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author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> | 1994-03-28 20:21:44 +0000 |
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committer | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> | 1994-03-28 20:21:44 +0000 |
commit | 3817a596791bc4da72af93659fcb1f0a2ef817bc (patch) | |
tree | f13bd5d740d6a0abeaf7642b7766364cc50bb28e /lispref/os.texi | |
parent | 7fa94aae1b5922e037ebf3be6fb03c09c3fe422b (diff) | |
download | emacs-3817a596791bc4da72af93659fcb1f0a2ef817bc.tar.gz |
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diff --git a/lispref/os.texi b/lispref/os.texi new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..533c3a7f4ac --- /dev/null +++ b/lispref/os.texi @@ -0,0 +1,1355 @@ +@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/os +@node System Interface, Display, Processes, Top +@chapter Operating System Interface + + This chapter is about starting and getting out of Emacs, access to +values in the operating system environment, and terminal input, output +and flow control. + + @xref{Building Emacs}, for related information. See also +@ref{Display}, for additional operating system status information +pertaining to the terminal and the screen. + +@menu +* Starting Up:: Customizing Emacs start-up processing. +* Getting Out:: How exiting works (permanent or temporary). +* System Environment:: Distinguish the name and kind of system. +* User Identification:: Finding the name and user id of the user. +* Time of Day:: Getting the current time. +* Timers:: Setting a timer to call a function at a certain time. +* Terminal Input:: Recording terminal input for debugging. +* Terminal Output:: Recording terminal output for debugging. +* Special Keysyms:: Defining system-specific key symbols for X windows. +* Flow Control:: How to turn output flow control on or off. +* Batch Mode:: Running Emacs without terminal interaction. +@end menu + +@node Starting Up +@section Starting Up Emacs + + This section describes what Emacs does when it is started, and how you +can customize these actions. + +@menu +* Start-up Summary:: Sequence of actions Emacs performs at start-up. +* Init File:: Details on reading the init file (@file{.emacs}). +* Terminal-Specific:: How the terminal-specific Lisp file is read. +* Command Line Arguments:: How command line arguments are processed, + and how you can customize them. +@end menu + +@node Start-up Summary +@subsection Summary: Sequence of Actions at Start Up +@cindex initialization +@cindex start up of Emacs +@cindex @file{startup.el} + + The order of operations performed (in @file{startup.el}) by Emacs when +it is started up is as follows: + +@enumerate +@item +It loads the initialization library for the window system, if you are +using a window system. This library's name is +@file{term/@var{windowsystem}-win.el}. + +@item +It initializes the X window frame and faces, if appropriate. + +@item +It runs the normal hook @code{before-init-hook}. + +@item +It loads the library @file{site-start}, unless the option +@samp{-no-site-file} was specified. The library's file name is usually +@file{site-start.el}. +@cindex @file{site-start.el} + +@item +It loads the file @file{~/.emacs} unless @samp{-q} was specified on +command line. (This is not done in @samp{-batch} mode.) The @samp{-u} +option can specify the user name whose home directory should be used +instead of @file{~}. + +@item +It loads the library @file{default} unless @code{inhibit-default-init} +is non-@code{nil}. (This is not done in @samp{-batch} mode or if +@samp{-q} was specified on command line.) The library's file name is +usually @file{default.el}. +@cindex @file{default.el} + +@item +It runs the normal hook @code{after-init-hook}. + +@item +It sets the major mode according to @code{initial-major-mode}, provided +the buffer @samp{*scratch*} is still current and still in Fundamental +mode. + +@item +It loads the terminal-specific Lisp file, if any, except when in batch +mode or using a window system. + +@item +It displays the initial echo area message, unless you have suppressed +that with @code{inhibit-startup-echo-area-message}. + +@item +It processes any remaining command line arguments. + +@item +It runs @code{term-setup-hook}. + +@item +It calls @code{frame-notice-user-settings}, which modifies the +parameters of the selected frame according to whatever the init files +specify. + +@item +It runs @code{window-setup-hook}. @xref{Window Systems}. + +@item +It displays copyleft, nonwarranty and basic use information, provided +there were no remaining command line arguments (a few steps above) and +the value of @code{inhibit-startup-message} is @code{nil}. +@end enumerate + +@defopt inhibit-startup-message +This variable inhibits the initial startup messages (the nonwarranty, +etc.). If it is non-@code{nil}, then the messages are not printed. + +This variable exists so you can set it in your personal init file, once +you are familiar with the contents of the startup message. Do not set +this variable in the init file of a new user, or in a way that affects +more than one user, because that would prevent new users from receiving +the information they are supposed to see. +@end defopt + +@defopt inhibit-startup-echo-area-message +This variable controls the display of the startup echo area message. +You can suppress the startup echo area message by adding text with this +form to your @file{.emacs} file: + +@example +(setq inhibit-startup-echo-area-message + "@var{your-login-name}") +@end example + +Simply setting @code{inhibit-startup-echo-area-message} to your login +name is not sufficient to inhibit the message; Emacs explicitly checks +whether @file{.emacs} contains an expression as shown above. Your login +name must appear in the expression as a Lisp string constant. + +This way, you can easily inhibit the message for yourself if you wish, +but thoughtless copying of your @file{.emacs} file will not inhibit the +message for someone else. +@end defopt + +@node Init File +@subsection The Init File: @file{.emacs} +@cindex init file +@cindex @file{.emacs} + + When you start Emacs, it normally attempts to load the file +@file{.emacs} from your home directory. This file, if it exists, must +contain Lisp code. It is called your @dfn{init file}. The command line +switches @samp{-q} and @samp{-u} affect the