@c -*-texinfo-*- @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. @setfilename ../info/windows @node Windows, Frames, Buffers, Top @chapter Windows This chapter describes most of the functions and variables related to Emacs windows. See @ref{Display}, for information on how text is displayed in windows. @menu * Basic Windows:: Basic information on using windows. * Splitting Windows:: Splitting one window into two windows. * Deleting Windows:: Deleting a window gives its space to other windows. * Selecting Windows:: The selected window is the one that you edit in. * Cyclic Window Ordering:: Moving around the existing windows. * Buffers and Windows:: Each window displays the contents of a buffer. * Displaying Buffers:: Higher-level functions for displaying a buffer and choosing a window for it. * Choosing Window:: How to choose a window for displaying a buffer. * Window Point:: Each window has its own location of point. * Window Start:: The display-start position controls which text is on-screen in the window. * Textual Scrolling:: Moving text up and down through the window. * Vertical Scrolling:: Moving the contents up and down on the window. * Horizontal Scrolling:: Moving the contents sideways on the window. * Size of Window:: Accessing the size of a window. * Resizing Windows:: Changing the size of a window. * Coordinates and Windows:: Converting coordinates to windows. * Window Tree:: The layout and sizes of all windows in a frame. * Window Configurations:: Saving and restoring the state of the screen. * Window Hooks:: Hooks for scrolling, window size changes, redisplay going past a certain point, or window configuration changes. @end menu @node Basic Windows @section Basic Concepts of Emacs Windows @cindex window @cindex selected window A @dfn{window} in Emacs is the physical area of the screen in which a buffer is displayed. The term is also used to refer to a Lisp object that represents that screen area in Emacs Lisp. It should be clear from the context which is meant. Emacs groups windows into frames. A frame represents an area of screen available for Emacs to use. Each frame always contains at least one window, but you can subdivide it vertically or horizontally into multiple nonoverlapping Emacs windows. In each frame, at any time, one and only one window is designated as @dfn{selected within the frame}. The frame's cursor appears in that window, but the other windows have ``non-selected'' cursors, normally less visible. At any time, one frame is the selected frame; and the window selected within that frame is @dfn{the selected window}. The selected window's buffer is usually the current buffer (except when @code{set-buffer} has been used). @xref{Current Buffer}. @defvar cursor-in-non-selected-windows If this variable is @code{nil}, Emacs displays only one cursor, in the selected window. Other windows have no cursor at all. @end defvar For practical purposes, a window exists only while it is displayed in a frame. Once removed from the frame, the window is effectively deleted and should not be used, @emph{even though there may still be references to it} from other Lisp objects. Restoring a saved window configuration is the only way for a window no longer on the screen to come back to life. (@xref{Deleting Windows}.) Each window has the following attributes: @itemize @bullet @item containing frame @item window height @item window width @item window edges with respect to the screen or frame @item the buffer it displays @item position within the buffer at the upper left of the window @item amount of horizontal scrolling, in columns @item point @item the mark @item how recently the window was selected @item fringe settings @item display margins @item scroll-bar settings @end itemize @cindex multiple windows Users create multiple windows so they can look at several buffers at once. Lisp libraries use multiple windows for a variety of reasons, but most often to display related information. In Rmail, for example, you can move through a summary buffer in one window while the other window shows messages one at a time as they are reached. The meaning of ``window'' in Emacs is similar to what it means in the context of general-purpose window systems such as X, but not identical. The X Window System places X windows on the screen; Emacs uses one or more X windows as frames, and subdivides them into Emacs windows. When you use Emacs on a character-only terminal, Emacs treats the whole terminal screen as one frame. @cindex terminal screen @cindex screen of terminal @cindex tiled windows Most window systems support arbitrarily located overlapping windows. In contrast, Emacs windows are @dfn{tiled}; they never overlap, and together they fill the whole screen or frame. Because of the way in which Emacs creates new windows and resizes them, not all conceivable tilings of windows on an Emacs frame are actually possible. @xref{Splitting Windows}, and @ref{Size of Window}. @xref{Display}, for information on how the contents of the window's buffer are displayed in the window. @defun windowp object This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a window. @end defun @node Splitting Windows @section Splitting Windows @cindex splitting windows @cindex window splitting The functions described here are the primitives used to split a window into two windows. Two higher level functions sometimes split a window, but not always: @code{pop-to-buffer} and @code{display-buffer} (@pxref{Displaying Buffers}). The functions described here do not accept a buffer as an argument. The two ``halves'' of the split window initially display the same buffer previously visible in the window that was split. @deffn Command split-window &optional window size horizontal This function splits a new window out of @var{window}'s screen area. It returns the new window. If @var{horizontal} is non-@code{nil}, then @var{window} splits into two side by side windows. The original window @var{window} keeps the leftmost @var{size} columns, and gives the rest of the columns to the new window. Otherwise, it splits into windows one above the other, and @var{window} keeps the upper @var{size} lines and gives the rest of the lines to the new window. The original window is therefore the left-hand or upper of the two, and the new window is the right-hand or lower. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, that stands for the selected window. When you split the selected window, it remains selected. If @var{size} is omitted or @code{nil}, then @var{window} is divided evenly into two parts. (If there is an odd line, it is allocated to the new window.) When @code{split-window} is called interactively, all its arguments are @code{nil}. If splitting would result in making a window that is smaller than @code{window-min-height} or @code{window-min-width}, the function signals an error and does not split the window at all. The following example starts with one window on a screen that is 50 lines high by 80 columns wide; then it splits the window. @smallexample @group (setq w (selected-window)) @result{} # (window-edges) ; @r{Edges in order:} @result{} (0 0 80 50) ; @r{left--top--right--bottom} @end group @group ;; @r{Returns window created} (setq w2 (split-window w 15)) @result{} # @end group @group (window-edges w2) @result{} (0 15 80 50) ; @r{Bottom window;} ; @r{top is line 15} @end group @group (window-edges w) @result{} (0 0 80 15) ; @r{Top window} @end group @end smallexample The screen looks like this: @smallexample @group __________ | | line 0 | w | |__________| | | line 15 | w2 | |__________| line 50 column 0 column 80 @end group @end smallexample Next, split the top window horizontally: @smallexample @group (setq w3 (split-window w 35 t)) @result{} # @end group @group (window-edges w3) @result{} (35 0 80 15) ; @r{Left edge at column 35} @end group @group (window-edges w) @result{} (0 0 35 15) ; @r{Right edge at column 35} @end group @group (window-edges w2) @result{} (0 15 80 50) ; @r{Bottom window unchanged} @end group @end smallexample @need 3000 Now the screen looks like this: @smallexample @group column 35 __________ | | | line 0 | w | w3 | |___|______| | | line 15 | w2 | |__________| line 50 column 0 column 80 @end group @end smallexample Normally, Emacs indicates the border between two side-by-side windows with a scroll bar (@pxref{Layout Parameters,Scroll Bars}) or @samp{|} characters. The display table can specify alternative border characters; see @ref{Display Tables}. @end deffn @deffn Command split-window-vertically &optional size This function splits the selected window into two windows, one above the other, leaving the upper of the two windows selected, with @var{size} lines. (If @var{size} is negative, then the lower of the two windows gets @minus{} @var{size} lines and the upper window gets the rest, but the upper window is still the one selected.) However, if @code{split-window-keep-point} (see below) is @code{nil}, then either window can be selected. In other respects, this function is similar to @code{split-window}. In particular, the upper window is the original one and the return value is the new, lower window. @end deffn @defopt split-window-keep-point If this variable is non-@code{nil} (the default), then @code{split-window-vertically} behaves as described above. If it is @code{nil}, then @code{split-window-vertically} adjusts point in each of the two windows to avoid scrolling. (This is useful on slow terminals.) It selects whichever window contains the screen line that point was previously on. This variable only affects the behavior of @code{split-window-vertically}. It has no effect on the other functions described here. @end defopt @deffn Command split-window-horizontally &optional size This function splits the selected window into two windows side-by-side, leaving the selected window on the left with @var{size} columns. If @var{size} is negative, the rightmost window gets @minus{} @var{size} columns, but the leftmost window still remains selected. This function is basically an interface to @code{split-window}. You could define a simplified version of the function like this: @smallexample @group (defun split-window-horizontally (&optional arg) "Split selected window into two windows, side by side..." (interactive "P") @end group @group (let ((size (and arg (prefix-numeric-value arg)))) (and size (< size 0) (setq size (+ (window-width) size))) (split-window nil size t))) @end group @end smallexample @end deffn @defun one-window-p &optional no-mini all-frames This function returns non-@code{nil} if there is only one window. The argument @var{no-mini}, if non-@code{nil}, means don't count the minibuffer even if it is active; otherwise, the minibuffer window is counted when it is active. The argument @var{all-frames} specifies which frames to consider. Here are the possible values and their meanings: @table @asis @item @code{nil} Count the windows in the selected frame, plus the minibuffer used by that frame even if it lies in some other frame. @item @code{t} Count all windows in all existing frames. @item @code{visible} Count all windows in all visible frames. @item 0 Count all windows in all visible or iconified frames. @item anything else Count precisely the windows in the selected frame, and no others. @end table @end defun @node Deleting Windows @section Deleting Windows @cindex deleting windows A window remains visible on its frame unless you @dfn{delete} it by calling certain functions that delete windows. A deleted window cannot appear on the screen, but continues to exist as a Lisp object until there are no references to it. There is no way to cancel the deletion of a window aside from restoring a saved window configuration (@pxref{Window Configurations}). Restoring a window configuration also deletes any windows that aren't part of that configuration. When you delete a window, the space it took up is given to one adjacent sibling. @c Emacs 19 feature @defun window-live-p window This function returns @code{nil} if @var{window} is deleted, and @code{t} otherwise. @strong{Warning:} Erroneous information or fatal errors may result from using a deleted window as if it were live. @end defun @deffn Command delete-window &optional window This function removes @var{window} from display, and returns @code{nil}. If @var{window} is omitted, then the selected window is deleted. An error is signaled if there is only one window when @code{delete-window} is called. @end deffn @deffn Command delete-other-windows &optional window This function makes @var{window} the only window on its frame, by deleting the other windows in that frame. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, then the selected window is used by default. The return value is @code{nil}. @end deffn @deffn Command delete-windows-on buffer-or-name &optional frame This function deletes all windows showing @var{buffer-or-name}. If there are no windows showing @var{buffer-or-name}, it does nothing. @var{buffer-or-name} must be a buffer or the name of an existing buffer. @code{delete-windows-on} operates frame by frame. If a frame has several windows showing different buffers, then those showing @var{buffer-or-name} are removed, and the others expand to fill the space. If all windows in some frame are showing @var{buffer-or-name} (including the case where there is only one window), then the frame winds up with a single window showing another buffer chosen with @code{other-buffer}. @xref{The Buffer List}. The argument @var{frame} controls which frames to operate on. This function does not use it in quite the same way as the other functions which scan all windows; specifically, the values @code{t} and @code{nil} have the opposite of their meanings in other functions. Here are the full details: @itemize @bullet @item If it is @code{nil}, operate on all frames. @item If it is @code{t}, operate on the selected frame. @item If it is @code{visible}, operate on all visible frames. @item If it is 0, operate on all visible or iconified frames. @item If it is a frame, operate on that frame. @end itemize This function always returns @code{nil}. @end deffn @node Selecting Windows @section Selecting Windows @cindex selecting a window When a window is selected, the buffer in the window becomes the current buffer, and the cursor will appear in it. @defun selected-window This function returns the selected window. This is the window in which the cursor appears and to which many commands apply. @end defun @defun select-window window &optional norecord This function makes @var{window} the selected window. The cursor then appears in @var{window} (on redisplay). Unless @var{window} was already selected, @code{select-window} makes @var{window}'s buffer the current buffer. Normally @var{window}'s selected buffer is moved to the front of the buffer list, but if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, the buffer list order is unchanged. The return value is @var{window}. @example @group (setq w (next-window)) (select-window w) @result{} # @end group @end example @end defun @defmac save-selected-window forms@dots{} This macro records the selected frame, as well as the selected window of each frame, executes @var{forms} in sequence, then restores the earlier selected frame and windows. It also saves and restores the current buffer. It returns the value of the last form in @var{forms}. This macro does not save or restore anything about the sizes, arrangement or contents of windows; therefore, if the @var{forms} change them, the change persists. If the previously selected window of some frame is no longer live at the time of exit from @var{forms}, that frame's selected window is left alone. If the previously selected window is no longer live, then whatever window is selected at the end of @var{forms} remains selected. @end defmac @defmac with-selected-window window forms@dots{} This macro selects @var{window} (without changing the buffer list), executes @var{forms} in sequence, then restores the previously selected window and current buffer. It is just like @code{save-selected-window}, except that it explicitly selects @var{window}, also without altering the buffer list sequence. @end defmac @cindex finding windows The following functions choose one of the windows on the screen, offering various criteria for the choice. @defun get-lru-window &optional frame dedicated This function returns the window least recently ``used'' (that is, selected). If any full-width windows are present, it only considers these. The selected window is always the most recently used window. The selected window can be the least recently used window if it is the only window. A newly created window becomes the least recently used window until it is selected. A minibuffer window is never a candidate. Dedicated windows are never candidates unless the @var{dedicated} argument is non-@code{nil}, so if all existing windows are dedicated, the value is @code{nil}. The argument @var{frame} controls which windows are considered. @itemize @bullet @item If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame. @item If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames. @item If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames. @item If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames. @item If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame. @end itemize @end defun @defun get-largest-window &optional frame dedicated This function returns the window with the largest area (height times width). If there are no side-by-side windows, then this is the window with the most lines. A minibuffer window is never a candidate. Dedicated windows are never candidates unless the @var{dedicated} argument is non-@code{nil}, so if all existing windows are dedicated, the value is @code{nil}. If there are two candidate windows of the same size, this function prefers the one that comes first in the cyclic ordering of windows (see following section), starting from the selected window. The argument @var{frame} controls which set of windows to consider. See @code{get-lru-window}, above. @end defun @cindex window that satisfies a predicate @cindex conditional selection of windows @defun get-window-with-predicate predicate &optional minibuf all-frames default This function returns a window satisfying @var{predicate}. It cycles through all visible windows using @code{walk-windows} (@pxref{Cyclic Window Ordering}), calling @var{predicate} on each one of them with that window as its argument. The function returns the first window for which @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value; if that never happens, it returns @var{default}. The optional arguments @var{minibuf} and @var{all-frames} specify the set of windows to include in the scan. See the description of @code{next-window} in @ref{Cyclic Window Ordering}, for details. @end defun @node Cyclic Window Ordering @comment node-name, next, previous, up @section Cyclic Ordering of Windows @cindex cyclic ordering of windows @cindex ordering of windows, cyclic @cindex window ordering, cyclic When you use the command @kbd{C-x o} (@code{other-window}) to select the next window, it moves through all the windows on the screen in a specific cyclic order. For any given configuration of windows, this order never varies. It is called the @dfn{cyclic ordering of windows}. This ordering generally goes from top to bottom, and from left to right. But it may go down first or go right first, depending on the order in which the windows were split. If the first split was vertical (into windows one above each other), and then the subwindows were split horizontally, then the ordering is left to right in the top of the frame, and then left to right in the next lower part of the frame, and so on. If the first split was horizontal, the ordering is top to bottom in the left part, and so on. In general, within each set of siblings at any level in the window tree, the order is left to right, or top to bottom. @defun next-window &optional window minibuf all-frames @cindex minibuffer window, and @code{next-window} This function returns the window following @var{window} in the cyclic ordering of windows. This is the window that @kbd{C-x o} would select if typed when @var{window} is selected. If @var{window} is the only window visible, then this function returns @var{window}. If omitted, @var{window} defaults to the selected window. The value of the argument @var{minibuf} determines whether the minibuffer is included in the window order. Normally, when @var{minibuf} is @code{nil}, the minibuffer is included if it is currently active; this is the behavior of @kbd{C-x o}. (The minibuffer window is active while the minibuffer is in use. @xref{Minibuffers}.) If @var{minibuf} is @code{t}, then the cyclic ordering includes the minibuffer window even if it is not active. If @var{minibuf} is neither @code{t} nor @code{nil}, then the minibuffer window is not included even if it is active. The argument @var{all-frames} specifies which frames to consider. Here are the possible values and their meanings: @table @asis @item @code{nil} Consider all the windows in @var{window}'s frame, plus the minibuffer used by that frame even if it lies in some other frame. If the minibuffer counts (as determined by @var{minibuf}), then all windows on all frames that share that minibuffer count too. @item @code{t} Consider all windows in all existing frames. @item @code{visible} Consider all windows in all visible frames. (To get useful results, you must ensure @var{window} is in a visible frame.) @item 0 Consider all windows in all visible or iconified frames. @item a frame Consider all windows on that frame. @item anything else Consider precisely the windows in @var{window}'s frame, and no others. @end table This example assumes there are two windows, both displaying the buffer @samp{windows.texi}: @example @group (selected-window) @result{} # @end group @group (next-window (selected-window)) @result{} # @end group @group (next-window (next-window (selected-window))) @result{} # @end group @end example @end defun @defun previous-window &optional window minibuf all-frames This function returns the window preceding @var{window} in the cyclic ordering of windows. The other arguments specify which windows to include in the cycle, as in @code{next-window}. @end defun @deffn Command other-window count &optional all-frames This function selects the @var{count}th following window in the cyclic order. If count is negative, then it moves back @minus{}@var{count} windows in the cycle, rather than forward. It returns @code{nil}. The argument @var{all-frames} has the same meaning as in @code{next-window}, but the @var{minibuf} argument of @code{next-window} is always effectively @code{nil}. In an interactive call, @var{count} is the numeric prefix argument. @end deffn @c Emacs 19 feature @defun walk-windows proc &optional minibuf all-frames This function cycles through all windows. It calls the function @code{proc} once for each window, with the window as its sole argument. The optional arguments @var{minibuf} and @var{all-frames} specify the set of windows to include in the scan. See @code{next-window}, above, for details. @end defun @defun window-list &optional frame minibuf window This function returns a list of the windows on @var{frame}, starting with @var{window}. If @var{frame} is @code{nil} or omitted, @code{window-list} uses the selected frame instead; if @var{window} is @code{nil} or omitted, it uses the selected window. The value of @var{minibuf} determines if the minibuffer window is included in the result list. If @var{minibuf} is @code{t}, the result always includes the minibuffer window. If @var{minibuf} is @code{nil} or omitted, that includes the minibuffer window if it is active. If @var{minibuf} is neither @code{nil} nor @code{t}, the result never includes the minibuffer window. @end defun @node Buffers and Windows @section Buffers and Windows @cindex examining windows @cindex windows, controlling precisely @cindex buffers, controlled in windows This section describes low-level functions to examine windows or to display buffers in windows in a precisely controlled fashion. @iftex See the following section for @end iftex @ifnottex @xref{Displaying Buffers}, for @end ifnottex related functions that find a window to use and specify a buffer for it. The functions described there are easier to use than these, but they employ heuristics in choosing or creating a window; use these functions when you need complete control. @defun set-window-buffer window buffer-or-name &optional keep-margins This function makes @var{window} display @var{buffer-or-name} as its contents. It returns @code{nil}. @var{buffer-or-name} must be a buffer, or the name of an existing buffer. This is the fundamental primitive for changing which buffer is displayed in a window, and all ways of doing that call this function. @example @group (set-window-buffer (selected-window) "foo") @result{} nil @end group @end example Normally, displaying @var{buffer} in @var{window} resets the window's display margins, fringe widths, scroll bar settings, and position based on the local variables of @var{buffer}. However, if @var{keep-margins} is non-@code{nil}, the display margins and fringe widths of @var{window} remain unchanged. @xref{Fringes}. @end defun @defvar buffer-display-count This buffer-local variable records the number of times a buffer is displayed in a window. It is incremented each time @code{set-window-buffer} is called for the buffer. @end defvar @defun window-buffer &optional window This function returns the buffer that @var{window} is displaying. If @var{window} is omitted, this function returns the buffer for the selected window. @example @group (window-buffer) @result{} # @end group @end example @end defun @defun get-buffer-window buffer-or-name &optional all-frames This function returns a window currently displaying @var{buffer-or-name}, or @code{nil} if there is none. If there are several such windows, then the function returns the first one in the cyclic ordering of windows, starting from the selected window. @xref{Cyclic Window Ordering}. The argument @var{all-frames} controls which windows to consider. @itemize @bullet @item If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame. @item If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames. @item If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames. @item If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames. @item If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame. @end itemize @end defun @defun get-buffer-window-list buffer-or-name &optional minibuf all-frames This function returns a list of all the windows currently displaying @var{buffer-or-name}. The two optional arguments work like the optional arguments of @code{next-window} (@pxref{Cyclic Window Ordering}); they are @emph{not} like the single optional argument of @code{get-buffer-window}. Perhaps we should change @code{get-buffer-window} in the future to make it compatible with the other functions. @end defun @defvar buffer-display-time This variable records the time at which a buffer was last made visible in a window. It is always local in each buffer; each time @code{set-window-buffer} is called, it sets this variable to @code{(current-time)} in the specified buffer (@pxref{Time of Day}). When a buffer is first created, @code{buffer-display-time} starts out with the value @code{nil}. @end defvar @node Displaying Buffers @section Displaying Buffers in Windows @cindex switching to a buffer @cindex displaying a buffer In this section we describe convenient functions that choose a window automatically and use it to display a specified buffer. These functions can also split an existing window in certain circumstances. We also describe variables that parameterize the heuristics used for choosing a window. @iftex See the preceding section for @end iftex @ifnottex @xref{Buffers and Windows}, for @end ifnottex low-level functions that give you more precise control. All of these functions work by calling @code{set-window-buffer}. Do not use the functions in this section in order to make a buffer current so that a Lisp program can access or modify it; they are too drastic for that purpose, since they change the display of buffers in windows, which would be gratuitous and surprise the user. Instead, use @code{set-buffer} and @code{save-current-buffer} (@pxref{Current Buffer}), which designate buffers as current for programmed access without affecting the display of buffers in windows. @deffn Command switch-to-buffer buffer-or-name &optional norecord This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer, and also displays the buffer in the selected window. This means that a human can see the buffer and subsequent keyboard commands will apply to it. Contrast this with @code{set-buffer}, which makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer but does not display it in the selected window. @xref{Current Buffer}. If @var{buffer-or-name} does not identify an existing buffer, then a new buffer by that name is created. The major mode for the new buffer is set according to the variable @code{default-major-mode}. @xref{Auto Major Mode}. If @var{buffer-or-name} is @code{nil}, @code{switch-to-buffer} chooses a buffer using @code{other-buffer}. Normally the specified buffer is put at the front of the buffer list (both the selected frame's buffer list and the frame-independent buffer list). This affects the operation of @code{other-buffer}. However, if @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}, this is not done. @xref{The Buffer List}. The @code{switch-to-buffer} function is often used interactively, as the binding of @kbd{C-x b}. It is also used frequently in programs. It returns the buffer that it switched to. @end deffn The next two functions are similar to @code{switch-to-buffer}, except for the described features. @deffn Command switch-to-buffer-other-window buffer-or-name &optional norecord This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer and displays it in a window not currently selected. It then selects that window. The handling of the buffer is the same as in @code{switch-to-buffer}. The currently selected window is absolutely never used to do the job. If it is the only window, then it is split to make a distinct window for this purpose. If the selected window is already displaying the buffer, then it continues to do so, but another window is nonetheless found to display it in as well. This function updates the buffer list just like @code{switch-to-buffer} unless @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}. @end deffn @defun pop-to-buffer buffer-or-name &optional other-window norecord This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer and switches to it in some window, preferably not the window previously selected. The ``popped-to'' window becomes the selected window within its frame. The return value is the buffer that was switched to. If @var{buffer-or-name} is @code{nil}, that means to choose some other buffer, but you don't specify which. If the variable @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil}, @code{pop-to-buffer} looks for a window in any visible frame already displaying the buffer; if there is one, it returns that window and makes it be selected within its frame. If there is none, it creates a new frame and displays the buffer in it. If @code{pop-up-frames} is @code{nil}, then @code{pop-to-buffer} operates entirely within the selected frame. (If the selected frame has just a minibuffer, @code{pop-to-buffer} operates within the most recently selected frame that was not just a minibuffer.) If the variable @code{pop-up-windows} is non-@code{nil}, windows may be split to create a new window that is different from the original window. For details, see @ref{Choosing Window}. If @var{other-window} is non-@code{nil}, @code{pop-to-buffer} finds or creates another window even if @var{buffer-or-name} is already visible in the selected window. Thus @var{buffer-or-name} could end up displayed in two windows. On the other hand, if @var{buffer-or-name} is already displayed in the selected window and @var{other-window} is @code{nil}, then the selected window is considered sufficient display for @var{buffer-or-name}, so that nothing needs to be done. All the variables that affect @code{display-buffer} affect @code{pop-to-buffer} as well. @xref{Choosing Window}. If @var{buffer-or-name} is a string that does not name an existing buffer, a buffer by that name is created. The major mode for the new buffer is set according to the variable @code{default-major-mode}. @xref{Auto Major Mode}. This function updates the buffer list just like @code{switch-to-buffer} unless @var{norecord} is non-@code{nil}. @end defun @deffn Command replace-buffer-in-windows buffer-or-name This function replaces @var{buffer-or-name} with some other buffer in all windows displaying it. It chooses the other buffer with @code{other-buffer}. In the usual applications of this function, you don't care which other buffer is used; you just want to make sure that @var{buffer-or-name} is no longer displayed. This function returns @code{nil}. @end deffn @node Choosing Window @section Choosing a Window for Display This section describes the basic facility that chooses a window to display a buffer in---@code{display-buffer}. All the higher-level functions and commands use this subroutine. Here we describe how to use @code{display-buffer} and how to customize it. @deffn Command display-buffer buffer-or-name &optional not-this-window frame This command makes @var{buffer-or-name} appear in some window, like @code{pop-to-buffer}, but it does not select that window and does not make the buffer current. The identity of the selected window is unaltered by this function. @var{buffer-or-name} must be a buffer, or the name of an existing buffer. If @var{not-this-window} is non-@code{nil}, it means to display the specified buffer in a window other than the selected one, even if it is already on display in the selected window. This can cause the buffer to appear in two windows at once. Otherwise, if @var{buffer-or-name} is already being displayed in any window, that is good enough, so this function does nothing. @code{display-buffer} returns the window chosen to display @var{buffer-or-name}. If the argument @var{frame} is non-@code{nil}, it specifies which frames to check when deciding whether the buffer is already displayed. If the buffer is already displayed in some window on one of these frames, @code{display-buffer} simply returns that window. Here are the possible values of @var{frame}: @itemize @bullet @item If it is @code{nil}, consider