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INFO-DIR-SECTION Emacs
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* Emacs Lisp Intro: (eintr).
  			A simple introduction to Emacs Lisp programming.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY

This is an `Introduction to Programming in Emacs Lisp', for people who
are not programmers.

Edition 3.00, 2006 Oct 31

Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001,    2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Published by the:

     GNU Press,                          Website: http://www.gnupress.org
     a division of the                   General: press@gnu.org
     Free Software Foundation, Inc.      Orders:  sales@gnu.org
     51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor     Tel: +1 (617) 542-5942
     Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA           Fax: +1 (617) 542-2652


ISBN 1-882114-43-4

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; there
being no Invariant Section, 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".

(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."


File: eintr,  Node: Top,  Next: Preface,  Prev: (dir),  Up: (dir)

An Introduction to Programming in Emacs Lisp
********************************************

This is an `Introduction to Programming in Emacs Lisp', for people who
are not programmers.

Edition 3.00, 2006 Oct 31

Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001,    2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Published by the:

     GNU Press,                          Website: http://www.gnupress.org
     a division of the                   General: press@gnu.org
     Free Software Foundation, Inc.      Orders:  sales@gnu.org
     51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor     Tel: +1 (617) 542-5942
     Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA           Fax: +1 (617) 542-2652


ISBN 1-882114-43-4

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; there
being no Invariant Section, 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".

(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 master menu first lists each chapter and index; then it lists
every node in every chapter.

* Menu:

* Preface::                     What to look for.
* List Processing::             What is Lisp?
* Practicing Evaluation::       Running several programs.
* Writing Defuns::              How to write function definitions.
* Buffer Walk Through::         Exploring a few buffer-related functions.
* More Complex::                A few, even more complex functions.
* Narrowing & Widening::        Restricting your and Emacs attention to
                                    a region.
* car cdr & cons::              Fundamental functions in Lisp.
* Cutting & Storing Text::      Removing text and saving it.
* List Implementation::         How lists are implemented in the computer.
* Yanking::                     Pasting stored text.
* Loops & Recursion::           How to repeat a process.
* Regexp Search::               Regular expression searches.
* Counting Words::              A review of repetition and regexps.
* Words in a defun::            Counting words in a `defun'.
* Readying a Graph::            A prototype graph printing function.
* Emacs Initialization::        How to write a `.emacs' file.
* Debugging::                   How to run the Emacs Lisp debuggers.
* Conclusion::                  Now you have the basics.
* the-the::                     An appendix: how to find reduplicated words.
* Kill Ring::                   An appendix: how the kill ring works.
* Full Graph::                  How to create a graph with labelled axes.
* Free Software and Free Manuals::
* GNU Free Documentation License::
* Index::
* About the Author::

 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---

Preface

* Why::                         Why learn Emacs Lisp?
* On Reading this Text::        Read, gain familiarity, pick up habits....
* Who You Are::                 For whom this is written.
* Lisp History::
* Note for Novices::            You can read this as a novice.
* Thank You::

List Processing

* Lisp Lists::                  What are lists?
* Run a Program::               Any list in Lisp is a program ready to run.
* Making Errors::               Generating an error message.
* Names & Definitions::         Names of symbols and function definitions.
* Lisp Interpreter::            What the Lisp interpreter does.
* Evaluation::                  Running a program.
* Variables::                   Returning a value from a variable.
* Arguments::                   Passing information to a function.
* set & setq::                  Setting the value of a variable.
* Summary::                     The major points.
* Error Message Exercises::

Lisp Lists

* Numbers Lists::               List have numbers, other lists, in them.
* Lisp Atoms::                  Elemental entities.
* Whitespace in Lists::         Formatting lists to be readable.
* Typing Lists::                How GNU Emacs helps you type lists.

The Lisp Interpreter

* Complications::               Variables, Special forms, Lists within.
* Byte Compiling::              Specially processing code for speed.

Evaluation

* Evaluating Inner Lists::      Lists within lists...

Variables

* fill-column Example::
* Void Function::               The error message for a symbol
                                  without a function.
* Void Variable::               The error message for a symbol without a value.

Arguments

* Data types::                  Types of data passed to a function.
* Args as Variable or List::    An argument can be the value
                                  of a variable or list.
* Variable Number of Arguments::  Some functions may take a
                                  variable number of arguments.
* Wrong Type of Argument::      Passing an argument of the wrong type
                                  to a function.
* message::                     A useful function for sending messages.

Setting the Value of a Variable

* Using set::                  Setting values.
* Using setq::                 Setting a quoted value.
* Counting::                   Using `setq' to count.

Practicing Evaluation

* How to Evaluate::            Typing editing commands or C-x C-e
                                 causes evaluation.
* Buffer Names::               Buffers and files are different.
* Getting Buffers::            Getting a buffer itself, not merely its name.
* Switching Buffers::          How to change to another buffer.
* Buffer Size & Locations::    Where point is located and the size of
                               the buffer.
* Evaluation Exercise::

How To Write Function Definitions

* Primitive Functions::
* defun::                        The `defun' special form.
* Install::                      Install a function definition.
* Interactive::                  Making a function interactive.
* Interactive Options::          Different options for `interactive'.
* Permanent Installation::       Installing code permanently.
* let::                          Creating and initializing local variables.
* if::                           What if?
* else::                         If--then--else expressions.
* Truth & Falsehood::            What Lisp considers false and true.
* save-excursion::               Keeping track of point, mark, and buffer.
* Review::
* defun Exercises::

Install a Function Definition

* Effect of installation::
* Change a defun::              How to change a function definition.

Make a Function Interactive

* Interactive multiply-by-seven::  An overview.
* multiply-by-seven in detail::  The interactive version.

`let'

* Prevent confusion::
* Parts of let Expression::
* Sample let Expression::
* Uninitialized let Variables::

The `if' Special Form

* if in more detail::
* type-of-animal in detail::    An example of an `if' expression.

Truth and Falsehood in Emacs Lisp

* nil explained::               `nil' has two meanings.

`save-excursion'

* Point and mark::              A review of various locations.
* Template for save-excursion::

A Few Buffer--Related Functions

* Finding More::                How to find more information.
* simplified-beginning-of-buffer::  Shows `goto-char',
                                `point-min', and `push-mark'.
* mark-whole-buffer::           Almost the same as `beginning-of-buffer'.
* append-to-buffer::            Uses `save-excursion' and
                                `insert-buffer-substring'.
* Buffer Related Review::       Review.
* Buffer Exercises::

The Definition of `mark-whole-buffer'

* mark-whole-buffer overview::
* Body of mark-whole-buffer::   Only three lines of code.

The Definition of `append-to-buffer'

* append-to-buffer overview::
* append interactive::          A two part interactive expression.
* append-to-buffer body::       Incorporates a `let' expression.
* append save-excursion::       How the `save-excursion' works.

A Few More Complex Functions

* copy-to-buffer::              With `set-buffer', `get-buffer-create'.
* insert-buffer::               Read-only, and with `or'.
* beginning-of-buffer::         Shows `goto-char',
                                `point-min', and `push-mark'.
* Second Buffer Related Review::
* optional Exercise::

The Definition of `insert-buffer'

* insert-buffer code::
* insert-buffer interactive::   When you can read, but not write.
* insert-buffer body::          The body has an `or' and a `let'.
* if & or::                     Using an `if' instead of an `or'.
* Insert or::                   How the `or' expression works.
* Insert let::                  Two `save-excursion' expressions.
* New insert-buffer::

The Interactive Expression in `insert-buffer'

* Read-only buffer::            When a buffer cannot be modified.
* b for interactive::           An existing buffer or else its name.

Complete Definition of `beginning-of-buffer'

* Optional Arguments::
* beginning-of-buffer opt arg::  Example with optional argument.
* beginning-of-buffer complete::

`beginning-of-buffer' with an Argument

* Disentangle beginning-of-buffer::
* Large buffer case::
* Small buffer case::

Narrowing and Widening

* Narrowing advantages::        The advantages of narrowing
* save-restriction::            The `save-restriction' special form.
* what-line::                   The number of the line that point is on.
* narrow Exercise::

`car', `cdr', `cons': Fundamental Functions

* Strange Names::               An historical aside: why the strange names?
* car & cdr::                   Functions for extracting part of a list.
* cons::                        Constructing a list.
* nthcdr::                      Calling `cdr' repeatedly.
* nth::
* setcar::                      Changing the first element of a list.
* setcdr::                      Changing the rest of a list.
* cons Exercise::

`cons'

* Build a list::
* length::                      How to find the length of a list.

Cutting and Storing Text

* Storing Text::                Text is stored in a list.
* zap-to-char::                 Cutting out text up to a character.
* kill-region::                 Cutting text out of a region.
* copy-region-as-kill::         A definition for copying text.
* Digression into C::           Minor note on C programming language macros.
* defvar::                      How to give a variable an initial value.
* cons & search-fwd Review::
* search Exercises::

`zap-to-char'

* Complete zap-to-char::        The complete implementation.
* zap-to-char interactive::     A three part interactive expression.
* zap-to-char body::            A short overview.
* search-forward::              How to search for a string.
* progn::                       The `progn' special form.
* Summing up zap-to-char::      Using `point' and `search-forward'.

`kill-region'

* Complete kill-region::        The function definition.
* condition-case::              Dealing with a problem.
* Lisp macro::

`copy-region-as-kill'

* Complete copy-region-as-kill::  The complete function definition.
* copy-region-as-kill body::    The body of `copy-region-as-kill'.

The Body of `copy-region-as-kill'

* last-command & this-command::
* kill-append function::
* kill-new function::

Initializing a Variable with `defvar'

* See variable current value::
* defvar and asterisk::

How Lists are Implemented

* Lists diagrammed::
* Symbols as Chest::            Exploring a powerful metaphor.
* List Exercise::

Yanking Text Back

* Kill Ring Overview::
* kill-ring-yank-pointer::      The kill ring is a list.
* yank nthcdr Exercises::       The `kill-ring-yank-pointer' variable.

Loops and Recursion

* while::                       Causing a stretch of code to repeat.
* dolist dotimes::
* Recursion::                   Causing a function to call itself.
* Looping exercise::

`while'

* Looping with while::          Repeat so long as test returns true.
* Loop Example::                A `while' loop that uses a list.
* print-elements-of-list::      Uses `while', `car', `cdr'.
* Incrementing Loop::           A loop with an incrementing counter.
* Decrementing Loop::           A loop with a decrementing counter.

A Loop with an Incrementing Counter

* Incrementing Example::        Counting pebbles in a triangle.
* Inc Example parts::           The parts of the function definition.
* Inc Example altogether::      Putting the function definition together.

Loop with a Decrementing Counter

* Decrementing Example::        More pebbles on the beach.
* Dec Example parts::           The parts of the function definition.
* Dec Example altogether::      Putting the function definition together.

Save your time: `dolist' and `dotimes'

* dolist::
* dotimes::

Recursion

* Building Robots::             Same model, different serial number ...
* Recursive Definition Parts::  Walk until you stop ...
* Recursion with list::         Using a list as the test whether to recurse.
* Recursive triangle function::
* Recursion with cond::
* Recursive Patterns::          Often used templates.
* No Deferment::                Don't store up work ...
* No deferment solution::

Recursion in Place of a Counter

* Recursive Example arg of 1 or 2::
* Recursive Example arg of 3 or 4::

Recursive Patterns

* Every::
* Accumulate::
* Keep::

Regular Expression Searches

* sentence-end::                The regular expression for `sentence-end'.
* re-search-forward::           Very similar to `search-forward'.
* forward-sentence::            A straightforward example of regexp search.
* forward-paragraph::           A somewhat complex example.
* etags::                       How to create your own `TAGS' table.
* Regexp Review::
* re-search Exercises::

`forward-sentence'

* Complete forward-sentence::
* fwd-sentence while loops::    Two `while' loops.
* fwd-sentence re-search::      A regular expression search.

`forward-paragraph': a Goldmine of Functions

* forward-paragraph in brief::  Key parts of the function definition.
* fwd-para let::                The `let*' expression.
* fwd-para while::              The forward motion `while' loop.

Counting: Repetition and Regexps

* Why Count Words::
* count-words-region::          Use a regexp, but find a problem.
* recursive-count-words::       Start with case of no words in region.
* Counting Exercise::

The `count-words-region' Function

* Design count-words-region::   The definition using a `while' loop.
* Whitespace Bug::              The Whitespace Bug in `count-words-region'.

Counting Words in a `defun'

* Divide and Conquer::
* Words and Symbols::           What to count?
* Syntax::                      What constitutes a word or symbol?
* count-words-in-defun::        Very like `count-words'.
* Several defuns::              Counting several defuns in a file.
* Find a File::                 Do you want to look at a file?
* lengths-list-file::           A list of the lengths of many definitions.
* Several files::               Counting in definitions in different files.
* Several files recursively::   Recursively counting in different files.
* Prepare the data::            Prepare the data for display in a graph.

Count Words in `defuns' in Different Files

* lengths-list-many-files::     Return a list of the lengths of defuns.
* append::                      Attach one list to another.

Prepare the Data for Display in a Graph

* Sorting::                     Sorting lists.
* Files List::                  Making a list of files.
* Counting function definitions::

Readying a Graph

* Columns of a graph::
* graph-body-print::            How to print the body of a graph.
* recursive-graph-body-print::
* Printed Axes::
* Line Graph Exercise::

Your `.emacs' File

* Default Configuration::
* Site-wide Init::              You can write site-wide init files.
* defcustom::                   Emacs will write code for you.
* Beginning a .emacs File::     How to write a `.emacs file'.
* Text and Auto-fill::          Automatically wrap lines.
* Mail Aliases::                Use abbreviations for email addresses.
* Indent Tabs Mode::            Don't use tabs with TeX
* Keybindings::                 Create some personal keybindings.
* Keymaps::                     More about key binding.
* Loading Files::               Load (i.e., evaluate) files automatically.
* Autoload::                    Make functions available.
* Simple Extension::            Define a function; bind it to a key.
* X11 Colors::                  Colors in version 19 in X.
* Miscellaneous::
* Mode Line::                   How to customize your mode line.

Debugging

* debug::                       How to use the built-in debugger.
* debug-on-entry::              Start debugging when you call a function.
* debug-on-quit::               Start debugging when you quit with C-g.
* edebug::                      How to use Edebug, a source level debugger.
* Debugging Exercises::

Handling the Kill Ring

* current-kill::
* yank::                        Paste a copy of a clipped element.
* yank-pop::                    Insert element pointed to.
* ring file::

The `current-kill' Function

* Understanding current-kill::

`current-kill' in Outline

* Digression concerning error::  How to mislead humans, but not computers.
* Determining the Element::

A Graph with Labelled Axes

* Labelled Example::
* print-graph Varlist::         `let' expression in `print-graph'.
* print-Y-axis::                Print a label for the vertical axis.
* print-X-axis::                Print a horizontal label.
* Print Whole Graph::           The function to print a complete graph.

The `print-Y-axis' Function

* Height of label::             What height for the Y axis?
* Compute a Remainder::         How to compute the remainder of a division.
* Y Axis Element::              Construct a line for the Y axis.
* Y-axis-column::               Generate a list of Y axis labels.
* print-Y-axis Penultimate::    A not quite final version.

The `print-X-axis' Function

* Similarities differences::    Much like `print-Y-axis', but not exactly.
* X Axis Tic Marks::            Create tic marks for the horizontal axis.

Printing the Whole Graph

* The final version::           A few changes.
* Test print-graph::            Run a short test.
* Graphing words in defuns::    Executing the final code.
* lambda::                      How to write an anonymous function.
* mapcar::                      Apply a function to elements of a list.
* Another Bug::                 Yet another bug ... most insidious.
* Final printed graph::         The graph itself!


File: eintr,  Node: Preface,  Next: List Processing,  Prev: Top,  Up: Top

Preface
*******

Most of the GNU Emacs integrated environment is written in the
programming language called Emacs Lisp.  The code written in this
programming language is the software--the sets of instructions--that
tell the computer what to do when you give it commands.  Emacs is
designed so that you can write new code in Emacs Lisp and easily
install it as an extension to the editor.

(GNU Emacs is sometimes called an "extensible editor", but it does much
more than provide editing capabilities.  It is better to refer to Emacs
as an "extensible computing environment".  However, that phrase is
quite a mouthful.  It is easier to refer to Emacs simply as an editor.
Moreover, everything you do in Emacs--find the Mayan date and phases of
the moon, simplify polynomials, debug code, manage files, read letters,
write books--all these activities are kinds of editing in the most
general sense of the word.)

* Menu:

* Why::
* On Reading this Text::
* Who You Are::
* Lisp History::
* Note for Novices::
* Thank You::


File: eintr,  Node: Why,  Next: On Reading this Text,  Prev: Preface,  Up: Preface

Why Study Emacs Lisp?
=====================

Although Emacs Lisp is usually thought of in association only with
Emacs, it is a full computer programming language.  You can use Emacs
Lisp as you would any other programming language.

Perhaps you want to understand programming; perhaps you want to extend
Emacs; or perhaps you want to become a programmer.  This introduction to
Emacs Lisp is designed to get you started: to guide you in learning the
fundamentals of programming, and more importantly, to show you how you
can teach yourself to go further.


File: eintr,  Node: On Reading this Text,  Next: Who You Are,  Prev: Why,  Up: Preface

On Reading this Text
====================

All through this document, you will see little sample programs you can
run inside of Emacs.  If you read this document in Info inside of GNU
Emacs, you can run the programs as they appear.  (This is easy to do and
is explained when the examples are presented.)  Alternatively, you can
read this introduction as a printed book while sitting beside a computer
running Emacs.  (This is what I like to do; I like printed books.)  If
you don't have a running Emacs beside you, you can still read this book,
but in this case, it is best to treat it as a novel or as a travel guide
to a country not yet visited: interesting, but not the same as being
there.

Much of this introduction is dedicated to walk-throughs or guided tours
of code used in GNU Emacs.  These tours are designed for two purposes:
first, to give you familiarity with real, working code (code you use
every day); and, second, to give you familiarity with the way Emacs
works.  It is interesting to see how a working environment is
implemented.  Also, I hope that you will pick up the habit of browsing
through source code.  You can learn from it and mine it for ideas.
Having GNU Emacs is like having a dragon's cave of treasures.

In addition to learning about Emacs as an editor and Emacs Lisp as a
programming language, the examples and guided tours will give you an
opportunity to get acquainted with Emacs as a Lisp programming
environment.  GNU Emacs supports programming and provides tools that
you will want to become comfortable using, such as `M-.' (the key which
invokes the `find-tag' command).  You will also learn about buffers and
other objects that are part of the environment.  Learning about these
features of Emacs is like learning new routes around your home town.

Finally, I hope to convey some of the skills for using Emacs to learn
aspects of programming that you don't know.  You can often use Emacs to
help you understand what puzzles you or to find out how to do something
new.  This self-reliance is not only a pleasure, but an advantage.


File: eintr,  Node: Who You Are,  Next: Lisp History,  Prev: On Reading this Text,  Up: Preface

For Whom This is Written
========================

This text is written as an elementary introduction for people who are
not programmers.  If you are a programmer, you may not be satisfied with
this primer.  The reason is that you may have become expert at reading
reference manuals and be put off by the way this text is organized.

An expert programmer who reviewed this text said to me:

     I prefer to learn from reference manuals.  I "dive into" each
     paragraph, and "come up for air" between paragraphs.

     When I get to the end of a paragraph, I assume that that subject is
     done, finished, that I know everything I need (with the possible
     exception of the case when the next paragraph starts talking about
     it in more detail).  I expect that a well written reference manual
     will not have a lot of redundancy, and that it will have excellent
     pointers to the (one) place where the information I want is.

This introduction is not written for this person!

Firstly, I try to say everything at least three times: first, to
introduce it; second, to show it in context; and third, to show it in a
different context, or to review it.

Secondly, I hardly ever put all the information about a subject in one
place, much less in one paragraph.  To my way of thinking, that imposes
too heavy a burden on the reader.  Instead I try to explain only what
you need to know at the time.  (Sometimes I include a little extra
information so you won't be surprised later when the additional
information is formally introduced.)

When you read this text, you are not expected to learn everything the
first time.  Frequently, you need only make, as it were, a `nodding
acquaintance' with some of the items mentioned.  My hope is that I have
structured the text and given you enough hints that you will be alert to
what is important, and concentrate on it.

You will need to "dive into" some paragraphs; there is no other way to
read them.  But I have tried to keep down the number of such
paragraphs.  This book is intended as an approachable hill, rather than
as a daunting mountain.

This introduction to `Programming in Emacs Lisp' has a companion
document, *Note The GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual: (elisp)Top.  The
reference manual has more detail than this introduction.  In the
reference manual, all the information about one topic is concentrated
in one place.  You should turn to it if you are like the programmer
quoted above.  And, of course, after you have read this `Introduction',
you will find the `Reference Manual' useful when you are writing your
own programs.


File: eintr,  Node: Lisp History,  Next: Note for Novices,  Prev: Who You Are,  Up: Preface

Lisp History
============

Lisp was first developed in the late 1950s at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology for research in artificial intelligence.  The
great power of the Lisp language makes it superior for other purposes as
well, such as writing editor commands and integrated environments.

GNU Emacs Lisp is largely inspired by Maclisp, which was written at MIT
in the 1960s.  It is somewhat inspired by Common Lisp, which became a
standard in the 1980s.  However, Emacs Lisp is much simpler than Common
Lisp.  (The standard Emacs distribution contains an optional extensions
file, `cl.el', that adds many Common Lisp features to Emacs Lisp.)


File: eintr,  Node: Note for Novices,  Next: Thank You,  Prev: Lisp History,  Up: Preface

A Note for Novices
==================

If you don't know GNU Emacs, you can still read this document
profitably.  However, I recommend you learn Emacs, if only to learn to
move around your computer screen.  You can teach yourself how to use
Emacs with the on-line tutorial.  To use it, type `C-h t'.  (This means
you press and release the <CTRL> key and the `h' at the same time, and
then press and release `t'.)

Also, I often refer to one of Emacs' standard commands by listing the
keys which you press to invoke the command and then giving the name of
the command in parentheses, like this: `M-C-\' (`indent-region').  What
this means is that the `indent-region' command is customarily invoked
by typing `M-C-\'.  (You can, if you wish, change the keys that are
typed to invoke the command; this is called "rebinding".  *Note
Keymaps: Keymaps.)  The abbreviation `M-C-\' means that you type your
<META> key, <CTRL> key and <\> key all at the same time.  (On many
modern keyboards the <META> key is labelled <ALT>.)  Sometimes a
combination like this is called a keychord, since it is similar to the
way you play a chord on a piano.  If your keyboard does not have a
<META> key, the <ESC> key prefix is used in place of it.  In this case,
`M-C-\' means that you press and release your <ESC> key and then type
the <CTRL> key and the <\> key at the same time.  But usually `M-C-\'
means press the <CTRL> key along with the key that is labelled <ALT>
and, at the same time, press the <\> key.

In addition to typing a lone keychord, you can prefix what you type
with `C-u', which is called the `universal argument'.  The `C-u'
keychord passes an argument to the subsequent command.  Thus, to indent
a region of plain text by 6 spaces, mark the region, and then type
`C-u 6 M-C-\'.  (If you do not specify a number, Emacs either passes
the number 4 to the command or otherwise runs the command differently
than it would otherwise.)  *Note Numeric Arguments: (emacs)Arguments.

If you are reading this in Info using GNU Emacs, you can read through
this whole document just by pressing the space bar, <SPC>.  (To learn
about Info, type `C-h i' and then select Info.)

A note on terminology:  when I use the word Lisp alone, I often am
referring to the various dialects of Lisp in general, but when I speak
of Emacs Lisp, I am referring to GNU Emacs Lisp in particular.


File: eintr,  Node: Thank You,  Prev: Note for Novices,  Up: Preface

Thank You
=========

My thanks to all who helped me with this book.  My especial thanks to
Jim Blandy, Noah Friedman, Jim Kingdon, Roland McGrath, Frank Ritter,
Randy Smith, Richard M. Stallman, and Melissa Weisshaus.  My thanks
also go to both Philip Johnson and David Stampe for their patient
encouragement.  My mistakes are my own.

                                                     Robert J. Chassell


File: eintr,  Node: List Processing,  Next: Practicing Evaluation,  Prev: Preface,  Up: Top

1 List Processing
*****************

To the untutored eye, Lisp is a strange programming language.  In Lisp
code there are parentheses everywhere.  Some people even claim that the
name stands for `Lots of Isolated Silly Parentheses'.  But the claim is
unwarranted.  Lisp stands for LISt Processing, and the programming
language handles _lists_ (and lists of lists) by putting them between
parentheses.  The parentheses mark the boundaries of the list.
Sometimes a list is preceded by a single apostrophe or quotation mark,
`''(1)  Lists are the basis of Lisp.

* Menu:

* Lisp Lists::
* Run a Program::
* Making Errors::
* Names & Definitions::
* Lisp Interpreter::
* Evaluation::
* Variables::
* Arguments::
* set & setq::
* Summary::
* Error Message Exercises::

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) The single apostrophe or quotation mark is an abbreviation for the
function `quote'; you need not think about functions now; functions are
defined in *Note Generate an Error Message: Making Errors.


File: eintr,  Node: Lisp Lists,  Next: Run a Program,  Prev: List Processing,  Up: List Processing

1.1 Lisp Lists
==============

In Lisp, a list looks like this: `'(rose violet daisy buttercup)'.
This list is preceded by a single apostrophe.  It could just as well be
written as follows, which looks more like the kind of list you are
likely to be familiar with:

     '(rose
       violet
       daisy
       buttercup)

The elements of this list are the names of the four different flowers,
separated from each other by whitespace and surrounded by parentheses,
like flowers in a field with a stone wall around them.

* Menu:

* Numbers Lists::
* Lisp Atoms::
* Whitespace in Lists::
* Typing Lists::


File: eintr,  Node: Numbers Lists,  Next: Lisp Atoms,  Prev: Lisp Lists,  Up: Lisp Lists

Numbers, Lists inside of Lists
------------------------------

Lists can also have numbers in them, as in this list: `(+ 2 2)'.  This
list has a plus-sign, `+', followed by two `2's, each separated by
whitespace.

In Lisp, both data and programs are represented the same way; that is,
they are both lists of words, numbers, or other lists, separated by
whitespace and surrounded by parentheses.  (Since a program looks like
data, one program may easily serve as data for another; this is a very
powerful feature of Lisp.)  (Incidentally, these two parenthetical
remarks are _not_ Lisp lists, because they contain `;' and `.' as
punctuation marks.)

Here is another list, this time with a list inside of it:

     '(this list has (a list inside of it))

The components of this list are the words `this', `list', `has', and
the list `(a list inside of it)'.  The interior list is made up of the
words `a', `list', `inside', `of', `it'.


File: eintr,  Node: Lisp Atoms,  Next: Whitespace in Lists,  Prev: Numbers Lists,  Up: Lisp Lists

1.1.1 Lisp Atoms
----------------

In Lisp, what we have been calling words are called "atoms".  This term
comes from the historical meaning of the word atom, which means
`indivisible'.  As far as Lisp is concerned, the words we have been
using in the lists cannot be divided into any smaller parts and still
mean the same thing as part of a program; likewise with numbers and
single character symbols like `+'.  On the other hand, unlike an
ancient atom, a list can be split into parts.  (*Note `car' `cdr' &
`cons' Fundamental Functions: car cdr & cons.)

In a list, atoms are separated from each other by whitespace.  They can
be right next to a parenthesis.

Technically speaking, a list in Lisp consists of parentheses surrounding
atoms separated by whitespace or surrounding other lists or surrounding
both atoms and other lists.  A list can have just one atom in it or
have nothing in it at all.  A list with nothing in it looks like this:
`()', and is called the "empty list".  Unlike anything else, an empty
list is considered both an atom and a list at the same time.

The printed representation of both atoms and lists are called "symbolic
expressions" or, more concisely, "s-expressions".  The word
"expression" by itself can refer to either the printed representation,
or to the atom or list as it is held internally in the computer.
Often, people use the term "expression" indiscriminately.  (Also, in
many texts, the word "form" is used as a synonym for expression.)

Incidentally, the atoms that make up our universe were named such when
they were thought to be indivisible; but it has been found that physical
atoms are not indivisible.  Parts can split off an atom or it can
fission into two parts of roughly equal size.  Physical atoms were named
prematurely, before their truer nature was found.  In Lisp, certain
kinds of atom, such as an array, can be separated into parts; but the
mechanism for doing this is different from the mechanism for splitting a
list.  As far as list operations are concerned, the atoms of a list are
unsplittable.

As in English, the meanings of the component letters of a Lisp atom are
different from the meaning the letters make as a word.  For example,
the word for the South American sloth, the `ai', is completely
different from the two words, `a', and `i'.

There are many kinds of atom in nature but only a few in Lisp: for
example, "numbers", such as 37, 511, or 1729, and "symbols", such as
`+', `foo', or `forward-line'.  The words we have listed in the
examples above are all symbols.  In everyday Lisp conversation, the
word "atom" is not often used, because programmers usually try to be
more specific about what kind of atom they are dealing with.  Lisp
programming is mostly about symbols (and sometimes numbers) within
lists.  (Incidentally, the preceding three word parenthetical remark is
a proper list in Lisp, since it consists of atoms, which in this case
are symbols, separated by whitespace and enclosed by parentheses,
without any non-Lisp punctuation.)

In addition, text between double quotation marks--even sentences or
paragraphs--is an atom.  Here is an example:

     '(this list includes "text between quotation marks.")

In Lisp, all of the quoted text including the punctuation mark and the
blank spaces is a single atom.  This kind of atom is called a "string"
(for `string of characters') and is the sort of thing that is used for
messages that a computer can print for a human to read.  Strings are a
different kind of atom than numbers or symbols and are used differently.


File: eintr,  Node: Whitespace in Lists,  Next: Typing Lists,  Prev: Lisp Atoms,  Up: Lisp Lists

1.1.2 Whitespace in Lists
-------------------------

The amount of whitespace in a list does not matter.  From the point of
view of the Lisp language,

     '(this list
        looks like this)

is exactly the same as this:

     '(this list looks like this)

Both examples show what to Lisp is the same list, the list made up of
the symbols `this', `list', `looks', `like', and `this' in that order.

Extra whitespace and newlines are designed to make a list more readable
by humans.  When Lisp reads the expression, it gets rid of all the extra
whitespace (but it needs to have at least one space between atoms in
order to tell them apart.)

Odd as it seems, the examples we have seen cover almost all of what Lisp
lists look like!  Every other list in Lisp looks more or less like one
of these examples, except that the list may be longer and more complex.
In brief, a list is between parentheses, a string is between quotation
marks, a symbol looks like a word, and a number looks like a number.
(For certain situations, square brackets, dots and a few other special
characters may be used; however, we will go quite far without them.)


