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1 @c -*-texinfo-*-
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2 @c This is part of the XEmacs Lisp Reference Manual.
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3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4 @c See the file lispref.texi for copying conditions.
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5 @setfilename ../../info/buffers.info
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6 @node Buffers, Windows, Backups and Auto-Saving, Top
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7 @chapter Buffers
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8 @cindex buffer
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9
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10 A @dfn{buffer} is a Lisp object containing text to be edited. Buffers
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11 are used to hold the contents of files that are being visited; there may
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12 also be buffers that are not visiting files. While several buffers may
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13 exist at one time, exactly one buffer is designated the @dfn{current
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14 buffer} at any time. Most editing commands act on the contents of the
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15 current buffer. Each buffer, including the current buffer, may or may
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16 not be displayed in any windows.
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17
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18 @menu
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19 * Buffer Basics:: What is a buffer?
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20 * Current Buffer:: Designating a buffer as current
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21 so primitives will access its contents.
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22 * Buffer Names:: Accessing and changing buffer names.
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23 * Buffer File Name:: The buffer file name indicates which file is visited.
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24 * Buffer Modification:: A buffer is @dfn{modified} if it needs to be saved.
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25 * Modification Time:: Determining whether the visited file was changed
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26 ``behind XEmacs's back''.
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27 * Read Only Buffers:: Modifying text is not allowed in a read-only buffer.
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28 * The Buffer List:: How to look at all the existing buffers.
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29 * Creating Buffers:: Functions that create buffers.
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30 * Killing Buffers:: Buffers exist until explicitly killed.
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31 * Indirect Buffers:: An indirect buffer shares text with some other buffer.
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32 @end menu
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33
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34 @node Buffer Basics
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35 @section Buffer Basics
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36
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37 @ifinfo
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38 A @dfn{buffer} is a Lisp object containing text to be edited. Buffers
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39 are used to hold the contents of files that are being visited; there may
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40 also be buffers that are not visiting files. While several buffers may
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41 exist at one time, exactly one buffer is designated the @dfn{current
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42 buffer} at any time. Most editing commands act on the contents of the
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43 current buffer. Each buffer, including the current buffer, may or may
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44 not be displayed in any windows.
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45 @end ifinfo
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46
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47 Buffers in Emacs editing are objects that have distinct names and hold
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48 text that can be edited. Buffers appear to Lisp programs as a special
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49 data type. You can think of the contents of a buffer as an extendable
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50 string; insertions and deletions may occur in any part of the buffer.
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51 @xref{Text}.
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52
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53 A Lisp buffer object contains numerous pieces of information. Some of
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54 this information is directly accessible to the programmer through
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55 variables, while other information is accessible only through
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56 special-purpose functions. For example, the visited file name is
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57 directly accessible through a variable, while the value of point is
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58 accessible only through a primitive function.
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59
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60 Buffer-specific information that is directly accessible is stored in
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61 @dfn{buffer-local} variable bindings, which are variable values that are
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62 effective only in a particular buffer. This feature allows each buffer
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63 to override the values of certain variables. Most major modes override
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64 variables such as @code{fill-column} or @code{comment-column} in this
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65 way. For more information about buffer-local variables and functions
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66 related to them, see @ref{Buffer-Local Variables}.
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67
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68 For functions and variables related to visiting files in buffers, see
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69 @ref{Visiting Files} and @ref{Saving Buffers}. For functions and
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70 variables related to the display of buffers in windows, see
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71 @ref{Buffers and Windows}.
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72
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73 @defun bufferp object
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74 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a buffer,
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75 @code{nil} otherwise.
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76 @end defun
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77
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78 @node Current Buffer
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79 @section The Current Buffer
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80 @cindex selecting a buffer
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81 @cindex changing to another buffer
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82 @cindex current buffer
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83
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84 There are, in general, many buffers in an Emacs session. At any time,
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85 one of them is designated as the @dfn{current buffer}. This is the
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86 buffer in which most editing takes place, because most of the primitives
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87 for examining or changing text in a buffer operate implicitly on the
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88 current buffer (@pxref{Text}). Normally the buffer that is displayed on
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89 the screen in the selected window is the current buffer, but this is not
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90 always so: a Lisp program can designate any buffer as current
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91 temporarily in order to operate on its contents, without changing what
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92 is displayed on the screen.
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93
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94 The way to designate a current buffer in a Lisp program is by calling
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95 @code{set-buffer}. The specified buffer remains current until a new one
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96 is designated.
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97
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98 When an editing command returns to the editor command loop, the
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99 command loop designates the buffer displayed in the selected window as
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100 current, to prevent confusion: the buffer that the cursor is in when
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101 Emacs reads a command is the buffer that the command will apply to.
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102 (@xref{Command Loop}.) Therefore, @code{set-buffer} is not the way to
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103 switch visibly to a different buffer so that the user can edit it. For
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104 this, you must use the functions described in @ref{Displaying Buffers}.
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105
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106 However, Lisp functions that change to a different current buffer
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107 should not depend on the command loop to set it back afterwards.
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108 Editing commands written in XEmacs Lisp can be called from other programs
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109 as well as from the command loop. It is convenient for the caller if
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110 the subroutine does not change which buffer is current (unless, of
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111 course, that is the subroutine's purpose). Therefore, you should
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112 normally use @code{set-buffer} within a @code{save-excursion} that will
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113 restore the current buffer when your function is done
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114 (@pxref{Excursions}). Here is an example, the code for the command
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115 @code{append-to-buffer} (with the documentation string abridged):
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116
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117 @example
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118 @group
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119 (defun append-to-buffer (buffer start end)
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120 "Append to specified buffer the text of the region.
