use for thebuffer, the MS-Windows build of Emacs displays a backslash @samp{\} afterthe coding system mnemonic near the beginning of the mode line(@pxref{Mode Line}). If no EOL translation was performed, the string@samp{(Unix)} is displayed instead of the backslash, to alert you that thefile's EOL format is not the usual carriage-return linefeed.@cindex DOS-to-Unix conversion of files To visit a file and specify whether it uses DOS-style or Unix-styleend-of-line, specify a coding system (@pxref{Text Coding}). Forexample, @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c unix @key{RET} C-x C-f foobar.txt}visits the file @file{foobar.txt} without converting the EOLs; if someline ends with a carriage-return linefeed pair, Emacs will display@samp{^M} at the end of that line. Similarly, you can direct Emacs tosave a buffer in a specified EOL format with the @kbd{C-x @key{RET} f}command. For example, to save a buffer with Unix EOL format, type@kbd{C-x @key{RET} f unix @key{RET} C-x C-s}. If you visit a filewith DOS EOL conversion, then save it with Unix EOL format, thateffectively converts the file to Unix EOL style, like @code{dos2unix}.@cindex untranslated file system@findex add-untranslated-filesystem When you use NFS, Samba, or some other similar method to access filesystems that reside on computers using GNU or Unix systems, Emacsshould not perform end-of-line translation on any files in these filesystems---not even when you create a new file. To request this,designate these file systems as @dfn{untranslated} file systems bycalling the function @code{add-untranslated-filesystem}. It takes oneargument: the file system name, including a drive letter andoptionally a directory. For example,@example(add-untranslated-filesystem "Z:")@end example@noindentdesignates drive Z as an untranslated file system, and@example(add-untranslated-filesystem "Z:\\foo")@end example@noindentdesignates directory @file{\foo} on drive Z as an untranslated filesystem. Most often you would use @code{add-untranslated-filesystem} in your@file{.emacs} file, or in @file{site-start.el} so that all the users atyour site get the benefit of it.@findex remove-untranslated-filesystem To countermand the effect of @code{add-untranslated-filesystem}, usethe function @code{remove-untranslated-filesystem}. This function takesone argument, which should be a string just like the one that was usedpreviously with @code{add-untranslated-filesystem}. Designating a file system as untranslated does not affect characterset conversion, only end-of-line conversion. Essentially, it directsEmacs to create new files with the Unix-style convention of usingnewline at the end of a line. @xref{Coding Systems}.@vindex file-name-buffer-file-type-alist@cindex binary files, on MS-DOS/MS-Windows Some kinds of files should not be converted at all, because theircontents are not really text. Therefore, Emacs on MS-Windows distinguishescertain files as @dfn{binary files}. (This distinction is not part ofMS-Windows; it is made by Emacs only.) Binary files include executableprograms, compressed archives, etc. Emacs uses the file name to decidewhether to treat a file as binary: the variable@code{file-name-buffer-file-type-alist} defines the file-name patternsthat indicate binary files. If a file name matches one of the patternsfor binary files (those whose associations are of the type@code{(@var{pattern} . t)}, Emacs reads and writes that file using the@code{no-conversion} coding system (@pxref{Coding Systems}) which turnsoff @emph{all} coding-system conversions, not only the EOL conversion.@code{file-name-buffer-file-type-alist} also includes file-name patternsfor files which are known to be Windows-style text files withcarriage-return linefeed EOL format, such as @file{CONFIG.SYS}; Emacsalways writes those files with Windows-style EOLs. If a file which belongs to an untranslated file system matches one ofthe file-name patterns in @code{file-name-buffer-file-type-alist}, theEOL conversion is determined by @code{file-name-buffer-file-type-alist}.@node Windows Files@section File Names on MS-Windows@cindex file names on MS-Windows MS-Windows and MS-DOS normally use a backslash, @samp{\}, toseparate name units within a file name, instead of the slash used onother systems. Emacs on MS-DOS/MS-Windows permits use of either slash orbackslash, and also knows about drive letters in file names.@cindex file-name completion, on MS-Windows On MS-DOS/MS-Windows, file names are case-insensitive, so Emacs bydefault ignores letter-case in file names during completion.