use of the init file; +@samp{-q} says not to load an init file, and @samp{-u} says to load a +specified user's init file instead of yours. @xref{Entering Emacs, , , +emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. + +@cindex default init file + A site may have a @dfn{default init file}, which is the library named +@file{default.el}. Emacs finds the @file{default.el} file through the +standard search path for libraries (@pxref{How Programs Do Loading}). +The Emacs distribution does not come with this file; sites may provide +one for local customizations. If the default init file exists, it is +loaded whenever you start Emacs, except in batch mode or if @samp{-q} is +specified. But your own personal init file, if any, is loaded first; if +it sets @code{inhibit-default-init} to a non-@code{nil} value, then +Emacs does not subsequently load the @file{default.el} file. + + Another file for site-customization is @file{site-start.el}. Emacs +loads this @emph{before} the user's init file. You can inhibit the +loading of this file with the option @samp{-no-site-file}. + + If there is a great deal of code in your @file{.emacs} file, you +should move it into another file named @file{@var{something}.el}, +byte-compile it (@pxref{Byte Compilation}), and make your @file{.emacs} +file load the other file using @code{load} (@pxref{Loading}). + + @xref{Init File Examples, , , emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for +examples of how to make various commonly desired customizations in your +@file{.emacs} file. + +@defopt inhibit-default-init +This variable prevents Emacs from loading the default initialization +library file for your session of Emacs. If its value is non-@code{nil}, +then the default library is not loaded. The default value is +@code{nil}. +@end defopt + +@defvar before-init-hook +@defvarx after-init-hook +These two normal hooks are run just before, and just after, loading of +the user's init file, @file{default.el}, and/or @file{site-start.el}. +@end defvar + +@node Terminal-Specific +@subsection Terminal-Specific Initialization +@cindex terminal-specific initialization + + Each terminal type can have its own Lisp library that Emacs loads when +run on that type of terminal. For a terminal type named @var{termtype}, +the library is called @file{term/@var{termtype}}. Emacs finds the file +by searching the @code{load-path} directories as it does for other +files, and trying the @samp{.elc} and @samp{.el} suffixes. Normally, +terminal-specific Lisp library is located in @file{emacs/lisp/term}, a +subdirectory of the @file{emacs/lisp} directory in which most Emacs Lisp +libraries are kept.@refill + + The library's name is constructed by concatenating the value of the +variable @code{term-file-prefix} and the terminal type. Normally, +@code{term-file-prefix} has the value @code{"term/"}; changing this +is not recommended. + + The usual function of a terminal-specific library is to enable special +keys to send sequences that Emacs can recognize. It may also need to +set or add to @code{function-key-map} if the Termcap entry does not +specify all the terminal's function keys. @xref{Terminal Input}. + +@cindex Termcap + When the name of the terminal type contains a hyphen, only the part of +the name before the first hyphen is significant in choosing the library +name. Thus, terminal types @samp{aaa-48} and @samp{aaa-30-rv} both use +the @file{term/aaa} library. If necessary, the library can evaluate +@code{(getenv "TERM")} to find the full name of the terminal +type.@refill + + Your @file{.emacs} file can prevent the loading of the +terminal-specific library by setting the variable +@code{term-file-prefix} to @code{nil}. This feature is useful when +experimenting with your own peculiar customizations. + + You can also arrange to override some of the actions of the +terminal-specific library by setting the variable +@code{term-setup-hook}. This is a normal hook which Emacs runs using +@code{run-hooks} at the end of Emacs initialization, after loading both +your @file{.emacs} file and any terminal-specific libraries. You can +use this variable to define initializations for terminals that do not +have their own libraries. @xref{Hooks}. + +@defvar term-file-prefix +@cindex @code{TERM} environment variable +If the @code{term-file-prefix} variable is non-@code{nil}, Emacs loads +a terminal-specific initialization file as follows: + +@example +(load (concat term-file-prefix (getenv "TERM"))) +@end example + +@noindent +You may set the @code{term-file-prefix} variable to @code{nil} in your +@file{.emacs} file if you do not wish to load the +terminal-initialization file. To do this, put the following in +your @file{.emacs} file: @code{(setq term-file-prefix nil)}. +@end defvar + +@defvar term-setup-hook +This variable is a normal hook which Emacs runs after loading your +@file{.emacs} file, the default initialization file (if any) and the +terminal-specific Lisp file. + +You can use @code{term-setup-hook} to override the definitions made by a +terminal-specific file. +@end defvar + + See @code{window-setup-hook} in @ref{Window Systems}, for a related +feature. + +@node Command Line Arguments +@subsection Command Line Arguments +@cindex command line arguments + + You can use command line arguments to request various actions when you +start Emacs. Since you do not need to start Emacs more than once per +day, and will often leave your Emacs session running longer than that, +command line arguments are hardly ever used. As a practical matter, it +is best to avoid making the habit of using them, since this habit would +encourage you to kill and restart Emacs unnecessarily often. These +options exist for two reasons: to be compatible with other editors (for +invocation by other programs) and to enable shell scripts to run +specific Lisp programs. + + This section describes how Emacs processes command line arguments, +and how you can customize them. + +@ignore + (Note that some other editors require you to start afresh each time +you want to edit a file. With this kind of editor, you will probably +specify the file as a command line argument. The recommended way to +use GNU Emacs is to start it only once, just after you log in, and do +all your editing in the same Emacs process. Each time you want to edit +a different file, you visit it with the existing Emacs, which