File: eintr,  Node: Typing Lists,  Prev: Whitespace in Lists,  Up: Lisp Lists

1.1.3 GNU Emacs Helps You Type Lists
------------------------------------

When you type a Lisp expression in GNU Emacs using either Lisp
Interaction mode or Emacs Lisp mode, you have available to you several
commands to format the Lisp expression so it is easy to read.  For
example, pressing the <TAB> key automatically indents the line the
cursor is on by the right amount.  A command to properly indent the
code in a region is customarily bound to `M-C-\'.  Indentation is
designed so that you can see which elements of a list belong to which
list--elements of a sub-list are indented more than the elements of the
enclosing list.

In addition, when you type a closing parenthesis, Emacs momentarily
jumps the cursor back to the matching opening parenthesis, so you can
see which one it is.  This is very useful, since every list you type in
Lisp must have its closing parenthesis match its opening parenthesis.
(*Note Major Modes: (emacs)Major Modes, for more information about
Emacs' modes.)


File: eintr,  Node: Run a Program,  Next: Making Errors,  Prev: Lisp Lists,  Up: List Processing

1.2 Run a Program
=================

A list in Lisp--any list--is a program ready to run.  If you run it
(for which the Lisp jargon is "evaluate"), the computer will do one of
three things: do nothing except return to you the list itself; send you
an error message; or, treat the first symbol in the list as a command
to do something.  (Usually, of course, it is the last of these three
things that you really want!)

The single apostrophe, `'', that I put in front of some of the example
lists in preceding sections is called a "quote"; when it precedes a
list, it tells Lisp to do nothing with the list, other than take it as
it is written.  But if there is no quote preceding a list, the first
item of the list is special: it is a command for the computer to obey.
(In Lisp, these commands are called _functions_.)  The list `(+ 2 2)'
shown above did not have a quote in front of it, so Lisp understands
that the `+' is an instruction to do something with the rest of the
list: add the numbers that follow.

If you are reading this inside of GNU Emacs in Info, here is how you can
evaluate such a list:  place your cursor immediately after the right
hand parenthesis of the following list and then type `C-x C-e':

     (+ 2 2)

You will see the number `4' appear in the echo area.  (In the jargon,
what you have just done is "evaluate the list."  The echo area is the
line at the bottom of the screen that displays or "echoes" text.)  Now
try the same thing with a quoted list:  place the cursor right after
the following list and type `C-x C-e':

     '(this is a quoted list)

You will see `(this is a quoted list)' appear in the echo area.

In both cases, what you are doing is giving a command to the program
inside of GNU Emacs called the "Lisp interpreter"--giving the
interpreter a command to evaluate the expression.  The name of the Lisp
interpreter comes from the word for the task done by a human who comes
up with the meaning of an expression--who "interprets" it.

You can also evaluate an atom that is not part of a list--one that is
not surrounded by parentheses; again, the Lisp interpreter translates
from the humanly readable expression to the language of the computer.
But before discussing this (*note Variables::), we will discuss what the
Lisp interpreter does when you make an error.


File: eintr,  Node: Making Errors,  Next: Names & Definitions,  Prev: Run a Program,  Up: List Processing

1.3 Generate an Error Message
=============================

Partly so you won't worry if you do it accidentally, we will now give a
command to the Lisp interpreter that generates an error message.  This
is a harmless activity; and indeed, we will often try to generate error
messages intentionally.  Once you understand the jargon, error messages
can be informative.  Instead of being called "error" messages, they
should be called "help" messages.  They are like signposts to a
traveller in a strange country; deciphering them can be hard, but once
understood, they can point the way.

The error message is generated by a built-in GNU Emacs debugger.  We
will `enter the debugger'.  You get out of the debugger by typing `q'.

What we will do is evaluate a list that is not quoted and does not have
a meaningful command as its first element.  Here is a list almost
exactly the same as the one we just used, but without the single-quote
in front of it.  Position the cursor right after it and type `C-x C-e':

     (this is an unquoted list)

What you see depends on which version of Emacs you are running.  GNU
Emacs version 22 provides more information than version 20 and before.
First, the more recent result of generating an error; then the earlier,
version 20 result.

In GNU Emacs version 22, a `*Backtrace*' window will open up and you
will see the following in it:

     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------
     Debugger entered--Lisp error: (void-function this)
       (this is an unquoted list)
       eval((this is an unquoted list))
       eval-last-sexp-1(nil)
       eval-last-sexp(nil)
       call-interactively(eval-last-sexp)
     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------

Your cursor will be in this window (you may have to wait a few seconds
before it becomes visible).  To quit the debugger and make the debugger
window go away, type:

     q

Please type `q' right now, so you become confident that you can get out
of the debugger.  Then, type `C-x C-e' again to re-enter it.

Based on what we already know, we can almost read this error message.

You read the `*Backtrace*' buffer from the bottom up; it tells you what
Emacs did.  When you typed `C-x C-e', you made an interactive call to
the command `eval-last-sexp'.  `eval' is an abbreviation for `evaluate'
and `sexp' is an abbreviation for `symbolic expression'.  The command
means `evaluate last symbolic expression', which is the expression just
before your cursor.

Each line above tells you what the Lisp interpreter evaluated next.
The most recent action is at the top.  The buffer is called the
`*Backtrace*' buffer because it enables you to track Emacs backwards.

At the top of the `*Backtrace*' buffer, you see the line:

     Debugger entered--Lisp error: (void-function this)

The Lisp interpreter tried to evaluate the first atom of the list, the
word `this'.  It is this action that generated the error message
`void-function this'.

The message contains the words `void-function' and `this'.

The word `function' was mentioned once before.  It is a very important
word.  For our purposes, we can define it by saying that a "function"
is a set of instructions to the computer that tell the computer to do
something.

Now we can begin to understand the error message: `void-function this'.
The function (that is, the word `this') does not have a definition of
any set of instructions for the computer to carry out.

The slightly odd word, `void-function', is designed to cover the way
Emacs Lisp is implemented, which is that when a symbol does not have a
function definition attached to it, the place that should contain the
instructions is `void'.

On the other hand, since we were able to add 2 plus 2 successfully, by
evaluating `(+ 2 2)', we can infer that the symbol `+' must have a set
of instructions for the computer to obey and those instructions must be
to add the numbers that follow the `+'.

In GNU Emacs version 20, and in earlier versions, you will see only one
line of error message; it will appear in the echo area and look like
this:

     Symbol's function definition is void: this

(Also, your terminal may beep at you--some do, some don't; and others
blink.  This is just a device to get your attention.)  The message goes
away as soon as you type another key, even just to move the cursor.

We know the meaning of the word `Symbol'.  It refers to the first atom
of the list, the word `this'.  The word `function' refers to the
instructions that tell the computer what to do.  (Technically, the
symbol tells the computer where to find the instructions, but this is a
complication we can ignore for the moment.)

The error message can be understood: `Symbol's function definition is
void: this'.  The symbol (that is, the word `this') lacks instructions
for the computer to carry out.


File: eintr,  Node: Names & Definitions,  Next: Lisp Interpreter,  Prev: Making Errors,  Up: List Processing

1.4 Symbol Names and Function Definitions
=========================================

We can articulate another characteristic of Lisp based on what we have
discussed so far--an important characteristic: a symbol, like `+', is
not itself the set of instructions for the computer to carry out.
Instead, the symbol is used, perhaps temporarily, as a way of locating
the definition or set of instructions.  What we see is the name through
which the instructions can be found.  Names of people work the same
way.  I can be referred to as `Bob'; however, I am not the letters `B',
`o', `b' but am, or was, the consciousness consistently associated with
a particular life-form.  The name is not me, but it can be used to
refer to me.

In Lisp, one set of instructions can be attached to several names.  For
example, the computer instructions for adding numbers can be linked to
the symbol `plus' as well as to the symbol `+' (and are in some
dialects of Lisp).  Among humans, I can be referred to as `Robert' as
well as `Bob' and by other words as well.

On the other hand, a symbol can have only one function definition
attached to it at a time.  Otherwise, the computer would be confused as
to which definition to use.  If this were the case among people, only
one person in the world could be named `Bob'.  However, the function
definition to which the name refers can be changed readily.  (*Note
Install a Function Definition: Install.)

Since Emacs Lisp is large, it is customary to name symbols in a way
that identifies the part of Emacs to which the function belongs.  Thus,
all the names for functions that deal with Texinfo start with
`texinfo-' and those for functions that deal with reading mail start
with `rmail-'.


File: eintr,  Node: Lisp Interpreter,  Next: Evaluation,  Prev: Names & Definitions,  Up: List Processing

1.5 The Lisp Interpreter
========================

Based on what we have seen, we can now start to figure out what the
Lisp interpreter does when we command it to evaluate a list.  First, it
looks to see whether there is a quote before the list; if there is, the
interpreter just gives us the list.  On the other hand, if there is no
quote, the interpreter looks at the first element in the list and sees
whether it has a function definition.  If it does, the interpreter
carries out the instructions in the function definition.  Otherwise,
the interpreter prints an error message.

This is how Lisp works.  Simple.  There are added complications which we
will get to in a minute, but these are the fundamentals.  Of course, to
write Lisp programs, you need to know how to write function definitions
and attach them to names, and how to do this without confusing either
yourself or the computer.

* Menu:

* Complications::
* Byte Compiling::


File: eintr,  Node: Complications,  Next: Byte Compiling,  Prev: Lisp Interpreter,  Up: Lisp Interpreter

Complications
-------------

Now, for the first complication.  In addition to lists, the Lisp
interpreter can evaluate a symbol that is not quoted and does not have
parentheses around it.  The Lisp interpreter will attempt to determine
the symbol's value as a "variable".  This situation is described in the
section on variables.  (*Note Variables::.)

The second complication occurs because some functions are unusual and do
not work in the usual manner.  Those that don't are called "special
forms".  They are used for special jobs, like defining a function, and
there are not many of them.  In the next few chapters, you will be
introduced to several of the more important special forms.

The third and final complication is this: if the function that the Lisp
interpreter is looking at is not a special form, and if it is part of a
list, the Lisp interpreter looks to see whether the list has a list
inside of it.  If there is an inner list, the Lisp interpreter first
figures out what it should do with the inside list, and then it works on
the outside list.  If there is yet another list embedded inside the
inner list, it works on that one first, and so on.  It always works on
the innermost list first.  The interpreter works on the innermost list
first, to evaluate the result of that list.  The result may be used by
the enclosing expression.

Otherwise, the interpreter works left to right, from one expression to
the next.


File: eintr,  Node: Byte Compiling,  Prev: Complications,  Up: Lisp Interpreter

1.5.1 Byte Compiling
--------------------

One other aspect of interpreting: the Lisp interpreter is able to
interpret two kinds of entity: humanly readable code, on which we will
focus exclusively, and specially processed code, called "byte compiled"
code, which is not humanly readable.  Byte compiled code runs faster
than humanly readable code.

You can transform humanly readable code into byte compiled code by
running one of the compile commands such as `byte-compile-file'.  Byte
compiled code is usually stored in a file that ends with a `.elc'
extension rather than a `.el' extension.  You will see both kinds of
file in the `emacs/lisp' directory; the files to read are those with
`.el' extensions.

As a practical matter, for most things you might do to customize or
extend Emacs, you do not need to byte compile; and I will not discuss
the topic here.  *Note Byte Compilation: (elisp)Byte Compilation, for a
full description of byte compilation.


File: eintr,  Node: Evaluation,  Next: Variables,  Prev: Lisp Interpreter,  Up: List Processing

1.6 Evaluation
==============

When the Lisp interpreter works on an expression, the term for the
activity is called "evaluation".  We say that the interpreter
`evaluates the expression'.  I've used this term several times before.
The word comes from its use in everyday language, `to ascertain the
value or amount of; to appraise', according to `Webster's New
Collegiate Dictionary'.

After evaluating an expression, the Lisp interpreter will most likely
"return" the value that the computer produces by carrying out the
instructions it found in the function definition, or perhaps it will
give up on that function and produce an error message.  (The interpreter
may also find itself tossed, so to speak, to a different function or it
may attempt to repeat continually what it is doing for ever and ever in
what is called an `infinite loop'.  These actions are less common; and
we can ignore them.)  Most frequently, the interpreter returns a value.

At the same time the interpreter returns a value, it may do something
else as well, such as move a cursor or copy a file; this other kind of
action is called a "side effect".  Actions that we humans think are
important, such as printing results, are often "side effects" to the
Lisp interpreter.  The jargon can sound peculiar, but it turns out that
it is fairly easy to learn to use side effects.

In summary, evaluating a symbolic expression most commonly causes the
Lisp interpreter to return a value and perhaps carry out a side effect;
or else produce an error.

* Menu:

* Evaluating Inner Lists::


File: eintr,  Node: Evaluating Inner Lists,  Prev: Evaluation,  Up: Evaluation

1.6.1 Evaluating Inner Lists
----------------------------

If evaluation applies to a list that is inside another list, the outer
list may use the value returned by the first evaluation as information
when the outer list is evaluated.  This explains why inner expressions
are evaluated first: the values they return are used by the outer
expressions.

We can investigate this process by evaluating another addition example.
Place your cursor after the following expression and type `C-x C-e':

     (+ 2 (+ 3 3))

The number 8 will appear in the echo area.

What happens is that the Lisp interpreter first evaluates the inner
expression, `(+ 3 3)', for which the value 6 is returned; then it
evaluates the outer expression as if it were written `(+ 2 6)', which
returns the value 8.  Since there are no more enclosing expressions to
evaluate, the interpreter prints that value in the echo area.

Now it is easy to understand the name of the command invoked by the
keystrokes `C-x C-e': the name is `eval-last-sexp'.  The letters `sexp'
are an abbreviation for `symbolic expression', and `eval' is an
abbreviation for `evaluate'.  The command means `evaluate last symbolic
expression'.

As an experiment, you can try evaluating the expression by putting the
cursor at the beginning of the next line immediately following the
expression, or inside the expression.

Here is another copy of the expression:

     (+ 2 (+ 3 3))

If you place the cursor at the beginning of the blank line that
immediately follows the expression and type `C-x C-e', you will still
get the value 8 printed in the echo area.  Now try putting the cursor
inside the expression.  If you put it right after the next to last
parenthesis (so it appears to sit on top of the last parenthesis), you
will get a 6 printed in the echo area!  This is because the command
evaluates the expression `(+ 3 3)'.

Now put the cursor immediately after a number.  Type `C-x C-e' and you
will get the number itself.  In Lisp, if you evaluate a number, you get
the number itself--this is how numbers differ from symbols.  If you
evaluate a list starting with a symbol like `+', you will get a value
returned that is the result of the computer carrying out the
instructions in the function definition attached to that name.  If a
symbol by itself is evaluated, something different happens, as we will
see in the next section.


File: eintr,  Node: Variables,  Next: Arguments,  Prev: Evaluation,  Up: List Processing

1.7 Variables
=============

In Emacs Lisp, a symbol can have a value attached to it just as it can
have a function definition attached to it.  The two are different.  The
function definition is a set of instructions that a computer will obey.
A value, on the other hand, is something, such as number or a name,
that can vary (which is why such a symbol is called a variable).  The
value of a symbol can be any expression in Lisp, such as a symbol,
number, list, or string.  A symbol that has a value is often called a
"variable".

A symbol can have both a function definition and a value attached to it
at the same time.  Or it can have just one or the other.  The two are
separate.  This is somewhat similar to the way the name Cambridge can
refer to the city in Massachusetts and have some information attached
to the name as well, such as "great programming center".

Another way to think about this is to imagine a symbol as being a chest
of drawers.  The function definition is put in one drawer, the value in
another, and so on.  What is put in the drawer holding the value can be
changed without affecting the contents of the drawer holding the
function definition, and vice-verse.

* Menu:

* fill-column Example::
* Void Function::
* Void Variable::


File: eintr,  Node: fill-column Example,  Next: Void Function,  Prev: Variables,  Up: Variables

`fill-column', an Example Variable
----------------------------------

The variable `fill-column' illustrates a symbol with a value attached
to it: in every GNU Emacs buffer, this symbol is set to some value,
usually 72 or 70, but sometimes to some other value.  To find the value
of this symbol, evaluate it by itself.  If you are reading this in Info
inside of GNU Emacs, you can do this by putting the cursor after the
symbol and typing `C-x C-e':

     fill-column

After I typed `C-x C-e', Emacs printed the number 72 in my echo area.
This is the value for which `fill-column' is set for me as I write
this.  It may be different for you in your Info buffer.  Notice that
the value returned as a variable is printed in exactly the same way as
the value returned by a function carrying out its instructions.  From
the point of view of the Lisp interpreter, a value returned is a value
returned.  What kind of expression it came from ceases to matter once
the value is known.

A symbol can have any value attached to it or, to use the jargon, we can
"bind" the variable to a value: to a number, such as 72; to a string,
`"such as this"'; to a list, such as `(spruce pine oak)'; we can even
bind a variable to a function definition.

A symbol can be bound to a value in several ways.  *Note Setting the
Value of a Variable: set & setq, for information about one way to do
this.


File: eintr,  Node: Void Function,  Next: Void Variable,  Prev: fill-column Example,  Up: Variables

1.7.1 Error Message for a Symbol Without a Function
---------------------------------------------------

When we evaluated `fill-column' to find its value as a variable, we did
not place parentheses around the word.  This is because we did not
intend to use it as a function name.

If `fill-column' were the first or only element of a list, the Lisp
interpreter would attempt to find the function definition attached to
it.  But `fill-column' has no function definition.  Try evaluating this:

     (fill-column)

In GNU Emacs version 22, you will create a `*Backtrace*' buffer that
says:

     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------
     Debugger entered--Lisp error: (void-function fill-column)
       (fill-column)
       eval((fill-column))
       eval-last-sexp-1(nil)
       eval-last-sexp(nil)
       call-interactively(eval-last-sexp)
     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------

(Remember, to quit the debugger and make the debugger window go away,
type `q' in the `*Backtrace*' buffer.)


File: eintr,  Node: Void Variable,  Prev: Void Function,  Up: Variables

1.7.2 Error Message for a Symbol Without a Value
------------------------------------------------

If you attempt to evaluate a symbol that does not have a value bound to
it, you will receive an error message.  You can see this by
experimenting with our 2 plus 2 addition.  In the following expression,
put your cursor right after the `+', before the first number 2, type
`C-x C-e':

     (+ 2 2)

In GNU Emacs 22, you will create a `*Backtrace*' buffer that says:

     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------
     Debugger entered--Lisp error: (void-variable +)
       eval(+)
       eval-last-sexp-1(nil)
       eval-last-sexp(nil)
       call-interactively(eval-last-sexp)
     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------

(As with the other times we entered the debugger, you can quit by
typing `q' in the `*Backtrace*' buffer.)

This backtrace is different from the very first error message we saw,
which said, `Debugger entered--Lisp error: (void-function this)'.  In
this case, the function does not have a value as a variable; while in
the other error message, the function (the word `this') did not have a
definition.

In this experiment with the `+', what we did was cause the Lisp
interpreter to evaluate the `+' and look for the value of the variable
instead of the function definition.  We did this by placing the cursor
right after the symbol rather than after the parenthesis of the
enclosing list as we did before.  As a consequence, the Lisp interpreter
evaluated the preceding s-expression, which in this case was the `+' by
itself.

Since `+' does not have a value bound to it, just the function
definition, the error message reported that the symbol's value as a
variable was void.


File: eintr,  Node: Arguments,  Next: set & setq,  Prev: Variables,  Up: List Processing

1.8 Arguments
=============

To see how information is passed to functions, let's look again at our
old standby, the addition of two plus two.  In Lisp, this is written as
follows:

     (+ 2 2)

If you evaluate this expression, the number 4 will appear in your echo
area.  What the Lisp interpreter does is add the numbers that follow
the `+'.

The numbers added by `+' are called the "arguments" of the function
`+'.  These numbers are the information that is given to or "passed" to
the function.

The word `argument' comes from the way it is used in mathematics and
does not refer to a disputation between two people; instead it refers to
the information presented to the function, in this case, to the `+'.
In Lisp, the arguments to a function are the atoms or lists that follow
the function.  The values returned by the evaluation of these atoms or
lists are passed to the function.  Different functions require
different numbers of arguments; some functions require none at all.(1)

* Menu:

* Data types::
* Args as Variable or List::
* Variable Number of Arguments::
* Wrong Type of Argument::
* message::

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) It is curious to track the path by which the word `argument' came
to have two different meanings, one in mathematics and the other in
everyday English.  According to the `Oxford English Dictionary', the
word derives from the Latin for `to make clear, prove'; thus it came to
mean, by one thread of derivation, `the evidence offered as proof',
which is to say, `the information offered', which led to its meaning in
Lisp.  But in the other thread of derivation, it came to mean `to
assert in a manner against which others may make counter assertions',
which led to the meaning of the word as a disputation.  (Note here that
the English word has two different definitions attached to it at the
same time.  By contrast, in Emacs Lisp, a symbol cannot have two
different function definitions at the same time.)


File: eintr,  Node: Data types,  Next: Args as Variable or List,  Prev: Arguments,  Up: Arguments

1.8.1 Arguments' Data Types
---------------------------

The type of data that should be passed to a function depends on what
kind of information it uses.  The arguments to a function such as `+'
must have values that are numbers, since `+' adds numbers.  Other
functions use different kinds of data for their arguments.

For example, the `concat' function links together or unites two or more
strings of text to produce a string.  The arguments are strings.
Concatenating the two character strings `abc', `def' produces the
single string `abcdef'.  This can be seen by evaluating the following:

     (concat "abc" "def")

The value produced by evaluating this expression is `"abcdef"'.

A function such as `substring' uses both a string and numbers as
arguments.  The function returns a part of the string, a substring of
the first argument.  This function takes three arguments.  Its first
argument is the string of characters, the second and third arguments are
numbers that indicate the beginning and end of the substring.  The
numbers are a count of the number of characters (including spaces and
punctuations) from the beginning of the string.

For example, if you evaluate the following:

     (substring "The quick brown fox jumped." 16 19)

you will see `"fox"' appear in the echo area.  The arguments are the
string and the two numbers.

Note that the string passed to `substring' is a single atom even though
it is made up of several words separated by spaces.  Lisp counts
everything between the two quotation marks as part of the string,
including the spaces.  You can think of the `substring' function as a
kind of `atom smasher' since it takes an otherwise indivisible atom and
extracts a part.  However, `substring' is only able to extract a
substring from an argument that is a string, not from another type of
atom such as a number or symbol.


File: eintr,  Node: Args as Variable or List,  Next: Variable Number of Arguments,  Prev: Data types,  Up: Arguments

1.8.2 An Argument as the Value of a Variable or List
----------------------------------------------------

An argument can be a symbol that returns a value when it is evaluated.
For example, when the symbol `fill-column' by itself is evaluated, it
returns a number.  This number can be used in an addition.

Position the cursor after the following expression and type `C-x C-e':

     (+ 2 fill-column)

The value will be a number two more than what you get by evaluating
`fill-column' alone.  For me, this is 74, because my value of
`fill-column' is 72.

As we have just seen, an argument can be a symbol that returns a value
when evaluated.  In addition, an argument can be a list that returns a
value when it is evaluated.  For example, in the following expression,
the arguments to the function `concat' are the strings `"The "' and
`" red foxes."' and the list `(number-to-string (+ 2 fill-column))'.

     (concat "The " (number-to-string (+ 2 fill-column)) " red foxes.")

If you evaluate this expression--and if, as with my Emacs,
`fill-column' evaluates to 72--`"The 74 red foxes."' will appear in the
echo area.  (Note that you must put spaces after the word `The' and
before the word `red' so they will appear in the final string.  The
function `number-to-string' converts the integer that the addition
function returns to a string.  `number-to-string' is also known as
`int-to-string'.)


File: eintr,  Node: Variable Number of Arguments,  Next: Wrong Type of Argument,  Prev: Args as Variable or List,  Up: Arguments

1.8.3 Variable Number of Arguments
----------------------------------

Some functions, such as `concat', `+' or `*', take any number of
arguments.  (The `*' is the symbol for multiplication.)  This can be
seen by evaluating each of the following expressions in the usual way.
What you will see in the echo area is printed in this text after `=>',
which you may read as `evaluates to'.

In the first set, the functions have no arguments:

     (+)       => 0

     (*)       => 1

In this set, the functions have one argument each:

     (+ 3)     => 3

     (* 3)     => 3

In this set, the functions have three arguments each:

     (+ 3 4 5) => 12

     (* 3 4 5) => 60


File: eintr,  Node: Wrong Type of Argument,  Next: message,  Prev: Variable Number of Arguments,  Up: Arguments

1.8.4 Using the Wrong Type Object as an Argument
------------------------------------------------

When a function is passed an argument of the wrong type, the Lisp
interpreter produces an error message.  For example, the `+' function
expects the values of its arguments to be numbers.  As an experiment we
can pass it the quoted symbol `hello' instead of a number.  Position
the cursor after the following expression and type `C-x C-e':

     (+ 2 'hello)

When you do this you will generate an error message.  What has happened
is that `+' has tried to add the 2 to the value returned by `'hello',
but the value returned by `'hello' is the symbol `hello', not a number.
Only numbers can be added.  So `+' could not carry out its addition.

In GNU Emacs version 22, you will create and enter a `*Backtrace*'
buffer that says:


     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------
     Debugger entered--Lisp error:
              (wrong-type-argument number-or-marker-p hello)
       +(2 hello)
       eval((+ 2 (quote hello)))
       eval-last-sexp-1(nil)
       eval-last-sexp(nil)
       call-interactively(eval-last-sexp)
     ---------- Buffer: *Backtrace* ----------

As usual, the error message tries to be helpful and makes sense after
you learn how to read it.(1)

The first part of the error message is straightforward; it says `wrong
type argument'.  Next comes the mysterious jargon word
`number-or-marker-p'.  This word is trying to tell you what kind of
argument the `+' expected.

The symbol `number-or-marker-p' says that the Lisp interpreter is
trying to determine whether the information presented it (the value of
the argument) is a number or a marker (a special object representing a
buffer position).  What it does is test to see whether the `+' is being
given numbers to add.  It also tests to see whether the argument is
something called a marker, which is a specific feature of Emacs Lisp.
(In Emacs, locations in a buffer are recorded as markers.  When the
mark is set with the `C-@' or `C-<SPC>' command, its position is kept
as a marker.  The mark can be considered a number--the number of
characters the location is from the beginning of the buffer.)  In Emacs
Lisp, `+' can be used to add the numeric value of marker positions as
numbers.

The `p' of `number-or-marker-p' is the embodiment of a practice started
in the early days of Lisp programming.  The `p' stands for `predicate'.
In the jargon used by the early Lisp researchers, a predicate refers
to a function to determine whether some property is true or false.  So
the `p' tells us that `number-or-marker-p' is the name of a function
that determines whether it is true or false that the argument supplied
is a number or a marker.  Other Lisp symbols that end in `p' include
`zerop', a function that tests whether its argument has the value of
zero, and `listp', a function that tests whether its argument is a list.

Finally, the last part of the error message is the symbol `hello'.
This is the value of the argument that was passed to `+'.  If the
addition had been passed the correct type of object, the value passed
would have been a number, such as 37, rather than a symbol like
`hello'.  But then you would not have got the error message.

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) `(quote hello)' is an expansion of the abbreviation `'hello'.


File: eintr,  Node: message,  Prev: Wrong Type of Argument,  Up: Arguments

1.8.5 The `message' Function
----------------------------

Like `+', the `message' function takes a variable number of arguments.
It is used to send messages to the user and is so useful that we will
describe it here.

A message is printed in the echo area.  For example, you can print a
message in your echo area by evaluating the following list:

     (message "This message appears in the echo area!")

The whole string between double quotation marks is a single argument
and is printed in toto.  (Note that in this example, the message itself
will appear in the echo area within double quotes; that is because you
see the value returned by the `message' function.  In most uses of
`message' in programs that you write, the text will be printed in the
echo area as a side-effect, without the quotes.  *Note
`multiply-by-seven' in detail: multiply-by-seven in detail, for an
example of this.)

However, if there is a `%s' in the quoted string of characters, the
`message' function does not print the `%s' as such, but looks to the
argument that follows the string.  It evaluates the second argument and
prints the value at the location in the string where the `%s' is.

You can see this by positioning the cursor after the following
expression and typing `C-x C-e':

     (message "The name of this buffer is: %s." (buffer-name))

In Info, `"The name of this buffer is: *info*."' will appear in the
echo area.  The function `buffer-name' returns the name of the buffer
as a string, which the `message' function inserts in place of `%s'.

To print a value as an integer, use `%d' in the same way as `%s'.  For
example, to print a message in the echo area that states the value of
the `fill-column', evaluate the following:

     (message "The value of fill-column is %d." fill-column)

On my system, when I evaluate this list, `"The value of fill-column is
72."' appears in my echo area(1).

If there is more than one `%s' in the quoted string, the value of the
first argument following the quoted string is printed at the location
of the first `%s' and the value of the second argument is printed at
the location of the second `%s', and so on.

For example, if you evaluate the following,

     (message "There are %d %s in the office!"
              (- fill-column 14) "pink elephants")

a rather whimsical message will appear in your echo area.  On my system
it says, `"There are 58 pink elephants in the office!"'.

The expression `(- fill-column 14)' is evaluated and the resulting
number is inserted in place of the `%d'; and the string in double
quotes, `"pink elephants"', is treated as a single argument and
inserted in place of the `%s'.  (That is to say, a string between
double quotes evaluates to itself, like a number.)

Finally, here is a somewhat complex example that not only illustrates
the computation of a number, but also shows how you can use an
expression within an expression to generate the text that is substituted
for `%s':

     (message "He saw %d %s"
              (- fill-column 32)
              (concat "red "
                      (substring
                       "The quick brown foxes jumped." 16 21)
                      " leaping."))

In this example, `message' has three arguments: the string, `"He saw %d
%s"', the expression, `(- fill-column 32)', and the expression
beginning with the function `concat'.  The value resulting from the
evaluation of `(- fill-column 32)' is inserted in place of the `%d';
and the value returned by the expression beginning with `concat' is
inserted in place of the `%s'.

When your fill column is 70 and you evaluate the expression, the
message `"He saw 38 red foxes leaping."' appears in your echo area.

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) Actually, you can use `%s' to print a number.  It is non-specific.
`%d' prints only the part of a number left of a decimal point, and not
anything that is not a number.


File: eintr,  Node: set & setq,  Next: Summary,  Prev: Arguments,  Up: List Processing

1.9 Setting the Value of a Variable
===================================

There are several ways by which a variable can be given a value.  One of
the ways is to use either the function `set' or the function `setq'.
Another way is to use `let' (*note let::).  (The jargon for this
process is to "bind" a variable to a value.)

The following sections not only describe how `set' and `setq' work but
also illustrate how arguments are passed.

* Menu:

* Using set::
* Using setq::
* Counting::


File: eintr,  Node: Using set,  Next: Using setq,  Prev: set & setq,  Up: set & setq

1.9.1 Using `set'
-----------------

To set the value of the symbol `flowers' to the list `'(rose violet
daisy buttercup)', evaluate the following expression by positioning the
cursor after the expression and typing `C-x C-e'.

