From: storm@cua.dk (Kim F. Storm)
To: emacs-devel@gnu.org
Subject: C-h help cleanup and improvements
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:32:51 +0100 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <m3ps7sv8t8.fsf@kfs-l.imdomain.dk> (raw)
Having looked at the C-h bindings and the C-h C-h help output, the
current text and bindings can be improved.
I know this is not the time, but below is a patch which IMO is an improvement.
- It cleans up the formatting of the C-h C-h help screen.
Specifically, I have removed the comand names, and added explicit
arguments where applicable.
- It enables goto-address in all static help files.
- C-h C-p => PROBLEMS
Every time I need to look at the PROBLEMS file, I enter C-h C-p
and end up with the GNU Project description.
- C-h g => THE-GNU-PROJECT
This is about GNU, not "project". So C-h g is better than C-h C-p.
It breaks the rule that fixed files should use a C- key, but C-h C-g
is not an option.
Also, I rename describe-project to describe-gnu-project so that "apropos gnu"
will find it.
- C-h C-e => MORE.STUFF (external packages)
I think this deserves a C-h binding.
- C-h C-d => DEBUG
I think we need a handy binding for the debugging information.
So we can refer users to use C-h C-d instead of viewing the DEBUG file
which may be harder to find.
- C-h C-o => DISTRIB (ordering information)
I think C-o better matches "ordering" (despite the file name)
And C-d is now used for debugging above.
*** help.el 28 Feb 2007 23:33:46 +0100 1.326
--- help.el 02 Mar 2007 00:12:38 +0100
***************
*** 47,58 ****
(define-key map "?" 'help-for-help)
(define-key map "\C-c" 'describe-copying)
! (define-key map "\C-d" 'describe-distribution)
! (define-key map "\C-e" 'view-emacs-problems)
(define-key map "\C-f" 'view-emacs-FAQ)
(define-key map "\C-m" 'view-order-manuals)
(define-key map "\C-n" 'view-emacs-news)
! (define-key map "\C-p" 'describe-project)
(define-key map "\C-t" 'view-todo)
(define-key map "\C-w" 'describe-no-warranty)
--- 47,59 ----
(define-key map "?" 'help-for-help)
(define-key map "\C-c" 'describe-copying)
! (define-key map "\C-d" 'view-emacs-debugging)
! (define-key map "\C-e" 'view-external-packages)
(define-key map "\C-f" 'view-emacs-FAQ)
(define-key map "\C-m" 'view-order-manuals)
(define-key map "\C-n" 'view-emacs-news)
! (define-key map "\C-o" 'describe-distribution)
! (define-key map "\C-p" 'view-emacs-problems)
(define-key map "\C-t" 'view-todo)
(define-key map "\C-w" 'describe-no-warranty)
***************
*** 72,77 ****
--- 73,79 ----
(define-key map "d" 'apropos-documentation)
(define-key map "e" 'view-echo-area-messages)
(define-key map "f" 'describe-function)
+ (define-key map "g" 'describe-gnu-project)
(define-key map "h" 'view-hello-file)
(define-key map "i" 'info)
***************
*** 178,239 ****
(defalias 'help-for-help 'help-for-help-internal)
;; It can't find this, but nobody will look.
(make-help-screen help-for-help-internal
! "a b c C e f F i I k C-k l L m p r s t v w C-c C-d C-f C-n C-p C-t C-w . or ? :"
"You have typed %THIS-KEY%, the help character. Type a Help option:
\(Use SPC or DEL to scroll through this text. Type \\<help-map>\\[help-quit] to exit the Help command.)
! a command-apropos. Type a list of words or a regexp; it shows a list of
! commands whose names match. See also the apropos command.
! b describe-bindings. Display a table of all key bindings.
! c describe-key-briefly. Type a key sequence;
! it displays the command name run by that key sequence.
! C describe-coding-system. Type the name of the coding system to describe,
! or just RET to describe the ones currently in use.
! d apropos-documentation. Type a pattern (a list of words or a regexp), and
! it shows a list of functions, variables, and other items whose
! documentation matches that pattern. See also the apropos command.
