diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'etc/NEWS')
| -rw-r--r-- | etc/NEWS | 1655 |
1 files changed, 1655 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..61d72912eae --- /dev/null +++ b/etc/NEWS @@ -0,0 +1,1655 @@ +GNU Emacs NEWS -- history of user-visible changes. 3 Feb 1992 +Copyright (C) 1988, 1990, 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +See the end for copying conditions. + +Changes in version 18.58. + +* RMAIL reply now properly parses nested comments in addresses. + +* The "visual bell" feature when used with X windows +now flashes only 1/4 of the window's total area. This is because +flashing the whole window is too slow on some systems. + +* call-process and call-process-region now return an indication +of the exit status of the subprocess: either a numeric exit code +or a string describing the signal which caused termination. + +* It is possible for regular expression matching to overflow the stack +of failure points. In the past, such overflow was treated as simple +failure to match. Now it causes an error. + +* You can use C-u to end a numeric argument. Thus, type C-u 1 0 0 C-u 1 +to insert 100 1's. + +* Emacs now knows how to get resource values from the X server. + +* Job control commands in shell mode work properly on more systems +because they now work by "typing" signal characters such as C-c. + +* copy-keymap no longer recursively copies keymaps reached through +symbols' function definitions (i.e., those that have names). It does +copy nested keymaps that appear directly in the other copied keymaps. + +Changes in version 18.56. + +* C-g should now work to interrupt a running program +on all kinds of systems even when using X windows. + +* Quitting is inhibited while a filter or sentinel is running. +Those functions can run asynchronously while Emacs is waiting +for keyboard input, and if they allow quitting, they +make the behavior of C-g unpredictable. + +* Storing text into the X windows cut buffer +now clears out any selection. + +* The undo facility is completely rewritten, and now +uses Lisp data structures. It can record much more +information. You can use the variables undo-threshold +and undo-high-threshold to control how much. + +* There is no longer a maximum screen height or width. + +Changes in version 18.52. + +* X windows version 10 is supported under system V. + +* Pop-up menus are now supported with the same Lisp interface in +both version 10 and 11 of X windows. + +* C-x 4 a is a new command to edit a change-log entry in another window. + +* The emacs client program now allows an option +NNN to specify the +line number to go to in the file whose name follows. Thus, + emacsclient foo.c +45 bar.c +will find the files `foo.c' and `bar.c', going to line 45 in `bar.c'. + +* Dired allows empty directories to be deleted like files. + +* When the terminal type is used to find a terminal-specific file to +run, Emacs now tries the entire terminal type first. If that doesn't +yield a file that exists, the last hyphen and what follows it is +stripped. If that doesn't yield a file that exists, the previous +hyphen is stripped, and so on until all hyphens are gone. For +example, if the terminal type is `aaa-48-foo', Emacs will try first +`term/aaa-48-foo.el', then `term/aaa-48.el' and finally `term/aaa.el'. + +Underscores now receive the same treatment as hyphens. + +* Texinfo features: @defun, etc. texinfo-show-structure. +New template commands. texinfo-format-region. + +* The special "local variable" `eval' is now ignored if you are running +as root. + +* New command `c-macro-expand' shows the result of C macro expansion +in the region. It works using the C preprocessor, so its results +are completely accurate. + +* Errors in trying to auto save now flash error messages for a few seconds. + +* Killing a buffer now sends SIGHUP to the buffer's process. + +* New hooks. + +** `spell-region' now allows you to filter the text before spelling-checking. +If the value of `spell-filter' is non-nil, it is called, with no arguments, +looking at a temporary buffer containing a copy of the text to be checked. +It can alter the text freely before the spell program sees it. + +** The variable `lpr-command' now specifies the command to be used when +you use the commands to print text (such as M-x print-buffer). + +** Posting netnews now calls the value of `news-inews-hook' (if not nil) +as a function of no arguments before the actual posting. + +** Rmail now calls the value of `rmail-show-message-hook' (if not nil) +as a function of no arguments, each time a new message is selected. + +** `kill-emacs' calls the value of `kill-emacs-hook' as a function of no args. + +* New libraries. +See the source code of each library for more information. + +** icon.el: a major mode for editing programs written in Icon. + +** life.el: a simulator for the cellular automaton "life". Load the +library and run M-x life. + +** doctex.el: a library for converting the Emacs `etc/DOC' file of +documentation strings into TeX input. + +** saveconf.el: a library which records the arrangement of windows and +buffers when you exit Emacs, and automatically recreates the same +setup the next time you start Emacs. + +** uncompress.el: a library that automatically uncompresses files +when you visit them. + +** c-fill.el: a mode for editing filled comments in C. + +** kermit.el: an extended version of shell-mode designed for running kermit. + +** spook.el: a library for adding some "distract the NSA" keywords to every +message you send. + +** hideif.el: a library for hiding parts of a C program based on preprocessor +conditionals. + +** autoinsert.el: a library to put in some initial text when you visit +a nonexistent file. The text used depends on the major mode, and +comes from a directory of files created by you. + +* New programming features. + +** The variable `window-system-version' now contains the version number +of the window system you are using (if appropriate). When using X windows, +its value is either 10 or 11. + +** (interactive "N") uses the prefix argument if any; otherwise, it reads +a number using the minibuffer. + +** VMS: there are two new functions `vms-system-info' and `shrink-to-icon'. +The former allows you to get many kinds of system status information. +See its self-documentation for full details. +The second is used with the window system: it iconifies the Emacs window. + +** VMS: the new function `define-logical-name' allows you to create +job-wide logical names. The old function `define-dcl-symbol' has been +removed. + +Changes in version 18.50. + +* X windows version 11 is supported. + +Define X11 in config.h if you want X version 11 instead of version 10. + +* The command M-x gdb runs the GDB debugger as an inferior. +It asks for the filename of the executable you want to debug. + +GDB runs as an inferior with I/O through an Emacs buffer. All the +facilities of Shell mode are available. In addition, each time your +program stops, and each time you select a new stack frame, the source +code is displayed in another window with an arrow added to the line +where the program is executing. + +Special GDB-mode commands include M-s, M-n, M-i, M-u, M-d, and C-c C-f +which send the GDB commands `step', `next', `stepi', `up', `down' +and `finish'. + +In any source file, the commands C-x SPC tells GDB to set a breakpoint +on the current line. + +* M-x calendar displays a three-month calendar. + +* C-u 0 C-x C-s never makes a backup file. + +This is a way you can explicitly request not to make a backup. + +* `term-setup-hook' is for users only. + +Emacs never uses this variable for internal purposes, so you can freely +set it in your `.emacs' file to make Emacs do something special after +loading any terminal-specific setup file from `lisp/term'. + +* `copy-keymap' now copies recursive submaps. + +* New overlay-arrow feature. + +If you set the variable `overlay-arrow-string' to a string +and `overlay-arrow-position' to a marker, that string is displayed on +the screen at the position of that marker, hiding whatever text would +have appeared there. If that position isn't on the screen, or if +the buffer the marker points into isn't displayed, there is no effect. + +* -batch mode can read from the terminal. + +It now works to use `read-char' to do terminal input in a noninteractive +Emacs run. End of file causes Emacs to exit. + +* Variables `data-bytes-used' and `data-bytes-free' removed. + +These variables cannot really work because the 24-bit range of an +integer in (most ports of) GNU Emacs is not large enough to hold their +values on many systems. + +Changes in version 18.45, since version 18.41. + +* C indentation parameter `c-continued-brace-offset'. + +This parameter's value is added to the indentation of any +line that is in a continuation context and starts with an open-brace. +For example, it applies to the open brace shown here: + + if (x) + { + +The default value is zero. + +* Dabbrev expansion (Meta-/) preserves case. + +When you use Meta-/ to search the buffer for an expansion of an +abbreviation, if the expansion found is all lower case except perhaps +for its first letter, then the case pattern of the abbreviation +is carried over to the expansion that replaces it. + +* TeX-mode syntax. + +\ is no longer given "escape character" syntax in TeX mode. It now +has the syntax of an ordinary punctuation character. As a result, +\[...\] and such like are considered to balance each other. + +* Mail-mode automatic Reply-to field. + +If the variable `mail-default-reply-to' is non-`nil', then each time +you start to compose a message, a Reply-to field is inserted with +its contents taken from the value of `mail-default-reply-to'. + +* Where is your .emacs file? + +If you run Emacs under `su', so your real and effective uids are +different, Emacs uses the home directory associated with the real uid +(the name you actually logged in under) to find the .emacs file. + +Otherwise, Emacs uses the environment variable HOME to find the .emacs +file. + +The .emacs file is not loaded at all if -batch is specified. + +* Prolog mode is the default for ".pl" files. + +* File names are not case-sensitive on VMS. + +On VMS systems, all file names that you specify are converted to upper +case. You can use either upper or lower case indiscriminately. + +* VMS-only function 'define-dcl-symbol'. + +This is a new name for the function formerly called +`define-logical-name'. + +Editing Changes in Emacs 18 + +* Additional systems and machines are supported. + +GNU Emacs now runs on Vax VMS. However, many facilities that are normally +implemented by running subprocesses do not work yet. This includes listing +a directory and sending mail. There are features for running subprocesses +but they are incompatible with those on Unix. I hope that some of +the VMS users can reimplement these features for VMS (compatibly for +the user, if possible). + +VMS wizards are also asked to work on making the subprocess facilities +more upward compatible with those on Unix, and also to rewrite their +internals to use the same Lisp objects that are used on Unix to +represent processes. + +In addition, the TI Nu machine running Unix system V, the AT&T 3b, and +the Wicat, Masscomp, Integrated Solutions, Alliant, Amdahl uts, Mips, +Altos 3068 and Gould Unix systems are now supported. The IBM PC-RT is +supported under 4.2, but not yet under system V. The GEC 93 is close +to working. The port for the Elxsi is partly merged. See the file +MACHINES for full status information and machine-specific installation +advice. + +* Searching is faster. + +Forward search for a text string, or for a regexp that is equivalent +to a text string, is now several times faster. Motion by lines and +counting lines is also faster. + +* Memory usage improvements. + +It is no longer possible to run out of memory during garbage +collection. As a result, running out of memory is never fatal. This +is due to a new garbage collection algorithm which compactifies +strings in place rather than copying them. Another consequence of the +change is a reduction in total memory usage and a slight increase in +garbage collection speed. + +* Display changes. + +** Editing above top of screen. + +When you delete or kill or alter text that reaches to the top of the +screen or above it, so that display would start in the middle of a +line, Emacs will usually attempt to scroll the text so that display +starts at the beginning of a line again. + +** Yanking in the minibuffer. + +The message "Mark Set" is no longer printed when the minibuffer is +active. This is convenient with many commands, including C-y, that +normally print such a message. + +** Cursor appears in last line during y-or-n questions. + +Questions that want a `y' or `n' answer now move the cursor +to the last line, following the question. + +* Library loading changes. + +`load' now considers all possible suffixes (`.elc', `.el' and none) +for each directory in `load-path' before going on to the next directory. +It now accepts an optional fourth argument which, if non-nil, says to +use no suffixes; then the file name must be given in full. The search +of the directories in `load-path' goes on as usual in this case, but +it too can be prevented by passing an absolute file name. + +The value of `load-path' no longer by default includes nil (meaning to +look in the current default directory). The idea is that `load' should +be used to search the path only for libraries to be found in the standard +places. If you want to override system libraries with your own, place +your own libraries in one special directory and add that directory to the +front of `load-path'. + +The function `load' is no longer a command; that is to say, `M-x load' +is no longer allowed. Instead, there are two commands for loading files. +`M-x load-library' is equivalent to the old meaning of `M-x load'. +`M-x load-file' reads a file name with completion and defaulting +and then loads exactly that file, with no searching and no suffixes. + +* Emulation of other editors. + +** `edt-emulation-on' starts emulating DEC's EDT editor. + +Do `edt-emulation-off' to return Emacs to normal. + +** `vi-mode' and `vip-mode' starts emulating vi. + +These are two different vi emulations provided by GNU Emacs users. +We are interested in feedback as to which emulation is preferable. + +See the documentation and source code for these functions +for more information. + +** `set-gosmacs-bindings' emulates Gosling Emacs. + +This command changes many global bindings to resemble those of +Gosling Emacs. The previous bindings are saved and can be restored using +`set-gnu-bindings'. + +* Emulation of a display terminal. + +Within Emacs it is now possible to run programs (such as emacs or +supdup) which expect to do output to a visual display terminal. + +See the function `terminal-emulator' for more information. + +* New support for keypads and function keys. + +There is now a first attempt at terminal-independent support for +keypad and function keys. + +Emacs now defines a standard set of key-names for function and keypad +keys, and provides standard hooks for defining them. Most of the +standard key-names have default definitions built into Emacs; you can +override these in a terminal-independent manner. The default definitions +and the conventions for redefining them are in the file `lisp/keypad.el'. + +These keys on the terminal normally work by sending sequences of +characters starting with ESC. The exact sequences used vary from +terminal to terminal. Emacs interprets them in two stages: +in the first stage, terminal-dependent sequences are mapped into +the standard key-names; then second stage maps the standard key-names +into their definitions in a terminal-independent fashion. + +The terminal-specific file `term/$TERM.el' now is responsible only for +establishing the mapping from the terminal's escape sequences into +standard key-names. It no longer knows what Emacs commands are +assigned to the standard key-names. + +One other change in terminal-specific files: if the value of the TERM +variable contains a hyphen, only the part before the first hyphen is +used in forming the name of the terminal-specific file. Thus, for +terminal type `aaa-48', the file loaded is now `term/aaa.el' rather +than `term/aaa-48.el'. + +* New startup command line options. + +`-i FILE' or `-insert FILE' in the command line to Emacs tells Emacs to +insert the contents of FILE into the current buffer at that point in +command line processing. This is like using the command M-x insert-file. + +`-funcall', `-load', `-user' and `-no-init-file' are