GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual

This Info file contains edition 2.8 of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual, corresponding to GNU Emacs version 21.2.

1. Introduction		Introduction and conventions used.
D.1 Emacs Lisp Coding Conventions		Coding conventions for Emacs Lisp.

2. Lisp Data Types		Data types of objects in Emacs Lisp.
3. Numbers		Numbers and arithmetic functions.
4. Strings and Characters		Strings, and functions that work on them.
5. Lists		Lists, cons cells, and related functions.
6. Sequences, Arrays, and Vectors		Lists, strings and vectors are called sequences. Certain functions act on any kind of sequence. The description of vectors is here as well.
7. Hash Tables		Very fast lookup-tables.
8. Symbols		Symbols represent names, uniquely.

9. Evaluation		How Lisp expressions are evaluated.
10. Control Structures		Conditionals, loops, nonlocal exits.
11. Variables		Using symbols in programs to stand for values.
12. Functions		A function is a Lisp program that can be invoked from other functions.
13. Macros		Macros are a way to extend the Lisp language.
14. Writing Customization Definitions		Writing customization declarations.

15. Loading		Reading files of Lisp code into Lisp.
16. Byte Compilation		Compilation makes programs run faster.
17. Advising Emacs Lisp Functions		Adding to the definition of a function.
18. Debugging Lisp Programs		Tools and tips for debugging Lisp programs.

19. Reading and Printing Lisp Objects		Converting Lisp objects to text and back.
20. Minibuffers		Using the minibuffer to read input.
21. Command Loop		How the editor command loop works, and how you can call its subroutines.
22. Keymaps		Defining the bindings from keys to commands.
23. Major and Minor Modes		Defining major and minor modes.
24. Documentation		Writing and using documentation strings.

25. Files		Accessing files.
26. Backups and Auto-Saving		Controlling how backups and auto-save files are made.
27. Buffers		Creating and using buffer objects.
28. Windows		Manipulating windows and displaying buffers.
29. Frames		Making multiple X windows.
30. Positions		Buffer positions and motion functions.
31. Markers		Markers represent positions and update automatically when the text is changed.

32. Text		Examining and changing text in buffers.
33. Non-ASCII Characters		Non-ASCII text in buffers and strings.
34. Searching and Matching		Searching buffers for strings or regexps.
35. Syntax Tables		The syntax table controls word and list parsing.
36. Abbrevs and Abbrev Expansion		How Abbrev mode works, and its data structures.

37. Processes		Running and communicating with subprocesses.
38. Emacs Display		Features for controlling the screen display.
39. Customizing the Calendar and Diary		Customizing the calendar and diary.
40. Operating System Interface		Getting the user id, system type, environment variables, and other such things.

Appendices

A. Emacs 20 Antinews		Info for users downgrading to Emacs 20.
B. GNU Free Documentation License		The license for this documentation
C. GNU General Public License		Conditions for copying and changing GNU Emacs.
D. Tips and Conventions		Advice and coding conventions for Emacs Lisp.
E. GNU Emacs Internals		Building and dumping Emacs; internal data structures.
F. Standard Errors		List of all error symbols.
G. Buffer-Local Variables		List of variables buffer-local in all buffers.
H. Standard Keymaps		List of standard keymaps.
I. Standard Hooks		List of standard hook variables.

Index

Index including concepts, functions, variables, and other terms.

New Symbols Since the Previous Edition

New functions and variables in Emacs 21.

      -- The Detailed Node Listing ---

Here are other nodes that are inferiors of those already listed,
mentioned here so you can get to them in one step:

Introduction

1.1 Caveats		Flaws and a request for help.
1.2 Lisp History		Emacs Lisp is descended from Maclisp.
1.3 Conventions		How the manual is formatted.
1.5 Acknowledgements		The authors, editors, and sponsors of this manual.

Conventions

1.3.1 Some Terms		Explanation of terms we use in this manual.
1.3.2 nil and t		How the symbols nil and t are used.
1.3.3 Evaluation Notation		The format we use for examples of evaluation.
1.3.4 Printing Notation		The format we use for examples that print output.
1.3.5 Error Messages		The format we use for examples of errors.
1.3.6 Buffer Text Notation		The format we use for buffer contents in examples.
1.3.7 Format of Descriptions		Notation for describing functions, variables, etc.

Tips and Conventions

D.1 Emacs Lisp Coding Conventions		Conventions for clean and robust programs.
D.2 Tips for Making Compiled Code Fast		Making compiled code run fast.
D.3 Tips for Documentation Strings		Writing readable documentation strings.
D.4 Tips on Writing Comments		Conventions for writing comments.
D.5 Conventional Headers for Emacs Libraries		Standard headers for library packages.

