GNU bug report logs - #76611
30.1; Elisp manual: Say what it means for a char to be printable

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
To: "bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org" <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org>
Subject: 30.1; Elisp manual: Say what it means for a char to be printable
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:48:40 +0000

(elisp)`Character Properties' describes variable `printable-chars', but
it doesn't say what "printable" means in this context.  Please add
something about that.

Searching the manual elsewhere, we find only a mention in node `Usual
Display' of "printable ASCII characters" and non-printable ASCII control
characters".

But the printable chars, in general, are not limited to printable ASCII
control chars, so this mention doesn't help with understanding
`printable-chars'.

Please say what's meant by "printable" for `printable-chars'.

[ And I wonder if something shouldn't perhaps be added about (Lisp)
readability in this context.  Some things in Lisp have a print
representation but that can't be read by the Lisp reader.  I believe all
printable chars can be read by the reader.  It wouldn't hurt to mention
this. ]


In GNU Emacs 30.1 (build 2, x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2025-02-20 built on
 AVALON
Windowing system distributor 'Microsoft Corp.', version 10.0.19045
System Description: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (v10.0.2009.19045.5487)

Configured using:
 'configure --with-modules --without-dbus --with-native-compilation=aot
 --without-compress-install --with-tree-sitter CFLAGS=-O2
 prefix=/g/rel/emacs-30.1-rc1'

Configured features:
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NOTIFY W32NOTIFY PDUMPER PNG RSVG SOUND SQLITE3 THREADS TIFF
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Important settings:
  value of $LANG: ENU
  locale-coding-system: cp1252

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