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121 @dots{}"
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122 (interactive "BAppend to buffer: \nr")
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123 (let ((oldbuf (current-buffer)))
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124 (save-excursion
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125 (set-buffer (get-buffer-create buffer))
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126 (insert-buffer-substring oldbuf start end))))
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127 @end group
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128 @end example
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129
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130 @noindent
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131 This function binds a local variable to the current buffer, and then
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132 @code{save-excursion} records the values of point, the mark, and the
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133 original buffer. Next, @code{set-buffer} makes another buffer current.
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134 Finally, @code{insert-buffer-substring} copies the string from the
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135 original current buffer to the new current buffer.
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136
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137 If the buffer appended to happens to be displayed in some window,
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138 the next redisplay will show how its text has changed. Otherwise, you
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139 will not see the change immediately on the screen. The buffer becomes
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140 current temporarily during the execution of the command, but this does
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141 not cause it to be displayed.
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142
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143 If you make local bindings (with @code{let} or function arguments) for
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144 a variable that may also have buffer-local bindings, make sure that the
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145 same buffer is current at the beginning and at the end of the local
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146 binding's scope. Otherwise you might bind it in one buffer and unbind
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147 it in another! There are two ways to do this. In simple cases, you may
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148 see that nothing ever changes the current buffer within the scope of the
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149 binding. Otherwise, use @code{save-excursion} to make sure that the
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150 buffer current at the beginning is current again whenever the variable
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151 is unbound.
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152
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153 It is not reliable to change the current buffer back with
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154 @code{set-buffer}, because that won't do the job if a quit happens while
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155 the wrong buffer is current. Here is what @emph{not} to do:
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156
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157 @example
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158 @group
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159 (let (buffer-read-only
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160 (obuf (current-buffer)))
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161 (set-buffer @dots{})
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162 @dots{}
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163 (set-buffer obuf))
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164 @end group
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165 @end example
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166
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167 @noindent
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168 Using @code{save-excursion}, as shown below, handles quitting, errors,
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169 and @code{throw}, as well as ordinary evaluation.
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170
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171 @example
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172 @group
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173 (let (buffer-read-only)
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174 (save-excursion
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175 (set-buffer @dots{})
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176 @dots{}))
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177 @end group
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178 @end example
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179
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180 @defun current-buffer
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181 This function returns the current buffer.
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182
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183 @example
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184 @group
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185 (current-buffer)
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186 @result{} #<buffer buffers.texi>
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187 @end group
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188 @end example
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189 @end defun
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190
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191 @defun set-buffer buffer-or-name
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192 This function makes @var{buffer-or-name} the current buffer. It does
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193 not display the buffer in the currently selected window or in any other
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194 window, so the user cannot necessarily see the buffer. But Lisp
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195 programs can in any case work on it.
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196
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197 This function returns the buffer identified by @var{buffer-or-name}.
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198 An error is signaled if @var{buffer-or-name} does not identify an
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199 existing buffer.
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200 @end defun
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201
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202 @node Buffer Names
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203 @section Buffer Names
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204 @cindex buffer names
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205
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206 Each buffer has a unique name, which is a string. Many of the
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207 functions that work on buffers accept either a buffer or a buffer name
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208 as an argument. Any argument called @var{buffer-or-name} is of this
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209 sort, and an error is signaled if it is neither a string nor a buffer.
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210 Any argument called @var{buffer} must be an actual buffer
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211 object, not a name.
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212
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213 Buffers that are ephemeral and generally uninteresting to the user
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214 have names starting with a space, so that the @code{list-buffers} and
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215 @code{buffer-menu} commands don't mention them. A name starting with
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216 space also initially disables recording undo information; see
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217 @ref{Undo}.
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218
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219 @defun buffer-name &optional buffer
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220 This function returns the name of @var{buffer} as a string. If
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221 @var{buffer} is not supplied, it defaults to the current buffer.
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222
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223 If @code{buffer-name} returns @code{nil}, it means that @var{buffer}
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224 has been killed. @xref{Killing Buffers}.
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225
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226 @example
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227 @group
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228 (buffer-name)
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229 @result{} "buffers.texi"
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230 @end group
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231
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232 @group
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233 (setq foo (get-buffer "temp"))
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234 @result{} #<buffer temp>
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235 @end group
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236 @group
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237 (kill-buffer foo)
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238 @result{} nil
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239 @end group
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240 @group
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241 (buffer-name foo)
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242 @result{} nil
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243 @end group
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244 @group
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245 foo
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246 @result{} #<killed buffer>
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247 @end group
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248 @end example
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249 @end defun
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250
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251 @deffn Command rename-buffer newname &optional unique
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252 This function renames the current buffer to @var{newname}. An error
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253 is signaled if @var{newname} is not a string, or if there is already a
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254 buffer with that name. The function returns @code{nil}.
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255
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256 @c Emacs 19 feature
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257 Ordinarily, @code{rename-buffer} signals an error if @var{newname} is
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258 already in use. However, if @var{unique} is non-@code{nil}, it modifies
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259 @var{newname} to make a name that is not in use. Interactively, you can
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260 make @var{unique} non-@code{nil} with a numeric prefix argument.
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261
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262 One application of this command is to rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer
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263 to some other name, thus making it possible to create a second shell
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264 buffer under the name @samp{*shell*}.
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265 @end deffn
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266
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267 @defun get-buffer buffer-or-name
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268 This function returns the buffer specified by @var{buffer-or-name}.
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269 If @var{buffer-or-name} is a string and there is no buffer with that
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270 name, the value is @code{nil}. If @var{buffer-or-name} is a buffer, it
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271 is returned as given. (That is not very useful, so the argument is usually
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272 a name.) For example:
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273
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274 @example
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275 @group
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276 (setq b (get-buffer "lewis"))
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277 @result{} #<buffer lewis>
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278 @end group
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279 @group
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280 (get-buffer b)
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281 @result{} #<buffer lewis>
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282 @end group
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283 @group
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284 (get-buffer "Frazzle-nots")
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285 @result{} nil
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286 @end group
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287 @end example
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288
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289 See also the function @code{get-buffer-create} in @ref{Creating Buffers}.
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290 @end defun
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291
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292 @c Emacs 19 feature
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293 @c IGNORE is only in XEmacs
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294 @defun generate-new-buffer-name starting-name &optional ignore
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295 This function returns a name that would be unique for a new buffer---but
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296 does not create the buffer. It starts with @var{starting-name}, and
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297 produces a name not currently in use for any buffer by appending a
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298 number inside of @samp{<@dots{}>}.
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299
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300 If @var{ignore} is given, it specifies a name that is okay to use (if it
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301 is in the sequence to be tried), even if a buffer with that name exists.
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302
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303 See the related function @code{generate-new-buffer} in @ref{Creating
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304 Buffers}.
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305 @end defun
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306
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307 @node Buffer File Name
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308 @section Buffer File Name
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309 @cindex visited file
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310 @cindex buffer file name
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311 @cindex file name of buffer
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312
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313 The @dfn{buffer file name} is the name of the file that is visited in
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314 that buffer. When a buffer is not visiting a file, its buffer file name
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315 is @code{nil}. Most of the time, the buffer name is the same as the
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316 nondirectory part of the buffer file name, but the buffer file name and
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317 the buffer name are distinct and can be set independently.
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318 @xref{Visiting Files}.
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319
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320 @defun buffer-file-name &optional buffer
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321 This function returns the absolute file name of the file that
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322 @var{buffer} is visiting. If @var{buffer} is not visiting any file,
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323 @code{buffer-file-name} returns @code{nil}. If @var{buffer} is not
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324 supplied, it defaults to the current buffer.
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325
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326 @example
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327 @group
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328 (buffer-file-name (other-buffer))
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329 @result{} "/usr/user/lewis/manual/files.texi"
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330 @end group
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331 @end example
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332 @end defun
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333
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334 @defvar buffer-file-name
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335 This buffer-local variable contains the name of the file being visited
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336 in the current buffer, or @code{nil} if it is not visiting a file. It
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337 is a permanent local, unaffected by @code{kill-local-variables}.
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338
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339 @example
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340 @group
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341 buffer-file-name
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342 @result{} "/usr/user/lewis/manual/buffers.texi"
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343 @end group
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344 @end example
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345
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346 It is risky to change this variable's value without doing various other
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347 things. See the definition of @code{set-visited-file-name} in
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348 @file{files.el}; some of the things done there, such as changing the
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349 buffer name, are not strictly necessary, but others are essential to
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350 avoid confusing XEmacs.
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351 @end defvar
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352
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353 @defvar buffer-file-truename
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354 This buffer-local variable holds the truename of the file visited in the
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355 current buffer, or @code{nil} if no file is visited. It is a permanent
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356 local, unaffected by @code{kill-local-variables}. @xref{Truenames}.
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357 @end defvar
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358
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359 @defvar buffer-file-number
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360 This buffer-local variable holds the file number and directory device
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361 number of the file visited in the current buffer, or @code{nil} if no
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362 file or a nonexistent file is visited. It is a permanent local,
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363 unaffected by @code{kill-local-variables}. @xref{Truenames}.
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364
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365 The value is normally a list of the form @code{(@var{filenum}
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366 @var{devnum})}. This pair of numbers uniquely identifies the file among
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367 all files accessible on the system. See the function
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368 @code{file-attributes}, in @ref{File Attributes}, for more information
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369 about them.
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370 @end defvar
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371
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372 @defun get-file-buffer filename
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373 This function returns the buffer visiting file @var{filename}. If
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374 there is no such buffer, it returns @code{nil}. The argument
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375 @var{filename}, which must be a string, is expanded (@pxref{File Name
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376 Expansion}), then compared against the visited file names of all live
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377 buffers.
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378
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379 @example
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380 @group
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381 (get-file-buffer "buffers.texi")
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382 @result{} #<buffer buffers.texi>
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383 @end group
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384 @end example
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385
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386 In unusual circumstances, there can be more than one buffer visiting
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387 the same file name. In such cases, this function returns the first
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388 such buffer in the buffer list.
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389 @end defun
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390
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391 @deffn Command set-visited-file-name filename
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392 If @var{filename} is a non-empty string, this function changes the
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393 name of the file visited in current buffer to @var{filename}. (If the
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394 buffer had no visited file, this gives it one.) The @emph{next time}
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395 the buffer is saved it will go in the newly-specified file. This
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396 command marks the buffer as modified, since it does not (as far as XEmacs
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397 knows) match the contents of @var{filename}, even if it matched the
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398 former visited file.
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399
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400 If @var{filename} is @code{nil} or the empty string, that stands for
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401 ``no visited file''. In this case, @code{set-visited-file-name} marks
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402 the buffer as having no visited file.
