(insert ...) won't respect delete-selection-mode
Xah
have delete-selection-mode on, meaning that when a region is active,
any typing should delete/override it.
But when calling my insert text commands it will just insert at the
end of region. Here's a example:
(defun insert-date () "Insert current date." (interactive)
(insert (format-time-string "%Y-%m-%d"))
)
Do i need to modify each commands to check on mark-active and delete-
selection-mode then call delete region first? Or, is there some
variable i can just set?
Thanks.
Xah
∑ http://xahlee.org/
☄
Drew Adams
See the Commentary at the beginning of `delsel.el':
;; Commands that delete the selection need a `delete-selection'
;; property on their symbols. Commands that insert text but do not
;; have this property do not delete the selection. The property can
;; be one of these values:
;; 'yank
;; For commands which do a yank; ensures the region about to be
;; deleted isn't yanked.
;; 'supersede
;; Delete the active region and ignore the current command,
;; i.e. the command will just delete the region.
;; 'kill
;; `kill-region' is used on the selection, rather than
;; `delete-region'. (Text selected with the mouse will typically
;; be yankable anyhow.)
;; non-nil
;; The normal case: delete the active region prior to executing
;; the command which will insert replacement text.
Example:
(put 'insert-date 'delete-selection t)
Chetan
The command also needs to be activated with keyboard. M-x does not
do it.
Chetan
Xah
Thank you both.
Why does it needs to be called from keyboard? Unfortunately most of my
commands are used by calling a short alias.
Xah
∑ http://xahlee.org/
☄
Andreas Politz
Because it't a different command.
(put 'execute-extended-command 'delete-selection t)
-ap
Xah
> Xahwrote:
LOL. When i tried this, it'll just delete the region when you do M-x,
regardless what command you gonna call.
for a moment i was gonna say Thanks! Great solution!
Xah
∑ http://xahlee.org/
☄
Andreas Politz
Yes, but you get the idea.
-ap
Lennart Borgman (gmail)
>>>>>> (put 'insert-date 'delete-selection t)
>>>>> The command also needs to be activated with keyboard. M-x does not
>>>>> do it.
>>>> Thank you both.
>>>> Why does it needs to be called from keyboard? Unfortunately most of my
>>>> commands are used by calling a short alias.
>>>> Xah
>>>> ∑http://xahlee.org/
>>>> ☄
>>> Because it't a different command.
>>>
>>> (put 'execute-extended-command 'delete-selection t)
>>
>> LOL. When i tried this, it'll just delete the region when you do M-x,
>> regardless what command you gonna call.
>>
>> for a moment i was gonna say Thanks! Great solution!
>>
>> Xah
>> ∑ http://xahlee.org/
>>
>> ☄
>>
>
> Yes, but you get the idea.
Doesn't this look like a delicate problem? Maybe a bug?
Xah
«(insert ...) won't respect delete-selection-mode Options»
«(put 'insert-date 'delete-selection t)»
«The command also needs to be activated with keyboard. M-x does not do
«Doesn't this look like a delicate problem? Maybe a bug?»
I reported this to FSF.
http://groups.google.com/group/gnu.emacs.bug/browse_frm/thread/ba8ab4a5223591b7
Richard M Stallman wrote:
«It's intentional. This feature implements expectations that users
have for single-character editing operations in other editors, where
those commands don't have names and there's nothing like M-x. So
there's no reason why M-x should delete the region. It is better for
M-x just to call the function.»
Xah Lee wrote:
«Interesting point.
For elisp programers who wish to write extentions where the command's
behaviors change depending on whether user has delete-selection-mode
on, what should they do? Check for mark-active and delete-selection-
mode before any call to the insert function?
also, the current behavior seems to introduce a complexity, where
command behaves differently depending on whether it is invoked by a
keybinding or by M-x.
»
Richard wrote:
«If you really want to make behavior depend on those variables, you
need to check them. Whether you check them before or after calling
`insert' is up to you.
But that seems like a strange thing to do.»
Doh! I failed humanity.
Xah
∑ http://xahlee.org/
☄