Format of Descriptions

1.3.7.1 A Sample Function Description
1.3.7.2 A Sample Variable Description

Lisp Data Types

2.1 Printed Representation and Read Syntax		How Lisp objects are represented as text.
2.2 Comments		Comments and their formatting conventions.
2.3 Programming Types		Types found in all Lisp systems.
2.4 Editing Types		Types specific to Emacs.
2.6 Type Predicates		Tests related to types.
2.7 Equality Predicates		Tests of equality between any two objects.

Programming Types

2.3.1 Integer Type		Numbers without fractional parts.
2.3.2 Floating Point Type		Numbers with fractional parts and with a large range.
2.3.3 Character Type		The representation of letters, numbers and control characters.
2.3.5 Sequence Types		Both lists and arrays are classified as sequences.
2.3.6 Cons Cell and List Types		Cons cells, and lists (which are made from cons cells).
2.3.7 Array Type		Arrays include strings and vectors.
2.3.8 String Type		An (efficient) array of characters.
2.3.9 Vector Type		One-dimensional arrays.
2.3.4 Symbol Type		A multi-use object that refers to a function, variable, property list, or itself.
2.3.13 Function Type		A piece of executable code you can call from elsewhere.
2.3.14 Macro Type		A method of expanding an expression into another expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
2.3.15 Primitive Function Type		A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
2.3.16 Byte-Code Function Type		A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
2.3.17 Autoload Type		A type used for automatically loading seldom-used functions.

List Type

2.3.6.1 Dotted Pair Notation		An alternative syntax for lists.
2.3.6.2 Association List Type		A specially constructed list.

Editing Types

2.4.1 Buffer Type		The basic object of editing.
2.4.3 Window Type		What makes buffers visible.
2.4.5 Window Configuration Type		Save what the screen looks like.
2.4.2 Marker Type		A position in a buffer.
2.4.7 Process Type		A process running on the underlying OS.
2.4.8 Stream Type		Receive or send characters.
2.4.9 Keymap Type		What function a keystroke invokes.
2.4.10 Overlay Type		How an overlay is represented.

Numbers

3.1 Integer Basics		Representation and range of integers.
3.2 Floating Point Basics		Representation and range of floating point.
3.3 Type Predicates for Numbers		Testing for numbers.
3.4 Comparison of Numbers		Equality and inequality predicates.
3.6 Arithmetic Operations		How to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
3.8 Bitwise Operations on Integers		Logical and, or, not, shifting.
3.5 Numeric Conversions		Converting float to integer and vice versa.
3.9 Standard Mathematical Functions		Trig, exponential and logarithmic functions.
3.10 Random Numbers		Obtaining random integers, predictable or not.

Strings and Characters

4.1 String and Character Basics		Basic properties of strings and characters.
4.2 The Predicates for Strings		Testing whether an object is a string or char.
4.3 Creating Strings		Functions to allocate new strings.
4.5 Comparison of Characters and Strings		Comparing characters or strings.
4.6 Conversion of Characters and Strings		Converting characters or strings and vice versa.
4.7 Formatting Strings		format: Emacs's analogue of printf.
4.8 Case Conversion in Lisp		Case conversion functions.

Lists

5.1 Lists and Cons Cells		How lists are made out of cons cells.
5.2 Lists as Linked Pairs of Boxes		Graphical notation to explain lists.
5.3 Predicates on Lists		Is this object a list? Comparing two lists.
5.4 Accessing Elements of Lists		Extracting the pieces of a list.
5.5 Building Cons Cells and Lists		Creating list structure.
5.6 Modifying Existing List Structure		Storing new pieces into an existing list.
5.7 Using Lists as Sets		A list can represent a finite mathematical set.
5.8 Association Lists		A list can represent a finite relation or mapping.

Modifying Existing List Structure

5.6.1 Altering List Elements with setcar		Replacing an element in a list.
5.6.2 Altering the CDR of a List		Replacing part of the list backbone. This can be used to remove or add elements.
5.6.3 Functions that Rearrange Lists		Reordering the elements in a list; combining lists.

Sequences, Arrays, and Vectors

6.1 Sequences		Functions that accept any kind of sequence.
6.2 Arrays		Characteristics of arrays in Emacs Lisp.
6.3 Functions that Operate on Arrays		Functions specifically for arrays.
6.4 Vectors		Functions specifically for vectors.