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403
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404 @c Wordy to avoid overfull hbox. --rjc 16mar92
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405 When the function @code{set-visited-file-name} is called interactively, it
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406 prompts for @var{filename} in the minibuffer.
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407
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408 See also @code{clear-visited-file-modtime} and
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409 @code{verify-visited-file-modtime} in @ref{Buffer Modification}.
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410 @end deffn
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411
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412 @defvar list-buffers-directory
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413 This buffer-local variable records a string to display in a buffer
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414 listing in place of the visited file name, for buffers that don't have a
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415 visited file name. Dired buffers use this variable.
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416 @end defvar
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417
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418 @node Buffer Modification
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419 @section Buffer Modification
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420 @cindex buffer modification
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421 @cindex modification flag (of buffer)
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422
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423 XEmacs keeps a flag called the @dfn{modified flag} for each buffer, to
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424 record whether you have changed the text of the buffer. This flag is
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425 set to @code{t} whenever you alter the contents of the buffer, and
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426 cleared to @code{nil} when you save it. Thus, the flag shows whether
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427 there are unsaved changes. The flag value is normally shown in the
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428 modeline (@pxref{Modeline Variables}), and controls saving
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429 (@pxref{Saving Buffers}) and auto-saving (@pxref{Auto-Saving}).
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430
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431 Some Lisp programs set the flag explicitly. For example, the function
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432 @code{set-visited-file-name} sets the flag to @code{t}, because the text
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433 does not match the newly-visited file, even if it is unchanged from the
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434 file formerly visited.
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435
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436 The functions that modify the contents of buffers are described in
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437 @ref{Text}.
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438
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439 @defun buffer-modified-p &optional buffer
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440 This function returns @code{t} if the buffer @var{buffer} has been modified
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441 since it was last read in from a file or saved, or @code{nil}
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442 otherwise. If @var{buffer} is not supplied, the current buffer
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443 is tested.
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444 @end defun
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445
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446 @defun set-buffer-modified-p flag
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447 This function marks the current buffer as modified if @var{flag} is
|
|
448 non-@code{nil}, or as unmodified if the flag is @code{nil}.
|
|
449
|
|
450 Another effect of calling this function is to cause unconditional
|
|
451 redisplay of the modeline for the current buffer. In fact, the
|
|
452 function @code{redraw-modeline} works by doing this:
|
|
453
|
|
454 @example
|
|
455 @group
|
|
456 (set-buffer-modified-p (buffer-modified-p))
|
|
457 @end group
|
|
458 @end example
|
|
459 @end defun
|
|
460
|
|
461 @c ARG is only in XEmacs
|
|
462 @deffn Command not-modified &optional arg
|
|
463 This command marks the current buffer as unmodified, and not needing
|
|
464 to be saved. (If @var{arg} is non-@code{nil}, the buffer is instead
|
|
465 marked as modified.) Don't use this function in programs, since it
|
|
466 prints a message in the echo area; use @code{set-buffer-modified-p}
|
|
467 (above) instead.
|
|
468 @end deffn
|
|
469
|
|
470 @c Emacs 19 feature
|
|
471 @defun buffer-modified-tick &optional buffer
|
|
472 This function returns @var{buffer}`s modification-count. This is a
|
|
473 counter that increments every time the buffer is modified. If
|
|
474 @var{buffer} is @code{nil} (or omitted), the current buffer is used.
|
|
475 @end defun
|
|
476
|
|
477 @node Modification Time
|
|
478 @section Comparison of Modification Time
|
|
479 @cindex comparison of modification time
|
|
480 @cindex modification time, comparison of
|
|
481
|
|
482 Suppose that you visit a file and make changes in its buffer, and
|
|
483 meanwhile the file itself is changed on disk. At this point, saving the
|
|
484 buffer would overwrite the changes in the file. Occasionally this may
|
|
485 be what you want, but usually it would lose valuable information. XEmacs
|
|
486 therefore checks the file's modification time using the functions
|
|
487 described below before saving the file.
|
|
488
|
|
489 @defun verify-visited-file-modtime buffer
|
|
490 This function compares what @var{buffer} has recorded for the
|
|
491 modification time of its visited file against the actual modification
|
|
492 time of the file as recorded by the operating system. The two should be
|
|
493 the same unless some other process has written the file since XEmacs
|
|
494 visited or saved it.
|
|
495
|
|
496 The function returns @code{t} if the last actual modification time and
|
|
497 XEmacs's recorded modification time are the same, @code{nil} otherwise.
|
|
498 @end defun
|
|
499
|
|
500 @defun clear-visited-file-modtime
|
|
501 This function clears out the record of the last modification time of
|
|
502 the file being visited by the current buffer. As a result, the next
|
|
503 attempt to save this buffer will not complain of a discrepancy in
|
|
504 file modification times.
|
|
505
|
|
506 This function is called in @code{set-visited-file-name} and other
|
|
507 exceptional places where the usual test to avoid overwriting a changed
|
|
508 file should not be done.
|
|
509 @end defun
|
|
510
|
|
511 @c Emacs 19 feature
|
|
512 @defun visited-file-modtime
|
|
513 This function returns the buffer's recorded last file modification time,
|
|
514 as a list of the form @code{(@var{high} . @var{low})}. (This is the
|
|
515 same format that @code{file-attributes} uses to return time values; see
|
|
516 @ref{File Attributes}.)