     (set 'flowers '(rose violet daisy buttercup))

The list `(rose violet daisy buttercup)' will appear in the echo area.
This is what is _returned_ by the `set' function.  As a side effect,
the symbol `flowers' is bound to the list; that is, the symbol
`flowers', which can be viewed as a variable, is given the list as its
value.  (This process, by the way, illustrates how a side effect to the
Lisp interpreter, setting the value, can be the primary effect that we
humans are interested in.  This is because every Lisp function must
return a value if it does not get an error, but it will only have a
side effect if it is designed to have one.)

After evaluating the `set' expression, you can evaluate the symbol
`flowers' and it will return the value you just set.  Here is the
symbol.  Place your cursor after it and type `C-x C-e'.

     flowers

When you evaluate `flowers', the list `(rose violet daisy buttercup)'
appears in the echo area.

Incidentally, if you evaluate `'flowers', the variable with a quote in
front of it, what you will see in the echo area is the symbol itself,
`flowers'.  Here is the quoted symbol, so you can try this:

     'flowers

Note also, that when you use `set', you need to quote both arguments to
`set', unless you want them evaluated.  Since we do not want either
argument evaluated, neither the variable `flowers' nor the list `(rose
violet daisy buttercup)', both are quoted.  (When you use `set' without
quoting its first argument, the first argument is evaluated before
anything else is done.  If you did this and `flowers' did not have a
value already, you would get an error message that the `Symbol's value
as variable is void'; on the other hand, if `flowers' did return a
value after it was evaluated, the `set' would attempt to set the value
that was returned.  There are situations where this is the right thing
for the function to do; but such situations are rare.)


File: eintr,  Node: Using setq,  Next: Counting,  Prev: Using set,  Up: set & setq

1.9.2 Using `setq'
------------------

As a practical matter, you almost always quote the first argument to
`set'.  The combination of `set' and a quoted first argument is so
common that it has its own name: the special form `setq'.  This special
form is just like `set' except that the first argument is quoted
automatically, so you don't need to type the quote mark yourself.
Also, as an added convenience, `setq' permits you to set several
different variables to different values, all in one expression.

To set the value of the variable `carnivores' to the list `'(lion tiger
leopard)' using `setq', the following expression is used:

     (setq carnivores '(lion tiger leopard))

This is exactly the same as using `set' except the first argument is
automatically quoted by `setq'.  (The `q' in `setq' means `quote'.)

With `set', the expression would look like this:

     (set 'carnivores '(lion tiger leopard))

Also, `setq' can be used to assign different values to different
variables.  The first argument is bound to the value of the second
argument, the third argument is bound to the value of the fourth
argument, and so on.  For example, you could use the following to
assign a list of trees to the symbol `trees' and a list of herbivores
to the symbol `herbivores':

     (setq trees '(pine fir oak maple)
           herbivores '(gazelle antelope zebra))

(The expression could just as well have been on one line, but it might
not have fit on a page; and humans find it easier to read nicely
formatted lists.)

Although I have been using the term `assign', there is another way of
thinking about the workings of `set' and `setq'; and that is to say
that `set' and `setq' make the symbol _point_ to the list.  This latter
way of thinking is very common and in forthcoming chapters we shall
come upon at least one symbol that has `pointer' as part of its name.
The name is chosen because the symbol has a value, specifically a list,
attached to it; or, expressed another way, the symbol is set to "point"
to the list.


File: eintr,  Node: Counting,  Prev: Using setq,  Up: set & setq

1.9.3 Counting
--------------

Here is an example that shows how to use `setq' in a counter.  You
might use this to count how many times a part of your program repeats
itself.  First set a variable to zero; then add one to the number each
time the program repeats itself.  To do this, you need a variable that
serves as a counter, and two expressions: an initial `setq' expression
that sets the counter variable to zero; and a second `setq' expression
that increments the counter each time it is evaluated.

     (setq counter 0)                ; Let's call this the initializer.

     (setq counter (+ counter 1))    ; This is the incrementer.

     counter                         ; This is the counter.

(The text following the `;' are comments.  *Note Change a Function
Definition: Change a defun.)

If you evaluate the first of these expressions, the initializer, `(setq
counter 0)', and then evaluate the third expression, `counter', the
number `0' will appear in the echo area.  If you then evaluate the
second expression, the incrementer, `(setq counter (+ counter 1))', the
counter will get the value 1.  So if you again evaluate `counter', the
number `1' will appear in the echo area.  Each time you evaluate the
second expression, the value of the counter will be incremented.

When you evaluate the incrementer, `(setq counter (+ counter 1))', the
Lisp interpreter first evaluates the innermost list; this is the
addition.  In order to evaluate this list, it must evaluate the variable
`counter' and the number `1'.  When it evaluates the variable
`counter', it receives its current value.  It passes this value and the
number `1' to the `+' which adds them together.  The sum is then
returned as the value of the inner list and passed to the `setq' which
sets the variable `counter' to this new value.  Thus, the value of the
variable, `counter', is changed.


File: eintr,  Node: Summary,  Next: Error Message Exercises,  Prev: set & setq,  Up: List Processing

1.10 Summary
============

Learning Lisp is like climbing a hill in which the first part is the
steepest.  You have now climbed the most difficult part; what remains
becomes easier as you progress onwards.

In summary,

   * Lisp programs are made up of expressions, which are lists or
     single atoms.

   * Lists are made up of zero or more atoms or inner lists, separated
     by whitespace and surrounded by parentheses.  A list can be empty.

   * Atoms are multi-character symbols, like `forward-paragraph', single
     character symbols like `+', strings of characters between double
     quotation marks, or numbers.

   * A number evaluates to itself.

   * A string between double quotes also evaluates to itself.

   * When you evaluate a symbol by itself, its value is returned.

   * When you evaluate a list, the Lisp interpreter looks at the first
     symbol in the list and then at the function definition bound to
     that symbol.  Then the instructions in the function definition are
     carried out.

   * A single quotation mark, ' , tells the Lisp interpreter that it
     should return the following expression as written, and not
     evaluate it as it would if the quote were not there.

   * Arguments are the information passed to a function.  The arguments
     to a function are computed by evaluating the rest of the elements
     of the list of which the function is the first element.

   * A function always returns a value when it is evaluated (unless it
     gets an error); in addition, it may also carry out some action
     called a "side effect".  In many cases, a function's primary
     purpose is to create a side effect.


File: eintr,  Node: Error Message Exercises,  Prev: Summary,  Up: List Processing

1.11 Exercises
==============

A few simple exercises:

   * Generate an error message by evaluating an appropriate symbol that
     is not within parentheses.

   * Generate an error message by evaluating an appropriate symbol that
     is between parentheses.

   * Create a counter that increments by two rather than one.

   * Write an expression that prints a message in the echo area when
     evaluated.


File: eintr,  Node: Practicing Evaluation,  Next: Writing Defuns,  Prev: List Processing,  Up: Top

2 Practicing Evaluation
***********************

Before learning how to write a function definition in Emacs Lisp, it is
useful to spend a little time evaluating various expressions that have
already been written.  These expressions will be lists with the
functions as their first (and often only) element.  Since some of the
functions associated with buffers are both simple and interesting, we
will start with those.  In this section, we will evaluate a few of
these.  In another section, we will study the code of several other
buffer-related functions, to see how they were written.

* Menu:

* How to Evaluate::
* Buffer Names::
* Getting Buffers::
* Switching Buffers::
* Buffer Size & Locations::
* Evaluation Exercise::


File: eintr,  Node: How to Evaluate,  Next: Buffer Names,  Prev: Practicing Evaluation,  Up: Practicing Evaluation

How to Evaluate
===============

Whenever you give an editing command to Emacs Lisp, such as the command
to move the cursor or to scroll the screen, you are evaluating an
expression, the first element of which is a function.  This is how
Emacs works.

When you type keys, you cause the Lisp interpreter to evaluate an
expression and that is how you get your results.  Even typing plain text
involves evaluating an Emacs Lisp function, in this case, one that uses
`self-insert-command', which simply inserts the character you typed.
The functions you evaluate by typing keystrokes are called
"interactive" functions, or "commands"; how you make a function
interactive will be illustrated in the chapter on how to write function
definitions.  *Note Making a Function Interactive: Interactive.

In addition to typing keyboard commands, we have seen a second way to
evaluate an expression: by positioning the cursor after a list and
typing `C-x C-e'.  This is what we will do in the rest of this section.
There are other ways to evaluate an expression as well; these will be
described as we come to them.

Besides being used for practicing evaluation, the functions shown in the
next few sections are important in their own right.  A study of these
functions makes clear the distinction between buffers and files, how to
switch to a buffer, and how to determine a location within it.


File: eintr,  Node: Buffer Names,  Next: Getting Buffers,  Prev: How to Evaluate,  Up: Practicing Evaluation

2.1 Buffer Names
================

The two functions, `buffer-name' and `buffer-file-name', show the
difference between a file and a buffer.  When you evaluate the
following expression, `(buffer-name)', the name of the buffer appears
in the echo area.  When you evaluate `(buffer-file-name)', the name of
the file to which the buffer refers appears in the echo area.  Usually,
the name returned by `(buffer-name)' is the same as the name of the
file to which it refers, and the name returned by `(buffer-file-name)'
is the full path-name of the file.

A file and a buffer are two different entities.  A file is information
recorded permanently in the computer (unless you delete it).  A buffer,
on the other hand, is information inside of Emacs that will vanish at
the end of the editing session (or when you kill the buffer).  Usually,
a buffer contains information that you have copied from a file; we say
the buffer is "visiting" that file.  This copy is what you work on and
modify.  Changes to the buffer do not change the file, until you save
the buffer.  When you save the buffer, the buffer is copied to the file
and is thus saved permanently.

If you are reading this in Info inside of GNU Emacs, you can evaluate
each of the following expressions by positioning the cursor after it and
typing `C-x C-e'.

     (buffer-name)

     (buffer-file-name)

When I do this in Info, the value returned by evaluating
`(buffer-name)' is `"*info*"', and the value returned by evaluating
`(buffer-file-name)' is `nil'.

On the other hand, while I am writing this Introduction, the value
returned by evaluating `(buffer-name)' is `"introduction.texinfo"', and
the value returned by evaluating `(buffer-file-name)' is
`"/gnu/work/intro/introduction.texinfo"'.

The former is the name of the buffer and the latter is the name of the
file.  In Info, the buffer name is `"*info*"'.  Info does not point to
any file, so the result of evaluating `(buffer-file-name)' is `nil'.
The symbol `nil' is from the Latin word for `nothing'; in this case, it
means that the buffer is not associated with any file.  (In Lisp, `nil'
is also used to mean `false' and is a synonym for the empty list, `()'.)

When I am writing, the name of my buffer is `"introduction.texinfo"'.
The name of the file to which it points is
`"/gnu/work/intro/introduction.texinfo"'.

(In the expressions, the parentheses tell the Lisp interpreter to treat
`buffer-name' and `buffer-file-name' as functions; without the
parentheses, the interpreter would attempt to evaluate the symbols as
variables.  *Note Variables::.)

In spite of the distinction between files and buffers, you will often
find that people refer to a file when they mean a buffer and vice-verse.
Indeed, most people say, "I am editing a file," rather than saying, "I
am editing a buffer which I will soon save to a file."  It is almost
always clear from context what people mean.  When dealing with computer
programs, however, it is important to keep the distinction in mind,
since the computer is not as smart as a person.

The word `buffer', by the way, comes from the meaning of the word as a
cushion that deadens the force of a collision.  In early computers, a
buffer cushioned the interaction between files and the computer's
central processing unit.  The drums or tapes that held a file and the
central processing unit were pieces of equipment that were very
different from each other, working at their own speeds, in spurts.  The
buffer made it possible for them to work together effectively.
Eventually, the buffer grew from being an intermediary, a temporary
holding place, to being the place where work is done.  This
transformation is rather like that of a small seaport that grew into a
great city: once it was merely the place where cargo was warehoused
temporarily before being loaded onto ships; then it became a business
and cultural center in its own right.

Not all buffers are associated with files.  For example, a `*scratch*'
buffer does not visit any file.  Similarly, a `*Help*' buffer is not
associated with any file.

In the old days, when you lacked a `~/.emacs' file and started an Emacs
session by typing the command `emacs' alone, without naming any files,
Emacs started with the `*scratch*' buffer visible.  Nowadays, you will
see a splash screen.  You can follow one of the commands suggested on
the splash screen, visit a file, or press the spacebar to reach the
`*scratch*' buffer.

If you switch to the `*scratch*' buffer, type `(buffer-name)', position
the cursor after it, and then type `C-x C-e' to evaluate the
expression.  The name `"*scratch*"' will be returned and will appear in
the echo area.  `"*scratch*"' is the name of the buffer.  When you type
`(buffer-file-name)' in the `*scratch*' buffer and evaluate that, `nil'
will appear in the echo area, just as it does when you evaluate
`(buffer-file-name)' in Info.

Incidentally, if you are in the `*scratch*' buffer and want the value
returned by an expression to appear in the `*scratch*' buffer itself
rather than in the echo area, type `C-u C-x C-e' instead of `C-x C-e'.
This causes the value returned to appear after the expression.  The
buffer will look like this:

     (buffer-name)"*scratch*"

You cannot do this in Info since Info is read-only and it will not allow
you to change the contents of the buffer.  But you can do this in any
buffer you can edit; and when you write code or documentation (such as
this book), this feature is very useful.


File: eintr,  Node: Getting Buffers,  Next: Switching Buffers,  Prev: Buffer Names,  Up: Practicing Evaluation

2.2 Getting Buffers
===================

The `buffer-name' function returns the _name_ of the buffer; to get the
buffer _itself_, a different function is needed: the `current-buffer'
function.  If you use this function in code, what you get is the buffer
itself.

A name and the object or entity to which the name refers are different
from each other.  You are not your name.  You are a person to whom
others refer by name.  If you ask to speak to George and someone hands
you a card with the letters `G', `e', `o', `r', `g', and `e' written on
it, you might be amused, but you would not be satisfied.  You do not
want to speak to the name, but to the person to whom the name refers.
A buffer is similar: the name of the scratch buffer is `*scratch*', but
the name is not the buffer.  To get a buffer itself, you need to use a
function such as `current-buffer'.

However, there is a slight complication: if you evaluate
`current-buffer' in an expression on its own, as we will do here, what
you see is a printed representation of the name of the buffer without
the contents of the buffer.  Emacs works this way for two reasons: the
buffer may be thousands of lines long--too long to be conveniently
displayed; and, another buffer may have the same contents but a
different name, and it is important to distinguish between them.

Here is an expression containing the function:

     (current-buffer)

If you evaluate this expression in Info in Emacs in the usual way,
`#<buffer *info*>' will appear in the echo area.  The special format
indicates that the buffer itself is being returned, rather than just
its name.

Incidentally, while you can type a number or symbol into a program, you
cannot do that with the printed representation of a buffer: the only way
to get a buffer itself is with a function such as `current-buffer'.

A related function is `other-buffer'.  This returns the most recently
selected buffer other than the one you are in currently, not a printed
representation of its name.  If you have recently switched back and
forth from the `*scratch*' buffer, `other-buffer' will return that
buffer.

You can see this by evaluating the expression:

     (other-buffer)

You should see `#<buffer *scratch*>' appear in the echo area, or the
name of whatever other buffer you switched back from most recently(1).

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) Actually, by default, if the buffer from which you just switched is
visible to you in another window, `other-buffer' will choose the most
recent buffer that you cannot see; this is a subtlety that I often
forget.


File: eintr,  Node: Switching Buffers,  Next: Buffer Size & Locations,  Prev: Getting Buffers,  Up: Practicing Evaluation

2.3 Switching Buffers
=====================

The `other-buffer' function actually provides a buffer when it is used
as an argument to a function that requires one.  We can see this by
using `other-buffer' and `switch-to-buffer' to switch to a different
buffer.

But first, a brief introduction to the `switch-to-buffer' function.
When you switched back and forth from Info to the `*scratch*' buffer to
evaluate `(buffer-name)', you most likely typed `C-x b' and then typed
`*scratch*'(1) when prompted in the minibuffer for the name of the
buffer to which you wanted to switch.  The keystrokes, `C-x b', cause
the Lisp interpreter to evaluate the interactive function
`switch-to-buffer'.  As we said before, this is how Emacs works:
different keystrokes call or run different functions.  For example,
`C-f' calls `forward-char', `M-e' calls `forward-sentence', and so on.

By writing `switch-to-buffer' in an expression, and giving it a buffer
to switch to, we can switch buffers just the way `C-x b' does.

Here is the Lisp expression:

     (switch-to-buffer (other-buffer))

The symbol `switch-to-buffer' is the first element of the list, so the
Lisp interpreter will treat it as a function and carry out the
instructions that are attached to it.  But before doing that, the
interpreter will note that `other-buffer' is inside parentheses and
work on that symbol first.  `other-buffer' is the first (and in this
case, the only) element of this list, so the Lisp interpreter calls or
runs the function.  It returns another buffer.  Next, the interpreter
runs `switch-to-buffer', passing to it, as an argument, the other
buffer, which is what Emacs will switch to.  If you are reading this in
Info, try this now.  Evaluate the expression.  (To get back, type `C-x
b <RET>'.)(2)

In the programming examples in later sections of this document, you will
see the function `set-buffer' more often than `switch-to-buffer'.  This
is because of a difference between computer programs and humans: humans
have eyes and expect to see the buffer on which they are working on
their computer terminals.  This is so obvious, it almost goes without
saying.  However, programs do not have eyes.  When a computer program
works on a buffer, that buffer does not need to be visible on the
screen.

`switch-to-buffer' is designed for humans and does two different
things: it switches the buffer to which Emacs' attention is directed;
and it switches the buffer displayed in the window to the new buffer.
`set-buffer', on the other hand, does only one thing: it switches the
attention of the computer program to a different buffer.  The buffer on
the screen remains unchanged (of course, normally nothing happens there
until the command finishes running).

Also, we have just introduced another jargon term, the word "call".
When you evaluate a list in which the first symbol is a function, you
are calling that function.  The use of the term comes from the notion of
the function as an entity that can do something for you if you `call'
it--just as a plumber is an entity who can fix a leak if you call him
or her.

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) Or rather, to save typing, you probably only typed `RET' if the
default buffer was `*scratch*', or if it was different, then you typed
just part of the name, such as `*sc', pressed your `TAB' key to cause
it to expand to the full name, and then typed your `RET' key.

(2) Remember, this expression will move you to your most recent other
buffer that you cannot see.  If you really want to go to your most
recently selected buffer, even if you can still see it, you need to
evaluate the following more complex expression:

     (switch-to-buffer (other-buffer (current-buffer) t))

In this case, the first argument to `other-buffer' tells it which
buffer to skip--the current one--and the second argument tells
`other-buffer' it is OK to switch to a visible buffer.  In regular use,
`switch-to-buffer' takes you to an invisible window since you would
most likely use `C-x o' (`other-window') to go to another visible
buffer.


File: eintr,  Node: Buffer Size & Locations,  Next: Evaluation Exercise,  Prev: Switching Buffers,  Up: Practicing Evaluation

2.4 Buffer Size and the Location of Point
=========================================

Finally, let's look at several rather simple functions, `buffer-size',
`point', `point-min', and `point-max'.  These give information about
the size of a buffer and the location of point within it.

The function `buffer-size' tells you the size of the current buffer;
that is, the function returns a count of the number of characters in
the buffer.

     (buffer-size)

You can evaluate this in the usual way, by positioning the cursor after
the expression and typing `C-x C-e'.

In Emacs, the current  position of the cursor is called "point".  The
expression `(point)' returns a number that tells you where the cursor
is located as a count of the number of characters from the beginning of
the buffer up to point.

You can see the character count for point in this buffer by evaluating
the following expression in the usual way:

     (point)

As I write this, the value of `point' is 65724.  The `point' function
is frequently used in some of the examples later in this book.

The value of point depends, of course, on its location within the
buffer.  If you evaluate point in this spot, the number will be larger:

     (point)

For me, the value of point in this location is 66043, which means that
there are 319 characters (including spaces) between the two expressions.

The function `point-min' is somewhat similar to `point', but it returns
the value of the minimum permissible value of point in the current
buffer.  This is the number 1 unless "narrowing" is in effect.
(Narrowing is a mechanism whereby you can restrict yourself, or a
program, to operations on just a part of a buffer.  *Note Narrowing and
Widening: Narrowing & Widening.)  Likewise, the function `point-max'
returns the value of the maximum permissible value of point in the
current buffer.


File: eintr,  Node: Evaluation Exercise,  Prev: Buffer Size & Locations,  Up: Practicing Evaluation

2.5 Exercise
============

Find a file with which you are working and move towards its middle.
Find its buffer name, file name, length, and your position in the file.


File: eintr,  Node: Writing Defuns,  Next: Buffer Walk Through,  Prev: Practicing Evaluation,  Up: Top

3 How To Write Function Definitions
***********************************

When the Lisp interpreter evaluates a list, it looks to see whether the
first symbol on the list has a function definition attached to it; or,
put another way, whether the symbol points to a function definition.  If
it does, the computer carries out the instructions in the definition.  A
symbol that has a function definition is called, simply, a function
(although, properly speaking, the definition is the function and the
symbol refers to it.)

* Menu:

* Primitive Functions::
* defun::
* Install::
* Interactive::
* Interactive Options::
* Permanent Installation::
* let::
* if::
* else::
* Truth & Falsehood::
* save-excursion::
* Review::
* defun Exercises::


File: eintr,  Node: Primitive Functions,  Next: defun,  Prev: Writing Defuns,  Up: Writing Defuns

An Aside about Primitive Functions
==================================

All functions are defined in terms of other functions, except for a few
"primitive" functions that are written in the C programming language.
When you write functions' definitions, you will write them in Emacs
Lisp and use other functions as your building blocks.  Some of the
functions you will use will themselves be written in Emacs Lisp (perhaps
by you) and some will be primitives written in C.  The primitive
functions are used exactly like those written in Emacs Lisp and behave
like them.  They are written in C so we can easily run GNU Emacs on any
computer that has sufficient power and can run C.

Let me re-emphasize this: when you write code in Emacs Lisp, you do not
distinguish between the use of functions written in C and the use of
functions written in Emacs Lisp.  The difference is irrelevant.  I
mention the distinction only because it is interesting to know.  Indeed,
unless you investigate, you won't know whether an already-written
function is written in Emacs Lisp or C.


File: eintr,  Node: defun,  Next: Install,  Prev: Primitive Functions,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.1 The `defun' Special Form
============================

In Lisp, a symbol such as `mark-whole-buffer' has code attached to it
that tells the computer what to do when the function is called.  This
code is called the "function definition" and is created by evaluating a
Lisp expression that starts with the symbol `defun' (which is an
abbreviation for _define function_).  Because `defun' does not evaluate
its arguments in the usual way, it is called a "special form".

In subsequent sections, we will look at function definitions from the
Emacs source code, such as `mark-whole-buffer'.  In this section, we
will describe a simple function definition so you can see how it looks.
This function definition uses arithmetic because it makes for a simple
example.  Some people dislike examples using arithmetic; however, if
you are such a person, do not despair.  Hardly any of the code we will
study in the remainder of this introduction involves arithmetic or
mathematics.  The examples mostly involve text in one way or another.

A function definition has up to five parts following the word `defun':

  1. The name of the symbol to which the function definition should be
     attached.

  2. A list of the arguments that will be passed to the function.  If no
     arguments will be passed to the function, this is an empty list,
     `()'.

  3. Documentation describing the function.  (Technically optional, but
     strongly recommended.)

  4. Optionally, an expression to make the function interactive so you
     can use it by typing `M-x' and then the name of the function; or by
     typing an appropriate key or keychord.

  5. The code that instructs the computer what to do: the "body" of the
     function definition.

It is helpful to think of the five parts of a function definition as
being organized in a template, with slots for each part:

     (defun FUNCTION-NAME (ARGUMENTS...)
       "OPTIONAL-DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive ARGUMENT-PASSING-INFO)     ; optional
       BODY...)

As an example, here is the code for a function that multiplies its
argument by 7.  (This example is not interactive.  *Note Making a
Function Interactive: Interactive, for that information.)

     (defun multiply-by-seven (number)
       "Multiply NUMBER by seven."
       (* 7 number))

This definition begins with a parenthesis and the symbol `defun',
followed by the name of the function.

The name of the function is followed by a list that contains the
arguments that will be passed to the function.  This list is called the
"argument list".  In this example, the list has only one element, the
symbol, `number'.  When the function is used, the symbol will be bound
to the value that is used as the argument to the function.

Instead of choosing the word `number' for the name of the argument, I
could have picked any other name.  For example, I could have chosen the
word `multiplicand'.  I picked the word `number' because it tells what
kind of value is intended for this slot; but I could just as well have
chosen the word `multiplicand' to indicate the role that the value
placed in this slot will play in the workings of the function.  I could
have called it `foogle', but that would have been a bad choice because
it would not tell humans what it means.  The choice of name is up to
the programmer and should be chosen to make the meaning of the function
clear.

Indeed, you can choose any name you wish for a symbol in an argument
list, even the name of a symbol used in some other function: the name
you use in an argument list is private to that particular definition.
In that definition, the name refers to a different entity than any use
of the same name outside the function definition.  Suppose you have a
nick-name `Shorty' in your family; when your family members refer to
`Shorty', they mean you.  But outside your family, in a movie, for
example, the name `Shorty' refers to someone else.  Because a name in an
argument list is private to the function definition, you can change the
value of such a symbol inside the body of a function without changing
its value outside the function.  The effect is similar to that produced
by a `let' expression.  (*Note `let': let.)

The argument list is followed by the documentation string that
describes the function.  This is what you see when you type `C-h f' and
the name of a function.  Incidentally, when you write a documentation
string like this, you should make the first line a complete sentence
since some commands, such as `apropos', print only the first line of a
multi-line documentation string.  Also, you should not indent the
second line of a documentation string, if you have one, because that
looks odd when you use `C-h f' (`describe-function').  The
documentation string is optional, but it is so useful, it should be
included in almost every function you write.

The third line of the example consists of the body of the function
definition.  (Most functions' definitions, of course, are longer than
this.)  In this function, the body is the list, `(* 7 number)', which
says to multiply the value of NUMBER by 7.  (In Emacs Lisp, `*' is the
function for multiplication, just as `+' is the function for addition.)

When you use the `multiply-by-seven' function, the argument `number'
evaluates to the actual number you want used.  Here is an example that
shows how `multiply-by-seven' is used; but don't try to evaluate this
yet!

     (multiply-by-seven 3)

The symbol `number', specified in the function definition in the next
section, is given or "bound to" the value 3 in the actual use of the
function.  Note that although `number' was inside parentheses in the
function definition, the argument passed to the `multiply-by-seven'
function is not in parentheses.  The parentheses are written in the
function definition so the computer can figure out where the argument
list ends and the rest of the function definition begins.

If you evaluate this example, you are likely to get an error message.
(Go ahead, try it!)  This is because we have written the function
definition, but not yet told the computer about the definition--we have
not yet installed (or `loaded') the function definition in Emacs.
Installing a function is the process that tells the Lisp interpreter the
definition of the function.  Installation is described in the next
section.


File: eintr,  Node: Install,  Next: Interactive,  Prev: defun,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.2 Install a Function Definition
=================================

If you are reading this inside of Info in Emacs, you can try out the
`multiply-by-seven' function by first evaluating the function
definition and then evaluating `(multiply-by-seven 3)'.  A copy of the
function definition follows.  Place the cursor after the last
parenthesis of the function definition and type `C-x C-e'.  When you do
this, `multiply-by-seven' will appear in the echo area.  (What this
means is that when a function definition is evaluated, the value it
returns is the name of the defined function.)  At the same time, this
action installs the function definition.

     (defun multiply-by-seven (number)
       "Multiply NUMBER by seven."
       (* 7 number))

By evaluating this `defun', you have just installed `multiply-by-seven'
in Emacs.  The function is now just as much a part of Emacs as
`forward-word' or any other editing function you use.
(`multiply-by-seven' will stay installed until you quit Emacs.  To
reload code automatically whenever you start Emacs, see *Note
Installing Code Permanently: Permanent Installation.)

* Menu:

* Effect of installation::
* Change a defun::


File: eintr,  Node: Effect of installation,  Next: Change a defun,  Prev: Install,  Up: Install

The effect of installation
--------------------------

You can see the effect of installing `multiply-by-seven' by evaluating
the following sample.  Place the cursor after the following expression
and type `C-x C-e'.  The number 21 will appear in the echo area.

     (multiply-by-seven 3)

If you wish, you can read the documentation for the function by typing
`C-h f' (`describe-function') and then the name of the function,
`multiply-by-seven'.  When you do this, a `*Help*' window will appear
on your screen that says:

     multiply-by-seven is a Lisp function.
     (multiply-by-seven NUMBER)

     Multiply NUMBER by seven.

(To return to a single window on your screen, type `C-x 1'.)


File: eintr,  Node: Change a defun,  Prev: Effect of installation,  Up: Install

3.2.1 Change a Function Definition
----------------------------------

If you want to change the code in `multiply-by-seven', just rewrite it.
To install the new version in place of the old one, evaluate the
function definition again.  This is how you modify code in Emacs.  It is
very simple.

As an example, you can change the `multiply-by-seven' function to add
the number to itself seven times instead of multiplying the number by
seven.  It produces the same answer, but by a different path.  At the
same time, we will add a comment to the code; a comment is text that
the Lisp interpreter ignores, but that a human reader may find useful
or enlightening.  The comment is that this is the "second version".

     (defun multiply-by-seven (number)       ; Second version.
       "Multiply NUMBER by seven."
       (+ number number number number number number number))

The comment follows a semicolon, `;'.  In Lisp, everything on a line
that follows a semicolon is a comment.  The end of the line is the end
of the comment.  To stretch a comment over two or more lines, begin
each line with a semicolon.

*Note Beginning a `.emacs' File: Beginning a .emacs File, and *Note
Comments: (elisp)Comments, for more about comments.

You can install this version of the `multiply-by-seven' function by
evaluating it in the same way you evaluated the first function: place
the cursor after the last parenthesis and type `C-x C-e'.

In summary, this is how you write code in Emacs Lisp: you write a
function; install it; test it; and then make fixes or enhancements and
install it again.


File: eintr,  Node: Interactive,  Next: Interactive Options,  Prev: Install,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.3 Make a Function Interactive
===============================

You make a function interactive by placing a list that begins with the
special form `interactive' immediately after the documentation.  A user
can invoke an interactive function by typing `M-x' and then the name of
the function; or by typing the keys to which it is bound, for example,
by typing `C-n' for `next-line' or `C-x h' for `mark-whole-buffer'.

Interestingly, when you call an interactive function interactively, the
value returned is not automatically displayed in the echo area.  This
is because you often call an interactive function for its side effects,
such as moving forward by a word or line, and not for the value
returned.  If the returned value were displayed in the echo area each
time you typed a key, it would be very distracting.

