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@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
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@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000,
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@c 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
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@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
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@node Frames, International, Windows, Top
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@chapter Frames and Graphical Displays
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When using a graphical display, you can create multiple system-level
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``windows'' in a single Emacs session. We refer to these system-level
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windows as @dfn{frames}. A frame initially contains a single Emacs
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window; however, you can subdivide this Emacs window into smaller
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windows, all fitting into the same frame. Each frame normally
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contains its own echo area and minibuffer.
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To avoid confusion, we reserve the word ``window'' for the
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subdivisions that Emacs implements, and never use it to refer to a
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Any editing you do in one frame affects the other frames. For
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instance, if you put text in the kill ring in one frame, you can yank
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it in another frame. If you exit Emacs through @kbd{C-x C-c} in one
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frame, it terminates all the frames. To delete just one frame, use
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@kbd{C-x 5 0} (that is zero, not @kbd{o}).
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Emacs compiled for MS-DOS emulates some windowing functionality,
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so that you can use many of the features described in this chapter.
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@xref{MS-DOS Mouse,,,emacs-xtra,Specialized Emacs Features}.
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* Cut and Paste:: Mouse commands for cut and paste.
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* Mouse References:: Using the mouse to select an item from a list.
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* Menu Mouse Clicks:: Mouse clicks that bring up menus.
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* Mode Line Mouse:: Mouse clicks on the mode line.
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* Creating Frames:: Creating additional Emacs frames with various contents.
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* Frame Commands:: Iconifying, deleting, and switching frames.
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* Fonts:: Changing the frame font.
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* Speedbar:: How to make and use a speedbar frame.
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* Multiple Displays:: How one Emacs job can talk to several displays.
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* Special Buffer Frames:: You can make certain buffers have their own frames.
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* Frame Parameters:: Changing the colors and other modes of frames.
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* Scroll Bars:: How to enable and disable scroll bars; how to use them.
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* Wheeled Mice:: Using mouse wheels for scrolling.
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* Drag and Drop:: Using drag and drop to open files and insert text.
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* Menu Bars:: Enabling and disabling the menu bar.
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* Tool Bars:: Enabling and disabling the tool bar.
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* Dialog Boxes:: Controlling use of dialog boxes.
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* Tooltips:: Displaying information at the current mouse position.
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* Mouse Avoidance:: Preventing the mouse pointer from obscuring text.
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* Non-Window Terminals:: Multiple frames on terminals that show only one.
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* Text-Only Mouse:: Using the mouse in text-only terminals.
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@section Cutting and Pasting on Graphical Displays
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This section describes commands for selecting a region, cutting, and
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pasting using the mouse.
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* Mouse Commands:: Moving, cutting, and pasting, with the mouse.
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* Word and Line Mouse:: Mouse commands for selecting whole words or lines.
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* Cut/Paste Other App:: Transfering text between Emacs and other apps.
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* Secondary Selection:: Cutting without altering point and mark.
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* Clipboard:: Using the clipboard for selections.
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@subsection Mouse Commands for Editing
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@cindex mouse buttons (what they do)
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Move point to where you click (@code{mouse-set-point}).
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Activate the region around the text selected by dragging, and copy it
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to the kill ring (@code{mouse-set-region}).
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Yank the last killed text at the click position
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(@code{mouse-yank-at-click}).
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If the region is active, move the nearer end of the region to the
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click position; otherwise, set mark at the current value of point and
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point at the click position. Save the resulting region in the kill
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ring; on a second click, kill it (@code{mouse-save-then-kill}).
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@findex mouse-set-point
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The most basic mouse command is @code{mouse-set-point}, which is
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called by clicking with the left mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-1}, in the
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text area of a window. This moves point to the position where you
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@vindex x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position
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Normally, Emacs does not distinguish between ordinary mouse clicks
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and clicks that select a frame. When you click on a frame to select
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it, that also changes the selected window and cursor position
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according to the mouse click position. On the X window system, you
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can change this behavior by setting the variable
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@code{x-mouse-click-focus-ignore-position} to @code{t}. Then the
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first click selects the frame, but does not affect the selected window
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or cursor position. If you click again in the same place, that click
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will be in the selected frame, so it will change the window or cursor
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@findex mouse-set-region
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@vindex mouse-drag-copy-region
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Holding down @kbd{Mouse-1} and ``dragging'' the mouse over a stretch
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of text activates the region around that text
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(@code{mouse-set-region}). @xref{Mark}. Emacs places the mark where
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you started holding down the mouse button, and point where you release
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it. In addition, the region is copied into the kill ring (@pxref{Kill
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Ring}). If you don't want Emacs to copy the region, change the
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variable @code{mouse-drag-copy-region} to @code{nil}.
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@vindex mouse-scroll-min-lines
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If you move the mouse off the top or bottom of the window while
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dragging, the window scrolls at a steady rate until you move the mouse
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back into the window. This way, you can select regions that don't fit
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entirely on the screen. The number of lines scrolled per step depends
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on how far away from the window edge the mouse has gone; the variable
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@code{mouse-scroll-min-lines} specifies a minimum step size.
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@findex mouse-yank-at-click
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@vindex mouse-yank-at-point
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Clicking with the middle mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-2}, moves point to
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the position where you clicked and performs a yank
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(@code{mouse-yank-at-click}). @xref{Yanking}. If you change the
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variable @code{mouse-yank-at-point} to a non-@code{nil} value,
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@kbd{Mouse-2} does not move point. Then it does not matter where you
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click, or even which of the frame's windows you click on; the yank
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occurs at the existing point. This variable also affects yanking the
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primary and secondary selections (@pxref{Cut/Paste Other App}).
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@findex mouse-save-then-kill
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Clicking with the right mouse button, @kbd{Mouse-3}, runs the
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command @code{mouse-save-then-kill}. This performs several actions
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depending on where you click and the status of the region:
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If no region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} activates the region,
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placing the mark where point was and point at the clicked position.
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In addition, the text in the region is copied to the kill ring.
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If a region is active, clicking @kbd{Mouse-3} adjusts the nearer end
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of the region by moving it to the clicked position. The adjusted
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region's text is copied to the kill ring; if the text in the original
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region was already on the kill ring, it replaces it there.
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If you originally specified the region using a double or triple
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@kbd{Mouse-1}, so that the region is defined to consist of entire
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words or lines, then adjusting the region with @kbd{Mouse-3} also
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proceeds by entire words or lines.
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If you use @kbd{Mouse-3} a second time consecutively, at the same
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place, that kills the region already selected. Thus, the simplest way
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to kill text with the mouse is to click @kbd{Mouse-1} at one end, then
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click @kbd{Mouse-3} twice at the other end. To copy the text into the
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kill ring without deleting it from the buffer, press @kbd{Mouse-3}
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just once---or just drag across the text with @kbd{Mouse-1}. Then you
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can copy it elsewhere by yanking it.
