This section describes the functions for explicitly producing echo
area messages. Many other Emacs features display messages there, too.
-@defun message string &rest arguments
-This function displays a message in the echo area. The
-argument @var{string} is similar to a C language @code{printf} control
+@defun message format-string &rest arguments
+This function displays a message in the echo area. The argument
+@var{format-string} is similar to a C language @code{printf} format
string. See @code{format} in @ref{Formatting Strings}, for the details
on the conversion specifications. @code{message} returns the
constructed string.
In batch mode, @code{message} prints the message text on the standard
error stream, followed by a newline.
-If @var{string}, or strings among the @var{arguments}, have @code{face}
-text properties, these affect the way the message is displayed.
+If @var{format-string}, or strings among the @var{arguments}, have
+@code{face} text properties, these affect the way the message is displayed.
@c Emacs 19 feature
-If @var{string} is @code{nil}, @code{message} clears the echo area; if
-the echo area has been expanded automatically, this brings it back to
-its normal size. If the minibuffer is active, this brings the
-minibuffer contents back onto the screen immediately.
+If @var{format-string} is @code{nil} or the empty string,
+@code{message} clears the echo area; if the echo area has been
+expanded automatically, this brings it back to its normal size.
+If the minibuffer is active, this brings the minibuffer contents back
+onto the screen immediately.
@example
@group
the previous echo area contents.
@end defmac
-@defun message-or-box string &rest arguments
+@defun message-or-box format-string &rest arguments
This function displays a message like @code{message}, but may display it
in a dialog box instead of the echo area. If this function is called in
a command that was invoked using the mouse---more precisely, if
@code{last-nonmenu-event} to a suitable value around the call.
@end defun
-@defun message-box string &rest arguments
+@defun message-box format-string &rest arguments
This function displays a message like @code{message}, but uses a dialog
box (or a pop-up menu) whenever that is possible. If it is impossible
to use a dialog box or pop-up menu, because the terminal does not