bug#27565: 24.5; macro running feedback [enhancement request]

bug#27565: 24.5; macro running feedback [enhancement request]

[Boruch Baum]

Currently, when one invokes a macro, instead of an indication that the
macro is running, the invocation key sequence is displayed in the
mini-buffer, eg. `C-u 0 C-x e', until the macro completes (or maybe
until the macro itself sends something to the mini-buffer?).

For a macro invocation that takes a long time to run, either because of
the macro itself or because of the number of times it is being repeated,
I found the result disquieting:

1] Did I forget to type something, and is emacs waiting for me to finish
   entering the command?

2] Did something crash?

3] Is anything happening?

4] Should I `C-g' and try again?

In my case, the macro repeated 221 times for the entire buffer, for a
run-time of about fifteen seconds, enough time to get nervous and turn to
the emacs documentation, but not enough time to abort an otherwise fine
macro run.



ENHANCEMENT REQUEST: When a macro starts running, display a message in
the mini-buffer. Some possible formats might be:

a] macro [optional name] runnning . . .

b] macro [optional name] runnning ( n of m times) . . .



In GNU Emacs 24.5.1 (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
 of 2016-03-19 on trouble, modified by Debian
System Description:	Devuan GNU/Linux 1.0 (jessie)

Configured using:
 `configure --build x86_64-linux-gnu --prefix=/usr
 --sharedstatedir=/var/lib --libexecdir=/usr/lib
 --localstatedir=/var/lib --infodir=/usr/share/info
 --mandir=/usr/share/man --with-pop=yes
 --enable-locallisppath=/etc/emacs24:/etc/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/24.5/site-lisp:/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/24.5/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/site-lisp
 --build x86_64-linux-gnu --prefix=/usr --sharedstatedir=/var/lib
 --libexecdir=/usr/lib --localstatedir=/var/lib
 --infodir=/usr/share/info --mandir=/usr/share/man --with-pop=yes
 --enable-locallisppath=/etc/emacs24:/etc/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/24.5/site-lisp:/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/24.5/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/site-lisp
 --with-x=no --without-gconf --without-gsettings 'CFLAGS=-g -O2
 -fstack-protector-strong -Wformat -Werror=format-security -Wall'
 CPPFLAGS=-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 LDFLAGS=-Wl,-z,relro'

Important settings:
  value of $LANG: en_US.UTF-8
  locale-coding-system: utf-8-unix

Major mode: Org

Minor modes in effect:
  anzu-mode: t
  undo-tree-mode: t
  company-mode: t
  shell-dirtrack-mode: t
  simpleclip-mode: t
  winner-mode: t
  show-paren-mode: t
  savehist-mode: t
  desktop-save-mode: t
  delete-selection-mode: t
  tooltip-mode: t
  file-name-shadow-mode: t
  global-font-lock-mode: t
  font-lock-mode: t
  auto-composition-mode: t
  auto-encryption-mode: t
  auto-compression-mode: t
  size-indication-mode: t
  column-number-mode: t
  line-number-mode: t
  visual-line-mode: t
  transient-mark-mode: t

Memory information:
((conses 16 982834 507981)
 (symbols 48 62726 0)
 (miscs 40 20336 10096)
 (strings 32 210140 80671)
 (string-bytes 1 11506661)
 (vectors 16 98608)
 (vector-slots 8 2709110 19722)
 (floats 8 1547 3224)
 (intervals 56 49530 9728)
 (buffers 960 750)
 (heap 1024 94039 27790))

--

--
hkp://keys.gnupg.net
CA45 09B5 5351 7C11 A9D1  7286 0036 9E45 1595 8BC0

bug#27565: 24.5; macro running feedback [enhancement request]

[Drew Adams]

> Currently, when one invokes a macro, instead of an indication that
> the macro is running, the invocation key sequence is displayed

> I found the result disquieting:
> 
> 1] Did I forget to type something, and is emacs waiting for me to
> finish entering the command?
> 2] Did something crash?
> 3] Is anything happening?
> 4] Should I `C-g' and try again?

> ENHANCEMENT REQUEST: When a macro starts running, display a message
> in the mini-buffer. Some possible formats might be:
> a] macro [optional name] runnning . . .
> b] macro [optional name] runnning ( n of m times) . . .

+1.

Keep in mind, though, that keys used for the macro can
themselves invoke commands that also write to the echo area.

That's not a problem.  I'm just saying that between the
message "Keyboard macro running..." and the message
"Keyboard macro running...done" you might see other messages.

What if you expect the last key sequence invoked to show
you a message?  That would be overwritten by the "...done"
message, so you'd need to check buffer *Messages* for the
message you want.  Again, not a problem, I think.

bug#27565: 24.5; macro running feedback [enhancement request]

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Boruch Baum <boruch_baum@gmx.com> writes:

> Currently, when one invokes a macro, instead of an indication that the
> macro is running, the invocation key sequence is displayed in the
> mini-buffer, eg. `C-u 0 C-x e', until the macro completes (or maybe
> until the macro itself sends something to the mini-buffer?).

[...]

> ENHANCEMENT REQUEST: When a macro starts running, display a message in
> the mini-buffer. Some possible formats might be:
>
> a] macro [optional name] runnning . . .
>
> b] macro [optional name] runnning ( n of m times) . . .

I guess that makes sense...  but...  This messaging is how Emacs works
with all commands.

M-: (global-set-key (kbd "C-x r z") (lambda () (interactive)))
`C-x r z'

will leave you with an echo area that says "C-x r z".  Wouldn't it be
odd if `C-x e' would behave differently?

Any opinions here?

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no

bug#27565: 24.5; macro running feedback [enhancement request]

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi@gnus.org> writes:

> I guess that makes sense...  but...  This messaging is how Emacs works
> with all commands.
>
> M-: (global-set-key (kbd "C-x r z") (lambda () (interactive)))
> `C-x r z'
>
> will leave you with an echo area that says "C-x r z".  Wouldn't it be
> odd if `C-x e' would behave differently?
>
> Any opinions here?

There was no feedback within a month, so I guess people don't want to
change this, and I'm closing this bug report.  If more should be done
here, please respond to the debbugs address and we'll reopen.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no