@vindex w32-get-true-file-attributes If the variable @code{w32-get-true-file-attributes} isnon-@code{nil} (the default), Emacs tries to determine the accuratelink counts for files. This option is only useful on NTFS volumes,and it considerably slows down Dired and other features, so use itonly on fast machines.@node ls in Lisp@section Emulation of @code{ls} on MS-Windows@cindex Dired, and MS-Windows/MS-DOS@cindex @code{ls} emulation Dired normally uses the external program @code{ls} (or its closework-alike) to produce the directory listing displayed in Diredbuffers (@pxref{Dired}). However, MS-Windows and MS-DOS systems don'tcome with such a program, although several ports of @sc{gnu} @code{ls}are available. Therefore, Emacs on those systems @emph{emulates}@code{ls} in Lisp, by using the @file{ls-lisp.el} package. While@file{ls-lisp.el} provides a reasonably full emulation of @code{ls},there are some options and features peculiar to that emulation;@iftexfor more details, see the documentation of the variables whose namesbegin with @code{ls-lisp}.@end iftex@ifnottexthey are described in this section. The @code{ls} emulation supports many of the @code{ls} switches, butit doesn't support all of them. Here's the list of the switches itdoes support: @option{-A}, @option{-a}, @option{-B}, @option{-C},@option{-c}, @option{-i}, @option{-G}, @option{-g}, @option{-R},@option{-r}, @option{-S}, @option{-s}, @option{-t}, @option{-U},@option{-u}, and @option{-X}. The @option{-F} switch is partiallysupported (it appends the character that classifies the file, but doesnot prevent symlink following).@vindex ls-lisp-use-insert-directory-program On MS-Windows and MS-DOS, @file{ls-lisp.el} is preloaded when Emacsis built, so the Lisp emulation of @code{ls} is always used on thoseplatforms. If you have a ported @code{ls}, setting@code{ls-lisp-use-insert-directory-program} to a non-@code{nil} valuewill revert to using an external program named by the variable@code{insert-directory-program}.@vindex ls-lisp-ignore-case By default, @file{ls-lisp.el} uses a case-sensitive sort order forthe directory listing it produces; this is so the listing looks thesame as on other platforms. If you wish that the files be sorted incase-insensitive order, set the variable @code{ls-lisp-ignore-case} toa non-@code{nil} value.@vindex ls-lisp-dirs-first By default, files and subdirectories are sorted together, to emulatethe behavior of @code{ls}. However, native MS-Windows/MS-DOS filemanagers list the directories before the files; if you want thatbehavior, customize the option @code{ls-lisp-dirs-first} to anon-@code{nil} value.@vindex ls-lisp-verbosity The variable @code{ls-lisp-verbosity} controls the file attributesthat @file{ls-lisp.el} displays. The value should be a list thatcontains one or more of the symbols @code{links}, @code{uid}, and@code{gid}. @code{links} means display the count of different filenames that are associated with (a.k.a.@: @dfn{links to}) the file'sdata; this is only useful on NTFS volumes. @code{uid} means displaythe numerical identifier of the user who owns the file. @code{gid}means display the numerical identifier of the file owner's group. Thedefault value is @code{(links uid gid)} i.e.@: all the 3 optionalattributes are displayed.@vindex ls-lisp-emulation The variable @code{ls-lisp-emulation} controls the flavour of the@code{ls} emulation by setting the defaults for the 3 optionsdescribed above: @code{ls-lisp-ignore-case},@code{ls-lisp-dirs-first}, and @code{ls-lisp-verbosity}. The value ofthis option can be one of the following symbols:@table @code@item GNU@itemx nilEmulate @sc{gnu} systems; this is the default. This sets@code{ls-lisp-ignore-case} and @code{ls-lisp-dirs-first} to@code{nil}, and @code{ls-lisp-verbosity} to @code{(links uid gid)}.@item UNIXEmulate Unix systems. Like @code{GNU}, but sets@code{ls-lisp-verbosity} to @code{(links uid)}.@item MacOSEmulate MacOS. Sets @code{ls-lisp-ignore-case} to @code{t}, and@code{ls-lisp-dirs-first} and @code{ls-lisp-verbosity} to @code{nil}.@item MS-WindowsEmulate MS-Windows. Sets @code{ls-lisp-ignore-case} and@code{ls-lisp-dirs-first} to @code{t}, and @code{ls-lisp-verbosity} to@code{(links)} on Windows NT/2K/XP/2K3 and to @code{nil} on Windows 9X.Note that the default emulation is @emph{not} @code{MS-Windows}, evenon Windows, since many users of Emacs on those platforms prefer the@sc{gnu} defaults.