Symbols

8.1 Symbol Components		Symbols have names, values, function definitions and property lists.
8.2 Defining Symbols		A definition says how a symbol will be used.
8.3 Creating and Interning Symbols		How symbols are kept unique.
8.4 Property Lists		Each symbol has a property list for recording miscellaneous information.

Evaluation

9.1 Introduction to Evaluation		Evaluation in the scheme of things.
9.4 Eval		How to invoke the Lisp interpreter explicitly.
9.2 Kinds of Forms		How various sorts of objects are evaluated.
9.3 Quoting		Avoiding evaluation (to put constants in the program).

Kinds of Forms

9.2.1 Self-Evaluating Forms		Forms that evaluate to themselves.
9.2.2 Symbol Forms		Symbols evaluate as variables.
9.2.3 Classification of List Forms		How to distinguish various sorts of list forms.
9.2.5 Evaluation of Function Forms		Forms that call functions.
9.2.6 Lisp Macro Evaluation		Forms that call macros.
9.2.7 Special Forms		"Special forms" are idiosyncratic primitives, most of them extremely important.
9.2.8 Autoloading		Functions set up to load files containing their real definitions.

Control Structures

10.1 Sequencing		Evaluation in textual order.
10.2 Conditionals		if, cond.
10.3 Constructs for Combining Conditions		and, or, not.
10.4 Iteration		while loops.
10.5 Nonlocal Exits		Jumping out of a sequence.

Nonlocal Exits

10.5.1 Explicit Nonlocal Exits: catch and throw		Nonlocal exits for the program's own purposes.
10.5.2 Examples of catch and throw		Showing how such nonlocal exits can be written.
10.5.3 Errors		How errors are signaled and handled.
10.5.4 Cleaning Up from Nonlocal Exits		Arranging to run a cleanup form if an error happens.

Errors

10.5.3.1 How to Signal an Error		How to report an error.
10.5.3.2 How Emacs Processes Errors		What Emacs does when you report an error.
10.5.3.3 Writing Code to Handle Errors		How you can trap errors and continue execution.
10.5.3.4 Error Symbols and Condition Names		How errors are classified for trapping them.

Variables

11.1 Global Variables		Variable values that exist permanently, everywhere.
11.2 Variables that Never Change		Certain "variables" have values that never change.
11.3 Local Variables		Variable values that exist only temporarily.
11.4 When a Variable is "Void"		Symbols that lack values.
11.5 Defining Global Variables		A definition says a symbol is used as a variable.
11.7 Accessing Variable Values		Examining values of variables whose names are known only at run time.
11.8 How to Alter a Variable Value		Storing new values in variables.
11.9 Scoping Rules for Variable Bindings		How Lisp chooses among local and global values.
11.10 Buffer-Local Variables		Variable values in effect only in one buffer.

Scoping Rules for Variable Bindings

11.9.1 Scope		Scope means where in the program a value is visible. Comparison with other languages.
11.9.2 Extent		Extent means how long in time a value exists.
11.9.3 Implementation of Dynamic Scoping		Two ways to implement dynamic scoping.
11.9.4 Proper Use of Dynamic Scoping		How to use dynamic scoping carefully and avoid problems.

Buffer-Local Variables

11.10.1 Introduction to Buffer-Local Variables		Introduction and concepts.
11.10.2 Creating and Deleting Buffer-Local Bindings		Creating and destroying buffer-local bindings.
11.10.3 The Default Value of a Buffer-Local Variable		The default value is seen in buffers that don't have their own buffer-local values.

Functions

12.1 What Is a Function?		Lisp functions vs primitives; terminology.
12.2 Lambda Expressions		How functions are expressed as Lisp objects.
12.3 Naming a Function		A symbol can serve as the name of a function.
12.4 Defining Functions		Lisp expressions for defining functions.
12.5 Calling Functions		How to use an existing function.
12.6 Mapping Functions		Applying a function to each element of a list, etc.
12.7 Anonymous Functions		Lambda-expressions are functions with no names.
12.8 Accessing Function Cell Contents		Accessing or setting the function definition of a symbol.
12.10 Other Topics Related to Functions		Cross-references to specific Lisp primitives that have a special bearing on how functions work.

Lambda Expressions

12.2.1 Components of a Lambda Expression		The parts of a lambda expression.
12.2.2 A Simple Lambda-Expression Example		A simple example.
12.2.3 Other Features of Argument Lists		Details and special features of argument lists.
12.2.4 Documentation Strings of Functions		How to put documentation in a function.

