# HG changeset patch # User Richard M. Stallman # Date 988314386 0 # Node ID 0b7a984464cf0b7df8429a10f841e55cc5a8b00a # Parent b04b5ca149673d76933b4958e510f7ae6da4e1d7 Clarify when C-? is available as Help. Explain that normal-erase-is-backspace-mode toggles between the two modes. Describe the case where BACKSPACE has been remapped to DELETE in the window system. diff -r b04b5ca14967 -r 0b7a984464cf man/trouble.texi --- a/man/trouble.texi Thu Apr 26 19:44:30 2001 +0000 +++ b/man/trouble.texi Thu Apr 26 19:46:26 2001 +0000 @@ -169,16 +169,20 @@ isn't. In all of those cases, the immediate remedy is the same: use the -command @kbd{M-x normal-erase-is-backspace-mode}. That should make -the proper key work as @key{DEL}. On a text-only terminal, if you do -want to ask for help, use @key{F1} or @kbd{C-?}. +command @kbd{M-x normal-erase-is-backspace-mode}. This toggles +between the two modes that Emacs supports for handling @key{DEL}, so +if Emacs starts in the wrong mode, it should switch to the right mode. +On a text-only terminal, if you want to ask for help when @key{BS} is +treated as @key{DEL}, use @key{F1}; @kbd{C-?} may also work, if it +sends character code 127. @findex normal-erase-is-backspace-mode To fix the problem automatically for every Emacs session, you can put one of the following lines into your @file{.emacs} file (@pxref{Init File}). For the first case above, where @key{DELETE} deletes forwards instead of backwards, use this line to make -@key{DELETE} act as @key{DEL}: +@key{DELETE} act as @key{DEL} (resulting in behavior compatible +with Emacs 20 and previous versions): @lisp (normal-erase-is-backspace-mode 0) @@ -199,6 +203,15 @@ @key{DEL}, and @code{nil} specifies the other mode. @xref{Easy Customization}. + With a window system, it can also happen that the usual erasure key +is labeled @key{BACKSPACE}, there is a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere, and +both keys delete forward. This probably means that someone has +redefined your @key{BACKSPACE} key as a @key{DELETE} key. With X, +this is typically done with a command to the @code{xmodmap} program +when you start the server or log in. The most likely motive for this +customization was to support old versions of Emacs, so we recommend +you simply remove it now. + @node Stuck Recursive @subsection Recursive Editing Levels