@end table@noindentAny other value of @code{ls-lisp-emulation} means the same as@code{GNU}. Note that this option needs to be set @emph{before}@file{ls-lisp.el} is loaded, which means that on MS-Windows and MS-DOSyou will have to set the value from your @file{.emacs} file and thenrestart Emacs, since @file{ls-lisp.el} is preloaded.@vindex ls-lisp-support-shell-wildcards The variable @code{ls-lisp-support-shell-wildcards} controls howfile-name patterns are supported: if it is non-@code{nil} (thedefault), they are treated as shell-style wildcards; otherwise theyare treated as Emacs regular expressions.@vindex ls-lisp-format-time-list The variable @code{ls-lisp-format-time-list} defines how to formatthe date and time of files. @emph{The value of this variable isignored}, unless Emacs cannot determine the current locale. (However,if the value of @code{ls-lisp-use-localized-time-format} isnon-@code{nil}, Emacs obeys @code{ls-lisp-format-time-list} even ifthe current locale is available; see below.)The value of @code{ls-lisp-format-time-list} is a list of 2 strings.The first string is used if the file was modified within the currentyear, while the second string is used for older files. In each ofthese two strings you can use @samp{%}-sequences to substitute partsof the time. For example:@lisp("%b %e %H:%M" "%b %e %Y")@end lisp@noindentNote that the strings substituted for these @samp{%}-sequences dependon the current locale. @xref{Time Parsing,,, elisp, The Emacs LispReference Manual}, for more about format time specs.@vindex ls-lisp-use-localized-time-format Normally, Emacs formats the file time stamps in either traditionalor ISO-style time format. However, if the value of the variable@code{ls-lisp-use-localized-time-format} is non-@code{nil}, Emacsformats file time stamps according to what@code{ls-lisp-format-time-list} specifies. The @samp{%}-sequences in@code{ls-lisp-format-time-list} produce locale-dependent month and daynames, which might cause misalignment of columns in Dired display.@end ifnottex@node Windows HOME@section HOME Directory on MS-Windows@cindex @code{HOME} directory on MS-Windows The Windows equivalent of the @code{HOME} directory is the@dfn{user-specific application data directory}. The actual locationdepends on your Windows version and system configuration; typical valuesare @file{C:\Documents and Settings\@var{username}\Application Data} onWindows 2K/XP and later, and either @file{C:\WINDOWS\Application Data}or @file{C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\@var{username}\Application Data} on theolder Windows 9X/ME systems.@cindex init file @file{.emacs} on MS-Windows The home directory is where your init file @file{.emacs} is stored.When Emacs starts, it first checks whether the environment variable@env{HOME} is set. If it is, it looks for the init file in thedirectory pointed by @env{HOME}. If @env{HOME} is not defined, Emacschecks for an existing @file{.emacs} file in @file{C:\}, the rootdirectory of drive @file{C:}@footnote{The check in @file{C:\} is in preference to the application datadirectory for compatibility with older versions of Emacs, which didn'tcheck the application data directory.}. If there's no such file in @file{C:\}, Emacs next uses the Windowssystem calls to find out the exact location of your application datadirectory. If that fails as well, Emacs falls back to @file{C:\}. Whatever the final place is, Emacs sets the value of the @env{HOME}environment variable to point to it, and it will use that location forother files and directories it normally creates in the user's homedirectory. You can always find out where Emacs thinks is your home directory'slocation by typing @kbd{C-x d ~/ @key{RET}}. This should present thelist of files in the home directory, and show its full name on thefirst line. Likewise, to visit your init file, type @kbd{C-x C-f~/.emacs @key{RET}}.@cindex @file{_emacs} init file, MS-Windows Because MS-DOS does not allow file names with leading dots, andbecause older Windows systems made it hard to create files with suchnames, the Windows port of Emacs supports an alternative name@file{_emacs} as a fallback, if such a file exists in the homedirectory, whereas @file{.emacs} does not.@node Windows Keyboard@section Keyboard Usage on MS-Windows@cindex keyboard, MS-Windows This section describes the Windows-specific features related tokeyboard input in Emacs.@cindex MS-Windows keyboard shortcuts Many key combinations (known as ``keyboard shortcuts'') that haveconventional uses in MS-Windows programs conflict with traditionalEmacs key bindings. (These Emacs key bindings were established yearsbefore Microsoft was founded.) Examples of conflicts include@kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-x}, @kbd{C-z}, @kbd{C-a}, and @kbd{W-@key{SPC}}.You can redefine some of them with meanings more like the MS-Windowsmeanings by enabling CUA Mode (@pxref{CUA Bindings}).