Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?

[Richard M. Stallman]

The message below shows a conflict between what the Texinfo manual
recommends and what the Emacs manual actually does. He says:

    The names recommended by the Texinfo manual (on page "key") are @key{BS}
    for backspace and (I think) @key{DEL} for _FORWARD_ delete.

Please recommend @key{DELETE} if you mean the key labeled "DELETE"
which often does forward-deletion.

Ok?



Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 21:47:40 +0000 (GMT)
From: Alan Mackenzie <address@hidden>
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Subject: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in
        files.texi?
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Hi, Emacs!

In the Emacs manual, the <backspace> key (the one that deletes backwards)
seems sometimes to be called @key{BS}, and at other times @key{BACKSPACE}
or @key{DEL}.

The <delete> key (the one over the arrow keys and which deletes forward)
sports the name @key{DELETE}.  I think it's always written in capitals,
but I'm not sure.

The names recommended by the Texinfo manual (on page "key") are @key{BS}
for backspace and (I think) @key{DEL} for _FORWARD_ delete.

I'm not totally unconfused, and I'm surely not the only one.  Would it
perhaps be sensible to decide on standard names for these keys and
promulgate them through the Emacs, Elisp (and CC Mode :-) manuals?

My suggestion is that (i) the backspace key should always be called
@key{BS}, despite the fact that the character it generates is ASCII DEL;
(ii) the delete key gets called @key{Delete} or @key{delete}, despite the
recommendations of the Texinfo manual.  I think @key{DEL} should be
avoided altogether, since its use as a key name contradicts is use as an
ASCII character name.

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Munich, Germany)




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