! e view-echo-area-messages. Go to the buffer that logs echo-area messages.
! f describe-function. Type a function name and you see its documentation.
! F Info-goto-emacs-command-node. Type a command name;
! it goes to the on-line manual's section that describes the command.
! h Display the HELLO file which illustrates various scripts.
! i info. The Info documentation reader: read on-line manuals.
! I describe-input-method. Describe a specific input method (if you type
! its name) or the current input method (if you type just RET).
! k describe-key. Type a key sequence;
! it displays the full documentation for that key sequence.
! K Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node. Type a key sequence;
! it goes to the on-line manual's section that describes
! the command bound to that key.
! l view-lossage. Show last 100 characters you typed.
! L describe-language-environment. This describes either a
! specific language environment (if you type its name)
! or the current language environment (if you type just RET).
! m describe-mode. Display documentation of current minor modes,
! and the current major mode, including their special commands.
! n view-emacs-news. Display news of recent Emacs changes.
! p finder-by-keyword. Find packages matching a given topic keyword.
! r info-emacs-manual. Display the Emacs manual in Info mode.
! s describe-syntax. Display contents of syntax table, plus explanations.
! S info-lookup-symbol. Type a symbol; it goes to that symbol in the
! on-line manual for the programming language used in this buffer.
! t help-with-tutorial. Select the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial.
! v describe-variable. Type name of a variable;
! it displays the variable's documentation and value.
! w where-is. Type a command name; it displays which keystrokes
! invoke that command.
! . display-local-help. Display any available local help at point
! in the echo area.
!
! C-c Display Emacs copying permission (GNU General Public License).
! C-d Display Emacs ordering information.
! C-e Display info about Emacs problems.
! C-f Display the Emacs FAQ.
! C-m Display how to order printed Emacs manuals.
! C-n Display news of recent Emacs changes.
! C-p Display information about the GNU project.
! C-t Display the Emacs TODO list.
! C-w Display information on absence of warranty for GNU Emacs."
help-map)
\f
--- 180,230 ----
(defalias 'help-for-help 'help-for-help-internal)
;; It can't find this, but nobody will look.
(make-help-screen help-for-help-internal
! "Type a help option: [abcCdefFgiIkKlLmnprstvw.] C-[cdefmnoptw] or ?"
"You have typed %THIS-KEY%, the help character. Type a Help option:
\(Use SPC or DEL to scroll through this text. Type \\<help-map>\\[help-quit] to exit the Help command.)
! a PATTERN Show a list of commands whose name matches the PATTERN (a list
! of words or a regexp). See also the `apropos' command.
! b Display a table of all key bindings.
! c KEYS Display the command name run by the given key sequence.
! C CODING Describe the given coding system, or RET for current ones.
! d PATTERN Show a list of functions, variables, and other items whose
! documentation matches the PATTERN (a list of words or a regexp).
! e Go to the buffer that logs echo-area messages (*Messages*).
! f FUNCTION Display documentation for the given function.
! F COMMAND Show the on-line manual's section that describes the command.
! g Display information about the GNU project.
! h Display the HELLO file which illustrates various scripts.
! i Start the Info documentation reader: read on-line manuals.
! I METHOD Describe a specific input method, or RET for current.
! k KEYS Display the full documentation for the key sequence.
! K KEYS Show the on-line manual's section for the command bound to KEYS.
! l Show last 100 characters you typed (lossage).
! L LANG-ENV Describes a specific language environment, or RET for current.
! m Display documentation of current minor modes and current major mode,
! including their special commands.
! n Display news of recent Emacs changes.
! p TOPIC Find packages matching a given topic keyword.
! r Display the Emacs manual in Info mode.
! s Display contents of current syntax table, plus explanations.
! S SYMBOL Show the section for the given symbol in the on-line manual
! for the programming language used in this buffer.
! t Start the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial.
! v VARIABLE Display the given variable's documentation and value.
! w COMMAND Display which keystrokes invoke the given command (where-is).
! . Display any available local help at point in the echo area.
!
! C-c Display Emacs copying permission (GNU General Public License).