@kindex F10 @r{(MS-Windows)}@cindex menu bar access using keyboard @r{(MS-Windows)} The @key{F10} key on Windows activates the menu bar in a way thatmakes it possible to use the menus without a mouse. In this mode, thearrow keys traverse the menus, @key{RET} selects a highlighted menuitem, and @key{ESC} closes the menu.@iftex@inforef{Windows Keyboard, , emacs}, for information about additionalWindows-specific variables in this category.@end iftex@ifnottex@vindex w32-alt-is-meta@cindex @code{Alt} key (MS-Windows) By default, the key labeled @key{Alt} is mapped as the @key{META}key. If you wish it to produce the @code{Alt} modifier instead, setthe variable @code{w32-alt-is-meta} to a @code{nil} value.@vindex w32-capslock-is-shiftlock By default, the @key{CapsLock} key only affects normal characterkeys (it converts lower-case characters to their upper-casevariants). However, if you set the variable@code{w32-capslock-is-shiftlock} to a non-@code{nil} value, the@key{CapsLock} key will affect non-character keys as well, as if youpressed the @key{Shift} key while typing the non-character key.@vindex w32-enable-caps-lock If the variable @code{w32-enable-caps-lock} is set to a @code{nil}value, the @key{CapsLock} key produces the symbol @code{capslock}instead of the shifted version of they keys. The default value is@code{t}.@vindex w32-enable-num-lock@cindex keypad keys (MS-Windows) Similarly, if @code{w32-enable-num-lock} is @code{nil}, the@key{NumLock} key will produce the symbol @code{kp-numlock}. Thedefault is @code{t}, which causes @key{NumLock} to work as expected:toggle the meaning of the keys on the numeric keypad.@end ifnottex@vindex w32-apps-modifier The variable @code{w32-apps-modifier} controls the effect of the@key{Apps} key (usually located between the right @key{Alt} and theright @key{Ctrl} keys). Its value can be one of the symbols@code{hyper}, @code{super}, @code{meta}, @code{alt}, @code{control},or @code{shift} for the respective modifier, or @code{nil} to appearas the key @code{apps}. The default is @code{nil}.@vindex w32-lwindow-modifier@vindex w32-rwindow-modifier@vindex w32-scroll-lock-modifier The variable @code{w32-lwindow-modifier} determines the effect ofthe left Windows key (usually labeled with @key{start} and the Windowslogo). If its value is @code{nil} (the default), the key will producethe symbol @code{lwindow}. Setting it to one of the symbols@code{hyper}, @code{super}, @code{meta}, @code{alt}, @code{control},or @code{shift} will produce the respective modifier. A similarvariable @code{w32-rwindow-modifier} controls the effect of the rightWindows key, and @code{w32-scroll-lock-modifier} does the same for the@key{ScrLock} key. If these variables are set to @code{nil}, theright Windows key produces the symbol @code{rwindow} and @key{ScrLock}produces the symbol @code{scroll}.@vindex w32-pass-alt-to-system@cindex Windows system menu@cindex @code{Alt} key invokes menu (Windows) Emacs compiled as a native Windows application normally turns offthe Windows feature that tapping the @key{ALT} key invokes the Windowsmenu. The reason is that the @key{ALT} serves as @key{META} in Emacs.When using Emacs, users often press the @key{META} key temporarily andthen change their minds; if this has the effect of bringing up theWindows menu, it alters the meaning of subsequent commands. Manyusers find this frustrating. You can re-enable Windows' default handling of tapping the @key{ALT}key by setting @code{w32-pass-alt-to-system} to a non-@code{nil}value.@ifnottex@vindex w32-pass-lwindow-to-system@vindex w32-pass-rwindow-to-system The variables @code{w32-pass-lwindow-to-system} and@code{w32-pass-rwindow-to-system} determine whether the respectivekeys are passed to Windows or swallowed by Emacs. If the value is@code{nil}, the respective key is silently swallowed by Emacs,otherwise it is passed to Windows. The default is @code{t} for bothof these variables. Passing each of these keys to Windows producesits normal effect: for example, @kbd{@key{Lwindow}} opens the@code{Start} menu, etc.@footnote{Some combinations of the ``Windows'' keys with other keys are caughtby Windows at low level in a way that Emacs currently cannot prevent.For example, @kbd{@key{Lwindow} r} always pops up the Windows@samp{Run} dialog. Customizing the value of@code{w32-phantom-key-code} might help in some cases, though.}@vindex w32-recognize-altgr@kindex AltGr @r{(MS-Windows)}@cindex AltGr key (MS-Windows) The variable @code{w32-recognize-altgr} controls whether the@key{AltGr} key (if it exists on your keyboard), or its equivalent,the combination of the right @key{Alt} and left @key{Ctrl} keyspressed together, is recognized as the @key{AltGr} key. The defaultis @code{t}, which means these keys produce @code{AltGr}; setting itto @code{nil} causes @key{AltGr} or the equivalent key combination tobe interpreted as the combination of @key{CTRL} and @key{META}modifiers.@end ifnottex@node Windows Mouse@section Mouse Usage on MS-Windows@cindex mouse, and MS-Windows This section describes the Windows-specific variables related tomouse.@vindex w32-mouse-button-tolerance@cindex simulation of middle mouse button The variable @code{w32-mouse-button-tolerance} specifies thetime interval, in milliseconds, for faking middle mouse button presson 2-button mice. If both mouse buttons are depressed within thistime interval, Emacs generates a middle mouse button click eventinstead of a double click on one of the buttons.@vindex w32-pass-extra-mouse-buttons-to-system If the variable @code{w32-pass-extra-mouse-buttons-to-system} isnon-@code{nil}, Emacs passes the fourth and fifth mouse buttons toWindows.@vindex w32-swap-mouse-buttons The variable @code{w32-swap-mouse-buttons} controls which of the 3mouse buttons generates the @kbd{mouse-2} events. When it is@code{nil} (the default), the middle button generates @kbd{mouse-2}and the right button generates @kbd{mouse-3} events. If this variableis non-@code{nil}, the roles of these two buttons are reversed.@node Windows Processes@section Subprocesses on Windows 9X/ME and Windows NT/2K/XP@cindex subprocesses on MS-Windows@cindex DOS applications, running from Emacs Emacs compiled as a native Windows application (as opposed to the DOSversion) includes full support for asynchronous subprocesses.In the Windows version, synchronous and asynchronous subprocesses workfine on bothWindows 9X/ME and Windows NT/2K/XP as long as you run only 32-bit Windowsapplications. However, when you run a DOS application in a subprocess,you may encounter problems or be unable to run the application at all;and if you run two DOS applications at the same time in twosubprocesses, you may have to reboot your system.Since the standard command interpreter (and most command line utilities)on Windows 9X are DOS applications, these problems are significant whenusing that system. But there's nothing we can do about them; onlyMicrosoft can fix them.If you run just one DOS application subprocess, the subprocess shouldwork as expected as long as it is ``well-behaved'' and does not performdirect screen access or other unusual actions. If you have a CPUmonitor application, your machine will appear to be 100% busy even whenthe DOS application is idle, but this is only an artifact of the way CPUmonitors measure processor load.You must terminate the DOS application before you start any other DOSapplication in a different subprocess. Emacs is unable to interrupt orterminate a DOS subprocess. The only way you can terminate such asubprocess is by giving it a command that tells its program to exit.If you attempt to run two DOS applications at the same time in separatesubprocesses, the second one that is started will be suspended until thefirst one finishes, even if either or both of them are asynchronous.@cindex kill DOS applicationIf you can go to the first subprocess, and tell it to exit, the secondsubprocess should continue normally. However, if the second subprocessis synchronous, Emacs itself will be hung until the first subprocessfinishes. If it will not finish without user input, then you have nochoice but to reboot if you are running on Windows 9X. If you arerunning on Windows NT/2K/XP, you can use a process viewer application to killthe appropriate instance of NTVDM instead (this will terminate both DOSsubprocesses).If you have to reboot Windows 9X in this situation, do not use the@code{Shutdown} command on the @code{Start} menu; that usually hangs thesystem. Instead, type @kbd{CTL-ALT-@key{DEL}} and then choose@code{Shutdown}. That usually works, although it may take a few minutesto do its job.@vindex w32-quote-process-args The variable @code{w32-quote-process-args} controls how Emacs quotesthe process arguments. Non-@code{nil} means quote with the @code{"}character. If the value is a character, use that character to escapeany quote characters that appear; otherwise chose a suitable escapecharacter based on the type of the program.