GNU bug report logs - #50811
28.0.50; Misleading Docstring for read-string function

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Message #23 received at 50811 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Codruț Constantin Gușoi <mail <at> codrut.pro>
To: larsi <at> gnus.org
Cc: 50811 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#50811: 28.0.50; Misleading Docstring for read-string function
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2021 04:56:55 +0000

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Bash has `C-u` for this, but that obviously can't be used in emacs. May I suggest a variable that controls the behaviour instead of changing it completely in the future? Just don't take my INITIAL-VALUE away :)

Anyway, there does not seem to be any action to take right now. Thank you for clarifying.

Cheers,
Codruț

www.codrut.pro

-------- Original Message --------
On 27 Sep 2021, 07:40, Lars Ingebrigtsen wrote:

> Codruț Constantin Gușoi <mail <at> codrut.pro> writes:
>
>> That's exactly the behaviour I need for renaming a file, for example; a
>> prompt pre-filled with the current filename. It's the same UX as in every
>> other program that does this sort of functionality and the extra keypress
>> makes it harder to use.
>
> I wasn't part of the discussions when this happened (I think it was more
> than a decade ago), but I think the idea was that users were annoyed
> that (in many cases) they had to remove the default completely before
> being able to type stuff in.
>
> That is, with
>
> (read-string "PROMPT " "This is the very long default")
>
> you have to delete all that before you can type in "foo", which is what
> you wanted to say. (Or `C-a C-k' is you're an expert.)
>
> Putting the default in the "future history" means that the user can type
> "foo" immediately (if they want that), or RET if they want the default,
> or `M-n' if they want to edit the default.
>
> --
> (domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
> bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no

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