Macros

13.1 A Simple Example of a Macro		A basic example.
13.2 Expansion of a Macro Call		How, when and why macros are expanded.
13.3 Macros and Byte Compilation		How macros are expanded by the compiler.
13.4 Defining Macros		How to write a macro definition.
13.5 Backquote		Easier construction of list structure.
13.6 Common Problems Using Macros		Don't evaluate the macro arguments too many times. Don't hide the user's variables.

Loading

15.1 How Programs Do Loading		The load function and others.
15.4 Autoload		Setting up a function to autoload.
15.6 Features		Loading a library if it isn't already loaded.
15.5 Repeated Loading		Precautions about loading a file twice.

Byte Compilation

16.2 The Compilation Functions		Byte compilation functions.
16.7 Disassembled Byte-Code		Disassembling byte-code; how to read byte-code.

Advising Functions

17.1 A Simple Advice Example		A simple example to explain the basics of advice.
17.2 Defining Advice		Detailed description of defadvice.
17.4 Computed Advice		...is to defadvice as fset is to defun.
17.5 Activation of Advice		Advice doesn't do anything until you activate it.
17.6 Enabling and Disabling Advice		You can enable or disable each piece of advice.
17.7 Preactivation		Preactivation is a way of speeding up the loading of compiled advice.
17.8 Argument Access in Advice		How advice can access the function's arguments.
17.9 Definition of Subr Argument Lists		Accessing arguments when advising a primitive.
17.10 The Combined Definition		How advice is implemented.

Debugging Lisp Programs

18.1 The Lisp Debugger		How the Emacs Lisp debugger is implemented.
18.3 Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax		How to find syntax errors.
18.4 Debugging Problems in Compilation		How to find errors that show up in byte compilation.
18.2 Edebug		A source-level Emacs Lisp debugger.

                                
The Lisp Debugger

18.1.1 Entering the Debugger on an Error		Entering the debugger when an error happens.
18.1.3 Entering the Debugger on a Function Call		Entering it when a certain function is called.
18.1.4 Explicit Entry to the Debugger		Entering it at a certain point in the program.
18.1.5 Using the Debugger		What the debugger does; what you see while in it.
18.1.6 Debugger Commands		Commands used while in the debugger.
18.1.7 Invoking the Debugger		How to call the function debug.
18.1.8 Internals of the Debugger		Subroutines of the debugger, and global variables.

Debugging Invalid Lisp Syntax

18.3.1 Excess Open Parentheses		How to find a spurious open paren or missing close.
18.3.2 Excess Close Parentheses		How to find a spurious close paren or missing open.

Reading and Printing Lisp Objects

19.1 Introduction to Reading and Printing		Overview of streams, reading and printing.
19.2 Input Streams		Various data types that can be used as input streams.
19.3 Input Functions		Functions to read Lisp objects from text.
19.4 Output Streams		Various data types that can be used as output streams.
19.5 Output Functions		Functions to print Lisp objects as text.

Minibuffers

20.1 Introduction to Minibuffers		Basic information about minibuffers.
20.2 Reading Text Strings with the Minibuffer		How to read a straight text string.
20.3 Reading Lisp Objects with the Minibuffer		How to read a Lisp object or expression.
20.5 Completion		How to invoke and customize completion.
20.6 Yes-or-No Queries		Asking a question with a simple answer.
20.9 Minibuffer Miscellany		Various customization hooks and variables.

Completion

20.5.1 Basic Completion Functions

Low-level functions for completing strings.

                              (These are too low level to use the minibuffer.)

20.5.2 Completion and the Minibuffer		Invoking the minibuffer with completion.
20.5.3 Minibuffer Commands that Do Completion		Minibuffer commands that do completion.
20.5.4 High-Level Completion Functions		Convenient special cases of completion

                              (reading buffer name, file name, etc.)

20.5.5 Reading File Names		Using completion to read file names.
20.5.6 Programmed Completion		Finding the completions for a given file name.

Command Loop

21.1 Command Loop Overview		How the command loop reads commands.
21.2 Defining Commands		Specifying how a function should read arguments.
21.3 Interactive Call		Calling a command, so that it will read arguments.
21.4 Information from the Command Loop		Variables set by the command loop for you to examine.
21.6 Input Events		What input looks like when you read it.
21.7 Reading Input		How to read input events from the keyboard or mouse.
21.9 Waiting for Elapsed Time or Input		Waiting for user input or elapsed time.
21.10 Quitting		How C-g works. How to catch or defer quitting.
21.11 Prefix Command Arguments		How the commands to set prefix args work.
21.12 Recursive Editing		Entering a recursive edit, and why you usually shouldn't.
21.13 Disabling Commands		How the command loop handles disabled commands.
21.14 Command History		How the command history is set up, and how accessed.
21.15 Keyboard Macros		How keyboard macros are implemented.

