bug#21386: 25.0.50; Make visual rectangular selection look better

bug#21386: 25.0.50; Make visual rectangular selection look better

[Mark Karpov]

There is a cool new feature in Emacs 25: visual support for rectangular
selection. However, I would like to set its width to one pixel when it's
“logical” width is zero columns of text. By default it's a bit too
bold. Is it possible?

Also, it would be cool if it didn't “shift” text on the right side of
the selection when its width is zero.



In GNU Emacs 25.0.50.19 (x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 3.16.6)
 of 2015-08-31 on arch
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bug#21386: 25.0.50; Make visual rectangular selection look better

[Stefan Monnier]

> There is a cool new feature in Emacs 25: visual support for rectangular
> selection.  However, I would like to set its width to one pixel when it's
> “logical” width is zero columns of text.  By default it's a bit too
> bold.  Is it possible?

Shouldn't be too hard to make its width customizable.  Look for
"zero-width" in lisp/rect.el to find the relevant piece of code.

> Also, it would be cool if it didn't “shift” text on the right side of
> the selection when its width is zero.

Yes, that would be nice, but as far I know this would require changes in
the display engine, so it's a lot more work.


        Stefan

bug#21386: 25.0.50; Make visual rectangular selection look better

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 13:48:52 -0400
> Cc: 21386@debbugs.gnu.org
> 
> > Also, it would be cool if it didn't “shift” text on the right side of
> > the selection when its width is zero.
> 
> Yes, that would be nice, but as far I know this would require changes in
> the display engine, so it's a lot more work.

Actually, I think this is the kind of an entry-level project that
could be a good first step for a newbie hacker of the display code.
Would someone please volunteer for the job?  Help will be happily
provided if needed.

Come on, people!  We cannot have only one old curmudgeon on board able
and willing to do that; what if I'm run over by a bus or something?
What if I already have been?

bug#21386: 25.0.50; Make visual rectangular selection look better

[Mark Karpov]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:

> Actually, I think this is the kind of an entry-level project that
> could be a good first step for a newbie hacker of the display code.
> Would someone please volunteer for the job?  Help will be happily
> provided if needed.
>
> Come on, people!  We cannot have only one old curmudgeon on board able
> and willing to do that; what if I'm run over by a bus or something?
> What if I already have been?

I can try, I actually have good knowledge of Emacs Lisp and C, but I'm:

1. Already working on one free-software project, which I know several
   people want to use and they're waiting for its release.

2. I have less and less free time, but most importantly:

3. FSF will need to send me papers to sign. This is a real hurdle:

   a. I'm in Russia, and all this paperwork will take a month (or
   longer);

   b. I will soon move to different city and I don't even know my new
   address yet.

So, maybe I could do that but not right now :-(

Anyway, I'll consider contributing to Emacs, it's great piece of
software that I use every day, after all.

bug#21386: 25.0.50; Make visual rectangular selection look better

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Mark Karpov <markkarpov@openmailbox.org>
> Cc: 21386@debbugs.gnu.org, Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
> Date: Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:42:57 +0600
> 
> Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:
> 
> > Actually, I think this is the kind of an entry-level project that
> > could be a good first step for a newbie hacker of the display code.
> > Would someone please volunteer for the job?  Help will be happily
> > provided if needed.
> >
> > Come on, people!  We cannot have only one old curmudgeon on board able
> > and willing to do that; what if I'm run over by a bus or something?
> > What if I already have been?
> 
> I can try, I actually have good knowledge of Emacs Lisp and C

You are actually the best candidate, as you have the right
motivation.  Thanks in advance.

> So, maybe I could do that but not right now :-(

There's no particular rush.