** Variable `load-path' is no longer customizable because it contains
a version-dependent component.
-** The <delete> function key is now bound to `delete-char' by default.
-Note that this takes effect only on window systems. On TTYs, Emacs
-will receive ASCII 127 when the DEL key is pressed. This
-character is still bound as before.
+** The new user-option `delete-key-deletes-forward' can be set to
+let the Delete function key delete forward instead of backward.
+
+On window systems, the default value of this option is chosen
+according to the keyboard used. If the keyboard has both a Backspace
+key and a Delete key, and both are mapped to their usual meanings, the
+option's default value is set to t, so that Backspace can be used to
+delete backward, and Delete can be used used to delete forward
+
+If not running under a window system, setting this option accomplishes
+a similar effect by mapping C-h, which is usually generated by the
+Backspace key, to DEL, and by mapping DEL to C-d via
+`keyboard-translate'. The former functionality of C-h is available on
+the F1 key. You should probably not use this setting if you don't
+have both Backspace, Delete and F1 keys.
+
+Programmatically, you can call function
+delete-key-deletes-forward-mode to toggle the behavior of the Delete
+key.
** Item Save Options on the Options menu allows saving options set
using that menu.
2000-12-14 Gerd Moellmann <gerd@gnu.org>
+ * startup.el (command-line): Call delete-key-deletes-forward-mode,
+ if appropriate.
+
+ * simple.el (delete-key-deletes-forward): New user-option.
+ (delete-key-deletes-forward-mode): New function.
+
+ * bindings.el (ctl-x-map): Bind `delete' to backward-delete-char.
+
* emacs-lisp/easymenu.el (easy-menu-current-active-maps): Test
if symbol is bound before getting its value.