Defining Commands

21.2.1 Using interactive		General rules for interactive.
21.2.2 Code Characters for interactive		The standard letter-codes for reading arguments in various ways.
21.2.3 Examples of Using interactive		Examples of how to read interactive arguments.

Keymaps

22.1 Keymap Terminology		Definitions of terms pertaining to keymaps.
22.2 Format of Keymaps		What a keymap looks like as a Lisp object.
22.3 Creating Keymaps		Functions to create and copy keymaps.
22.4 Inheritance and Keymaps		How one keymap can inherit the bindings of another keymap.
22.5 Prefix Keys		Defining a key with a keymap as its definition.
22.12 Menu Keymaps		A keymap can define a menu for X or for use from the terminal.
22.6 Active Keymaps		Each buffer has a local keymap to override the standard (global) bindings. Each minor mode can also override them.
22.7 Key Lookup		How extracting elements from keymaps works.
22.8 Functions for Key Lookup		How to request key lookup.
22.9 Changing Key Bindings		Redefining a key in a keymap.
22.10 Commands for Binding Keys		Interactive interfaces for redefining keys.
22.11 Scanning Keymaps		Looking through all keymaps, for printing help.

Major and Minor Modes

23.1 Major Modes		Defining major modes.
23.2 Minor Modes		Defining minor modes.
23.3 Mode Line Format		Customizing the text that appears in the mode line.
23.6 Hooks		How to use hooks; how to write code that provides hooks.

Major Modes

23.1.1 Major Mode Conventions		Coding conventions for keymaps, etc.
23.1.2 Major Mode Examples		Text mode and Lisp modes.
23.1.3 How Emacs Chooses a Major Mode		How Emacs chooses the major mode automatically.
23.1.4 Getting Help about a Major Mode		Finding out how to use a mode.

Minor Modes

23.2.1 Conventions for Writing Minor Modes		Tips for writing a minor mode.
23.2.2 Keymaps and Minor Modes		How a minor mode can have its own keymap.

Mode Line Format

23.3.1 The Data Structure of the Mode Line		The data structure that controls the mode line.
23.3.2 Variables Used in the Mode Line		Variables used in that data structure.
23.3.3 %-Constructs in the Mode Line		Putting information into a mode line.

Documentation

24.1 Documentation Basics		Good style for doc strings. Where to put them. How Emacs stores them.
24.2 Access to Documentation Strings		How Lisp programs can access doc strings.
24.3 Substituting Key Bindings in Documentation		Substituting current key bindings.
24.4 Describing Characters for Help Messages		Making printable descriptions of non-printing characters and key sequences.
24.5 Help Functions		Subroutines used by Emacs help facilities.

Files

25.1 Visiting Files		Reading files into Emacs buffers for editing.
25.2 Saving Buffers		Writing changed buffers back into files.
25.3 Reading from Files		Reading files into other buffers.
25.4 Writing to Files		Writing new files from parts of buffers.
25.5 File Locks		Locking and unlocking files, to prevent simultaneous editing by two people.
25.6 Information about Files		Testing existence, accessibility, size of files.
25.9 Contents of Directories		Getting a list of the files in a directory.
25.7 Changing File Names and Attributes		Renaming files, changing protection, etc.
25.8 File Names		Decomposing and expanding file names.

Visiting Files

25.1.1 Functions for Visiting Files		The usual interface functions for visiting.
25.1.2 Subroutines of Visiting		Lower-level subroutines that they use.

Information about Files

25.6.1 Testing Accessibility		Is a given file readable? Writable?
25.6.2 Distinguishing Kinds of Files		Is it a directory? A link?
25.6.4 Other Information about Files		How large is it? Any other names? Etc.

File Names

25.8.1 File Name Components		The directory part of a file name, and the rest.
25.8.2 Directory Names		A directory's name as a directory is different from its name as a file.
25.8.3 Absolute and Relative File Names		Some file names are relative to a current directory.
25.8.4 Functions that Expand Filenames		Converting relative file names to absolute ones.
25.8.5 Generating Unique File Names		Generating names for temporary files.
25.8.6 File Name Completion		Finding the completions for a given file name.

Backups and Auto-Saving

26.1 Backup Files		How backup files are made; how their names are chosen.
26.2 Auto-Saving		How auto-save files are made; how their names are chosen.
26.3 Reverting		revert-buffer, and how to customize what it does.

