@cindex complex arguments
@cindex minibuffer
- A @dfn{minibuffer} is a special buffer that Emacs commands use to read
-arguments more complicated than the single numeric prefix argument.
-These arguments include file names, buffer names, and command names (as
-in @kbd{M-x}). The minibuffer is displayed on the bottom line of the
-frame, in the same place as the echo area, but only while it is in use
-for reading an argument.
+ A @dfn{minibuffer} is a special buffer that Emacs commands use to
+read arguments more complicated than the single numeric prefix
+argument. These arguments include file names, buffer names, and
+command names (as in @kbd{M-x}). The minibuffer is displayed on the
+bottom line of the frame, in the same place as the echo area
+(@pxref{The Echo Area}), but only while it is in use for reading an
+argument.
@menu
* Intro to Minibuffers:: Basic information about minibuffers.
* Yes-or-No Queries:: Asking a question with a simple answer.
* Multiple Queries:: Asking a series of similar questions.
* Reading a Password:: Reading a password from the terminal.
+* Minibuffer Commands:: Commands used as key bindings in minibuffers.
+* Minibuffer Contents:: How such commands access the minibuffer text.
+* Minibuffer Windows:: Operating on the special minibuffer windows.
+* Recursive Mini:: Whether recursive entry to minibuffer is allowed.
* Minibuffer Misc:: Various customization hooks and variables.
@end menu
then @code{read-passwd} returns the null string in that case.
@end defun
-@node Minibuffer Misc
-@section Minibuffer Miscellany
+@node Minibuffer Commands
+@section Minibuffer Commands
- This section describes some basic functions and variables related to
-minibuffers.
+ This section describes some commands meant for use in the
+minibuffer.
@deffn Command exit-minibuffer
This command exits the active minibuffer. It is normally bound to
regular expression).
@end deffn
-@defun minibuffer-prompt
-This function returns the prompt string of the currently active
-minibuffer. If no minibuffer is active, it returns @code{nil}.
-@end defun
-
-@defun minibuffer-prompt-end
-@tindex minibuffer-prompt-end
-This function returns the current
-position of the end of the minibuffer prompt, if a minibuffer is
-current. Otherwise, it returns the minimum valid buffer position.
-@end defun
-
-@defun minibuffer-contents
-@tindex minibuffer-contents
-This function returns the editable
-contents of the minibuffer (that is, everything except the prompt) as
-a string, if a minibuffer is current. Otherwise, it returns the
-entire contents of the current buffer.
-@end defun
-
-@defun minibuffer-contents-no-properties
-@tindex minibuffer-contents-no-properties
-This is like @code{minibuffer-contents}, except that it does not copy text
-properties, just the characters themselves. @xref{Text Properties}.
-@end defun
-
-@defun delete-minibuffer-contents
-@tindex delete-minibuffer-contents
-This function erases the editable
-contents of the minibuffer (that is, everything except the prompt), if
-a minibuffer is current. Otherwise, it erases the entire buffer.
-@end defun
-
-@defun minibuffer-prompt-width
-This function returns the current display-width of the minibuffer
-prompt, if a minibuffer is current. Otherwise, it returns zero.
-@end defun
-
-@defvar minibuffer-setup-hook
-This is a normal hook that is run whenever the minibuffer is entered.
-@xref{Hooks}.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar minibuffer-exit-hook
-This is a normal hook that is run whenever the minibuffer is exited.
-@xref{Hooks}.
-@end defvar
-
-@defvar minibuffer-help-form
-@anchor{Definition of minibuffer-help-form}
-The current value of this variable is used to rebind @code{help-form}
-locally inside the minibuffer (@pxref{Help Functions}).
-@end defvar
+@node Minibuffer Windows
+@section Minibuffer Windows
-@defun minibufferp &optional buffer-or-name
-This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{buffer-or-name} is a
-minibuffer. If @var{buffer-or-name} is omitted, it tests the current
-buffer.
-@end defun
+ These functions access and select minibuffer windows
+and test whether they are active.