|
|
517 @end defun
|
|
518
|
|
519 @c Emacs 19 feature
|
|
520 @defun set-visited-file-modtime &optional time
|
|
521 This function updates the buffer's record of the last modification time
|
|
522 of the visited file, to the value specified by @var{time} if @var{time}
|
|
523 is not @code{nil}, and otherwise to the last modification time of the
|
|
524 visited file.
|
|
525
|
|
526 If @var{time} is not @code{nil}, it should have the form
|
|
527 @code{(@var{high} . @var{low})} or @code{(@var{high} @var{low})}, in
|
|
528 either case containing two integers, each of which holds 16 bits of the
|
|
529 time.
|
|
530
|
|
531 This function is useful if the buffer was not read from the file
|
|
532 normally, or if the file itself has been changed for some known benign
|
|
533 reason.
|
|
534 @end defun
|
|
535
|
|
536 @defun ask-user-about-supersession-threat filename
|
|
537 @cindex obsolete buffer
|
|
538 This function is used to ask a user how to proceed after an attempt to
|
|
539 modify an obsolete buffer visiting file @var{filename}. An
|
|
540 @dfn{obsolete buffer} is an unmodified buffer for which the associated
|
|
541 file on disk is newer than the last save-time of the buffer. This means
|
|
542 some other program has probably altered the file.
|
|
543
|
|
544 @kindex file-supersession
|
|
545 Depending on the user's answer, the function may return normally, in
|
|
546 which case the modification of the buffer proceeds, or it may signal a
|
|
547 @code{file-supersession} error with data @code{(@var{filename})}, in which
|
|
548 case the proposed buffer modification is not allowed.
|
|
549
|
|
550 This function is called automatically by XEmacs on the proper
|
|
551 occasions. It exists so you can customize XEmacs by redefining it.
|
|
552 See the file @file{userlock.el} for the standard definition.
|
|
553
|
|
554 See also the file locking mechanism in @ref{File Locks}.
|
|
555 @end defun
|
|
556
|
|
557 @node Read Only Buffers
|
|
558 @section Read-Only Buffers
|
|
559 @cindex read-only buffer
|
|
560 @cindex buffer, read-only
|
|
561
|
|
562 If a buffer is @dfn{read-only}, then you cannot change its contents,
|
|
563 although you may change your view of the contents by scrolling and
|
|
564 narrowing.
|
|
565
|
|
566 Read-only buffers are used in two kinds of situations:
|
|
567
|
|
568 @itemize @bullet
|
|
569 @item
|
|
570 A buffer visiting a write-protected file is normally read-only.
|
|
571
|
|
572 Here, the purpose is to show the user that editing the buffer with the
|
|
573 aim of saving it in the file may be futile or undesirable. The user who
|
|
574 wants to change the buffer text despite this can do so after clearing
|
|
575 the read-only flag with @kbd{C-x C-q}.
|
|
576
|
|
577 @item
|
|
578 Modes such as Dired and Rmail make buffers read-only when altering the
|
|
579 contents with the usual editing commands is probably a mistake.
|
|
580
|
|
581 The special commands of these modes bind @code{buffer-read-only} to
|
|
582 @code{nil} (with @code{let}) or bind @code{inhibit-read-only} to
|
|
583 @code{t} around the places where they change the text.
|
|
584 @end itemize
|
|
585
|
|
586 @defvar buffer-read-only
|
|
587 This buffer-local variable specifies whether the buffer is read-only.
|
|
588 The buffer is read-only if this variable is non-@code{nil}.
|
|
589 @end defvar
|
|
590
|
|
591 @defvar inhibit-read-only
|
|
592 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then read-only buffers and read-only
|
|
593 characters may be modified. Read-only characters in a buffer are those
|
|
594 that have non-@code{nil} @code{read-only} properties (either text
|
|
595 properties or extent properties). @xref{Extent Properties}, for more
|
|
596 information about text properties and extent properties.
|
|
597
|
|
598 If @code{inhibit-read-only} is @code{t}, all @code{read-only} character
|
|
599 properties have no effect. If @code{inhibit-read-only} is a list, then
|
|
600 @code{read-only} character properties have no effect if they are members
|
|
601 of the list (comparison is done with @code{eq}).
|
|
602 @end defvar
|
|
603
|
|
604 @deffn Command toggle-read-only
|
|
605 This command changes whether the current buffer is read-only. It is
|
|
606 intended for interactive use; don't use it in programs. At any given
|
|
607 point in a program, you should know whether you want the read-only flag
|
|
608 on or off; so you can set @code{buffer-read-only} explicitly to the
|
|
609 proper value, @code{t} or @code{nil}.
|
|
610 @end deffn
|
|
611
|
|
612 @defun barf-if-buffer-read-only
|
|
613 This function signals a @code{buffer-read-only} error if the current
|
|
614 buffer is read-only. @xref{Interactive Call}, for another way to
|
|
615 signal an error if the current buffer is read-only.
|
|
616 @end defun
|
|
617
|
|
618 @node The Buffer List
|
|
619 @section The Buffer List
|
|
620 @cindex buffer list
|
|
621
|
|
622 The @dfn{buffer list} is a list of all live buffers. Creating a
|
|
623 buffer adds it to this list, and killing a buffer deletes it. The order
|
|
624 of the buffers in the list is based primarily on how recently each
|
|
625 buffer has been displayed in the selected window. Buffers move to the
|
|
626 front of the list when they are selected and to the end when they are
|
|
627 buried. Several functions, notably @code{other-buffer}, use this
|
|
628 ordering. A buffer list displayed for the user also follows this order.
