From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: main.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: "Robert J. Chassell" Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.devel Subject: Re: Customize buttons that change user's customfileshouldaskforconfirmation Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:48:13 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: <003f01c50eb2$36ec71c0$0200a8c0@sedrcw11488> Reply-To: bob@rattlesnake.com NNTP-Posting-Host: main.gmane.org X-Trace: sea.gmane.org 1108211220 25931 80.91.229.2 (12 Feb 2005 12:27:00 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@sea.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 12:27:00 +0000 (UTC) Original-X-From: emacs-devel-bounces+ged-emacs-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sat Feb 12 13:27:00 2005 Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]) by ciao.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1CzwMN-0004LB-Sp for ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org; Sat, 12 Feb 2005 13:26:52 +0100 Original-Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1Czwam-000326-SA for ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org; Sat, 12 Feb 2005 07:41:44 -0500 Original-Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1Czvzv-0001Y1-Kx for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sat, 12 Feb 2005 07:03:40 -0500 Original-Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1Czvzr-0001XB-T3 for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sat, 12 Feb 2005 07:03:36 -0500 Original-Received: from [199.232.76.173] (helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1Czvzr-0001Vu-5d for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sat, 12 Feb 2005 07:03:35 -0500 Original-Received: from [69.168.108.225] (helo=rattlesnake.com) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.34) id 1CzvlB-0006BZ-RX for emacs-devel@gnu.org; Sat, 12 Feb 2005 06:48:26 -0500 Original-Received: by rattlesnake.com via sendmail from stdin id (Debian Smail3.2.0.115) Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:48:13 +0000 (UTC) Original-To: emacs-devel@gnu.org In-reply-to: (message from Richard Stallman on Sat, 12 Feb 2005 03:37:36 -0500) 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 X-MailScanner-To: ged-emacs-devel@m.gmane.org Xref: main.gmane.org gmane.emacs.devel:33291 X-Report-Spam: http://spam.gmane.org/gmane.emacs.devel:33291 A better user interface for the `Customize' feature would show the current value of a variable or face, the previous and yet earlier values when applicable, and the value in the distribution. The value should not only be listed, but in the case of faces, shown as samples, as is done now. Current Previous Yet earlier Distribution value value value default value (in (from (from init earlier an even file) init earlier file) init file) Thus, for Mark Ring Max, the buffer among other features might show: Current Previous Yet earlier Distribution value value value default 32 24 20 16 (The `previous' and `yet earlier' entries should be blank when you have not made previous initializations or customizations. In this instance the `current value' is the same as the `distribution default value'.) Since the Customization buffer only provides customization for some objects, namely variables and faces, and does not even write defuns automatically, it should be renamed the `Partial Customization buffer'. This way, no one would suggest that `Customize All' in a partial customization buffer should mean `Customize only those items that are set in this buffer; do not Customize All'. In particular, novices mislearn when they come to think that a feature's range is different than it really is. Even when a partial customization buffer shows only variables and faces, no hooks, defuns or keymappings, it would help both novices and experts to show history -- that is to show the current value in one's .emacs or other initialization file, previous values from init file back ups, and the default or standard distribution value (which you get from `emacs -Q'), -- Robert J. Chassell bob@rattlesnake.com GnuPG Key ID: 004B4AC8 http://www.rattlesnake.com http://www.teak.cc