Re: Completion keys and rectangles

["Per Starbäck" <per@starback.se>]

2009/11/16 David De La Harpe Golden <david@harpegolden.net>:
> Per Starbäck wrote:
>>
>> M-TAB is very often used by the window manager.
>
> True, or at least M-<tab> is (what? See below),  but that's typically an
> easily reconfigured option in the window manager preferences (except on
> windows).

Yes, but most people don't change that. And certainly most new Emacs users
wouldn't want to change something they already are used to just to accomodate
to a "new" program they are trying out.

>> What do you think is the best solution to the window mangers vs.
>> completion in emacs problem? Would it be better if
>> key-description described M-TAB as ESC TAB or C-M-i if there is reason
>> to think M-TAB won't work?
>
> M-TAB pretty much /is/ emacs saying M-C-i

Yes, but how key-description describes it can change what keys users
actually press.
OK. I should have written "there is reason to think <M-tab> won't work".

>> Would it be good to have an  alternative key for M-TAB?
>
> I tend to view C-M-i (M- C-i) /as/ the memorable alternative to M-TAB.

It's not memorable for most new users. But maybe there is nothing
better left to use.
Then I think it would be good if key-description avoided description
that might lead
people to press combinations of keys that won't work at least. (Just
like it's good that

  backward-kill-sexp is on ESC <C-delete>, ESC <C-backspace>

doesn't mention <C-M-delete> or <C-M-backspace>...

> Showing my age I guess, but this was once something "everyone knew" in
> computing:
>
> ASCII TAB = 9.   9 + 64 = 73. 73 = ASCII I
> ASCII BS  = 8.   8 + 64 = 72. 72 = ASCII H
> ASCII ESC = 27. 27 + 64 = 91. 91 = ASCII [
>
> So, ^I for TAB, ^H for backspace, ^[ for escape etc.

Sure, but I don't like that to be prerequisite knowledge for using Emacs.