new synonyms for +`-f', `-l', `-u' and `-q'. + +`-nw' means don't use a window system. If you are using a terminal +emulator on the X window system and you want to run Emacs to work through +the terminal emulator instead of working directly with the window system, +use this switch. + +* Buffer-sorting commands. + +Various M-x commands whose names start with `sort-' sort parts of +the region: + +sort-lines divides the region into lines and sorts them alphabetically. +sort-pages divides into pages and sorts them alphabetically. +sort-paragraphs divides into paragraphs and sorts them alphabetically. +sort-fields divides into lines and sorts them alphabetically + according to one field in the line. + The numeric argument specifies which field (counting + from field 1 at the beginning of the line). Fields in a line + are separated by whitespace. +sort-numeric-fields + is similar but converts the specified fields to numbers + and sorts them numerically. +sort-columns divides into lines and sorts them according to the contents + of a specified range of columns. + +Refer to the self-documentation of these commands for full usage information. + +* Changes in various commands. + +** `tags-query-replace' and `tags-search' change. + +These functions now display the name of the file being searched at the moment. + +** `occur' output now serves as a menu. `occur-menu' command deleted. + +`M-x occur' now allows you to move quickly to any of the occurrences +listed. Select the `*Occur*' buffer that contains the output of `occur', +move point to the occurrence you want, and type C-c C-c. +This will move point to the same occurrence in the buffer that the +occurrences were found in. + +The command `occur-menu' is thus obsolete, and has been deleted. + +One way to get a list of matching lines without line numbers is to +copy the text to another buffer and use the command `keep-lines'. + +** Incremental search changes. + +Ordinary and regexp incremental searches now have distinct default +search strings. Thus, regexp searches recall only previous regexp +searches. + +If you exit an incremental search when the search string is empty, +the old default search string is kept. The default does not become +empty. + +Reversing the direction of an incremental search with C-s or C-r +when the search string is empty now does not get the default search +string. It leaves the search string empty. A second C-s or C-r +will get the default search string. As a result, you can do a reverse +incremental regexp search with C-M-s C-r. + +If you add a `*', `?' or `\|' to an incremental search regexp, +point will back up if that is appropriate. For example, if +you have searched for `ab' and add a `*', point moves to the +first match for `ab*', which may be before the match for `ab' +that was previously found. + +If an incremental search is failing and you ask to repeat it, +it will start again from the beginning of the buffer (or the end, +if it is a backward search). + +The search-controlling parameters `isearch-slow-speed' and +`isearch-slow-window-lines' have now been renamed to start with +`search' instead of `isearch'. Now all the parameters' names start +with `search'. + +If `search-slow-window-lines' is negative, the slow search window +is put at the top of the screen, and the absolute value or the +negative number specifies the height of it. + +** Undo changes + +The undo command now will mark the buffer as unmodified only when it is +identical to the contents of the visited file. + +** C-M-v in minibuffer. + +If while in the minibuffer you request help in a way that uses a +window to display something, then until you exit the minibuffer C-M-v +in the minibuffer window scrolls the window of help. + +For example, if you request a list of possible completions, C-M-v can +be used reliably to scroll the completion list. + +** M-TAB command. + +Meta-TAB performs completion on the Emacs Lisp symbol names. The sexp +in the buffer before point is compared against all existing nontrivial +Lisp symbols and completed as far as is uniquely determined by them. +Nontrivial symbols are those with either function definitions, values +or properties. + +If there are multiple possibilities for the very next character, a +list of possible completions is displayed. + +** Dynamic abbreviation package. + +The new command Meta-/ expands an abbreviation in the buffer before point +by searching the buffer for words that start with the abbreviation. + +** Changes in saving kbd macros. + +The commands `write-kbd-macro' and `append-kbd-macro' have been +deleted. The way to save a keyboard macro is to use the new command +`insert-kbd-macro', which inserts Lisp code to define the macro as +it is currently defined into the buffer before point. Visit a Lisp +file such as your Emacs init file `~/.emacs', insert the macro +definition (perhaps deleting an old definition for the same macro) +and then save the file. + +** C-x ' command. + +The new command C-x ' (expand-abbrev) expands the word before point as +an abbrev, even if abbrev-mode is not turned on. + +** Sending to inferior Lisp. + +The command C-M-x in Lisp mode, which sends the current defun to +an inferior Lisp process, now works by writing the text into a temporary +file and actually sending only a `load'-form to load the file. +As a result, it avoids the Unix bugs that used to strike when the +text was above a certain length. + +With a prefix argument, this command now makes the inferior Lisp buffer +appear on the screen and scrolls it so that the bottom is showing. + +Two variables `inferior-lisp-load-command' and `inferior-lisp-prompt', +exist to customize these feature for different Lisp implementations. + +** C-x p now disabled. + +The command C-x p, a nonrecomended command which narrows to the current +page, is now initially disabled like C-x n. + +* Dealing with files. + +** C-x C-v generalized + +This command is now allowed even if the current buffer is not visiting +a file. As usual, it kills the current buffer and replaces it with a +newly found file. + +** M-x recover-file improved; auto save file names changed. + +M-x recover-file now checks whether the last auto-save file is more +recent than the real visited file before offering to read in the +auto-save file. If the auto-save file is newer, a directory listing +containing the two files is displayed while you are asked whether you +want the auto save file. + +Visiting a file also makes this check. If the auto-save file is more recent, +a message is printed suggesting that you consider using M-x recover file. + +Auto save file names now by default have a `#' at the end as well +as at the beginning. This is so that `*.c' in a shell command +will never match auto save files. + +On VMS, auto save file names are made by appending `_$' at the front +and `$' at the end. + +When you change the visited file name of a buffer, the auto save file +is now renamed to belong to the new visited file name. + +You can customize the way auto save file names are made by redefining +the two functions `make-auto-save-file-name' and `auto-save-file-name-p', +both of which are defined in `files.el'. + +** Modifying a buffer whose file is changed on disk is detected instantly. + +On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is +implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer +whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or saved. +If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change the buffer. + +** Exiting Emacs offers to save `*mail*'. + +Emacs can now know about buffers that it should offer to save on exit +even though they are not visiting files. This is done for any buffer +which has a non-nil local value of `buffer-offer-save'. By default, +Mail mode provides such a local value. + +** Backup file changes. + +If a backup file cannot be written in the directory of the visited file +due to fascist file protection, a backup file is now written in your home +directory as `~/%backup%~'. Only one such file is made, ever, so only +the most recently made such backup is available. + +When backup files are made by copying, the last-modification time of the +original file is now preserved in the backup copy. + +** Visiting remote files. + +On an internet host, you can now visit and save files on any other +internet host directly