Re: Search/Replace manual changes.

[David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org>]

Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org> writes:

> David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org> writes:
> > Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org> writes:
> >> David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org> writes:
> >> >  @example
> >> > -M-x query-replace @key{RET} x @key{RET} @@TEMP@@ @key{RET}
> >> > -M-x query-replace @key{RET} y @key{RET} x @key{RET}
> >> > -M-x query-replace @key{RET} @@TEMP@@ @key{RET} y @key{RET}
> >> > +M-x replace-string @key{RET} x @key{RET} @@TEMP@@ @key{RET}
> >> > +M-< M-x replace-string @key{RET} y @key{RET} x @key{RET}
> >> > +M-< M-x replace-string @key{RET} @@TEMP@@ @key{RET} y @key{RET}
> >> >  @end example
> >> 
> >> I think this example should be removed from the Emacs manual
> >> completely.  Using three commands to exchange words is too clumsy.
> >> When reading the Emacs manual the users will mis-spend their time at
> >> understanding and remembering this example not knowing that a better
> >> method to do this is shown in the next chapter.
> >
> > But the method in the next chapter requires a basic Lisp
> > understanding.  It is an advanced technique.  Granted, probably one of
> > the easiest, and probably a nice incentive for learning, but it is
> > still an advanced technique.
> 
> It's not difficult even for beginners to substitute own values
> for "x" and "y".

But the beginner would not want to look up the required Lisp strings
for a simple operation each time in the manual.  The above is just a
_trick_: once you are told it, it sticks.  And it is a short, yet not
non-trivial combination of things.

What kind of example would you prefer?

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum