diff options
author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> | 1994-03-28 20:21:44 +0000 |
---|---|---|
committer | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> | 1994-03-28 20:21:44 +0000 |
commit | 3817a596791bc4da72af93659fcb1f0a2ef817bc (patch) | |
tree | f13bd5d740d6a0abeaf7642b7766364cc50bb28e /lispref/keymaps.texi | |
parent | 7fa94aae1b5922e037ebf3be6fb03c09c3fe422b (diff) | |
download | emacs-3817a596791bc4da72af93659fcb1f0a2ef817bc.tar.gz |
Initial revision
Diffstat (limited to 'lispref/keymaps.texi')
-rw-r--r-- | lispref/keymaps.texi | 1638 |
1 files changed, 1638 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/lispref/keymaps.texi b/lispref/keymaps.texi new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..298397e55ac --- /dev/null +++ b/lispref/keymaps.texi @@ -0,0 +1,1638 @@ +@c -*-texinfo-*- +@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. +@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. +@setfilename ../info/keymaps +@node Keymaps, Modes, Command Loop, Top +@chapter Keymaps +@cindex keymap + + The bindings between input events and commands are recorded in data +structures called @dfn{keymaps}. Each binding in a keymap associates +(or @dfn{binds}) an individual event type either with another keymap or +with a command. When an event is bound to a keymap, that keymap is +used to look up the next input event; this continues until a command +is found. The whole process is called @dfn{key lookup}. + +@menu +* Keymap Terminology:: Definitions of terms pertaining to keymaps. +* Format of Keymaps:: What a keymap looks like as a Lisp object. +* Creating Keymaps:: Functions to create and copy keymaps. +* Inheritance and Keymaps:: How one keymap can inherit the bindings + of another keymap. +* Prefix Keys:: Defining a key with a keymap as its definition. +* Menu Keymaps:: A keymap can define a menu. +* Active Keymaps:: Each buffer has a local keymap + to override the standard (global) bindings. + A minor mode can also override them. +* Key Lookup:: How extracting elements from keymaps works. +* Functions for Key Lookup:: How to request key lookup. +* Changing Key Bindings:: Redefining a key in a keymap. +* Key Binding Commands:: Interactive interfaces for redefining keys. +* Scanning Keymaps:: Looking through all keymaps, for printing help. +@end menu + +@node Keymap Terminology +@section Keymap Terminology +@cindex key +@cindex keystroke +@cindex key binding +@cindex binding of a key +@cindex complete key +@cindex undefined key + + A @dfn{keymap} is a table mapping event types to definitions (which +can be any Lisp objects, though only certain types are meaningful for +execution by the command loop). Given an event (or an event type) and a +keymap, Emacs can get the event's definition. Events include ordinary +@sc{ASCII} characters, function keys, and mouse actions (@pxref{Input +Events}). + + A sequence of input events that form a unit is called a +@dfn{key sequence}, or @dfn{key} for short. A sequence of one event +is always a key sequence, and so are some multi-event sequences. + + A keymap determines a binding or definition for any key sequence. If +the key sequence is a single event, its binding is the definition of the +event in the keymap. The binding of a key sequence of more than one +event is found by an iterative process: the binding of the first event +is found, and must be a keymap; then the second event's binding is found +in that keymap, and so on until all the events in the key sequence are +used up. + + If the binding of a key sequence is a keymap, we call the key sequence +a @dfn{prefix key}. Otherwise, we call it a @dfn{complete key} (because +no more characters can be added to it). If the binding is @code{nil}, +we call the key @dfn{undefined}. Examples of prefix keys are @kbd{C-c}, +@kbd{C-x}, and @kbd{C-x 4}. Examples of defined complete keys are +@kbd{X}, @key{RET}, and @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}. Examples of undefined complete +keys are @kbd{C-x C-g}, and @kbd{C-c 3}. @xref{Prefix Keys}, for more +details. + + The rule for finding the binding of a key sequence assumes that the +intermediate bindings (found for the events before the last) are all +keymaps; if this is not so, the sequence of events does not form a +unit---it is not really a key sequence. In other words, removing one or +more events from the end of any valid key must always yield a prefix +key. For example, @kbd{C-f C-f} is not a key; @kbd{C-f} is not a prefix +key, so a longer sequence starting with @kbd{C-f} cannot be a key. + + Note that the set of possible multi-event key sequences depends on the +bindings for prefix keys; therefore, it can be different for different +keymaps, and can change when bindings are changed. However, a one-event +sequence is always a key sequence, because it does not depend on any +prefix keys for its well-formedness. + + At any time, several primary keymaps are @dfn{active}---that is, in +use for finding key bindings. These are the @dfn{global map}, which is +shared by all buffers; the @dfn{local keymap}, which is usually +associated with a specific major mode; and zero or more @dfn{minor mode +keymaps} which belong to currently enabled minor modes. (Not all minor +modes have keymaps.) The local keymap bindings shadow (i.e., take +precedence over) the corresponding global bindings. The minor mode +keymaps shadow both local and global keymaps. @xref{Active Keymaps}, +for details. + +@node Format of Keymaps +@section Format of Keymaps +@cindex format of keymaps +@cindex keymap format +@cindex full keymap +@cindex sparse keymap + + A keymap is a list whose @sc{car} is the symbol @code{keymap}. The +remaining elements of the list define the key bindings of the keymap. +Use the function @code{keymapp} (see below) to test whether an object is +a keymap. + + An ordinary element is a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{type} .@: +@var{binding})}. This specifies one binding which applies to events of +type @var{type}. Each ordinary binding applies to events of a +particular @dfn{event type}, which is always a character or a symbol. +@xref{Classifying Events}. + +@cindex default key binding +@c Emacs 19 feature + A cons cell whose @sc{car} is @code{t} is a @dfn{default key binding}; +any event not bound by other elements of the keymap is given +@var{binding} as its binding. Default bindings allow a keymap to bind +all possible event types without having to enumerate all of them. A +keymap that has a default binding completely masks any lower-precedence +keymap. + + If an element of a keymap is a vector, the vector counts as bindings +for all the @sc{ASCII} characters; vector element @var{n} is the binding +for the character with code @var{n}. This is a more compact way to +record lots of bindings. A keymap with such a vector is called a +@dfn{full keymap}. Other keymaps are called @dfn{sparse keymaps}. + + When a keymap contains a vector, it always defines a binding for every +@sc{ASCII} character even if the vector element is @code{nil}. Such a +binding of @code{nil} overrides any default binding in the keymap. +However, default bindings are still meaningful for events that are not +@sc{ASCII} characters. A binding of @code{nil} does @emph{not} +override lower-precedence keymaps; thus, if the local map gives a +binding of @code{nil}, Emacs uses the binding from the global map. + +@cindex keymap prompt string +@cindex overall prompt string +@cindex prompt string of keymap + Aside from bindings, a keymap can also have a string as an element. +This is called the @dfn{overall prompt string} and makes it possible to +use the keymap as a menu. @xref{Menu Keymaps}. + +@cindex meta characters lookup + Keymaps do not directly record bindings for the meta characters, whose +codes are from 128 to 255. Instead, meta characters are regarded for +purposes of key lookup as sequences of two characters, the first of +which is @key{ESC} (or whatever is currently the value of +@code{meta-prefix-char}). Thus, the key @kbd{M-a} is really represented +as @kbd{@key{ESC} a}, and its global binding is found at the slot for +@kbd{a} in @code{esc-map} (@pxref{Prefix Keys}). + + Here as an example is the local keymap for Lisp mode, a sparse +keymap. It defines bindings for @key{DEL} and @key{TAB}, plus @kbd{C-c +C-l}, @kbd{M-C-q}, and @kbd{M-C-x}. + +@example +@group +lisp-mode-map +@result{} +@end group +@group +(keymap + ;; @key{TAB} + (9 . lisp-indent-line) +@end group +@group + ;; @key{DEL} + (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify) +@end group +@group + (3 keymap + ;; @kbd{C-c C-l} + (12 . run-lisp)) +@end group +@group + (27 keymap + ;; @r{@kbd{M-C-q}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-q}} + (17 . indent-sexp) + ;; @r{@kbd{M-C-x}, treated as @kbd{@key{ESC} C-x}} + (24 . lisp-send-defun))) +@end group +@end example + +@defun keymapp object +This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a keymap, @code{nil} +otherwise. Practically speaking, this function tests for a list whose +@sc{car} is @code{keymap}. + +@example +@group +(keymapp '(keymap)) + @result{} t +@end group +@group +(keymapp (current-global-map)) + @result{} t +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@node Creating Keymaps +@section Creating Keymaps +@cindex creating keymaps + + Here we describe the functions for creating keymaps. + +@defun make-keymap &optional prompt +This function creates and returns a new full keymap (i.e., one which +contains a vector of length 128 for defining all the @sc{ASCII} +characters). The new keymap initially binds all @sc{ASCII} characters +to @code{nil}, and does not bind any other kind of event. + +@example +@group +(make-keymap) + @result{} (keymap [nil nil nil @dots{} nil nil]) +@end group +@end example + +If you specify @var{prompt}, that becomes the overall prompt string for +the keymap. The prompt string is useful for menu keymaps (@pxref{Menu +Keymaps}). +@end defun + +@defun make-sparse-keymap &optional prompt +This function creates and returns a new sparse keymap with no entries. +The new keymap does not bind any events. The argument @var{prompt} +specifies a prompt string, as in @code{make-keymap}. + +@example +@group +(make-sparse-keymap) + @result{} (keymap) +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun copy-keymap keymap +This function returns a copy of @var{keymap}. Any keymaps which +appear directly as bindings in @var{keymap} are also copied recursively, +and so on to any number of levels. However, recursive copying does not +take place when the definition of a character is a symbol whose function +definition is a keymap; the same symbol appears in the new copy. +@c Emacs 19 feature + +@example +@group +(setq map (copy-keymap (current-local-map))) +@result{} (keymap +@end group +@group + ;; @r{(This implements meta characters.)} + (27 keymap + (83 . center-paragraph) + (115 . center-line)) + (9 . tab-to-tab-stop)) +@end group + +@group +(eq map (current-local-map)) + @result{} nil +@end group +@group +(equal map (current-local-map)) + @result{} t +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@node Inheritance and Keymaps +@section Inheritance and Keymaps +@cindex keymap inheritance +@cindex inheriting a keymap's bindings + + A keymap can inherit the bindings of another keymap. Do do this, make +a keymap whose ``tail'' is another existing keymap to inherit from. +Such a keymap looks like this: + +@example +(keymap @var{bindings}@dots{} . @var{other-keymap}) +@end example + +@noindent +The effect is that this keymap inherits all the bindings of +@var{other-keymap}, whatever they may be at the time a key is looked up, +but can add to them or override them with @var{bindings}. + +If you change the bindings in @var{other-keymap} using @code{define-key} +or other key-binding functions, these changes are visible in the +inheriting keymap unless shadowed by @var{bindings}. The converse is +not true: if you use @code{define-key} to change the inheriting keymap, +that affects @var{bindings}, but has no effect on @var{other-keymap}. + +Here is an example showing how to make a keymap that inherits +from @code{text-mode-map}: + +@example +(setq my-mode-map (cons 'keymap text-mode-map)) +@end example + +@node Prefix Keys +@section Prefix Keys +@cindex prefix key + + A @dfn{prefix key} has an associated keymap which defines what to do +with key sequences that start with the prefix key. For example, +@kbd{C-x} is a prefix key, and it uses a keymap which is also stored in +the variable @code{ctl-x-map}. Here is a list of the standard prefix +keys of Emacs and their keymaps: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +@vindex esc-map +@findex ESC-prefix +@code{esc-map} is used for events that follow @key{ESC}. Thus, the +global definitions of all meta characters are actually found here. This +map is also the function definition of @code{ESC-prefix}. + +@item +@cindex @kbd{C-h} +@code{help-map} is used for events that follow @kbd{C-h}. + +@item +@cindex @kbd{C-c} +@vindex mode-specific-map +@code{mode-specific-map} is for events that follow @kbd{C-c}. This +map is not actually mode specific; its name was chosen to be informative +for the user in @kbd{C-h b} (@code{display-bindings}), where it +describes the main use of the @kbd{C-c} prefix key. + +@item +@cindex @kbd{C-x} +@vindex ctl-x-map +@findex Control-X-prefix +@code{ctl-x-map} is the variable name for the map used for events +that follow @kbd{C-x}. This map is also the function definition of +@code{Control-X-prefix}. + +@item +@cindex @kbd{C-x 4} +@vindex ctl-x-4-map +@code{ctl-x-4-map} is used for events that follow @kbd{C-x 4}. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@item +@cindex @kbd{C-x 5} +@vindex ctl-x-5-map +@code{ctl-x-5-map} used is for events that follow @kbd{C-x 5}. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@item +@cindex @kbd{C-x n} +@cindex @kbd{C-x r} +@cindex @kbd{C-x a} +The prefix keys @kbd{C-x n}, @kbd{C-x r} and @kbd{C-x a} use keymaps +that have no special name. +@end itemize + + The binding of a prefix key is the keymap to use for looking up the +events that follow the prefix key. (It may instead be a symbol whose +function definition is a keymap. The effect is the same, but the symbol +serves as a name for the prefix key.) Thus, the binding of @kbd{C-x} is +the symbol @code{Control-X-prefix}, whose function definition is the +keymap for @kbd{C-x} commands. (The same keymap is also the value of +@code{ctl-x-map}.) + + Prefix key definitions of this sort can appear in any active keymap. +The definitions of @kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-x}, @kbd{C-h} and @key{ESC} as +prefix keys appear in the global map, so these prefix keys are always +available. Major and minor modes can redefine a key as a prefix by +putting a prefix key definition for it in the local map or the minor +mode's map. @xref{Active Keymaps}. + + If a key is defined as a prefix in more than one active map, then its +various definitions are in effect merged: the commands defined in the +minor mode keymaps come first, followed by those in the local map's +prefix definition, and then by those from the global map. + + In the following example, we make @kbd{C-p} a prefix key in the local +keymap, in such a way that @kbd{C-p} is identical to @kbd{C-x}. Then +the binding for @kbd{C-p C-f} is the function @code{find-file}, just +like @kbd{C-x C-f}. The key sequence @kbd{C-p 6} is not found in any +active keymap. + +@example +@group +(use-local-map (make-sparse-keymap)) + @result{} nil +@end group +@group +(local-set-key "\C-p" ctl-x-map) + @result{} nil +@end group +@group +(key-binding "\C-p\C-f") + @result{} find-file +@end group + +@group +(key-binding "\C-p6") + @result{} nil +@end group +@end example + +@defun define-prefix-command symbol +@cindex prefix command + This function defines @var{symbol} as a prefix command: it creates a +full keymap and stores it as @var{symbol}'s function definition. +Storing the symbol as the binding of a key makes the key a prefix key +which has a name. It also sets @var{symbol} as a variable, to have the +keymap as its value. The function returns @var{symbol}. + + In Emacs version 18, only the function definition of @var{symbol} was +set, not the value as a variable. +@end defun + +@node Menu Keymaps +@section Menu Keymaps +@cindex menu keymaps + +@c Emacs 19 feature +A keymap can define a menu as well as bindings for keyboard keys and +mouse button. Menus are usually actuated with the mouse, but they can +work with the keyboard also. + +@menu +* Defining Menus:: How to make a keymap that defines a menu. +* Mouse Menus:: How users actuate the menu with the mouse. +* Keyboard Menus:: How they actuate it with the keyboard. +* Menu Example:: Making a simple menu. +* Menu Bar:: How to customize the menu bar. +* Modifying Menus:: How to add new items to a menu. +@end menu + +@node Defining Menus +@subsection Defining Menus +@cindex defining menus +@cindex menu prompt string +@cindex prompt string (of menu) + +A keymap is suitable for menu use if it has an @dfn{overall prompt +string}, which is a string that appears as an element of the keymap. +(@xref{Format of Keymaps}.) The string should describe the purpose of +the menu. The easiest way to construct a keymap with a prompt string is +to specify the string as an argument when you call @code{make-keymap} or +@code{make-sparse-keymap} (@pxref{Creating Keymaps}). + +The individual bindings in the menu keymap should have item +strings; these strings become the items displayed in the menu. A +binding with a item string looks like this: + +@example +(@var{string} . @var{real-binding}) +@end example + +The item string for a binding should be short---one or two words. It +should describe the action of the command it corresponds to. + +As far as @code{define-key} is concerned, @var{string} is part of the +event's binding. However, @code{lookup-key} returns just +@var{real-binding}, and only @var{real-binding} is used for executing +the key. + +You can also supply a second string, called the help string, as follows: + +@example +(@var{string} @var{help-string} . @var{real-binding}) +@end example + +Currently Emacs does not actually use @var{help-string}; it knows only +how to ignore @var{help-string} in order to extract @var{real-binding}. +In the future we hope to make @var{help-string} serve as extended +documentation for the menu item, available on request. + +If @var{real-binding} is @code{nil}, then @var{string} appears in the +menu but cannot be selected. + +If @var{real-binding} is a symbol, and has a non-@code{nil} +@code{menu-enable} property, that property is an expression which +controls whether the menu item is enabled. Every time the keymap is +used to display a menu, Emacs evaluates the expression, and it enables +the menu item only if the expression's value is non-@code{nil}. When a +menu item is disabled, it is displayed in a ``fuzzy'' fashion, and +cannot be selected with the mouse. + +The order of items in the menu is the same as the order of bindings in +the keymap. Since @code{define-key} puts new bindings at the front, you +should define the menu items starting at the bottom of the menu and +moving to the top, if you care about the order. When you add an item to +an existing menu, you can specify its position in the menu using +@code{define-key-after} (@pxref{Modifying Menus}). + +You've probably noticed that menu items show the equivalent keyboard key +sequence (if any) to invoke the same command. To save time on +recalculation, menu display caches this information in a sublist in the +binding, like this: + +@c This line is not too long--rms. +@example +(@var{string} @r{[}@var{help-string}@r{]} (@var{key-binding-data}) . @var{real-binding}) +@end example + +Don't put these sublists in the menu item yourself; menu display +calculates them automatically. Don't add keyboard equivalents to the +item string yourself, for that is redundant. + +@node Mouse Menus +@subsection Menus and the Mouse + +The way to make a menu keymap produce a menu is to make it the +definition of a prefix key. + +If the prefix key ends with a mouse event, Emacs handles the menu keymap +by popping up a visible menu, so that the user can select a choice with +the mouse. When the user clicks on a menu item, the event generated is +whatever character or symbol has the binding which brought about that +menu item. (A menu item may generate a series of events if the menu has +multiple levels or comes from the menu bar.) + +It's often best to use a button-down event to trigger the menu. Then +the user can select a menu item by releasing the button. + +A single keymap can appear as multiple menu panes, if you explicitly +arrange for this. The way to do this is to make a keymap for each pane, +then create a binding for each of those maps in the main keymap of the +menu. Give each of these bindings a item string that starts with +@samp{@@}. The rest of the item string becomes the name of the pane. +See the file @file{lisp/mouse.el} for an example of this. Any ordinary +bindings with @samp{@@}-less item strings are grouped into one pane, +which appears along with the other panes explicitly created for the +submaps. + +X toolkit menus don't have panes; instead, they can have submenus. +Every nested keymap becomes a submenu, whether the item string starts +with @samp{@@} or not. In a toolkit version of Emacs, The only thing +special about @samp{@@} at the beginning of an item string is that the +@samp{@@} doesn't appear in the menu item. + +You can also get multiple panes from separate keymaps. The full +definition of a prefix key always comes from merging the definitions +supplied by the various active keymaps (minor mode, local, and +global). When more than one of these keymaps is a menu, each of them +makes a separate pane or panes. @xref{Active Keymaps}. + +In toolkit versions of Emacs, menus don't have panes, so submenus are +used to represent the separate keymaps. Each keymap's contribution +becomes one submenu. + +A Lisp program can explicitly pop up a menu and receive the user's +choice. You can use keymaps for this also. @xref{Pop-Up Menus}. + +@node Keyboard Menus +@subsection Menus and the Keyboard + +When a prefix key ending with a keyboard event (a character or function +key) has a definition that is a menu keymap, the user can use the +keyboard to choose a menu item. + +Emacs displays the menu alternatives (the item strings of the +bindings) in the echo area. If they don't all fit at once, the user can +type @key{SPC} to see the next line of alternatives. Successive uses of +@key{SPC} eventually get to the end of the menu and then cycle around to +the beginning. + +When the user has found the desired alternative from the menu, he or she +should type the corresponding character---the one whose binding is that +alternative. + +In a menu intended for keyboard use, each menu item must clearly +indicate what character to type. The best convention to use is to make +the character the first letter of the item string. That is something +users will understand without being told. + +This way of using menus in an Emacs-like editor was inspired by the +Hierarkey system. + +@defvar menu-prompt-more-char +This variable specifies the character to use to ask to see +the next line of a menu. Its initial value is 32, the code +for @key{SPC}. +@end defvar + +@node Menu Example +@subsection Menu Example + + Here is a simple example of how to set up a menu for mouse use. + +@example +(defvar my-menu-map + (make-sparse-keymap "Key Commands <==> Functions")) +(fset 'help-for-keys my-menu-map) + +(define-key my-menu-map [bindings] + '("List all keystroke commands" . describe-bindings)) +(define-key my-menu-map [key] + '("Describe key briefly" . describe-key-briefly)) +(define-key my-menu-map [key-verbose] + '("Describe key verbose" . describe-key)) +(define-key my-menu-map [function] + '("Describe Lisp function" . describe-function)) +(define-key my-menu-map [where-is] + '("Where is this command" . where-is)) + +(define-key global-map [C-S-down-mouse-1] 'help-for-keys) +@end example + + The symbols used in the key sequences bound in the menu are fictitious +``function keys''; they don't appear on the keyboard, but that doesn't +stop you from using them in the menu. Their names were chosen to be +mnemonic, because they show up in the output of @code{where-is} and +@code{apropos} to identify the corresponding menu items. + + However, if you want the menu to be usable from the keyboard as well, +you must bind real @sc{ASCII} characters as well as fictitious function +keys. + +@node Menu Bar +@subsection The Menu Bar +@cindex menu bar + + Most window systems allow each frame to have a @dfn{menu bar}---a +permanently displayed menu stretching horizontally across the top of the +frame. The items of the menu bar are the subcommands of the fake +``function key'' @code{menu-bar}, as defined by all the active keymaps. + + To add an item to the menu bar, invent a fake ``function key'' of your +own (let's call it @var{key}), and make a binding for the key sequence +@code{[menu-bar @var{key}]}. Most often, the binding is a menu keymap, +so that pressing a button on the menu bar item leads to another menu. + + When more than one active keymap defines the same fake function key +for the menu bar, the item appears just once. If the user clicks on +that menu bar item, it brings up a single, combined submenu containing +all the subcommands of that item---the global subcommands, the local +subcommands, and the minor mode subcommands, all together. + + In order for a frame to display a menu bar, its @code{menu-bar-lines} +parameter must be greater than zero. Emacs uses just one line for the +menu bar itself; if you specify more than one line, the other lines +serve to separate the menu bar from the windows in the frame. We +recommend you try 1 or 2 as the value of @code{menu-bar-lines}. @xref{X +Frame Parameters}. + + Here's an example of setting up a menu bar item: + +@smallexample +(modify-frame-parameters (selected-frame) '((menu-bar-lines . 2))) + +;; @r{Make a menu keymap (with a prompt string)} +;; @r{and make it the menu bar item's definition.} +(define-key global-map [menu-bar words] + (cons "Words" (make-sparse-keymap "Words"))) + +@group +;; @r{Define specific subcommands in the item's menu.} +(define-key global-map + [menu-bar words forward] + '("Forward word" . forward-word)) +@end group +@group +(define-key global-map + [menu-bar words backward] + '("Backward word" . backward-word)) +@end group +@end smallexample + + A local keymap can cancel a menu bar item made by the global keymap by +rebinding the same fake function key with @code{undefined} as the +binding. For example, this is how Dired suppresses the @samp{Edit} menu +bar item: + +@example +(define-key dired-mode-map [menu-bar edit] 'undefined) +@end example + +@noindent +@code{edit} is the fake function key used by the global map for the +@samp{Edit} menu bar item. The main reason to suppress a global +menu bar item is to regain space for mode-specific items. + +@defvar menu-bar-final-items +Normally the menu bar shows global items followed by items defined by the +local maps. + +This variable holds a list of fake function keys for items to display at +the end of the menu bar rather than in normal sequence. The default +value is @code{(help)}; thus, the @samp{Help} menu item normally appears +at the end of the menu bar, following local menu items. +@end defvar + +@node Modifying Menus +@subsection Modifying Menus + + When you insert a new item in an existing menu, you probably want to +put it in a particular place among the menu's existing items. If you +use @code{define-key} to add the item, it normally goes at the front of +the menu. To put it elsewhere, use @code{define-key-after}: + +@defun define-key-after map key binding after +Define a binding in @var{map} for @var{key}, with value @var{binding}, +just like @code{define-key}, but position the binding in @var{map} after +the binding for the key @var{after}. For example, + +@example +(define-key-after my-menu [drink] + '("Drink" . drink-command) [eat]) +@end example + +@noindent +makes a binding for the fake function key @key{drink} and puts it +right after the binding for @key{eat}. +@end defun + +@node Active Keymaps +@section Active Keymaps +@cindex active keymap +@cindex global keymap +@cindex local keymap + + Emacs normally contains many keymaps; at any given time, just a few of +them are @dfn{active} in that they participate in the interpretation +of user input. These are the global keymap, the current buffer's +local keymap, and the keymaps of any enabled minor modes. + + The @dfn{global keymap} holds the bindings of keys that are defined +regardless of the current buffer, such as @kbd{C-f}. The variable +@code{global-map} holds this keymap, which is always active. + + Each buffer may have another keymap, its @dfn{local keymap}, which may +contain new or overriding definitions for keys. The current buffer's +local keymap is always active except when @code{overriding-local-map} +overrides it. Text properties can specify an alternative local map for +certain parts of the buffer; see @ref{Special Properties}. + + Each minor mode may have a keymap; if it does, the keymap is active +when the minor mode is enabled. + + The variable @code{overriding-local-map}, if non-@code{nil}, specifies +another local keymap that overrides the buffer's local map and all the +minor mode keymaps. + + All the active keymaps are used together to determine what command to +execute when a key is entered. Emacs searches these maps one by one, in +order of decreasing precedence, until it finds a binding in one of the maps. + + Normally, Emacs @emph{first} searches for the key in the minor mode +maps (one map at a time); if they do not supply a binding for the key, +Emacs searches the local map; if that too has no binding, Emacs then +searches the global map. However, if @code{overriding-local-map} is +non-@code{nil}, Emacs searches that map first, followed by the global +map. + + The procedure for searching a single keymap is called +@dfn{key lookup}; see @ref{Key Lookup}. + +@cindex major mode keymap + Since every buffer that uses the same major mode normally uses the +very same local keymap, it may appear as if the keymap is local to the +mode. A change to the local keymap of a buffer (using +@code{local-set-key}, for example) will be seen also in the other +buffers that share that keymap. + + The local keymaps that are used for Lisp mode, C mode, and