GNU bug report logs - #2473
usability issues on emacs's describe-mode

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Package: emacs;

Reported by: xah lee <xah <at> xahlee.org>

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:45:03 UTC

Severity: wishlist

Merged with 575

Fixed in version 29.1

Done: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>

Bug is archived. No further changes may be made.

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Message #47 received at 2473 <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Richard M Stallman <rms <at> gnu.org>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 2473 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, xah <at> xahlee.org
Subject: Re: bug#2473: usability issues on emacs's describe-mode
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:33:29 -0500

    I see a 3rd way: make the buffer present an expandable list of modes,
    starting with just 2 items: the current major modes and "minor modes",
    e.g. similar to what we do in Speedbar, or maybe in Outline Mode
    (under "Hide Sublevels").  In ASCII art:

      + Major Mode: RMAIL Mode
      + Minor Modes

Using hiding is a good idea -- thanks.

I think that partcular way would be inconvenient.  Specifically, it
would be a hassle to initially hide the major mode documentation.
That is what users most often want to see; making them type a command
to expose it would be a gratuitous hassle.

So I suggest putting the partly-hidden minor mode list first,
followed by the totally visible major mode documentation.
This bug report was last modified 3 years and 38 days ago.

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