Backup Files

26.1.1 Making Backup Files		How Emacs makes backup files, and when.
26.1.2 Backup by Renaming or by Copying?		Two alternatives: renaming the old file or copying it.
26.1.3 Making and Deleting Numbered Backup Files		Keeping multiple backups for each source file.
26.1.4 Naming Backup Files		How backup file names are computed; customization.

Buffers

27.1 Buffer Basics		What is a buffer?
27.3 Buffer Names		Accessing and changing buffer names.
27.4 Buffer File Name		The buffer file name indicates which file is visited.
27.5 Buffer Modification		A buffer is modified if it needs to be saved.
27.6 Comparison of Modification Time		Determining whether the visited file was changed

                              "behind Emacs's back".

27.7 Read-Only Buffers		Modifying text is not allowed in a read-only buffer.
27.8 The Buffer List		How to look at all the existing buffers.
27.9 Creating Buffers		Functions that create buffers.
27.10 Killing Buffers		Buffers exist until explicitly killed.
27.2 The Current Buffer		Designating a buffer as current so primitives will access its contents.

Windows

28.1 Basic Concepts of Emacs Windows		Basic information on using windows.
28.2 Splitting Windows		Splitting one window into two windows.
28.3 Deleting Windows		Deleting a window gives its space to other windows.
28.4 Selecting Windows		The selected window is the one that you edit in.
28.5 Cyclic Ordering of Windows		Moving around the existing windows.
28.6 Buffers and Windows		Each window displays the contents of a buffer.
28.7 Displaying Buffers in Windows		Higher-lever functions for displaying a buffer and choosing a window for it.
28.9 Windows and Point		Each window has its own location of point.
28.10 The Window Start Position		The display-start position controls which text is on-screen in the window.
28.12 Vertical Fractional Scrolling		Moving text up and down in the window.
28.13 Horizontal Scrolling		Moving text sideways on the window.
28.14 The Size of a Window		Accessing the size of a window.
28.15 Changing the Size of a Window		Changing the size of a window.
28.17 Window Configurations		Saving and restoring the state of the screen.

Frames

29.1 Creating Frames		Creating additional frames.
29.2 Multiple Displays		Creating frames on other X displays.
29.3 Frame Parameters		Controlling frame size, position, font, etc.
29.4 Frame Titles		Automatic updating of frame titles.
29.5 Deleting Frames		Frames last until explicitly deleted.
29.6 Finding All Frames		How to examine all existing frames.
29.7 Frames and Windows		A frame contains windows; display of text always works through windows.
29.8 Minibuffers and Frames		How a frame finds the minibuffer to use.
29.9 Input Focus		Specifying the selected frame.
29.10 Visibility of Frames		Frames may be visible or invisible, or icons.
29.11 Raising and Lowering Frames		Raising a frame makes it hide other X windows; lowering it puts it underneath the others.
29.12 Frame Configurations		Saving the state of all frames.
29.13 Mouse Tracking		Getting events that say when the mouse moves.
29.14 Mouse Position		Asking where the mouse is, or moving it.
29.15 Pop-Up Menus		Displaying a menu for the user to select from.
29.16 Dialog Boxes		Displaying a box to ask yes or no.
29.17 Pointer Shapes		Specifying the shape of the mouse pointer.
29.18 Window System Selections		Transferring text to and from other windows.
29.19 Color Names		Getting the definitions of color names.
29.21 X Resources		Getting resource values from the server.
29.22 Display Feature Testing		Determining the features of a terminal.

Positions

30.1 Point		The special position where editing takes place.
30.2 Motion		Changing point.
30.3 Excursions		Temporary motion and buffer changes.
30.4 Narrowing		Restricting editing to a portion of the buffer.

Motion

30.2.1 Motion by Characters		Moving in terms of characters.
30.2.2 Motion by Words		Moving in terms of words.
30.2.3 Motion to an End of the Buffer		Moving to the beginning or end of the buffer.
30.2.4 Motion by Text Lines		Moving in terms of lines of text.
30.2.5 Motion by Screen Lines		Moving in terms of lines as displayed.
30.2.6 Moving over Balanced Expressions		Moving by parsing lists and sexps.
30.2.7 Skipping Characters		Skipping characters belonging to a certain set.

Markers

31.1 Overview of Markers		The components of a marker, and how it relocates.
31.2 Predicates on Markers		Testing whether an object is a marker.
31.3 Functions that Create Markers		Making empty markers or markers at certain places.
31.4 Information from Markers		Finding the marker's buffer or character position.
31.6 Moving Marker Positions		Moving the marker to a new buffer or position.
31.7 The Mark		How "the mark" is implemented with a marker.
31.8 The Region		How to access "the region".

