From unknown Mon Aug 18 17:53:42 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#6756: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't Resent-From: MON KEY Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:24:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: report 6756 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 6756@debbugs.gnu.org X-Debbugs-Original-To: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Received: via spool by submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B.128042419519860 (code B ref -1); Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:24:02 +0000 Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 29 Jul 2010 17:23:15 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWp8-0005AH-0b for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:14 -0400 Received: from mail.gnu.org ([199.232.76.166] helo=mx10.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWow-00059u-It for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:13 -0400 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]:44980) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:DHE_RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWp4-0006w4-65 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:10 -0400 Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=50698 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1OeWp0-0004FM-HN for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:09 -0400 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=unavailable version=3.3.1 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWou-0003DB-1g for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:03 -0400 Received: from mail-ww0-f41.google.com ([74.125.82.41]:33445) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWot-000373-Ty for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:00 -0400 Received: by wwd20 with SMTP id 20so6462362wwd.0 for ; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:27 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.216.81.195 with SMTP id m45mr470905wee.23.1280424147696; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:27 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.216.49.84 with HTTP; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:22 -0700 (PDT) Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:22:22 -0400 X-Google-Sender-Auth: f6qz_yyxaKlzXYKBpvnQDeNnwO0 Message-ID: From: MON KEY Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) X-detected-operating-system: by monty-python.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6, seldom 2.4 (older, 4) X-Spam-Score: -4.1 (----) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 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: -5.1 (-----) When called interactively `describe-function' incorrectly completes on non-existent functions with symbol-names suffixed with a `*' and returns documentation for an equivalent non-suffixed version of symbol-name (assuming it exists). e.g. if the user enters "gensym*" at the `completing-read' prompt by `describe-function' its return value is the documentation for symbol `gensym'. At first glance this would appear to be a DWIM type feature. However, I would argue that it is a bug because: a) the completing-read arg PREDICATE is `fboundp' and REQUIRE-MATCH is t; b) the `*' suffixed symbol is not (neccesarily) `fboundp'; c) the `*' suffixed symbol may not match; d) When there is no equivalent non `*' suffixed symbol `completing-read' returns "No match" e.g. if the user enters "blub*" at the `completing-read' and neither "blub*" nor "blub" are `fboundp'; e) If the user enters any other equivalently suffixed symbol `completing-read' returns "No match" e.g. when the user enters the suffixed symbol names "gensym!", "gensym^", "gensym+", etc. at the `completing-read' and none of these are `fboundp' Note, in the examples above "gensym" is used as the base symbol-name but this happens just as well for non CL fncns, e.g. if the user enters "describe-function*" at the `completing-read' prompt by `describe-function' the return value is the documentation for symbol `describe-function'. Behaviour verified with 23.2 with emacs -Q -- /s_P\ From unknown Mon Aug 18 17:53:42 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#6756: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't Resent-From: Juanma Barranquero Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:56:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 6756 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: MON KEY Cc: 6756@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 6756-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B6756.128044411429445 (code B ref 6756); Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:56:02 +0000 Received: (at 6756) by debbugs.gnu.org; 29 Jul 2010 22:55:14 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1Oec0P-0007es-Lf for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:55:13 -0400 Received: from mail-bw0-f44.google.com ([209.85.214.44]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1Oec0N-0007eg-H4 for 6756@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:55:12 -0400 Received: by bwz7 with SMTP id 7so536788bwz.3 for <6756@debbugs.gnu.org>; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:55:25 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:mime-version:received:in-reply-to :references:from:date:message-id:subject:to:cc:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=hcNQGIzhlyAuQuW3682CR1CCzMH2BLaomCgpO9pB6Hw=; b=n4UVl59CJ/52YtvdVnZkHCONwtAny7TIF0lV3ljrDHed+PIVpPDm0WrGZY/eI0I67n g46nIpTTyuZoYI1bzTYFLVa82To4XncN5uYAsYnozk4+2PrVYwYRis0oCB9ucBenNRDS lNf9CIG8uvsj8p+mFY+z7TiB61ao1TMnvqRK8= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=q+H9r+7VAHvld4bxFymMVfGnX1Xa2XuGE0PswKGlizaXPEe9GE/n92IOO7jAmpaGbK S9YsrRwft7AFnLZUSITcA9fyBuYWhqenFLi+EG0QnfJ/y3rtVlZfeyH7hqcrlEDpndf4 8EOS8rTSccronwXKbMf/78jzUgF/9Haz2PHuE= Received: by 10.204.76.205 with SMTP id d13mr553487bkk.93.1280444125180; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:55:25 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.204.180.136 with HTTP; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:55:05 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: From: Juanma Barranquero Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:55:05 +0200 Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Spam-Score: -2.7 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 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: -2.7 (--) On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 19:22, MON