From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: "Drew Adams" Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.devel Subject: Help buffer link on name of customizable thing (at start of buffer) Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 12:34:32 -0700 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: main.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: sea.gmane.org 1156103291 4230 80.91.229.2 (20 Aug 2006 19:48:11 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@sea.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 19:48:11 +0000 (UTC) Original-X-From: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sun Aug 20 21:48:08 2006 Return-path: Envelope-to: ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]) by ciao.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1GEtHC-0004yx-7m for ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:48:06 +0200 Original-Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1GEtHB-0003gZ-Lt for ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:48:05 -0400 Original-Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1GEt4X-0005FI-F1 for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:35:01 -0400 Original-Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1GEt4T-00059f-Ht for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:34:59 -0400 Original-Received: from [199.232.76.173] (helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1GEt4T-00059I-9m for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:34:57 -0400 Original-Received: from [148.87.113.118] (helo=rgminet01.oracle.com) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:DHE_RSA_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA:24) (Exim 4.52) id 1GEtBg-0000eO-ES for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:42:24 -0400 Original-Received: from rgmgw3.us.oracle.com (rgmgw3.us.oracle.com [138.1.186.112]) by rgminet01.oracle.com (Switch-3.1.6/Switch-3.1.6) with ESMTP id k7KJYsnw011954 for ; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 13:34:54 -0600 Original-Received: from dradamslap (dhcp-amer-rmdc-csvpn-gw6-141-144-112-186.vpn.oracle.com [141.144.112.186]) by rgmgw3.us.oracle.com (Switch-3.1.7/Switch-3.1.7) with SMTP id k7KJYrTb011404 for ; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 13:34:53 -0600 Original-To: "Emacs-Devel" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.6604 (9.0.2911.0) Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1807 X-Brightmail-Tracker: AAAAAQAAAAI= X-Brightmail-Tracker: AAAAAQAAAAI= X-Whitelist: TRUE X-Whitelist: TRUE X-BeenThere: emacs-devel@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: "Emacs development discussions." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Original-Sender: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.emacs.devel:58564 Archived-At: Suggestion for after the release - In buffer *Help*, for help on a thing that is customizable, put the same link on the name of the customizable thing (e.g. user variable or face), at the beginning of the *Help* buffer, that is currently put on the word "customize" at the bottom of the buffer. Advantage: When you use, say, `C-v some-option', you can hit RET immediately, to customize the thing, since the cursor is at `point-min' by default. This is quicker than using, e.g., `M-x customize-option': instead of `M-x customize-option RET foo RET', just use `C-h v foo RET RET'. It also obviates any need for separate key bindings for `customize-this' and `customize-that', as long as there is a binding for `describe-this' and that. Being handy, this will quickly become a main entry point for Customize, which is not a bad thing, IMO: a *Help* description, with the current value shown, is a good place to start, before customizing something. I don't see any reason not to do this. While the use of this link won't be as obvious (but there would be a help tooltip) as the "You can customize this variable" at the buffer bottom, users will learn and appreciate this convenience. We should also, obviously, keep the more explicit link at the bottom: "You can customize this variable". Also, the same form (i.e., the same *Help* buffer layout) should be used for faces and user options. This is not the case now. Currently, `describe-face' puts a "(customize this face)" link right after the face name, on the first *Help* buffer line, whereas `describe-variable' puts a "You can customize this variable" link at the bottom of the buffer, just before the [back] button. The latter form is preferable, IMO.