Text

32.1 Examining Text Near Point		Examining text in the vicinity of point.
32.2 Examining Buffer Contents		Examining text in a general fashion.
32.4 Inserting Text		Adding new text to a buffer.
32.5 User-Level Insertion Commands		User-level commands to insert text.
32.6 Deleting Text		Removing text from a buffer.
32.7 User-Level Deletion Commands		User-level commands to delete text.
32.8 The Kill Ring		Where removed text sometimes is saved for later use.
32.9 Undo		Undoing changes to the text of a buffer.
32.14 Auto Filling		How auto-fill mode is implemented to break lines.
32.11 Filling		Functions for explicit filling.
32.12 Margins for Filling		How to specify margins for filling commands.
32.15 Sorting Text		Functions for sorting parts of the buffer.
32.17 Indentation		Functions to insert or adjust indentation.
32.16 Counting Columns		Computing horizontal positions, and using them.
32.18 Case Changes		Case conversion of parts of the buffer.
32.19 Text Properties		Assigning Lisp property lists to text characters.
32.20 Substituting for a Character Code		Replacing a given character wherever it appears.
32.22 Transposition of Text		Swapping two portions of a buffer.
32.21 Registers		How registers are implemented. Accessing the text or position stored in a register.
32.25 Change Hooks		Supplying functions to be run when text is changed.

                              
The Kill Ring

32.8.1 Kill Ring Concepts		What text looks like in the kill ring.
32.8.2 Functions for Killing		Functions that kill text.
32.8.3 Functions for Yanking		Commands that access the kill ring.
32.8.4 Low-Level Kill Ring		Functions and variables for kill ring access.
32.8.5 Internals of the Kill Ring		Variables that hold kill-ring data.

Indentation

32.17.1 Indentation Primitives		Functions used to count and insert indentation.
32.17.2 Indentation Controlled by Major Mode		Customize indentation for different modes.
32.17.3 Indenting an Entire Region		Indent all the lines in a region.
32.17.4 Indentation Relative to Previous Lines		Indent the current line based on previous lines.
32.17.5 Adjustable "Tab Stops"		Adjustable, typewriter-like tab stops.
32.17.6 Indentation-Based Motion Commands		Move to first non-blank character.

Text Properties

32.19.1 Examining Text Properties		Looking at the properties of one character.
32.19.2 Changing Text Properties		Setting the properties of a range of text.
32.19.3 Text Property Search Functions		Searching for where a property changes value.
32.19.4 Properties with Special Meanings		Particular properties with special meanings.
32.19.5 Formatted Text Properties		Properties for representing formatting of text.
32.19.6 Stickiness of Text Properties		How inserted text gets properties from neighboring text.
32.19.7 Saving Text Properties in Files		Saving text properties in files, and reading them back.
32.19.8 Lazy Computation of Text Properties		Computing text properties in a lazy fashion only when text is examined.
32.19.9 Defining Clickable Text		Using text properties to make regions of text do something when you click on them.
32.19.10 Defining and Using Fields		The field property defines fields within the buffer.
32.19.11 Why Text Properties are not Intervals		Why text properties do not use Lisp-visible text intervals.

Non-ASCII Characters

33.1 Text Representations		Unibyte and multibyte representations
33.2 Converting Text Representations		Converting unibyte to multibyte and vice versa.
33.3 Selecting a Representation		Treating a byte sequence as unibyte or multi.
33.4 Character Codes		How unibyte and multibyte relate to codes of individual characters.
33.5 Character Sets		The space of possible characters codes is divided into various character sets.
33.6 Characters and Bytes		More information about multibyte encodings.
33.7 Splitting Characters		Converting a character to its byte sequence.
33.8 Scanning for Character Sets		Which character sets are used in a buffer?
33.9 Translation of Characters		Translation tables are used for conversion.
33.10 Coding Systems		Coding systems are conversions for saving files.
33.11 Input Methods		Input methods allow users to enter various non-ASCII characters without special keyboards.
33.12 Locales		Interacting with the POSIX locale.

Searching and Matching

34.1 Searching for Strings		Search for an exact match.
34.2 Regular Expressions		Describing classes of strings.
34.3 Regular Expression Searching		Searching for a match for a regexp.
34.6 The Match Data		Finding out which part of the text matched various parts of a regexp, after regexp search.
34.6.4 Saving and Restoring the Match Data		Saving and restoring this information.
34.8 Standard Regular Expressions Used in Editing		Useful regexps for finding sentences, pages,...
34.7 Searching and Case		Case-independent or case-significant searching.

