From unknown Wed Aug 20 05:42:58 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#11326: 24.1.50; doc of `dired-recursive-copies', `dired-recursive-deletes' Resent-From: "Drew Adams" Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:40:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 11326 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 11326@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.13352855646928 (code B ref -1); Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:40:02 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 24 Apr 2012 16:39:24 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:50983 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1SMilw-0001nf-1h for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:39:24 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:60416) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1SMilt-0001nR-60 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:39:21 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1SMikx-0003Ge-AO for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:38:27 -0400 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.2 (2011-06-06) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-6.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_HI, UNPARSEABLE_RELAY autolearn=unavailable version=3.3.2 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([208.118.235.17]:60307) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1SMikx-0003Ga-6o for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:38:23 -0400 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:50800) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1SMikv-0005gd-8O for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:38:22 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1SMikl-0003FS-TC for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:38:20 -0400 Received: from acsinet15.oracle.com ([141.146.126.227]:36699) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1SMikl-0003F1-NA for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:38:11 -0400 Received: from ucsinet21.oracle.com (ucsinet21.oracle.com [156.151.31.93]) by acsinet15.oracle.com (Sentrion-MTA-4.2.2/Sentrion-MTA-4.2.2) with ESMTP id q3OGc5WD002935 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=OK) for ; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:38:06 GMT Received: from acsmt356.oracle.com (acsmt356.oracle.com [141.146.40.156]) by ucsinet21.oracle.com (8.14.4+Sun/8.14.4) with ESMTP id q3OGc4cK017844 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO) for ; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:38:05 GMT Received: from abhmt116.oracle.com (abhmt116.oracle.com [141.146.116.68]) by acsmt356.oracle.com (8.12.11.20060308/8.12.11) with ESMTP id q3OGc49r017619 for ; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:38:04 -0500 Received: from dradamslap1 (/10.159.223.238) by default (Oracle Beehive Gateway v4.0) with ESMTP ; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:38:04 -0700 From: "Drew Adams" Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:37:59 -0700 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 11 Thread-Index: Ac0iOJwJdwDHhFyRR7C6cuAmUFKshQ== X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.6157 X-Source-IP: ucsinet21.oracle.com [156.151.31.93] X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 1) X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 3) X-Received-From: 208.118.235.17 X-Spam-Score: -6.1 (------) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -6.1 (------) The doc strings are incomprehensible, especially the one for *-copies. They do not explain what is meant by a "recursive copy" or a "recursive delete". A copy is a duplicate. What is a recursive copy? What is a "recursive delete"? The fault is to use "recursive" in combination with "copy/delete" as a noun instead of a verb. This is not about recursive objects (which is what nouns denote). It is about acting recursively. Recursive copying makes sense, and users can figure out what is meant by that term. A "recursive copy" makes no sense. Similarly "recursive delete" vs recursively deleting. (And FWIW there is no such thing as a "delete". The correct noun here is "deletion". A correct noun phrase is "delete operation". But not just "delete".) See the Emacs manual description for `dired-recursive-copies' - it makes sense: The variable `dired-recursive-copies' controls whether to copy directories recursively (like `cp -r'). The default is `top', which means to ask before recursively copying a directory. For `dired-recursive-deletes', the Emacs manual says this, which also makes sense: You can delete empty directories just like other files, but normally Dired cannot delete directories that are nonempty. If the variable `dired-recursive-deletes' is non-`nil', then Dired can delete nonempty directories including all their contents. That can be somewhat risky. The doc string for `dired-recursive-deletes' is slightly better than that for `dired-recursive-copies', because it at least mentions deleting recursively. But it still suffers from talking about "recursive deletes". Please look to the descriptions in the manual for guidance wrt these doc strings. In GNU Emacs 24.1.50.1 (i386-mingw-nt5.1.2600) of 2012-04-23 on MARVIN Bzr revision: 108006 agustin.martin@hispalinux.es-20120423103325-xmra3329elgzhmpc Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 5.1.2600 Configured using: `configure --with-gcc (4.6) --no-opt --enable-checking --cflags -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/libXpm-3.5.8/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/libXpm-3.5.8/src -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/libpng-dev_1.4.3-1/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/zlib-dev_1.2.5-2/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/giflib-4.1.4-1/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/jpeg-6b-4/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/tiff-3.8.2-1/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/gnutls-3.0.9/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/libiconv-1.13.1-1-dev/include -ID:/devel/emacs/libs/libxml2-2.7.8/include/libxml2' From unknown Wed Aug 20 05:42:58 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#11326: 24.1.50; doc of `dired-recursive-copies', `dired-recursive-deletes' Resent-From: "Drew Adams" Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:48:01 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 11326 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: <11326@debbugs.gnu.org> Received: via spool by 11326-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B11326.13352860687726 (code B ref 11326); Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:48:01 +0000 Received: (at 11326) by debbugs.gnu.org; 24 Apr 2012 16:47:48 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:50999 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1SMiu4-00020Y-DW for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:47:48 -0400 Received: from acsinet15.oracle.com ([141.146.126.227]:46424) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1SMiu3-00020N-AZ for 11326@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:47:47 -0400 Received: from acsinet22.oracle.com (acsinet22.oracle.com [141.146.126.238]) by acsinet15.oracle.com (Sentrion-MTA-4.2.2/Sentrion-MTA-4.2.2) with ESMTP id q3OGkpHQ012378 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=OK) for <11326@debbugs.gnu.org>; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:46:52 GMT Received: from acsmt358.oracle.com (acsmt358.oracle.com [141.146.40.158]) by acsinet22.oracle.com (8.14.4+Sun/8.14.4) with ESMTP id q3OGkpWA002671 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO) for <11326@debbugs.gnu.org>; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:46:51 GMT Received: from abhmt105.oracle.com (abhmt105.oracle.com [141.146.116.57]) by acsmt358.oracle.com (8.12.11.20060308/8.12.11) with ESMTP id q3OGkp8B029655 for <11326@debbugs.gnu.org>; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:46:51 -0500 Received: from dradamslap1 (/10.159.223.238) by default (Oracle Beehive Gateway v4.0) with ESMTP ; Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:46:50 -0700 From: "Drew Adams" References: Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:46:46 -0700 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 11 Thread-Index: Ac0iOJwJdwDHhFyRR7C6cuAmUFKshQAAPSRg In-Reply-To: X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.6157 X-Source-IP: acsinet22.oracle.com [141.146.126.238] X-Spam-Score: -6.9 (------) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -6.9 (------) > The doc string for `dired-recursive-deletes' is slightly better than > that for `dired-recursive-copies', because it at least > mentions deleting recursively. This part was wrong. They both mention copying/deleting recursively. But the rest of what I wrote was correct. It is misleading and unclear to talk about recursive copies etc. From unknown Wed Aug 20 05:42:58 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#11326: 24.1.50; doc of `dired-recursive-copies', `dired-recursive-deletes' References: In-Reply-To: Resent-From: Chong Yidong Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:45:01 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 11326 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: "Drew Adams" Cc: 11326@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 11326-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B11326.134035107720727 (code B ref 11326); Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:45:01 +0000 Received: (at 11326) by debbugs.gnu.org; 22 Jun 2012 07:44:37 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:52445 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1ShyXk-0005OF-3o for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:44:36 -0400 Received: from fencepost.gnu.org ([208.118.235.10]:37903) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1ShyXh-0005O8-M8 for 11326@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:44:33 -0400 Received: from cyd by fencepost.gnu.org with local (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ShyUB-0000M1-Dw; Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:40:55 -0400 From: Chong Yidong Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:40:55 -0400 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Spam-Score: -6.9 (------) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -6.9 (------) > A copy is a duplicate. What is a recursive copy? What is a > "recursive delete"? Should be obvious, but I clarified the docstrings. From debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Fri Jun 22 03:44:55 2012 Received: (at control) by debbugs.gnu.org; 22 Jun 2012 07:44:55 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:52448 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1ShyY1-0005Og-Cg for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:44:54 -0400 Received: from fencepost.gnu.org ([208.118.235.10]:37906) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1ShyXz-0005OZ-1M for control@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:44:51 -0400 Received: from cyd by fencepost.gnu.org with local (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1ShyUT-0000MS-Mx for control@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:41:13 -0400 From: Chong Yidong To: control@debbugs.gnu.org Subject: close 11326 Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:41:13 -0400 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Spam-Score: -6.9 (------) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: control X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.13 Precedence: list List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org X-Spam-Score: -6.9 (------) close 11326 thanks