from Emacs with the commands M-x ftp-find-file +and M-x ftp-write-file. Specify an argument of the form HOST:FILENAME. +Since standard internet FTP is used, the other host may be any kind +of machine and is not required to have any special facilities. + +The first time any one remote host is accessed, you will be asked to +give the user name and password for use on that host. FTP is reinvoked +each time you ask to use it, but previously specified user names and +passwords are remembered automatically. + +** Dired `g' command. + +`g' in Dired mode is equivalent to M-x revert-buffer; it causes the +current contents of the same directory to be read in. + +* Changes in major modes. + +** C mode indentation change. + +The binding of Linefeed is no longer changed by C mode. It once again +has its normal meaning, which is to insert a newline and then indent +afterward. + +The old definition did one additional thing: it reindented the line +before the new newline. This has been removed because it made the +command twice as slow. The only time it was really useful was after the +insertion of an `else', since the fact of starting with `else' may change +the way that line is indented. Now you will have to type TAB again +yourself to reindent the `else' properly. + +If the variable `c-tab-always-indent' is set to `nil', the TAB command +in C mode, with no argument, will just insert a tab character if there +is non-whitespace preceding point on the current line. Giving it a +prefix argument will force reindentation of the line (as well as +of the compound statement that begins after point, if any). + +** Fortran mode now exists. + +This mode provides commands for motion and indentation of Fortran code, +plus built-in abbrevs for Fortran keywords. For details, see the manual +or the on-line documentation of the command `fortran-mode'. + +** Scribe mode now exists. + +This mode does something useful for editing files of Scribe input. +It is used automatically for files with names ending in ".mss". + +** Modula2 and Prolog modes now exist. + +These modes are for editing programs in the languages of the same names. +They can be selected with M-x modula-2-mode and M-x prolog-mode. + +** Telnet mode changes. + +The telnet mode special commands have now been assigned to C-c keys. +Most of them are the same as in Shell mode. + +** Picture mode changes. + +The special picture-mode commands to specify the direction of cursor +motion after insertion have been moved to C-c keys. The commands to +specify diagonal motion were already C-c keys; they are unchanged. +The keys to specify horizontal or vertical motion are now +C-c < (left), C-c > (right), C-c ^ (up) and C-c . (down). + +** Nroff mode comments. + +Comments are now supported in Nroff mode. The standard comment commands +such as M-; and C-x ; know how to insert, align and delete comments +that start with backslash-doublequote. + +** LaTeX mode. + +LaTeX mode now exists. Use M-x latex-mode to select this mode, and +M-x plain-tex-mode to select the previously existing mode for Plain +TeX. M-x tex-mode attempts to examine the contents of the buffer and +choose between latex-mode and plain-tex-mode accordingly; if the +buffer is empty or it cannot tell, the variable `TeX-default-mode' +controls the choice. Its value should be the symbol for the mode to +be used. + +The facilities for running TeX on all or part of the buffer +work with LaTeX as well. + +Some new commands available in both modes: + +C-c C-l recenter the window showing the TeX output buffer + so most recent line of output can be seen. +C-c C-k kill the TeX subprocess. +C-c C-q show the printer queue. +C-c C-f close a block (appropriate for LaTeX only). + If the current line contains a \begin{...}, + this inserts an \end{...} on the following line + and puts point on a blank line between them. + +** Outline mode changes. + +Invisible lines in outline mode are now indicated by `...' at the +end of the previous visible line. + +The special outline heading motion commands are now all on C-c keys. +A few new ones have been added. Here is a full list: + +C-c C-n Move to next visible heading (formerly M-}) +C-c C-p Move to previous visible heading (formerly M-{) +C-c C-f Move to next visible heading at the same level. + Thus, if point is on a level-2 heading line, + this command moves to the next visible level-2 heading. +C-c C-b Move to previous visible heading at the same level. +C-c C-u Move up to previous visible heading at a higher level. + +The variable `outline-regexp' now controls recognition of heading lines. +Any line whose beginning matches this regexp is a heading line. +The depth in outline structure is determined by the length of +the string that matches. + +A line starting with a ^L (formfeed) is now by default considered +a header line. + +* Mail reading and sending. + +** MH-E changes. + +MH-E has been extensively modified and improved since the v17 release. +It contains many new features, including commands to: extracted failed +messages, kill a draft message, undo changes to a mail folder, monitor +delivery of a letter, print multiple messages, page digests backwards, +insert signatures, and burst digests. Also, many commands have been +made to able to deal with named sequences of messages, instead of +single messages. MH-E also has had numerous bugs fixed and commands +made to run faster. Furthermore, its keybindings have been changed to +be compatible with Rmail and the rest of GNU Emacs. + +** Mail mode changes. + +The C-c commands of mail mode have been rearranged: + +C-c s, C-c c, C-c t and C-c b (move point to various header fields) +have been reassigned as C-c C-f C-s, C-c C-f C-c, C-c C-f C-t and C-c +C-f C-b. C-c C-f is for "field". + +C-c y, C-c w and C-c q have been changed to C-c C-y, C-c C-w and C-c C-q. + +Thus, C-c LETTER is always unassigned. + +** Rmail C-r command changed to w. + +The Rmail command to edit the current message is now `w'. This change +has been made because people frequently type C-r while in Rmail hoping +to do a reverse incremental search. That now works. + +* Rnews changes. + +** Caesar rotation added. + +The function news-caesar-buffer-body performs encryption and +decryption of the body of a news message. It defaults to the USENET +standard of 13, and accepts any numeric arg between 1 to 25 and -25 to -1. +The function is bound to C-c C-r in both news-mode and news-reply-mode. + +** rmail-output command added. + +The C-o command has been bound to rmail-output in news-mode. +This allows one to append an article to a file which is in either Unix +mail or RMAIL format. + +** news-reply-mode changes. + +The C-c commands of news reply mode have been rearranged and changed, +so that C-c LETTER is always unassigned: + +C-c y, C-c w and C-c q have been changed to C-c C-y, C-c C-w and C-c C-q. + +C-c c, C-c t, and C-c b (move to various mail header fields) have been +deleted (they make no sense for posting and replying to USENET). + +C-c s (move to Subject: header field) has been reassigned as C-c C-f +C-s. C-c C-f is for "field". Several additional move to news header +field commands have been added. + +The local news-reply-mode bindings now look like this: + +C-c C-s news-inews (post the message) C-c C-c news-inews +C-c C-f move to a header field (and create it if there isn't): + C-c C-f C-n move to Newsgroups: C-c C-f C-s move to Subj: + C-c C-f C-f move to Followup-To: C-c C-f C-k move to Keywords: + C-c C-f C-d move to Distribution: C-c C-f C-a move to Summary: +C-c C-y news-reply-yank-original (insert current message, in NEWS). +C-c C-q mail-fill-yanked-message (fill what was yanked). +C-c C-r caesar rotate all letters by 13 places in the article's body (rot13). + +* Existing Emacs usable as a server. + +Programs such as mailers that invoke "the editor" as an inferior +to edit some text can now be told to use an existing Emacs process +instead of creating a new editor. + +To do this, you must have an Emacs process running and capable of +doing terminal I/O at the time you want to invoke it. This means that +either you are using a window system and give Emacs a separate window +or you run the other programs as inferiors of Emacs (such as, using +M-x shell). + +First prepare the existing Emacs process by loading the `server' +library and executing M-x