bug#371: describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark

bug#371: describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark

[jidanni]

If the cursor is upon the ' in
'emacs-version'
describe-variable should still prompt for emacs-version.

E.g., on many Info pages there are lists of variables
`w3m-command-arguments'
'gnus-version'
one should be able to use C-n to slide down the edge without needing
to advance the cursor one step in order to use C-h v.
(OK, one could slide down column 1, but C-v puts us back in column 0.
Don't (not) worry, I will file a bug.)

Same detection algorithm should apply to C-h f and M-x.

bug#371: describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark

[Drew Adams]

> If the cursor is upon the ' in
> 'emacs-version' describe-variable should still prompt for emacs-version.
> 
> E.g., on many Info pages there are lists of variables
> `w3m-command-arguments'
> 'gnus-version'
> one should be able to use C-n to slide down the edge without needing
> to advance the cursor one step in order to use C-h v.
> (OK, one could slide down column 1, but C-v puts us back in column 0.
> Don't (not) worry, I will file a bug.)
> 
> Same detection algorithm should apply to C-h f and M-x.

I agree. `describe-variable', `describe-function', and so on should return an
appropriate name nearest point, not necessarily precisely _at_ point.

I sent a patch to thingatpt.el with functions to do that. See these threads in
emacs-devel@gnu.org, both from July 2007:

"patch for thingatpt.el"
"symbol-at-point"

FWIW, I've redefined `describe-*' in my own code to DTRT in this regard. They
use the symbol nearest point, not at point.
http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/help-fns%2b.el

bug#371: marked as done (describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark)

[Emacs bug Tracking System]

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Your message dated Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:03:38 -0400
with message-id <jwv3anqs55h.fsf-monnier+emacsbugreports@gnu.org>
and subject line Re: bug#371: describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark
has caused the Emacs bug report #371,
regarding describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark
to be marked as done.

This means that you claim that the problem has been dealt with.
If this is not the case it is now your responsibility to reopen the
bug report if necessary, and/or fix the problem forthwith.

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-- 
371: http://emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=371
Emacs Bug Tracking System
Contact don@donarmstrong.com with problems

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From: jidanni@jidanni.org
To: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org
Subject: describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark
Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:39:54 +0800
Message-ID: <877id2u5cv.fsf@jidanni.org>

If the cursor is upon the ' in
'emacs-version'
describe-variable should still prompt for emacs-version.

E.g., on many Info pages there are lists of variables
`w3m-command-arguments'
'gnus-version'
one should be able to use C-n to slide down the edge without needing
to advance the cursor one step in order to use C-h v.
(OK, one could slide down column 1, but C-v puts us back in column 0.
Don't (not) worry, I will file a bug.)

Same detection algorithm should apply to C-h f and M-x.




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From: Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
To: 371-done@emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com
Subject: Re: bug#371: describe-* and M-x should see past quote mark
Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:03:38 -0400
Message-ID: <jwv3anqs55h.fsf-monnier+emacsbugreports@gnu.org>

> If the cursor is upon the ' in 'emacs-version'
> describe-variable should still prompt for emacs-version.

I've just installed a patch which fixes this for both C-h f and C-h v.


        Stefan