several +other major modes exist even if they have not yet been used. These +local maps are the values of the variables @code{lisp-mode-map}, +@code{c-mode-map}, and so on. For most other modes, which are less +frequently used, the local keymap is constructed only when the mode is +used for the first time in a session. + + The minibuffer has local keymaps, too; they contain various completion +and exit commands. @xref{Intro to Minibuffers}. + + @xref{Standard Keymaps}, for a list of standard keymaps. + +@defvar global-map + This variable contains the default global keymap that maps Emacs +keyboard input to commands. The global keymap is normally this keymap. +The default global keymap is a full keymap that binds +@code{self-insert-command} to all of the printing characters. + +It is normal practice to change the bindings in the global map, but you +should not assign this variable any value other than the keymap it starts +out with. +@end defvar + +@defun current-global-map + This function returns the current global keymap. This is the +same as the value of @code{global-map} unless you change one or the +other. + +@example +@group +(current-global-map) +@result{} (keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{} + delete-backward-char]) +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun current-local-map + This function returns the current buffer's local keymap, or @code{nil} +if it has none. In the following example, the keymap for the +@samp{*scratch*} buffer (using Lisp Interaction mode) is a sparse keymap +in which the entry for @key{ESC}, @sc{ASCII} code 27, is another sparse +keymap. + +@example +@group +(current-local-map) +@result{} (keymap + (10 . eval-print-last-sexp) + (9 . lisp-indent-line) + (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify) +@end group +@group + (27 keymap + (24 . eval-defun) + (17 . indent-sexp))) +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun current-minor-mode-maps +This function returns a list of the keymaps of currently enabled minor modes. +@end defun + +@defun use-global-map keymap + This function makes @var{keymap} the new current global keymap. It +returns @code{nil}. + + It is very unusual to change the global keymap. +@end defun + +@defun use-local-map keymap + This function makes @var{keymap} the new local keymap of the current +buffer. If @var{keymap} is @code{nil}, then the buffer has no local +keymap. @code{use-local-map} returns @code{nil}. Most major mode +commands use this function. +@end defun + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@defvar minor-mode-map-alist +This variable is an alist describing keymaps that may or may not be +active according to the values of certain variables. Its elements look +like this: + +@example +(@var{variable} . @var{keymap}) +@end example + +The keymap @var{keymap} is active whenever @var{variable} has a +non-@code{nil} value. Typically @var{variable} is the variable which +enables or disables a minor mode. @xref{Keymaps and Minor Modes}. + +Note that elements of @code{minor-mode-map-alist} do not have the same +structure as elements of @code{minor-mode-alist}. The map must be the +@sc{cdr} of the element; a list with the map as the second element will +not do. + +What's more, the keymap itself must appear in the @sc{cdr}. It does not +work to store a variable in the @sc{cdr} and make the map the value of +that variable. + +When more than one minor mode keymap is active, their order of priority +is the order of @code{minor-mode-map-alist}. But you should design +minor modes so that they don't interfere with each other. If you do +this properly, the order will not matter. + +See also @code{minor-mode-key-binding} in @ref{Functions for Key +Lookup}. See @ref{Keymaps and Minor Modes}, for more information about +minor modes. +@end defvar + +@defvar overriding-local-map +If non-@code{nil}, a keymap to use instead of the buffer's local keymap +and instead of all the minor mode keymaps. This keymap, if any, +overrides all other maps that would have been active, except for the +current global map. +@end defvar + +@node Key Lookup +@section Key Lookup +@cindex key lookup +@cindex keymap entry + + @dfn{Key lookup} is the process of finding the binding of a key +sequence from a given keymap. Actual execution of the binding is not +part of key lookup. + + Key lookup uses just the event types of each event in the key +sequence; the rest of the event is ignored. In fact, a key sequence +used for key lookup may designate mouse events with just their types +(symbols) instead of with entire mouse events (lists). @xref{Input +Events}. Such a pseudo-key-sequence is insufficient for +@code{command-execute}, but it is sufficient for looking up or rebinding +a key. + + When the key sequence consists of multiple events, key lookup +processes the events sequentially: the binding of the first event is +found, and must be a keymap; then the second event's binding is found in +that keymap, and so on until all the events in the key sequence are used +up. (The binding thus found for the last event may or may not be a +keymap.) Thus, the process of key lookup is defined in terms of a +simpler process for looking up a single event in a keymap. How that is +done depends on the type of object associated with the event in that +keymap. + + Let's use the term @dfn{keymap entry} to describe the value found by +looking up an event type in a keymap. (This doesn't include the item +string and other extra elements in menu key bindings because +@code{lookup-key} and other key lookup functions don't include them in +the returned value.) While any Lisp object may be stored in a keymap as +a keymap entry, not all make sense for key lookup. Here is a list of +the meaningful kinds of keymap entries: + +@table @asis +@item @code{nil} +@cindex @code{nil} in keymap +@code{nil} means that the events used so far in the lookup form an +undefined key. When a keymap fails to mention an event type at all, and +has no default binding, that is equivalent to a binding of @code{nil} +for that event type. + +@item @var{keymap} +@cindex keymap in keymap +The events used so far in the lookup form a prefix key. The next +event of the key sequence is looked up in @var{keymap}. + +@item @var{command} +@cindex command in keymap +The events used so far in the lookup form a complete key, +and @var{command} is its binding. + +@item @var{string} +@itemx @var{vector} +@cindex string in keymap +The events used so far in the lookup form a complete key, whose +binding is a keyboard macro. See @ref{Keyboard Macros}, for more +information. + +@item @var{list} +@cindex list in keymap +The meaning of a list depends on the types of the elements of the list. + +@itemize @bullet +@item +If the @sc{car} of @var{list} is the symbol @code{keymap}, then the list +is a keymap, and is treated as a keymap (see above). + +@item +@cindex @code{lambda} in keymap +If the @sc{car} of @var{list} is @code{lambda}, then the list is a +lambda expression. This is presumed to be a command, and is treated as +such (see above). + +@item +If the @sc{car} of @var{list} is a keymap and the @sc{cdr} is an event +type, then this is an @dfn{indirect entry}: + +@example +(@var{othermap} . @var{othertype}) +@end example + +When key lookup encounters an indirect entry, it looks up instead the +binding of @var{othertype} in @var{othermap} and uses that. + +This feature permits you to define one key as an alias for another key. +For example, an entry whose @sc{car} is the keymap called @code{esc-map} +and whose @sc{cdr} is 32 (the code for space) means, ``Use the global +binding of @kbd{Meta-@key{SPC}}, whatever that