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Whenever you set the region using any of the mouse commands
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described above, the mark will be deactivated by any subsequent
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unshifted cursor motion command, in addition to the usual ways of
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deactivating the mark. @xref{Shift Selection}. While the region
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remains active, typing @key{Backspace} or @key{Delete} deletes the
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text in that region and deactivates the mark; this behavior follows a
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convention established by other graphical programs, and it does
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@emph{not} apply when you set the region any other way, including
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shift-selection (@pxref{Shift Selection}).
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@cindex Delete Selection mode
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@cindex mode, Delete Selection
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@findex delete-selection-mode
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Many graphical applications also follow the convention that
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insertion while text is selected deletes the selected text. You can
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make Emacs behave this way by enabling Delete Selection mode.
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@node Word and Line Mouse
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@subsection Mouse Commands for Words and Lines
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These variants of @kbd{Mouse-1} select entire words or lines at a
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time. Emacs activates the region around the selected text, which is
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also copied to the kill ring.
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Select the text around the word which you click on.
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Double-clicking on a character with ``symbol'' syntax (such as
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underscore, in C mode) selects the symbol surrounding that character.
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Double-clicking on a character with open- or close-parenthesis syntax
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selects the parenthetical grouping which that character starts or
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ends. Double-clicking on a character with string-delimiter syntax
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(such as a singlequote or doublequote in C) selects the string
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constant (Emacs uses heuristics to figure out whether that character
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is the beginning or the end of it).
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@item Double-Drag-Mouse-1
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Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole words.
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Select the line you click on.
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@item Triple-Drag-Mouse-1
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Select the text you drag across, in the form of whole lines.
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@node Cut/Paste Other App
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@subsection Cut and Paste with Other Window Applications
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@cindex X cutting and pasting
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@cindex primary selection
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@cindex selection, primary
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When running Emacs under the X window system, you can easily
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transfer text between Emacs and other X applications using the
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@dfn{primary selection} (also called the @dfn{X selection}). This is
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@emph{not} the same thing as the @dfn{clipboard}, which is a separate
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facility used on desktop environments such as Gnome, and on operating
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systems such as Microsoft Windows (@pxref{Clipboard}).
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Under X, whenever you select some text in Emacs by dragging or
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clicking the mouse (@pxref{Mouse Commands}), it is also saved in the
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primary selection. You can then @dfn{paste} that text into any other
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X application, usually by clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} in that application.
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Unlike the Emacs kill ring (@pxref{Kill Ring}), the primary selection
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has no ``memory'': each time you save something in the primary
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selection, either in Emacs or in another X application, the previous
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contents of the primary selection are lost.
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@cindex MS-Windows, and primary selection
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MS-Windows provides no primary selection, but Emacs emulates it
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within a single Emacs session, by storing the selected text
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internally. Therefore, all the features and commands related to the
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primary selection work on Windows as they do on X, for cutting and
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pasting within the same session, but not across Emacs sessions or with
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Whenever you kill some text using a command such as @kbd{C-w}
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(@code{kill-region}), or copy it into the kill ring using a command
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such as @kbd{M-w} (@code{kill-ring-save}), that text is also saved in
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the primary selection. @xref{Killing}.
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@vindex select-active-regions
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If you set the region using the keyboard---for instance, by typing
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@kbd{C-@key{SPC}} and moving point away from the mark---the text in
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the region is not normally saved to the primary selection. However,
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if you change the variable @code{select-active-regions} to @code{t},
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the region is saved to the primary selection whenever you activate the
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mark. Each change to the region also updates the primary selection.
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@vindex yank-pop-change-selection
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If you change @code{yank-pop-change-selection} to @code{t}, rotating
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the kill ring with @kbd{M-y} (@code{yank-pop}) also saves the new yank
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to the primary selection (@pxref{Yanking}).
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@vindex save-interprogram-paste-before-kill
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If you change @code{save-interprogram-paste-before-kill} to
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@code{t}, each kill command first saves the existing selection onto
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the kill ring. This prevents you from losing the existing selection,
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at the risk of large memory consumption if other applications generate
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@vindex x-cut-buffer-max
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Whenever Emacs saves some text to the primary selection, it may also
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save it to the @dfn{cut buffer}. The cut buffer is an obsolete
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predecessor to the primary selection; most modern applications do not
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use it. Saving text to the cut buffer is slow and inefficient, so
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Emacs only does it if the text is shorter than the value of
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@code{x-cut-buffer-max} (20000 characters by default).
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You can yank the primary selection into Emacs using the usual yank
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commands, such as @kbd{C-y} (@code{yank}) and @kbd{Mouse-2}
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(@code{mouse-yank-at-click}). These commands actually check the
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primary selection before referring to the kill ring; if no primary
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selection is available, the kill ring contents are used. To prevent
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yank commands from accessing the primary selection, set the variable
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@code{x-select-enable-primary} to @code{nil}.
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The standard coding system for the primary selection is
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@code{compound-text-with-extensions}. You may find that the pasted
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text is not what you expected. In such a case, you can specify
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another coding system for the selection by typing @kbd{C-x @key{RET}
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x} or @kbd{C-x @key{RET} X}. Alternatively, you can request a
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different data type by modifying the variable
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@code{x-select-request-type}. @xref{Communication Coding}.
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@node Secondary Selection
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@subsection Secondary Selection
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@cindex secondary selection
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In addition to the primary selection, the X Window System provides a
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second similar facility known as the @dfn{secondary selection}.
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Nowadays, few X applications make use of the secondary selection, but
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you can access it using the following Emacs commands:
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@findex mouse-set-secondary
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@kindex M-Drag-Mouse-1
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Set the secondary selection, with one end at the place where you press
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down the button, and the other end at the place where you release it
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(@code{mouse-set-secondary}). The selected text is highlighted, using
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the @code{secondary-selection} face, as you drag. The window scrolls
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automatically if you drag the mouse off the top or bottom of the
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window, just like @code{mouse-set-region} (@pxref{Mouse Commands}).
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This command does not alter the kill ring.
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@findex mouse-start-secondary
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Set one endpoint for the @dfn{secondary selection}
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(@code{mouse-start-secondary}).
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@findex mouse-secondary-save-then-kill
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Set the secondary selection, with one end at the position clicked and
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the other at the position specified with @kbd{M-Mouse-1}
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(@code{mouse-secondary-save-then-kill}). This also puts the selected
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text in the kill ring. A second @kbd{M-Mouse-3} at the same place
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kills the secondary selection just made.
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@findex mouse-yank-secondary
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Insert the secondary selection where you click, placing point at the
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end of the yanked text (@code{mouse-yank-secondary}).
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Double or triple clicking of @kbd{M-Mouse-1} operates on words and
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lines, much like @kbd{Mouse-1}.