* Menu:

* Interactive multiply-by-seven::
* multiply-by-seven in detail::


File: eintr,  Node: Interactive multiply-by-seven,  Next: multiply-by-seven in detail,  Prev: Interactive,  Up: Interactive

An Interactive `multiply-by-seven', An Overview
-----------------------------------------------

Both the use of the special form `interactive' and one way to display a
value in the echo area can be illustrated by creating an interactive
version of `multiply-by-seven'.

Here is the code:

     (defun multiply-by-seven (number)       ; Interactive version.
       "Multiply NUMBER by seven."
       (interactive "p")
       (message "The result is %d" (* 7 number)))

You can install this code by placing your cursor after it and typing
`C-x C-e'.  The name of the function will appear in your echo area.
Then, you can use this code by typing `C-u' and a number and then
typing `M-x multiply-by-seven' and pressing <RET>.  The phrase `The
result is ...' followed by the product will appear in the echo area.

Speaking more generally, you invoke a function like this in either of
two ways:

  1. By typing a prefix argument that contains the number to be passed,
     and then typing `M-x' and the name of the function, as with `C-u 3
     M-x forward-sentence'; or,

  2. By typing whatever key or keychord the function is bound to, as
     with `C-u 3 M-e'.

Both the examples just mentioned work identically to move point forward
three sentences.  (Since `multiply-by-seven' is not bound to a key, it
could not be used as an example of key binding.)

(*Note Some Keybindings: Keybindings, to learn how to bind a command to
a key.)

A prefix argument is passed to an interactive function by typing the
<META> key followed by a number, for example, `M-3 M-e', or by typing
`C-u' and then a number, for example, `C-u 3 M-e' (if you type `C-u'
without a number, it defaults to 4).


File: eintr,  Node: multiply-by-seven in detail,  Prev: Interactive multiply-by-seven,  Up: Interactive

3.3.1 An Interactive `multiply-by-seven'
----------------------------------------

Let's look at the use of the special form `interactive' and then at the
function `message' in the interactive version of `multiply-by-seven'.
You will recall that the function definition looks like this:

     (defun multiply-by-seven (number)       ; Interactive version.
       "Multiply NUMBER by seven."
       (interactive "p")
       (message "The result is %d" (* 7 number)))

In this function, the expression, `(interactive "p")', is a list of two
elements.  The `"p"' tells Emacs to pass the prefix argument to the
function and use its value for the argument of the function.

The argument will be a number.  This means that the symbol `number'
will be bound to a number in the line:

     (message "The result is %d" (* 7 number))

For example, if your prefix argument is 5, the Lisp interpreter will
evaluate the line as if it were:

     (message "The result is %d" (* 7 5))

(If you are reading this in GNU Emacs, you can evaluate this expression
yourself.)  First, the interpreter will evaluate the inner list, which
is `(* 7 5)'.  This returns a value of 35.  Next, it will evaluate the
outer list, passing the values of the second and subsequent elements of
the list to the function `message'.

As we have seen, `message' is an Emacs Lisp function especially
designed for sending a one line message to a user.  (*Note The
`message' function: message.)  In summary, the `message' function
prints its first argument in the echo area as is, except for
occurrences of `%d' or `%s' (and various other %-sequences which we
have not mentioned).  When it sees a control sequence, the function
looks to the second or subsequent arguments and prints the value of the
argument in the location in the string where the control sequence is
located.

In the interactive `multiply-by-seven' function, the control string is
`%d', which requires a number, and the value returned by evaluating `(*
7 5)' is the number 35.  Consequently, the number 35 is printed in
place of the `%d' and the message is `The result is 35'.

(Note that when you call the function `multiply-by-seven', the message
is printed without quotes, but when you call `message', the text is
printed in double quotes.  This is because the value returned by
`message' is what appears in the echo area when you evaluate an
expression whose first element is `message'; but when embedded in a
function, `message' prints the text as a side effect without quotes.)


File: eintr,  Node: Interactive Options,  Next: Permanent Installation,  Prev: Interactive,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.4 Different Options for `interactive'
=======================================

In the example, `multiply-by-seven' used `"p"' as the argument to
`interactive'.  This argument told Emacs to interpret your typing
either `C-u' followed by a number or <META> followed by a number as a
command to pass that number to the function as its argument.  Emacs has
more than twenty characters predefined for use with `interactive'.  In
almost every case, one of these options will enable you to pass the
right information interactively to a function.  (*Note Code Characters
for `interactive': (elisp)Interactive Codes.)

Consider the function `zap-to-char'.  Its interactive expression is

     (interactive "p\ncZap to char: ")

The first part of the argument to `interactive' is `p', with which you
are already familiar.  This argument tells Emacs to interpret a
`prefix', as a number to be passed to the function.  You can specify a
prefix either by typing `C-u' followed by a number or by typing <META>
followed by a number.  The prefix is the number of specified
characters.  Thus, if your prefix is three and the specified character
is `x', then you will delete all the text up to and including the third
next `x'.  If you do not set a prefix, then you delete all the text up
to and including the specified character, but no more.

The `c' tells the function the name of the character to which to delete.

More formally, a function with two or more arguments can have
information passed to each argument by adding parts to the string that
follows `interactive'.  When you do this, the information is passed to
each argument in the same order it is specified in the `interactive'
list.  In the string, each part is separated from the next part by a
`\n', which is a newline.  For example, you can follow `p' with a `\n'
and an `cZap to char: '.  This causes Emacs to pass the value of the
prefix argument (if there is one) and the character.

In this case, the function definition looks like the following, where
`arg' and `char' are the symbols to which `interactive' binds the
prefix argument and the specified character:

     (defun NAME-OF-FUNCTION (arg char)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive "p\ncZap to char: ")
       BODY-OF-FUNCTION...)

(The space after the colon in the prompt makes it look better when you
are prompted.  *Note The Definition of `copy-to-buffer':
copy-to-buffer, for an example.)

When a function does not take arguments, `interactive' does not require
any.  Such a function contains the simple expression `(interactive)'.
The `mark-whole-buffer' function is like this.

Alternatively, if the special letter-codes are not right for your
application, you can pass your own arguments to `interactive' as a list.

*Note The Definition of `append-to-buffer': append-to-buffer, for an
example.  *Note Using `Interactive': (elisp)Using Interactive, for a
more complete explanation about this technique.


File: eintr,  Node: Permanent Installation,  Next: let,  Prev: Interactive Options,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.5 Install Code Permanently
============================

When you install a function definition by evaluating it, it will stay
installed until you quit Emacs.  The next time you start a new session
of Emacs, the function will not be installed unless you evaluate the
function definition again.

At some point, you may want to have code installed automatically
whenever you start a new session of Emacs.  There are several ways of
doing this:

   * If you have code that is just for yourself, you can put the code
     for the function definition in your `.emacs' initialization file.
     When you start Emacs, your `.emacs' file is automatically
     evaluated and all the function definitions within it are installed.
     *Note Your `.emacs' File: Emacs Initialization.

   * Alternatively, you can put the function definitions that you want
     installed in one or more files of their own and use the `load'
     function to cause Emacs to evaluate and thereby install each of the
     functions in the files.  *Note Loading Files: Loading Files.

   * Thirdly, if you have code that your whole site will use, it is
     usual to put it in a file called `site-init.el' that is loaded when
     Emacs is built.  This makes the code available to everyone who uses
     your machine.  (See the `INSTALL' file that is part of the Emacs
     distribution.)

Finally, if you have code that everyone who uses Emacs may want, you
can post it on a computer network or send a copy to the Free Software
Foundation.  (When you do this, please license the code and its
documentation under a license that permits other people to run, copy,
study, modify, and redistribute the code and which protects you from
having your work taken from you.)  If you send a copy of your code to
the Free Software Foundation, and properly protect yourself and others,
it may be included in the next release of Emacs.  In large part, this
is how Emacs has grown over the past years, by donations.


File: eintr,  Node: let,  Next: if,  Prev: Permanent Installation,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.6 `let'
=========

The `let' expression is a special form in Lisp that you will need to
use in most function definitions.

`let' is used to attach or bind a symbol to a value in such a way that
the Lisp interpreter will not confuse the variable with a variable of
the same name that is not part of the function.

To understand why the `let' special form is necessary, consider the
situation in which you own a home that you generally refer to as `the
house', as in the sentence, "The house needs painting."  If you are
visiting a friend and your host refers to `the house', he is likely to
be referring to _his_ house, not yours, that is, to a different house.

If your friend is referring to his house and you think he is referring
to your house, you may be in for some confusion.  The same thing could
happen in Lisp if a variable that is used inside of one function has
the same name as a variable that is used inside of another function,
and the two are not intended to refer to the same value.  The `let'
special form prevents this kind of confusion.

* Menu:

* Prevent confusion::
* Parts of let Expression::
* Sample let Expression::
* Uninitialized let Variables::


File: eintr,  Node: Prevent confusion,  Next: Parts of let Expression,  Prev: let,  Up: let

`let' Prevents Confusion
------------------------

The `let' special form prevents confusion.  `let' creates a name for a
"local variable" that overshadows any use of the same name outside the
`let' expression.  This is like understanding that whenever your host
refers to `the house', he means his house, not yours.  (Symbols used in
argument lists work the same way.  *Note The `defun' Special Form:
defun.)

Local variables created by a `let' expression retain their value _only_
within the `let' expression itself (and within expressions called
within the `let' expression); the local variables have no effect
outside the `let' expression.

Another way to think about `let' is that it is like a `setq' that is
temporary and local.  The values set by `let' are automatically undone
when the `let' is finished.  The setting only affects expressions that
are inside the bounds of the `let' expression.  In computer science
jargon, we would say "the binding of a symbol is visible only in
functions called in the `let' form; in Emacs Lisp, scoping is dynamic,
not lexical."

`let' can create more than one variable at once.  Also, `let' gives
each variable it creates an initial value, either a value specified by
you, or `nil'.  (In the jargon, this is called `binding the variable to
the value'.)  After `let' has created and bound the variables, it
executes the code in the body of the `let', and returns the value of
the last expression in the body, as the value of the whole `let'
expression.  (`Execute' is a jargon term that means to evaluate a list;
it comes from the use of the word meaning `to give practical effect to'
(`Oxford English Dictionary').  Since you evaluate an expression to
perform an action, `execute' has evolved as a synonym to `evaluate'.)


File: eintr,  Node: Parts of let Expression,  Next: Sample let Expression,  Prev: Prevent confusion,  Up: let

3.6.1 The Parts of a `let' Expression
-------------------------------------

A `let' expression is a list of three parts.  The first part is the
symbol `let'.  The second part is a list, called a "varlist", each
element of which is either a symbol by itself or a two-element list,
the first element of which is a symbol.  The third part of the `let'
expression is the body of the `let'.  The body usually consists of one
or more lists.

A template for a `let' expression looks like this:

     (let VARLIST BODY...)

The symbols in the varlist are the variables that are given initial
values by the `let' special form.  Symbols by themselves are given the
initial value of `nil'; and each symbol that is the first element of a
two-element list is bound to the value that is returned when the Lisp
interpreter evaluates the second element.

Thus, a varlist might look like this: `(thread (needles 3))'.  In this
case, in a `let' expression, Emacs binds the symbol `thread' to an
initial value of `nil', and binds the symbol `needles' to an initial
value of 3.

When you write a `let' expression, what you do is put the appropriate
expressions in the slots of the `let' expression template.

If the varlist is composed of two-element lists, as is often the case,
the template for the `let' expression looks like this:

     (let ((VARIABLE VALUE)
           (VARIABLE VALUE)
           ...)
       BODY...)


File: eintr,  Node: Sample let Expression,  Next: Uninitialized let Variables,  Prev: Parts of let Expression,  Up: let

3.6.2 Sample `let' Expression
-----------------------------

The following expression creates and gives initial values to the two
variables `zebra' and `tiger'.  The body of the `let' expression is a
list which calls the `message' function.

     (let ((zebra 'stripes)
           (tiger 'fierce))
       (message "One kind of animal has %s and another is %s."
                zebra tiger))

Here, the varlist is `((zebra 'stripes) (tiger 'fierce))'.

The two variables are `zebra' and `tiger'.  Each variable is the first
element of a two-element list and each value is the second element of
its two-element list.  In the varlist, Emacs binds the variable `zebra'
to the value `stripes'(1), and binds the variable `tiger' to the value
`fierce'.  In this example, both values are symbols preceded by a
quote.  The values could just as well have been another list or a
string.  The body of the `let' follows after the list holding the
variables.  In this example, the body is a list that uses the `message'
function to print a string in the echo area.

You may evaluate the example in the usual fashion, by placing the
cursor after the last parenthesis and typing `C-x C-e'.  When you do
this, the following will appear in the echo area:

     "One kind of animal has stripes and another is fierce."

As we have seen before, the `message' function prints its first
argument, except for `%s'.  In this example, the value of the variable
`zebra' is printed at the location of the first `%s' and the value of
the variable `tiger' is printed at the location of the second `%s'.

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) According to Jared Diamond in `Guns, Germs, and Steel', "... zebras
become impossibly dangerous as they grow older" but the claim here is
that they do not become fierce like a tiger.  (1997, W. W. Norton and
Co., ISBN 0-393-03894-2, page 171)


File: eintr,  Node: Uninitialized let Variables,  Prev: Sample let Expression,  Up: let

3.6.3 Uninitialized Variables in a `let' Statement
--------------------------------------------------

If you do not bind the variables in a `let' statement to specific
initial values, they will automatically be bound to an initial value of
`nil', as in the following expression:

     (let ((birch 3)
           pine
           fir
           (oak 'some))
       (message
        "Here are %d variables with %s, %s, and %s value."
        birch pine fir oak))

Here, the varlist is `((birch 3) pine fir (oak 'some))'.

If you evaluate this expression in the usual way, the following will
appear in your echo area:

     "Here are 3 variables with nil, nil, and some value."

In this example, Emacs binds the symbol `birch' to the number 3, binds
the symbols `pine' and `fir' to `nil', and binds the symbol `oak' to
the value `some'.

Note that in the first part of the `let', the variables `pine' and
`fir' stand alone as atoms that are not surrounded by parentheses; this
is because they are being bound to `nil', the empty list.  But `oak' is
bound to `some' and so is a part of the list `(oak 'some)'.  Similarly,
`birch' is bound to the number 3 and so is in a list with that number.
(Since a number evaluates to itself, the number does not need to be
quoted.  Also, the number is printed in the message using a `%d' rather
than a `%s'.)  The four variables as a group are put into a list to
delimit them from the body of the `let'.


File: eintr,  Node: if,  Next: else,  Prev: let,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.7 The `if' Special Form
=========================

A third special form, in addition to `defun' and `let', is the
conditional `if'.  This form is used to instruct the computer to make
decisions.  You can write function definitions without using `if', but
it is used often enough, and is important enough, to be included here.
It is used, for example, in the code for the function
`beginning-of-buffer'.

The basic idea behind an `if', is that "_if_ a test is true, _then_ an
expression is evaluated."  If the test is not true, the expression is
not evaluated.  For example, you might make a decision such as, "if it
is warm and sunny, then go to the beach!"

* Menu:

* if in more detail::
* type-of-animal in detail::


File: eintr,  Node: if in more detail,  Next: type-of-animal in detail,  Prev: if,  Up: if

`if' in more detail
-------------------

An `if' expression written in Lisp does not use the word `then'; the
test and the action are the second and third elements of the list whose
first element is `if'.  Nonetheless, the test part of an `if'
expression is often called the "if-part" and the second argument is
often called the "then-part".

Also, when an `if' expression is written, the true-or-false-test is
usually written on the same line as the symbol `if', but the action to
carry out if the test is true, the "then-part", is written on the
second and subsequent lines.  This makes the `if' expression easier to
read.

     (if TRUE-OR-FALSE-TEST
         ACTION-TO-CARRY-OUT-IF-TEST-IS-TRUE)

The true-or-false-test will be an expression that is evaluated by the
Lisp interpreter.

Here is an example that you can evaluate in the usual manner.  The test
is whether the number 5 is greater than the number 4.  Since it is, the
message `5 is greater than 4!' will be printed.

     (if (> 5 4)                             ; if-part
         (message "5 is greater than 4!"))   ; then-part

(The function `>' tests whether its first argument is greater than its
second argument and returns true if it is.)

Of course, in actual use, the test in an `if' expression will not be
fixed for all time as it is by the expression `(> 5 4)'.  Instead, at
least one of the variables used in the test will be bound to a value
that is not known ahead of time.  (If the value were known ahead of
time, we would not need to run the test!)

For example, the value may be bound to an argument of a function
definition.  In the following function definition, the character of the
animal is a value that is passed to the function.  If the value bound to
`characteristic' is `fierce', then the message, `It's a tiger!' will be
printed; otherwise, `nil' will be returned.

     (defun type-of-animal (characteristic)
       "Print message in echo area depending on CHARACTERISTIC.
     If the CHARACTERISTIC is the symbol `fierce',
     then warn of a tiger."
       (if (equal characteristic 'fierce)
           (message "It's a tiger!")))

If you are reading this inside of GNU Emacs, you can evaluate the
function definition in the usual way to install it in Emacs, and then
you can evaluate the following two expressions to see the results:

     (type-of-animal 'fierce)

     (type-of-animal 'zebra)

When you evaluate `(type-of-animal 'fierce)', you will see the
following message printed in the echo area: `"It's a tiger!"'; and when
you evaluate `(type-of-animal 'zebra)' you will see `nil' printed in
the echo area.


File: eintr,  Node: type-of-animal in detail,  Prev: if in more detail,  Up: if

3.7.1 The `type-of-animal' Function in Detail
---------------------------------------------

Let's look at the `type-of-animal' function in detail.

The function definition for `type-of-animal' was written by filling the
slots of two templates, one for a function definition as a whole, and a
second for an `if' expression.

The template for every function that is not interactive is:

     (defun NAME-OF-FUNCTION (ARGUMENT-LIST)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       BODY...)

The parts of the function that match this template look like this:

     (defun type-of-animal (characteristic)
       "Print message in echo area depending on CHARACTERISTIC.
     If the CHARACTERISTIC is the symbol `fierce',
     then warn of a tiger."
       BODY: THE `if' EXPRESSION)

The name of function is `type-of-animal'; it is passed the value of one
argument.  The argument list is followed by a multi-line documentation
string.  The documentation string is included in the example because it
is a good habit to write documentation string for every function
definition.  The body of the function definition consists of the `if'
expression.

The template for an `if' expression looks like this:

     (if TRUE-OR-FALSE-TEST
         ACTION-TO-CARRY-OUT-IF-THE-TEST-RETURNS-TRUE)

In the `type-of-animal' function, the code for the `if' looks like this:

     (if (equal characteristic 'fierce)
         (message "It's a tiger!")))

Here, the true-or-false-test is the expression:

     (equal characteristic 'fierce)

In Lisp, `equal' is a function that determines whether its first
argument is equal to its second argument.  The second argument is the
quoted symbol `'fierce' and the first argument is the value of the
symbol `characteristic'--in other words, the argument passed to this
function.

In the first exercise of `type-of-animal', the argument `fierce' is
passed to `type-of-animal'.  Since `fierce' is equal to `fierce', the
expression, `(equal characteristic 'fierce)', returns a value of true.
When this happens, the `if' evaluates the second argument or then-part
of the `if': `(message "It's tiger!")'.

On the other hand, in the second exercise of `type-of-animal', the
argument `zebra' is passed to `type-of-animal'.  `zebra' is not equal
to `fierce', so the then-part is not evaluated and `nil' is returned by
the `if' expression.


File: eintr,  Node: else,  Next: Truth & Falsehood,  Prev: if,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.8 If-then-else Expressions
============================

An `if' expression may have an optional third argument, called the
"else-part", for the case when the true-or-false-test returns false.
When this happens, the second argument or then-part of the overall `if'
expression is _not_ evaluated, but the third or else-part _is_
evaluated.  You might think of this as the cloudy day alternative for
the decision "if it is warm and sunny, then go to the beach, else read
a book!".

The word "else" is not written in the Lisp code; the else-part of an
`if' expression comes after the then-part.  In the written Lisp, the
else-part is usually written to start on a line of its own and is
indented less than the then-part:

     (if TRUE-OR-FALSE-TEST
         ACTION-TO-CARRY-OUT-IF-THE-TEST-RETURNS-TRUE
       ACTION-TO-CARRY-OUT-IF-THE-TEST-RETURNS-FALSE)

For example, the following `if' expression prints the message `4 is not
greater than 5!' when you evaluate it in the usual way:

     (if (> 4 5)                             ; if-part
         (message "5 is greater than 4!")    ; then-part
       (message "4 is not greater than 5!")) ; else-part

Note that the different levels of indentation make it easy to
distinguish the then-part from the else-part.  (GNU Emacs has several
commands that automatically indent `if' expressions correctly.  *Note
GNU Emacs Helps You Type Lists: Typing Lists.)

We can extend the `type-of-animal' function to include an else-part by
simply incorporating an additional part to the `if' expression.

You can see the consequences of doing this if you evaluate the following
version of the `type-of-animal' function definition to install it and
then evaluate the two subsequent expressions to pass different
arguments to the function.

     (defun type-of-animal (characteristic)  ; Second version.
       "Print message in echo area depending on CHARACTERISTIC.
     If the CHARACTERISTIC is the symbol `fierce',
     then warn of a tiger;
     else say it's not fierce."
       (if (equal characteristic 'fierce)
           (message "It's a tiger!")
         (message "It's not fierce!")))


     (type-of-animal 'fierce)

     (type-of-animal 'zebra)

When you evaluate `(type-of-animal 'fierce)', you will see the
following message printed in the echo area: `"It's a tiger!"'; but when
you evaluate `(type-of-animal 'zebra)', you will see `"It's not
fierce!"'.

(Of course, if the CHARACTERISTIC were `ferocious', the message `"It's
not fierce!"' would be printed; and it would be misleading!  When you
write code, you need to take into account the possibility that some
such argument will be tested by the `if' and write your program
accordingly.)


File: eintr,  Node: Truth & Falsehood,  Next: save-excursion,  Prev: else,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.9 Truth and Falsehood in Emacs Lisp
=====================================

There is an important aspect to the truth test in an `if' expression.
So far, we have spoken of `true' and `false' as values of predicates as
if they were new kinds of Emacs Lisp objects.  In fact, `false' is just
our old friend `nil'.  Anything else--anything at all--is `true'.

The expression that tests for truth is interpreted as "true" if the
result of evaluating it is a value that is not `nil'.  In other words,
the result of the test is considered true if the value returned is a
number such as 47, a string such as `"hello"', or a symbol (other than
`nil') such as `flowers', or a list (so long as it is not empty), or
even a buffer!

* Menu:

* nil explained::


File: eintr,  Node: nil explained,  Prev: Truth & Falsehood,  Up: Truth & Falsehood

An explanation of `nil'
-----------------------

Before illustrating a test for truth, we need an explanation of `nil'.

In Emacs Lisp, the symbol `nil' has two meanings.  First, it means the
empty list.  Second, it means false and is the value returned when a
true-or-false-test tests false.  `nil' can be written as an empty list,
`()', or as `nil'.  As far as the Lisp interpreter is concerned, `()'
and `nil' are the same.  Humans, however, tend to use `nil' for false
and `()' for the empty list.

In Emacs Lisp, any value that is not `nil'--is not the empty list--is
considered true.  This means that if an evaluation returns something
that is not an empty list, an `if' expression will test true.  For
example, if a number is put in the slot for the test, it will be
evaluated and will return itself, since that is what numbers do when
evaluated.  In this conditional, the `if' expression will test true.
The expression tests false only when `nil', an empty list, is returned
by evaluating the expression.

You can see this by evaluating the two expressions in the following
examples.

In the first example, the number 4 is evaluated as the test in the `if'
expression and returns itself; consequently, the then-part of the
expression is evaluated and returned: `true' appears in the echo area.
In the second example, the `nil' indicates false; consequently, the
else-part of the expression is evaluated and returned: `false' appears
in the echo area.

     (if 4
         'true
       'false)

     (if nil
         'true
       'false)

Incidentally, if some other useful value is not available for a test
that returns true, then the Lisp interpreter will return the symbol `t'
for true.  For example, the expression `(> 5 4)' returns `t' when
evaluated, as you can see by evaluating it in the usual way:

     (> 5 4)

On the other hand, this function returns `nil' if the test is false.

     (> 4 5)


File: eintr,  Node: save-excursion,  Next: Review,  Prev: Truth & Falsehood,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.10 `save-excursion'
=====================

The `save-excursion' function is the fourth and final special form that
we will discuss in this chapter.

In Emacs Lisp programs used for editing, the `save-excursion' function
is very common.  It saves the location of point and mark, executes the
body of the function, and then restores point and mark to their
previous positions if their locations were changed.  Its primary
purpose is to keep the user from being surprised and disturbed by
unexpected movement of point or mark.

* Menu:

* Point and mark::
* Template for save-excursion::


File: eintr,  Node: Point and mark,  Next: Template for save-excursion,  Prev: save-excursion,  Up: save-excursion

Point and Mark
--------------

Before discussing `save-excursion', however, it may be useful first to
review what point and mark are in GNU Emacs.  "Point" is the current
location of the cursor.  Wherever the cursor is, that is point.  More
precisely, on terminals where the cursor appears to be on top of a
character, point is immediately before the character.  In Emacs Lisp,
point is an integer.  The first character in a buffer is number one,
the second is number two, and so on.  The function `point' returns the
current position of the cursor as a number.  Each buffer has its own
value for point.

The "mark" is another position in the buffer; its value can be set with
a command such as `C-<SPC>' (`set-mark-command').  If a mark has been
set, you can use the command `C-x C-x' (`exchange-point-and-mark') to
cause the cursor to jump to the mark and set the mark to be the
previous position of point.  In addition, if you set another mark, the
position of the previous mark is saved in the mark ring.  Many mark
positions can be saved this way.  You can jump the cursor to a saved
mark by typing `C-u C-<SPC>' one or more times.

The part of the buffer between point and mark is called "the region".
Numerous commands work on the region, including `center-region',
`count-lines-region', `kill-region', and `print-region'.

The `save-excursion' special form saves the locations of point and mark
and restores those positions after the code within the body of the
special form is evaluated by the Lisp interpreter.  Thus, if point were
in the beginning of a piece of text and some code moved point to the end
of the buffer, the `save-excursion' would put point back to where it
was before, after the expressions in the body of the function were
evaluated.

In Emacs, a function frequently moves point as part of its internal
workings even though a user would not expect this.  For example,
`count-lines-region' moves point.  To prevent the user from being
bothered by jumps that are both unexpected and (from the user's point of
view) unnecessary, `save-excursion' is often used to keep point and
mark in the location expected by the user.  The use of `save-excursion'
is good housekeeping.

To make sure the house stays clean, `save-excursion' restores the
values of point and mark even if something goes wrong in the code inside
of it (or, to be more precise and to use the proper jargon, "in case of
abnormal exit").  This feature is very helpful.

In addition to recording the values of point and mark, `save-excursion'
keeps track of the current buffer, and restores it, too.  This means
you can write code that will change the buffer and have
`save-excursion' switch you back to the original buffer.  This is how
`save-excursion' is used in `append-to-buffer'.  (*Note The Definition
of `append-to-buffer': append-to-buffer.)


File: eintr,  Node: Template for save-excursion,  Prev: Point and mark,  Up: save-excursion

3.10.1 Template for a `save-excursion' Expression
-------------------------------------------------

The template for code using `save-excursion' is simple:

     (save-excursion
       BODY...)

The body of the function is one or more expressions that will be
evaluated in sequence by the Lisp interpreter.  If there is more than
one expression in the body, the value of the last one will be returned
as the value of the `save-excursion' function.  The other expressions
in the body are evaluated only for their side effects; and
`save-excursion' itself is used only for its side effect (which is
restoring the positions of point and mark).

In more detail, the template for a `save-excursion' expression looks
like this:

     (save-excursion
       FIRST-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY
       SECOND-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY
       THIRD-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY
        ...
       LAST-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY)

An expression, of course, may be a symbol on its own or a list.

In Emacs Lisp code, a `save-excursion' expression often occurs within
the body of a `let' expression.  It looks like this:

     (let VARLIST
       (save-excursion
         BODY...))


File: eintr,  Node: Review,  Next: defun Exercises,  Prev: save-excursion,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.11 Review
===========

In the last few chapters we have introduced a fair number of functions
and special forms.  Here they are described in brief, along with a few
similar functions that have not been mentioned yet.

`eval-last-sexp'
     Evaluate the last symbolic expression before the current location
     of point.  The value is printed in the echo area unless the
     function is invoked with an argument; in that case, the output is
     printed in the current buffer.  This command is normally bound to
     `C-x C-e'.

`defun'
     Define function.  This special form has up to five parts: the name,
     a template for the arguments that will be passed to the function,
     documentation, an optional interactive declaration, and the body
     of the definition.

     For example, in an early version of Emacs, the function definition
     was as follows.  (It is slightly more complex now that it seeks
     the first non-whitespace character rather than the first visible
     character.)

          (defun back-to-indentation ()
            "Move point to first visible character on line."
            (interactive)
            (beginning-of-line 1)
            (skip-chars-forward " \t"))

`interactive'
     Declare to the interpreter that the function can be used
     interactively.  This special form may be followed by a string with
     one or more parts that pass the information to the arguments of the
     function, in sequence.  These parts may also tell the interpreter
     to prompt for information.  Parts of the string are separated by
     newlines, `\n'.

     Common code characters are:

    `b'
          The name of an existing buffer.

    `f'
          The name of an existing file.

    `p'
          The numeric prefix argument.  (Note that this `p' is lower
          case.)

    `r'
          Point and the mark, as two numeric arguments, smallest first.
          This is the only code letter that specifies two successive
          arguments rather than one.

     *Note Code Characters for `interactive': (elisp)Interactive Codes,
     for a complete list of code characters.

`let'
     Declare that a list of variables is for use within the body of the
     `let' and give them an initial value, either `nil' or a specified
     value; then evaluate the rest of the expressions in the body of
     the `let' and return the value of the last one.  Inside the body
     of the `let', the Lisp interpreter does not see the values of the
     variables of the same names that are bound outside of the `let'.

     For example,

          (let ((foo (buffer-name))
                (bar (buffer-size)))
            (message
             "This buffer is %s and has %d characters."
             foo bar))

`save-excursion'
     Record the values of point and mark and the current buffer before
     evaluating the body of this special form.  Restore the values of
     point and mark and buffer afterward.

     For example,

          (message "We are %d characters into this buffer."
                   (- (point)
                      (save-excursion
                        (goto-char (point-min)) (point))))

`if'
     Evaluate the first argument to the function; if it is true,
     evaluate the second argument; else evaluate the third argument, if
     there is one.

     The `if' special form is called a "conditional".  There are other
     conditionals in Emacs Lisp, but `if' is perhaps the most commonly
     used.

     For example,

          (if (string-equal
               (number-to-string 22)
               (substring (emacs-version) 10 12))
              (message "This is version 22 Emacs")
            (message "This is not version 22 Emacs"))

`equal'
`eq'
     Test whether two objects are the same.  `equal' uses one meaning
     of the word `same' and `eq' uses another:  `equal' returns true if
     the two objects have a similar structure and contents, such as two
     copies of the same book.  On the other hand, `eq', returns true if
     both arguments are actually the same object.

