bug#54173: 28.0.91; Training wheels for query-replace

[Augusto Stoffel <arstoffel@gmail.com>]

On Sun, 27 Feb 2022 at 10:23, Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> wrote:

>> From: Augusto Stoffel <arstoffel@gmail.com>
>> Cc: 54173@debbugs.gnu.org
>> Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2022 08:55:51 +0100
>> 
>> On Sun, 27 Feb 2022 at 08:54, Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> wrote:
>> 
>> > I don't think it's a good idea to leave documentation and help to
>> > users.  I'd rather we made the help text better, or maybe introduce a
>> > key to display a more detailed help text.  Emacs should not have
>> > sub-optimal help text.
>> 
>> I agree, and I suggested a defcustom here so the user can choose between
>> two predefined options, the default prompt:
>> 
>> ```
>> Query replacing a with b: (‘?’ for help)
>> ```
>> 
>> and a two-line prompt including a little summary:
>> 
>> ```
>> Query replacing a with b: (‘?’ for help)
>> Replace ‘y’ once, ‘.’ and exit, ‘!’ all; skip to ‘n’ next, ‘^’ previous; ‘U’ undo all.
>
> But since '?' produces a more detailed help, and that help text stays
> on display thereafter, do we really need one more variant?  Maybe the
> default message could be expanded instead (but not to such a long
> text, which would resize the mini-window in many cases)?

I think ‘y’ and ‘n’ are intuitive enough that they don't need a
reminder.  But mentioning the more uncommon ones (‘.’ and so on) without
talking about ‘y’ and ‘n’ is weird.

So I can't see any meaningful options between the status quo and my
suggestion above.

The way I use Emacs, this would be a perfectly fine message with no risk
of resizing the mini-window:

```
Query replacing a with b: (replace ‘y’ once, ‘.’ and exit, ‘!’ all; skip to ‘n’ next, ‘^’ previous; ‘U’ undo all; ‘?’ help)
```

One idea would be to choose between the short and long messages based on
the size of the miniwindow as well as the length regexp and replacement
text.

>> > Can you tell why you have trouble remembering some of the keys, and
>> > how changing the help message could countermand that?
>> 
>> My issue is mainly with '.' and '^'.  I rarely need those operations, so
>> by the time I do I already forgot the keys.  With a summary help line
>> below the prompt, it's very hard to not be reminded.
>
> Then how about adding '.' and '^' to the default help text?
>
>> PS: Should we define 'p' as a synonym for '^' in 'query-replace-map'?
>
> Probably.