Re: locate-with-filter

[Nick Roberts <nickrob@snap.net.nz>]

 >    I don't find that I invoke help-follow accidentally, so why remove
 >    this functionality?
 > 
 > Because it effectively disables features that allow the author of a
 > docstring to prevent false links from being made.  

I can see the logic of changing help-xref-symbol-regexp: Emacs shouldn't
underline inappropriate links.  However, if the user still wants to follow a
keyword thats not underlined, that should be his choice.

 >                                                    Without the current
 > `help-follow' feature, I could precede references to the symbol or
 > program `locate' with the words `symbol' or (after Richard's patch)
 > `program' to avoid creating the impression of encouraging people to
 > take a look at the docstring of the Emacs function `locate' for a more
 > thorough understanding of what I am explaining.  With the current
 > `help-follow' feature, doing so is effectively meaningless.

Clearly with `locate' the link leads nowhere but in other cases, the value of
a variable e.g features, say, where all explicit/underlined links have been
removed, some keywords may be of interest.  Emacs generally gives you enough
rope to hang yourself and I like it that way.

 >    I don't like this change because the current behaviour is useful for links
 >    that aren't explicitly presented in the doc string/value.
 > 
 > You can always do `C-h v' or `C-h f" to get the docs of something that
 > the author did not intend as a link.

Yes I could but its not quite as convenient.

 >                                               If I use the expression
 > "the program `locate'" in a docstring, thereby deliberately disabling
 > the link to prevent confusion with the Emacs function, and you want to
 > read the doc of that Emacs function anyway, for unrelated reasons, you
 > can always do `C-h f'.

Yes.  I'm sure `you're doing it for my own good'.

-- 
Nick                                           http://www.inet.net.nz/~nickrob