output is long). The variables @code{resize-mini-windows} and
@code{max-mini-window-height} (@pxref{Minibuffer Edit}) control when
Emacs should consider the output to be too long for the echo area.
+Note that customizing @code{shell-command-dont-erase-buffer},
+described below, can affect what is displayed in the echo area.
For instance, one way to decompress a file named @file{foo.gz} is to
type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command normally
shell-command output.
@end table
+Note that if this option is non-@code{nil}, the output shown in the
+echo area could be from more than just the last command, since the
+echo area just displays a portion of the output buffer.
+
In case the output buffer is not the current buffer, shell command
output is appended at the end of this buffer.
\(determined by the variable `max-mini-window-height' if
`resize-mini-windows' is non-nil), it is shown there.
Otherwise, the buffer containing the output is displayed.
+Note that if `shell-command-dont-erase-buffer' is non-nil,
+the echo area could display more than just the output of the
+last command.
If there is output and an error, and you did not specify \"insert it
in the current buffer\", a message about the error goes at the end
`resize-mini-windows' is non-nil), it is shown there.
Otherwise it is displayed in the buffer named by `shell-command-buffer-name'.
The output is available in that buffer in both cases.
+Note that if `shell-command-dont-erase-buffer' is non-nil,
+the echo area could display more than just the output of the
+last command.
If there is output and an error, a message about the error
appears at the end of the output.