@ifnottex@findex w32-shell-execute The function @code{w32-shell-execute} can be useful for writingcustomized commands that run MS-Windows applications registered tohandle a certain standard Windows operation for a specific type ofdocument or file. This function is a wrapper around the Windows@code{ShellExecute} API. See the MS-Windows API documentation formore details.@end ifnottex@node Windows Printing@section Printing and MS-Windows Printing commands, such as @code{lpr-buffer} (@pxref{Printing}) and@code{ps-print-buffer} (@pxref{PostScript}) work in MS-DOS andMS-Windows by sending the output to one of the printer ports, if aPosix-style @code{lpr} program is unavailable. The same Emacsvariables control printing on all systems, but in some cases they havedifferent default values on MS-DOS and MS-Windows. Emacs on Windows automatically determines your default printer andsets the variable @var{printer-name} to that printer's name. But insome rare cases this can fail, or you may wish to use a differentprinter from within Emacs. The rest of this section explains how totell Emacs which printer to use.@vindex printer-name@r{, (MS-DOS/MW-Windows)} If you want to use your local printer, then set the Lisp variable@code{lpr-command} to @code{""} (its default value on Windows) and@code{printer-name} to the name of the printer port---for example,@code{"PRN"}, the usual local printer port or @code{"LPT2"}, or@code{"COM1"} for a serial printer. You can also set@code{printer-name} to a file name, in which case ``printed'' outputis actually appended to that file. If you set @code{printer-name} to@code{"NUL"}, printed output is silently discarded (sent to the systemnull device). You can also use a printer shared by another machine by setting@code{printer-name} to the UNC share name for that printer---forexample, @code{"//joes_pc/hp4si"}. (It doesn't matter whether you useforward slashes or backslashes here.) To find out the names of sharedprinters, run the command @samp{net view} from the command prompt toobtain a list of servers, and @samp{net view @var{server-name}} to seethe names of printers (and directories) shared by that server.Alternatively, click the @samp{Network Neighborhood} icon on yourdesktop, and look for machines which share their printers via thenetwork.@cindex @samp{net use}, and printing on MS-Windows@cindex networked printers (MS-Windows) If the printer doesn't appear in the output of @samp{net view}, orif setting @code{printer-name} to the UNC share name doesn't produce ahardcopy on that printer, you can use the @samp{net use} command toconnect a local print port such as @code{"LPT2"} to the networkedprinter. For example, typing @kbd{net use LPT2: \\joes_pc\hp4si}@footnote{Note that the @samp{net use} command requires the UNC share name to betyped with the Windows-style backslashes, while the value of@code{printer-name} can be set with either forward- or backslashes.}causes Windows to @dfn{capture} the @code{LPT2} port and redirect theprinted material to the printer connected to the machine @code{joes_pc}.After this command, setting @code{printer-name} to @code{"LPT2"}should produce the hardcopy on the networked printer. With some varieties of Windows network software, you can instructWindows to capture a specific printer port such as @code{"LPT2"}, andredirect it to a networked printer via the @w{@code{ControlPanel->Printers}} applet instead of @samp{net use}. If you set @code{printer-name} to a file name, it's best to use anabsolute file name. Emacs changes the working directory according tothe default directory of the current buffer, so if the file name in@code{printer-name} is relative, you will end up with several suchfiles, each one in the directory of the buffer from which the printingwas done. If the value of @code{printer-name} is correct, but printing doesnot produce the hardcopy on your printer, it is possible that yourprinter does not support printing plain text (some cheap printers omitthis functionality). In that case, try the PostScript print commands,described below.