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From: Augusto Stoffel <arstoffel@gmail.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
Cc: 54173@debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: bug#54173: 28.0.91; Training wheels for query-replace
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2022 08:55:51 +0100	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <87wnhgwxo8.fsf@gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <835yp0pzoh.fsf@gnu.org> (Eli Zaretskii's message of "Sun, 27 Feb 2022 08:54:22 +0200")

On Sun, 27 Feb 2022 at 08:54, Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> wrote:

>> From: Augusto Stoffel <arstoffel@gmail.com>
>> Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2022 23:15:12 +0100
>> 
>> I've been using query-replace for years but still seem to have trouble
>> remembering some of the keys.  How about making the help message next to
>> the prompt “(? for help)” customizable, with an option to include an
>> extra summary line?
>
> 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.
```

(The quotation marks are not actually used, they are just representing
the help-key-keybinding face.  I choose this particular message because
it's the best I can fit in 80 columns.)

> 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.

PS: Should we define 'p' as a synonym for '^' in 'query-replace-map'?





  reply	other threads:[~2022-02-27  7:55 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 17+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
2022-02-26 22:15 bug#54173: 28.0.91; Training wheels for query-replace Augusto Stoffel
2022-02-27  6:54 ` Eli Zaretskii
2022-02-27  7:55   ` Augusto Stoffel [this message]
2022-02-27  8:23     ` Eli Zaretskii
2022-02-27  8:51       ` Augusto Stoffel
2022-02-27  9:24         ` Eli Zaretskii
2022-02-27 10:17           ` Augusto Stoffel
2022-02-27 10:55             ` Eli Zaretskii
2022-02-27 16:11               ` bug#54173: [External] : " Drew Adams
2022-02-27 13:10             ` Lars Ingebrigtsen
2022-02-27 13:46               ` Augusto Stoffel
2022-03-03 16:41                 ` Augusto Stoffel
2022-03-10 19:24                   ` Juri Linkov
2022-03-10 19:28                     ` Lars Ingebrigtsen
2022-03-10 19:44                       ` Juri Linkov
2022-03-12 16:58                         ` Lars Ingebrigtsen
2022-03-10 19:20     ` Juri Linkov

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