|
|
629
|
|
630 @c XEmacs feature
|
|
631 Every frame has its own order for the buffer list. Switching to a
|
|
632 new buffer inside of a particular frame changes the buffer list order
|
|
633 for that frame, but does not affect the buffer list order of any other
|
|
634 frames. In addition, there is a global, non-frame buffer list order
|
|
635 that is independent of the buffer list orders for any particular frame.
|
|
636
|
|
637 Note that the different buffer lists all contain the same elements. It
|
|
638 is only the order of those elements that is different.
|
|
639
|
|
640 @defun buffer-list &optional frame
|
|
641 This function returns a list of all buffers, including those whose
|
|
642 names begin with a space. The elements are actual buffers, not their
|
|
643 names. The order of the list is specific to @var{frame}, which
|
|
644 defaults to the current frame. If @var{frame} is @code{t}, the
|
|
645 global, non-frame ordering is returned instead.
|
|
646
|
|
647 @example
|
|
648 @group
|
|
649 (buffer-list)
|
|
650 @result{} (#<buffer buffers.texi>
|
|
651 #<buffer *Minibuf-1*> #<buffer buffer.c>
|
|
652 #<buffer *Help*> #<buffer TAGS>)
|
|
653 @end group
|
|
654
|
|
655 @group
|
|
656 ;; @r{Note that the name of the minibuffer}
|
|
657 ;; @r{begins with a space!}
|
|
658 (mapcar (function buffer-name) (buffer-list))
|
|
659 @result{} ("buffers.texi" " *Minibuf-1*"
|
|
660 "buffer.c" "*Help*" "TAGS")
|
|
661 @end group
|
|
662 @end example
|
|
663
|
|
664 Buffers appear earlier in the list if they were current more recently.
|
|
665
|
|
666 This list is a copy of a list used inside XEmacs; modifying it has no
|
|
667 effect on the buffers.
|
|
668 @end defun
|
|
669
|
|
670 @defun other-buffer &optional buffer-or-name frame visible-ok
|
|
671 This function returns the first buffer in the buffer list other than
|
|
672 @var{buffer-or-name}, in @var{frame}'s ordering for the buffer list.
|
|
673 (@var{frame} defaults to the current frame. If @var{frame} is
|
|
674 @code{t}, then the global, non-frame ordering is used.) Usually this is
|
|
675 the buffer most recently shown in the selected window, aside from
|
|
676 @var{buffer-or-name}. Buffers are moved to the front of the list when
|
|
677 they are selected and to the end when they are buried. Buffers whose
|
|
678 names start with a space are not considered.
|
|
679
|
|
680 If @var{buffer-or-name} is not supplied (or if it is not a buffer),
|
|
681 then @code{other-buffer} returns the first buffer on the buffer list
|
|
682 that is not visible in any window in a visible frame.
|
|
683
|
|
684 If the selected frame has a non-@code{nil} @code{buffer-predicate}
|
54
|
685 property, then @code{other-buffer} uses that predicate to decide which
|
0
|
686 buffers to consider. It calls the predicate once for each buffer, and
|
|
687 if the value is @code{nil}, that buffer is ignored. @xref{X Frame
|
54
|
688 Properties}.
|
0
|
689
|
|
690 @c Emacs 19 feature
|
|
691 If @var{visible-ok} is @code{nil}, @code{other-buffer} avoids returning
|
|
692 a buffer visible in any window on any visible frame, except as a last
|
|
693 resort. If @var{visible-ok} is non-@code{nil}, then it does not matter
|
|
694 whether a buffer is displayed somewhere or not.
|
|
695
|
|
696 If no suitable buffer exists, the buffer @samp{*scratch*} is returned
|
|
697 (and created, if necessary).
|
|
698
|
|
699 Note that in FSF Emacs 19, there is no @var{frame} argument, and
|
|
700 @var{visible-ok} is the second argument instead of the third.
|
|
701 FSF Emacs 19.
|
|
702 @end defun
|
|
703
|
|
704 @deffn Command list-buffers &optional files-only
|
|
705 This function displays a listing of the names of existing buffers. It
|
|
706 clears the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*}, then inserts the listing into
|
|
707 that buffer and displays it in a window. @code{list-buffers} is
|
|
708 intended for interactive use, and is described fully in @cite{The XEmacs
|
|
709 Reference Manual}. It returns @code{nil}.
|
|
710 @end deffn
|
|
711
|
|
712 @deffn Command bury-buffer &optional buffer-or-name
|
|
713 This function puts @var{buffer-or-name} at the end of the buffer list
|
|
714 without changing the order of any of the other buffers on the list.
|
|
715 This buffer therefore becomes the least desirable candidate for
|
|
716 @code{other-buffer} to return.
|
|
717
|
|
718 If @var{buffer-or-name} is @code{nil} or omitted, this means to bury the
|
|
719 current buffer. In addition, if the buffer is displayed in the selected
|
|
720 window, this switches to some other buffer (obtained using
|
|
721 @code{other-buffer}) in the selected window. But if the buffer is
|
|
722 displayed in some other window, it remains displayed there.
|
|
723
|
|
724 If you wish to replace a buffer in all the windows that display it, use
|
|
725 @code{replace-buffer-in-windows}. @xref{Buffers and Windows}.
|
|
726 @end deffn
|
|
727
|
|
728 @node Creating Buffers
|
|
729 @section Creating Buffers
|
|
730 @cindex creating buffers
|
|
731 @cindex buffers, creating
|
|
732
|
|
733 This section describes the two primitives for creating buffers.
|
|
734 @code{get-buffer-create} creates a buffer if it finds no existing buffer
|
|
735 with the specified name; @code{generate-new-buffer} always creates a new
|
|
736 buffer and gives it a unique name.