eventually +comes to have many files in it ready for editing. Usually you do not +kill the Emacs until you are about to log out.) +@end ignore + +@defun command-line +This function parses the command line which Emacs was called with, +processes it, loads the user's @file{.emacs} file and displays the +initial nonwarranty information, etc. +@end defun + +@defvar command-line-processed +The value of this variable is @code{t} once the command line has been +processed. + +If you redump Emacs by calling @code{dump-emacs}, you may wish to set +this variable to @code{nil} first in order to cause the new dumped Emacs +to process its new command line arguments. +@end defvar + +@defvar command-switch-alist +@cindex switches on command line +@cindex options on command line +@cindex command line options +The value of this variable is an alist of user-defined command-line +options and associated handler functions. This variable exists so you +can add elements to it. + +A @dfn{command line option} is an argument on the command line of the +form: + +@example +-@var{option} +@end example + +The elements of the @code{command-switch-alist} look like this: + +@example +(@var{option} . @var{handler-function}) +@end example + +The @var{handler-function} is called to handle @var{option} and receives +the option name as its sole argument. + +In some cases, the option is followed in the command line by an +argument. In these cases, the @var{handler-function} can find all the +remaining command-line arguments in the variable +@code{command-line-args-left}. (The entire list of command-line +arguments is in @code{command-line-args}.) + +The command line arguments are parsed by the @code{command-line-1} +function in the @file{startup.el} file. See also @ref{Command +Switches, , Command Line Switches and Arguments, emacs, The GNU Emacs +Manual}. +@end defvar + +@defvar command-line-args +The value of this variable is the list of command line arguments passed +to Emacs. +@end defvar + +@defvar command-line-functions +This variable's value is a list of functions for handling an +unrecognized command-line argument. Each time the next argument to be +processed has no special meaning, the functions in this list are called, +in the order they appear, until one of them returns a non-@code{nil} +value. + +These functions are called with no arguments. They can access the +command-line argument under consideration through the variable +@code{argi}. The remaining arguments (not including the current one) +are in the variable @code{command-line-args-left}. + +When a function recognizes and processes the argument in @code{argi}, it +should return a non-@code{nil} value to say it has dealt with that +argument. If it has also dealt with some of the following arguments, it +can indicate that by deleting them from @code{command-line-args-left}. + +If all of these functions return @code{nil}, then the argument is used +as a file name to visit. +@end defvar + +@node Getting Out +@section Getting Out of Emacs +@cindex exiting Emacs + + There are two ways to get out of Emacs: you can kill the Emacs job, +which exits permanently, or you can suspend it, which permits you to +reenter the Emacs process later. As a practical matter, you seldom kill +Emacs---only when you are about to log out. Suspending is much more +common. + +@menu +* Killing Emacs:: Exiting Emacs irreversibly. +* Suspending Emacs:: Exiting Emacs reversibly. +@end menu + +@node Killing Emacs +@comment node-name, next, previous, up +@subsection Killing Emacs +@cindex killing Emacs + + Killing Emacs means ending the execution of the Emacs process. The +parent process normally resumes control. The low-level primitive for +killing Emacs is @code{kill-emacs}. + +@defun kill-emacs &optional exit-data +This function exits the Emacs process and kills it. + +If @var{exit-data} is an integer, then it is used as the exit status +of the Emacs process. (This is useful primarily in batch operation; see +@ref{Batch Mode}.) + +If @var{exit-data} is a string, its contents are stuffed into the +terminal input buffer so that the shell (or whatever program next reads +input) can read them. +@end defun + + All the information in the Emacs process, aside from files that have +been saved, is lost when the Emacs is killed. Because killing Emacs +inadvertently can lose a lot of work, Emacs queries for confirmation +before actually terminating if you have buffers that need saving or +subprocesses that are running. This is done in the function +@code{save-buffers-kill-emacs}. + +@defvar kill-emacs-query-functions +After asking the standard questions, @code{save-buffers-kill-emacs} +calls the functions in the list @code{kill-buffer-query-functions}, in +order of appearance, with no arguments. These functions can ask for +additional confirmation from the user. If any of them returns +non-@code{nil}, Emacs is not killed. +@end defvar + +@defvar kill-emacs-hook +This variable is a normal hook; once @code{save-buffers-kill-emacs} is +finished with all file saving and confirmation, it runs the functions in +this hook. +@end defvar + +@node Suspending Emacs +@subsection Suspending Emacs +@cindex suspending Emacs + + @dfn{Suspending Emacs} means stopping Emacs temporarily and returning +control to its superior process, which is usually the shell. This +allows you to resume editing later in the same Emacs process, with the +same buffers, the same kill ring, the same undo history, and so on. To +resume Emacs, use the appropriate command in the parent shell---most +likely @code{fg}. + + Some operating systems do not support suspension of jobs; on these +systems, ``suspension'' actually creates a new shell temporarily as a +subprocess of Emacs. Then you would exit the shell to return to Emacs. + + Suspension is not useful with window systems such as X, because the +Emacs job may not have a parent that can resume it again, and in any +case you can give input to some other job such as a shell merely by +moving to a different window. Therefore, suspending is not allowed +when Emacs is an X client. + +@defun suspend-emacs string +This function stops Emacs and returns control to the superior process. +If and when the superior process resumes Emacs, @code{suspend-emacs} +returns @code{nil} to its caller in Lisp. + +If @var{string} is non-@code{nil}, its characters are sent to be read +as terminal input