Re: [Texmacs-dev] Patches: copy/paste and selection handling.

[Norbert Nemec]

Bas Spitters wrote:
> I have been using them happily ever since you posted them! Thanks.
>
>
> While I am writing, maybe it is good to note that ^k (kill line) behaves like 
> a cut, while I would expect delete instead.
>   
This is exactly the point where I need the input of emacs-mode users. I 
can only try to understand the written documentation:

   http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Killing.html

According to this, there is a clear distinction between "killing" and 
"deleting". A "kill" places the removed text into the "kill-ring" from 
where it can be "yanked". In my understanding this actually is a "cut" 
operation. A "delete" on the other hand eliminates the marked text 
without a trace.

Even the interaction with other applications is described in detail:

   
http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Cut_002fPaste-Other-App.html

To me, this means that the last entry of the "kill-ring" should actually 
be synchronised with the X11-clipboard and the TeXmacs primary buffer.

However, the text in

   http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Clipboard.html

seems to contradict this.

My question to Emacs-mode users: Should the kill-ring simply be 
identical with the primary buffer as it is right now or is there a need 
for a separate mechanism?

In any case, it seems clear to me that in emacs mode:
a) the [delete] key should delete the text without touching the buffer. 
(This is what my patch intends to do)
b) the [ctrl-k] keys should kill the text, i.e. put it into the buffer 
(the "cut" operation)

This is emacs behavior as I understand it.


> Another issue: when I paste a math formula in a math invironment, I obtain 
> nested math environments.
>   
When you copy a part of a formula, TeXmacs views this as math content:
   math("a+b")
Pasting it into another formula works fine without nesting environment
   <math|c=a+b>

When you copy a complete formula, TeXmacs views it as text content 
containing a math environment:
   text("<math|a+b>")
Pasting this into a formula results in "encapsulating" the text content:
   <math|c=<with|mode|text|<math|a+b>>>

To me this seems logical, but one might indeed add a bit of intelligence 
to unpack the nested code when possible.

A helpful solution for the time being is the [ctrl-backspace] sequence 
that deletes the innermost enclosing tag. Hitting this twice removes the 
double encapsulation.

> An unrelated matter: F3 is sometimes bound to "search-again", sometimes to 
> "save". Is this intended?
>   
This should clearly be fixed. In Windows mode, F3 should be search again 
and ctrl-S should be save. I fear that this is just one out of many key 
sequences that should be sorted out for standard conformance...

Greetings,
Norbert