Postfix input methods and read-char

Postfix input methods and read-char

[Gautier Ponsinet]

Hello everyone,

The following question is motivated by the avy package
(https://github.com/abo-abo/avy) which relies on read-char. How to
select a character without accent via read-char with an active "postfix"
input method?

An example, in emacs -Q:
- C-u C-\ french-postfix <Enter>
- M-: (read-char "Prompt: " t) <Enter>
- a

Here, the minibuffer waits for a possible accent (^ or `). How can I
enter a simple "a" without accent?

All the best,
Gautier.

Re: Postfix input methods and read-char

[tomas]

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On Tue, Jan 07, 2025 at 01:51:00PM +0100, Gautier Ponsinet wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> 
> The following question is motivated by the avy package
> (https://github.com/abo-abo/avy) which relies on read-char. How to
> select a character without accent via read-char with an active "postfix"
> input method?
> 
> An example, in emacs -Q:
> - C-u C-\ french-postfix <Enter>
> - M-: (read-char "Prompt: " t) <Enter>
> - a
> 
> Here, the minibuffer waits for a possible accent (^ or `). How can I
> enter a simple "a" without accent?

It seems that just entering the next character (whenever it isn't one
of the possible postfixes) does the trick (the echo area tells you which
postfix chars, if any, are possible).

Or perhaps I misunderstood your question?

Cheers
-- 
tomás

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Re: Postfix input methods and read-char

[Gautier Ponsinet]

<tomas@tuxteam.de> [2025-01-07 14:13 +0100]:
> It seems that just entering the next character (whenever it isn't one
> of the possible postfixes) does the trick (the echo area tells you which
> postfix chars, if any, are possible).
>
> Or perhaps I misunderstood your question?

Hello Tomas,

Do you mean entering "a" again in the exemple or any other character other
than "^" or "`"? It is true but it not very convenient since this next
character is inserted in the buffer. With the avy package for instance,
it is not desirable. I would really like to be able to enter the
character "a" in the example and nothing else.

All the best,
Gautier.

Re: Postfix input methods and read-char

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Gautier Ponsinet <gautier@gautierponsinet.xyz>
> Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2025 13:51:00 +0100
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> The following question is motivated by the avy package
> (https://github.com/abo-abo/avy) which relies on read-char. How to
> select a character without accent via read-char with an active "postfix"
> input method?
> 
> An example, in emacs -Q:
> - C-u C-\ french-postfix <Enter>
> - M-: (read-char "Prompt: " t) <Enter>
> - a
> 
> Here, the minibuffer waits for a possible accent (^ or `). How can I
> enter a simple "a" without accent?

You need to type something after it.  For example, SPC.

Another method is to type "a C-\ C-\", i.e. type C-\ twice after
typing your ASCII character.

Re: Postfix input methods and read-char

[Gautier Ponsinet]

Hello Eli,

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> [2025-01-07 15:35 +0200]:
> You need to type something after it.  For example, SPC.
>
> Another method is to type "a C-\ C-\", i.e. type C-\ twice after
> typing your ASCII character.

It works but it is not convenient with the avy package since in both
solutions, the next input (SPC or C-\) is interpreted by emacs. Is there
a way to enter the character a in the example and nothing more?

All the best,
Gautier.

Re: Postfix input methods and read-char

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Gautier Ponsinet <gautier@gautierponsinet.xyz>
> Cc: emacs-devel@gnu.org
> Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:02:24 +0100
> 
> Hello Eli,
> 
> Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> [2025-01-07 15:35 +0200]:
> > You need to type something after it.  For example, SPC.
> >
> > Another method is to type "a C-\ C-\", i.e. type C-\ twice after
> > typing your ASCII character.
> 
> It works but it is not convenient with the avy package since in both
> solutions, the next input (SPC or C-\) is interpreted by emacs. Is there
> a way to enter the character a in the example and nothing more?

What does avy do with C-\ and other similar keys?  And why is it a
problem that "the next input is interpreted by emacs"?

Are there any keys that avi doesn't interpret?

And no, I'm not aware of any other ways than these two.

Re: Postfix input methods and read-char

[Gautier Ponsinet]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> [2025-01-07 16:21 +0200]:
> What does avy do with C-\ and other similar keys?  And why is it a
> problem that "the next input is interpreted by emacs"?
>
> Are there any keys that avi doesn't interpret?
>
> And no, I'm not aware of any other ways than these two.

I have replied to fast. Typing another character might create some
conflict, typing "C-\ C-\" does not. Thanks!