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If @code{mouse-yank-at-point} is non-@code{nil}, @kbd{M-Mouse-2} yanks
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at point. Then it does not matter precisely where you click, or even
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which of the frame's windows you click on. @xref{Mouse Commands}.
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@subsection Using the Clipboard
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In desktop environments such as Gnome, and operating systems such as
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Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, you can transfer data (usually text)
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between different applications using the @dfn{clipboard}. The
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clipboard is distinct from the primary selection and secondary
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selection discussed earlier. You can access the clipboard through the
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@samp{Edit} menu of the menu bar (@pxref{Menu Bar}).
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@findex clipboard-kill-region
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The command @code{clipboard-kill-region}, which is bound to the
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@code{Cut} menu item, kills the region and saves it in the clipboard.
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@findex clipboard-kill-ring-save
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The command @code{clipboard-kill-ring-save}, which is bound to the
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@code{Copy} menu item, copies the region to the kill ring and saves it
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@findex clipboard-yank
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The @code{Paste} menu item in the Edit menu yanks the contents of
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the clipboard at point (@code{clipboard-yank}).
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@vindex x-select-enable-clipboard
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You can customize the variable @code{x-select-enable-clipboard} to
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make the Emacs yank functions consult the clipboard before the primary
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selection, and to make the kill functions to store in the clipboard as
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well as the primary selection. Otherwise, these commands do not
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access the clipboard at all. Using the clipboard is the default on
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MS-Windows and Mac OS, but not on other systems.
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@node Mouse References
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@section Following References with the Mouse
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@kindex Mouse-1 @r{(selection)}
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@kindex Mouse-2 @r{(selection)}
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@vindex mouse-highlight
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Some Emacs buffers include @dfn{buttons}. A button is a piece of
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text that performs some action when you activate it, such as following
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a reference. Usually, a button's text is visually highlighted: it is
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underlined, or a box is drawn around it. If you move the mouse over a
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button, the shape of the mouse cursor changes and the button lights up
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(if you change the variable @code{mouse-highlight} to @code{nil},
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Emacs disables this highlighting).
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You can activate a button by moving point to it and typing
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@key{RET}, or by clicking either @kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2} on the
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button. For example, typing @key{RET} or clicking on a file name in a
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Dired buffer visits that file (@pxref{Dired}). Doing it on an error
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message in the @samp{*Compilation*} buffer goes to the source code for
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that error message (@pxref{Compilation}). Doing it on a completion in
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the @samp{*Completions*} buffer chooses that completion
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(@pxref{Completion}).
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Although clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button usually activates that
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button, if you hold the mouse button down for a short period of time
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before releasing it (specifically, for more than 450 milliseconds),
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then Emacs moves point where you clicked instead. This behavior
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allows you to use the mouse to move point over a button without
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following it. Dragging---moving the mouse while it is held down---has
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its usual behavior of setting the region, even if you drag from or
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@vindex mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows
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Normally, clicking @kbd{Mouse-1} on a button activates the button
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even if it is in a nonselected window. If you change the variable
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@code{mouse-1-click-in-non-selected-windows} to @code{nil}, clicking
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@kbd{Mouse-1} on a button in an un-selected window moves point to the
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clicked position and selects that window, without activating the
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@vindex mouse-1-click-follows-link
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In Emacs versions before 22, only @kbd{Mouse-2} activates buttons
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and @kbd{Mouse-1} always sets point. If you prefer this older
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behavior, set the variable @code{mouse-1-click-follows-link} to
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@code{nil}. This variable also lets you choose various other
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alternatives for following links with the mouse. Type @kbd{C-h v
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mouse-1-click-follows-link @key{RET}} for more details.
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@node Menu Mouse Clicks
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@section Mouse Clicks for Menus
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Several mouse clicks with the @key{CTRL} and @key{SHIFT} modifiers
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This menu is for selecting a buffer.
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The MSB (``mouse select buffer'') global minor mode makes this
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menu smarter and more customizable. @xref{Buffer Menus}.
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This menu is for specifying faces and other text properties
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for editing formatted text. @xref{Formatted Text}.
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This menu is mode-specific. For most modes if Menu-bar mode is on,
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this menu has the same items as all the mode-specific menu-bar menus
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put together. Some modes may specify a different menu for this
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button.@footnote{Some systems use @kbd{Mouse-3} for a mode-specific
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menu. We took a survey of users, and found they preferred to keep
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@kbd{Mouse-3} for selecting and killing regions. Hence the decision
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to use @kbd{C-Mouse-3} for this menu. To use @kbd{Mouse-3} instead,
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do @code{(global-set-key [mouse-3] 'mouse-popup-menubar-stuff)}.} If
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Menu-bar mode is off, this menu contains all the items which would be
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present in the menu bar---not just the mode-specific ones---so that
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you can access them without having to display the menu bar.
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This menu is for changing the default face within the window's buffer.
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@xref{Temporary Face Changes}.
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@node Mode Line Mouse
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@section Mode Line Mouse Commands
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@cindex mode line, mouse
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@cindex mouse on mode line
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You can use mouse clicks on window mode lines to select and manipulate
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Some areas of the mode line, such as the buffer name, and major and minor
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mode names, have their own special mouse bindings. These areas are
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highlighted when you hold the mouse over them, and information about
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the special bindings will be displayed (@pxref{Tooltips}). This
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section's commands do not apply in those areas.
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@kindex Mouse-1 @r{(mode line)}
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@kbd{Mouse-1} on a mode line selects the window it belongs to. By
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dragging @kbd{Mouse-1} on the mode line, you can move it, thus
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changing the height of the windows above and below. Changing heights
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with the mouse in this way never deletes windows, it just refuses to
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make any window smaller than the minimum height.
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@kindex Mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
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@kbd{Mouse-2} on a mode line expands that window to fill its frame.
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@kindex Mouse-3 @r{(mode line)}
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@kbd{Mouse-3} on a mode line deletes the window it belongs to. If the
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frame has only one window, it buries the current buffer instead, and
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switches to another buffer.
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@kindex C-mouse-2 @r{(mode line)}
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@kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a mode line splits the window above
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horizontally, above the place in the mode line where you click.
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@kindex C-Mouse-2 @r{(scroll bar)}
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@kindex Mouse-1 @r{(scroll bar)}
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Using @kbd{Mouse-1} on the divider between two side-by-side mode
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lines, you can move the vertical boundary left or right. Using
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@kbd{C-Mouse-2} on a scroll bar splits the corresponding window
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vertically. @xref{Split Window}.
