23.0.60; scratch buffer initial text

23.0.60; scratch buffer initial text

[Drew Adams]

This is the current text:
 
;; This buffer is for notes you don't want to save, and for Lisp evaluation.
;; If you want to create a file, visit that file with C-x C-f,
;; then enter the text in that file's own buffer.
 
For newbies, it's not clear that you can "visit that file" for a file
that does not yet exist. Also, the last part about "file's own buffer"
is not clear. And the emphasis should be on Lisp evaluation here and
the fact that this buffer is not saved.
 
How about something like this instead:
 
;; This buffer is a scratch pad for evaluating Lisp expressions or
;; jotting down text that you don't want to save.
 
;; If you want a note pad for text that you might want to save, use
;; `C-x C-f' to open a new file buffer.  Enter the text there and save
;; it using `C-x C-s'.
 
In GNU Emacs 23.0.60.1 (i386-mingw-nt5.1.2600)
 of 2008-04-04 on LENNART-69DE564
Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 5.1.2600
configured using `configure --with-gcc (3.4) --no-opt --cflags -Ic:/g/include
-fno-crossjumping'
 

Re: 23.0.60; scratch buffer initial text

[Jason Rumney]

Drew Adams wrote:
>   How about something like this instead:
>  
> ;; This buffer is a scratch pad for evaluating Lisp expressions or
> ;; jotting down text that you don't want to save.
>  
> ;; If you want a note pad for text that you might want to save, use
> ;; `C-x C-f' to open a new file buffer.  Enter the text there and save
> ;; it using `C-x C-s'.
>   

> For newbies, it's not clear that you can "visit that file" for a file
> that does not yet exist.

After the suggested change, it is even less clear. At least the existing 
text clearly states "if you want to create a file..."

RE: 23.0.60; scratch buffer initial text

[Drew Adams]

> >   How about something like this instead:
> >  
> > ;; This buffer is a scratch pad for evaluating Lisp expressions or
> > ;; jotting down text that you don't want to save.
> >  
> > ;; If you want a note pad for text that you might want to save, use
> > ;; `C-x C-f' to open a new file buffer.  Enter the text there and save
> > ;; it using `C-x C-s'.
> 
> > For newbies, it's not clear that you can "visit that file" 
> > for a file that does not yet exist.
> 
> After the suggested change, it is even less clear. At least 
> the existing text clearly states "if you want to create a file..."

Don't know why it's not clear to you. Perhaps it's the word "create" that you
want: "...use `C-x C-f' to create a new file buffer"?

Feel free to suggest something else. 

Re: 23.0.60; scratch buffer initial text

[Chong Yidong]

"Drew Adams" <drew.adams@oracle.com> writes:

> This is the current text:
>  
> ;; This buffer is for notes you don't want to save, and for Lisp evaluation.
> ;; If you want to create a file, visit that file with C-x C-f,
> ;; then enter the text in that file's own buffer.
>  
> For newbies, it's not clear that you can "visit that file" for a file
> that does not yet exist. Also, the last part about "file's own buffer"
> is not clear. And the emphasis should be on Lisp evaluation here and
> the fact that this buffer is not saved.

I don't think these phrases are prone to confusion.  Anyway, new users
are now presented with the fancy startup screen, not the scratch buffer.
Let's not worry about this.