@findex print-buffer @r{(MS-DOS)}@findex print-region @r{(MS-DOS)}@vindex lpr-headers-switches @r{(MS-DOS)} The commands @code{print-buffer} and @code{print-region} call the@code{pr} program, or use special switches to the @code{lpr} program, toproduce headers on each printed page. MS-DOS and MS-Windows don'tnormally have these programs, so by default, the variable@code{lpr-headers-switches} is set so that the requests to print pageheaders are silently ignored. Thus, @code{print-buffer} and@code{print-region} produce the same output as @code{lpr-buffer} and@code{lpr-region}, respectively. If you do have a suitable @code{pr}program (for example, from GNU Coreutils), set@code{lpr-headers-switches} to @code{nil}; Emacs will then call@code{pr} to produce the page headers, and print the resulting output asspecified by @code{printer-name}.@vindex print-region-function @r{(MS-DOS)}@cindex lpr usage under MS-DOS@vindex lpr-command @r{(MS-DOS)}@vindex lpr-switches @r{(MS-DOS)} Finally, if you do have an @code{lpr} work-alike, you can set thevariable @code{lpr-command} to @code{"lpr"}. Then Emacs will use@code{lpr} for printing, as on other systems. (If the name of theprogram isn't @code{lpr}, set @code{lpr-command} to specify where tofind it.) The variable @code{lpr-switches} has its standard meaningwhen @code{lpr-command} is not @code{""}. If the variable@code{printer-name} has a string value, it is used as the value for the@code{-P} option to @code{lpr}, as on Unix.@findex ps-print-buffer @r{(MS-DOS)}@findex ps-spool-buffer @r{(MS-DOS)}@vindex ps-printer-name @r{(MS-DOS)}@vindex ps-lpr-command @r{(MS-DOS)}@vindex ps-lpr-switches @r{(MS-DOS)} A parallel set of variables, @code{ps-lpr-command},@code{ps-lpr-switches}, and @code{ps-printer-name} (@pxref{PostScriptVariables}), defines how PostScript files should be printed. Thesevariables are used in the same way as the corresponding variablesdescribed above for non-PostScript printing. Thus, the value of@code{ps-printer-name} is used as the name of the device (or file) towhich PostScript output is sent, just as @code{printer-name} is usedfor non-PostScript printing. (There are two distinct sets ofvariables in case you have two printers attached to two differentports, and only one of them is a PostScript printer.) The default value of the variable @code{ps-lpr-command} is @code{""},which causes PostScript output to be sent to the printer port specifiedby @code{ps-printer-name}, but @code{ps-lpr-command} can also be set tothe name of a program which will accept PostScript files. Thus, if youhave a non-PostScript printer, you can set this variable to the name ofa PostScript interpreter program (such as Ghostscript). Any switchesthat need to be passed to the interpreter program are specified using@code{ps-lpr-switches}. (If the value of @code{ps-printer-name} is astring, it will be added to the list of switches as the value for the@code{-P} option. This is probably only useful if you are using@code{lpr}, so when using an interpreter typically you would set@code{ps-printer-name} to something other than a string so it isignored.) For example, to use Ghostscript for printing on the system's defaultprinter, put this in your @file{.emacs} file:@example(setq ps-printer-name t)(setq ps-lpr-command "D:/gs6.01/bin/gswin32c.exe")(setq ps-lpr-switches '("-q" "-dNOPAUSE" "-dBATCH" "-sDEVICE=mswinpr2" "-sPAPERSIZE=a4"))@end example@noindent(This assumes that Ghostscript is installed in the@file{D:/gs6.01} directory.)@node Windows Misc@section Miscellaneous Windows-specific features This section describes miscellaneous Windows-specific features.@vindex w32-use-visible-system-caret@cindex screen reader software, MS-Windows The variable @code{w32-use-visible-system-caret} is a flag thatdetermines whether to make the system caret visible. The default is@code{nil}, which means Emacs draws its own cursor to indicate theposition of point. A non-@code{nil} value means Emacs will indicatepoint location by the system caret; this facilitates use of screenreader software. When this variable is non-@code{nil}, othervariables affecting the cursor display have no effect.@iftex@inforef{Windows Misc, , emacs}, for information about additionalWindows-specific variables in this category.@end iftex@ifnottex@vindex w32-grab-focus-on-raise@cindex frame focus policy, MS-Windows The variable @code{w32-grab-focus-on-raise}, if set to anon-@code{nil} value causes a frame to grab focus when it is raised.The default is @code{t}, which fits well with the Windows defaultclick-to-focus policy.@vindex w32-list-proportional-fonts The variable @code{w32-list-proportional-fonts} controls whetherproportional fonts are included in the font selection dialog. If itsvalue is non-@code{nil}, these fonts will be included. The default is@code{nil}.@end ifnottex@ifnottex@include msdog-xtra.texi@end ifnottex@ignore arch-tag: f39d2590-5dcc-4318-88d9-0eb73ca10fa2@end ignore