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@node Creating Frames
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@section Creating Frames
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@cindex creating frames
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The prefix key @kbd{C-x 5} is analogous to @kbd{C-x 4}, with
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parallel subcommands. The difference is that @kbd{C-x 5} commands
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create a new frame rather than just a new window in the selected frame
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(@pxref{Pop Up Window}). If an existing visible or iconified
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(``minimized'') frame already displays the requested material, these
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commands use the existing frame, after raising or deiconifying
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(``un-minimizing'') as necessary.
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The various @kbd{C-x 5} commands differ in how they find or create the
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@findex make-frame-command
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Create a new frame (@code{make-frame-command}).
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@item C-x 5 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}
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Select buffer @var{bufname} in another frame. This runs
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@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}.
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@item C-x 5 f @var{filename} @key{RET}
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Visit file @var{filename} and select its buffer in another frame. This
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runs @code{find-file-other-frame}. @xref{Visiting}.
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@item C-x 5 d @var{directory} @key{RET}
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Select a Dired buffer for directory @var{directory} in another frame.
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This runs @code{dired-other-frame}. @xref{Dired}.
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Start composing a mail message in another frame. This runs
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@code{mail-other-frame}. It is the other-frame variant of @kbd{C-x m}.
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Find a tag in the current tag table in another frame. This runs
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@code{find-tag-other-frame}, the multiple-frame variant of @kbd{M-.}.
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@item C-x 5 r @var{filename} @key{RET}
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@findex find-file-read-only-other-frame
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Visit file @var{filename} read-only, and select its buffer in another
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frame. This runs @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
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@cindex default-frame-alist
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@cindex initial-frame-alist
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@cindex face customization, in init file
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@cindex color customization, in init file
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You can control the appearance of new frames you create by setting the
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frame parameters in @code{default-frame-alist}. You can use the
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variable @code{initial-frame-alist} to specify parameters that affect
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only the initial frame. @xref{Initial Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs
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Lisp Reference Manual}, for more information.
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@cindex font (default)
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Here is an example of using @code{default-frame-alist} to specify
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the default foreground color and font:
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(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "10x20"))
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(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(foreground-color . "blue"))
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By putting such customizations in your init file, you can control the
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appearance of all the frames Emacs creates, including the initial one
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(@pxref{Init File}). @xref{Fonts}, for other ways to set the default
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@section Frame Commands
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The following commands let you create, delete and operate on frames:
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@kindex C-z @r{(X windows)}
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@findex suspend-frame
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Minimize (or ``iconify) the selected Emacs frame
608
(@code{suspend-frame}). @xref{Exiting}.
613
Delete the selected frame (@code{delete-frame}). This is not allowed
614
if there is only one frame.
619
Select another frame, raise it, and warp the mouse to it. If you
620
repeat this command, it cycles through all the frames on your
625
@findex delete-other-frames
626
Delete all frames except the selected one.
629
The @kbd{C-x 5 0} (@code{delete-frame}) command will never delete
630
the last frame, to prevent you from losing the ability to interact
631
with the Emacs process. Note that when Emacs is run as a daemon
632
(@pxref{Emacs Server}), there is always a ``virtual frame'' that
633
remains after all the ordinary, interactive frames are deleted. In
634
this case, @kbd{C-x 5 0} can delete the last interactive frame; you
635
can use @command{emacsclient} to reconnect to the Emacs session.
637
@vindex focus-follows-mouse
638
On X, you may have to tell Emacs how the system (or the window
639
manager) handles focus-switching between windows, in order for the
640
command @kbd{C-x 5 o} (@code{other-frame}) to work properly.
641
Unfortunately, there is no way for Emacs to detect this automatically,
642
so you should set the variable @code{focus-follows-mouse}. If simply
643
moving the mouse onto a window selects it and gives it focus, the
644
variable should be @code{t}; if you have to click on the window to
645
select it, the variable should be @code{nil}. The default is
648
The window manager that is part of MS-Windows always gives focus to
649
a frame that raises, so this variable has no effect in the native
650
MS-Windows build of Emacs.
656
By default, Emacs displays text in X using a 12-point monospace
657
font. There are several different ways to specify a different font:
661
Click on @samp{Set Default Font} in the @samp{Options} menu. To save
662
this for future sessions, click on @samp{Save Options} in the
666
Add a line to your init file (@pxref{Init File}), modifying the
667
variable @code{default-frame-alist} to specify the @code{font}
668
parameter (@pxref{Creating Frames}), like this:
671
(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "DejaVu Sans Mono-12"))
674
@cindex X defaults file
675
@cindex X resources file
677
Add an @samp{emacs.font} X resource setting to your X resource file,
681
emacs.font: DejaVu Sans Mono-12
685
You must restart X, or use the @command{xrdb} command, for the X
686
resources file to take effect. @xref{Resources}. When specifying a
687
font in your X resources file, you should not quote it.
690
If you are running Emacs on the GNOME desktop, you can tell Emacs to
691
use the default system font by setting the variable
692
@code{font-use-system-font} to @code{t} (the default is @code{nil}).
693
For this to work, Emacs must be compiled with Gconf support; this is
694
done automatically if the libraries are present at compile time.
697
Use the command line option @samp{-fn} (or @samp{--font}). @xref{Font
702
On X, there are four different ways to express a ``font name''. The
703
first is to use a @dfn{Fontconfig pattern}. Fontconfig patterns have
707
@var{fontname}[-@var{fontsize}][:@var{name1}=@var{values1}][:@var{name2}=@var{values2}]...
711
Within this format, any of the elements in braces may be omitted.
712
Here, @var{fontname} is the @dfn{family name} of the font, such as
713
@samp{Monospace} or @samp{DejaVu Serif}; @var{fontsize} is the
714
@dfn{point size} of the font (one @dfn{printer's point} is about 1/72
715
of an inch); and the @samp{@var{name}=@var{values}} entries specify
716
settings such as the slant and weight of the font. Each @var{values}
717
may be a single value, or a list of values separated by commas. In
718
addition, some property values are valid with only one kind of
719
property name, in which case the @samp{@var{name}=} part may be
722
Here is a list of common font properties:
726
One of @samp{italic}, @samp{oblique} or @samp{roman}.
729
One of @samp{light}, @samp{medium}, @samp{demibold}, @samp{bold} or
733
Some fonts define special styles which are a combination of slant and
734
weight. For instance, @samp{Dejavu Sans} defines the @samp{book}
735
style, which overrides the slant and weight properties.
738
One of @samp{condensed}, @samp{normal}, or @samp{expanded}.
741
One of @samp{monospace}, @samp{proportional}, @samp{dual-width}, or
746
Here are some examples of Fontconfig patterns:
752
DejaVu Sans Mono:bold:italic
753
Monospace-12:weight=bold:slant=italic
756
See the Fontconfig manual for a more detailed description of
757
Fontconfig patterns. This manual is located in the file
758
@file{fontconfig-user.html}, distributed with Fontconfig. It is also
759
available online at @url{http://fontconfig.org/fontconfig-user.html}.
760
In particular, that manual describes additional font properties that
761
influence how the font is hinted, antialiased, or scaled.
763
The second way to specify a font is to use a @dfn{GTK font
764
description}. These have the syntax
767
@var{fontname} [@var{properties}] [@var{fontsize}]
771
where @var{fontname} is the family name, @var{properties} is a list of
772
property values separated by spaces, and @var{fontsize} is the point
773
size. The properties that you may specify are as follows:
777
One of @samp{roman}, @samp{italic} or @samp{oblique}. If omitted, the
778
@samp{roman} style is used.
780
One of @samp{medium}, @samp{ultra-light}, @samp{light},
781
@samp{semi-bold}, or @samp{bold}. If omitted, @samp{medium} weight is
786
Here are some examples of GTK font descriptions:
790
Monospace Bold Italic 12
794
@cindex X Logical Font Description
795
The third way to specify a font is to use an @dfn{XLFD} (@dfn{X
796
Logical Font Description}). This is the traditional method for
797
specifying fonts under X. Each XLFD consists of fourteen words or
798
numbers, separated by dashes, like this:
801
-misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
805
A wildcard character (@samp{*}) in an XLFD matches any sequence of
806
characters (including none), and @samp{?} matches any single
807
character. However, matching is implementation-dependent, and can be
808
inaccurate when wildcards match dashes in a long name. For reliable
809
results, supply all 14 dashes and use wildcards only within a field.
810
Case is insignificant in an XLFD. The syntax for an XLFD is as
814
-@var{maker}-@var{family}-@var{weight}-@var{slant}-@var{widthtype}-@var{style}@dots{}
815
@dots{}-@var{pixels}-@var{height}-@var{horiz}-@var{vert}-@var{spacing}-@var{width}-@var{registry}-@var{encoding}
819
The entries have the following meanings:
823
The name of the font manufacturer.
825
The name of the font family (e.g. @samp{courier}).
827
The font weight---normally either @samp{bold}, @samp{medium} or
828
@samp{light}. Some font names support other values.
830
The font slant---normally @samp{r} (roman), @samp{i} (italic),
831
@samp{o} (oblique), @samp{ri} (reverse italic), or @samp{ot} (other).
832
Some font names support other values.
834
The font width---normally @samp{condensed}, @samp{extended},
835
@samp{semicondensed} or @samp{normal} (some font names support other
838
An optional additional style name. Usually it is empty---most long
839
font names have two hyphens in a row at this point.
841
The font height, in pixels.
843
The font height on the screen, measured in tenths of a printer's
844
point. This is the point size of the font, times ten. For a given
845
vertical resolution, @var{height} and @var{pixels} are proportional;
846
therefore, it is common to specify just one of them and use @samp{*}
849
The horizontal resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
850
the font is intended.
852
The vertical resolution, in pixels per inch, of the screen for which
853
the font is intended. Normally the resolution of the fonts on your
854
system is the right value for your screen; therefore, you normally
855
specify @samp{*} for this and @var{horiz}.
857
This is @samp{m} (monospace), @samp{p} (proportional) or @samp{c}
860
The average character width, in pixels, multiplied by ten.
863
The X font character set that the font depicts. (X font character
864
sets are not the same as Emacs character sets, but they are similar.)
865
You can use the @command{xfontsel} program to check which choices you
866
have. Normally you should use @samp{iso8859} for @var{registry} and
867
@samp{1} for @var{encoding}.
870
The fourth and final method of specifying a font is to use a ``font
871
nickname''. Certain fonts have shorter nicknames, which you can use
872
instead of a normal font specification. For instance, @samp{6x13} is
876
-misc-fixed-medium-r-semicondensed--13-*-*-*-c-60-iso8859-1
879
@cindex client-side fonts
880
@cindex server-side fonts
881
On X, Emacs recognizes two types of fonts: @dfn{client-side} fonts,
882
which are provided by the Xft and Fontconfig libraries, and
883
@dfn{server-side} fonts, which are provided by the X server itself.
884
Most client-side fonts support advanced font features such as
885
antialiasing and subpixel hinting, while server-side fonts do not.
886
Fontconfig and GTK patterns match only client-side fonts.
888
@cindex listing system fonts
889
You will probably want to use a fixed-width default font---that is,
890
a font in which all characters have the same width. For Xft and
891
Fontconfig fonts, you can use the @command{fc-list} command to list
892
the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
895
fc-list :spacing=mono fc-list :spacing=charcell
899
For server-side X fonts, you can use the @command{xlsfonts} program to
900
list the available fixed-width fonts, like this:
903
xlsfonts -fn '*x*' | egrep "^[0-9]+x[0-9]+"
904
xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-m*'
905
xlsfonts -fn '*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-c*'
909
Any font with @samp{m} or @samp{c} in the @var{spacing} field of the
910
XLFD is a fixed-width font. To see what a particular font looks like,
911
use the @command{xfd} command. For example:
918
displays the entire font @samp{6x13}.
920
While running Emacs, you can also set the font of a specific kind of
921
text (@pxref{Faces}), or a particular frame (@pxref{Frame
925
@section Speedbar Frames
928
@cindex attached frame (of speedbar)
929
The @dfn{speedbar} is a special frame for conveniently navigating in
930
or operating on another frame. The speedbar, when it exists, is
931
always associated with a specific frame, called its @dfn{attached
932
frame}; all speedbar operations act on that frame.
934
Type @kbd{M-x speedbar} to create the speedbar and associate it with
935
the current frame. To dismiss the speedbar, type @kbd{M-x speedbar}
936
again, or select the speedbar and type @kbd{q}. (You can also delete
937
the speedbar frame like any other Emacs frame.) If you wish to
938
associate the speedbar with a different frame, dismiss it and call
939
@kbd{M-x speedbar} from that frame.
941
The speedbar can operate in various modes. Its default mode is
942
@dfn{File Display} mode, which shows the files in the current
943
directory of the selected window of the attached frame, one file per
944
line. Clicking on a file name visits that file in the selected window
945
of the attached frame, and clicking on a directory name shows that
946
directory in the speedbar (@pxref{Mouse References}). Each line also
947
has a box, @samp{[+]} or @samp{<+>}, that you can click on to
948
@dfn{expand} the contents of that item. Expanding a directory adds
949
the contents of that directory to the speedbar display, underneath the
950
directory's own line. Expanding an ordinary file adds a list of the
951
tags in that file to the speedbar display; you can click on a tag name
952
to jump to that tag in the selected window of the attached frame.
953
When a file or directory is expanded, the @samp{[+]} changes to
954
@samp{[-]}; you can click on that box to @dfn{contract} the item,
957
You navigate through the speedbar using the keyboard, too. Typing
958
@kbd{RET} while point is on a line in the speedbar is equivalent to
959
clicking the item on the current line, and @kbd{SPC} expands or
960
contracts the item. @kbd{U} displays the parent directory of the
961
current directory. To copy, delete, or rename the file on the current
962
line, type @kbd{C}, @kbd{D}, and @kbd{R} respectively. To create a
963
new directory, type @kbd{M}.
965
Another general-purpose speedbar mode is @dfn{Buffer Display} mode;
966
in this mode, the speedbar displays a list of Emacs buffers. To
967
switch to this mode, type @kbd{b} in the speedbar. To return to File
968
Display mode, type @kbd{f}. You can also change the display mode by
969
clicking @kbd{mouse-3} anywhere in the speedbar window (or
970
@kbd{mouse-1} on the mode-line) and selecting @samp{Displays} in the
973
Some major modes, including Rmail mode, Info, and GUD, have
974
specialized ways of putting useful items into the speedbar for you to
975
select. For example, in Rmail mode, the speedbar shows a list of Rmail
976
files, and lets you move the current message to another Rmail file by
977
clicking on its @samp{<M>} box.
979
For more details on using and programming the speedbar, @xref{Top,
980
Speedbar,,speedbar, Speedbar Manual}.
982
@node Multiple Displays
983
@section Multiple Displays
984
@cindex multiple displays
986
A single Emacs can talk to more than one X display. Initially, Emacs
987
uses just one display---the one specified with the @env{DISPLAY}
988
environment variable or with the @samp{--display} option (@pxref{Initial
989
Options}). To connect to another display, use the command
990
@code{make-frame-on-display}:
992
@findex make-frame-on-display
994
@item M-x make-frame-on-display @key{RET} @var{display} @key{RET}
995
Create a new frame on display @var{display}.
998
A single X server can handle more than one screen. When you open
999
frames on two screens belonging to one server, Emacs knows they share a
1000
single keyboard, and it treats all the commands arriving from these
1001
screens as a single stream of input.
1003
When you open frames on different X servers, Emacs makes a separate
1004
input stream for each server. Each server also has its own selected
1005
frame. The commands you enter with a particular X server apply to
1006
that server's selected frame.
1008
It is even possible to use this feature to let two or more users
1009
type simultaneously on the two displays, within the same Emacs job.
1010
In practice, however, the different users can easily interfere with
1011
each others' edits if they are not careful.
1013
@node Special Buffer Frames
1014
@section Special Buffer Frames
1016
@vindex special-display-buffer-names
1017
You can make certain chosen buffers, which Emacs normally displays
1018
in ``another window,'' appear in special frames of their own. To do
1019
this, set the variable @code{special-display-buffer-names} to a list
1020
of buffer names; any buffer whose name is in that list automatically
1021
gets a special frame, when an Emacs command wants to display it ``in
1024
For example, if you set the variable this way,
1027
(setq special-display-buffer-names
1028
'("*Completions*" "*grep*" "*tex-shell*"))
1032
then completion lists, @code{grep} output and the @TeX{} mode shell
1033
buffer get individual frames of their own. These frames, and the
1034
windows in them, are never automatically split or reused for any other
1035
buffers. They continue to show the buffers they were created for,
1036
unless you alter them by hand. Killing the special buffer deletes its
1037
frame automatically.
1039
@vindex special-display-regexps
1040
More generally, you can set @code{special-display-regexps} to a list
1041
of regular expressions; then a buffer gets its own frame if its name
1042
matches any of those regular expressions. (Once again, this applies only
1043
to buffers that normally get displayed for you in ``another window.'')
1045
@vindex special-display-frame-alist
1046
The variable @code{special-display-frame-alist} specifies the frame
1047
parameters for these frames. It has a default value, so you don't need
1050
For those who know Lisp, an element of
1051
@code{special-display-buffer-names} or @code{special-display-regexps}
1052
can also be a list. Then the first element is the buffer name or
1053
regular expression; the rest of the list specifies how to create the
1054
frame. It can be an association list specifying frame parameter
1055
values; these values take precedence over parameter values specified
1056
in @code{special-display-frame-alist}. If you specify the symbol
1057
@code{same-window} as a ``frame parameter'' in this list, with a
1058
non-@code{nil} value, that means to use the selected window if
1059
possible. If you use the symbol @code{same-frame} as a ``frame
1060
parameter'' in this list, with a non-@code{nil} value, that means to
1061
use the selected frame if possible.
1063
Alternatively, the value can have this form:
1066
(@var{function} @var{args}...)
1070
where @var{function} is a symbol. Then the frame is constructed by
1071
calling @var{function}; its first argument is the buffer, and its
1072
remaining arguments are @var{args}.
1074
An analogous feature lets you specify buffers which should be
1075
displayed in the selected window. @xref{Force Same Window}. The
1076
same-window feature takes precedence over the special-frame feature;
1077
therefore, if you add a buffer name to
1078
@code{special-display-buffer-names} and it has no effect, check to see
1079
whether that feature is also in use for the same buffer name.
1081
@node Frame Parameters
1082
@section Setting Frame Parameters
1083
@cindex Auto-Raise mode
1084
@cindex Auto-Lower mode
1086
These commands are available for controlling the window management
1087
behavior of the selected frame:
1090
@findex auto-raise-mode
1091
@item M-x auto-raise-mode
1092
Toggle whether or not the selected frame should auto-raise. Auto-raise
1093
means that every time you move the mouse onto the frame, it raises the
1096
Some window managers also implement auto-raise. If you enable
1097
auto-raise for Emacs frames in your window manager, it will work, but
1098
it is beyond Emacs' control, so @code{auto-raise-mode} has no effect
1101
@findex auto-lower-mode
1102
@item M-x auto-lower-mode
1103
Toggle whether or not the selected frame should auto-lower.
1104
Auto-lower means that every time you move the mouse off the frame,
1105
the frame moves to the bottom of the stack on the screen.
1107
The command @code{auto-lower-mode} has no effect on auto-lower
1108
implemented by the window manager. To control that, you must use the
1109
appropriate window manager features.
1112
In Emacs versions that use an X toolkit, the color-setting and
1113
font-setting functions don't affect menus and the menu bar, since they
1114
are displayed by their own widget classes. To change the appearance of
1115
the menus and menu bar, you must use X resources (@pxref{Resources}).
1116
@xref{Colors}, regarding colors. @xref{Font X}, regarding choice of
1119
Colors, fonts, and other attributes of the frame's display can also
1120
be customized by setting frame parameters in the variable
1121
@code{default-frame-alist} (@pxref{Creating Frames}). For a detailed
1122
description of frame parameters and customization, see @ref{Frame
1123
Parameters,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1126
@section Scroll Bars
1127
@cindex Scroll Bar mode
1128
@cindex mode, Scroll Bar
1130
On graphical displays, Emacs normally makes a @dfn{scroll bar} at
1131
the left of each Emacs window, running the height of the
1132
window.@footnote{Placing it at the left is usually more useful with
1133
overlapping frames with text starting at the left margin.}
1135
When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support on the X window system, or
1136
in operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS, you can use
1137
the scroll bar as you do in other graphical applications. If you
1138
click @kbd{Mouse-1} on the scroll bar's up and down buttons, that
1139
scrolls the window by one line at a time. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
1140
above or below the scroll bar's inner box scrolls the window by nearly
1141
the entire height of the window, like @kbd{M-v} and @kbd{C-v}
1142
respectively (@pxref{Moving Point}). Dragging the inner box with
1143
@kbd{Mouse-1} scrolls the window continuously.
1145
If Emacs is compiled without GTK+ support on the X window system,
1146
the scroll bar behaves differently. The scroll bar's inner box is
1147
drawn to represent the portion of the buffer currently displayed, with
1148
the entire height of the scroll bar representing the entire length of
1149
the buffer. @kbd{Mouse-1} anywhere on the scroll bar scrolls forward
1150
like @kbd{C-v}, and @kbd{Mouse-3} scrolls backward like @kbd{M-v}.
1151
Clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} in the scroll bar lets you move or drag the
1152
inner box up and down.
1154
You can also click @kbd{C-Mouse-2} in the scroll bar to split a
1155
window vertically. The split occurs on the line where you click.
1157
@findex scroll-bar-mode
1158
@vindex scroll-bar-mode
1159
You can toggle the use of the scroll bar with the command @kbd{M-x
1160
scroll-bar-mode}. With a prefix argument, this command turns use of
1161
scroll bars on if and only if the argument is positive. This command
1162
applies to all frames, including frames yet to be created. Customize
1163
the variable @code{scroll-bar-mode} to control the use of scroll bars
1164
at startup. You can use it to specify that they are placed at the
1165
right of windows if you prefer that. You have to set this variable
1166
through the @samp{Customize} interface (@pxref{Easy Customization}),
1167
or it will not work properly. You can also use the X resource
1168
@samp{verticalScrollBars} to control the initial setting of Scroll Bar
1169
mode. @xref{Resources}.
1171
@findex toggle-scroll-bar
1172
To enable or disable scroll bars for just the selected frame, use the
1173
command @kbd{M-x toggle-scroll-bar}.
1175
@vindex scroll-bar-width
1176
@cindex width of the scroll bar
1177
You can control the scroll bar width by changing the value of the
1178
@code{scroll-bar-width} frame parameter.
1181
@section Scrolling With ``Wheeled'' Mice
1184
@cindex wheel, mouse
1185
@findex mouse-wheel-mode
1186
@cindex Mouse Wheel minor mode
1187
@cindex mode, Mouse Wheel
1188
Some mice have a ``wheel'' instead of a third button. You can
1189
usually click the wheel to act as either @kbd{Mouse-2} or
1190
@kbd{Mouse-3}, depending on the setup. You can also use the wheel to
1191
scroll windows instead of using the scroll bar or keyboard commands.
1192
Mouse wheel support only works if the system generates appropriate
1193
events; whenever possible, it is turned on by default. To toggle this
1194
feature, use @kbd{M-x mouse-wheel-mode}.
1196
@vindex mouse-wheel-follow-mouse
1197
@vindex mouse-wheel-scroll-amount
1198
@vindex mouse-wheel-progressive-speed
1199
The two variables @code{mouse-wheel-follow-mouse} and
1200
@code{mouse-wheel-scroll-amount} determine where and by how much
1201
buffers are scrolled. The variable
1202
@code{mouse-wheel-progressive-speed} determines whether the scroll
1203
speed is linked to how fast you move the wheel.
1206
@section Drag and Drop
1207
@cindex drag and drop
1209
Emacs supports @dfn{drag and drop} using the mouse. For instance,
1210
dropping text onto an Emacs frame inserts the text where it is dropped.
1211
Dropping a file onto an Emacs frame visits that file. As a special
1212
case, dropping the file on a Dired buffer moves or copies the file
1213
(according to the conventions of the application it came from) into the
1214
directory displayed in that buffer.
1216
@vindex dnd-open-file-other-window
1217
Dropping a file normally visits it in the window you drop it on. If
1218
you prefer to visit the file in a new window in such cases, customize
1219
the variable @code{dnd-open-file-other-window}.
1221
The XDND and Motif drag and drop protocols, and the old KDE 1.x
1222
protocol, are currently supported.
1226
@cindex Menu Bar mode
1227
@cindex mode, Menu Bar
1228
@findex menu-bar-mode
1229
@vindex menu-bar-mode
1231
You can turn display of menu bars on or off with @kbd{M-x
1232
menu-bar-mode} or by customizing the variable @code{menu-bar-mode}.
1233
With no argument, this command toggles Menu Bar mode, a
1234
minor mode. With an argument, the command turns Menu Bar mode on if the
1235
argument is positive, off if the argument is not positive. You can use
1236
the X resource @samp{menuBar} to control the initial setting of
1237
Menu Bar mode. @xref{Resources}.
1239
@kindex C-Mouse-3 @r{(when menu bar is disabled)}
1240
Expert users often turn off the menu bar, especially on text-only
1241
terminals, where this makes one additional line available for text.
1242
If the menu bar is off, you can still pop up a menu of its contents
1243
with @kbd{C-Mouse-3} on a display which supports pop-up menus.
1244
@xref{Menu Mouse Clicks}.
1246
@xref{Menu Bar}, for information on how to invoke commands with the
1247
menu bar. @xref{X Resources}, for how to customize the menu bar
1248
menus' visual appearance.
1252
@cindex Tool Bar mode
1253
@cindex mode, Tool Bar
1254
@cindex icons, toolbar
1256
The @dfn{tool bar} is a line (or lines) of icons at the top of the
1257
Emacs window, just below the menu bar. You can click on these icons
1258
with the mouse to do various jobs.
1260
The global tool bar contains general commands. Some major modes
1261
define their own tool bars to replace it. A few ``special'' modes
1262
that are not designed for ordinary editing remove some items from the
1265
Tool bars work only on a graphical display. The tool bar uses colored
1266
XPM icons if Emacs was built with XPM support. Otherwise, the tool
1267
bar uses monochrome icons (PBM or XBM format).
1269
@findex tool-bar-mode
1270
@vindex tool-bar-mode
1271
You can turn display of tool bars on or off with @kbd{M-x
1272
tool-bar-mode} or by customizing the option @code{tool-bar-mode}.
1275
@section Using Dialog Boxes
1276
@cindex dialog boxes
1278
@vindex use-dialog-box
1279
A dialog box is a special kind of menu for asking you a yes-or-no
1280
question or some other special question. Many Emacs commands use a
1281
dialog box to ask a yes-or-no question, if you used the mouse to
1282
invoke the command that led to the question.
1284
To disable the use of dialog boxes, change the variable
1285
@code{use-dialog-box} to @code{nil}. In that case, Emacs always
1286
performs yes-or-no prompts using the echo area and keyboard input.
1287
This variable also controls whether to use file selection windows (but
1288
those are not supported on all platforms).
1290
@vindex use-file-dialog
1291
@cindex file selection dialog, how to disable
1292
A file selection window is a special kind of dialog box for asking
1293
for file names. You can customize the variable @code{use-file-dialog}
1294
to suppress the use of file selection windows, even if you still want
1295
other kinds of dialogs. This variable has no effect if you have
1296
suppressed all dialog boxes with the variable @code{use-dialog-box}.
1298
@vindex x-gtk-show-hidden-files
1299
@vindex x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text
1300
@cindex hidden files, in GTK+ file chooser
1301
@cindex help text, in GTK+ file chooser
1302
When Emacs is compiled with GTK+ support, it uses the GTK+ ``file
1303
chooser'' dialog. Emacs adds an additional toggle button to this
1304
dialog, which you can use to enable or disable the display of hidden
1305
files (files starting with a dot) in that dialog. If you want this
1306
toggle to be activated by default, change the variable
1307
@code{x-gtk-show-hidden-files} to @code{t}. In addition, Emacs adds
1308
help text to the GTK+ file chooser dialog; to disable this help text,
1309
change the variable @code{x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text} to @code{nil}.
1311
@vindex x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog
1312
In GTK+ versions 2.4 through 2.10, you can choose to use an older
1313
version of the GTK+ file dialog by setting the variable
1314
@code{x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog} to a non-@code{nil} value. If Emacs
1315
is built with a GTK+ version that has only one file dialog, this
1316
variable has no effect.
1322
@dfn{Tooltips} are small windows that display text information at the
1323
current mouse position. They activate when there is a pause in mouse
1324
movement. There are two types of tooltip: help tooltips and GUD
1327
@dfn{Help tooltips} typically display over text---including the mode
1328
line---but are also available for other parts of the Emacs frame, such
1329
as the tool bar and menu items.
1331
@findex tooltip-mode
1332
You can toggle display of help tooltips (Tooltip mode) with the
1333
command @kbd{M-x tooltip-mode}. When Tooltip mode is disabled, the
1334
help text is displayed in the echo area instead.
1336
@dfn{GUD tooltips} show values of variables. They are useful when
1337
you are debugging a program. @xref{Debugger Operation}.
1339
@vindex tooltip-delay
1340
The variables @code{tooltip-delay} specifies how long Emacs should
1341
wait before displaying a tooltip. For additional customization
1342
options for displaying tooltips, use @kbd{M-x customize-group
1343
@key{RET} tooltip @key{RET}}. @xref{X Resources}, for information on
1344
customizing the windows that display tooltips.
1346
@node Mouse Avoidance
1347
@section Mouse Avoidance
1348
@cindex avoiding mouse in the way of your typing
1349
@cindex mouse avoidance
1351
On graphical terminals, the mouse pointer may obscure the text in
1352
the Emacs frame. Emacs provides two methods to avoid this problem.
1354
@vindex make-pointer-invisible
1355
Firstly, Emacs hides the mouse pointer each time you type a
1356
self-inserting character, if the pointer lies inside an Emacs frame;
1357
moving the mouse pointer makes it visible again. To disable this
1358
feature, set the variable @code{make-pointer-invisible} to @code{nil}.
1360
@vindex mouse-avoidance-mode
1361
Secondly, you can use Mouse Avoidance mode, a minor mode, to keep
1362
the mouse pointer away from point. To use Mouse Avoidance mode,
1363
customize the variable @code{mouse-avoidance-mode}. You can set this
1364
to various values to move the mouse in several ways:
1368
Move the mouse to the upper-right corner on any key-press;
1370
Move the mouse to the corner only if the cursor gets too close,
1371
and allow it to return once the cursor is out of the way;
1373
If the cursor gets too close to the mouse, displace the mouse
1374
a random distance & direction;
1376
As @code{jump}, but shows steps along the way for illusion of motion;
1378
The same as @code{animate};
1380
As @code{animate}, but changes the shape of the mouse pointer too.
1383
@findex mouse-avoidance-mode
1384
You can also use the command @kbd{M-x mouse-avoidance-mode} to enable
1385
the mode. Whenever Mouse Avoidance mode moves the mouse, it also
1388
@node Non-Window Terminals
1389
@section Non-Window Terminals
1390
@cindex non-window terminals
1391
@cindex single-frame terminals
1393
On a text-only terminal, Emacs can display only one Emacs frame at a
1394
time. However, you can still create multiple Emacs frames, and switch
1395
between them. Switching frames on these terminals is much like
1396
switching between different window configurations.
1398
Use @kbd{C-x 5 2} to create a new frame and switch to it; use @kbd{C-x
1399
5 o} to cycle through the existing frames; use @kbd{C-x 5 0} to delete
1402
Each frame has a number to distinguish it. If your terminal can
1403
display only one frame at a time, the selected frame's number @var{n}
1404
appears near the beginning of the mode line, in the form
1407
@findex set-frame-name
1408
@findex select-frame-by-name
1409
@samp{F@var{n}} is in fact the frame's initial name. You can give
1410
frames more meaningful names if you wish, and you can select a frame
1411
by its name. Use the command @kbd{M-x set-frame-name @key{RET}
1412
@var{name} @key{RET}} to specify a new name for the selected frame,
1413
and use @kbd{M-x select-frame-by-name @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET}}
1414
to select a frame according to its name. The name you specify appears
1415
in the mode line when the frame is selected.
1417
@node Text-Only Mouse
1418
@section Using a Mouse in Terminal Emulators
1419
@cindex mouse support
1420
@cindex terminal emulators, mouse support
1422
Some text-only terminals support mouse clicks in the terminal window.
1425
In a terminal emulator which is compatible with @code{xterm},
1426
you can use @kbd{M-x xterm-mouse-mode} to give Emacs control over
1427
simple use of the mouse---basically, only non-modified single clicks
1428
are supported. The normal @code{xterm} mouse functionality for such
1429
clicks is still available by holding down the @kbd{SHIFT} key when you
1430
press the mouse button. Xterm Mouse mode is a global minor mode
1431
(@pxref{Minor Modes}). Repeating the command turns the mode off
1434
@findex gpm-mouse-mode
1435
In the console on GNU/Linux, you can use @kbd{M-x gpm-mouse-mode} to
1436
enable terminal mouse support. You must have the gpm package
1437
installed and running on your system in order for this to work.
1440
arch-tag: 7dcf3a31-a43b-45d4-a900-445b10d77e49
added
removed
doc/emacs/frames.texi