server-start. (Your .emacs can do this +automatically.) + +Now tell the other programs to use, as "the editor", the Emacs client +program (etc/emacsclient, located in the same directory as this file). +This can be done by setting the environment variable EDITOR. + +When another program invokes the emacsclient as "the editor", the +client actually transfers the file names to be edited to the existing +Emacs, which automatically visits the files. + +When you are done editing a buffer for a client, do C-x # (server-edit). +This marks that buffer as done, and selects the next buffer that the client +asked for. When all the buffers requested by a client are marked in this +way, Emacs tells the client program to exit, so that the program that +invoked "the editor" will resume execution. + +You can only have one server Emacs at a time, but multiple client programs +can put in requests at the same time. + +The client/server work only on Berkeley Unix, since they use the Berkeley +sockets mechanism for their communication. + +Changes in Lisp programming in Emacs version 18. + +* Init file changes. + +** Suffixes no longer accepted on `.emacs'. + +Emacs will no longer load a file named `.emacs.el' or `emacs.elc' +in place of `.emacs'. This is so that it will take less time to +find `.emacs'. If you want to compile your init file, give it another +name and make `.emacs' a link to the `.elc' file, or make it contain +a call to `load' to load the `.elc' file. + +** `default-profile' renamed to `default', and loaded after `.emacs'. + +It used to be the case that the file `default-profile' was loaded if +and only if `.emacs' was not found. + +Now the name `default-profile' is not used at all. Instead, a library +named `default' is loaded after the `.emacs' file. `default' is loaded +whether the `.emacs' file exists or not. However, loading of `default' +can be prevented if the `.emacs' file sets `inhibit-default-init' to non-nil. + +In fact, you would call the default file `default.el' and probably would +byte-compile it to speed execution. + +Note that for most purposes you are better off using a `site-init' library +since that will be loaded before the runnable Emacs is dumped. By using +a `site-init' library, you avoid taking up time each time Emacs is started. + +** inhibit-command-line has been eliminated. + +This variable used to exist for .emacs files to set. It has been +eliminated because you can get the same effect by setting +command-line-args to nil and setting inhibit-startup-message to t. + +* `apply' is more general. + +`apply' now accepts any number of arguments. The first one is a function; +the rest are individual arguments to pass to that function, except for the +last, which is a list of arguments to pass. + +Previously, `apply' required exactly two arguments. Its old behavior +follows as a special case of the new definition. + +* New code-letter for `interactive'. + +(interactive "NFoo: ") is like (interactive "nFoo: ") in reading +a number using the minibuffer to serve as the argument; however, +if a prefix argument was specified, it uses the prefix argument +value as the argument, and does not use the minibuffer at all. + +This is used by the `goto-line' and `goto-char' commands. + +* Semantics of variables. + +** Built-in per-buffer variables improved. + +Several built-in variables which in the past had a different value in +each buffer now behave exactly as if `make-variable-buffer-local' had +been done to them. + +These variables are `tab-width', `ctl-arrow', `truncate-lines', +`fill-column', `left-margin', `mode-line-format', `abbrev-mode', +`overwrite-mode', `case-fold-search', `auto-fill-hook', +`selective-display', `selective-display-ellipses'. + +To be precise, each variable has a default value which shows through +in most buffers and can be accessed with `default-value' and set with +`set-default'. Setting the variable with `setq' makes the variable +local to the current buffer. Changing the default value has retroactive +effect on all buffers in which the variable is not local. + +The variables `default-case-fold-search', etc., are now obsolete. +They now refer to the default value of the variable, which is not +quite the same behavior as before, but it should enable old init files +to continue to work. + +** New per-buffer variables. + +The variables `fill-prefix', `comment-column' and `indent-tabs-mode' +are now per-buffer. They work just like `fill-column', etc. + +** New function `setq-default'. + +`setq-default' sets the default value of a variable, and uses the +same syntax that `setq' accepts: the variable name is not evaluated +and need not be quoted. + +`(setq-default case-fold-search nil)' would make searches case-sensitive +in all buffers that do not have local values for `case-fold-search'. + +** Functions `global-set' and `global-value' deleted. + +These functions were never used except by mistake by users expecting +the functionality of `set-default' and `default-value'. + +* Changes in defaulting of major modes. + +When `default-major-mode' is `nil', new buffers are supposed to +get their major mode from the buffer that is current. However, +certain major modes (such as Dired mode, Rmail mode, Rmail Summary mode, +and others) are not reasonable to use in this way. + +Now such modes' names have been given non-`nil' `mode-class' properties. +If the current buffer's mode has such a property, Fundamental mode is +used as the default for newly created buffers. + +* `where-is-internal' requires additional arguments. + +This function now accepts three arguments, two of them required: +DEFINITION, the definition to search for; LOCAL-KEYMAP, the keymap +to use as the local map when doing the searching, and FIRST-ONLY, +which is nonzero to return only the first key found. + +This function returns a list of keys (strings) whose definitions +(in the LOCAL-KEYMAP or the current global map) are DEFINITION. + +If FIRST-ONLY is non-nil, it returns a single key (string). + +This function has changed incompatibly in that now two arguments +are required when previously only one argument was allowed. To get +the old behavior of this function, write `(current-local-map)' as +the expression for the second argument. + +The incompatibility is sad, but `nil' is a legitimate value for the +second argument (it means there is no local keymap), so it cannot also +serve as a default meaning to use the current local keymap. + +* Abbrevs with hooks. + +When an abbrev defined with a hook is expanded, it now performs the +usual replacement of the abbrev with the expansion before running the +hook. Previously the abbrev itself was deleted but the expansion was +not inserted. + +* Function `scan-buffer' deleted. + +Use `search-forward' or `search-backward' in place of `scan-buffer'. +You will have to rearrange the arguments. + +* X window interface improvements. + +** Detect release of mouse buttons. + +Button-up events can now be detected. See the file `lisp/x-mouse.el' +for details. + +** New pop-up menu facility. + +The new function `x-popup-menu' pops up a menu (in a X window) +and returns an indication of which selection the user made. +For more information, see its self-documentation. + +* M-x disassemble. + +This command prints the disassembly of a byte-compiled Emacs Lisp function. + +Would anyone like to interface this to the debugger? + +* `insert-buffer-substring' can insert part of the current buffer. + +The old restriction that the text being inserted had to come from +a different buffer is now lifted. + +When inserting text from the current buffer, the text to be inserted +is determined from the specified bounds before any copying takes place. + +* New function `substitute-key-definition'. + +This is a new way to replace one command with another command as the +binding of whatever keys may happen to refer to it. + +(substitute-key-definition OLDDEF NEWDEF KEYMAP) looks through KEYMAP +for keys defined to run OLDDEF, and rebinds those keys to run NEWDEF +instead. + +* New function `insert-char'. + +Insert a specified character, a specified number of times. + +* `mark-marker' changed. + +When there is no mark, this now returns a marker that points +nowhere, rather than `nil'. + +* `ding' accepts argument. + +When given an argument, the function `ding' does not terminate +execution of a