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(File Variables): Clarify previous change.

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Richard M. Stallman 2004-12-29 20:41:05 +00:00
parent 7c6b20070e
commit 3c338c5f1a
1 changed files with 19 additions and 15 deletions
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34
man/custom.texi
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@ -1042,22 +1042,26 @@ Here's an example of doing this:
@end example
Some ``variable names'' have special meanings in a local variables
list: a value for the variable @code{mode} really sets the major mode,
and a value for the variable @code{eval} is simply evaluated as an
expression and the value is ignored. @code{coding}, @code{unibyte},
@code{mode} and @code{eval} are not real variables; setting variables
named @code{coding}, @code{unibyte}, @code{mode} and @code{eval} in any
other context has no special meaning. @emph{If @code{mode} is used to
set a major mode, it should be the first ``variable'' in the list.}
Otherwise, the entries that precede it in the list of the local
variables are likely to be ignored, since most modes kill all local
variables as part of their initialization.
list. Specifying the ``variable'' @code{mode} really sets the major
mode, while any value specified for the ``variable'' @code{eval} is
simply evaluated as an expression (its value is ignored). A value for
@code{coding} specifies the coding system for character code
conversion of this file, and a value of @code{t} for @code{unibyte}
says to visit the file in a unibyte buffer. These four ``variables''
are not really variables; setting them in any other context has no
special meaning.
You can use the @code{mode} ``variable'' to set minor modes as well as
major modes; in fact, you can use it more than once, first to set the
major mode and then to set minor modes which are specific to particular
buffers. But most minor modes should not be specified in the file in
any fashion, because they represent user preferences.
@emph{If @code{mode} is used to set a major mode, it should be the
first ``variable'' in the list.} Otherwise, the entries that precede
it will usually be ignored, since most modes kill all local variables
as part of their initialization.
You can use the @code{mode} ``variable'' to set minor modes as well
as the major modes; in fact, you can use it more than once, first to
set the major mode and then to set minor modes which are specific to
particular buffers. But most minor modes should not be specified in
the file at all, regardless of how, because they represent user
preferences.
For example, you may be tempted to try to turn on Auto Fill mode with
a local variable list. That is a mistake. The choice of Auto Fill mode