|
|
737
|
|
738 Other functions you can use to create buffers include
|
|
739 @code{with-output-to-temp-buffer} (@pxref{Temporary Displays}) and
|
|
740 @code{create-file-buffer} (@pxref{Visiting Files}). Starting a
|
|
741 subprocess can also create a buffer (@pxref{Processes}).
|
|
742
|
|
743 @defun get-buffer-create name
|
|
744 This function returns a buffer named @var{name}. It returns an existing
|
|
745 buffer with that name, if one exists; otherwise, it creates a new
|
|
746 buffer. The buffer does not become the current buffer---this function
|
|
747 does not change which buffer is current.
|
|
748
|
|
749 An error is signaled if @var{name} is not a string.
|
|
750
|
|
751 @example
|
|
752 @group
|
|
753 (get-buffer-create "foo")
|
|
754 @result{} #<buffer foo>
|
|
755 @end group
|
|
756 @end example
|
|
757
|
|
758 The major mode for the new buffer is set to Fundamental mode. The
|
|
759 variable @code{default-major-mode} is handled at a higher level.
|
|
760 @xref{Auto Major Mode}.
|
|
761 @end defun
|
|
762
|
|
763 @defun generate-new-buffer name
|
|
764 This function returns a newly created, empty buffer, but does not make
|
|
765 it current. If there is no buffer named @var{name}, then that is the
|
|
766 name of the new buffer. If that name is in use, this function adds
|
|
767 suffixes of the form @samp{<@var{n}>} to @var{name}, where @var{n} is an
|
|
768 integer. It tries successive integers starting with 2 until it finds an
|
|
769 available name.
|
|
770
|
|
771 An error is signaled if @var{name} is not a string.
|
|
772
|
|
773 @example
|
|
774 @group
|
|
775 (generate-new-buffer "bar")
|
|
776 @result{} #<buffer bar>
|
|
777 @end group
|
|
778 @group
|
|
779 (generate-new-buffer "bar")
|
|
780 @result{} #<buffer bar<2>>
|
|
781 @end group
|
|
782 @group
|
|
783 (generate-new-buffer "bar")
|
|
784 @result{} #<buffer bar<3>>
|
|
785 @end group
|
|
786 @end example
|
|
787
|
|
788 The major mode for the new buffer is set to Fundamental mode. The
|
|
789 variable @code{default-major-mode} is handled at a higher level.
|
|
790 @xref{Auto Major Mode}.
|
|
791
|
|
792 See the related function @code{generate-new-buffer-name} in @ref{Buffer
|
|
793 Names}.
|
|
794 @end defun
|
|
795
|
|
796 @node Killing Buffers
|
|
797 @section Killing Buffers
|
|
798 @cindex killing buffers
|
|
799 @cindex buffers, killing
|
|
800
|
|
801 @dfn{Killing a buffer} makes its name unknown to XEmacs and makes its
|
|
802 text space available for other use.
|
|
803
|
|
804 The buffer object for the buffer that has been killed remains in
|
|
805 existence as long as anything refers to it, but it is specially marked
|
|
806 so that you cannot make it current or display it. Killed buffers retain
|
|
807 their identity, however; two distinct buffers, when killed, remain
|
|
808 distinct according to @code{eq}.
|
|
809
|
|
810 If you kill a buffer that is current or displayed in a window, XEmacs
|
|
811 automatically selects or displays some other buffer instead. This means
|
|
812 that killing a buffer can in general change the current buffer.
|
|
813 Therefore, when you kill a buffer, you should also take the precautions
|
|
814 associated with changing the current buffer (unless you happen to know
|
|
815 that the buffer being killed isn't current). @xref{Current Buffer}.
|
|
816
|
|
817 If you kill a buffer that is the base buffer of one or more indirect
|
|
818 buffers, the indirect buffers are automatically killed as well.
|
|
819
|
|
820 The @code{buffer-name} of a killed buffer is @code{nil}. To test
|
|
821 whether a buffer has been killed, you can either use this feature
|
|
822 or the function @code{buffer-live-p}.
|
|
823
|
|
824 @defun buffer-live-p buffer
|
|
825 This function returns @code{nil} if @var{buffer} is deleted, and
|
|
826 @code{t} otherwise.
|
|
827 @end defun
|
|
828
|
|
829 @deffn Command kill-buffer buffer-or-name
|
|
830 This function kills the buffer @var{buffer-or-name}, freeing all its
|
|
831 memory for use as space for other buffers. (Emacs version 18 and older
|
|
832 was unable to return the memory to the operating system.) It returns
|
|
833 @code{nil}.
|
|
834
|
|
835 Any processes that have this buffer as the @code{process-buffer} are
|
|
836 sent the @code{SIGHUP} signal, which normally causes them to terminate.
|
|
837 (The basic meaning of @code{SIGHUP} is that a dialup line has been
|
|
838 disconnected.) @xref{Deleting Processes}.
|
|
839
|
|
840 If the buffer is visiting a file and contains unsaved changes,
|
|
841 @code{kill-buffer} asks the user to confirm before the buffer is killed.
|
|
842 It does this even if not called interactively. To prevent the request
|
|
843 for confirmation, clear the modified flag before calling
|
|
844 @code{kill-buffer}. @xref{Buffer Modification}.