keyboard macro. Normally, `ding' does terminate +all macros that are currently executing. + +* New function `minibuffer-depth'. + +This function returns the current depth in minibuffer activations. +The value is zero when the minibuffer is not in use. +Values greater than one are possible if the user has entered the +minibuffer recursively. + +* New function `documentation-property'. + +(documentation-property SYMBOL PROPNAME) is like (get SYMBOL PROPNAME), +except that if the property value is a number `documentation-property' +will take that number (or its absolute value) as a character position +in the DOC file and return the string found there. + +(documentation-property VAR 'variable-documentation) is the proper +way for a Lisp program to get the documentation of variable VAR. + +* New documentation-string expansion feature. + +If a documentation string (for a variable or function) contains text +of the form `\<FOO>', it means that all command names specified in +`\[COMMAND]' construct from that point on should be turned into keys +using the value of the variable FOO as the local keymap. Thus, for example, + + `\<emacs-lisp-mode-map>\[eval-defun] evaluates the defun containing point.' + +will expand into + + "ESC C-x evaluates the defun containing point." + +regardless of the current major mode, because ESC C-x is defined to +run `eval-defun' in the keymap `emacs-lisp-mode-map'. The effect is +to show the key for `eval-defun' in Emacs Lisp mode regardless of the +current major mode. + +The `\<...>' construct applies to all `\[...]' constructs that follow it, +up to the end of the documentation string or the next `\<...>'. + +Without `\<...>', the keys for commands specified in `\[...]' are found +in the current buffer's local map. + +The current global keymap is always searched second, whether `\<...>' +has been used or not. + +* Multiple hooks allowed in certain contexts. + +The old hook variables `find-file-hook', `find-file-not-found-hook' and +`write-file-hook' have been replaced. + +The replacements are `find-file-hooks', `find-file-not-found-hooks' +and `write-file-hooks'. Each holds a list of functions to be called; +by default, `nil', for no functions. The functions are called in +order of appearance in the list. + +In the case of `find-file-hooks', all the functions are executed. + +In the case of `find-file-not-found-hooks', if any of the functions +returns non-`nil', the rest of the functions are not called. + +In the case of `write-file-hooks', if any of the functions returns +non-`nil', the rest of the functions are not called, and the file is +considered to have been written already; so actual writing in the +usual way is not done. If `write-file-hooks' is local to a buffer, +it is set to its global value if `set-visited-file-name' is called +(and thus by C-x C-w as well). + +`find-file-not-found-hooks' and `write-file-hooks' can be used +together to implement editing of files that are not stored as Unix +files: stored in archives, or inside version control systems, or on +other machines running other operating systems and accessible via ftp. + +* New hooks for suspending Emacs. + +Suspending Emacs runs the hook `suspend-hook' before suspending +and the hook `suspend-resume-hook' if the suspended Emacs is resumed. +Running a hook is done by applying the variable's value to no arguments +if the variable has a non-`nil' value. If `suspend-hook' returns +non-`nil', then suspending is inhibited and so is running the +`suspend-resume-hook'. The non-`nil' value means that the `suspend-hook' +has done whatever suspending is required. + +* Disabling commands can print a special message. + +A command is disabled by giving it a non-`nil' `disabled' property. +Now, if this property is a string, it is included in the message +printed when the user tries to run the command. + +* Emacs can open TCP connections. + +The function `open-network-stream' opens a TCP connection to +a specified host and service. Its value is a Lisp object that represents +the connection. The object is a kind of "subprocess", and I/O are +done like I/O to subprocesses. + +* Display-related changes. + +** New mode-line control features. + +The display of the mode line used to be controlled by a format-string +that was the value of the variable `mode-line-format'. + +This variable still exists, but it now allows more general values, +not just strings. Lists, cons cells and symbols are also meaningful. + +The mode line contents are created by outputting various mode elements +one after the other. Here are the kinds of objects that can be +used as mode elements, and what they do in the display: + + string the contents of the string are output to the mode line, + and %-constructs are replaced by other text. + + t or nil ignored; no output results. + + symbol the symbol's value is used. If the value is a string, + the string is output verbatim to the mode line + (so %-constructs are not interpreted). Otherwise, + the symbol's value is processed as a mode element. + + list (whose first element is a string or list or cons cell) + the elements of the list are treated as as mode elements, + so that the output they generate is concatenated, + + list (whose car is a symbol) + if the symbol's value is non-nil, the second element of the + list is treated as a mode element. Otherwise, the third + element (if any) of the list is treated as a mode element. + + cons (whose car is a positive integer) + the cdr of the cons is used as a mode element, but + the text it produces is padded, if necessary, to have + at least the width specified by the integer. + + cons (whose car is a negative integer) + the cdr of the cons is used as a mode element, but + the text it produces is truncated, if necessary, to have + at most the width specified by the integer. + +There is always one mode element to start with, that being the value of +`mode-line-format', but if this value is a list then it leads to several +more mode elements, which can lead to more, and so on. + +There is one new %-construct for mode elements that are strings: +`%n' displays ` Narrow' for a buffer that is narrowed. + +The default value of `mode-line-format' refers to several other variables. +These variables are `mode-name', `mode-line-buffer-identification', +`mode-line-process', `mode-line-modified', `global-mode-string' and +`minor-mode-alist'. The first four are local in every buffer in which they +are changed from the default. + +mode-name Name of buffer's major mode. Local in every buffer. + +mode-line-buffer-identification + Normally the list ("Emacs: %17b"), it is responsible + for displaying text to indicate what buffer is being shown + and what kind of editing it is doing. `Emacs' means + that a file of characters is being edited. Major modes + such as Info and Dired which edit or view other kinds + of data often change this value. This variables becomes + local to the current buffer if it is setq'd. + +mode-line-process + Normally nil, this variable is responsible for displaying + information about the process running in the current buffer. + M-x shell-mode and M-x compile alter this variable. + +mode-line-modified + This variable is responsible for displaying the indication + of whether the current buffer is modified or read-only. + By default its value is `("--%*%*-")'. + +minor-mode-alist + This variable is responsible for displaying text for those + minor modes that are currently enabled. Its value + is a list of elements of the form (VARIABLE STRING), + where STRING is to be displayed if VARIABLE's value + (in the buffer whose mode line is being displayed) + is non-nil. This variable is not made local to particular + buffers, but loading some libraries may add elements to it. + +global-mode-string + This variable is used to display the time, if you ask + for that. + +The idea of these variables is to eliminate the need for major modes +to alter mode-line-format itself. + +** `window-point' valid for selected window. + +The value returned by `window-point' used to be incorrect when its +argument was the selected window. Now the value is correct. + +** Window configurations may be saved as Lisp objects. + +The function `current-window-configuration' returns a special type of +Lisp object that represents the current layout of windows: the +sizes and positions of