`<'
`>'
`<='
`>='
     The `<' function tests whether its first argument is smaller than
     its second argument.  A corresponding function, `>', tests whether
     the first argument is greater than the second.  Likewise, `<='
     tests whether the first argument is less than or equal to the
     second and `>=' tests whether the first argument is greater than
     or equal to the second.  In all cases, both arguments must be
     numbers or markers (markers indicate positions in buffers).

`string<'
`string-lessp'
`string='
`string-equal'
     The `string-lessp' function tests whether its first argument is
     smaller than the second argument.  A shorter, alternative name for
     the same function (a `defalias') is `string<'.

     The arguments to `string-lessp' must be strings or symbols; the
     ordering is lexicographic, so case is significant.  The print
     names of symbols are used instead of the symbols themselves.

     An empty string, `""', a string with no characters in it, is
     smaller than any string of characters.

     `string-equal' provides the corresponding test for equality.  Its
     shorter, alternative name is `string='.  There are no string test
     functions that correspond to >, `>=', or `<='.

`message'
     Print a message in the echo area. The first argument is a string
     that can contain `%s', `%d', or `%c' to print the value of
     arguments that follow the string.  The argument used by `%s' must
     be a string or a symbol; the argument used by `%d' must be a
     number.  The argument used by `%c' must be an ASCII code number;
     it will be printed as the character with that ASCII code.
     (Various other %-sequences have not been mentioned.)

`setq'
`set'
     The `setq' function sets the value of its first argument to the
     value of the second argument.  The first argument is automatically
     quoted by `setq'.  It does the same for succeeding pairs of
     arguments.  Another function, `set', takes only two arguments and
     evaluates both of them before setting the value returned by its
     first argument to the value returned by its second argument.

`buffer-name'
     Without an argument, return the name of the buffer, as a string.

`buffer-file-name'
     Without an argument, return the name of the file the buffer is
     visiting.

`current-buffer'
     Return the buffer in which Emacs is active; it may not be the
     buffer that is visible on the screen.

`other-buffer'
     Return the most recently selected buffer (other than the buffer
     passed to `other-buffer' as an argument and other than the current
     buffer).

`switch-to-buffer'
     Select a buffer for Emacs to be active in and display it in the
     current window so users can look at it.  Usually bound to `C-x b'.

`set-buffer'
     Switch Emacs' attention to a buffer on which programs will run.
     Don't alter what the window is showing.

`buffer-size'
     Return the number of characters in the current buffer.

`point'
     Return the value of the current position of the cursor, as an
     integer counting the number of characters from the beginning of the
     buffer.

`point-min'
     Return the minimum permissible value of point in the current
     buffer.  This is 1, unless narrowing is in effect.

`point-max'
     Return the value of the maximum permissible value of point in the
     current buffer.  This is the end of the buffer, unless narrowing
     is in effect.


File: eintr,  Node: defun Exercises,  Prev: Review,  Up: Writing Defuns

3.12 Exercises
==============

   * Write a non-interactive function that doubles the value of its
     argument, a number.  Make that function interactive.

   * Write a function that tests whether the current value of
     `fill-column' is greater than the argument passed to the function,
     and if so, prints an appropriate message.


File: eintr,  Node: Buffer Walk Through,  Next: More Complex,  Prev: Writing Defuns,  Up: Top

4 A Few Buffer-Related Functions
********************************

In this chapter we study in detail several of the functions used in GNU
Emacs.  This is called a "walk-through".  These functions are used as
examples of Lisp code, but are not imaginary examples; with the
exception of the first, simplified function definition, these functions
show the actual code used in GNU Emacs.  You can learn a great deal from
these definitions.  The functions described here are all related to
buffers.  Later, we will study other functions.

* Menu:

* Finding More::
* simplified-beginning-of-buffer::
* mark-whole-buffer::
* append-to-buffer::
* Buffer Related Review::
* Buffer Exercises::


File: eintr,  Node: Finding More,  Next: simplified-beginning-of-buffer,  Prev: Buffer Walk Through,  Up: Buffer Walk Through

4.1 Finding More Information
============================

In this walk-through, I will describe each new function as we come to
it, sometimes in detail and sometimes briefly.  If you are interested,
you can get the full documentation of any Emacs Lisp function at any
time by typing `C-h f' and then the name of the function (and then
<RET>).  Similarly, you can get the full documentation for a variable
by typing `C-h v' and then the name of the variable (and then <RET>).

When a function is written in Emacs Lisp, `describe-function' will also
tell you the location of the function definition.

Put point into the name of the file that contains the function and
press the <RET> key.  In this case, <RET> means `push-button' rather
than `return' or `enter'.  Emacs will take you directly to the function
definition.

More generally, if you want to see a function in its original source
file, you can use the `find-tags' function to jump to it.  `find-tags'
works with a wide variety of languages, not just Lisp, and C, and it
works with non-programming text as well.  For example, `find-tags' will
jump to the various nodes in the Texinfo source file of this document.

The `find-tags' function depends on `tags tables' that record the
locations of the functions, variables, and other items to which
`find-tags' jumps.

To use the `find-tags' command, type `M-.'  (i.e., press the period key
while holding down the <META> key, or else type the <ESC> key and then
type the period key), and then, at the prompt, type in the name of the
function whose source code you want to see, such as
`mark-whole-buffer', and then type <RET>.  Emacs will switch buffers
and display the source code for the function on your screen.  To switch
back to your current buffer, type `C-x b <RET>'.  (On some keyboards,
the <META> key is labelled <ALT>.)

Depending on how the initial default values of your copy of Emacs are
set, you may also need to specify the location of your `tags table',
which is a file called `TAGS'.  For example, if you are interested in
Emacs sources, the tags table you will most likely want, if it has
already been created for you, will be in a subdirectory of the
`/usr/local/share/emacs/' directory; thus you would use the `M-x
visit-tags-table' command and specify a pathname such as
`/usr/local/share/emacs/22.0.100/lisp/TAGS'.  If the tags table has not
already been created, you will have to create it yourself.  It will in
a file such as `/usr/local/src/emacs/src/TAGS'.

To create a `TAGS' file in a specific directory, switch to that
directory in Emacs using `M-x cd' command, or list the directory with
`C-x d' (`dired').  Then run the compile command, with `etags *.el' as
the command to execute:

     M-x compile RET etags *.el RET

For more information, see *Note Create Your Own `TAGS' File: etags.

After you become more familiar with Emacs Lisp, you will find that you
will frequently use `find-tags' to navigate your way around source code;
and you will create your own `TAGS' tables.

Incidentally, the files that contain Lisp code are conventionally
called "libraries".  The metaphor is derived from that of a specialized
library, such as a law library or an engineering library, rather than a
general library.  Each library, or file, contains functions that relate
to a particular topic or activity, such as `abbrev.el' for handling
abbreviations and other typing shortcuts, and `help.el' for on-line
help.  (Sometimes several libraries provide code for a single activity,
as the various `rmail...' files provide code for reading electronic
mail.)  In `The GNU Emacs Manual', you will see sentences such as "The
`C-h p' command lets you search the standard Emacs Lisp libraries by
topic keywords."


File: eintr,  Node: simplified-beginning-of-buffer,  Next: mark-whole-buffer,  Prev: Finding More,  Up: Buffer Walk Through

4.2 A Simplified `beginning-of-buffer' Definition
=================================================

The `beginning-of-buffer' command is a good function to start with
since you are likely to be familiar with it and it is easy to
understand.  Used as an interactive command, `beginning-of-buffer'
moves the cursor to the beginning of the buffer, leaving the mark at the
previous position.  It is generally bound to `M-<'.

In this section, we will discuss a shortened version of the function
that shows how it is most frequently used.  This shortened function
works as written, but it does not contain the code for a complex option.
In another section, we will describe the entire function.  (*Note
Complete Definition of `beginning-of-buffer': beginning-of-buffer.)

Before looking at the code, let's consider what the function definition
has to contain: it must include an expression that makes the function
interactive so it can be called by typing `M-x beginning-of-buffer' or
by typing a keychord such as `M-<'; it must include code to leave a
mark at the original position in the buffer; and it must include code
to move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.

Here is the complete text of the shortened version of the function:

     (defun simplified-beginning-of-buffer ()
       "Move point to the beginning of the buffer;
     leave mark at previous position."
       (interactive)
       (push-mark)
       (goto-char (point-min)))

Like all function definitions, this definition has five parts following
the special form `defun':

  1. The name: in this example, `simplified-beginning-of-buffer'.

  2. A list of the arguments: in this example, an empty list, `()',

  3. The documentation string.

  4. The interactive expression.

  5. The body.

In this function definition, the argument list is empty; this means that
this function does not require any arguments.  (When we look at the
definition for the complete function, we will see that it may be passed
an optional argument.)

The interactive expression tells Emacs that the function is intended to
be used interactively.  In this example, `interactive' does not have an
argument because `simplified-beginning-of-buffer' does not require one.

The body of the function consists of the two lines:

     (push-mark)
     (goto-char (point-min))

The first of these lines is the expression, `(push-mark)'.  When this
expression is evaluated by the Lisp interpreter, it sets a mark at the
current position of the cursor, wherever that may be.  The position of
this mark is saved in the mark ring.

The next line is `(goto-char (point-min))'.  This expression jumps the
cursor to the minimum point in the buffer, that is, to the beginning of
the buffer (or to the beginning of the accessible portion of the buffer
if it is narrowed.  *Note Narrowing and Widening: Narrowing & Widening.)

The `push-mark' command sets a mark at the place where the cursor was
located before it was moved to the beginning of the buffer by the
`(goto-char (point-min))' expression.  Consequently, you can, if you
wish, go back to where you were originally by typing `C-x C-x'.

That is all there is to the function definition!

When you are reading code such as this and come upon an unfamiliar
function, such as `goto-char', you can find out what it does by using
the `describe-function' command.  To use this command, type `C-h f' and
then type in the name of the function and press <RET>.  The
`describe-function' command will print the function's documentation
string in a `*Help*' window.  For example, the documentation for
`goto-char' is:

     Set point to POSITION, a number or marker.
     Beginning of buffer is position (point-min), end is (point-max).

The function's one argument is the desired position.

(The prompt for `describe-function' will offer you the symbol under or
preceding the cursor, so you can save typing by positioning the cursor
right over or after the function and then typing `C-h f <RET>'.)

The `end-of-buffer' function definition is written in the same way as
the `beginning-of-buffer' definition except that the body of the
function contains the expression `(goto-char (point-max))' in place of
`(goto-char (point-min))'.


File: eintr,  Node: mark-whole-buffer,  Next: append-to-buffer,  Prev: simplified-beginning-of-buffer,  Up: Buffer Walk Through

4.3 The Definition of `mark-whole-buffer'
=========================================

The `mark-whole-buffer' function is no harder to understand than the
`simplified-beginning-of-buffer' function.  In this case, however, we
will look at the complete function, not a shortened version.

The `mark-whole-buffer' function is not as commonly used as the
`beginning-of-buffer' function, but is useful nonetheless: it marks a
whole buffer as a region by putting point at the beginning and a mark
at the end of the buffer.  It is generally bound to `C-x h'.

* Menu:

* mark-whole-buffer overview::
* Body of mark-whole-buffer::


File: eintr,  Node: mark-whole-buffer overview,  Next: Body of mark-whole-buffer,  Prev: mark-whole-buffer,  Up: mark-whole-buffer

An overview of `mark-whole-buffer'
----------------------------------

In GNU Emacs 22, the code for the complete function looks like this:

     (defun mark-whole-buffer ()
       "Put point at beginning and mark at end of buffer.
     You probably should not use this function in Lisp programs;
     it is usually a mistake for a Lisp function to use any subroutine
     that uses or sets the mark."
       (interactive)
       (push-mark (point))
       (push-mark (point-max) nil t)
       (goto-char (point-min)))

Like all other functions, the `mark-whole-buffer' function fits into
the template for a function definition.  The template looks like this:

     (defun NAME-OF-FUNCTION (ARGUMENT-LIST)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (INTERACTIVE-EXPRESSION...)
       BODY...)

Here is how the function works: the name of the function is
`mark-whole-buffer'; it is followed by an empty argument list, `()',
which means that the function does not require arguments.  The
documentation comes next.

The next line is an `(interactive)' expression that tells Emacs that
the function will be used interactively.  These details are similar to
the `simplified-beginning-of-buffer' function described in the previous
section.


File: eintr,  Node: Body of mark-whole-buffer,  Prev: mark-whole-buffer overview,  Up: mark-whole-buffer

4.3.1 Body of `mark-whole-buffer'
---------------------------------

The body of the `mark-whole-buffer' function consists of three lines of
code:

     (push-mark (point))
     (push-mark (point-max) nil t)
     (goto-char (point-min))

The first of these lines is the expression, `(push-mark (point))'.

This line does exactly the same job as the first line of the body of
the `simplified-beginning-of-buffer' function, which is written
`(push-mark)'.  In both cases, the Lisp interpreter sets a mark at the
current position of the cursor.

I don't know why the expression in `mark-whole-buffer' is written
`(push-mark (point))' and the expression in `beginning-of-buffer' is
written `(push-mark)'.  Perhaps whoever wrote the code did not know
that the arguments for `push-mark' are optional and that if `push-mark'
is not passed an argument, the function automatically sets mark at the
location of point by default.  Or perhaps the expression was written so
as to parallel the structure of the next line.  In any case, the line
causes Emacs to determine the position of point and set a mark there.

In earlier versions of GNU Emacs, the next line of `mark-whole-buffer'
was `(push-mark (point-max))'.  This expression sets a mark at the
point in the buffer that has the highest number.  This will be the end
of the buffer (or, if the buffer is narrowed, the end of the accessible
portion of the buffer.  *Note Narrowing and Widening: Narrowing &
Widening, for more about narrowing.)  After this mark has been set, the
previous mark, the one set at point, is no longer set, but Emacs
remembers its position, just as all other recent marks are always
remembered.  This means that you can, if you wish, go back to that
position by typing `C-u C-<SPC>' twice.

In GNU Emacs 22, the `(point-max)' is slightly more complicated.  The
line reads

     (push-mark (point-max) nil t)

The expression works nearly the same as before.  It sets a mark at the
highest numbered place in the buffer that it can.  However, in this
version, `push-mark' has two additional arguments.  The second argument
to `push-mark' is `nil'.  This tells the function it _should_ display a
message that says `Mark set' when it pushes the mark.  The third
argument is `t'.  This tells `push-mark' to activate the mark when
Transient Mark mode is turned on.  Transient Mark mode highlights the
currently active region.  It is often turned off.

Finally, the last line of the function is `(goto-char (point-min)))'.
This is written exactly the same way as it is written in
`beginning-of-buffer'.  The expression moves the cursor to the minimum
point in the buffer, that is, to the beginning of the buffer (or to the
beginning of the accessible portion of the buffer).  As a result of
this, point is placed at the beginning of the buffer and mark is set at
the end of the buffer.  The whole buffer is, therefore, the region.


File: eintr,  Node: append-to-buffer,  Next: Buffer Related Review,  Prev: mark-whole-buffer,  Up: Buffer Walk Through

4.4 The Definition of `append-to-buffer'
========================================

The `append-to-buffer' command is more complex than the
`mark-whole-buffer' command.  What it does is copy the region (that is,
the part of the buffer between point and mark) from the current buffer
to a specified buffer.

* Menu:

* append-to-buffer overview::
* append interactive::
* append-to-buffer body::
* append save-excursion::


File: eintr,  Node: append-to-buffer overview,  Next: append interactive,  Prev: append-to-buffer,  Up: append-to-buffer

An Overview of `append-to-buffer'
---------------------------------

The `append-to-buffer' command uses the `insert-buffer-substring'
function to copy the region.  `insert-buffer-substring' is described by
its name: it takes a string of characters from part of a buffer, a
"substring", and inserts them into another buffer.

Most of `append-to-buffer' is concerned with setting up the conditions
for `insert-buffer-substring' to work: the code must specify both the
buffer to which the text will go, the window it comes from and goes to,
and the region that will be copied.

Here is the complete text of the function:

     (defun append-to-buffer (buffer start end)
       "Append to specified buffer the text of the region.
     It is inserted into that buffer before its point.

     When calling from a program, give three arguments:
     BUFFER (or buffer name), START and END.
     START and END specify the portion of the current buffer to be copied."
       (interactive
        (list (read-buffer "Append to buffer: " (other-buffer
                                                 (current-buffer) t))
     	 (region-beginning) (region-end)))
       (let ((oldbuf (current-buffer)))
         (save-excursion
           (let* ((append-to (get-buffer-create buffer))
     	     (windows (get-buffer-window-list append-to t t))
     	     point)
     	(set-buffer append-to)
     	(setq point (point))
     	(barf-if-buffer-read-only)
     	(insert-buffer-substring oldbuf start end)
     	(dolist (window windows)
     	  (when (= (window-point window) point)
     	    (set-window-point window (point))))))))

The function can be understood by looking at it as a series of
filled-in templates.

The outermost template is for the function definition.  In this
function, it looks like this (with several slots filled in):

     (defun append-to-buffer (buffer start end)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive ...)
       BODY...)

The first line of the function includes its name and three arguments.
The arguments are the `buffer' to which the text will be copied, and
the `start' and `end' of the region in the current buffer that will be
copied.

The next part of the function is the documentation, which is clear and
complete.  As is conventional, the three arguments are written in upper
case so you will notice them easily.  Even better, they are described
in the same order as in the argument list.

Note that the documentation distinguishes between a buffer and its
name.  (The function can handle either.)


File: eintr,  Node: append interactive,  Next: append-to-buffer body,  Prev: append-to-buffer overview,  Up: append-to-buffer

4.4.1 The `append-to-buffer' Interactive Expression
---------------------------------------------------

Since the `append-to-buffer' function will be used interactively, the
function must have an `interactive' expression.  (For a review of
`interactive', see *Note Making a Function Interactive: Interactive.)
The expression reads as follows:

     (interactive
        (list (read-buffer
               "Append to buffer: "
               (other-buffer (current-buffer) t))
     	 (region-beginning)
              (region-end)))

This expression is not one with letters standing for parts, as
described earlier.  Instead, it starts a list with thee parts.

The first part of the list is an expression to read the name of a
buffer and return it as a string.  That is `read-buffer'.  The function
requires a prompt as its first argument, `"Append to buffer: "'.  Its
second argument tells the command what value to provide if you don't
specify anything.

In this case that second argument is an expression containing the
function `other-buffer', an exception, and a `t', standing for true.

The first argument to `other-buffer', the exception, is yet another
function, `current-buffer'.  That is not going to be returned.  The
second argument is the symbol for true, `t'. that tells `other-buffer'
that it may show visible buffers (except in this case, it will not show
the current buffer, which makes sense).

The expression looks like this:

     (other-buffer (current-buffer) t)

The second and third arguments to the `list' expression are
`(region-beginning)' and `(region-end)'.  These two functions specify
the beginning and end of the text to be appended.

Originally, the command used the letters `B' and `r'.  The whole
`interactive' expression looked like this:

     (interactive "BAppend to buffer: \nr")

But when that was done, the default value of the buffer switched to was
invisible.  That was not wanted.

(The prompt was separated from the second argument with a newline,
`\n'.  It was followed by an `r' that told Emacs to bind the two
arguments that follow the symbol `buffer' in the function's argument
list (that is, `start' and `end') to the values of point and mark.
That argument worked fine.)


File: eintr,  Node: append-to-buffer body,  Next: append save-excursion,  Prev: append interactive,  Up: append-to-buffer

4.4.2 The Body of `append-to-buffer'
------------------------------------

The body of the `append-to-buffer' function begins with `let'.

As we have seen before (*note `let': let.), the purpose of a `let'
expression is to create and give initial values to one or more
variables that will only be used within the body of the `let'.  This
means that such a variable will not be confused with any variable of
the same name outside the `let' expression.

We can see how the `let' expression fits into the function as a whole
by showing a template for `append-to-buffer' with the `let' expression
in outline:

     (defun append-to-buffer (buffer start end)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive ...)
       (let ((VARIABLE VALUE))
             BODY...)

The `let' expression has three elements:

  1. The symbol `let';

  2. A varlist containing, in this case, a single two-element list,
     `(VARIABLE VALUE)';

  3. The body of the `let' expression.

In the `append-to-buffer' function, the varlist looks like this:

     (oldbuf (current-buffer))

In this part of the `let' expression, the one variable, `oldbuf', is
bound to the value returned by the `(current-buffer)' expression.  The
variable, `oldbuf', is used to keep track of the buffer in which you
are working and from which you will copy.

The element or elements of a varlist are surrounded by a set of
parentheses so the Lisp interpreter can distinguish the varlist from
the body of the `let'.  As a consequence, the two-element list within
the varlist is surrounded by a circumscribing set of parentheses.  The
line looks like this:

     (let ((oldbuf (current-buffer)))
       ... )

The two parentheses before `oldbuf' might surprise you if you did not
realize that the first parenthesis before `oldbuf' marks the boundary
of the varlist and the second parenthesis marks the beginning of the
two-element list, `(oldbuf (current-buffer))'.


File: eintr,  Node: append save-excursion,  Prev: append-to-buffer body,  Up: append-to-buffer

4.4.3 `save-excursion' in `append-to-buffer'
--------------------------------------------

The body of the `let' expression in `append-to-buffer' consists of a
`save-excursion' expression.

The `save-excursion' function saves the locations of point and mark,
and restores them to those positions after the expressions in the body
of the `save-excursion' complete execution.  In addition,
`save-excursion' keeps track of the original buffer, and restores it.
This is how `save-excursion' is used in `append-to-buffer'.

Incidentally, it is worth noting here that a Lisp function is normally
formatted so that everything that is enclosed in a multi-line spread is
indented more to the right than the first symbol.  In this function
definition, the `let' is indented more than the `defun', and the
`save-excursion' is indented more than the `let', like this:

     (defun ...
       ...
       ...
       (let...
         (save-excursion
           ...

This formatting convention makes it easy to see that the lines in the
body of the `save-excursion' are enclosed by the parentheses associated
with `save-excursion', just as the `save-excursion' itself is enclosed
by the parentheses associated with the `let':

     (let ((oldbuf (current-buffer)))
       (save-excursion
         ...
         (set-buffer ...)
         (insert-buffer-substring oldbuf start end)
         ...))

The use of the `save-excursion' function can be viewed as a process of
filling in the slots of a template:

     (save-excursion
       FIRST-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY
       SECOND-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY
        ...
       LAST-EXPRESSION-IN-BODY)

In this function, the body of the `save-excursion' contains only one
expression, the `let*' expression.  You know about a `let' function.
The `let*' function is different.  It has a `*' in its name.  It
enables Emacs to set each variable in its varlist in sequence, one
after another.

Its critical feature is that variables later in the varlist can make
use of the values to which Emacs set variables earlier in the varlist.
*Note The `let*' expression: fwd-para let.

We will skip functions like `let*' and focus on two: the `set-buffer'
function and the `insert-buffer-substring' function.

In the old days, the `set-buffer' expression was simply

     (set-buffer (get-buffer-create buffer))

but now it is

     (set-buffer append-to)

`append-to' is bound to `(get-buffer-create buffer)' earlier on in the
`let*' expression.  That extra binding would not be necessary except
for that `append-to' is used later in the varlist as an argument to
`get-buffer-window-list'.

The `append-to-buffer' function definition inserts text from the buffer
in which you are currently to a named buffer.  It happens that
`insert-buffer-substring' copies text from another buffer to the
current buffer, just the reverse--that is why the `append-to-buffer'
definition starts out with a `let' that binds the local symbol `oldbuf'
to the value returned by `current-buffer'.

The `insert-buffer-substring' expression looks like this:

     (insert-buffer-substring oldbuf start end)

The `insert-buffer-substring' function copies a string _from_ the
buffer specified as its first argument and inserts the string into the
present buffer.  In this case, the argument to
`insert-buffer-substring' is the value of the variable created and
bound by the `let', namely the value of `oldbuf', which was the current
buffer when you gave the `append-to-buffer' command.

After `insert-buffer-substring' has done its work, `save-excursion'
will restore the action to the original buffer and `append-to-buffer'
will have done its job.

Written in skeletal form, the workings of the body look like this:

     (let (BIND-`oldbuf'-TO-VALUE-OF-`current-buffer')
       (save-excursion                       ; Keep track of buffer.
         CHANGE-BUFFER
         INSERT-SUBSTRING-FROM-`oldbuf'-INTO-BUFFER)

       CHANGE-BACK-TO-ORIGINAL-BUFFER-WHEN-FINISHED
     LET-THE-LOCAL-MEANING-OF-`oldbuf'-DISAPPEAR-WHEN-FINISHED

In summary, `append-to-buffer' works as follows: it saves the value of
the current buffer in the variable called `oldbuf'.  It gets the new
buffer (creating one if need be) and switches Emacs' attention to it.
Using the value of `oldbuf', it inserts the region of text from the old
buffer into the new buffer; and then using `save-excursion', it brings
you back to your original buffer.

In looking at `append-to-buffer', you have explored a fairly complex
function.  It shows how to use `let' and `save-excursion', and how to
change to and come back from another buffer.  Many function definitions
use `let', `save-excursion', and `set-buffer' this way.


File: eintr,  Node: Buffer Related Review,  Next: Buffer Exercises,  Prev: append-to-buffer,  Up: Buffer Walk Through

4.5 Review
==========

Here is a brief summary of the various functions discussed in this
chapter.

`describe-function'
`describe-variable'
     Print the documentation for a function or variable.
     Conventionally bound to `C-h f' and `C-h v'.

`find-tag'
     Find the file containing the source for a function or variable and
     switch buffers to it, positioning point at the beginning of the
     item.  Conventionally bound to `M-.' (that's a period following the
     <META> key).

`save-excursion'
     Save the location of point and mark and restore their values after
     the arguments to `save-excursion' have been evaluated.  Also,
     remember the current buffer and return to it.

`push-mark'
     Set mark at a location and record the value of the previous mark
     on the mark ring.  The mark is a location in the buffer that will
     keep its relative position even if text is added to or removed
     from the buffer.

`goto-char'
     Set point to the location specified by the value of the argument,
     which can be a number, a marker,  or an expression that returns
     the number of a position, such as `(point-min)'.

`insert-buffer-substring'
     Copy a region of text from a buffer that is passed to the function
     as an argument and insert the region into the current buffer.

`mark-whole-buffer'
     Mark the whole buffer as a region.  Normally bound to `C-x h'.

`set-buffer'
     Switch the attention of Emacs to another buffer, but do not change
     the window being displayed.  Used when the program rather than a
     human is to work on a different buffer.

`get-buffer-create'
`get-buffer'
     Find a named buffer or create one if a buffer of that name does not
     exist.  The `get-buffer' function returns `nil' if the named
     buffer does not exist.


File: eintr,  Node: Buffer Exercises,  Prev: Buffer Related Review,  Up: Buffer Walk Through

4.6 Exercises
=============

   * Write your own `simplified-end-of-buffer' function definition;
     then test it to see whether it works.

   * Use `if' and `get-buffer' to write a function that prints a
     message telling you whether a buffer exists.

   * Using `find-tag', find the source for the `copy-to-buffer'
     function.


File: eintr,  Node: More Complex,  Next: Narrowing & Widening,  Prev: Buffer Walk Through,  Up: Top

5 A Few More Complex Functions
******************************

In this chapter, we build on what we have learned in previous chapters
by looking at more complex functions.  The `copy-to-buffer' function
illustrates use of two `save-excursion' expressions in one definition,
while the `insert-buffer' function illustrates use of an asterisk in an
`interactive' expression, use of `or', and the important distinction
between a name and the object to which the name refers.

* Menu:

* copy-to-buffer::
* insert-buffer::
* beginning-of-buffer::
* Second Buffer Related Review::
* optional Exercise::


File: eintr,  Node: copy-to-buffer,  Next: insert-buffer,  Prev: More Complex,  Up: More Complex

5.1 The Definition of `copy-to-buffer'
======================================

After understanding how `append-to-buffer' works, it is easy to
understand `copy-to-buffer'.  This function copies text into a buffer,
but instead of adding to the second buffer, it replaces all the
previous text in the second buffer.

The body of `copy-to-buffer' looks like this,

     ...
     (interactive "BCopy to buffer: \nr")
     (let ((oldbuf (current-buffer)))
       (with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create buffer)
         (barf-if-buffer-read-only)
         (erase-buffer)
         (save-excursion
           (insert-buffer-substring oldbuf start end)))))

The `copy-to-buffer' function has a simpler `interactive' expression
than `append-to-buffer'.

The definition then says

     (with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create buffer) ...

First, look at the earliest inner expression; that is evaluated first.
That expression starts with `get-buffer-create buffer'.  The function
tells the computer to use the buffer with the name specified as the one
to which you are copying, or if such a buffer does not exist, to create
it.  Then, the `with-current-buffer' function evaluates its body with
that buffer temporarily current.

(This demonstrates another way to shift the computer's attention but
not the user's.  The `append-to-buffer' function showed how to do the
same with `save-excursion' and `set-buffer'.  `with-current-buffer' is
a newer, and arguably easier, mechanism.)

The `barf-if-buffer-read-only' function sends you an error message
saying the buffer is read-only if you cannot modify it.

The next line has the `erase-buffer' function as its sole contents.
That function erases the buffer.

Finally, the last two lines contain the `save-excursion' expression
with `insert-buffer-substring' as its body.  The
`insert-buffer-substring' expression copies the text from the buffer
you are in (and you have not seen the computer shift its attention, so
you don't know that that buffer is now called `oldbuf').

Incidentally, this is what is meant by `replacement'.  To replace text,
Emacs erases the previous text and then inserts new text.

In outline, the body of `copy-to-buffer' looks like this:

     (let (BIND-`oldbuf'-TO-VALUE-OF-`current-buffer')
         (WITH-THE-BUFFER-YOU-ARE-COPYING-TO
           (BUT-DO-NOT-ERASE-OR-COPY-TO-A-READ-ONLY-BUFFER)
           (erase-buffer)
           (save-excursion
             INSERT-SUBSTRING-FROM-`oldbuf'-INTO-BUFFER)))


File: eintr,  Node: insert-buffer,  Next: beginning-of-buffer,  Prev: copy-to-buffer,  Up: More Complex

5.2 The Definition of `insert-buffer'
=====================================

`insert-buffer' is yet another buffer-related function.  This command
copies another buffer _into_ the current buffer.  It is the reverse of
`append-to-buffer' or `copy-to-buffer', since they copy a region of
text _from_ the current buffer to another buffer.

Here is a discussion based on the original code.  The code was
simplified in 2003 and is harder to understand.

*Note New Body for `insert-buffer': New insert-buffer, to see a
discussion of the new body.)

In addition, this code illustrates the use of `interactive' with a
buffer that might be "read-only" and the important distinction between
the name of an object and the object actually referred to.

