GNU bug report logs - #4827
23.1.50; frame-visible-p documentation

Previous Next

Full log

View this message in rfc822 format

From: help-debbugs <at> gnu.org (Emacs bug Tracking System)
To: stepnem <at> gmail.com
Subject: bug#4827 closed by Chong Yidong <cyd <at> stupidchicken.com> (Re:
 23.1.50; frame-visible-p documentation)
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:25:06 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

This is an automatic notification regarding your bug report
which was filed against the emacs package:

#4827: 23.1.50; frame-visible-p documentation

It has been closed by Chong Yidong <cyd <at> stupidchicken.com>.

Their explanation is attached below along with your original report.
If this explanation is unsatisfactory and you have not received a
better one in a separate message then please contact Chong Yidong <cyd <at> stupidchicken.com> by
replying to this email.


-- 
4827: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=4827
Emacs Bug Tracking System
Contact help-debbugs <at> gnu.org with problems

[Message part 2 (message/rfc822, inline)]

From: Chong Yidong <cyd <at> stupidchicken.com>
To: stepnem <at> gmail.com
Cc: 4827-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: 23.1.50; frame-visible-p documentation
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:15:17 -0400

I've updated the docstring of frame-visible-p to make it clearer.

> 3. What does being visible only as an icon mean?

Minimized.  This is Emacs terminology dating from long along.

[Message part 3 (message/rfc822, inline)]

From: stepnem <at> gmail.com
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: 23.1.50; frame-visible-p documentation
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:41:00 +0100

[In GNU Emacs 23.1.50.1 (i686-pc-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 2.12.9)
 of 2009-10-28]

C-h f frame-visible-p:
"""
(frame-visible-p FRAME)

Return t if FRAME is now "visible" (actually in use for display).
A frame that is not "visible" is not updated and, if it works through
a window system, it may not show at all.
Return the symbol `icon' if frame is visible only as an icon.

On a text-only terminal, all frames are considered visible, whether
they are currently being displayed or not, and this function returns t
for all frames.

"""

Could please someone explain a few points mentioned below, and if
possible, fix the docstring to make them clear without further
explanation?

1. What does "if it works through a window system" mean? I assume "it"
means "frame", but is "a frame works through a window system" a good
formulation?

2. Why say "if it works through a window system, it may not show at all"?
If I understand correctly, on a text-only terminal, i.e. without "a
window system", there can be only one frame really visible at a time
(i.e. not "visible", but visible); and according to the second
paragraph, all frames are "visible", i.e. considered visible -- so why
"if ..., it may not show at all"?

3. What does being visible only as an icon mean?

The second paragraph is quite clear, although I really would like to
know why is there no distinction regarding "visibility" in a terminal or
what is the motivation for such behaviour (i.e. returning t for all
frames).

As a suggestion, wouldn't it at least make more sense to start the first
paragraph with 'Under a window system...' and get rid of that unclear
conditional mentioned under 1. and 2. above?

Regards

Štěpán Němec 

Previous Next

GNU bug tracking system
Copyright (C) 1999 Darren O. Benham, 1997,2003 nCipher Corporation Ltd, 1994-97 Ian Jackson.