windows, which buffers appear in them, and +which parts of the buffers appear on the screen. + +The function `set-window-configuration' takes one argument, which must +be a window configuration object, and restores that configuration. + +** New hook `temp-output-buffer-show-hook'. + +This hook allows you to control how help buffers are displayed. +Whenever `with-output-to-temp-buffer' has executed its body and wants +to display the temp buffer, if this variable is bound and non-`nil' +then its value is called with one argument, the temp buffer. +The hook function is solely responsible for displaying the buffer. +The standard manner of display--making the buffer appear in a window--is +used only if there is no hook function. + +** New function `minibuffer-window'. + +This function returns the window used (sometimes) for displaying +the minibuffer. It can be used even when the minibuffer is not active. + +** New feature to `next-window'. + +If the optional second argument is neither `nil' nor `t', the minibuffer +window is omitted from consideration even when active; if the starting +window was the last non-minibuffer window, the value will be the first +non-minibuffer window. + +** New variable `minibuffer-scroll-window'. + +When this variable is non-`nil', the command `scroll-other-window' +uses it as the window to be scrolled. Displays of completion-lists +set this variable to the window containing the display. + +** New argument to `sit-for'. + +A non-nil second argument to `sit-for' means do not redisplay; +just wait for the specified time or until input is available. + +** Deleted function `set-minor-mode'; minor modes must be changed. + +The function `set-minor-mode' has been eliminated. The display +of minor mode names in the mode line is now controlled by the +variable `minor-mode-alist'. To specify display of a new minor +mode, it is sufficient to add an element to this list. Once that +is done, you can turn the mode on and off just by setting a variable, +and the display will show its status automatically. + +** New variable `cursor-in-echo-area'. + +If this variable is non-nil, the screen cursor appears on the +last line of the screen, at the end of the text displayed there. + +Binding this variable to t is useful at times when reading single +characters of input with `read-char'. + +** New per-buffer variable `selective-display-ellipses'. + +If this variable is non-nil, an ellipsis (`...') appears on the screen +at the end of each text line that is followed by invisible text. + +If this variable is nil, no ellipses appear. Then there is no sign +on the screen that invisible text is present. + +Text is made invisible under the control of the variable +`selective-display'; this is how Outline mode and C-x $ work. + +** New variable `no-redraw-on-reenter'. + +If you set this variable non-nil, Emacs will not clear the screen when +you resume it after suspending it. This is for the sake of terminals +with multiple screens of memory, where the termcap entry has been set +up to switch between screens when Emacs is suspended and resumed. + +** New argument to `set-screen-height' or `set-screen-width'. + +These functions now take an optional second argument which says +what significance the newly specified height or width has. + +If the argument is nil, or absent, it means that Emacs should +believe that the terminal height or width really is as just specified. + +If the argument is t, it means Emacs should not believe that the +terminal really is this high or wide, but it should use the +specific height or width as the number of lines or columns to display. +Thus, you could display only 24 lines on a screen known to have 48 lines. + +What practical difference is there between using only 24 lines for display +and really believing that the terminal has 24 lines? + +1. The ``real'' height of the terminal says what the terminal command +to move the cursor to the last line will do. + +2. The ``real'' height of the terminal determines how much padding is +needed. + +* File-related changes. + +** New parameter `backup-by-copying-when-mismatch'. + +If this variable is non-`nil', then when Emacs is about to save a +file, it will create the backup file by copying if that would avoid +changing the file's uid or gid. + +The default value of this variable is `nil', because usually it is +useful to have the uid of a file change according to who edited it +last. I recommend thet this variable be left normally `nil' and +changed with a local variables list in those particular files where +the uid needs to be preserved. + +** New parameter `file-precious-flag'. + +If this variable is non-`nil', saving the buffer tries to avoid +leaving an incomplete file due to disk full or other I/O errors. +It renames the old file before saving. If saving is successful, +the renamed file is deleted; if saving gets an error, the renamed +file is renamed back to the name you visited. + +Backups are always made by copying for such files. + +** New variable `buffer-offer-save'. + +If the value of this variable is non-`nil' in a buffer then exiting +Emacs will offer to save the buffer (if it is modified and nonempty) +even if the buffer is not visiting a file. This variable is +automatically made local to the current buffer whenever it is set. + +** `rename-file', `copy-file', `add-name-to-file' and `make-symbolic-link'. + +The third argument to these functions used to be `t' or `nil'; `t' +meaning go ahead even if the specified new file name already has a file, +and `nil' meaning to get an error. + +Now if the third argument is a number it means to ask the user for +confirmation in this case. + +** New optional argument to `copy-file'. + +If `copy-file' receives a non-nil fourth argument, it attempts +to give the new copy the same time-of-last-modification that the +original file has. + +** New function `file-newer-than-file-p'. + +(file-newer-than-file-p FILE1 FILE2) returns non-nil if FILE1 has been +modified more recently than FILE2. If FILE1 does not exist, the value +is always nil; otherwise, if FILE2 does not exist, the value is t. +This is meant for use when FILE2 depends on FILE1, to see if changes +in FILE1 make it necessary to recompute FILE2 from it. + +** Changed function `file-exists-p'. + +This function is no longer the same as `file-readable-p'. +`file-exists-p' can now return t for a file that exists but which +the fascists won't allow you to read. + +** New function `file-locked-p'. + +This function receives a file name as argument and returns `nil' +if the file is not locked, `t' if locked by this Emacs, or a +string giving the name of the user who has locked it. + +** New function `file-name-sans-versions'. + +(file-name-sans-versions NAME) returns a substring of NAME, with any +version numbers or other backup suffixes deleted from the end. + +** New functions for directory names. + +Although a directory is really a kind of file, specifying a directory +uses a somewhat different syntax from specifying a file. +In Emacs, a directory name is used as part of a file name. + +On Unix, the difference is small: a directory name ends in a slash, +while a file name does not: thus, `/usr/rms/' to name a directory, +while `/usr/rms' names the file which holds that directory. + +On VMS, the difference is considerable: `du:[rms.foo]' specifies a +directory, but the name of the file that holds that directory is +`du:[rms]foo.dir'. + +There are two new functions for converting between directory names +and file names. `directory-file-name' takes a directory name and +returns the name of the file in which that directory's data is stored. +`file-name-as-directory' takes the name of a file and returns +the corresponding directory name. These always understand Unix file name +syntax; on VMS, they understand VMS syntax as well. + +For example, (file-name-as-directory "/usr/rms") returns "/usr/rms/" +and (directory-file-name "/usr/rms/") returns "/usr/rms". +On VMS, (file-name-as-directory "du:[rms]foo.dir") returns "du:[rms.foo]" +and (directory-file-name "du:[rms.foo]") returns "du:[rms]foo.dir". + +** Value of `file-attributes' changed. + +The function file-attributes returns a list containing many kinds of +information about a file. Now the list has eleven elements. + +The tenth element is `t' if deleting the file and creating