changeset 56527:1e634b993162

(Regexp Replace): Further update text for new replacement operators.
author Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
date Sat, 24 Jul 2004 21:44:45 +0000
parents 6740a7016dea
children b1b127f6d343
files man/search.texi
diffstat 1 files changed, 17 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-) [+]
line wrap: on
line diff
--- a/man/search.texi	Sat Jul 24 21:40:19 2004 +0000
+++ b/man/search.texi	Sat Jul 24 21:44:45 2004 +0000
@@ -1038,20 +1038,21 @@
   You can also use Lisp expressions to calculate parts of the
 replacement string.  To do this, write @samp{\,} followed by the
 expression in the replacement string.  Each replacement calculates the
-value of the expression, which ought to be a string, and uses it in
+value of the expression and converts it to text without quoting (if
+it's a string, this means using the string's contents), and uses it in
 the replacement string in place of the expression itself.  If the
 expression is a symbol, one space in the replacement string after the
-symbol name counts as part of the symbol name, so the value replaces
-them both.
+symbol name goes with the symbol name, so the value replaces them
+both.
 
-  Inside such an expression, @samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{n}} used as
-subexpressions refer respectively to the entire match as a string, and
-to a submatch as a string.  @var{n} may exceed 9 here, and the value
-of @samp{\@var{n}} is @code{nil} if subexpression @var{n} did not
-match.  You can also use @samp{\#&} and @samp{\#@var{n}} refer to
-those matches converted to numbers (this is valid when the match or
-submatch has the form of a number).  @samp{\#} stands for the number
-of already-completed replacements.
+  Inside such an expression, you can use some special sequences.
+@samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{n}} refer here, as usual, to the entire
+match as a string, and to a submatch as a string.  @var{n} may be
+multiple digits, and the value of @samp{\@var{n}} is @code{nil} if
+subexpression @var{n} did not match.  You can also use @samp{\#&} and
+@samp{\#@var{n}} to refer to those matches as numbers (this is valid
+when the match or submatch has the form of a numeral).  @samp{\#} here
+too stands for the number of already-completed replacements.
 
   Repeating our example to exchange @samp{x} and @samp{y}, we can thus
 do it also this way:
@@ -1061,9 +1062,9 @@
 \,(if \1 "y" "x") @key{RET}
 @end example
 
-  The @code{format} function (@pxref{Formatting Strings,,,elisp, GNU
-Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}) comes in handy for computing replacement
-strings for @samp{\,}.  For example, to add consecutively numbered
+  For computing replacement strings for @samp{\,}, the @code{format}
+function is often useful (@pxref{Formatting Strings,,,elisp, GNU Emacs
+Lisp Reference Manual}).  For example, to add consecutively numbered
 strings like @samp{ABC00042} to columns 73 @w{to 80} (unless they are
 already occupied), you can use
 
@@ -1074,8 +1075,8 @@
 
   If you want to enter part of the replacement string by hand each
 time, use @samp{\?} in the replacement string.  Each replacement will
-enter a recursive edit, with point at the position where the @samp{\?}
-was.  For example,
+ask you to edit the replacement string in the minibuffer, putting
+point where the @samp{\?} was.  For example,
 
 @example
 M-x replace-regexp @key{RET} \footnote@{ @key{RET}