* Menu:

* insert-buffer code::
* insert-buffer interactive::
* insert-buffer body::
* if & or::
* Insert or::
* Insert let::
* New insert-buffer ::


File: eintr,  Node: insert-buffer code,  Next: insert-buffer interactive,  Prev: insert-buffer,  Up: insert-buffer

The Code for `insert-buffer'
----------------------------

Here is the earlier code:

     (defun insert-buffer (buffer)
       "Insert after point the contents of BUFFER.
     Puts mark after the inserted text.
     BUFFER may be a buffer or a buffer name."
       (interactive "*bInsert buffer: ")
       (or (bufferp buffer)
           (setq buffer (get-buffer buffer)))
       (let (start end newmark)
         (save-excursion
           (save-excursion
             (set-buffer buffer)
             (setq start (point-min) end (point-max)))
           (insert-buffer-substring buffer start end)
           (setq newmark (point)))
         (push-mark newmark)))

As with other function definitions, you can use a template to see an
outline of the function:

     (defun insert-buffer (buffer)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive "*bInsert buffer: ")
       BODY...)


File: eintr,  Node: insert-buffer interactive,  Next: insert-buffer body,  Prev: insert-buffer code,  Up: insert-buffer

5.2.1 The Interactive Expression in `insert-buffer'
---------------------------------------------------

In `insert-buffer', the argument to the `interactive' declaration has
two parts, an asterisk, `*', and `bInsert buffer: '.

* Menu:

* Read-only buffer::
* b for interactive::


File: eintr,  Node: Read-only buffer,  Next: b for interactive,  Prev: insert-buffer interactive,  Up: insert-buffer interactive

A Read-only Buffer
..................

The asterisk is for the situation when the current buffer is a
read-only buffer--a buffer that cannot be modified.  If `insert-buffer'
is called when the current buffer is read-only, a message to this
effect is printed in the echo area and the terminal may beep or blink
at you; you will not be permitted to insert anything into current
buffer.  The asterisk does not need to be followed by a newline to
separate it from the next argument.


File: eintr,  Node: b for interactive,  Prev: Read-only buffer,  Up: insert-buffer interactive

`b' in an Interactive Expression
................................

The next argument in the interactive expression starts with a lower
case `b'.  (This is different from the code for `append-to-buffer',
which uses an upper-case `B'.  *Note The Definition of
`append-to-buffer': append-to-buffer.)  The lower-case `b' tells the
Lisp interpreter that the argument for `insert-buffer' should be an
existing buffer or else its name.  (The upper-case `B' option provides
for the possibility that the buffer does not exist.)  Emacs will prompt
you for the name of the buffer, offering you a default buffer, with
name completion enabled.  If the buffer does not exist, you receive a
message that says "No match"; your terminal may beep at you as well.

The new and simplified code generates a list for `interactive'.  It
uses the `barf-if-buffer-read-only' and `read-buffer' functions with
which we are already familiar and the `progn' special form with which
we are not.  (It will be described later.)


File: eintr,  Node: insert-buffer body,  Next: if & or,  Prev: insert-buffer interactive,  Up: insert-buffer

5.2.2 The Body of the `insert-buffer' Function
----------------------------------------------

The body of the `insert-buffer' function has two major parts: an `or'
expression and a `let' expression.  The purpose of the `or' expression
is to ensure that the argument `buffer' is bound to a buffer and not
just the name of a buffer.  The body of the `let' expression contains
the code which copies the other buffer into the current buffer.

In outline, the two expressions fit into the `insert-buffer' function
like this:

     (defun insert-buffer (buffer)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive "*bInsert buffer: ")
       (or ...
           ...
       (let (VARLIST)
           BODY-OF-`let'... )

To understand how the `or' expression ensures that the argument
`buffer' is bound to a buffer and not to the name of a buffer, it is
first necessary to understand the `or' function.

Before doing this, let me rewrite this part of the function using `if'
so that you can see what is done in a manner that will be familiar.


File: eintr,  Node: if & or,  Next: Insert or,  Prev: insert-buffer body,  Up: insert-buffer

5.2.3 `insert-buffer' With an `if' Instead of an `or'
-----------------------------------------------------

The job to be done is to make sure the value of `buffer' is a buffer
itself and not the name of a buffer.  If the value is the name, then
the buffer itself must be got.

You can imagine yourself at a conference where an usher is wandering
around holding a list with your name on it and looking for you: the
usher is "bound" to your name, not to you; but when the usher finds you
and takes your arm, the usher becomes "bound" to you.

In Lisp, you might describe this situation like this:

     (if (not (holding-on-to-guest))
         (find-and-take-arm-of-guest))

We want to do the same thing with a buffer--if we do not have the
buffer itself, we want to get it.

Using a predicate called `bufferp' that tells us whether we have a
buffer (rather than its name), we can write the code like this:

     (if (not (bufferp buffer))              ; if-part
         (setq buffer (get-buffer buffer)))  ; then-part

Here, the true-or-false-test of the `if' expression is
`(not (bufferp buffer))'; and the then-part is the expression
`(setq buffer (get-buffer buffer))'.

In the test, the function `bufferp' returns true if its argument is a
buffer--but false if its argument is the name of the buffer.  (The last
character of the function name `bufferp' is the character `p'; as we
saw earlier, such use of `p' is a convention that indicates that the
function is a predicate, which is a term that means that the function
will determine whether some property is true or false.  *Note Using the
Wrong Type Object as an Argument: Wrong Type of Argument.)

The function `not' precedes the expression `(bufferp buffer)', so the
true-or-false-test looks like this:

     (not (bufferp buffer))

`not' is a function that returns true if its argument is false and
false if its argument is true.  So if `(bufferp buffer)' returns true,
the `not' expression returns false and vice-verse: what is "not true"
is false and what is "not false" is true.

Using this test, the `if' expression works as follows: when the value
of the variable `buffer' is actually a buffer rather than its name, the
true-or-false-test returns false and the `if' expression does not
evaluate the then-part.  This is fine, since we do not need to do
anything to the variable `buffer' if it really is a buffer.

On the other hand, when the value of `buffer' is not a buffer itself,
but the name of a buffer, the true-or-false-test returns true and the
then-part of the expression is evaluated.  In this case, the then-part
is `(setq buffer (get-buffer buffer))'.  This expression uses the
`get-buffer' function to return an actual buffer itself, given its
name.  The `setq' then sets the variable `buffer' to the value of the
buffer itself, replacing its previous value (which was the name of the
buffer).


File: eintr,  Node: Insert or,  Next: Insert let,  Prev: if & or,  Up: insert-buffer

5.2.4 The `or' in the Body
--------------------------

The purpose of the `or' expression in the `insert-buffer' function is
to ensure that the argument `buffer' is bound to a buffer and not just
to the name of a buffer.  The previous section shows how the job could
have been done using an `if' expression.  However, the `insert-buffer'
function actually uses `or'.  To understand this, it is necessary to
understand how `or' works.

An `or' function can have any number of arguments.  It evaluates each
argument in turn and returns the value of the first of its arguments
that is not `nil'.  Also, and this is a crucial feature of `or', it
does not evaluate any subsequent arguments after returning the first
non-`nil' value.

The `or' expression looks like this:

     (or (bufferp buffer)
         (setq buffer (get-buffer buffer)))

The first argument to `or' is the expression `(bufferp buffer)'.  This
expression returns true (a non-`nil' value) if the buffer is actually a
buffer, and not just the name of a buffer.  In the `or' expression, if
this is the case, the `or' expression returns this true value and does
not evaluate the next expression--and this is fine with us, since we do
not want to do anything to the value of `buffer' if it really is a
buffer.

On the other hand, if the value of `(bufferp buffer)' is `nil', which
it will be if the value of `buffer' is the name of a buffer, the Lisp
interpreter evaluates the next element of the `or' expression.  This is
the expression `(setq buffer (get-buffer buffer))'.  This expression
returns a non-`nil' value, which is the value to which it sets the
variable `buffer'--and this value is a buffer itself, not the name of a
buffer.

The result of all this is that the symbol `buffer' is always bound to a
buffer itself rather than to the name of a buffer.  All this is
necessary because the `set-buffer' function in a following line only
works with a buffer itself, not with the name to a buffer.

Incidentally, using `or', the situation with the usher would be written
like this:

     (or (holding-on-to-guest) (find-and-take-arm-of-guest))


File: eintr,  Node: Insert let,  Next: New insert-buffer,  Prev: Insert or,  Up: insert-buffer

5.2.5 The `let' Expression in `insert-buffer'
---------------------------------------------

After ensuring that the variable `buffer' refers to a buffer itself and
not just to the name of a buffer, the `insert-buffer function'
continues with a `let' expression.  This specifies three local
variables, `start', `end', and `newmark' and binds them to the initial
value `nil'.  These variables are used inside the remainder of the
`let' and temporarily hide any other occurrence of variables of the
same name in Emacs until the end of the `let'.

The body of the `let' contains two `save-excursion' expressions.
First, we will look at the inner `save-excursion' expression in detail.
The expression looks like this:

     (save-excursion
       (set-buffer buffer)
       (setq start (point-min) end (point-max)))

The expression `(set-buffer buffer)' changes Emacs' attention from the
current buffer to the one from which the text will copied.  In that
buffer, the variables `start' and `end' are set to the beginning and
end of the buffer, using the commands `point-min' and `point-max'.
Note that we have here an illustration of how `setq' is able to set two
variables in the same expression.  The first argument of `setq' is set
to the value of its second, and its third argument is set to the value
of its fourth.

After the body of the inner `save-excursion' is evaluated, the
`save-excursion' restores the original buffer, but `start' and `end'
remain set to the values of the beginning and end of the buffer from
which the text will be copied.

The outer `save-excursion' expression looks like this:

     (save-excursion
       (INNER-`save-excursion'-EXPRESSION
          (GO-TO-NEW-BUFFER-AND-SET-`start'-AND-`end')
       (insert-buffer-substring buffer start end)
       (setq newmark (point)))

The `insert-buffer-substring' function copies the text _into_ the
current buffer _from_ the region indicated by `start' and `end' in
`buffer'.  Since the whole of the second buffer lies between `start'
and `end', the whole of the second buffer is copied into the buffer you
are editing.  Next, the value of point, which will be at the end of the
inserted text, is recorded in the variable `newmark'.

After the body of the outer `save-excursion' is evaluated, point and
mark are relocated to their original places.

However, it is convenient to locate a mark at the end of the newly
inserted text and locate point at its beginning.  The `newmark'
variable records the end of the inserted text.  In the last line of the
`let' expression, the `(push-mark newmark)' expression function sets a
mark to this location.  (The previous location of the mark is still
accessible; it is recorded on the mark ring and you can go back to it
with `C-u C-<SPC>'.)  Meanwhile, point is located at the beginning of
the inserted text, which is where it was before you called the insert
function, the position of which was saved by the first `save-excursion'.

The whole `let' expression looks like this:

     (let (start end newmark)
       (save-excursion
         (save-excursion
           (set-buffer buffer)
           (setq start (point-min) end (point-max)))
         (insert-buffer-substring buffer start end)
         (setq newmark (point)))
       (push-mark newmark))

Like the `append-to-buffer' function, the `insert-buffer' function uses
`let', `save-excursion', and `set-buffer'.  In addition, the function
illustrates one way to use `or'.  All these functions are building
blocks that we will find and use again and again.


File: eintr,  Node: New insert-buffer,  Prev: Insert let,  Up: insert-buffer

5.2.6 New Body for `insert-buffer'
----------------------------------

The body in the GNU Emacs 22 version is more confusing than the
original.

It consists of two expressions,

       (push-mark
        (save-excursion
          (insert-buffer-substring (get-buffer buffer))
          (point)))

        nil

except, and this is what confuses novices, very important work is done
inside the `push-mark' expression.

The `get-buffer' function returns a buffer with the name provided.  You
will note that the function is _not_ called `get-buffer-create'; it
does not create a buffer if one does not already exist.  The buffer
returned by `get-buffer', an existing buffer, is passed to
`insert-buffer-substring', which inserts the whole of the buffer (since
you did not specify anything else).

The location into which the buffer is inserted is recorded by
`push-mark'.  Then the function returns `nil', the value of its last
command.  Put another way, the `insert-buffer' function exists only to
produce a side effect, inserting another buffer, not to return any
value.


File: eintr,  Node: beginning-of-buffer,  Next: Second Buffer Related Review,  Prev: insert-buffer,  Up: More Complex

5.3 Complete Definition of `beginning-of-buffer'
================================================

The basic structure of the `beginning-of-buffer' function has already
been discussed.  (*Note A Simplified `beginning-of-buffer' Definition:
simplified-beginning-of-buffer.)  This section describes the complex
part of the definition.

As previously described, when invoked without an argument,
`beginning-of-buffer' moves the cursor to the beginning of the buffer
(in truth, the accessible portion of the buffer), leaving the mark at
the previous position.  However, when the command is invoked with a
number between one and ten, the function considers that number to be a
fraction of the length of the buffer, measured in tenths, and Emacs
moves the cursor that fraction of the way from the beginning of the
buffer.  Thus, you can either call this function with the key command
`M-<', which will move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer, or
with a key command such as `C-u 7 M-<' which will move the cursor to a
point 70% of the way through the buffer.  If a number bigger than ten
is used for the argument, it moves to the end of the buffer.

The `beginning-of-buffer' function can be called with or without an
argument.  The use of the argument is optional.

* Menu:

* Optional Arguments::
* beginning-of-buffer opt arg::
* beginning-of-buffer complete::


File: eintr,  Node: Optional Arguments,  Next: beginning-of-buffer opt arg,  Prev: beginning-of-buffer,  Up: beginning-of-buffer

5.3.1 Optional Arguments
------------------------

Unless told otherwise, Lisp expects that a function with an argument in
its function definition will be called with a value for that argument.
If that does not happen, you get an error and a message that says
`Wrong number of arguments'.

However, optional arguments are a feature of Lisp: a particular
"keyword" is used to tell the Lisp interpreter that an argument is
optional.  The keyword is `&optional'.  (The `&' in front of `optional'
is part of the keyword.)  In a function definition, if an argument
follows the keyword `&optional', no value need be passed to that
argument when the function is called.

The first line of the function definition of `beginning-of-buffer'
therefore looks like this:

     (defun beginning-of-buffer (&optional arg)

In outline, the whole function looks like this:

     (defun beginning-of-buffer (&optional arg)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive "P")
       (or (IS-THE-ARGUMENT-A-CONS-CELL arg)
           (and ARE-BOTH-TRANSIENT-MARK-MODE-AND-MARK-ACTIVE-TRUE)
           (push-mark))
       (let (DETERMINE-SIZE-AND-SET-IT)
       (goto-char
         (IF-THERE-IS-AN-ARGUMENT
             FIGURE-OUT-WHERE-TO-GO
           ELSE-GO-TO
           (point-min))))
        DO-NICETY

The function is similar to the `simplified-beginning-of-buffer'
function except that the `interactive' expression has `"P"' as an
argument and the `goto-char' function is followed by an if-then-else
expression that figures out where to put the cursor if there is an
argument that is not a cons cell.

(Since I do not explain a cons cell for many more chapters, please
consider ignoring the function `consp'.  *Note How Lists are
Implemented: List Implementation, and *Note Cons Cell and List Types:
(elisp)Cons Cell Type.)

The `"P"' in the `interactive' expression tells Emacs to pass a prefix
argument, if there is one, to the function in raw form.  A prefix
argument is made by typing the <META> key followed by a number, or by
typing `C-u' and then a number.  (If you don't type a number, `C-u'
defaults to a cons cell with a 4.  A lowercase `"p"' in the
`interactive' expression causes the function to convert a prefix arg to
a number.)

The true-or-false-test of the `if' expression looks complex, but it is
not: it checks whether `arg' has a value that is not `nil' and whether
it is a cons cell.  (That is what `consp' does; it checks whether its
argument is a cons cell.)  If `arg' has a value that is not `nil' (and
is not a cons cell), which will be the case if `beginning-of-buffer' is
called with a numeric argument, then this true-or-false-test will
return true and the then-part of the `if' expression will be evaluated.
On the other hand, if `beginning-of-buffer' is not called with an
argument, the value of `arg' will be `nil' and the else-part of the
`if' expression will be evaluated.  The else-part is simply
`point-min', and when this is the outcome, the whole `goto-char'
expression is `(goto-char (point-min))', which is how we saw the
`beginning-of-buffer' function in its simplified form.


File: eintr,  Node: beginning-of-buffer opt arg,  Next: beginning-of-buffer complete,  Prev: Optional Arguments,  Up: beginning-of-buffer

5.3.2 `beginning-of-buffer' with an Argument
--------------------------------------------

When `beginning-of-buffer' is called with an argument, an expression is
evaluated which calculates what value to pass to `goto-char'.  This
expression is rather complicated at first sight.  It includes an inner
`if' expression and much arithmetic.  It looks like this:

     (if (> (buffer-size) 10000)
         ;; Avoid overflow for large buffer sizes!
     			  (* (prefix-numeric-value arg)
     			     (/ size 10))
       (/
        (+ 10
           (*
            size (prefix-numeric-value arg))) 10)))

* Menu:

* Disentangle beginning-of-buffer::
* Large buffer case::
* Small buffer case::


File: eintr,  Node: Disentangle beginning-of-buffer,  Next: Large buffer case,  Prev: beginning-of-buffer opt arg,  Up: beginning-of-buffer opt arg

Disentangle `beginning-of-buffer'
.................................

Like other complex-looking expressions, the conditional expression
within `beginning-of-buffer' can be disentangled by looking at it as
parts of a template, in this case, the template for an if-then-else
expression.  In skeletal form, the expression looks like this:

     (if (BUFFER-IS-LARGE
         DIVIDE-BUFFER-SIZE-BY-10-AND-MULTIPLY-BY-ARG
       ELSE-USE-ALTERNATE-CALCULATION

The true-or-false-test of this inner `if' expression checks the size of
the buffer.  The reason for this is that the old Version 18 Emacs used
numbers that are no bigger than eight million or so and in the
computation that followed, the programmer feared that Emacs might try
to use over-large numbers if the buffer were large.  The term
`overflow', mentioned in the comment, means numbers that are over
large.  Version 21 Emacs uses larger numbers, but this code has not
been touched, if only because people now look at buffers that are far,
far larger than ever before.

There are two cases:  if the buffer is large and if it is not.


File: eintr,  Node: Large buffer case,  Next: Small buffer case,  Prev: Disentangle beginning-of-buffer,  Up: beginning-of-buffer opt arg

What happens in a large buffer
..............................

In `beginning-of-buffer', the inner `if' expression tests whether the
size of the buffer is greater than 10,000 characters.  To do this, it
uses the `>' function and the computation of `size' that comes from the
let expression.

In the old days, the function `buffer-size' was used.  Not only was
that function called several times, it gave the size of the whole
buffer, not the accessible part.  The computation makes much more sense
when it handles just the accessible part.  (*Note Narrowing and
Widening: Narrowing & Widening, for more information on focusing
attention to an `accessible' part.)

The line looks like this:

     (if (> size 10000)

When the buffer is large, the then-part of the `if' expression is
evaluated.  It reads like this (after formatting for easy reading):

     (*
       (prefix-numeric-value arg)
       (/ size 10))

This expression is a multiplication, with two arguments to the function
`*'.

The first argument is `(prefix-numeric-value arg)'.  When `"P"' is used
as the argument for `interactive', the value passed to the function as
its argument is passed a "raw prefix argument", and not a number.  (It
is a number in a list.)  To perform the arithmetic, a conversion is
necessary, and `prefix-numeric-value' does the job.

The second argument is `(/ size 10)'.  This expression divides the
numeric value by ten -- the numeric value of the size of the accessible
portion of the buffer.  This produces a number that tells how many
characters make up one tenth of the buffer size.  (In Lisp, `/' is used
for division, just as `*' is used for multiplication.)

In the multiplication expression as a whole, this amount is multiplied
by the value of the prefix argument--the multiplication looks like this:

     (* NUMERIC-VALUE-OF-PREFIX-ARG
        NUMBER-OF-CHARACTERS-IN-ONE-TENTH-OF-THE-ACCESSIBLE-BUFFER)

If, for example, the prefix argument is `7', the one-tenth value will
be multiplied by 7 to give a position 70% of the way through.

The result of all this is that if the accessible portion of the buffer
is large, the `goto-char' expression reads like this:

     (goto-char (* (prefix-numeric-value arg)
                   (/ size 10)))

This puts the cursor where we want it.


File: eintr,  Node: Small buffer case,  Prev: Large buffer case,  Up: beginning-of-buffer opt arg

What happens in a small buffer
..............................

If the buffer contains fewer than 10,000 characters, a slightly
different computation is performed.  You might think this is not
necessary, since the first computation could do the job.  However, in a
small buffer, the first method may not put the cursor on exactly the
desired line; the second method does a better job.

The code looks like this:

     (/ (+ 10 (* size (prefix-numeric-value arg))) 10))

This is code in which you figure out what happens by discovering how the
functions are embedded in parentheses.  It is easier to read if you
reformat it with each expression indented more deeply than its
enclosing expression:

       (/
        (+ 10
           (*
            size
            (prefix-numeric-value arg)))
        10))

Looking at parentheses, we see that the innermost operation is
`(prefix-numeric-value arg)', which converts the raw argument to a
number.  In the following expression, this number is multiplied by the
size of the accessible portion of the buffer:

     (* size (prefix-numeric-value arg))

This multiplication creates a number that may be larger than the size of
the buffer--seven times larger if the argument is 7, for example.  Ten
is then added to this number and finally the large number is divided by
ten to provide a value that is one character larger than the percentage
position in the buffer.

The number that results from all this is passed to `goto-char' and the
cursor is moved to that point.


File: eintr,  Node: beginning-of-buffer complete,  Prev: beginning-of-buffer opt arg,  Up: beginning-of-buffer

5.3.3 The Complete `beginning-of-buffer'
----------------------------------------

Here is the complete text of the `beginning-of-buffer' function:

     (defun beginning-of-buffer (&optional arg)
       "Move point to the beginning of the buffer;
     leave mark at previous position.
     With \\[universal-argument] prefix,
     do not set mark at previous position.
     With numeric arg N,
     put point N/10 of the way from the beginning.

     If the buffer is narrowed,
     this command uses the beginning and size
     of the accessible part of the buffer.

     Don't use this command in Lisp programs!
     \(goto-char (point-min)) is faster
     and avoids clobbering the mark."
       (interactive "P")
       (or (consp arg)
           (and transient-mark-mode mark-active)
           (push-mark))
       (let ((size (- (point-max) (point-min))))
         (goto-char (if (and arg (not (consp arg)))
     		   (+ (point-min)
     		      (if (> size 10000)
     			  ;; Avoid overflow for large buffer sizes!
     			  (* (prefix-numeric-value arg)
     			     (/ size 10))
     			(/ (+ 10 (* size (prefix-numeric-value arg))) 10)))
     		 (point-min))))
       (if arg (forward-line 1)))

Except for two small points, the previous discussion shows how this
function works.  The first point deals with a detail in the
documentation string, and the second point concerns the last line of
the function.

In the documentation string, there is reference to an expression:

     \\[universal-argument]

A `\\' is used before the first square bracket of this expression.
This `\\' tells the Lisp interpreter to substitute whatever key is
currently bound to the `[...]'.  In the case of `universal-argument',
that is usually `C-u', but it might be different.  (*Note Tips for
Documentation Strings: (elisp)Documentation Tips, for more information.)

Finally, the last line of the `beginning-of-buffer' command says to
move point to the beginning of the next line if the command is invoked
with an argument:

     (if arg (forward-line 1)))

This puts the cursor at the beginning of the first line after the
appropriate tenths position in the buffer.  This is a flourish that
means that the cursor is always located _at least_ the requested tenths
of the way through the buffer, which is a nicety that is, perhaps, not
necessary, but which, if it did not occur, would be sure to draw
complaints.

On the other hand, it also means that if you specify the command with a
`C-u', but without a number, that is to say, if the `raw prefix
argument' is simply a cons cell, then the command puts you at the
beginning of the second line ...  I don't know whether this is intended
or whether no one has dealt with the code to avoid this happening.


File: eintr,  Node: Second Buffer Related Review,  Next: optional Exercise,  Prev: beginning-of-buffer,  Up: More Complex

5.4 Review
==========

Here is a brief summary of some of the topics covered in this chapter.

`or'
     Evaluate each argument in sequence, and return the value of the
     first argument that is not `nil'; if none return a value that is
     not `nil', return `nil'.  In brief, return the first true value of
     the arguments; return a true value if one _or_ any of the others
     are true.

`and'
     Evaluate each argument in sequence, and if any are `nil', return
     `nil'; if none are `nil', return the value of the last argument.
     In brief, return a true value only if all the arguments are true;
     return a true value if one _and_ each of the others is true.

`&optional'
     A keyword used to indicate that an argument to a function
     definition is optional; this means that the function can be
     evaluated without the argument, if desired.

`prefix-numeric-value'
     Convert the `raw prefix argument' produced by `(interactive "P")'
     to a numeric value.

`forward-line'
     Move point forward to the beginning of the next line, or if the
     argument is greater than one, forward that many lines.  If it
     can't move as far forward as it is supposed to, `forward-line'
     goes forward as far as it can and then returns a count of the
     number of additional lines it was supposed to move but couldn't.

`erase-buffer'
     Delete the entire contents of the current buffer.

`bufferp'
     Return `t' if its argument is a buffer; otherwise return `nil'.


File: eintr,  Node: optional Exercise,  Prev: Second Buffer Related Review,  Up: More Complex

5.5 `optional' Argument Exercise
================================

Write an interactive function with an optional argument that tests
whether its argument, a number, is greater than or equal to, or else,
less than the value of `fill-column', and tells you which, in a
message.  However, if you do not pass an argument to the function, use
56 as a default value.


File: eintr,  Node: Narrowing & Widening,  Next: car cdr & cons,  Prev: More Complex,  Up: Top

6 Narrowing and Widening
************************

Narrowing is a feature of Emacs that makes it possible for you to focus
on a specific part of a buffer, and work without accidentally changing
other parts.  Narrowing is normally disabled since it can confuse
novices.

* Menu:

* Narrowing advantages::
* save-restriction::
* what-line::
* narrow Exercise::


File: eintr,  Node: Narrowing advantages,  Next: save-restriction,  Prev: Narrowing & Widening,  Up: Narrowing & Widening

The Advantages of Narrowing
===========================

With narrowing, the rest of a buffer is made invisible, as if it weren't
there.  This is an advantage if, for example, you want to replace a word
in one part of a buffer but not in another: you narrow to the part you
want and the replacement is carried out only in that section, not in
the rest of the buffer.  Searches will only work within a narrowed
region, not outside of one, so if you are fixing a part of a document,
you can keep yourself from accidentally finding parts you do not need
to fix by narrowing just to the region you want.  (The key binding for
`narrow-to-region' is `C-x n n'.)

However, narrowing does make the rest of the buffer invisible, which
can scare people who inadvertently invoke narrowing and think they have
deleted a part of their file.  Moreover, the `undo' command (which is
usually bound to `C-x u') does not turn off narrowing (nor should it),
so people can become quite desperate if they do not know that they can
return the rest of a buffer to visibility with the `widen' command.
(The key binding for `widen' is `C-x n w'.)

Narrowing is just as useful to the Lisp interpreter as to a human.
Often, an Emacs Lisp function is designed to work on just part of a
buffer; or conversely, an Emacs Lisp function needs to work on all of a
buffer that has been narrowed.  The `what-line' function, for example,
removes the narrowing from a buffer, if it has any narrowing and when
it has finished its job, restores the narrowing to what it was.  On the
other hand, the `count-lines' function, which is called by `what-line',
uses narrowing to restrict itself to just that portion of the buffer in
which it is interested and then restores the previous situation.


File: eintr,  Node: save-restriction,  Next: what-line,  Prev: Narrowing advantages,  Up: Narrowing & Widening

6.1 The `save-restriction' Special Form
=======================================

In Emacs Lisp, you can use the `save-restriction' special form to keep
track of whatever narrowing is in effect, if any.  When the Lisp
interpreter meets with `save-restriction', it executes the code in the
body of the `save-restriction' expression, and then undoes any changes
to narrowing that the code caused.  If, for example, the buffer is
narrowed and the code that follows `save-restriction' gets rid of the
narrowing, `save-restriction' returns the buffer to its narrowed region
afterwards.  In the `what-line' command, any narrowing the buffer may
have is undone by the `widen' command that immediately follows the
`save-restriction' command.  Any original narrowing is restored just
before the completion of the function.

The template for a `save-restriction' expression is simple:

     (save-restriction
       BODY... )

The body of the `save-restriction' is one or more expressions that will
be evaluated in sequence by the Lisp interpreter.

Finally, a point to note: when you use both `save-excursion' and
`save-restriction', one right after the other, you should use
`save-excursion' outermost.  If you write them in reverse order, you
may fail to record narrowing in the buffer to which Emacs switches
after calling `save-excursion'.  Thus, when written together,
`save-excursion' and `save-restriction' should be written like this:

     (save-excursion
       (save-restriction
         BODY...))

In other circumstances, when not written together, the `save-excursion'
and `save-restriction' special forms must be written in the order
appropriate to the function.

For example,

       (save-restriction
         (widen)
         (save-excursion
         BODY...))


File: eintr,  Node: what-line,  Next: narrow Exercise,  Prev: save-restriction,  Up: Narrowing & Widening

6.2 `what-line'
===============

The `what-line' command tells you the number of the line in which the
cursor is located.  The function illustrates the use of the
`save-restriction' and `save-excursion' commands.  Here is the original
text of the function:

     (defun what-line ()
       "Print the current line number (in the buffer) of point."
       (interactive)
       (save-restriction
         (widen)
         (save-excursion
           (beginning-of-line)
           (message "Line %d"
                    (1+ (count-lines 1 (point)))))))

(In recent versions of GNU Emacs, the `what-line' function has been
expanded to tell you your line number in a narrowed buffer as well as
your line number in a widened buffer.  The recent version is more
complex than the version shown here.  If you feel adventurous, you
might want to look at it after figuring out how this version works.
You will probably need to use `C-h f' (`describe-function').  The newer
version uses a conditional to determine whether the buffer has been
narrowed.

(Also, it uses `line-number-at-pos', which among other simple
expressions, such as `(goto-char (point-min))', moves point to the
beginning of the current line with `(forward-line 0)' rather than
`beginning-of-line'.)

The `what-line' function as shown here has a documentation line and is
interactive, as you would expect.  The next two lines use the functions
`save-restriction' and `widen'.

The `save-restriction' special form notes whatever narrowing is in
effect, if any, in the current buffer and restores that narrowing after
the code in the body of the `save-restriction' has been evaluated.

The `save-restriction' special form is followed by `widen'.  This
function undoes any narrowing the current buffer may have had when
`what-line' was called.  (The narrowing that was there is the narrowing
that `save-restriction' remembers.)  This widening makes it possible
for the line counting commands to count from the beginning of the
buffer.  Otherwise, they would have been limited to counting within the
accessible region.  Any original narrowing is restored just before the
completion of the function by the `save-restriction' special form.