Regular Expressions

34.2.1 Syntax of Regular Expressions		Rules for writing regular expressions.
34.2.2 Complex Regexp Example		Illustrates regular expression syntax.

Syntax Tables

35.2 Syntax Descriptors		How characters are classified.
35.3 Syntax Table Functions		How to create, examine and alter syntax tables.
35.6 Parsing Balanced Expressions		Parsing balanced expressions using the syntax table.
35.7 Some Standard Syntax Tables		Syntax tables used by various major modes.
35.8 Syntax Table Internals		How syntax table information is stored.

Syntax Descriptors

35.2.1 Table of Syntax Classes		Table of syntax classes.
35.2.2 Syntax Flags		Additional flags each character can have.

Abbrevs And Abbrev Expansion

36.1 Setting Up Abbrev Mode		Setting up Emacs for abbreviation.
36.2 Abbrev Tables		Creating and working with abbrev tables.
36.3 Defining Abbrevs		Specifying abbreviations and their expansions.
36.4 Saving Abbrevs in Files		Saving abbrevs in files.
36.5 Looking Up and Expanding Abbreviations		Controlling expansion; expansion subroutines.
36.6 Standard Abbrev Tables		Abbrev tables used by various major modes.

Processes

37.1 Functions that Create Subprocesses		Functions that start subprocesses.
37.3 Creating a Synchronous Process		Details of using synchronous subprocesses.
37.4 Creating an Asynchronous Process		Starting up an asynchronous subprocess.
37.5 Deleting Processes		Eliminating an asynchronous subprocess.
37.6 Process Information		Accessing run-status and other attributes.
37.7 Sending Input to Processes		Sending input to an asynchronous subprocess.
37.8 Sending Signals to Processes		Stopping, continuing or interrupting an asynchronous subprocess.
37.9 Receiving Output from Processes		Collecting output from an asynchronous subprocess.
37.10 Sentinels: Detecting Process Status Changes		Sentinels run when process run-status changes.
37.12 Network Connections		Opening network connections.

Receiving Output from Processes

37.9.1 Process Buffers		If no filter, output is put in a buffer.
37.9.2 Process Filter Functions		Filter functions accept output from the process.
37.9.3 Accepting Output from Processes		How to wait until process output arrives.

Operating System Interface

40.1 Starting Up Emacs		Customizing Emacs start-up processing.
40.2 Getting Out of Emacs		How exiting works (permanent or temporary).
40.3 Operating System Environment		Distinguish the name and kind of system.
40.8 Terminal Input		Recording terminal input for debugging.
40.9 Terminal Output		Recording terminal output for debugging.
40.12 Flow Control		How to turn output flow control on or off.
40.13 Batch Mode		Running Emacs without terminal interaction.

Starting Up Emacs

40.1.1 Summary: Sequence of Actions at Startup		Sequence of actions Emacs performs at start-up.
40.1.2 The Init File, `.emacs'		Details on reading the init file (`.emacs').
40.1.3 Terminal-Specific Initialization		How the terminal-specific Lisp file is read.
40.1.4 Command-Line Arguments		How command line arguments are processed, and how you can customize them.

Getting out of Emacs

40.2.1 Killing Emacs		Exiting Emacs irreversibly.
40.2.2 Suspending Emacs		Exiting Emacs reversibly.

Emacs Display

38.1 Refreshing the Screen		Clearing the screen and redrawing everything on it.
38.3 Truncation		Folding or wrapping long text lines.
38.4 The Echo Area		Where messages are displayed.
38.6 Selective Display		Hiding part of the buffer text.
38.7 The Overlay Arrow		Display of an arrow to indicate position.
38.8 Temporary Displays		Displays that go away automatically.
21.9 Waiting for Elapsed Time or Input		Forcing display update and waiting for user.
38.14 Blinking Parentheses		How Emacs shows the matching open parenthesis.
38.16 Usual Display Conventions		How control characters are displayed.
38.18 Beeping		Audible signal to the user.
38.19 Window Systems		Which window system is being used.

GNU Emacs Internals

E.1 Building Emacs		How to preload Lisp libraries into Emacs.
E.2 Pure Storage		A kludge to make preloaded Lisp functions sharable.
E.3 Garbage Collection		Reclaiming space for Lisp objects no longer used.
E.6 Object Internals		Data formats of buffers, windows, processes.
E.5 Writing Emacs Primitives		Writing C code for Emacs.

Object Internals

E.6.1 Buffer Internals		Components of a buffer structure.
E.6.2 Window Internals		Components of a window structure.
E.6.3 Process Internals		Components of a process structure.