KEY wrote: > =C2=A0a) the completing-read arg PREDICATE is `fboundp' and REQUIRE-MATCH > =C2=A0 =C2=A0is t; REQUIRE-MATCH =3D t means that "the user is not allowed to exit unless the input is (or completes to) an element of COLLECTION or is null." Note the "(or completes to)". Now, completion-styles is (basic partial-completion emacs22), and description for partial-completion is Completion of multiple words, each one taken as a prefix. [...etc etc...] Additionally the user can use the char "*" as a glob pattern. So it seems to be working as expected: describe-function* completes to an element of COLLECTION according to the partial-completion style. If you try remove partial-completion from completion-styles you'll get the behavior you want. =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Juanma From unknown Mon Aug 18 17:53:42 2025 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: bug#6756: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't Resent-From: MON KEY Original-Sender: debbugs-submit-bounces@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-To: owner@debbugs.gnu.org Resent-CC: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Resent-Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:50:03 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 6756 X-GNU-PR-Package: emacs X-GNU-PR-Keywords: To: 6756@debbugs.gnu.org Received: via spool by 6756-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B6756.128054459013411 (code B ref 6756); Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:50:03 +0000 Received: (at 6756) by debbugs.gnu.org; 31 Jul 2010 02:49:50 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1Of28z-0003UG-V5 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:49:50 -0400 Received: from mail-wy0-f172.google.com ([74.125.82.172]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1Of28y-0003UB-8G for 6756@debbugs.gnu.org; Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:49:48 -0400 Received: by wyb40 with SMTP id 40so1689736wyb.3 for <6756@debbugs.gnu.org>; Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:50:04 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.216.231.97 with SMTP id k75mr2472936weq.4.1280544604749; Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:50:04 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.216.49.84 with HTTP; Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:50:04 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:50:04 -0400 X-Google-Sender-Auth: pAfneOn3y4DVV84cifDvH1mhIZo Message-ID: From: MON KEY Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 X-Spam-Score: -1.8 (-) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 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: -3.1 (---) On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 6:55 PM, Juanma Barranquero wrote: > On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 19:22, MON KEY wrote: > If you try remove partial-completion from completion-styles you'll get > the behavior you want. > Thanks for the heads up. I'm quite sure I would never have found this information without your explicit pointer. > So it seems to be working as expected: describe-function* completes to > an element of COLLECTION according to the partial-completion style. > It would be working as expected assuming I could ascertain _what_ to expect. The docstring of `completing-read' should make mention of affecting vars. When stuff like this changes or is spread across multiple vars, fncns, and primitives and ample xrefs in the docstrings are not provided I find it virtually impossible to glean help from *Help*. The vars `completion-styles' and `completion-styles-alist' impact the behavior of (at min.) the following completion routines: `completing-read' `completion-try-completion' `completion-all-completions' `try-completion' `all-completions' yet none of the docs for these fncns make mention by xref to the affecting variables... though it is doubtful that an interested user would find much of use were she to find them by accident. C-h v `completion-styles' tells me: ,---- | | completion-styles is a variable defined in `minibuffer.el'. | Its value is | (basic partial-completion emacs22) | | List of completion styles to use. | The available styles are listed in `completion-styles-alist'. | | { ... Boilerplate customize and version history here ... } | `---- C-h v `completion-styles-alist' yields this heap of un-parseable verbosity: ,---- | {... Big 5 elt list each with 4 elts (including multi-lined | unreadable quoted lisp strings) ... } | | Documentation: | List of available completion styles. | Each element has the form (NAME TRY-COMPLETION ALL-COMPLETIONS DOC): | | { ... Form enumeration here ... } | `---- FWIW I increasingly find it unreasonable that *Help* defaults to _just_ pointing the user to `customize'. Why would I bother dropping into the miasma that is Custom when the docstring in *Help* can't be bothered to give a reasonably coherent explanation of _what_ I should customize and _why_ i should do so? *Help* needs Help. It isn't all that helpful that *Help* seems to increasingly (implicitly) suggest dropping into *Info* or custom to get help. > Juanma -- /s_P\ From unknown Mon Aug 18 17:53:42 2025 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: MIME-tools 5.427 (Entity 5.427) X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org From: help-debbugs@gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System) To: MON KEY Subject: bug#6756: closed (Re: bug#6756: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't) Message-ID: References: X-Gnu-PR-Message: they-closed 6756 X-Gnu-PR-Package: emacs Reply-To: 6756@debbugs.gnu.org Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:06:02 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----------=_1280577962-30164-1" This is a multi-part message in MIME format... ------------=_1280577962-30164-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Your bug report #6756: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't which was filed against the emacs package, has been closed. The explanation is attached below, along with your original report. If you require more details, please reply to 6756@debbugs.gnu.org. --=20 6756: http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D6756 GNU Bug Tracking System Contact help-debbugs@gnu.org with problems ------------=_1280577962-30164-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at 6756-done) by debbugs.gnu.org; 31 Jul 2010 12:05:21 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OfAoZ-0007qH-Sh for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:05:20 -0400 Received: from mail-iw0-f172.google.com ([209.85.214.172]) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OfAoY-0007qC-6a for 6756-done@debbugs.gnu.org; Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:05:18 -0400 Received: by iwn38 with SMTP id 38so2064653iwn.3 for <6756-done@debbugs.gnu.org>; Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:05:36 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:received:mime-version:received:in-reply-to :references:from:date:message-id:subject:to:cc:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=X5E90917h8ssqaJ4VeWgGndBc85eQkDe8NgAEsCx7kE=; b=tJ6iEEwgjr/RLjvfsdjBk+qCD0u53Y8W+eucE59q5hHY9cCvkZh31tuCykLZVWxfap DzbpRKRWoPmGk0zlnAvO+LU7YBMJaInzjZhS0XJ3C9u3cZd25XA09tTh+J1uGbLZFN3Z AbLCFOCt2wI2kcnAfZl6/E68hwDKwkN8y/ZQQ= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=JX0oSMxS9rqURn9BFrH36Dp/JtGOrmJufsO0HXfwLUNzlFAYtFU4LWOzKkFSt/gj2L s4voHuAnvvDTsDPsrfGemz8vsteDkeIL7hegOOqoxvAtPaulDx+oVz87W5uJdiRgTXIj yPqQ5/MtUWa8QOxL/GmaJD7u2ar/tOX02FRo8= Received: by 10.231.154.73 with SMTP id n9mr3768918ibw.10.1280577935877; Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:05:35 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.231.162.4 with HTTP; Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:05:14 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: References: From: Juanma Barranquero Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:05:14 +0200 Message-ID: Subject: Re: bug#6756: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't To: MON KEY Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Spam-Score: -2.7 (--) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: 6756-done Cc: 6756-done@debbugs.gnu.org X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 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: -2.7 (--) On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 04:50, MON KEY wrote: > It would be working as expected assuming I could ascertain _what_ to > expect. I agree that completion is complex and perhaps underdocumented. > FWIW I increasingly find it unreasonable that *Help* defaults to > _just_ pointing the user to `customize'. I haven't noticed that. I share your opinion on Customize, though. > It isn't all that helpful that *Help* seems to increasingly > (implicitly) suggest dropping into *Info* or custom to get help. I think suggesting to read Info is reasonable. It does not make much sense to duplicate in docstrings all the information already available on the Info pages. I'm closing this bug, as it is no longer about describe-function failing. Feel free to file bugs about documentation shortcomings, etc. =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Juanma ------------=_1280577962-30164-1 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 29 Jul 2010 17:23:15 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWp8-0005AH-0b for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:14 -0400 Received: from mail.gnu.org ([199.232.76.166] helo=mx10.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWow-00059u-It for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:13 -0400 Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]:44980) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:DHE_RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWp4-0006w4-65 for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:10 -0400 Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=50698 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1OeWp0-0004FM-HN for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:09 -0400 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on eggs.gnu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=unavailable version=3.3.1 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWou-0003DB-1g for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:03 -0400 Received: from mail-ww0-f41.google.com ([74.125.82.41]:33445) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1OeWot-000373-Ty for bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:00 -0400 Received: by wwd20 with SMTP id 20so6462362wwd.0 for ; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:27 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.216.81.195 with SMTP id m45mr470905wee.23.1280424147696; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:27 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.216.49.84 with HTTP; Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:22:22 -0700 (PDT) Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:22:22 -0400 X-Google-Sender-Auth: f6qz_yyxaKlzXYKBpvnQDeNnwO0 Message-ID: Subject: 23.2; `describe-function' describing functions that aren't From: MON KEY To: bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6 (newer, 2) X-detected-operating-system: by monty-python.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6, seldom 2.4 (older, 4) X-Spam-Score: -4.1 (----) X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: submit X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.11 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: -5.1 (-----) When called interactively `describe-function' incorrectly completes on non-existent functions with symbol-names suffixed with a `*' and returns documentation for an equivalent non-suffixed version of symbol-name (assuming it exists). e.g. if the user enters "gensym*" at the `completing-read' prompt by `describe-function' its return value is the documentation for symbol `gensym'. At first glance this would appear to be a DWIM type feature. However, I would argue that it is a bug because: a) the completing-read arg PREDICATE is `fboundp' and REQUIRE-MATCH is t; b) the `*' suffixed symbol is not (neccesarily) `fboundp'; c) the `*' suffixed symbol may not match; d) When there is no equivalent non `*' suffixed symbol `completing-read' returns "No match" e.g. if the user enters "blub*" at the `completing-read' and neither "blub*" nor "blub" are `fboundp'; e) If the user enters any other equivalently suffixed symbol `completing-read' returns "No match" e.g. when the user enters the suffixed symbol names "gensym!", "gensym^", "gensym+", etc. at the `completing-read' and none of these are `fboundp' Note, in the examples above "gensym" is used as the base symbol-name but this happens just as well for non CL fncns, e.g. if the user enters "describe-function*" at the `completing-read' prompt by `describe-function' the return value is the documentation for symbol `describe-function'. Behaviour verified with 23.2 with emacs -Q -- /s_P\ ------------=_1280577962-30164-1--