From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: Thien-Thi Nguyen Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.help Subject: Re: problem repeat entry for a number Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:22:24 +0100 Message-ID: <871uovtznz.fsf@gnuvola.org> References: <87pqcp0yec.fsf@mithlond.arda> <874ntzh5zu.fsf@gnuvola.org> <87vcmffp6t.fsf@gnuvola.org> <87mx7mqda4.fsf@gnuvola.org> <874ntskcch.fsf@gnuvola.org> NNTP-Posting-Host: plane.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain X-Trace: dough.gmane.org 1331709857 7316 80.91.229.3 (14 Mar 2012 07:24:17 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@dough.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:24:17 +0000 (UTC) Cc: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org To: source liu Original-X-From: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Wed Mar 14 08:24:16 2012 Return-path: Envelope-to: geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([208.118.235.17]) by plane.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1S7iZB-0006jH-EU for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:24:13 +0100 Original-Received: from localhost ([::1]:45816 helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1S7iZA-0007Eg-Ai for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 03:24:12 -0400 Original-Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:41803) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1S7iZ1-0007Dc-M3 for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 03:24:08 -0400 Original-Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1S7iYz-0005m5-PH for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 03:24:03 -0400 Original-Received: from smtp207.alice.it ([82.57.200.103]:49741) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1S7iYz-0005gY-E2 for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 03:24:01 -0400 Original-Received: from ambire (95.245.74.160) by smtp207.alice.it (8.6.023.02) id 4F05A66508188AF0; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:23:41 +0100 Original-Received: from ttn by ambire with local (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1S7iXQ-0000Uh-9y; Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:22:24 +0100 User-Agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/24.0.92 (gnu/linux) X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: Genre and OS details not recognized. X-Received-From: 82.57.200.103 X-BeenThere: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Original-Sender: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.emacs.help:84025 Archived-At: () source liu () Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:34:34 -0400 A mistake can rise up in any different aspects, while a correct one have few choice. :) I agree, up to a point. In my point of view, maybe shorter sentences, more itemized threads for those none English native speakers like me, will lead to fewer misunderstanding. yet it may not keep the manual threads simple and brief any more. OK. Honestly speaking, after your explanation, i realize it was my fault failed to read the sentence correctly this time. When there is a problem in communication, finding fault is easy. When there is a problem in understanding, finding fault is hard. Anyway, finding fault is only the start of fixing the problem. I think I understand the expression, but I still have a question on, is there any case of "C-u" following a minus sign? C-u , here num is either negative or positive, there is no minus sign at the end of the argument. 1. here one cant type C - u '-' to get the minus sign as the end ( in this case '-' would be char layout in the buffer). Right. 2. C-u '-' ( the only available case i can figure out, but i think it is meaningless) , also, type C-u again just start another instant of num argument input, still different from the case that terminate the argument input. (though in minibuff C-u - C-u, but i can't see any difference between single C - u here) Sometimes right, sometimes wrong, sometimes no matter. Consider: (defun p-try (&optional arg) "Show ARG in the echo area, as by (interactive \"p\")." (interactive "p") (message "arg is: %S" arg)) (defun P-try (&optional arg) "Show ARG in the echo area, as by (interactive \"P\")." (interactive "P") (message "arg is: %S" arg)) (global-set-key [(shift return)] 'p-try) (global-set-key [(meta return)] 'P-try) If you evaluate these forms in *scratch*, you can try the following experiments: 1. S-RET 2. C-u S-RET 3. C-u - S-RET 4. C-u - C-u S-RET (and so on) You will find that a lone minus sign has meaning sometimes. For more information, type: - C-h f interactive RET - C-h f - RET Furthermore, each command chooses the way it handles the argument supplied by C-u (if any). When you write new commands, it is good practice to mention this (to avoid the (lack of) communication problem :-D). so, i wonder why 'the minus sign' appears in the very sentence. as a result, "C-u following the digits ends the argument." is enough, unless someone can show me the necessary of "minus sign" here C-u is a way to supply qualified numerical information, and not only numerical. Perhaps someone who knows its history can explain how it evolved to its present functionality. I wont be afraid to make another mistake next time if there are any chances., :) Cool. btw, are you one of those so called "emacs hacks"? cool!! I am a student of Emacs. Thanks again for you patience. Thanks for the opportunity to spew. :-D