may be.'' +@end itemize + +@item @var{symbol} +@cindex symbol in keymap +The function definition of @var{symbol} is used in place of +@var{symbol}. If that too is a symbol, then this process is repeated, +any number of times. Ultimately this should lead to an object which is +a keymap, a command or a keyboard macro. A list is allowed if it is a +keymap or a command, but indirect entries are not understood when found +via symbols. + +Note that keymaps and keyboard macros (strings and vectors) are not +valid functions, so a symbol with a keymap, string or vector as its +function definition is also invalid as a function. It is, however, +valid as a key binding. If the definition is a keyboard macro, then the +symbol is also valid as an argument to @code{command-execute} +(@pxref{Interactive Call}). + +@cindex @code{undefined} in keymap +The symbol @code{undefined} is worth special mention: it means to treat +the key as undefined. Strictly speaking, the key is defined, and its +binding is the command @code{undefined}; but that command does the same +thing that is done automatically for an undefined key: it rings the bell +(by calling @code{ding}) but does not signal an error. + +@cindex preventing prefix key +@code{undefined} is used in local keymaps to override a global key +binding and make the key ``undefined'' locally. A local binding of +@code{nil} would fail to do this because it would not override the +global binding. + +@item @var{anything else} +If any other type of object is found, the events used so far in the +lookup form a complete key, and the object is its binding, but the +binding is not executable as a command. +@end table + + In short, a keymap entry may be a keymap, a command, a keyboard macro, +a symbol which leads to one of them, or an indirection or @code{nil}. +Here is an example of a sparse keymap with two characters bound to +commands and one bound to another keymap. This map is the normal value +of @code{emacs-lisp-mode-map}. Note that 9 is the code for @key{TAB}, +127 for @key{DEL}, 27 for @key{ESC}, 17 for @kbd{C-q} and 24 for +@kbd{C-x}. + +@example +@group +(keymap (9 . lisp-indent-line) + (127 . backward-delete-char-untabify) + (27 keymap (17 . indent-sexp) (24 . eval-defun))) +@end group +@end example + +@node Functions for Key Lookup +@section Functions for Key Lookup + + Here are the functions and variables pertaining to key lookup. + +@defun lookup-key keymap key &optional accept-defaults +This function returns the definition of @var{key} in @var{keymap}. If +the string or vector @var{key} is not a valid key sequence according to +the prefix keys specified in @var{keymap} (which means it is ``too +long'' and has extra events at the end), then the value is a number, the +number of events at the front of @var{key} that compose a complete key. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +If @var{accept-defaults} is non-@code{nil}, then @code{lookup-key} +considers default bindings as well as bindings for the specific events +in @var{key}. Otherwise, @code{lookup-key} reports only bindings for +the specific sequence @var{key}, ignoring default bindings except when +an element of @var{key} is @code{t}. + +All the other functions described in this chapter that look up keys use +@code{lookup-key}. + +@example +@group +(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\C-x\C-f") + @result{} find-file +@end group +@group +(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\C-x\C-f12345") + @result{} 2 +@end group +@end example + + If @var{key} contains a meta character, that character is implicitly +replaced by a two-character sequence: the value of +@code{meta-prefix-char}, followed by the corresponding non-meta +character. Thus, the first example below is handled by conversion into +the second example. + +@example +@group +(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\M-f") + @result{} forward-word +@end group +@group +(lookup-key (current-global-map) "\ef") + @result{} forward-word +@end group +@end example + +Unlike @code{read-key-sequence}, this function does not modify the +specified events in ways that discard information (@pxref{Key Sequence +Input}). In particular, it does not convert letters to lower case and +it does not change drag events to clicks. +@end defun + +@deffn Command undefined +Used in keymaps to undefine keys. It calls @code{ding}, but does +not cause an error. +@end deffn + +@defun key-binding key &optional accept-defaults +This function returns the binding for @var{key} in the current +keymaps, trying all the active keymaps. The result is @code{nil} if +@var{key} is undefined in the keymaps. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default +bindings, as in @code{lookup-key}. + +An error is signaled if @var{key} is not a string or a vector. + +@example +@group +(key-binding "\C-x\C-f") + @result{} find-file +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun local-key-binding key &optional accept-defaults +This function returns the binding for @var{key} in the current +local keymap, or @code{nil} if it is undefined there. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default bindings, +as in @code{lookup-key} (above). +@end defun + +@defun global-key-binding key &optional accept-defaults +This function returns the binding for command @var{key} in the +current global keymap, or @code{nil} if it is undefined there. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default bindings, +as in @code{lookup-key} (above). +@end defun + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@defun minor-mode-key-binding key &optional accept-defaults +This function returns a list of all the active minor mode bindings of +@var{key}. More precisely, it returns an alist of pairs +@code{(@var{modename} . @var{binding})}, where @var{modename} is the the +variable which enables the minor mode, and @var{binding} is @var{key}'s +binding in that mode. If @var{key} has no minor-mode bindings, the +value is @code{nil}. + +If the first binding is not a prefix command, all subsequent bindings +from other minor modes are omitted, since they would be completely +shadowed. Similarly, the list omits non-prefix bindings that follow +prefix bindings. + +The argument @var{accept-defaults} controls checking for default +bindings, as in @code{lookup-key} (above). +@end defun + +@defvar meta-prefix-char +@cindex @key{ESC} +This variable is the meta-prefix character code. It is used when +translating a meta character to a two-character sequence so it can be +looked up in a keymap. For useful results, the value should be a prefix +event (@pxref{Prefix Keys}). The default value is 27, which is the +@sc{ASCII} code for @key{ESC}. + +As long as the value of @code{meta-prefix-char} remains 27, key +lookup translates @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{@key{ESC} b}, which is normally +defined as the @code{backward-word} command. However, if you set +@code{meta-prefix-char} to 24, the code for @kbd{C-x}, then Emacs will +translate @kbd{M-b} into @kbd{C-x b}, whose standard binding is the +@code{switch-to-buffer} command. + +@smallexample +@group +meta-prefix-char ; @r{The default value.} + @result{} 27 +@end group +@group +(key-binding "\M-b") + @result{} backward-word +@end group +@group +?\C-x ; @r{The print representation} + @result{} 24 ; @r{of a character.} +@end group +@group +(setq meta-prefix-char 24) + @result{} 24 +@end group +@group +(key-binding "\M-b") + @result{} switch-to-buffer ; @r{Now, typing @kbd{M-b} is} + ; @r{like typing @kbd{C-x b}.} + +(setq meta-prefix-char 27) ; @r{Avoid confusion!} + @result{} 27 ; @r{Restore the default value!