another +file of the same name would result in a change in the file's group; +`nil' if there would be no change. You can also think of this as +comparing the file's group with the default group for files created in +the same directory by you. + +The eleventh element is the inode number of the file. + +** VMS-only function `file-name-all-versions'. + +This function returns a list of all the completions, including version +number, of a specified version-number-less file name. This is like +`file-name-all-completions', except that the latter returns values +that do not include version numbers. + +** VMS-only variable `vms-stmlf-recfm'. + +On a VMS system, if this variable is non-nil, Emacs will give newly +created files the record format `stmlf'. This is necessary for files +that must contain lines of arbitrary length, such as compiled Emacs +Lisp. + +When writing a new version of an existing file, Emacs always keeps +the same record format as the previous version; so this variable has +no effect. + +This variable has no effect on Unix systems. + +** `insert-file-contents' on an empty file. + +This no longer sets the buffer's "modified" flag. + +** New function (VMS only) `define-logical-name': + +(define-logical-name LOGICAL TRANSLATION) defines a VMS logical name +LOGICAL whose translation is TRANSLATION. The new name applies to +the current process only. + +** Deleted variable `ask-about-buffer-names'. + +If you want buffer names for files to be generated in a special way, +you must redefine `create-file-buffer'. + +* Subprocess-related changes. + +** New function `process-list'. + +This function takes no arguments and returns a list of all +of Emacs's asynchronous subprocesses. + +** New function `process-exit-status'. + +This function, given a process, process name or buffer as argument, +returns the exit status code or signal number of the process. +If the process has not yet exited or died, this function returns 0. + +** Process output ignores `buffer-read-only'. + +Output from a process will go into the process's buffer even if the +buffer is read only. + +** Switching buffers in filter functions and sentinels. + +Emacs no longer saves and restore the current buffer around calling +the filter and sentinel functions, so these functions can now +permanently alter the selected buffer in a straightforward manner. + +** Specifying environment variables for subprocesses. + +When a subprocess is started with `start-process' or `call-process', +the value of the variable `process-environment' is taken to +specify the environment variables to give the subprocess. The +value should be a list of strings, each of the form "VAR=VALUE". + +`process-environment' is initialized when Emacs starts up +based on Emacs's environment. + +** New variable `process-connection-type'. + +If this variable is `nil', when a subprocess is created, Emacs uses +a pipe rather than a pty to communicate with it. Normally this +variable is `t', telling Emacs to use a pty if ptys are supported +and one is available. + +** New function `waiting-for-user-input-p'. + +This function, given a subprocess as argument, returns `t' if that +subprocess appears to be waiting for input sent from Emacs, +or `nil' otherwise. + +** New hook `shell-set-directory-error-hook'. + +The value of this variable is called, with no arguments, whenever +Shell mode gets an error trying to keep track of directory-setting +commands (such as `cd' and `pushd') used in the shell buffer. + +* New functions `user-uid' and `user-real-uid'. + +These functions take no arguments and return, respectively, +the effective uid and the real uid of the Emacs process. +The value in each case is an integer. + +* New variable `print-escape-newlines' controls string printing. + +If this variable is non-`nil', then when a Lisp string is printed +by the Lisp printing function `prin1' or `print', newline characters +are printed as `\n' rather than as a literal newline. + +* New function `sysnetunam' on HPUX. + +This function takes two arguments, a network address PATH and a +login string LOGIN, and executes the system call `netunam'. +It returns `t' if the call succeeds, otherwise `nil'. + +News regarding installation: + +* Many `s-...' file names changed. + +Many `s-...' files have been renamed. All periods in such names, +except the ones just before the final `h', have been changed to +hyphens. Thus, `s-bsd4.2.h' has been renamed to `s-bsd4-2.h'. + +This is so a Unix distribution can be moved mechanically to VMS. + +* `DOCSTR...' file now called `DOC-...'. + +The file of on-line documentation strings, that used to be +`DOCSTR.mm.nn.oo' in this directory, is now called `DOC-mm.nn.oo'. +This is so that it can port to VMS using the standard conventions +for translating filenames for VMS. + +This file also now contains the doc strings for variables as +well as functions. + +* Emacs no longer uses floating point arithmetic. + +This may make it easier to port to some machines. + +* Macros `XPNTR' and `XSETPNTR'; flag `DATA_SEG_BITS'. + +These macros exclusively are used to unpack a pointer from a Lisp_Object +and to insert a pointer into a Lisp_Object. Redefining them may help +port Emacs to machines in which all pointers to data objects have +certain high bits set. + +If `DATA_SEG_BITS' is defined, it should be a number which contains +the high bits to be inclusive or'ed with pointers that are unpacked. + +* New flag `HAVE_X_MENU'. + +Define this flag in `config.h' in addition to `HAVE_X_WINDOWS' +to enable use of the Emacs interface to X Menus. On some operating +systems, the rest of the X interface works properly but X Menus +do not work; hence this separate flag. See the file `src/xmenu.c' +for more information. + +* Macros `ARRAY_MARK_FLAG' and `DONT_COPY_FLAG'. + +* `HAVE_ALLOCA' prevents assembly of `alloca.s'. + +* `SYSTEM_MALLOC' prevents use of GNU `malloc.c'. + +SYSTEM_MALLOC, if defined, means use the system's own `malloc' routines +rather than those that come with Emacs. + +Use this only if absolutely necessary, because if it is used you do +not get warnings when space is getting low. + +* New flags to control unexec. + +See the file `unexec.c' for a long comment on the compilation +switches that suffice to make it work on many machines. + +* `PNTR_COMPARISON_TYPE' + +Pointers that need to be compared for ordering are converted to this type +first. Normally this is `unsigned int'. + +* `HAVE_VFORK', `HAVE_DUP2' and `HAVE_GETTIMEOFDAY'. + +These flags just say whether certain system calls are available. + +* New macros control compiler switches, linker switches and libraries. + +The m- and s- files can now control in a modular fashion the precise +arguments passed to `cc' and `ld'. + +LIBS_STANDARD defines the standard C libraries. Default is `-lc'. +LIBS_DEBUG defines the extra libraries to use when debugging. Default `-lg'. +LIBS_SYSTEM can be defined by the s- file to specify extra libraries. +LIBS_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra libraries. +LIBS_TERMCAP defines the libraries for Termcap or Terminfo. + It is defined by default in a complicated fashion but the m- or s- file + can override it. + +LD_SWITCH_SYSTEM can be defined by the s- file to specify extra `ld' switches. + The default is `-X' on BSD systems except those few that use COFF object files. +LD_SWITCH_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra `ld' switches. + +C_DEBUG_SWITCH defines the switches to give `cc' when debugging. Default `-g'. +C_OPTIMIZE_SWITCH defines the switches to give `cc' to optimize. Default `-O'. +C_SWITCH_MACHINE can be defined by the m- file to specify extra `cc' switches. + +For older news, see the file ONEWS. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +Copyright information: + +Copyright (C) 1988, 1990 Free Software Foundation, Inc. + + Permission is granted to anyone to make or distribute verbatim copies + of this document as received, in any medium, provided that the + copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved, + thus giving the recipient permission to redistribute in turn. + + Permission is granted to distribute modified versions + of this document, or of portions of it, + under the above conditions, provided also that they + carry prominent notices stating who last changed them. + +Local variables: +mode: text +end: |