@defvar mode-line-modified
This variable holds the value of the mode-line construct that displays
-whether the current buffer is modified.
-
-The default value of @code{mode-line-modified} is @code{("%1*%1+")}.
-This means that the mode line displays @samp{**} if the buffer is
-modified, @samp{--} if the buffer is not modified, @samp{%%} if the
-buffer is read only, and @samp{%*} if the buffer is read only and
-modified.
+whether the current buffer is modified. Its default value displays
+@samp{**} if the buffer is modified, @samp{--} if the buffer is not
+modified, @samp{%%} if the buffer is read only, and @samp{%*} if the
+buffer is read only and modified.
Changing this variable does not force an update of the mode line.
@end defvar
@defvar mode-line-frame-identification
-This variable identifies the current frame. The default value is
-@code{" "} if you are using a window system which can show multiple
-frames, or @code{"-%F "} on an ordinary terminal which shows only one
-frame at a time.
+This variable identifies the current frame. Its default value
+displays @code{" "} if you are using a window system which can show
+multiple frames, or @code{"-%F "} on an ordinary terminal which shows
+only one frame at a time.
@end defvar
@defvar mode-line-buffer-identification
-This variable identifies the buffer being displayed in the window. Its
-default value is @code{("%12b")}, which displays the buffer name, padded
-with spaces to at least 12 columns.
+This variable identifies the buffer being displayed in the window.
+Its default value displays the buffer name, padded with spaces to at
+least 12 columns.
@end defvar
@defvar mode-line-position
-This variable indicates the position in the buffer. Here is a
-simplified version of its default value. The actual default value
-also specifies addition of the @code{help-echo} text property.
-
-@example
-@group
-((-3 "%p")
- (size-indication-mode (8 " of %I"))
-@end group
-@group
- (line-number-mode
- ((column-number-mode
- (10 " (%l,%c)")
- (6 " L%l")))
- ((column-number-mode
- (5 " C%c")))))
-@end group
-@end example
-
-This means that @code{mode-line-position} displays at least the buffer
-percentage and possibly the buffer size, the line number and the column
-number.
+This variable indicates the position in the buffer. Its default value
+displays the buffer percentage and, optionally, the buffer size, the
+line number and the column number.
@end defvar
@defvar vc-mode
@end defvar
@defvar mode-line-modes
-This variable displays the buffer's major and minor modes. Here is a
-simplified version of its default value. The real default value also
-specifies addition of text properties.
-
-@example
-@group
-("%[(" mode-name
- mode-line-process minor-mode-alist
- "%n" ")%]--")
-@end group
-@end example
-
-So @code{mode-line-modes} normally also displays the recursive editing
-level, information on the process status and whether narrowing is in
-effect.
+This variable displays the buffer's major and minor modes. Its
+default value also displays the recursive editing level, information
+on the process status, and whether narrowing is in effect.
@end defvar
The following three variables are used in @code{mode-line-modes}: