21 |
row of icons that perform editing commands if you click on them. |
row of icons that perform editing commands if you click on them. |
22 |
Below this, the window begins. The last line is a special @dfn{echo |
Below this, the window begins. The last line is a special @dfn{echo |
23 |
area} or @dfn{minibuffer window}, where prompts appear and where you |
area} or @dfn{minibuffer window}, where prompts appear and where you |
24 |
can enter information when Emacs asks for it. See below for more |
enter information when Emacs asks for it. See below for more |
25 |
information about these special lines. |
information about these special lines. |
26 |
|
|
27 |
You can subdivide the large text window horizontally or vertically |
You can subdivide the large text window horizontally or vertically |
29 |
file (@pxref{Windows}). In this manual, the word ``window'' always |
file (@pxref{Windows}). In this manual, the word ``window'' always |
30 |
refers to the subdivisions of a frame within Emacs. |
refers to the subdivisions of a frame within Emacs. |
31 |
|
|
32 |
The window that the cursor is in is the @dfn{selected window}, in |
At any time, one window is the @dfn{selected window}; the most |
33 |
which editing takes place. Most Emacs commands implicitly apply to the |
prominent cursor indicates which window is selected. Most Emacs |
34 |
text in the selected window (though mouse commands generally operate on |
commands implicitly apply to the text in the selected window (though |
35 |
whatever window you click them in, whether selected or not). The other |
mouse commands generally operate on whatever window you click them in, |
36 |
windows display text for reference only, unless/until you select them. |
whether selected or not). The other windows display text for |
37 |
If you use multiple frames under the X Window System, then giving the |
reference only, unless/until you select them. If you use multiple |
38 |
input focus to a particular frame selects a window in that frame. |
frames under the X Window System, then giving the input focus to a |
39 |
|
particular frame selects a window in that frame. |
40 |
|
|
41 |
Each window's last line is a @dfn{mode line}, which describes what |
Each window's last line is a @dfn{mode line}, which describes what |
42 |
is going on in that window. It appears in inverse video, if the |
is going on in that window. It appears in inverse video, if the |
76 |
Sometimes people speak of ``the cursor'' when they mean ``point,'' or |
Sometimes people speak of ``the cursor'' when they mean ``point,'' or |
77 |
speak of commands that move point as ``cursor motion'' commands. |
speak of commands that move point as ``cursor motion'' commands. |
78 |
|
|
|
Text-only terminals have only one cursor, and when output is in |
|
|
progress it must appear where the output is being displayed. This |
|
|
does not mean that point is moving. It is only that Emacs has no way |
|
|
to show you the location of point except when the terminal is idle. |
|
|
|
|
79 |
If you are editing several files in Emacs, each in its own buffer, |
If you are editing several files in Emacs, each in its own buffer, |
80 |
each buffer has its own point location. A buffer that is not currently |
each buffer has its own point location. A buffer that is not |
81 |
displayed remembers where point is in case you display it again later. |
currently displayed remembers its point location in case you display |
82 |
|
it again later. When Emacs displays multiple windows, each window has |
83 |
When Emacs displays multiple windows, each window has its own point |
its own point location. If the same buffer appears in more than one |
|
location. On text-only terminals, the cursor shows the location of |
|
|
point in the selected window. On graphical terminals, Emacs shows a |
|
|
cursor in each window; the selected window's cursor is solid, and the |
|
|
other cursors are hollow. Either way, the cursor or cursors tell you |
|
|
which window is selected. If the same buffer appears in more than one |
|
84 |
window, each window has its own position for point in that buffer, and |
window, each window has its own position for point in that buffer, and |
85 |
(when possible) its own cursor. |
(when possible) its own cursor. |
86 |
|
|
87 |
|
A text-only terminal has just one cursor, so Emacs puts it |
88 |
|
in the selected window. The other windows do not show a cursor, even |
89 |
|
though they do have a location of point. When Emacs updates the |
90 |
|
screen on a text-only terminal, it has to put the cursor temporarily |
91 |
|
at the place the output goes. This doesn't mean point is there, |
92 |
|
though. Once display updating finishes, Emacs puts the cursor where |
93 |
|
point is. |
94 |
|
|
95 |
|
On graphical terminals, Emacs shows a cursor in each window; the |
96 |
|
selected window's cursor is solid or blinking, and the other cursors |
97 |
|
are just hollow. Thus, the most striking cursor always shows you |
98 |
|
the selected window, on all kinds of terminals. |
99 |
|
|
100 |
@xref{Cursor Display}, for customization options that control display |
@xref{Cursor Display}, for customization options that control display |
101 |
of the cursor or cursors. |
of the cursor or cursors. |
102 |
|
|
107 |
@node Echo Area |
@node Echo Area |
108 |
@section The Echo Area |
@section The Echo Area |
109 |
@cindex echo area |
@cindex echo area |
110 |
@c |
@c |
111 |
|
|
112 |
The line at the bottom of the frame (below the mode line) is the |
The line at the bottom of the frame (below the mode line) is the |
113 |
@dfn{echo area}. It is used to display small amounts of text for |
@dfn{echo area}. It is used to display small amounts of text for |
134 |
ahead. |
ahead. |
135 |
|
|
136 |
Some commands display informative messages in the echo area. These |
Some commands display informative messages in the echo area. These |
137 |
messages look much like error messages, but they are not announced with |
messages look much like error messages, but they are not announced |
138 |
a beep and do not throw away input. Sometimes the message tells you |
with a beep and do not throw away input. Sometimes the message tells |
139 |
what the command has done, when this is not obvious from looking at the |
you what the command has done, when this is not obvious from looking |
140 |
text being edited. Sometimes the sole purpose of a command is to show |
at the text being edited. Sometimes the sole purpose of a command is |
141 |
you a message giving you specific information---for example, @kbd{C-x =} |
to show you a message giving you specific information---for example, |
142 |
displays a message describing the character position of point in the text |
@kbd{C-x =} (hold down @key{CTRL} and type @kbd{x}, then let go of |
143 |
and its current column in the window. Commands that take a long time |
@key{CTRL} and type @kbd{=}) displays a message describing the |
144 |
often display messages ending in @samp{...} while they are working, and |
character position of point in the text and its current column in the |
145 |
add @samp{done} at the end when they are finished. |
window. Commands that take a long time often display messages ending |
146 |
|
in @samp{...} while they are working, and add @samp{done} at the end |
147 |
|
when they are finished. |
148 |
|
|
149 |
@cindex @samp{*Messages*} buffer |
@cindex @samp{*Messages*} buffer |
150 |
@cindex saved echo area messages |
@cindex saved echo area messages |
189 |
Normally, the mode line looks like this: |
Normally, the mode line looks like this: |
190 |
|
|
191 |
@example |
@example |
192 |
-@var{cs}:@var{ch} @var{buf} (@var{major} @var{minor})--@var{line}--@var{pos}------ |
-@var{cs}:@var{ch} @var{buf} @var{line} @var{pos} (@var{major} @var{minor})------ |
193 |
@end example |
@end example |
194 |
|
|
195 |
@noindent |
@noindent |