windows on the selected frame. (Actually, the last non-minibuffer frame.) @item If it is @code{t}, consider windows on all frames. @item If it is @code{visible}, consider windows on all visible frames. @item If it is 0, consider windows on all visible or iconified frames. @item If it is a frame, consider windows on that frame. @end itemize Precisely how @code{display-buffer} finds or creates a window depends on the variables described below. @end deffn @defopt display-buffer-reuse-frames If this variable is non-@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer} searches existing frames for a window displaying the buffer. If the buffer is already displayed in a window in some frame, @code{display-buffer} makes the frame visible and raises it, to use that window. If the buffer is not already displayed, or if @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is @code{nil}, @code{display-buffer}'s behavior is determined by other variables, described below. @end defopt @defopt pop-up-windows This variable controls whether @code{display-buffer} makes new windows. If it is non-@code{nil} and there is only one window, then that window is split. If it is @code{nil}, then @code{display-buffer} does not split the single window, but uses it whole. @end defopt @defopt split-height-threshold This variable determines when @code{display-buffer} may split a window, if there are multiple windows. @code{display-buffer} always splits the largest window if it has at least this many lines. If the largest window is not this tall, it is split only if it is the sole window and @code{pop-up-windows} is non-@code{nil}. @end defopt @defopt even-window-heights This variable determines if @code{display-buffer} should even out window heights if the buffer gets displayed in an existing window, above or beneath another existing window. If @code{even-window-heights} is @code{t}, the default, window heights will be evened out. If @code{even-window-heights} is @code{nil}, the original window heights will be left alone. @end defopt @c Emacs 19 feature @defopt pop-up-frames This variable controls whether @code{display-buffer} makes new frames. If it is non-@code{nil}, @code{display-buffer} looks for an existing window already displaying the desired buffer, on any visible frame. If it finds one, it returns that window. Otherwise it makes a new frame. The variables @code{pop-up-windows} and @code{split-height-threshold} do not matter if @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil}. If @code{pop-up-frames} is @code{nil}, then @code{display-buffer} either splits a window or reuses one. @xref{Frames}, for more information. @end defopt @c Emacs 19 feature @defopt pop-up-frame-function This variable specifies how to make a new frame if @code{pop-up-frames} is non-@code{nil}. Its value should be a function of no arguments. When @code{display-buffer} makes a new frame, it does so by calling that function, which should return a frame. The default value of the variable is a function that creates a frame using parameters from @code{pop-up-frame-alist}. @end defopt @defopt pop-up-frame-alist This variable holds an alist specifying frame parameters used when @code{display-buffer} makes a new frame. @xref{Frame Parameters}, for more information about frame parameters. @end defopt @defopt special-display-buffer-names A list of buffer names for buffers that should be displayed specially. If the buffer's name is in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer specially. By default, special display means to give the buffer a dedicated frame. If an element is a list, instead of a string, then the @sc{car} of the list is the buffer name, and the rest of the list says how to create the frame. There are two possibilities for the rest of the list (its @sc{cdr}). It can be an alist, specifying frame parameters, or it can contain a function and arguments to give to it. (The function's first argument is always the buffer to be displayed; the arguments from the list come after that.) For example: @example (("myfile" (minibuffer) (menu-bar-lines . 0))) @end example @noindent specifies to display a buffer named @samp{myfile} in a dedicated frame with specified @code{minibuffer} and @code{menu-bar-lines} parameters. The list of frame parameters can also use the phony frame parameters @code{same-frame} and @code{same-window}. If the specified frame parameters include @code{(same-window . @var{value})} and @var{value} is non-@code{nil}, that means to display the buffer in the current selected window. Otherwise, if they include @code{(same-frame . @var{value})} and @var{value} is non-@code{nil}, that means to display the buffer in a new window in the currently selected frame. @end defopt @defopt special-display-regexps A list of regular expressions that specify buffers that should be displayed specially. If the buffer's name matches any of the regular expressions in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer specially. By default, special display means to give the buffer a dedicated frame. If an element is a list, instead of a string, then the @sc{car} of the list is the regular expression, and the rest of the list says how to create the frame. See above, under @code{special-display-buffer-names}. @end defopt @defun special-display-p buffer-name This function returns non-@code{nil} if displaying a buffer named @var{buffer-name} with @code{display-buffer} would create a special frame. The value is @code{t} if it would use the default frame parameters, or else the specified list of frame parameters. @end defun @defvar special-display-function This variable holds the function to call to display a buffer specially. It receives the buffer as an argument, and should return the window in which it is displayed. The default value of this variable is @code{special-display-popup-frame}. @end defvar @defun special-display-popup-frame buffer &optional args This function makes @var{buffer} visible in a frame of its own. If @var{buffer} is already displayed in a window in some frame, it makes the frame visible and raises it, to use that window. Otherwise, it creates a frame that will be dedicated to @var{buffer}. This function returns the window it used. If @var{args} is an alist, it specifies frame parameters for the new frame. If @var{args} is a list whose @sc{car} is a symbol, then @code{(car @var{args})} is called as a function to actually create and set up the frame; it is called with @var{buffer} as first argument, and @code{(cdr @var{args})} as additional arguments. This function always uses an existing window displaying @var{buffer}, whether or not it is in a frame of its own; but if you set up the above variables in your init file, before @var{buffer} was created, then presumably the window was previously made by this function. @end defun @defopt special-display-frame-alist @anchor{Definition of special-display-frame-alist} This variable holds frame parameters for @code{special-display-popup-frame} to use when it creates a frame. @end defopt @defopt same-window-buffer-names A list of buffer names for buffers that should be displayed in the selected window. If the buffer's name is in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer by switching to it in the selected window. @end defopt @defopt same-window-regexps A list of regular expressions that specify buffers that should be displayed in the selected window. If the buffer's name matches any of the regular expressions in this list, @code{display-buffer} handles the buffer by switching to it in the selected window. @end defopt @defun same-window-p buffer-name This function returns @code{t} if displaying a buffer named @var{buffer-name} with @code{display-buffer} would put it in the selected window. @end defun @c Emacs 19 feature @defvar display-buffer-function This variable is the most flexible way to customize the behavior of @code{display-buffer}. If it is non-@code{nil}, it should be a function that @code{display-buffer} calls to do the work. The function should accept two arguments, the first two arguments that @code{display-buffer} received. It should choose or create a window, display the specified buffer in it, and then return the window. This hook takes precedence over all the other options and hooks described above. @end defvar @c Emacs 19 feature @cindex dedicated window A window can be marked as ``dedicated'' to its buffer. Then @code{display-buffer} will not try to use that window to display any other buffer. @defun window-dedicated-p window This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{window} is marked as dedicated; otherwise @code{nil}. @end defun @defun set-window-dedicated-p window flag This function marks @var{window} as dedicated if @var{flag} is non-@code{nil}, and nondedicated otherwise. @end defun @node Window Point @section Windows and Point @cindex window position @cindex window point @cindex position in window @cindex point in window Each window has its own value of point, independent of the value of point in other windows displaying the same buffer. This makes it useful to have multiple windows showing one buffer. @itemize @bullet @item The window point is established when a window is first created; it is initialized from the buffer's point, or from the window point of another window opened on the buffer if such a window exists. @item Selecting a window sets the value of point in its buffer from the window's value of point. Conversely, deselecting a window sets the window's value of point from that of the buffer. Thus, when you switch between windows that display a given buffer, the point value for the selected window is in effect in the buffer, while the point values for the other windows are stored in those windows. @item As long as the selected window displays the current buffer, the window's point and the buffer's point always move together; they remain equal. @end itemize @noindent @xref{Positions}, for more details on buffer positions. @cindex cursor As far as the user is concerned, point is where the cursor is, and when the user switches to another buffer, the cursor jumps to the position of point in that buffer. @defun window-point &optional window This function returns the current position of point in @var{window}. For a nonselected window, this is the value point would have (in that window's buffer) if that window were selected. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. When @var{window} is the selected window and its buffer is also the current buffer, the value returned is the same as point in that buffer. Strictly speaking, it would be more correct to return the ``top-level'' value of point, outside of any @code{save-excursion} forms. But that value is hard to find. @end defun @defun set-window-point window position This function positions point in @var{window} at position @var{position} in @var{window}'s buffer. It returns @var{position}. If @var{window} is selected, and its buffer is current, this simply does @code{goto-char}. @end defun @node Window Start @section The Window Start Position @cindex window start position Each window contains a marker used to keep track of a buffer position that specifies where in the buffer display should start. This position is called the @dfn{display-start} position of the window (or just the @dfn{start}). The character after this position is the one that appears at the upper left corner of the window. It is usually, but not inevitably, at the beginning of a text line. @defun window-start &optional window @cindex window top line This function returns the display-start position of window @var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. For example, @example @group (window-start) @result{} 7058 @end group @end example When you create a window, or display a different buffer in it, the display-start position is set to a display-start position recently used for the same buffer, or 1 if the buffer doesn't have any. Redisplay updates the window-start position (if you have not specified it explicitly since the previous redisplay)---for example, to make sure point appears on the screen. Nothing except redisplay automatically changes the window-start position; if you move point, do not expect the window-start position to change in response until after the next redisplay. For a realistic example of using @code{window-start}, see the description of @code{count-lines}. @xref{Definition of count-lines}. @end defun @defun window-end &optional window update This function returns the position of the end of the display in window @var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. Simply changing the buffer text or moving point does not update the value that @code{window-end} returns. The value is updated only when Emacs redisplays and redisplay completes without being preempted. If the last redisplay of @var{window} was preempted, and did not finish, Emacs does not know the position of the end of display in that window. In that case, this function returns @code{nil}. If @var{update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{window-end} always returns an up-to-date value for where the window ends, based on the current @code{window-start} value. If the saved value is valid, @code{window-end} returns that; otherwise it computes the correct value by scanning the buffer text. Even if @var{update} is non-@code{nil}, @code{window-end} does not attempt to scroll the display if point has moved off the screen, the way real redisplay would do. It does not alter the @code{window-start} value. In effect, it reports where the displayed text will end if scrolling is not required. @end defun @defun set-window-start window position &optional noforce This function sets the display-start position of @var{window} to @var{position} in @var{window}'s buffer. It returns @var{position}. The display routines insist that the position of point be visible when a buffer is displayed. Normally, they change the display-start position (that is, scroll the window) whenever necessary to make point visible. However, if you specify the start position with this function using @code{nil} for @var{noforce}, it means you want display to start at @var{position} even if that would put the location of point off the screen. If this does place point off screen, the display routines move point to the left margin on the middle line in the window. For example, if point @w{is 1} and you set the start of the window @w{to 2}, then point would be ``above'' the top of the window. The display routines will automatically move point if it is still 1 when redisplay occurs. Here is an example: @example @group ;; @r{Here is what @samp{foo} looks like before executing} ;; @r{the @code{set-window-start} expression.} @end group @group ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- @point{}This is the contents of buffer foo. 2 3 4 5 6 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- @end group @group (set-window-start (selected-window) (1+ (window-start))) @result{} 2 @end group @group ;; @r{Here is what @samp{foo} looks like after executing} ;; @r{the @code{set-window-start} expression.} ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- his is the contents of buffer foo. 2 3 @point{}4 5 6 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- @end group @end example If @var{noforce} is non-@code{nil}, and @var{position} would place point off screen at the next redisplay, then redisplay computes a new window-start position that works well with point, and thus @var{position} is not used. @end defun @defun pos-visible-in-window-p &optional position window partially This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{position} is within the range of text currently visible on the screen in @var{window}. It returns @code{nil} if @var{position} is scrolled vertically out of view. Locations that are partially obscured are not considered visible unless @var{partially} is non-@code{nil}. The argument @var{position} defaults to the current position of point in @var{window}; @var{window}, to the selected window. If @var{position} is @code{t}, that means to check the last visible position in @var{window}. The @code{pos-visible-in-window-p} function considers only vertical scrolling. If @var{position} is out of view only because @var{window} has been scrolled horizontally, @code{pos-visible-in-window-p} returns non-@code{nil} anyway. @xref{Horizontal Scrolling}. If @var{position} is visible, @code{pos-visible-in-window-p} returns @code{t} if @var{partially} is @code{nil}; if @var{partially} is non-@code{nil}, and the character after @var{position} is fully visible, it returns a list of the form @code{(@var{x} @var{y})}, where @var{x} and @var{y} are the pixel coordinates relative to the top left corner of the window; otherwise it returns an extended list of the form @code{(@var{x} @var{y} @var{rtop} @var{rbot} @var{rowh} @var{vpos})}, where the @var{rtop} and @var{rbot} specify the number of off-window pixels at the top and bottom of the row at @var{position}, @var{rowh} specifies the visible height of that row, and @var{vpos} specifies the vertical position (zero-based row number) of that row. Here is an example: @example @group ;; @r{If point is off the screen now, recenter it now.} (or (pos-visible-in-window-p (point) (selected-window)) (recenter 0)) @end group @end example @end defun @defun window-line-height &optional line window This function returns information about text line @var{line} in @var{window}. If @var{line} is one of @code{header-line} or @code{mode-line}, @code{window-line-height} returns information about the corresponding line of the window. Otherwise, @var{line} is a text line number starting from 0. A negative number counts from the end of the window. The argument @var{line} defaults to the current line in @var{window}; @var{window}, to the selected window. If the display is not up to date, @code{window-line-height} returns @code{nil}. In that case, @code{pos-visible-in-window-p} may be used to obtain related information. If there is no line corresponding to the specified @var{line}, @code{window-line-height} returns @code{nil}. Otherwise, it returns a list @code{(@var{height} @var{vpos} @var{ypos} @var{offbot})}, where @var{height} is the height in pixels of the visible part of the line, @var{vpos} and @var{ypos} are the vertical position in lines and pixels of the line relative to the top of the first text line, and @var{offbot} is the number of off-window pixels at the bottom of the text line. If there are off-window pixels at the top of the (first) text line, @var{ypos} is negative. @end defun @node Textual Scrolling @section Textual Scrolling @cindex textual scrolling @cindex scrolling textually @dfn{Textual scrolling} means moving the text up or down through a window. It works by changing the value of the window's display-start location. It may also change the value of @code{window-point} to keep point on the screen. Textual scrolling was formerly called ``vertical scrolling,'' but we changed its name to distinguish it from the new vertical fractional scrolling feature (@pxref{Vertical Scrolling}). In the commands @code{scroll-up} and @code{scroll-down}, the directions ``up'' and ``down'' refer to the motion of the text in the buffer at which you are looking through the window. Imagine that the text is written on a long roll of paper and that the scrolling commands move the paper up and down. Thus, if you are looking at text in the middle of a buffer and repeatedly call @code{scroll-down}, you will eventually see the beginning of the buffer. Some people have urged that the opposite convention be used: they imagine that the window moves over text that remains in place. Then ``down'' commands would take you to the end of the buffer. This view is more consistent with the actual relationship between windows and the text in the buffer, but it is less like what the user sees. The position of a window on the terminal does not move, and short scrolling commands clearly move the text up or down on the screen. We have chosen names that fit the user's point of view. The textual scrolling functions (aside from @code{scroll-other-window}) have unpredictable results if the current buffer is different from the buffer that is displayed in the selected window. @xref{Current Buffer}. If the window contains a row which is taller than the height of the window (for example in the presence of a large image), the scroll functions will adjust the window vscroll to scroll the partially visible row. To disable this feature, Lisp code may bind the variable `auto-window-vscroll' to @code{nil} (@pxref{Vertical Scrolling}). @deffn Command scroll-up &optional count This function scrolls the text in the selected window upward @var{count} lines. If @var{count} is negative, scrolling is actually downward. If @var{count} is @code{nil} (or omitted), then the length of scroll is @code{next-screen-context-lines} lines less than the usable height of the window (not counting its mode line). @code{scroll-up} returns @code{nil}, unless it gets an error because it can't scroll any further. @end deffn @deffn Command scroll-down &optional count This function scrolls the text in the selected window downward @var{count} lines. If @var{count} is negative, scrolling is actually upward. If @var{count} is omitted or @code{nil}, then the length of the scroll is @code{next-screen-context-lines} lines less than the usable height of the window (not counting its mode line). @code{scroll-down} returns @code{nil}, unless it gets an error because it can't scroll any further. @end deffn @deffn Command scroll-other-window &optional count This function scrolls the text in another window upward @var{count} lines. Negative values of @var{count}, or @code{nil}, are handled as in @code{scroll-up}. You can specify which buffer to scroll by setting the variable @code{other-window-scroll-buffer} to a buffer. If that buffer isn't already displayed, @code{scroll-other-window} displays it in some window. When the selected window is the minibuffer, the next window is normally the one at the top left corner. You can specify a different window to scroll, when the minibuffer is selected, by setting the variable @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. This variable has no effect when any other window is selected. When it is non-@code{nil} and the minibuffer is selected, it takes precedence over @code{other-window-scroll-buffer}. @xref{Definition of minibuffer-scroll-window}. When the minibuffer is active, it is the next window if the selected window is the one at the bottom right corner. In this case, @code{scroll-other-window} attempts to scroll the minibuffer. If the minibuffer contains just one line, it has nowhere to scroll to, so the line reappears after the echo area momentarily displays the message @samp{Beginning of buffer}. @end deffn @c Emacs 19 feature @defvar other-window-scroll-buffer If this variable is non-@code{nil}, it tells @code{scroll-other-window} which buffer to scroll. @end defvar @defopt scroll-margin This option specifies the size of the scroll margin---a minimum number of lines between point and the top