} +@end group +@end smallexample +@end defvar + +@node Changing Key Bindings +@section Changing Key Bindings +@cindex changing key bindings +@cindex rebinding + + The way to rebind a key is to change its entry in a keymap. If you +change the global keymap, the change is effective in all buffers (except +those that override the global binding with a local one). If you change +the current buffer's local map, that usually affects all buffers using +the same major mode. The @code{global-set-key} and @code{local-set-key} +functions are convenient interfaces for these operations. Or you can +use @code{define-key} and specify explicitly which map to change. + + People often use @code{global-set-key} in their @file{.emacs} file for +simple customization. For example, + +@smallexample +(global-set-key "\C-x\C-\\" 'next-line) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +or + +@smallexample +(global-set-key [?\C-x ?\C-\\] 'next-line) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +redefines @kbd{C-x C-\} to move down a line. + +@smallexample +(global-set-key [M-mouse-1] 'mouse-set-point) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +redefines the first (leftmost) mouse button, typed with the Meta key, to +set point where you click. + +@cindex meta character key constants +@cindex control character key constants + In writing the key sequence to rebind, it is useful to use the special +escape sequences for control and meta characters (@pxref{String Type}). +The syntax @samp{\C-} means that the following character is a control +character and @samp{\M-} means that the following character is a meta +character. Thus, the string @code{"\M-x"} is read as containing a +single @kbd{M-x}, @code{"\C-f"} is read as containing a single +@kbd{C-f}, and @code{"\M-\C-x"} and @code{"\C-\M-x"} are both read as +containing a single @kbd{C-M-x}. + + For the functions below, an error is signaled if @var{keymap} is not a +keymap or if @var{key} is not a string or vector representing a key +sequence. You can use event types (symbols) as shorthand for events +that are lists. + +@defun define-key keymap key binding + This function sets the binding for @var{key} in @var{keymap}. (If +@var{key} is more than one event long, the change is actually made +in another keymap reached from @var{keymap}.) The argument +@var{binding} can be any Lisp object, but only certain types are +meaningful. (For a list of meaningful types, see @ref{Key Lookup}.) +The value returned by @code{define-key} is @var{binding}. + +@cindex invalid prefix key error +@cindex key sequence error + Every prefix of @var{key} must be a prefix key (i.e., bound to a +keymap) or undefined; otherwise an error is signaled. + +If some prefix of @var{key} is undefined, then @code{define-key} defines +it as a prefix key so that the rest of @var{key} may be defined as +specified. +@end defun + + This example creates a sparse keymap and makes a number of bindings: + +@smallexample +@group +(setq map (make-sparse-keymap)) + @result{} (keymap) +@end group +@group +(define-key map "\C-f" 'forward-char) + @result{} forward-char +@end group +@group +map + @result{} (keymap (6 . forward-char)) +@end group + +@group +;; @r{Build sparse submap for @kbd{C-x} and bind @kbd{f} in that.} +(define-key map "\C-xf" 'forward-word) + @result{} forward-word +@end group +@group +map +@result{} (keymap + (24 keymap ; @kbd{C-x} + (102 . forward-word)) ; @kbd{f} + (6 . forward-char)) ; @kbd{C-f} +@end group + +@group +;; @r{Bind @kbd{C-p} to the @code{ctl-x-map}.} +(define-key map "\C-p" ctl-x-map) +;; @code{ctl-x-map} +@result{} [nil @dots{} find-file @dots{} backward-kill-sentence] +@end group + +@group +;; @r{Bind @kbd{C-f} to @code{foo} in the @code{ctl-x-map}.} +(define-key map "\C-p\C-f" 'foo) +@result{} 'foo +@end group +@group +map +@result{} (keymap ; @r{Note @code{foo} in @code{ctl-x-map}.} + (16 keymap [nil @dots{} foo @dots{} backward-kill-sentence]) + (24 keymap + (102 . forward-word)) + (6 . forward-char)) +@end group +@end smallexample + +@noindent +Note that storing a new binding for @kbd{C-p C-f} actually works by +changing an entry in @code{ctl-x-map}, and this has the effect of +changing the bindings of both @kbd{C-p C-f} and @kbd{C-x C-f} in the +default global map. + +@defun substitute-key-definition olddef newdef keymap &optional oldmap +@cindex replace bindings +This function replaces @var{olddef} with @var{newdef} for any keys in +@var{keymap} that were bound to @var{olddef}. In other words, +@var{olddef} is replaced with @var{newdef} wherever it appears. The +function returns @code{nil}. + +For example, this redefines @kbd{C-x C-f}, if you do it in an Emacs with +standard bindings: + +@smallexample +@group +(substitute-key-definition + 'find-file 'find-file-read-only (current-global-map)) +@end group +@end smallexample + +@c Emacs 19 feature +If @var{oldmap} is non-@code{nil}, then its bindings determine which +keys to rebind. The rebindings still happen in @var{newmap}, not in +@var{oldmap}. Thus, you can change one map under the control of the +bindings in another. For example, + +@smallexample +(substitute-key-definition + 'delete-backward-char 'my-funny-delete + my-map global-map) +@end smallexample + +@noindent +puts the special deletion command in @code{my-map} for whichever keys +are globally bound to the standard deletion command. + +@ignore +@c Emacs 18 only +Prefix keymaps that appear within @var{keymap} are not checked +recursively for keys bound to @var{olddef}; they are not changed at all. +Perhaps it would be better to check nested keymaps recursively. +@end ignore + +Here is an example showing a keymap before and after substitution: + +@smallexample +@group +(setq map '(keymap + (?1 . olddef-1) + (?2 . olddef-2) + (?3 . olddef-1))) +@result{} (keymap (49 . olddef-1) (50 . olddef-2) (51 . olddef-1)) +@end group + +@group +(substitute-key-definition 'olddef-1 'newdef map) +@result{} nil +@end group +@group +map +@result{} (keymap (49 . newdef) (50 . olddef-2) (51 . newdef)) +@end group +@end smallexample +@end defun + +@defun suppress-keymap keymap &optional nodigits +@cindex @code{self-insert-command} override +This function changes the contents of the full keymap @var{keymap} by +making all the printing characters undefined. More precisely, it binds +them to the command @code{undefined}. This makes ordinary insertion of +text impossible. @code{suppress-keymap} returns @code{nil}. + +If @var{nodigits} is @code{nil}, then @code{suppress-keymap} defines +digits to run @code{digit-argument}, and @kbd{-} to run +@code{negative-argument}. Otherwise it makes them undefined like the +rest of the printing characters. + +@cindex yank suppression +@cindex @code{quoted-insert} suppression +The @code{suppress-keymap} function does not make it impossible to +modify a buffer, as it does not suppress commands such as @code{yank} +and @code{quoted-insert}. To prevent any modification of a buffer, make +it read-only (@pxref{Read Only Buffers}). + +Since this function modifies @var{keymap}, you would normally use it +on a newly created keymap. Operating on an existing keymap +that is used for some other purpose is likely to cause trouble; for +example, suppressing @code{global-map} would make it impossible to use +most of Emacs. + +Most often, @code{suppress-keymap} is used to initialize local +keymaps of modes such as Rmail and Dired where insertion of text is not +desirable and the buffer is read-only. Here is an example taken from +the file @file{emacs/lisp/dired.el}, showing how the local keymap for +Dired mode is set up: + +@smallexample +@group + @dots{} + (setq dired-mode-map (make-keymap)) + (suppress-keymap