by Emacs's superior shell. The characters in +@var{string} are not echoed by the superior shell; only the results +appear. + +Before suspending, @code{suspend-emacs} runs the normal hook +@code{suspend-hook}. In Emacs version 18, @code{suspend-hook} was not a +normal hook; its value was a single function, and if its value was +non-@code{nil}, then @code{suspend-emacs} returned immediately without +actually suspending anything. + +After the user resumes Emacs, it runs the normal hook +@code{suspend-resume-hook}. @xref{Hooks}. + +The next redisplay after resumption will redraw the entire screen, +unless the variable @code{no-redraw-on-reenter} is non-@code{nil} +(@pxref{Refresh Screen}). + +In the following example, note that @samp{pwd} is not echoed after +Emacs is suspended. But it is read and executed by the shell. + +@smallexample +@group +(suspend-emacs) + @result{} nil +@end group + +@group +(add-hook 'suspend-hook + (function (lambda () + (or (y-or-n-p + "Really suspend? ") + (error "Suspend cancelled"))))) + @result{} (lambda nil + (or (y-or-n-p "Really suspend? ") + (error "Suspend cancelled"))) +@end group +@group +(add-hook 'suspend-resume-hook + (function (lambda () (message "Resumed!")))) + @result{} (lambda nil (message "Resumed!")) +@end group +@group +(suspend-emacs "pwd") + @result{} nil +@end group +@group +---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ---------- +Really suspend? @kbd{y} +---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ---------- +@end group + +@group +---------- Parent Shell ---------- +lewis@@slug[23] % /user/lewis/manual +lewis@@slug[24] % fg +@end group + +@group +---------- Echo Area ---------- +Resumed! +@end group +@end smallexample +@end defun + +@defvar suspend-hook +This variable is a normal hook run before suspending. +@end defvar + +@defvar suspend-resume-hook +This variable is a normal hook run after suspending. +@end defvar + +@node System Environment +@section Operating System Environment +@cindex operating system environment + + Emacs provides access to variables in the operating system environment +through various functions. These variables include the name of the +system, the user's @sc{uid}, and so on. + +@defvar system-type +The value of this variable is a symbol indicating the type of +operating system Emacs is operating on. Here is a table of the symbols +for the operating systems that Emacs can run on up to version 19.1. + +@table @code +@item aix-v3 +AIX. + +@item berkeley-unix +Berkeley BSD. + +@item hpux +Hewlett-Packard operating system. + +@item irix +Silicon Graphics Irix system. + +@item rtu +Masscomp RTU, UCB universe. + +@item unisoft-unix +UniSoft UniPlus. + +@item usg-unix-v +AT&T System V. + +@item vax-vms +VAX VMS. + +@item xenix +SCO Xenix 386. +@end table + +We do not wish to add new symbols to make finer distinctions unless it +is absolutely necessary! In fact, we hope to eliminate some of these +alternatives in the future. We recommend using +@code{system-configuration} to distinguish between different operating +systems. +@end defvar + +@defvar system-configuration +This variable holds the three-part configuration name for the +hardware/software configuration of your system, as a string. The +convenient way to test parts of this string is with @code{string-match}. +@end defvar + +@defun system-name +This function returns the name of the machine you are running on. +@example +(system-name) + @result{} "prep.ai.mit.edu" +@end example +@end defun + +@defun getenv var +@cindex environment variable access +This function returns the value of the environment variable @var{var}, +as a string. Within Emacs, the environment variable values are kept in +the Lisp variable @code{process-environment}. + +@example +@group +(getenv "USER") + @result{} "lewis" +@end group + +@group +lewis@@slug[10] % printenv +PATH=.:/user/lewis/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin +USER=lewis +@end group +@group +TERM=ibmapa16 +SHELL=/bin/csh +HOME=/user/lewis +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@deffn Command setenv variable value +This command sets the value of the environment variable named +@var{variable} to @var{value}. Both arguments should be strings. This +function works by modifying @code{process-environment}; binding that +variable with @code{let} is also reasonable practice. +@end deffn + +@defvar process-environment +This variable is a list of strings, each describing one environment +variable. The functions @code{getenv} and @code{setenv} work by means +of this variable. + +@smallexample +@group +process-environment +@result{} ("l=/usr/stanford/lib/gnuemacs/lisp" + "PATH=.:/user/lewis/bin:/usr/class:/nfsusr/local/bin" + "USER=lewis" +@end group +@group + "TERM=ibmapa16" + "SHELL=/bin/csh" + "HOME=/user/lewis") +@end group +@end smallexample +@end defvar + +@defun load-average +This function returns the current 1 minute, 5 minute and 15 minute +load averages in a list. The values are integers that are 100 times +the system load averages. (The load averages indicate the number of +processes trying to run.) + +@example +@group +(load-average) + @result{} (169 48 36) +@end group + +@group +lewis@@rocky[5] % uptime + 11:55am up 1 day, 19:37, 3 users, + load average: 1.69, 0.48, 0.36 +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun emacs-pid +This function returns the process @sc{id} of the Emacs process. +@end defun + +@defun setprv privilege-name &optional setp getprv +This function sets or resets a VMS privilege. (It does not exist on +Unix.) The first arg is the privilege name, as a string. The second +argument, @var{setp}, is @code{t} or @code{nil}, indicating whether the +privilege is to be turned on or off. Its default is @code{nil}. The +function returns @code{t} if successful, @code{nil} otherwise. + + If the third argument, @var{getprv}, is non-@code{nil}, @code{setprv} +does not change the privilege, but returns @code{t} or @code{nil} +indicating whether the privilege is currently enabled. +@end defun + +@node User Identification +@section User Identification + +@defun user-login-name +This function returns the name under which the user is logged in. If +the environment variable @code{LOGNAME} is set, that value is used. +Otherwise, if the environment variable @code{USER} is set, that value is +used. Otherwise, the value is based on the effective @sc{uid}, not the +real @sc{uid}. + +@example +@group +(user-login-name) + @result{} "lewis" +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun user-real-login-name +This function returns the user name corresponding to Emacs's real +@sc{uid}. This ignores the effective @sc{uid} and ignores the +environment variables @code{LOGNAME} and @code{USER}. +@end defun + +@defun user-full-name +This function returns the full name of the user. + +@example +@group +(user-full-name) + @result{} "Bil Lewis" +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun user-real-uid +This function returns the real @sc{uid} of the user. + +@example +@group +(user-real-uid) + @result{} 19 +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@defun user-uid +This function returns the effective @sc{uid} of the user. +@end defun + +@node Time of Day +@section Time of Day + + This section explains how to determine the current time and the time +zone. + +@defun current-time-string &optional time-value +This function returns the current time and date as a humanly-readable +string. The format of the string is unvarying; the number of characters +used for each part is always the same, so you can reliably use +@code{substring} to extract pieces of it. However, it would be wise to +count the characters from the beginning of the string rather than from +the end, as additional information may be added at the end. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +The argument @var{time-value}, if given, specifies a time to format +instead of the current time. The argument should be a cons cell +containing two integers, or a list whose first two elements are +integers. Thus, you can use times obtained from @code{current-time} +(see below) and from @code{file-attributes} (@pxref{File Attributes}). + +@example +@group +(current-time-string) + @result{} "Wed Oct 14 22:21:05 1987" +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@defun current-time +This function returns the system's time value as a list of three +integers: @code{(@var{high} @var{low} @var{microsec})}. The integers +@var{high} and @var{low} combine to give the number of seconds since +0:00 January 1, 1970, which is +@ifinfo +@var{high} * 2**16 + @var{low}. +@end ifinfo +@tex +$high*-2^{16}+low$. +@end tex + +The third element, @var{microsec}, gives the microseconds since the +start of the current second (or 0 for systems that return time only on +the resolution of a second). + +The first two elements can be compared with file time values such as you +get with the function @code{file-attributes}. @xref{File Attributes}. +@end defun + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@defun current-time-zone &optional time-value +This function returns a list describing the time zone that the user is +in. + +The value has the form @code{(@var{offset} @var{name})}. Here +@var{offset} is an integer giving the number of seconds ahead of UTC +(east of Greenwich). A negative value means west of Greenwich. The +second element, @var{name} is a string giving the name of the time +zone. Both elements change when daylight savings time begins or ends; +if the user has specified a time zone that does not use a seasonal time +adjustment, then the value is constant through time. + +If the operating system doesn't supply all the information necessary to +compute the value, both elements of the list are @code{nil}. + +The argument @var{time-value}, if given, specifies a time to analyze +instead of the current time. The argument should be a cons cell +containing two integers, or a list whose first two elements are +integers. Thus, you can use times obtained from @code{current-time} +(see below) and from @code{file-attributes} (@pxref{File Attributes}). +@end defun + +@node Timers +@section Timers + +You can set up a timer to call a function at a specified future time. + +@defun run-at-time time repeat function &rest args +This function arranges to call @var{function} with arguments @var{args} +at time @var{time}. The argument @var{function} is a function to call +later, and @var{args} are the arguments to give it when it is called. +The time @var{time} is specified as a string. + +Absolute times may be specified in a wide variety of formats; The form +@samp{@var{hour}:@var{min}:@var{sec} @var{timezone} +@var{month}/@var{day}/@var{year}}, where all fields are numbers, works; +the format that @code{current-time-string} returns is also allowed. + +To specify a relative time, use numbers followed by units. +For example: + +@table @samp +@item 1 min +denotes 1 minute from now. +@item 1 min 5 sec +denotes 65 seconds from now. +@item 1 min 2 sec 3 hour 4 day 5 week 6 fortnight 7 month 8 year +denotes exactly 103 months, 123 days, and 10862 seconds from now. +@end table + +If @var{time} is an integer, that specifies a relative time measured in +seconds. + +The argument @var{repeat} specifies how often to repeat the call. If +@var{repeat} is @code{nil}, there are no repetitions; @var{function} is +called just once, at @var{time}. If @var{repeat} is an integer, it +specifies a repetition period measured in seconds. +@end defun + +@defun cancel-timer timer +Cancel the requested action for @var{timer}, which should be a value +previously returned by @code{run-at-time}. This cancels the effect of +that call to @code{run-at-time}; the arrival of the specified time will +not cause anything special to happen. +@end defun + +@node Terminal Input +@section Terminal Input +@cindex terminal input + + This section describes functions and variables for recording or +manipulating terminal input. See @ref{Display}, for related +functions. + +@menu +* Input Modes:: Options for how input is processed. +* Translating Input:: Low level conversion of some characters or events + into others. +* Recording Input:: Saving histories of recent or all input events. +@end menu + +@node Input Modes +@subsection Input Modes +@cindex input modes +@cindex terminal input modes + +@defun set-input-mode interrupt flow meta quit-char +This function sets the mode for reading keyboard input. If +@var{interrupt} is non-null, then Emacs uses input interrupts. If it is +@code{nil}, then it uses @sc{cbreak} mode. + +If @var{flow} is non-@code{nil}, then Emacs uses @sc{xon/xoff} (@kbd{C-q}, +@kbd{C-s}) flow control for output to terminal. This has no effect except +in @sc{cbreak} mode. @xref{Flow Control}. + +The default setting is system dependent. Some systems always use +@sc{cbreak} mode regardless of what is specified. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +The argument @var{meta} controls support for input character codes +above 127. If @var{meta} is @code{t}, Emacs converts characters with +the 8th bit set into Meta characters. If @var{meta} is @code{nil}, +Emacs disregards the 8th bit; this is necessary when the terminal uses +it as a parity bit. If @var{meta} is neither @code{t} nor @code{nil}, +Emacs uses all 8 bits of input unchanged. This is good for terminals +using European 8-bit character sets. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +If @var{quit-char} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies the character to +use for quitting. Normally this character is @kbd{C-g}. +@xref{Quitting}. +@end defun + +The @code{current-input-mode} function returns the input mode settings +Emacs is currently using. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@defun current-input-mode +This function returns current mode for reading keyboard input. It +returns a list, corresponding to the arguments of @code{set-input-mode}, +of the form @code{(@var{interrupt} @var{flow} @var{meta} @var{quit})} in +which: +@table @var +@item interrupt +is non-@code{nil} when Emacs is using interrupt-driven input. If +@code{nil}, Emacs is using @sc{cbreak} mode. +@item flow +is non-@code{nil} if Emacs uses @sc{xon/xoff} (@kbd{C-q}, @kbd{C-s}) +flow control for output to the terminal. This value has no effect +unless @var{interrupt} is non-@code{nil}. +@item meta +is non-@code{t} if Emacs treats the eighth bit of input characters as +the meta bit; @code{nil} means Emacs clears the eighth bit of every +input character; any other value means Emacs uses all eight bits as the +basic character code. +@item quit +is the character Emacs currently uses for quitting, usually @kbd{C-g}. +@end table +@end defun + +@defvar meta-flag +This variable used to control whether to treat the eight bit in keyboard +input characters as the @key{Meta} bit. @code{nil} meant no, and +anything else meant yes. This variable existed in Emacs versions 18 and +earlier but no longer exists in Emacs 19; use @code{set-input-mode} +instead. +@end defvar + +@node Translating Input +@subsection Translating Input Events +@cindex translating input events + + This section describes features for translating input events into other +input events before they become part of key sequences. + +@c Emacs 19 feature +@defvar extra-keyboard-modifiers +This variable lets Lisp programs ``press'' the modifier keys on the +keyboard. The value is a bit mask: + +@table @asis +@item 1 +The @key{SHIFT} key. +@item 2 +The @key{LOCK} key. +@item 4 +The @key{CTL} key. +@item 8 +The @key{META} key. +@end table + +Each time the user types a keyboard key, it is altered as if the +modifier keys specified in the bit mask were held down. + +When you use X windows, the program can ``press'' any of the modifier +keys in this way. Otherwise, only the @key{CTL} and @key{META} keys can +be virtually pressed. +@end defvar + +@defvar keyboard-translate-table +This variable is the translate table for keyboard characters. It lets +you reshuffle the keys on the keyboard without changing any command +bindings. Its value must be a string or @code{nil}. + +If @code{keyboard-translate-table} is a string, then each character read +from the keyboard is looked up in this string and the character in the +string is used instead. If the string is of length @var{n}, character codes +@var{n} and up are untranslated. + +In the example below, we set @code{keyboard-translate-table} to a +string of 128 characters. Then we fill it in to swap the characters +@kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-\} and the characters @kbd{C-q} and @kbd{C-^}. +Subsequently, typing @kbd{C-\} has all the usual effects of typing +@kbd{C-s}, and vice versa. (@xref{Flow Control} for more information on +this subject.) + +@cindex flow control example +@example +@group +(defun evade-flow-control () + "Replace C-s with C-\ and C-q with C-^." + (interactive) +@end group +@group + (let ((the-table (make-string 128 0))) + (let ((i 0)) + (while (< i 128) + (aset the-table i i) + (setq i (1+ i)))) +@end group + ;; @r{Swap @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-\}.} + (aset the-table ?\034 ?\^s) + (aset the-table ?\^s ?\034) +@group + ;; @r{Swap @kbd{C-q} and @kbd{C-^}.} + (aset the-table ?\036 ?\^q) + (aset the-table ?\^q ?\036) + (setq keyboard-translate-table the-table))) +@end group +@end example + +Note that this translation is the first thing that happens to a +character after it is read from the terminal. Record-keeping features +such as @code{recent-keys} and dribble files record the characters after +translation. +@end defvar + +@defun keyboard-translate from to +This function modifies @code{keyboard-translate-table} to translate +character code @var{from} into character code @var{to}. It creates +or enlarges the translate table if necessary. +@end defun + +@defvar function-key-map +This variable holds a keymap which describes the character sequences +sent by function keys on an ordinary character terminal. This keymap +uses the data structure as other keymaps, but is used differently: it +specifies translations to make while reading events. + +If @code{function-key-map} ``binds'' a key sequence @var{k} to a vector +@var{v}, then when @var{k} appears as a subsequence @emph{anywhere} in a +key sequence, it is replaced with the events in @var{v}. + +For example, VT100 terminals send @kbd{@key{ESC} O P} when the +keypad PF1 key is pressed. Therefore, we want Emacs to translate +that sequence of events into the single event @code{pf1}. We accomplish +this by ``binding'' @kbd{@key{ESC} O P} to @code{[pf1]} in +@code{function-key-map}, when using a VT100. + +Thus, typing @kbd{C-c @key{PF1}} sends the character sequence @kbd{C-c +@key{ESC} O P}; later the function @code{read-key-sequence} translates +this back into @kbd{C-c @key{PF1}}, which it returns as the vector +@code{[?