or bottom of a window. Whenever point gets within this many lines of the top or bottom of the window, redisplay scrolls the text automatically (if possible) to move point out of the margin, closer to the center of the window. @end defopt @defopt scroll-conservatively This variable controls how scrolling is done automatically when point moves off the screen (or into the scroll margin). If the value is a positive integer @var{n}, then redisplay scrolls the text up to @var{n} lines in either direction, if that will bring point back into proper view. This action is called @dfn{conservative scrolling}. Otherwise, scrolling happens in the usual way, under the control of other variables such as @code{scroll-up-aggressively} and @code{scroll-down-aggressively}. The default value is zero, which means that conservative scrolling never happens. @end defopt @defopt scroll-down-aggressively The value of this variable should be either @code{nil} or a fraction @var{f} between 0 and 1. If it is a fraction, that specifies where on the screen to put point when scrolling down. More precisely, when a window scrolls down because point is above the window start, the new start position is chosen to put point @var{f} part of the window height from the top. The larger @var{f}, the more aggressive the scrolling. A value of @code{nil} is equivalent to .5, since its effect is to center point. This variable automatically becomes buffer-local when set in any fashion. @end defopt @defopt scroll-up-aggressively Likewise, for scrolling up. The value, @var{f}, specifies how far point should be placed from the bottom of the window; thus, as with @code{scroll-up-aggressively}, a larger value scrolls more aggressively. @end defopt @defopt scroll-step This variable is an older variant of @code{scroll-conservatively}. The difference is that it if its value is @var{n}, that permits scrolling only by precisely @var{n} lines, not a smaller number. This feature does not work with @code{scroll-margin}. The default value is zero. @end defopt @defopt scroll-preserve-screen-position If this option is @code{t}, scrolling which would move the current point position out of the window chooses the new position of point so that the vertical position of the cursor is unchanged, if possible. If it is non-@code{nil} and not @code{t}, then the scrolling functions always preserve the vertical position of point, if possible. @end defopt @defopt next-screen-context-lines The value of this variable is the number of lines of continuity to retain when scrolling by full screens. For example, @code{scroll-up} with an argument of @code{nil} scrolls so that this many lines at the bottom of the window appear instead at the top. The default value is @code{2}. @end defopt @deffn Command recenter &optional count @cindex centering point This function scrolls the text in the selected window so that point is displayed at a specified vertical position within the window. It does not ``move point'' with respect to the text. If @var{count} is a nonnegative number, that puts the line containing point @var{count} lines down from the top of the window. If @var{count} is a negative number, then it counts upward from the bottom of the window, so that @minus{}1 stands for the last usable line in the window. If @var{count} is a non-@code{nil} list, then it stands for the line in the middle of the window. If @var{count} is @code{nil}, @code{recenter} puts the line containing point in the middle of the window, then clears and redisplays the entire selected frame. When @code{recenter} is called interactively, @var{count} is the raw prefix argument. Thus, typing @kbd{C-u} as the prefix sets the @var{count} to a non-@code{nil} list, while typing @kbd{C-u 4} sets @var{count} to 4, which positions the current line four lines from the top. With an argument of zero, @code{recenter} positions the current line at the top of the window. This action is so handy that some people make a separate key binding to do this. For example, @example @group (defun line-to-top-of-window () "Scroll current line to top of window. Replaces three keystroke sequence C-u 0 C-l." (interactive) (recenter 0)) (global-set-key [kp-multiply] 'line-to-top-of-window) @end group @end example @end deffn @node Vertical Scrolling @section Vertical Fractional Scrolling @cindex vertical fractional scrolling @dfn{Vertical fractional scrolling} means shifting the image in the window up or down by a specified multiple or fraction of a line. Each window has a @dfn{vertical scroll position}, which is a number, never less than zero. It specifies how far to raise the contents of the window. Raising the window contents generally makes all or part of some lines disappear off the top, and all or part of some other lines appear at the bottom. The usual value is zero. The vertical scroll position is measured in units of the normal line height, which is the height of the default font. Thus, if the value is .5, that means the window contents are scrolled up half the normal line height. If it is 3.3, that means the window contents are scrolled up somewhat over three times the normal line height. What fraction of a line the vertical scrolling covers, or how many lines, depends on what the lines contain. A value of .5 could scroll a line whose height is very short off the screen, while a value of 3.3 could scroll just part of the way through a tall line or an image. @defun window-vscroll &optional window pixels-p This function returns the current vertical scroll position of @var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. If @var{pixels-p} is non-@code{nil}, the return value is measured in pixels, rather than in units of the normal line height. @example @group (window-vscroll) @result{} 0 @end group @end example @end defun @defun set-window-vscroll window lines &optional pixels-p This function sets @var{window}'s vertical scroll position to @var{lines}. The argument @var{lines} should be zero or positive; if not, it is taken as zero. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. The actual vertical scroll position must always correspond to an integral number of pixels, so the value you specify is rounded accordingly. The return value is the result of this rounding. @example @group (set-window-vscroll (selected-window) 1.2) @result{} 1.13 @end group @end example If @var{pixels-p} is non-@code{nil}, @var{lines} specifies a number of pixels. In this case, the return value is @var{lines}. @end defun @defvar auto-window-vscroll If this variable is non-@code{nil}, the line-move, scroll-up, and scroll-down functions will automatically modify the window vscroll to scroll through display rows that are taller that the height of the window, for example in the presence of large images. @end defvar @node Horizontal Scrolling @section Horizontal Scrolling @cindex horizontal scrolling @dfn{Horizontal scrolling} means shifting the image in the window left or right by a specified multiple of the normal character width. Each window has a @dfn{horizontal scroll position}, which is a number, never less than zero. It specifies how far to shift the contents left. Shifting the window contents left generally makes all or part of some characters disappear off the left, and all or part of some other characters appear at the right. The usual value is zero. The horizontal scroll position is measured in units of the normal character width, which is the width of space in the default font. Thus, if the value is 5, that means the window contents are scrolled left by 5 times the normal character width. How many characters actually disappear off to the left depends on their width, and could vary from line to line. Because we read from side to side in the ``inner loop,'' and from top to bottom in the ``outer loop,'' the effect of horizontal scrolling is not like that of textual or vertical scrolling. Textual scrolling involves selection of a portion of text to display, and vertical scrolling moves the window contents contiguously; but horizontal scrolling causes part of @emph{each line} to go off screen. Usually, no horizontal scrolling is in effect; then the leftmost column is at the left edge of the window. In this state, scrolling to the right is meaningless, since there is no data to the left of the edge to be revealed by it; so this is not allowed. Scrolling to the left is allowed; it scrolls the first columns of text off the edge of the window and can reveal additional columns on the right that were truncated before. Once a window has a nonzero amount of leftward horizontal scrolling, you can scroll it back to the right, but only so far as to reduce the net horizontal scroll to zero. There is no limit to how far left you can scroll, but eventually all the text will disappear off the left edge. @vindex auto-hscroll-mode If @code{auto-hscroll-mode} is set, redisplay automatically alters the horizontal scrolling of a window as necessary to ensure that point is always visible. However, you can still set the horizontal scrolling value explicitly. The value you specify serves as a lower bound for automatic scrolling, i.e. automatic scrolling will not scroll a window to a column less than the specified one. @deffn Command scroll-left &optional count set-minimum This function scrolls the selected window @var{count} columns to the left (or to the right if @var{count} is negative). The default for @var{count} is the window width, minus 2. The return value is the total amount of leftward horizontal scrolling in effect after the change---just like the value returned by @code{window-hscroll} (below). Once you scroll a window as far right as it can go, back to its normal position where the total leftward scrolling is zero, attempts to scroll any farther right have no effect. If @var{set-minimum} is non-@code{nil}, the new scroll amount becomes the lower bound for automatic scrolling; that is, automatic scrolling will not scroll a window to a column less than the value returned by this function. Interactive calls pass non-@code{nil} for @var{set-minimum}. @end deffn @deffn Command scroll-right &optional count set-minimum This function scrolls the selected window @var{count} columns to the right (or to the left if @var{count} is negative). The default for @var{count} is the window width, minus 2. Aside from the direction of scrolling, this works just like @code{scroll-left}. @end deffn @defun window-hscroll &optional window This function returns the total leftward horizontal scrolling of @var{window}---the number of columns by which the text in @var{window} is scrolled left past the left margin. The value is never negative. It is zero when no horizontal scrolling has been done in @var{window} (which is usually the case). If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. @example @group (window-hscroll) @result{} 0 @end group @group (scroll-left 5) @result{} 5 @end group @group (window-hscroll) @result{} 5 @end group @end example @end defun @defun set-window-hscroll window columns This function sets horizontal scrolling of @var{window}. The value of @var{columns} specifies the amount of scrolling, in terms of columns from the left margin. The argument @var{columns} should be zero or positive; if not, it is taken as zero. Fractional values of @var{columns} are not supported at present. Note that @code{set-window-hscroll} may appear not to work if you test it by evaluating a call with @kbd{M-:} in a simple way. What happens is that the function sets the horizontal scroll value and returns, but then redisplay adjusts the horizontal scrolling to make point visible, and this overrides what the function did. You can observe the function's effect if you call it while point is sufficiently far from the left margin that it will remain visible. The value returned is @var{columns}. @example @group (set-window-hscroll (selected-window) 10) @result{} 10 @end group @end example @end defun Here is how you can determine whether a given position @var{position} is off the screen due to horizontal scrolling: @example @group (defun hscroll-on-screen (window position) (save-excursion (goto-char position) (and (>= (- (current-column) (window-hscroll window)) 0) (< (- (current-column) (window-hscroll window)) (window-width window))))) @end group @end example @node Size of Window @section The Size of a Window @cindex window size @cindex size of window An Emacs window is rectangular, and its size information consists of the height (the number of lines) and the width (the number of character positions in each line). The mode line is included in the height. But the width does not count the scroll bar or the column of @samp{|} characters that separates side-by-side windows. The following three functions return size information about a window: @defun window-height &optional window This function returns the number of lines in @var{window}, including its mode line and header line, if any. If @var{window} fills its entire frame except for the echo area, this is typically one less than the value of @code{frame-height} on that frame. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the function uses the selected window. @example @group (window-height) @result{} 23 @end group @group (split-window-vertically) @result{} # @end group @group (window-height) @result{} 11 @end group @end example @end defun @defun window-body-height &optional window Like @code{window-height} but the value does not include the mode line (if any) or the header line (if any). @end defun @defun window-width &optional window This function returns the number of columns in @var{window}. If @var{window} fills its entire frame, this is the same as the value of @code{frame-width} on that frame. The width does not include the window's scroll bar or the column of @samp{|} characters that separates side-by-side windows. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the function uses the selected window. @example @group (window-width) @result{} 80 @end group @end example @end defun @defun window-edges &optional window This function returns a list of the edge coordinates of @var{window}. If @var{window} is @code{nil}, the selected window is used. The order of the list is @code{(@var{left} @var{top} @var{right} @var{bottom})}, all elements relative to 0, 0 at the top left corner of the frame. The element @var{right} of the value is one more than the rightmost column used by @var{window}, and @var{bottom} is one more than the bottommost row used by @var{window} and its mode-line. The edges include the space used by the window's scroll bar, display margins, fringes, header line, and mode line, if it has them. Also, if the window has a neighbor on the right, its right edge value includes the width of the separator line between the window and that neighbor. Since the width of the window does not include this separator, the width does not usually equal the difference between the right and left edges. @end defun @defun window-inside-edges &optional window This is similar to @code{window-edges}, but the edge values it returns include only the text area of the window. They do not include the header line, mode line, scroll bar or vertical separator, fringes, or display margins. @end defun Here are the results obtained on a typical 24-line terminal with just one window, with menu bar enabled: @example @group (window-edges (selected-window)) @result{} (0 1 80 23) @end group @group (window-inside-edges (selected-window)) @result{} (0 1 80 22) @end group @end example @noindent The bottom edge is at line 23 because the last line is the echo area. The bottom inside edge is at line 22, which is the window's mode line. If @var{window} is at the upper left corner of its frame, and there is no menu bar, then @var{bottom} returned by @code{window-edges} is the same as the value of @code{(window-height)}, @var{right} is almost the same as the value of @code{(window-width)}, and @var{top} and @var{left} are zero. For example, the edges of the following window are @w{@samp{0 0 8 5}}. Assuming that the frame has more than 8 columns, the last column of the window (column 7) holds a border rather than text. The last row (row 4) holds the mode line, shown here with @samp{xxxxxxxxx}. @example @group 0 _______ 0 | | | | | | | | xxxxxxxxx 4 7 @end group @end example In the following example, let's suppose that the frame is 7 columns wide. Then the edges of the left window are @w{@samp{0 0 4 3}} and the edges of the right window are @w{@samp{4 0 7 3}}. The inside edges of the left window are @w{@samp{0 0 3 2}}, and the inside edges of the right window are @w{@samp{4 0 7 2}}, @example @group ___ ___ | | | | | | xxxxxxxxx 0 34 7 @end group @end example @defun window-pixel-edges &optional window This function is like @code{window-edges} except that, on a graphical display, the edge values are measured in pixels instead of in character lines and columns. @end defun @defun window-inside-pixel-edges &optional window This function is like @code{window-inside-edges} except that, on a graphical display, the edge values are measured in pixels instead of in character lines and columns. @end defun @node Resizing Windows @section Changing the Size of a Window @cindex window resizing @cindex resize window @cindex changing window size @cindex window size, changing The window size functions fall into two classes: high-level commands that change the size of windows and low-level functions that access window size. Emacs does not permit overlapping windows or gaps between windows, so resizing one window affects other windows. @deffn Command enlarge-window size &optional horizontal This function makes the selected window @var{size} lines taller, stealing lines from neighboring windows. It takes the lines from one window at a time until that window is used up, then takes from another. If a window from which lines are stolen shrinks below @code{window-min-height} lines, that window disappears. If @var{horizontal} is non-@code{nil}, this function makes @var{window} wider by @var{size} columns, stealing columns instead of lines. If a window from which columns are stolen shrinks below @code{window-min-width} columns, that window disappears. If the requested size would exceed that of the window's frame, then the function makes the window occupy the entire height (or width) of the frame. If there are various other windows from which lines or columns can be stolen, and some of them specify fixed size (using @code{window-size-fixed}, see below), they are left untouched while other windows are ``robbed.'' If it would be necessary to alter the size of a fixed-size window, @code{enlarge-window} gets an error instead. If @var{size} is negative, this function shrinks the window by @minus{}@var{size} lines or columns. If that makes the window smaller than the minimum size (@code{window-min-height} and @code{window-min-width}), @code{enlarge-window} deletes the window. @code{enlarge-window} returns @code{nil}. @end deffn @deffn Command enlarge-window-horizontally columns This function makes the selected window @var{columns} wider. It could be defined as follows: @example @group (defun enlarge-window-horizontally (columns) (interactive "p") (enlarge-window columns t)) @end group @end example @end deffn @deffn Command shrink-window size &optional horizontal This function is like @code{enlarge-window} but negates the argument @var{size}, making the selected window smaller by giving lines (or columns) to the other windows. If the window shrinks below @code{window-min-height} or @code{window-min-width}, then it disappears. If @var{size} is negative, the window is enlarged by @minus{}@var{size} lines or columns. @end deffn @deffn Command shrink-window-horizontally columns This function makes the selected window @var{columns} narrower. It could be defined as follows: @example @group (defun shrink-window-horizontally (columns) (interactive "p") (shrink-window columns t)) @end group @end example @end deffn @defun adjust-window-trailing-edge window delta horizontal This function makes the selected window @var{delta} lines taller or @var{delta} columns wider, by moving the bottom or right edge. This function does not delete other windows; if it cannot make the requested size adjustment, it signals an error. On success, this function returns @code{nil}. @end defun @defun fit-window-to-buffer &optional window max-height min-height This function makes @var{window} the right height to display its contents exactly. If @var{window} is omitted or @code{nil}, it uses the selected window. The argument @var{max-height} specifies the maximum height the window is allowed to be; @code{nil} means use the frame height. The argument @var{min-height} specifies the minimum height for the window; @code{nil} means use @code{window-min-height}. All these height values include the mode-line and/or header-line. @end defun @deffn Command shrink-window-if-larger-than-buffer &optional window This command shrinks @var{window} vertically to be as small as possible while still showing the full contents of its buffer---but not less than @code{window-min-height} lines. If @var{window} is not given, it defaults to the selected window. However, the command does nothing if the window is already too small to display the whole text of the buffer, or if part of the contents are currently scrolled off screen, or if the window is not the full width of its frame, or if the window is the only window in its frame. This command returns non-@code{nil} if it actually shrank the window and @code{nil} otherwise. @end deffn @defvar window-size-fixed If this variable is non-@code{nil}, in any given buffer, then the size of any window displaying the buffer remains fixed unless you explicitly change it or Emacs has no other choice. If the value is @code{height}, then only the window's height is fixed; if the value is @code{width}, then only the window's width is fixed. Any other non-@code{nil} value fixes both the width and the height. This variable automatically becomes buffer-local when set. Explicit size-change functions such as @code{enlarge-window} get an error if they would have to change a window size which is fixed. Therefore, when you want to change the size of such a window, you should bind @code{window-size-fixed} to @code{nil}, like this: @example (let ((window-size-fixed nil)) (enlarge-window 10)) @end example Note that changing the frame size will change the size of a fixed-size window, if there is no other alternative. @end defvar @cindex minimum window size The following two variables constrain the window-structure-changing functions to a minimum height and width. @defopt window-min-height The value of this variable determines how short a window may become before it is automatically deleted. Making a window smaller than @code{window-min-height} automatically deletes it, and no window may be created shorter than this. The default value is 4. The absolute minimum window height is one; actions that change window sizes reset this variable to one if it is less than one. @end defopt @defopt window-min-width The value of this variable determines how narrow a window may become before it is automatically deleted. Making a window smaller than @code{window-min-width} automatically deletes it, and no window may be created narrower than this. The default value is 10. The absolute minimum window width is two; actions that change window sizes reset this variable to two if it is less than two. @end defopt @node Coordinates and Windows @section Coordinates and Windows This section describes how to relate screen coordinates to windows. @defun window-at x y &optional frame This function returns the window containing the specified cursor position in the frame @var{frame}. The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y} are measured in characters and count from the top left corner of the frame. If they are out of range, @code{window-at} returns @code{nil}. If you omit @var{frame}, the selected frame is used. @end defun @defun coordinates-in-window-p coordinates window This function checks whether a particular frame position falls within the window @var{window}. The argument @var{coordinates} is a cons cell of the form @code{(@var{x} . @var{y})}. The coordinates @var{x} and @var{y} are measured in characters, and count from the top left corner of the screen or frame. The value returned by @code{coordinates-in-window-p} is non-@code{nil} if the coordinates are inside @var{window}. The value also indicates what part of the window the position is in, as follows: @table @code @item (@var{relx} . @var{rely}) The coordinates are inside @var{window}. The numbers @var{relx} and @var{rely} are the equivalent window-relative coordinates for the specified position, counting from 0 at the top left corner of the window. @item mode-line The coordinates are in the mode line of @var{window}. @item header-line The coordinates are in the header line of @var{window}. @item vertical-line The coordinates are in the vertical line between @var{window} and its neighbor to the right. This value occurs only if the window doesn't have a scroll bar; positions in a scroll bar are considered outside the window for these purposes. @item left-fringe @itemx right-fringe The coordinates are in the left or right fringe of the window. @item left-margin @itemx right-margin The coordinates are in the left or right margin of the window. @item nil The coordinates are not in any part of @var{window}. @end table The function @code{coordinates-in-window-p} does not require a frame as argument because it always uses the frame that @var{window} is on. @end defun @node Window Tree @section The Window Tree @cindex window tree A @dfn{window tree} specifies the layout, size, and relationship between all windows in one frame. @defun window-tree &optional frame This function returns the window tree for frame @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is omitted, the selected frame is used. The return value is a list of the form @code{(@var{root} @var{mini})}, where @var{root} represents the window tree of the frame's root window, and @var{mini} is the frame's minibuffer window. If the root window is not split, @var{root} is the root window itself. Otherwise, @var{root} is a list @code{(@var{dir} @var{edges} @var{w1} @var{w2} ...)} where @var{dir} is @code{nil} for a horizontal split, and @code{t} for a vertical split, @var{edges} gives the combined size and position of the subwindows in the split, and the rest of the elements are the subwindows in the split. Each of the subwindows may again be a window or a list representing a window split, and so on. The @var{edges} element is a list @code{(@var{left}@var{ top}@var{ right}@var{ bottom})} similar to the value returned by @code{window-edges}. @end defun @node Window Configurations @section Window Configurations @cindex window configurations @cindex saving window information A @dfn{window configuration} records the entire layout of one frame---all windows, their sizes, which buffers they contain, what part of each buffer is displayed, and the values of point and the mark; also their fringes, margins, and scroll bar settings. It also includes the values of @code{window-min-height}, @code{window-min-width} and @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. An exception is made for point in the selected window for the current buffer; its value is not saved in the window configuration. You can bring back an entire previous layout by restoring a window configuration previously saved. If you want to record all frames instead of just one, use a frame configuration instead of a window configuration. @xref{Frame Configurations}. @defun current-window-configuration &optional frame This function returns a new object representing @var{frame}'s current window configuration. If @var{frame} is omitted, the selected frame is used. @end defun @defun set-window-configuration configuration This function restores the configuration of windows and buffers as specified by @var{configuration}, for the frame that @var{configuration} was created for. The argument @var{configuration} must be a value that was previously returned by @code{current-window-configuration}. This configuration is restored in the frame from which @var{configuration} was made, whether that frame is selected or not. This always counts as a window size change and triggers execution of the @code{window-size-change-functions} (@pxref{Window Hooks}), because @code{set-window-configuration} doesn't know how to tell whether the new configuration actually differs from the old one. If the frame which @var{configuration} was saved from is dead, all this function does is restore the three variables @code{window-min-height}, @code{window-min-width} and @code{minibuffer-scroll-window}. In this case, the function returns @code{nil}. Otherwise, it returns @code{t}. Here is a way of using this function to get the same effect as @code{save-window-excursion}: @example @group (let ((config (current-window-configuration))) (unwind-protect (progn (split-window-vertically nil) @dots{}) (set-window-configuration config))) @end group @end example @end defun @defspec save-window-excursion forms@dots{} This special form records the window configuration, executes @var{forms} in sequence, then restores the earlier window configuration. The window configuration includes, for each window, the value of point and the portion of the buffer that is visible. It also includes the choice of selected window. However, it does not include the value of point in the current buffer; use @code{save-excursion} also, if you wish to preserve that. Don't use this construct when @code{save-selected-window} is sufficient. Exit from @code{save-window-excursion} always triggers execution of the @code{window-size-change-functions}. (It doesn't know how to tell whether the restored configuration actually differs from the one in effect at the end of the @var{forms}.) The return value is the value of the final form in @var{forms}. For example: @example @group (split-window) @result{} # @end group @group (setq w (selected-window)) @result{} # @end group @group (save-window-excursion (delete-other-windows w) (switch-to-buffer "foo") 'do-something) @result{} do-something ;; @r{The screen is now split again.} @end group @end example @end defspec @defun window-configuration-p object This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a window configuration. @end defun @defun compare-window-configurations config1 config2 This function compares two window configurations as regards the structure of windows, but ignores the values of point and mark and the saved scrolling positions---it can return @code{t} even if those aspects differ. The function @code{equal} can also compare two window configurations; it regards configurations as unequal if they differ in any respect, even a saved point or mark. @end defun @defun window-configuration-frame config This function returns the frame for which the window configuration @var{config} was made. @end defun Other primitives to look inside of window configurations would make sense, but are not implemented because we did not need them. See the file @file{winner.el} for some more operations on windows configurations. @node Window Hooks @section Hooks for Window Scrolling and Changes @cindex hooks for window operations This section describes how a Lisp program can take action whenever a window displays a different part of its buffer or a different buffer. There are three actions that can change this: scrolling the window, switching buffers in the window, and changing the size of the window. The first two actions run @code{window-scroll-functions}; the last runs @code{window-size-change-functions}. @defvar window-scroll-functions This variable holds a list of functions that Emacs should call before redisplaying a window with scrolling. It is not a normal hook, because each function is called with two arguments: the window, and its new display-start position. Displaying a different buffer in the window also runs these functions. These functions must be careful in using @code{window-end} (@pxref{Window Start}); if you need an up-to-date value, you must use the @var{update} argument to ensure you get it. @strong{Warning:} don't use this feature to alter the way the window is scrolled. It's not designed for that, and such use probably won't work. @end defvar @defvar window-size-change-functions This variable holds a list of functions to be called if the size of any window changes for any reason. The functions are called just once per redisplay, and just once for each frame on which size changes have occurred. Each function receives the frame as its sole argument. There is no direct way to find out which windows on that frame have changed size, or precisely how. However, if a size-change function records, at each call, the existing windows and their sizes, it can also compare the present sizes and the previous sizes. Creating or deleting windows counts as a size change, and therefore causes these functions to be called. Changing the frame size also counts, because it changes the sizes of the existing windows. It is not a good idea to use @code{save-window-excursion} (@pxref{Window Configurations}) in these functions, because that always counts as a size change, and it would cause these functions to be called over and over. In most cases, @code{save-selected-window} (@pxref{Selecting Windows}) is what you need here. @end defvar @defvar redisplay-end-trigger-functions This abnormal hook is run whenever redisplay in a window uses text that extends past a specified end trigger position. You set the end trigger position with the function @code{set-window-redisplay-end-trigger}. The functions are called with two arguments: the window, and the end trigger position. Storing @code{nil} for the end trigger position turns off the feature, and the trigger value is automatically reset to @code{nil} just after the hook is run. @end defvar @defun set-window-redisplay-end-trigger window position This function sets @var{window}'s end trigger position at @var{position}. @end defun @defun window-redisplay-end-trigger &optional window This function returns @var{window}'s current end trigger position. If @var{window} is @code{nil} or omitted, it uses the selected window. @end defun @defvar window-configuration-change-hook A normal hook that is run every time you change the window configuration of an existing frame. This includes splitting or deleting windows, changing the sizes of windows, or displaying a different buffer in a window. The frame whose window configuration has changed is the selected frame when this hook runs. @end defvar @ignore arch-tag: 3f6c36e8-df49-4986-b757-417feed88be3 @end ignore