@defun active-minibuffer-window
This function returns the currently active minibuffer window, or
a minibuffer window, is currently active.
@end defun
-@defvar minibuffer-scroll-window
-@anchor{Definition of minibuffer-scroll-window}
-If the value of this variable is non-@code{nil}, it should be a window
-object. When the function @code{scroll-other-window} is called in the
-minibuffer, it scrolls this window.
-@end defvar
+@node Minibuffer Contents
+@section Minibuffer Contents
-@defun minibuffer-selected-window
-This function returns the window which was selected when the
-minibuffer was entered. If selected window is not a minibuffer
-window, it returns @code{nil}.
+ These functions access the minibuffer prompt and contents.
+
+@defun minibuffer-prompt
+This function returns the prompt string of the currently active
+minibuffer. If no minibuffer is active, it returns @code{nil}.
@end defun
-Finally, some functions and variables deal with recursive minibuffers
+@defun minibuffer-prompt-end
+@tindex minibuffer-prompt-end
+This function returns the current
+position of the end of the minibuffer prompt, if a minibuffer is
+current. Otherwise, it returns the minimum valid buffer position.
+@end defun
+
+@defun minibuffer-prompt-width
+This function returns the current display-width of the minibuffer
+prompt, if a minibuffer is current. Otherwise, it returns zero.
+@end defun
+
+@defun minibuffer-contents
+@tindex minibuffer-contents
+This function returns the editable
+contents of the minibuffer (that is, everything except the prompt) as
+a string, if a minibuffer is current. Otherwise, it returns the
+entire contents of the current buffer.
+@end defun
+
+@defun minibuffer-contents-no-properties
+@tindex minibuffer-contents-no-properties
+This is like @code{minibuffer-contents}, except that it does not copy text
+properties, just the characters themselves. @xref{Text Properties}.
+@end defun
+
+@defun delete-minibuffer-contents
+@tindex delete-minibuffer-contents
+This function erases the editable contents of the minibuffer (that is,
+everything except the prompt), if a minibuffer is current. Otherwise,
+it erases the entire current buffer.
+@end defun
+
+@node Recursive Mini
+@section Recursive Minibuffers
+
+ These functions and variables deal with recursive minibuffers
(@pxref{Recursive Editing}):
@defun minibuffer-depth
The minibuffer command @code{next-matching-history-element} (normally
@kbd{M-s} in the minibuffer) does the latter.
+@node Minibuffer Misc
+@section Minibuffer Miscellany
+
+@defun minibufferp &optional buffer-or-name
+This function returns non-@code{nil} if @var{buffer-or-name} is a
+minibuffer. If @var{buffer-or-name} is omitted, it tests the current
+buffer.
+@end defun
+
+@defvar minibuffer-setup-hook
+This is a normal hook that is run whenever the minibuffer is entered.
+@xref{Hooks}.
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar minibuffer-exit-hook
+This is a normal hook that is run whenever the minibuffer is exited.
+@xref{Hooks}.
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar minibuffer-help-form
+@anchor{Definition of minibuffer-help-form}
+The current value of this variable is used to rebind @code{help-form}
+locally inside the minibuffer (@pxref{Help Functions}).
+@end defvar
+
+@defvar minibuffer-scroll-window
+@anchor{Definition of minibuffer-scroll-window}
+If the value of this variable is non-@code{nil}, it should be a window
+object. When the function @code{scroll-other-window} is called in the
+minibuffer, it scrolls this window.
+@end defvar
+
+@defun minibuffer-selected-window
+This function returns the window which was selected when the
+minibuffer was entered. If selected window is not a minibuffer
+window, it returns @code{nil}.
+@end defun
+
+@defopt max-mini-window-height
+This variable specifies the maximum height for resizing minibuffer
+windows. If a float, it specifies a fraction of the height of the
+frame. If an integer, it specifies a number of lines.
+@end defopt
+
@defun minibuffer-message string
This function displays @var{string} temporarily at the end of the
minibuffer text, for two seconds, or until the next input event