bug#33830: 27.0.50; help-xref-stack contains bad entries

bug#33830: 27.0.50; help-xref-stack contains bad entries

[Alex Branham]

Sometimes `help-xref-stack' contains "bad" entries, which makes
help-go-forward and help-go-back error in a strange way. To see what I
mean:

emacs -q

C-h f car RET
C-h k C-x t
C-h f cdr RET

Now that the *Help* buffer is displaying `cdr', if you try to go back
(with "l" or clicking the back button), you get "user-error C-x t is
undefined".

Alex

bug#33830: 27.0.50; help-xref-stack contains bad entries

[Federico Tedin]

Alex Branham <alex.branham@gmail.com> writes:

> Sometimes `help-xref-stack' contains "bad" entries, which makes
> help-go-forward and help-go-back error in a strange way. To see what I
> mean:
>
> emacs -q
>
> C-h f car RET
> C-h k C-x t
> C-h f cdr RET
>
> Now that the *Help* buffer is displaying `cdr', if you try to go back
> (with "l" or clicking the back button), you get "user-error C-x t is
> undefined".
>
> Alex

I've noticed that the `describe-key' and `describe-function' functions both
call `help-setup-xref' with key sequences and functions respectively,
even if said key sequences or functions are not valid (i.e. when the key
sequence isn't bound to anything and the function does not exist).

An example of this:

1) M-:: (describe-function 'hello) RET
2) C-h f car RET
3) On the *Help* buffer, press 'l'

The message 'Symbol’s function definition is void: hello' will be
displayed, and the *Help* buffer will contain "hello is ". Also, for
some reason, after pressing 'r', two [back] buttons will be shown.

Maybe `help-setup-xref' should only be called when it is certain that
the key sequence/function/etc. exists?

(tested on master branch)

bug#33830: 27.0.50; help-xref-stack contains bad entries

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Alex Branham <alex.branham@gmail.com> writes:

> Sometimes `help-xref-stack' contains "bad" entries, which makes
> help-go-forward and help-go-back error in a strange way. To see what I
> mean:
>
> emacs -q
>
> C-h f car RET
> C-h k C-x t
> C-h f cdr RET
>
> Now that the *Help* buffer is displaying `cdr', if you try to go back
> (with "l" or clicking the back button), you get "user-error C-x t is
> undefined".

This doesn't exactly reproduce for me in Emacs 27.1, because `C-x t' is
bound there.  But this works:

C-h f car RET
C-h k C-x t t
C-h f cdr RET
C-x o
l

I do get the "is undefined" message, but then hitting `l' again takes me
back to `car'.

I guess it could make sense for `l'/`r' to skip these "invalid" entries,
but on the other hand, I can see how they'd be vaguely useful.

Does anybody have any opinions here?

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

bug#33830: 27.0.50; help-xref-stack contains bad entries

[Lars Ingebrigtsen]

Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi@gnus.org> writes:

> I guess it could make sense for `l'/`r' to skip these "invalid" entries,
> but on the other hand, I can see how they'd be vaguely useful.
>
> Does anybody have any opinions here?

Nobody had, so I'm closing this bug report.

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