The call to `widen' is followed by `save-excursion', which saves the
location of the cursor (i.e., of point) and of the mark, and restores
them after the code in the body of the `save-excursion' uses the
`beginning-of-line' function to move point.

(Note that the `(widen)' expression comes between the
`save-restriction' and `save-excursion' special forms.  When you write
the two `save- ...' expressions in sequence, write `save-excursion'
outermost.)

The last two lines of the `what-line' function are functions to count
the number of lines in the buffer and then print the number in the echo
area.

     (message "Line %d"
              (1+ (count-lines 1 (point)))))))

The `message' function prints a one-line message at the bottom of the
Emacs screen.  The first argument is inside of quotation marks and is
printed as a string of characters.  However, it may contain a `%d'
expression to print a following argument.  `%d' prints the argument as
a decimal, so the message will say something such as `Line 243'.

The number that is printed in place of the `%d' is computed by the last
line of the function:

     (1+ (count-lines 1 (point)))

What this does is count the lines from the first position of the
buffer, indicated by the `1', up to `(point)', and then add one to that
number.  (The `1+' function adds one to its argument.)  We add one to
it because line 2 has only one line before it, and `count-lines' counts
only the lines _before_ the current line.

After `count-lines' has done its job, and the message has been printed
in the echo area, the `save-excursion' restores point and mark to their
original positions; and `save-restriction' restores the original
narrowing, if any.


File: eintr,  Node: narrow Exercise,  Prev: what-line,  Up: Narrowing & Widening

6.3 Exercise with Narrowing
===========================

Write a function that will display the first 60 characters of the
current buffer, even if you have narrowed the buffer to its latter half
so that the first line is inaccessible.  Restore point, mark, and
narrowing.  For this exercise, you need to use a whole potpourri of
functions, including `save-restriction', `widen', `goto-char',
`point-min', `message', and `buffer-substring'.

(`buffer-substring' is a previously unmentioned function you will have
to investigate yourself; or perhaps you will have to use
`buffer-substring-no-properties' or `filter-buffer-substring' ..., yet
other functions.  Text properties are a feature otherwise not discussed
here.  *Note Text Properties: (elisp)Text Properties.

Additionally, do you really need `goto-char' or `point-min'?  Or can
you write the function without them?)


File: eintr,  Node: car cdr & cons,  Next: Cutting & Storing Text,  Prev: Narrowing & Widening,  Up: Top

7 `car', `cdr', `cons': Fundamental Functions
*********************************************

In Lisp, `car', `cdr', and `cons' are fundamental functions.  The
`cons' function is used to construct lists, and the `car' and `cdr'
functions are used to take them apart.

In the walk through of the `copy-region-as-kill' function, we will see
`cons' as well as two variants on `cdr', namely, `setcdr' and `nthcdr'.
(*Note copy-region-as-kill::.)

* Menu:

* Strange Names::
* car & cdr::
* cons::
* nthcdr::
* nth::
* setcar::
* setcdr::
* cons Exercise::


File: eintr,  Node: Strange Names,  Next: car & cdr,  Prev: car cdr & cons,  Up: car cdr & cons

Strange Names
=============

The name of the `cons' function is not unreasonable: it is an
abbreviation of the word `construct'.  The origins of the names for
`car' and `cdr', on the other hand, are esoteric: `car' is an acronym
from the phrase `Contents of the Address part of the Register'; and
`cdr' (pronounced `could-er') is an acronym from the phrase `Contents
of the Decrement part of the Register'.  These phrases refer to
specific pieces of hardware on the very early computer on which the
original Lisp was developed.  Besides being obsolete, the phrases have
been completely irrelevant for more than 25 years to anyone thinking
about Lisp.  Nonetheless, although a few brave scholars have begun to
use more reasonable names for these functions, the old terms are still
in use.  In particular, since the terms are used in the Emacs Lisp
source code, we will use them in this introduction.


File: eintr,  Node: car & cdr,  Next: cons,  Prev: Strange Names,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.1 `car' and `cdr'
===================

The CAR of a list is, quite simply, the first item in the list.  Thus
the CAR of the list `(rose violet daisy buttercup)' is `rose'.

If you are reading this in Info in GNU Emacs, you can see this by
evaluating the following:

     (car '(rose violet daisy buttercup))

After evaluating the expression, `rose' will appear in the echo area.

Clearly, a more reasonable name for the `car' function would be `first'
and this is often suggested.

`car' does not remove the first item from the list; it only reports
what it is.  After `car' has been applied to a list, the list is still
the same as it was.  In the jargon, `car' is `non-destructive'.  This
feature turns out to be important.

The CDR of a list is the rest of the list, that is, the `cdr' function
returns the part of the list that follows the first item.  Thus, while
the CAR of the list `'(rose violet daisy buttercup)' is `rose', the
rest of the list, the value returned by the `cdr' function, is `(violet
daisy buttercup)'.

You can see this by evaluating the following in the usual way:

     (cdr '(rose violet daisy buttercup))

When you evaluate this, `(violet daisy buttercup)' will appear in the
echo area.

Like `car', `cdr' does not remove any elements from the list--it just
returns a report of what the second and subsequent elements are.

Incidentally, in the example, the list of flowers is quoted.  If it were
not, the Lisp interpreter would try to evaluate the list by calling
`rose' as a function.  In this example, we do not want to do that.

Clearly, a more reasonable name for `cdr' would be `rest'.

(There is a lesson here: when you name new functions, consider very
carefully what you are doing, since you may be stuck with the names for
far longer than you expect.  The reason this document perpetuates these
names is that the Emacs Lisp source code uses them, and if I did not
use them, you would have a hard time reading the code; but do, please,
try to avoid using these terms yourself.  The people who come after you
will be grateful to you.)

When `car' and `cdr' are applied to a list made up of symbols, such as
the list `(pine fir oak maple)', the element of the list returned by
the function `car' is the symbol `pine' without any parentheses around
it.  `pine' is the first element in the list.  However, the CDR of the
list is a list itself, `(fir oak maple)', as you can see by evaluating
the following expressions in the usual way:

     (car '(pine fir oak maple))

     (cdr '(pine fir oak maple))

On the other hand, in a list of lists, the first element is itself a
list.  `car' returns this first element as a list.  For example, the
following list contains three sub-lists, a list of carnivores, a list
of herbivores and a list of sea mammals:

     (car '((lion tiger cheetah)
            (gazelle antelope zebra)
            (whale dolphin seal)))

In this example, the first element or CAR of the list is the list of
carnivores, `(lion tiger cheetah)', and the rest of the list is
`((gazelle antelope zebra) (whale dolphin seal))'.

     (cdr '((lion tiger cheetah)
            (gazelle antelope zebra)
            (whale dolphin seal)))

It is worth saying again that `car' and `cdr' are non-destructive--that
is, they do not modify or change lists to which they are applied.  This
is very important for how they are used.

Also, in the first chapter, in the discussion about atoms, I said that
in Lisp, "certain kinds of atom, such as an array, can be separated
into parts; but the mechanism for doing this is different from the
mechanism for splitting a list.  As far as Lisp is concerned, the atoms
of a list are unsplittable."  (*Note Lisp Atoms::.)  The `car' and
`cdr' functions are used for splitting lists and are considered
fundamental to Lisp.  Since they cannot split or gain access to the
parts of an array, an array is considered an atom.  Conversely, the
other fundamental function, `cons', can put together or construct a
list, but not an array.  (Arrays are handled by array-specific
functions.  *Note Arrays: (elisp)Arrays.)


File: eintr,  Node: cons,  Next: nthcdr,  Prev: car & cdr,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.2 `cons'
==========

The `cons' function constructs lists; it is the inverse of `car' and
`cdr'.  For example, `cons' can be used to make a four element list
from the three element list, `(fir oak maple)':

     (cons 'pine '(fir oak maple))

After evaluating this list, you will see

     (pine fir oak maple)

appear in the echo area.  `cons' causes the creation of a new list in
which the element is followed by the elements of the original list.

We often say that ``cons' puts a new element at the beginning of a
list; it attaches or pushes elements onto the list', but this phrasing
can be misleading, since `cons' does not change an existing list, but
creates a new one.

Like `car' and `cdr', `cons' is non-destructive.

* Menu:

* Build a list::
* length::


File: eintr,  Node: Build a list,  Next: length,  Prev: cons,  Up: cons

Build a list
------------

`cons' must have a list to attach to.(1)  You cannot start from
absolutely nothing.  If you are building a list, you need to provide at
least an empty list at the beginning.  Here is a series of `cons'
expressions that build up a list of flowers.  If you are reading this
in Info in GNU Emacs, you can evaluate each of the expressions in the
usual way; the value is printed in this text after `=>', which you may
read as `evaluates to'.

     (cons 'buttercup ())
          => (buttercup)

     (cons 'daisy '(buttercup))
          => (daisy buttercup)

     (cons 'violet '(daisy buttercup))
          => (violet daisy buttercup)

     (cons 'rose '(violet daisy buttercup))
          => (rose violet daisy buttercup)

In the first example, the empty list is shown as `()' and a list made
up of `buttercup' followed by the empty list is constructed.  As you
can see, the empty list is not shown in the list that was constructed.
All that you see is `(buttercup)'.  The empty list is not counted as an
element of a list because there is nothing in an empty list.  Generally
speaking, an empty list is invisible.

The second example, `(cons 'daisy '(buttercup))' constructs a new, two
element list by putting `daisy' in front of `buttercup'; and the third
example constructs a three element list by putting `violet' in front of
`daisy' and `buttercup'.

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) Actually, you can `cons' an element to an atom to produce a dotted
pair.  Dotted pairs are not discussed here; see *Note Dotted Pair
Notation: (elisp)Dotted Pair Notation.


File: eintr,  Node: length,  Prev: Build a list,  Up: cons

7.2.1 Find the Length of a List: `length'
-----------------------------------------

You can find out how many elements there are in a list by using the Lisp
function `length', as in the following examples:

     (length '(buttercup))
          => 1

     (length '(daisy buttercup))
          => 2

     (length (cons 'violet '(daisy buttercup)))
          => 3

In the third example, the `cons' function is used to construct a three
element list which is then passed to the `length' function as its
argument.

We can also use `length' to count the number of elements in an empty
list:

     (length ())
          => 0

As you would expect, the number of elements in an empty list is zero.

An interesting experiment is to find out what happens if you try to find
the length of no list at all; that is, if you try to call `length'
without giving it an argument, not even an empty list:

     (length )

What you see, if you evaluate this, is the error message

     Lisp error: (wrong-number-of-arguments length 0)

This means that the function receives the wrong number of arguments,
zero, when it expects some other number of arguments.  In this case,
one argument is expected, the argument being a list whose length the
function is measuring.  (Note that _one_ list is _one_ argument, even
if the list has many elements inside it.)

The part of the error message that says `length' is the name of the
function.


File: eintr,  Node: nthcdr,  Next: nth,  Prev: cons,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.3 `nthcdr'
============

The `nthcdr' function is associated with the `cdr' function.  What it
does is take the CDR of a list repeatedly.

If you take the CDR of the list `(pine fir oak maple)', you will be
returned the list `(fir oak maple)'.  If you repeat this on what was
returned, you will be returned the list `(oak maple)'.  (Of course,
repeated CDRing on the original list will just give you the original
CDR since the function does not change the list.  You need to evaluate
the CDR of the CDR and so on.)  If you continue this, eventually you
will be returned an empty list, which in this case, instead of being
shown as `()' is shown as `nil'.

For review, here is a series of repeated CDRs, the text following the
`=>' shows what is returned.

     (cdr '(pine fir oak maple))
          =>(fir oak maple)

     (cdr '(fir oak maple))
          => (oak maple)

     (cdr '(oak maple))
          =>(maple)

     (cdr '(maple))
          => nil

     (cdr 'nil)
          => nil

     (cdr ())
          => nil

You can also do several CDRs without printing the values in between,
like this:

     (cdr (cdr '(pine fir oak maple)))
          => (oak maple)

In this example, the Lisp interpreter evaluates the innermost list
first.  The innermost list is quoted, so it just passes the list as it
is to the innermost `cdr'.  This `cdr' passes a list made up of the
second and subsequent elements of the list to the outermost `cdr',
which produces a list composed of the third and subsequent elements of
the original list.  In this example, the `cdr' function is repeated and
returns a list that consists of the original list without its first two
elements.

The `nthcdr' function does the same as repeating the call to `cdr'.  In
the following example, the argument 2 is passed to the function
`nthcdr', along with the list, and the value returned is the list
without its first two items, which is exactly the same as repeating
`cdr' twice on the list:

     (nthcdr 2 '(pine fir oak maple))
          => (oak maple)

Using the original four element list, we can see what happens when
various numeric arguments are passed to `nthcdr', including 0, 1, and 5:

     ;; Leave the list as it was.
     (nthcdr 0 '(pine fir oak maple))
          => (pine fir oak maple)

     ;; Return a copy without the first element.
     (nthcdr 1 '(pine fir oak maple))
          => (fir oak maple)

     ;; Return a copy of the list without three elements.
     (nthcdr 3 '(pine fir oak maple))
          => (maple)

     ;; Return a copy lacking all four elements.
     (nthcdr 4 '(pine fir oak maple))
          => nil

     ;; Return a copy lacking all elements.
     (nthcdr 5 '(pine fir oak maple))
          => nil


File: eintr,  Node: nth,  Next: setcar,  Prev: nthcdr,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.4 `nth'
=========

The `nthcdr' function takes the CDR of a list repeatedly.  The `nth'
function takes the CAR of the result returned by `nthcdr'.  It returns
the Nth element of the list.

Thus, if it were not defined in C for speed, the definition of `nth'
would be:

     (defun nth (n list)
       "Returns the Nth element of LIST.
     N counts from zero.  If LIST is not that long, nil is returned."
       (car (nthcdr n list)))

(Originally, `nth' was defined in Emacs Lisp in `subr.el', but its
definition was redone in C in the 1980s.)

The `nth' function returns a single element of a list.  This can be
very convenient.

Note that the elements are numbered from zero, not one.  That is to
say, the first element of a list, its CAR is the zeroth element.  This
is called `zero-based' counting and often bothers people who are
accustomed to the first element in a list being number one, which is
`one-based'.

For example:

     (nth 0 '("one" "two" "three"))
         => "one"

     (nth 1 '("one" "two" "three"))
         => "two"

It is worth mentioning that `nth', like `nthcdr' and `cdr', does not
change the original list--the function is non-destructive.  This is in
sharp contrast to the `setcar' and `setcdr' functions.


File: eintr,  Node: setcar,  Next: setcdr,  Prev: nth,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.5 `setcar'
============

As you might guess from their names, the `setcar' and `setcdr'
functions set the CAR or the CDR of a list to a new value.  They
actually change the original list, unlike `car' and `cdr' which leave
the original list as it was.  One way to find out how this works is to
experiment.  We will start with the `setcar' function.

First, we can make a list and then set the value of a variable to the
list, using the `setq' function.  Here is a list of animals:

     (setq animals '(antelope giraffe lion tiger))

If you are reading this in Info inside of GNU Emacs, you can evaluate
this expression in the usual fashion, by positioning the cursor after
the expression and typing `C-x C-e'.  (I'm doing this right here as I
write this.  This is one of the advantages of having the interpreter
built into the computing environment.  Incidentally, when there is
nothing on the line after the final parentheses, such as a comment,
point can be on the next line.  Thus, if your cursor is in the first
column of the next line, you do not need to move it.  Indeed, Emacs
permits any amount of white space after the final parenthesis.)

When we evaluate the variable `animals', we see that it is bound to the
list `(antelope giraffe lion tiger)':

     animals
          => (antelope giraffe lion tiger)

Put another way, the variable `animals' points to the list `(antelope
giraffe lion tiger)'.

Next, evaluate the function `setcar' while passing it two arguments,
the variable `animals' and the quoted symbol `hippopotamus'; this is
done by writing the three element list `(setcar animals 'hippopotamus)'
and then evaluating it in the usual fashion:

     (setcar animals 'hippopotamus)

After evaluating this expression, evaluate the variable `animals'
again.  You will see that the list of animals has changed:

     animals
          => (hippopotamus giraffe lion tiger)

The first element on the list, `antelope' is replaced by `hippopotamus'.

So we can see that `setcar' did not add a new element to the list as
`cons' would have; it replaced `antelope' with `hippopotamus'; it
_changed_ the list.


File: eintr,  Node: setcdr,  Next: cons Exercise,  Prev: setcar,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.6 `setcdr'
============

The `setcdr' function is similar to the `setcar' function, except that
the function replaces the second and subsequent elements of a list
rather than the first element.

(To see how to change the last element of a list, look ahead to *Note
The `kill-new' function: kill-new function, which uses the `nthcdr' and
`setcdr' functions.)

To see how this works, set the value of the variable to a list of
domesticated animals by evaluating the following expression:

     (setq domesticated-animals '(horse cow sheep goat))

If you now evaluate the list, you will be returned the list `(horse cow
sheep goat)':

     domesticated-animals
          => (horse cow sheep goat)

Next, evaluate `setcdr' with two arguments, the name of the variable
which has a list as its value, and the list to which the CDR of the
first list will be set;

     (setcdr domesticated-animals '(cat dog))

If you evaluate this expression, the list `(cat dog)' will appear in
the echo area.  This is the value returned by the function.  The result
we are interested in is the "side effect", which we can see by
evaluating the variable `domesticated-animals':

     domesticated-animals
          => (horse cat dog)

Indeed, the list is changed from `(horse cow sheep goat)' to `(horse
cat dog)'.  The CDR of the list is changed from `(cow sheep goat)' to
`(cat dog)'.


File: eintr,  Node: cons Exercise,  Prev: setcdr,  Up: car cdr & cons

7.7 Exercise
============

Construct a list of four birds by evaluating several expressions with
`cons'.  Find out what happens when you `cons' a list onto itself.
Replace the first element of the list of four birds with a fish.
Replace the rest of that list with a list of other fish.


File: eintr,  Node: Cutting & Storing Text,  Next: List Implementation,  Prev: car cdr & cons,  Up: Top

8 Cutting and Storing Text
**************************

Whenever you cut or clip text out of a buffer with a `kill' command in
GNU Emacs, it is stored in a list and you can bring it back with a
`yank' command.

(The use of the word `kill' in Emacs for processes which specifically
_do not_ destroy the values of the entities is an unfortunate
historical accident.  A much more appropriate word would be `clip' since
that is what the kill commands do; they clip text out of a buffer and
put it into storage from which it can be brought back.  I have often
been tempted to replace globally all occurrences of `kill' in the Emacs
sources with `clip' and all occurrences of `killed' with `clipped'.)

* Menu:

* Storing Text::
* zap-to-char::
* kill-region::
* copy-region-as-kill::
* Digression into C::
* defvar::
* cons & search-fwd Review::
* search Exercises::


File: eintr,  Node: Storing Text,  Next: zap-to-char,  Prev: Cutting & Storing Text,  Up: Cutting & Storing Text

Storing Text in a List
======================

When text is cut out of a buffer, it is stored on a list.  Successive
pieces of text are stored on the list successively, so the list might
look like this:

     ("a piece of text" "previous piece")

The function `cons' can be used to create a new list from a piece of
text (an `atom', to use the jargon) and an existing list, like this:

     (cons "another piece"
           '("a piece of text" "previous piece"))

If you evaluate this expression, a list of three elements will appear in
the echo area:

     ("another piece" "a piece of text" "previous piece")

With the `car' and `nthcdr' functions, you can retrieve whichever piece
of text you want.  For example, in the following code, `nthcdr 1 ...'
returns the list with the first item removed; and the `car' returns the
first element of that remainder--the second element of the original
list:

     (car (nthcdr 1 '("another piece"
                      "a piece of text"
                      "previous piece")))
          => "a piece of text"

The actual functions in Emacs are more complex than this, of course.
The code for cutting and retrieving text has to be written so that
Emacs can figure out which element in the list you want--the first,
second, third, or whatever.  In addition, when you get to the end of
the list, Emacs should give you the first element of the list, rather
than nothing at all.

The list that holds the pieces of text is called the "kill ring".  This
chapter leads up to a description of the kill ring and how it is used
by first tracing how the `zap-to-char' function works.  This function
uses (or `calls') a function that invokes a function that manipulates
the kill ring.  Thus, before reaching the mountains, we climb the
foothills.

A subsequent chapter describes how text that is cut from the buffer is
retrieved.  *Note Yanking Text Back: Yanking.


File: eintr,  Node: zap-to-char,  Next: kill-region,  Prev: Storing Text,  Up: Cutting & Storing Text

8.1 `zap-to-char'
=================

The `zap-to-char' function changed a little between GNU Emacs version
19 and GNU Emacs version 22.  However, `zap-to-char' calls another
function, `kill-region', which enjoyed a major rewrite.

The `kill-region' function in Emacs 19 is complex, but does not use
code that is important at this time.  We will skip it.

The `kill-region' function in Emacs 22 is easier to read than the same
function in Emacs 19 and introduces a very important concept, that of
error handling.  We will walk through the function.

But first, let us look at the interactive `zap-to-char' function.

* Menu:

* Complete zap-to-char::
* zap-to-char interactive::
* zap-to-char body::
* search-forward::
* progn::
* Summing up zap-to-char::


File: eintr,  Node: Complete zap-to-char,  Next: zap-to-char interactive,  Prev: zap-to-char,  Up: zap-to-char

The Complete `zap-to-char' Implementation
-----------------------------------------

The GNU Emacs version 19 and version 21 implementations of the
`zap-to-char' function are nearly identical in form, and they work
alike.  The function removes the text in the region between the
location of the cursor (i.e., of point) up to and including the next
occurrence of a specified character.  The text that `zap-to-char'
removes is put in the kill ring; and it can be retrieved from the kill
ring by typing `C-y' (`yank').  If the command is given an argument, it
removes text through that number of occurrences.  Thus, if the cursor
were at the beginning of this sentence and the character were `s',
`Thus' would be removed.  If the argument were two, `Thus, if the curs'
would be removed, up to and including the `s' in `cursor'.

If the specified character is not found, `zap-to-char' will say "Search
failed", tell you the character you typed, and not remove any text.

In order to determine how much text to remove, `zap-to-char' uses a
search function.  Searches are used extensively in code that
manipulates text, and we will focus attention on them as well as on the
deletion command.

Here is the complete text of the version 22 implementation of the
function:

     (defun zap-to-char (arg char)
       "Kill up to and including ARG'th occurrence of CHAR.
     Case is ignored if `case-fold-search' is non-nil in the current buffer.
     Goes backward if ARG is negative; error if CHAR not found."
       (interactive "p\ncZap to char: ")
       (if (char-table-p translation-table-for-input)
           (setq char (or (aref translation-table-for-input char) char)))
       (kill-region (point) (progn
     			 (search-forward (char-to-string char) nil nil arg)
     			 (point))))


File: eintr,  Node: zap-to-char interactive,  Next: zap-to-char body,  Prev: Complete zap-to-char,  Up: zap-to-char

8.1.1 The `interactive' Expression
----------------------------------

The interactive expression in the `zap-to-char' command looks like this:

     (interactive "p\ncZap to char: ")

The part within quotation marks, `"p\ncZap to char: "', specifies two
different things.  First, and most simply, is the `p'.  This part is
separated from the next part by a newline, `\n'.  The `p' means that
the first argument to the function will be passed the value of a
`processed prefix'.  The prefix argument is passed by typing `C-u' and
a number, or `M-' and a number.  If the function is called
interactively without a prefix, 1 is passed to this argument.

The second part of `"p\ncZap to char: "' is `cZap to char:  '.  In this
part, the lower case `c' indicates that `interactive' expects a prompt
and that the argument will be a character.  The prompt follows the `c'
and is the string `Zap to char: ' (with a space after the colon to make
it look good).

What all this does is prepare the arguments to `zap-to-char' so they
are of the right type, and give the user a prompt.

In a read-only buffer, the `zap-to-char' function copies the text to
the kill ring, but does not remove it.  The echo area displays a
message saying that the buffer is read-only.  Also, the terminal may
beep or blink at you.

Let us continue with the interactive specification.


File: eintr,  Node: zap-to-char body,  Next: search-forward,  Prev: zap-to-char interactive,  Up: zap-to-char

8.1.2 The Body of `zap-to-char'
-------------------------------

The body of the `zap-to-char' function contains the code that kills
(that is, removes) the text in the region from the current position of
the cursor up to and including the specified character.

The documentation is thorough.  You do need to know the jargon meaning
of the word `kill'.

The first part of the code looks like this:

     (if (char-table-p translation-table-for-input)
         (setq char (or (aref translation-table-for-input char) char)))
     (kill-region (point) (progn
                            (search-forward (char-to-string char) nil nil arg)
                            (point)))

`char-table-p' is an hitherto unseen function.  It determines whether
its argument is a character table.  When it is, it sets the character
passed to `zap-to-char' to one of them, if that character exists, or to
the character itself.  (This becomes important for certain characters
in non-European languages.  The `aref' function extracts an element
from an array.  It is an array-specific function that is not described
in this document.  *Note Arrays: (elisp)Arrays.)

`(point)' is the current position of the cursor.

The next part of the code is an expression using `progn'.  The body of
the `progn' consists of calls to `search-forward' and `point'.

It is easier to understand how `progn' works after learning about
`search-forward', so we will look at `search-forward' and then at
`progn'.


File: eintr,  Node: search-forward,  Next: progn,  Prev: zap-to-char body,  Up: zap-to-char

8.1.3 The `search-forward' Function
-----------------------------------

The `search-forward' function is used to locate the
zapped-for-character in `zap-to-char'.  If the search is successful,
`search-forward' leaves point immediately after the last character in
the target string.  (In `zap-to-char', the target string is just one
character long.  `zap-to-char' uses the function `char-to-string' to
ensure that the computer treats that character as a string.)  If the
search is backwards, `search-forward' leaves point just before the
first character in the target.  Also, `search-forward' returns `t' for
true.  (Moving point is therefore a `side effect'.)

In `zap-to-char', the `search-forward' function looks like this:

     (search-forward (char-to-string char) nil nil arg)

The `search-forward' function takes four arguments:

  1. The first argument is the target, what is searched for.  This must
     be a string, such as `"z"'.

     As it happens, the argument passed to `zap-to-char' is a single
     character.  Because of the way computers are built, the Lisp
     interpreter may treat a single character as being different from a
     string of characters.  Inside the computer, a single character has
     a different electronic format than a string of one character.  (A
     single character can often be recorded in the computer using
     exactly one byte; but a string may be longer, and the computer
     needs to be ready for this.)  Since the `search-forward' function
     searches for a string, the character that the `zap-to-char'
     function receives as its argument must be converted inside the
     computer from one format to the other; otherwise the
     `search-forward' function will fail.  The `char-to-string'
     function is used to make this conversion.

  2. The second argument bounds the search; it is specified as a
     position in the buffer.  In this case, the search can go to the
     end of the buffer, so no bound is set and the second argument is
     `nil'.

  3. The third argument tells the function what it should do if the
     search fails--it can signal an error (and print a message) or it
     can return `nil'.  A `nil' as the third argument causes the
     function to signal an error when the search fails.

  4. The fourth argument to `search-forward' is the repeat count--how
     many occurrences of the string to look for.  This argument is
     optional and if the function is called without a repeat count,
     this argument is passed the value 1.  If this argument is
     negative, the search goes backwards.

In template form, a `search-forward' expression looks like this:

     (search-forward "TARGET-STRING"
                     LIMIT-OF-SEARCH
                     WHAT-TO-DO-IF-SEARCH-FAILS
                     REPEAT-COUNT)

We will look at `progn' next.


File: eintr,  Node: progn,  Next: Summing up zap-to-char,  Prev: search-forward,  Up: zap-to-char

8.1.4 The `progn' Special Form
------------------------------

`progn' is a special form that causes each of its arguments to be
evaluated in sequence and then returns the value of the last one.  The
preceding expressions are evaluated only for the side effects they
perform.  The values produced by them are discarded.

The template for a `progn' expression is very simple:

     (progn
       BODY...)

In `zap-to-char', the `progn' expression has to do two things: put
point in exactly the right position; and return the location of point
so that `kill-region' will know how far to kill to.

The first argument to the `progn' is `search-forward'.  When
`search-forward' finds the string, the function leaves point
immediately after the last character in the target string.  (In this
case the target string is just one character long.)  If the search is
backwards, `search-forward' leaves point just before the first
character in the target.  The movement of point is a side effect.

The second and last argument to `progn' is the expression `(point)'.
This expression returns the value of point, which in this case will be
the location to which it has been moved by `search-forward'.  (In the
source, a line that tells the function to go to the previous character,
if it is going forward, was commented out in 1999; I don't remember
whether that feature or mis-feature was ever a part of the distributed
source.)  The value of `point' is returned by the `progn' expression
and is passed to `kill-region' as `kill-region''s second argument.


File: eintr,  Node: Summing up zap-to-char,  Prev: progn,  Up: zap-to-char

8.1.5 Summing up `zap-to-char'
------------------------------

Now that we have seen how `search-forward' and `progn' work, we can see
how the `zap-to-char' function works as a whole.

The first argument to `kill-region' is the position of the cursor when
the `zap-to-char' command is given--the value of point at that time.
Within the `progn', the search function then moves point to just after
the zapped-to-character and `point' returns the value of this location.
The `kill-region' function puts together these two values of point,
the first one as the beginning of the region and the second one as the
end of the region, and removes the region.

The `progn' special form is necessary because the `kill-region' command
takes two arguments; and it would fail if `search-forward' and `point'
expressions were written in sequence as two additional arguments.  The
`progn' expression is a single argument to `kill-region' and returns
the one value that `kill-region' needs for its second argument.


File: eintr,  Node: kill-region,  Next: copy-region-as-kill,  Prev: zap-to-char,  Up: Cutting & Storing Text

8.2 `kill-region'
=================

The `zap-to-char' function uses the `kill-region' function.  This
function clips text from a region and copies that text to the kill
ring, from which it may be retrieved.

The Emacs 22 version of that function uses `condition-case' and
`copy-region-as-kill', both of which we will explain.  `condition-case'
is an important special form.

In essence, the `kill-region' function calls `condition-case', which
takes three arguments.  In this function, the first argument does
nothing.  The second argument contains the code that does the work when
all goes well.  The third argument contains the code that is called in
the event of an error.

* Menu:

* Complete kill-region::
* condition-case::
* Lisp macro::


File: eintr,  Node: Complete kill-region,  Next: condition-case,  Prev: kill-region,  Up: kill-region

The Complete `kill-region' Definition
-------------------------------------

We will go through the `condition-case' code in a moment.  First, let
us look at the definition of `kill-region', with comments added:

     (defun kill-region (beg end)
       "Kill (\"cut\") text between point and mark.
     This deletes the text from the buffer and saves it in the kill ring.
     The command \\[yank] can retrieve it from there. ... "

       ;; * Since order matters, pass point first.
       (interactive (list (point) (mark)))
       ;; * And tell us if we cannot cut the text.
       (unless (and beg end)
         (error "The mark is not set now, so there is no region"))

       ;; * `condition-case' takes three arguments.
       ;;    If the first argument is nil, as it is here,
       ;;    information about the error signal is not
       ;;    stored for use by another function.
       (condition-case nil

           ;; * The second argument to `condition-case' tells the
           ;;    Lisp interpreter what to do when all goes well.

