Re: Proposal to improve the nomenclature of scrolling directions

[Daniel Hackney <dan@haxney.org>]

Dani Moncayo <dmoncayo@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> After reading (info "(emacs) Scrolling"), I think the Emacs
> terminology for specifying scrolling directions is pretty confusing:
>
> 1.  The terms "up" and "down" have the opposite meanings of the ones
> commonly used in the (non-emacs) world.  The info node explains that
> this is for historical reasons; OK, but then, why don't we try to find
> a solution?  (see below)

Wow. I've been using Emacs hardcore for 6 years and never noticed this!
I can understand the window/frame naming, but I never imagined that
Emacs would do things backwards for scrolling. The idea that "down"
would mean "up" is baffling.

I suppose a transition would be difficult, but I can't imagine why it
should stick with the opposite definition from everything else. Emacs
uses "down" to mean "move downwards" in its documentation already:

  - =next-line= :: Move cursor vertically down ARG lines.
  - =outline-move-subtree-up= :: Move the current subtree up past ARG
       headlines of the same level.
  - bindings.el :: (define-key global-map [up] 'previous-line)
  - =end-of-defun= :: Move forward to next end of defun.
  - =eobp= :: Return t if point is at the end of the buffer.
  - =erc-scroll-to-bottom= :: Recenter WINDOW so that `point' is on
the last line.

Plus, it's what every other program uses:

* Firefox
  - scroll on mobile ::
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-turn-do-not-track-feature-mobile
  - page down ::
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/settings-network-updates-and-encryption
* LibreOffice
  - Writer navigation :: http://help.libreoffice.org/Writer/Navigation
* Gnome terminal
  - Scroll through commands ::
http://library.gnome.org/users/gnome-terminal/stable/gnome-terminal-usage.html.en
* Microsoft Office
  - Through a worksheet ::
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/scroll-through-a-worksheet-HP005201425.aspx
* Gnumeric
  - Scrollbars ::
http://projects.gnome.org/gnumeric/doc/sect-graphics-widgets-scrollbar.shtml
* Gtk
  - =GtkScrolledWindow= :: http://www.gtk.org/api/2.6/gtk/GtkScrolledWindow.html
  - left moves towards the top ::
http://www.gtk.org/api/2.6/gtk/GtkTextView.html#gtk-text-view-scroll-to-mark

Et Cetera.

All of the documentation refers to "movement towards =(point-max)=" as
going towards the end or bottom of the buffer/window. It wouldn't make
sense to say "scroll up to the end of the window" or "scroll all the way
down until you reach the beginning."

--
Daniel Hackney