|
|
845
|
|
846 Killing a buffer that is already dead has no effect.
|
|
847
|
|
848 @smallexample
|
|
849 (kill-buffer "foo.unchanged")
|
|
850 @result{} nil
|
|
851 (kill-buffer "foo.changed")
|
|
852
|
|
853 ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ----------
|
|
854 Buffer foo.changed modified; kill anyway? (yes or no) @kbd{yes}
|
|
855 ---------- Buffer: Minibuffer ----------
|
|
856
|
|
857 @result{} nil
|
|
858 @end smallexample
|
|
859 @end deffn
|
|
860
|
|
861 @defvar kill-buffer-query-functions
|
|
862 After confirming unsaved changes, @code{kill-buffer} calls the functions
|
|
863 in the list @code{kill-buffer-query-functions}, in order of appearance,
|
|
864 with no arguments. The buffer being killed is the current buffer when
|
|
865 they are called. The idea is that these functions ask for confirmation
|
|
866 from the user for various nonstandard reasons. If any of them returns
|
|
867 @code{nil}, @code{kill-buffer} spares the buffer's life.
|
|
868 @end defvar
|
|
869
|
|
870 @defvar kill-buffer-hook
|
|
871 This is a normal hook run by @code{kill-buffer} after asking all the
|
|
872 questions it is going to ask, just before actually killing the buffer.
|
|
873 The buffer to be killed is current when the hook functions run.
|
|
874 @xref{Hooks}.
|
|
875 @end defvar
|
|
876
|
|
877 @defvar buffer-offer-save
|
|
878 This variable, if non-@code{nil} in a particular buffer, tells
|
|
879 @code{save-buffers-kill-emacs} and @code{save-some-buffers} to offer to
|
|
880 save that buffer, just as they offer to save file-visiting buffers. The
|
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881 variable @code{buffer-offer-save} automatically becomes buffer-local
|
|
882 when set for any reason. @xref{Buffer-Local Variables}.
|
|
883 @end defvar
|
|
884
|
|
885 @node Indirect Buffers
|
|
886 @section Indirect Buffers
|
|
887 @cindex indirect buffers
|
|
888 @cindex base buffer
|
|
889
|
|
890 An @dfn{indirect buffer} shares the text of some other buffer, which
|
|
891 is called the @dfn{base buffer} of the indirect buffer. In some ways it
|
|
892 is the analogue, for buffers, of a symbolic link among files. The base
|
373
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893 buffer may not itself be an indirect buffer. One base buffer may have
|
|
894 several @dfn{indirect children}.
|
0
|
895
|
|
896 The text of the indirect buffer is always identical to the text of its
|
|
897 base buffer; changes made by editing either one are visible immediately
|
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|
898 in the other.
|
0
|
899
|
|
900 But in all other respects, the indirect buffer and its base buffer are
|
|
901 completely separate. They have different names, different values of
|
373
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902 point and mark, different narrowing, different markers and extents
|
|
903 (though inserting or deleting text in either buffer relocates the
|
|
904 markers and extents for both), different major modes, and different
|
|
905 local variables. Unlike in FSF Emacs, XEmacs indirect buffers do not
|
|
906 automatically share text properties among themselves and their base
|
|
907 buffer.
|
0
|
908
|
|
909 An indirect buffer cannot visit a file, but its base buffer can. If
|
|
910 you try to save the indirect buffer, that actually works by saving the
|
|
911 base buffer.
|
|
912
|
|
913 Killing an indirect buffer has no effect on its base buffer. Killing
|
373
|
914 the base buffer kills all its indirect children.
|
0
|
915
|
|
916 @deffn Command make-indirect-buffer base-buffer name
|
|
917 This creates an indirect buffer named @var{name} whose base buffer
|
|
918 is @var{base-buffer}. The argument @var{base-buffer} may be a buffer
|
|
919 or a string.
|
|
920
|
|
921 If @var{base-buffer} is an indirect buffer, its base buffer is used as
|
|
922 the base for the new buffer.
|
373
|
923
|
|
924 @example
|
|
925 @group
|
|
926 (make-indirect-buffer "*scratch*" "indirect")
|
|
927 @result{} #<buffer "indirect">
|
|
928 @end group
|
|
929 @end example
|
0
|
930 @end deffn
|
|
931
|
373
|
932 @defun buffer-base-buffer &optional buffer
|
0
|
933 This function returns the base buffer of @var{buffer}. If @var{buffer}
|
|
934 is not indirect, the value is @code{nil}. Otherwise, the value is
|
373
|
935 another buffer, which is never an indirect buffer. If @var{buffer} is
|
|
936 not supplied, it defaults to the current buffer.
|
|
937
|
|
938 @example
|
|
939 @group
|
|
940 (buffer-base-buffer (get-buffer "indirect"))
|
|
941 @result{} #<buffer "*scratch*">
|
|
942 @end group
|
|
943 @end example
|
0
|
944 @end defun
|
|
945
|
373
|
946 @defun buffer-indirect-children &optional buffer
|
|
947 This function returns a list of all indirect buffers whose base buffer
|
|
948 is @var{buffer}. If @var{buffer} is indirect, the return value will
|
|
949 always be nil; see @code{make-indirect-buffer}. If @var{buffer} is not
|
|
950 supplied, it defaults to the current buffer.
|
|
951
|
|
952 @example
|
|
953 @group
|
|
954 (buffer-indirect-children (get-buffer "*scratch*"))
|
|
955 @result{} (#<buffer "indirect">)
|
|
956 @end group
|
|
957 @end example
|
|
958 @end defun
|