           ;;    It starts with a `let' function that extracts the string
           ;;    and tests whether it exists.  If so (that is what the
           ;;    `when' checks), it calls an `if' function that determines
           ;;    whether the previous command was another call to
           ;;    `kill-region'; if it was, then the new text is appended to
           ;;    the previous text; if not, then a different function,
           ;;    `kill-new', is called.

           ;;    The `kill-append' function concatenates the new string and
           ;;    the old.  The `kill-new' function inserts text into a new
           ;;    item in the kill ring.

           ;;    `when' is an `if' without an else-part.  The second `when'
           ;;    again checks whether the current string exists; in
           ;;    addition, it checks whether the previous command was
           ;;    another call to `kill-region'.  If one or the other
           ;;    condition is true, then it sets the current command to
           ;;    be `kill-region'.
           (let ((string (filter-buffer-substring beg end t)))
             (when string			;STRING is nil if BEG = END
               ;; Add that string to the kill ring, one way or another.
               (if (eq last-command 'kill-region)
                   ;;    - `yank-handler' is an optional argument to
                   ;;    `kill-region' that tells the `kill-append' and
                   ;;    `kill-new' functions how deal with properties
                   ;;    added to the text, such as `bold' or `italics'.
                   (kill-append string (< end beg) yank-handler)
     	    (kill-new string nil yank-handler)))
     	(when (or string (eq last-command 'kill-region))
     	  (setq this-command 'kill-region))
     	nil)

         ;;  * The third argument to `condition-case' tells the interpreter
         ;;    what to do with an error.
         ;;    The third argument has a conditions part and a body part.
         ;;    If the conditions are met (in this case,
         ;;             if text or buffer are read-only)
         ;;    then the body is executed.
         ;;    The first part of the third argument is the following:
         ((buffer-read-only text-read-only) ;; the if-part
          ;; ...  the then-part
          (copy-region-as-kill beg end)
          ;;    Next, also as part of the then-part, set this-command, so
          ;;    it will be set in an error
          (setq this-command 'kill-region)
          ;;    Finally, in the then-part, send a message if you may copy
          ;;    the text to the kill ring without signally an error, but
          ;;    don't if you may not.
          (if kill-read-only-ok
              (progn (message "Read only text copied to kill ring") nil)
            (barf-if-buffer-read-only)
            ;; If the buffer isn't read-only, the text is.
            (signal 'text-read-only (list (current-buffer)))))


File: eintr,  Node: condition-case,  Next: Lisp macro,  Prev: Complete kill-region,  Up: kill-region

8.2.1 `condition-case'
----------------------

As we have seen earlier (*note Generate an Error Message: Making
Errors.), when the Emacs Lisp interpreter has trouble evaluating an
expression, it provides you with help; in the jargon, this is called
"signaling an error".  Usually, the computer stops the program and
shows you a message.

However, some programs undertake complicated actions.  They should not
simply stop on an error.  In the `kill-region' function, the most
likely error is that you will try to kill text that is read-only and
cannot be removed.  So the `kill-region' function contains code to
handle this circumstance.  This code, which makes up the body of the
`kill-region' function, is inside of a `condition-case' special form.

The template for `condition-case' looks like this:

     (condition-case
       VAR
       BODYFORM
       ERROR-HANDLER...)

The second argument, BODYFORM, is straightforward.  The
`condition-case' special form causes the Lisp interpreter to evaluate
the code in BODYFORM.  If no error occurs, the special form returns the
code's value and produces the side-effects, if any.

In short, the BODYFORM part of a `condition-case' expression determines
what should happen when everything works correctly.

However, if an error occurs, among its other actions, the function
generating the error signal will define one or more error condition
names.

An error handler is the third argument to `condition case'.  An error
handler has two parts, a CONDITION-NAME and a BODY.  If the
CONDITION-NAME part of an error handler matches a condition name
generated by an error, then the BODY part of the error handler is run.

As you will expect, the CONDITION-NAME part of an error handler may be
either a single condition name or a list of condition names.

Also, a complete `condition-case' expression may contain more than one
error handler.  When an error occurs, the first applicable handler is
run.

Lastly, the first argument to the `condition-case' expression, the VAR
argument, is sometimes bound to a variable that contains information
about the error.  However, if that argument is nil, as is the case in
`kill-region', that information is discarded.

In brief, in the `kill-region' function, the code `condition-case'
works like this:

     IF NO ERRORS, RUN ONLY THIS CODE
         BUT, IF ERRORS, RUN THIS OTHER CODE.


File: eintr,  Node: Lisp macro,  Prev: condition-case,  Up: kill-region

8.2.2 Lisp macro
----------------

The part of the `condition-case' expression that is evaluated in the
expectation that all goes well has a `when'.  The code uses `when' to
determine whether the `string' variable points to text that exists.

A `when' expression is simply a programmers' convenience.  It is an
`if' without the possibility of an else clause.  In your mind, you can
replace `when' with `if' and understand what goes on.  That is what the
Lisp interpreter does.

Technically speaking, `when' is a Lisp macro.  A Lisp "macro" enables
you to define new control constructs and other language features.  It
tells the interpreter how to compute another Lisp expression which will
in turn compute the value.  In this case, the `other expression' is an
`if' expression.  For more about Lisp macros, see *Note Macros:
(elisp)Macros.  The C programming language also provides macros.  These
are different, but also useful.

If the string has content, then another conditional expression is
executed.  This is an `if' with both a then-part and an else-part.

     (if (eq last-command 'kill-region)
         (kill-append string (< end beg) yank-handler)
       (kill-new string nil yank-handler))

The then-part is evaluated if the previous command was another call to
`kill-region'; if not, the else-part is evaluated.

`yank-handler' is an optional argument to `kill-region' that tells the
`kill-append' and `kill-new' functions how deal with properties added
to the text, such as `bold' or `italics'.

`last-command' is a variable that comes with Emacs that we have not
seen before.  Normally, whenever a function is executed, Emacs sets the
value of `last-command' to the previous command.

In this segment of the definition, the `if' expression checks whether
the previous command was `kill-region'.  If it was,

     (kill-append string (< end beg) yank-handler)

concatenates a copy of the newly clipped text to the just previously
clipped text in the kill ring.


File: eintr,  Node: copy-region-as-kill,  Next: Digression into C,  Prev: kill-region,  Up: Cutting & Storing Text

8.3 `copy-region-as-kill'
=========================

The `copy-region-as-kill' function copies a region of text from a
buffer and (via either `kill-append' or `kill-new') saves it in the
`kill-ring'.

If you call `copy-region-as-kill' immediately after a `kill-region'
command, Emacs appends the newly copied text to the previously copied
text.  This means that if you yank back the text, you get it all, from
both this and the previous operation.  On the other hand, if some other
command precedes the `copy-region-as-kill', the function copies the
text into a separate entry in the kill ring.

* Menu:

* Complete copy-region-as-kill::
* copy-region-as-kill body::


File: eintr,  Node: Complete copy-region-as-kill,  Next: copy-region-as-kill body,  Prev: copy-region-as-kill,  Up: copy-region-as-kill

The complete `copy-region-as-kill' function definition
------------------------------------------------------

Here is the complete text of the version 22 `copy-region-as-kill'
function:

     (defun copy-region-as-kill (beg end)
       "Save the region as if killed, but don't kill it.
     In Transient Mark mode, deactivate the mark.
     If `interprogram-cut-function' is non-nil, also save the text for a window
     system cut and paste."
       (interactive "r")
       (if (eq last-command 'kill-region)
           (kill-append (filter-buffer-substring beg end) (< end beg))
         (kill-new (filter-buffer-substring beg end)))
       (if transient-mark-mode
           (setq deactivate-mark t))
       nil)

As usual, this function can be divided into its component parts:

     (defun copy-region-as-kill (ARGUMENT-LIST)
       "DOCUMENTATION..."
       (interactive "r")
       BODY...)

The arguments are `beg' and `end' and the function is interactive with
`"r"', so the two arguments must refer to the beginning and end of the
region.  If you have been reading though this document from the
beginning, understanding these parts of a function is almost becoming
routine.

The documentation is somewhat confusing unless you remember that the
word `kill' has a meaning different from usual.  The `Transient Mark'
and `interprogram-cut-function' comments explain certain side-effects.

After you once set a mark, a buffer always contains a region.  If you
wish, you can use Transient Mark mode to highlight the region
temporarily.  (No one wants to highlight the region all the time, so
Transient Mark mode highlights it only at appropriate times.  Many
people turn off Transient Mark mode, so the region is never
highlighted.)

Also, a windowing system allows you to copy, cut, and paste among
different programs.  In the X windowing system, for example, the
`interprogram-cut-function' function is `x-select-text', which works
with the windowing system's equivalent of the Emacs kill ring.

The body of the `copy-region-as-kill' function starts with an `if'
clause.  What this clause does is distinguish between two different
situations: whether or not this command is executed immediately after a
previous `kill-region' command.  In the first case, the new region is
appended to the previously copied text.  Otherwise, it is inserted into
the beginning of the kill ring as a separate piece of text from the
previous piece.

The last two lines of the function prevent the region from lighting up
if Transient Mark mode is turned on.

The body of `copy-region-as-kill' merits discussion in detail.


File: eintr,  Node: copy-region-as-kill body,  Prev: Complete copy-region-as-kill,  Up: copy-region-as-kill

8.3.1 The Body of `copy-region-as-kill'
---------------------------------------

The `copy-region-as-kill' function works in much the same way as the
`kill-region' function.  Both are written so that two or more kills in
a row combine their text into a single entry.  If you yank back the
text from the kill ring, you get it all in one piece.  Moreover, kills
that kill forward from the current position of the cursor are added to
the end of the previously copied text and commands that copy text
backwards add it to the beginning of the previously copied text.  This
way, the words in the text stay in the proper order.

Like `kill-region', the `copy-region-as-kill' function makes use of the
`last-command' variable that keeps track of the previous Emacs command.

* Menu:

* last-command & this-command::
* kill-append function::
* kill-new function::


File: eintr,  Node: last-command & this-command,  Next: kill-append function,  Prev: copy-region-as-kill body,  Up: copy-region-as-kill body

`last-command' and `this-command'
.................................

Normally, whenever a function is executed, Emacs sets the value of
`this-command' to the function being executed (which in this case would
be `copy-region-as-kill').  At the same time, Emacs sets the value of
`last-command' to the previous value of `this-command'.

In the first part of the body of the `copy-region-as-kill' function, an
`if' expression determines whether the value of `last-command' is
`kill-region'.  If so, the then-part of the `if' expression is
evaluated; it uses the `kill-append' function to concatenate the text
copied at this call to the function with the text already in the first
element (the CAR) of the kill ring.  On the other hand, if the value of
`last-command' is not `kill-region', then the `copy-region-as-kill'
function attaches a new element to the kill ring using the `kill-new'
function.

The `if' expression reads as follows; it uses `eq', which is a function
we have not yet seen:

       (if (eq last-command 'kill-region)
           ;; then-part
           (kill-append  (filter-buffer-substring beg end) (< end beg))
         ;; else-part
         (kill-new  (filter-buffer-substring beg end)))

(The `filter-buffer-substring' function returns a filtered substring of
the buffer, if any.  Optionally--the arguments are not here, so neither
is done--the function may delete the initial text or return the text
without its properties; this function is a replacement for the older
`buffer-substring' function, which came before text properties were
implemented.)

The `eq' function tests whether its first argument is the same Lisp
object as its second argument.  The `eq' function is similar to the
`equal' function in that it is used to test for equality, but differs
in that it determines whether two representations are actually the same
object inside the computer, but with different names.  `equal'
determines whether the structure and contents of two expressions are
the same.

If the previous command was `kill-region', then the Emacs Lisp
interpreter calls the `kill-append' function


File: eintr,  Node: kill-append function,  Next: kill-new function,  Prev: last-command & this-command,  Up: copy-region-as-kill body

The `kill-append' function
..........................

The `kill-append' function looks like this:

     (defun kill-append (string before-p &optional yank-handler)
       "Append STRING to the end of the latest kill in the kill ring.
     If BEFORE-P is non-nil, prepend STRING to the kill.
     ... "
       (let* ((cur (car kill-ring)))
         (kill-new (if before-p (concat string cur) (concat cur string))
     	      (or (= (length cur) 0)
     		  (equal yank-handler (get-text-property 0 'yank-handler cur)))
     	      yank-handler)))

The `kill-append' function is fairly straightforward.  It uses the
`kill-new' function, which we will discuss in more detail in a moment.

(Also, the function provides an optional argument called
`yank-handler'; when invoked, this argument tells the function how to
deal with properties added to the text, such as `bold' or `italics'.)

It has a `let*' function to set the value of the first element of the
kill ring to `cur'.  (I do not know why the function does not use `let'
instead; only one value is set in the expression.  Perhaps this is a
bug that produces no problems?)

Consider the conditional that is one of the two arguments to
`kill-new'.  It uses `concat' to concatenate the new text to the CAR of
the kill ring.  Whether it prepends or appends the text depends on the
results of an `if' expression:

     (if before-p                            ; if-part
         (concat string cur)                 ; then-part
       (concat cur string))                  ; else-part

If the region being killed is before the region that was killed in the
last command, then it should be prepended before the material that was
saved in the previous kill; and conversely, if the killed text follows
what was just killed, it should be appended after the previous text.
The `if' expression depends on the predicate `before-p' to decide
whether the newly saved text should be put before or after the
previously saved text.

The symbol `before-p' is the name of one of the arguments to
`kill-append'.  When the `kill-append' function is evaluated, it is
bound to the value returned by evaluating the actual argument.  In this
case, this is the expression `(< end beg)'.  This expression does not
directly determine whether the killed text in this command is located
before or after the kill text of the last command; what it does is
determine whether the value of the variable `end' is less than the
value of the variable `beg'.  If it is, it means that the user is most
likely heading towards the beginning of the buffer.  Also, the result
of evaluating the predicate expression, `(< end beg)', will be true and
the text will be prepended before the previous text.  On the other
hand, if the value of the variable `end' is greater than the value of
the variable `beg', the text will be appended after the previous text.

When the newly saved text will be prepended, then the string with the
new text will be concatenated before the old text:

     (concat string cur)

But if the text will be appended, it will be concatenated after the old
text:

     (concat cur string))

To understand how this works, we first need to review the `concat'
function.  The `concat' function links together or unites two strings
of text.  The result is a string.  For example:

     (concat "abc" "def")
          => "abcdef"

     (concat "new "
             (car '("first element" "second element")))
          => "new first element"

     (concat (car
             '("first element" "second element")) " modified")
          => "first element modified"

We can now make sense of `kill-append': it modifies the contents of the
kill ring.  The kill ring is a list, each element of which is saved
text.  The `kill-append' function uses the `kill-new' function which in
turn uses the `setcar' function.


File: eintr,  Node: kill-new function,  Prev: kill-append function,  Up: copy-region-as-kill body

The `kill-new' function
.......................

The `kill-new' function looks like this:

     (defun kill-new (string &optional replace yank-handler)
       "Make STRING the latest kill in the kill ring.
     Set `kill-ring-yank-pointer' to point to it.

     If `interprogram-cut-function' is non-nil, apply it to STRING.
     Optional second argument REPLACE non-nil means that STRING will replace
     the front of the kill ring, rather than being added to the list.
     ..."
       (if (> (length string) 0)
           (if yank-handler
     	  (put-text-property 0 (length string)
     			     'yank-handler yank-handler string))
         (if yank-handler
     	(signal 'args-out-of-range
     		(list string "yank-handler specified for empty string"))))
       (if (fboundp 'menu-bar-update-yank-menu)
           (menu-bar-update-yank-menu string (and replace (car kill-ring))))
       (if (and replace kill-ring)
           (setcar kill-ring string)
         (push string kill-ring)
         (if (> (length kill-ring) kill-ring-max)
     	(setcdr (nthcdr (1- kill-ring-max) kill-ring) nil)))
       (setq kill-ring-yank-pointer kill-ring)
       (if interprogram-cut-function
           (funcall interprogram-cut-function string (not replace))))

(Notice that the function is not interactive.)

As usual, we can look at this function in parts.

The function definition has an optional `yank-handler' argument, which
when invoked tells the function how to deal with properties added to
the text, such as `bold' or `italics'.  We will skip that.

The first line of the documentation makes sense:

     Make STRING the latest kill in the kill ring.

Let's skip over the rest of the documentation for the moment.

Also, let's skip over the initial `if' expression and those lines of
code involving `menu-bar-update-yank-menu'.  We will explain them below.

The critical lines are these:

       (if (and replace kill-ring)
           ;; then
           (setcar kill-ring string)
         ;; else
       (push string kill-ring)
         (setq kill-ring (cons string kill-ring))
         (if (> (length kill-ring) kill-ring-max)
             ;; avoid overly long kill ring
             (setcdr (nthcdr (1- kill-ring-max) kill-ring) nil)))
       (setq kill-ring-yank-pointer kill-ring)
       (if interprogram-cut-function
           (funcall interprogram-cut-function string (not replace))))

The conditional test is `(and replace kill-ring)'.  This will be true
when two conditions are met:  the kill ring has something in it, and
the `replace' variable is true.

When the `kill-append' function sets `replace' to be true and when the
kill ring has at least one item in it, the `setcar' expression is
executed:

     (setcar kill-ring string)

The `setcar' function actually changes the first element of the
`kill-ring' list to the value of `string'.  It replaces the first
element.

On the other hand, if the kill ring is empty, or replace is false, the
else-part of the condition is executed:

     (push string kill-ring)

`push' puts its first argument onto the second.  It is the same as the
older

     (setq kill-ring (cons string kill-ring))

or the newer

     (add-to-list kill-ring string)

When it is false, the expression first constructs a new version of the
kill ring by prepending `string' to the existing kill ring as a new
element (that is what the `push' does).  Then it executes a second `if'
clause.  This second `if' clause keeps the kill ring from growing too
long.

Let's look at these two expressions in order.

The `push' line of the else-part sets the new value of the kill ring to
what results from adding the string being killed to the old kill ring.

We can see how this works with an example.

First,

     (setq example-list '("here is a clause" "another clause"))

After evaluating this expression with `C-x C-e', you can evaluate
`example-list' and see what it returns:

     example-list
          => ("here is a clause" "another clause")

Now, we can add a new element on to this list by evaluating the
following expression:

     (push "a third clause" example-list)

When we evaluate `example-list', we find its value is:

     example-list
          => ("a third clause" "here is a clause" "another clause")

Thus, the third clause is added to the list by `push'.

Now for the second part of the `if' clause.  This expression keeps the
kill ring from growing too long.  It looks like this:

     (if (> (length kill-ring) kill-ring-max)
         (setcdr (nthcdr (1- kill-ring-max) kill-ring) nil))

The code checks whether the length of the kill ring is greater than the
maximum permitted length.  This is the value of `kill-ring-max' (which
is 60, by default).  If the length of the kill ring is too long, then
this code sets the last element of the kill ring to `nil'.  It does
this by using two functions, `nthcdr' and `setcdr'.

We looked at `setcdr' earlier (*note `setcdr': setcdr.).  It sets the
CDR of a list, just as `setcar' sets the CAR of a list.  In this case,
however, `setcdr' will not be setting the CDR of the whole kill ring;
the `nthcdr' function is used to cause it to set the CDR of the next to
last element of the kill ring--this means that since the CDR of the
next to last element is the last element of the kill ring, it will set
the last element of the kill ring.

The `nthcdr' function works by repeatedly taking the CDR of a list--it
takes the CDR of the CDR of the CDR ...  It does this N times and
returns the results.  (*Note `nthcdr': nthcdr.)

Thus, if we had a four element list that was supposed to be three
elements long, we could set the CDR of the next to last element to
`nil', and thereby shorten the list.  (If you sent the last element to
some other value than `nil', which you could do, then you would not
have shortened the list.  *Note `setcdr': setcdr.)

You can see shortening by evaluating the following three expressions in
turn.  First set the value of `trees' to `(maple oak pine birch)', then
set the CDR of its second CDR to `nil' and then find the value of
`trees':

     (setq trees '(maple oak pine birch))
          => (maple oak pine birch)

     (setcdr (nthcdr 2 trees) nil)
          => nil

     trees
          => (maple oak pine)

(The value returned by the `setcdr' expression is `nil' since that is
what the CDR is set to.)

To repeat, in `kill-new', the `nthcdr' function takes the CDR a number
of times that is one less than the maximum permitted size of the kill
ring and `setcdr' sets the CDR of that element (which will be the rest
of the elements in the kill ring) to `nil'.  This prevents the kill
ring from growing too long.

The next to last expression in the `kill-new' function is

     (setq kill-ring-yank-pointer kill-ring)

The `kill-ring-yank-pointer' is a global variable that is set to be the
`kill-ring'.

Even though the `kill-ring-yank-pointer' is called a `pointer', it is a
variable just like the kill ring.  However, the name has been chosen to
help humans understand how the variable is used.  The variable is used
in functions such as `yank' and `yank-pop' (*note Yanking Text Back:
Yanking.).

Now, to return to an early expression in the body of the function:

       (if (fboundp 'menu-bar-update-yank-menu)
            (menu-bar-update-yank-menu string (and replace (car kill-ring))))

It starts with an `if' expression

In this case, the expression tests first to see whether
`menu-bar-update-yank-menu' exists as a function, and if so, calls it.
The `fboundp' function returns true if the symbol it is testing has a
function definition that `is not void'.  If the symbol's function
definition were void, we would receive an error message, as we did when
we created errors intentionally (*note Generate an Error Message:
Making Errors.).

The then-part contains an expression whose first element is the
function `and'.

The `and' special form evaluates each of its arguments until one of the
arguments returns a value of `nil', in which case the `and' expression
returns `nil'; however, if none of the arguments returns a value of
`nil', the value resulting from evaluating the last argument is
returned.  (Since such a value is not `nil', it is considered true in
Emacs Lisp.)  In other words, an `and' expression returns a true value
only if all its arguments are true.  (*Note Second Buffer Related
Review::.)

The expression determines whether the second argument to
`menu-bar-update-yank-menu' is true or not.

`menu-bar-update-yank-menu' is one of the functions that make it
possible to use the `Select and Paste' menu in the Edit item of a menu
bar; using a mouse, you can look at the various pieces of text you have
saved and select one piece to paste.

The last expression in the `kill-new' function adds the newly copied
string to whatever facility exists for copying and pasting among
different programs running in a windowing system.  In the X Windowing
system, for example, the `x-select-text' function takes the string and
stores it in memory operated by X.  You can paste the string in another
program, such as an Xterm.

The expression looks like this:

       (if interprogram-cut-function
           (funcall interprogram-cut-function string (not replace))))

If an `interprogram-cut-function' exists, then Emacs executes
`funcall', which in turn calls its first argument as a function and
passes the remaining arguments to it.  (Incidentally, as far as I can
see, this `if' expression could be replaced by an `and' expression
similar to the one in the first part of the function.)

We are not going to discuss windowing systems and other programs
further, but merely note that this is a mechanism that enables GNU
Emacs to work easily and well with other programs.

This code for placing text in the kill ring, either concatenated with
an existing element or as a new element, leads us to the code for
bringing back text that has been cut out of the buffer--the yank
commands.  However, before discussing the yank commands, it is better
to learn how lists are implemented in a computer.  This will make clear
such mysteries as the use of the term `pointer'.


File: eintr,  Node: Digression into C,  Next: defvar,  Prev: copy-region-as-kill,  Up: Cutting & Storing Text

8.4 Digression into C
=====================

The `copy-region-as-kill' function (*note `copy-region-as-kill':
copy-region-as-kill.) uses the `filter-buffer-substring' function,
which in turn uses the `delete-and-extract-region' function.  It
removes the contents of a region and you cannot get them back.

Unlike the other code discussed here, the `delete-and-extract-region'
function is not written in Emacs Lisp; it is written in C and is one of
the primitives of the GNU Emacs system.  Since it is very simple, I
will digress briefly from Lisp and describe it here.

Like many of the other Emacs primitives, `delete-and-extract-region' is
written as an instance of a C macro, a macro being a template for code.
The complete macro looks like this:

     DEFUN ("buffer-substring-no-properties", Fbuffer_substring_no_properties,
            Sbuffer_substring_no_properties, 2, 2, 0,
            doc: /* Return the characters of part of the buffer,
     without the text properties.
     The two arguments START and END are character positions;
     they can be in either order.  */)
          (start, end)
          Lisp_Object start, end;
     {
       register int b, e;

       validate_region (&start, &end);
       b = XINT (start);
       e = XINT (end);

       return make_buffer_string (b, e, 0);
     }

Without going into the details of the macro writing process, let me
point out that this macro starts with the word `DEFUN'.  The word
`DEFUN' was chosen since the code serves the same purpose as `defun'
does in Lisp.  (The `DEFUN' C macro is defined in `emacs/src/lisp.h'.)

The word `DEFUN' is followed by seven parts inside of parentheses:

   * The first part is the name given to the function in Lisp,
     `delete-and-extract-region'.

   * The second part is the name of the function in C,
     `Fdelete_and_extract_region'.  By convention, it starts with `F'.
     Since C does not use hyphens in names, underscores are used
     instead.

   * The third part is the name for the C constant structure that
     records information on this function for internal use.  It is the
     name of the function in C but begins with an `S' instead of an `F'.

   * The fourth and fifth parts specify the minimum and maximum number
     of arguments the function can have.  This function demands exactly
     2 arguments.

   * The sixth part is nearly like the argument that follows the
     `interactive' declaration in a function written in Lisp: a letter
     followed, perhaps, by a prompt.  The only difference from the Lisp
     is when the macro is called with no arguments.  Then you write a
     `0' (which is a `null string'), as in this macro.

     If you were to specify arguments, you would place them between
     quotation marks.  The C macro for `goto-char' includes `"NGoto
     char: "' in this position to indicate that the function expects a
     raw prefix, in this case, a numerical location in a buffer, and
     provides a prompt.

   * The seventh part is a documentation string, just like the one for a
     function written in Emacs Lisp, except that every newline must be
     written explicitly as `\n' followed by a backslash and carriage
     return.

     Thus, the first two lines of documentation for  `goto-char' are
     written like this:

            "Set point to POSITION, a number or marker.\n\
          Beginning of buffer is position (point-min), end is (point-max).

In a C macro, the formal parameters come next, with a statement of what
kind of object they are, followed by what might be called the `body' of
the macro.  For `delete-and-extract-region' the `body' consists of the
following four lines:

     validate_region (&start, &end);
     if (XINT (start) == XINT (end))
       return build_string ("");
     return del_range_1 (XINT (start), XINT (end), 1, 1);

The   `validate_region' function checks whether the values passed as
the beginning and end of the region are the proper type and are within
range.  If the beginning and end positions are the same, then return
and empty string.

The `del_range_1' function actually deletes the text.  It is a complex
function we will not look into.  It updates the buffer and does other
things.  However, it is worth looking at the two arguments passed to
`del_range'.  These are `XINT (start)' and `XINT (end)'.

As far as the C language is concerned, `start' and `end' are two
integers that mark the beginning and end of the region to be deleted(1).

In early versions of Emacs, these two numbers were thirty-two bits
long, but the code is slowly being generalized to handle other lengths.
Three of the available bits are used to specify the type of
information; the remaining bits are used as `content'.

`XINT' is a C macro that extracts the relevant number from the longer
collection of bits; the three other bits are discarded.

The command in `delete-and-extract-region' looks like this:

     del_range_1 (XINT (start), XINT (end), 1, 1);

It deletes the region between the beginning position, `start', and the
ending position, `end'.

From the point of view of the person writing Lisp, Emacs is all very
simple; but hidden underneath is a great deal of complexity to make it
all work.

---------- Footnotes ----------

(1) More precisely, and requiring more expert knowledge to understand,
the two integers are of type `Lisp_Object', which can also be a C union
instead of an integer type.


File: eintr,  Node: defvar,  Next: cons & search-fwd Review,  Prev: Digression into C,  Up: Cutting & Storing Text

8.5 Initializing a Variable with `defvar'
=========================================

The `copy-region-as-kill' function is written in Emacs Lisp.  Two
functions within it, `kill-append' and `kill-new', copy a region in a
buffer and save it in a variable called the `kill-ring'.  This section
describes how the `kill-ring' variable is created and initialized using
the `defvar' special form.

(Again we note that the term `kill-ring' is a misnomer.  The text that
is clipped out of the buffer can be brought back; it is not a ring of
corpses, but a ring of resurrectable text.)

In Emacs Lisp, a variable such as the `kill-ring' is created and given
an initial value by using the `defvar' special form.  The name comes
from "define variable".

The `defvar' special form is similar to `setq' in that it sets the
value of a variable.  It is unlike `setq' in two ways: first, it only
sets the value of the variable if the variable does not already have a
value.  If the variable already has a value, `defvar' does not override
the existing value.  Second, `defvar' has a documentation string.

(Another special form, `defcustom', is designed for variables that
people customize.  It has more features than `defvar'.  (*Note Setting
Variables with `defcustom': defcustom.)

* Menu:

* See variable current value::
* defvar and asterisk::


File: eintr,  Node: See variable current value,  Next: defvar and asterisk,  Prev: defvar,  Up: defvar

Seeing the Current Value of a Variable
--------------------------------------

You can see the current value of a variable, any variable, by using the
`describe-variable' function, which is usually invoked by typing `C-h
v'.  If you type `C-h v' and then `kill-ring' (followed by <RET>) when
prompted, you will see what is in your current kill ring--this may be
quite a lot!  Conversely, if you have been doing nothing this Emacs
session except read this document, you may have nothing in it.  Also,
you will see the documentation for `kill-ring':

     Documentation:
     List of killed text sequences.
     Since the kill ring is supposed to interact nicely with cut-and-paste
     facilities offered by window systems, use of this variable should
     interact nicely with `interprogram-cut-function' and
     `interprogram-paste-function'.  The functions `kill-new',
     `kill-append', and `current-kill' are supposed to implement this
     interaction; you may want to use them instead of manipulating the kill
     ring directly.

The kill ring is defined by a `defvar' in the following way:

     (defvar kill-ring nil
       "List of killed text sequences.
     ...")

In this variable definition, the variable is given an initial value of
`nil', which makes sense, since if you have saved nothing, you want
nothing back if you give a `yank' command.  The documentation string is
written just like the documentation string of a `defun'.  As with the
documentation string of the `defun', the first line of the
documentation should be a complete sentence, since some commands, like
`apropos', print only the first line of documentation.  Succeeding
lines should not be indented; otherwise they look odd when you use `C-h
v' (`describe-variable').
author	Robert J. Chassell <bob@rattlesnake.com>
date	Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:00:13 +0000
parents
children	a9d44a0da97d