! C-d Display instructions for debugging GNU Emacs.
! C-e Display external packages and information about Emacs.
! C-f Display the Emacs FAQ.
! C-m Display how to order printed Emacs manuals.
! C-n Display news of recent Emacs changes.
! C-o Display Emacs ordering information.
! C-p Display info about Emacs problems.
! C-t Display the Emacs TODO list.
! C-w Display information on absence of warranty for GNU Emacs."
help-map)
\f
***************
*** 279,300 ****
\f
;;; `User' help functions
(defun describe-distribution ()
"Display info on how to obtain the latest version of GNU Emacs."
(interactive)
! (view-file (expand-file-name "DISTRIB" data-directory)))
(defun describe-copying ()
"Display info on how you may redistribute copies of GNU Emacs."
(interactive)
! (view-file (expand-file-name "COPYING" data-directory))
! (goto-char (point-min)))
! (defun describe-project ()
"Display info on the GNU project."
(interactive)
! (view-file (expand-file-name "THE-GNU-PROJECT" data-directory))
! (goto-char (point-min)))
(defun describe-no-warranty ()
"Display info on all the kinds of warranty Emacs does NOT have."
--- 270,294 ----
\f
;;; `User' help functions
+ (defun view-help-file (file &optional dir)
+ (view-file (expand-file-name file (or dir data-directory)))
+ (goto-address)
+ (goto-char (point-min)))
+
(defun describe-distribution ()
"Display info on how to obtain the latest version of GNU Emacs."
(interactive)
! (view-help-file "DISTRIB"))
(defun describe-copying ()
"Display info on how you may redistribute copies of GNU Emacs."
(interactive)
! (view-help-file "COPYING"))
! (defun describe-gnu-project ()
"Display info on the GNU project."
(interactive)
! (view-help-file "THE-GNU-PROJECT"))
(defun describe-no-warranty ()
"Display info on all the kinds of warranty Emacs does NOT have."
***************
*** 397,403 ****
(defun view-todo (&optional arg)
"Display the Emacs TODO list."
(interactive "P")
! (view-file (expand-file-name "TODO" data-directory)))
(defun view-echo-area-messages ()
"View the log of recent echo-area messages: the `*Messages*' buffer.
--- 391,397 ----
(defun view-todo (&optional arg)
"Display the Emacs TODO list."
(interactive "P")
! (view-help-file "TODO"))
(defun view-echo-area-messages ()
"View the log of recent echo-area messages: the `*Messages*' buffer.
***************
*** 409,416 ****
(defun view-order-manuals ()
"Display the Emacs ORDERS file."
(interactive)
! (view-file (expand-file-name "ORDERS" data-directory))
! (goto-address))
(defun view-emacs-FAQ ()
"Display the Emacs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file."
--- 403,409 ----
(defun view-order-manuals ()
"Display the Emacs ORDERS file."
(interactive)
! (view-help-file "ORDERS"))
(defun view-emacs-FAQ ()
"Display the Emacs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file."
***************
*** 421,427 ****
(defun view-emacs-problems ()
"Display info on known problems with Emacs and possible workarounds."
(interactive)
! (view-file (expand-file-name "PROBLEMS" data-directory)))
(defun view-lossage ()
"Display last 100 input keystrokes.
--- 414,430 ----
(defun view-emacs-problems ()
"Display info on known problems with Emacs and possible workarounds."
(interactive)
! (view-help-file "PROBLEMS"))
!
! (defun view-emacs-debugging ()
! "Display info on how to debug Emacs problems."
! (interactive)
! (view-help-file "DEBUG"))
!
! (defun view-external-packages ()
! "Display external packages and information about Emacs."
! (interactive)
! (view-help-file "MORE.STUFF"))
(defun view-lossage ()
"Display last 100 input keystrokes.
--
Kim F. Storm <storm@cua.dk> http://www.cua.dk
next reply other threads:[~2007-03-01 23:32 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 2+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2007-03-01 23:32 Kim F. Storm [this message]
2007-03-02 8:26 ` C-h help cleanup and improvements Richard Stallman
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