dired-mode-map) + (define-key dired-mode-map "r" 'dired-rename-file) + (define-key dired-mode-map "\C-d" 'dired-flag-file-deleted) + (define-key dired-mode-map "d" 'dired-flag-file-deleted) + (define-key dired-mode-map "v" 'dired-view-file) + (define-key dired-mode-map "e" 'dired-find-file) + (define-key dired-mode-map "f" 'dired-find-file) + @dots{} +@end group +@end smallexample +@end defun + +@node Key Binding Commands +@section Commands for Binding Keys + + This section describes some convenient interactive interfaces for +changing key bindings. They work by calling @code{define-key}. + +@deffn Command global-set-key key definition + This function sets the binding of @var{key} in the current global map +to @var{definition}. + +@smallexample +@group +(global-set-key @var{key} @var{definition}) +@equiv{} +(define-key (current-global-map) @var{key} @var{definition}) +@end group +@end smallexample +@end deffn + +@deffn Command global-unset-key key +@cindex unbinding keys + This function removes the binding of @var{key} from the current +global map. + +One use of this function is in preparation for defining a longer key +which uses it implicitly as a prefix---which would not be allowed if +@var{key} has a non-prefix binding. For example: + +@smallexample +@group +(global-unset-key "\C-l") + @result{} nil +@end group +@group +(global-set-key "\C-l\C-l" 'redraw-display) + @result{} nil +@end group +@end smallexample + +This function is implemented simply using @code{define-key}: + +@smallexample +@group +(global-unset-key @var{key}) +@equiv{} +(define-key (current-global-map) @var{key} nil) +@end group +@end smallexample +@end deffn + +@deffn Command local-set-key key definition + This function sets the binding of @var{key} in the current local +keymap to @var{definition}. + +@smallexample +@group +(local-set-key @var{key} @var{definition}) +@equiv{} +(define-key (current-local-map) @var{key} @var{definition}) +@end group +@end smallexample +@end deffn + +@deffn Command local-unset-key key + This function removes the binding of @var{key} from the current +local map. + +@smallexample +@group +(local-unset-key @var{key}) +@equiv{} +(define-key (current-local-map) @var{key} nil) +@end group +@end smallexample +@end deffn + +@node Scanning Keymaps +@section Scanning Keymaps + + This section describes functions used to scan all the current keymaps +for the sake of printing help information. + +@defun accessible-keymaps keymap &optional prefix +This function returns a list of all the keymaps that can be accessed +(via prefix keys) from @var{keymap}. The value is an association list +with elements of the form @code{(@var{key} .@: @var{map})}, where +@var{key} is a prefix key whose definition in @var{keymap} is +@var{map}. + +The elements of the alist are ordered so that the @var{key} increases +in length. The first element is always @code{("" .@: @var{keymap})}, +because the specified keymap is accessible from itself with a prefix of +no events. + +If @var{prefix} is given, it should be a prefix key sequence; then +@code{accessible-keymaps} includes only the submaps whose prefixes start +with @var{prefix}. These elements look just as they do in the value of +@code{(accessible-keymaps)}; the only difference is that some elements +are omitted. + +In the example below, the returned alist indicates that the key +@key{ESC}, which is displayed as @samp{^[}, is a prefix key whose +definition is the sparse keymap @code{(keymap (83 .@: center-paragraph) +(115 .@: foo))}. + +@smallexample +@group +(accessible-keymaps (current-local-map)) +@result{}(("" keymap + (27 keymap ; @r{Note this keymap for @key{ESC} is repeated below.} + (83 . center-paragraph) + (115 . center-line)) + (9 . tab-to-tab-stop)) +@end group + +@group + ("^[" keymap + (83 . center-paragraph) + (115 . foo))) +@end group +@end smallexample + +In the following example, @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key that uses a sparse +keymap starting with @code{(keymap (118 . describe-variable)@dots{})}. +Another prefix, @kbd{C-x 4}, uses a keymap which happens to be +@code{ctl-x-4-map}. The event @code{mode-line} is one of several dummy +events used as prefixes for mouse actions in special parts of a window. + +@smallexample +@group +(accessible-keymaps (current-global-map)) +@result{} (("" keymap [set-mark-command beginning-of-line @dots{} + delete-backward-char]) +@end group +@group + ("^H" keymap (118 . describe-variable) @dots{} + (8 . help-for-help)) +@end group +@group + ("^X" keymap [x-flush-mouse-queue @dots{} + backward-kill-sentence]) +@end group +@group + ("^[" keymap [mark-sexp backward-sexp @dots{} + backward-kill-word]) +@end group + ("^X4" keymap (15 . display-buffer) @dots{}) +@group + ([mode-line] keymap + (S-mouse-2 . mouse-split-window-horizontally) @dots{})) +@end group +@end smallexample + +@noindent +These are not all the keymaps you would see in an actual case. +@end defun + +@defun where-is-internal command &optional keymap firstonly noindirect +This function returns a list of key sequences (of any length) that are +bound to @var{command} in a set of keymaps. + +The argument @var{command} can be any object; it is compared with all +keymap entries using @code{eq}. + +If @var{keymap} is @code{nil}, then the maps used are the current active +keymaps, disregarding @code{overriding-local-map} (that is, pretending +its value is @code{nil}). If @var{keymap} is non-@code{nil}, then the +maps searched are @var{keymap} and the global keymap. + +Usually it's best to use @code{overriding-local-map} as the expression +for @var{keymap}. Then @code{where-is-internal} searches precisely the +keymaps that are active. To search only the global map, pass +@code{(keymap)} (an empty keymap) as @var{keymap}. + +If @var{firstonly} is @code{non-ascii}, then the value is a single +string representing the first key sequence found, rather than a list of +all possible key sequences. If @var{firstonly} is @code{t}, then the +value is the first key sequence, except that key sequences consisting +entirely of @sc{ASCII} characters (or meta variants of @sc{ASCII} +characters) are preferred to all other key sequences. + +If @var{noindirect} is non-@code{nil}, @code{where-is-internal} doesn't +follow indirections to other keymaps or slots. This makes it possible +to search for an indirect definition itself. + +This function is used by @code{where-is} (@pxref{Help, , Help, emacs, +The GNU Emacs Manual}). + +@smallexample +@group +(where-is-internal 'describe-function) + @result{} ("\^hf" "\^hd") +@end group +@end smallexample +@end defun + +@deffn Command describe-bindings prefix +This function creates a listing of all defined keys, and their +definitions. It writes the listing in a buffer named @samp{*Help*} and +displays it in a window. + +The listing describes meta characters as @key{ESC} followed by the +corresponding non-meta character. + +When several characters with consecutive @sc{ASCII} codes have the +same definition, they are shown together, as +@samp{@var{firstchar}..@var{lastchar}}. In this instance, you need to +know the @sc{ASCII} codes to understand which characters this means. +For example, in the default global map, the characters @samp{@key{SPC} +..@: ~} are described by a single line. @key{SPC} is @sc{ASCII} 32, +@kbd{~} is @sc{ASCII} 126, and the characters between them include all +the normal printing characters, (e.g., letters, digits, punctuation, +etc.@:); all these characters are bound to @code{self-insert-command}. + +If @var{prefix} is non-@code{nil}, it should be a prefix key; then the +listing includes only keys that start with @var{prefix}. +@end deffn |