\C-c pf1]}. + +Entries in @code{function-key-map} are ignored if they conflict with +bindings made in the minor mode, local, or global keymaps. The intent +is that the character sequences that function keys send should not have +command bindings in their own right. + +The value of @code{function-key-map} is usually set up automatically +according to the terminal's Terminfo or Termcap entry, but sometimes +those need help from terminal-specific Lisp files. Emacs comes with +terminal-specific files for many common terminals; their main purpose is +to make entries in @code{function-key-map} beyond those that can be +deduced from Termcap and Terminfo. @xref{Terminal-Specific}. + +Emacs versions 18 and earlier used totally different means of detecting +the character sequences that represent function keys. +@end defvar + +@defvar key-translation-map +This variable is another keymap used just like @code{function-key-map} +to translate input events into other events. It differs from +@code{function-key-map} in two ways: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +@code{key-translation-map} goes to work after @code{function-key-map} is +finished; it receives the results of translation by +@code{function-key-map}. + +@item +@code{key-translation-map} overrides actual key bindings. +@end itemize + +The intent of @code{key-translation-map} is for users to map one +character set to another, including ordinary characters normally bound +to @code{self-insert-command}. +@end defvar + +@cindex key translation function +You can use @code{function-key-map} or @code{key-translation-map} for +more than simple aliases, by using a function, instead of a key +sequence, as the ``translation'' of a key. Then this function is called +to compute the translation of that key. + +The key translation function receives one argument, which is the prompt +that was specified in @code{read-key-sequence}---or @code{nil} if the +key sequence is being read by the editor command loop. In most cases +you can ignore the prompt value. + +If the function reads input itself, it can have the effect of altering +the event that follows. For example, here's how to define @kbd{C-c h} +to turn the character that follows into a Hyper character: + +@example +(defun hyperify (prompt) + (let ((e (read-event))) + (vector (if (numberp e) + (logior (lsh 1 20) e) + (if (memq 'hyper (event-modifiers e)) + e + (add-event-modifier "H-" e)))))) + +(defun add-event-modifier (string e) + (let ((symbol (if (symbolp e) e (car e)))) + (setq symbol (intern (concat string + (symbol-name symbol)))) + (if (symbolp e) + symbol + (cons symbol (cdr e))))) + +(define-key function-key-map "\C-ch" 'hyperify) +@end example + +@pindex iso-transl +@cindex Latin-1 character set (input) +@cindex ISO Latin-1 characters (input) +The @file{iso-transl} library uses this feature to provide a way of +inputting non-ASCII Latin-1 characters. + +@node Recording Input +@subsection Recording Input + +@defun recent-keys +This function returns a vector containing the last 100 input events +from the keyboard or mouse. All input events are included, whether or +not they were used as parts of key sequences. Thus, you always get the +last 100 inputs, not counting keyboard macros. (Events from keyboard +macros are excluded because they are less interesting for debugging; it +should be enough to see the events which invoked the macros.) +@end defun + +@deffn Command open-dribble-file filename +@cindex dribble file +This function opens a @dfn{dribble file} named @var{filename}. When a +dribble file is open, each input event from the keyboard or mouse (but +not those from keyboard macros) is written in that file. A +non-character event is expressed using its printed representation +surrounded by @samp{<@dots{}>}. + +You close the dribble file by calling this function with an argument +of @code{nil}. + +This function is normally used to record the input necessary to +trigger an Emacs bug, for the sake of a bug report. + +@example +@group +(open-dribble-file "~/dribble") + @result{} nil +@end group +@end example +@end deffn + + See also the @code{open-termscript} function (@pxref{Terminal Output}). + +@node Terminal Output +@section Terminal Output +@cindex terminal output + + The terminal output functions send output to the terminal or keep +track of output sent to the terminal. The variable @code{baud-rate} +tells you what Emacs thinks is the output speed of the terminal. + +@defvar baud-rate +This variable's value is the output speed of the terminal, as far as +Emacs knows. Setting this variable does not change the speed of actual +data transmission, but the value is used for calculations such as +padding. It also affects decisions about whether to scroll part of the +screen or repaint---even when using a window system, (We designed it +this way despite the fact that a window system has no true ``output +speed'', to give you a way to tune these decisions.) + +The value is measured in baud. +@end defvar + + If you are running across a network, and different parts of the +network work at different baud rates, the value returned by Emacs may be +different from the value used by your local terminal. Some network +protocols communicate the local terminal speed to the remote machine, so +that Emacs and other programs can get the proper value, but others do +not. If Emacs has the wrong value, it makes decisions that are less +than optimal. To fix the problem, set @code{baud-rate}. + +@defun baud-rate +This function returns the value of the variable @code{baud-rate}. In +Emacs versions 18 and earlier, this was the only way to find out the +terminal speed. +@end defun + +@defun send-string-to-terminal string +This function sends @var{string} to the terminal without alteration. +Control characters in @var{string} have terminal-dependent effects. + +One use of this function is to define function keys on terminals that +have downloadable function key definitions. For example, this is how on +certain terminals to define function key 4 to move forward four +characters (by transmitting the characters @kbd{C-u C-f} to the +computer): + +@example +@group +(send-string-to-terminal "\eF4\^U\^F") + @result{} nil +@end group +@end example +@end defun + +@deffn Command open-termscript filename +@cindex termscript file +This function is used to open a @dfn{termscript file} that will record +all the characters sent by Emacs to the terminal. It returns +@code{nil}. Termscript files are useful for investigating problems +where Emacs garbles the screen, problems that are due to incorrect +Termcap entries or to undesirable settings of terminal options more +often than to actual Emacs bugs. Once you are certain which characters +were actually output, you can determine reliably whether they correspond +to the Termcap specifications in use. + +See also @code{open-dribble-file} in @ref{Terminal Input}. + +@example +@group +(open-termscript "../junk/termscript") + @result{} nil +@end group +@end example +@end deffn + +@node Special Keysyms +@section System-Specific X11 Keysyms + +To define system-specific X11 keysyms, set the variable +@code{system-key-alist}. + +@defvar system-key-alist +This variable's value should be an alist with one element for each +system-specific keysym. An element has this form: @code{(@var{code} +. @var{symbol})}, where @var{code} is the numeric keysym code (not +including the ``vendor specific'' bit, 1 << 28), and @var{symbol} is the +name for the function key. + +For example @code{(168 . mute-acute)} defines a system-specific key used +by HP X servers whose numeric code is (1 << 28) + 168. + +It is not a problem if the alist defines keysyms for other X servers, as +long as they don't conflict with the ones used by the X server actually +in use. +@end defvar + +@node Flow Control +@section Flow Control +@cindex flow control characters + + This section attempts to answer the question ``Why does Emacs choose +to use flow-control characters in its command character set?'' For a +second view on this issue, read the comments on flow control in the +@file{emacs/INSTALL} file from the distribution; for help with Termcap +entries and DEC terminal concentrators, see @file{emacs/etc/TERMS}. + +@cindex @kbd{C-s} +@cindex @kbd{C-q} + At one time, most terminals did not need flow control, and none used +@code{C-s} and @kbd{C-q} for flow control. Therefore, the choice of +@kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-q} as command characters was uncontroversial. +Emacs, for economy of keystrokes and portability, used nearly all the +@sc{ASCII} control characters, with mnemonic meanings when possible; +thus, @kbd{C-s} for search and @kbd{C-q} for quote. + + Later, some terminals were introduced which required these characters +for flow control. They were not very good terminals for full-screen +editing, so Emacs maintainers did not pay attention. In later years, +flow control with @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-q} became widespread among +terminals, but by this time it was usually an option. And the majority +of users, who can turn flow control off, were unwilling to switch to +less mnemonic key bindings for the sake of flow control. + + So which usage is ``right'', Emacs's or that of some terminal and +concentrator manufacturers? This question has no simple answer. + + One reason why we are reluctant to cater to the problems caused by +@kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-q} is that they are gratuitous. There are other +techniques (albeit less common in practice) for flow control that +preserve transparency of the character stream. Note also that their use +for flow control is not an official standard. Interestingly, on the +model 33 teletype with a paper tape punch (which is very old), @kbd{C-s} +and @kbd{C-q} were sent by the computer to turn the punch on and off! + + GNU Emacs version 19 provides a convenient way of enabling flow +control if you want it: call the function @code{enable-flow-control}. + +@defun enable-flow-control +This function enables use of @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-q} for output flow +control, and provides the characters @kbd{C-\} and @kbd{C-^} as aliases +for them using @code{keyboard-translate-table} (@pxref{Translating Input}). +@end defun + +You can use the function @code{enable-flow-control-on} in your +@file{.emacs} file to enable flow control automatically on certain +terminal types. + +@defun enable-flow-control-on &rest termtypes +This function enables flow control, and the aliases @kbd{C-\} and @kbd{C-^}, +if the terminal type is one of @var{termtypes}. For example: + +@smallexample +(enable-flow-control-on "vt200" "vt300" "vt101" "vt131") +@end smallexample +@end defun + + Here is how @code{enable-flow-control} does its job: + +@enumerate +@item +@cindex @sc{cbreak} +It sets @sc{cbreak} mode for terminal input, and tells the operating +system to handle flow control, with @code{(set-input-mode nil t)}. + +@item +It sets up @code{keyboard-translate-table} to translate @kbd{C-\} and +@kbd{C-^} into @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-q} were typed. Except at its very +lowest level, Emacs never knows that the characters typed were anything +but @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-q}, so you can in effect type them as @kbd{C-\} +and @kbd{C-^} even when they are input for other commands. +@xref{Translating Input}. + +If the terminal is the source of the flow control characters, then once +you enable kernel flow control handling, you probably can make do with +less padding than normal for that terminal. You can reduce the amount +of padding by customizing the Termcap entry. You can also reduce it by +setting @code{baud-rate} to a smaller value so that Emacs uses a smaller +speed when calculating the padding needed. @xref{Terminal Output}. + +@node Batch Mode +@section Batch Mode +@cindex batch mode +@cindex noninteractive use + + The command line option @samp{-batch} causes Emacs to run +noninteractively. In this mode, Emacs does not read commands from the +terminal, it does not alter the terminal modes, and it does not expect +to be outputting to an erasable screen. The idea is that you specify +Lisp programs to run; when they are finished, Emacs should exit. The +way to specify the programs to run is with @samp{-l @var{file}}, which +loads the library named @var{file}, and @samp{-f @var{function}}, which +calls @var{function} with no arguments. + + Any Lisp program output that would normally go to the echo area, +either using @code{message} or using @code{prin1}, etc., with @code{t} +as the stream, goes instead to Emacs's standard output descriptor when +in batch mode. Thus, Emacs behaves much like a noninteractive +application program. (The echo area output that Emacs itself normally +generates, such as command echoing, is suppressed entirely.) + +@defvar noninteractive +This variable is non-@code{nil} when Emacs is running in batch mode. +@end defvar |