4.2 Basic principles

4.2.3 Use of the echo area in the editor

Whenever you invoke a command -- either via a keyboard command or via a menu command -- which requires further input (for instance, if you open a file, in which case you need to specify a filename), you are prompted for that input in the echo area. As soon as the command is invoked, the echo area becomes the active window. You can then type any information needed by the editor directly into the echo area. After this, simply press the Return key. The command will be performed, and the editor will become the active window again.

For many commands, you can save time by using a technique known as tab completion. When appropriate, if you press the Tab key when you have partially specified input in the echo area, the editor attempts to complete what you have typed. If it cannot complete the string completely, a list is displayed showing all the possible alternatives. You can choose one of these alternatives simply by double-clicking on it.

For instance, if you have three files, test1.lsp, test2.lsp and test3.lsp, and you want to edit test2.lsp, simply type test and press Tab. A list is displayed which shows all three files. To edit test2.lsp, simply double-click on the item marked "test2.lsp" in this list.

If you experiment by pressing the Tab key when specifying input in the echo area, you will soon get the hang of when tab completion is appropriate and when it is not. As a rule, if there is a finite number of things you could type, then tab completion is appropriate. Thus, when opening a file already on disk, tab completion is appropriate (there are a fixed number of files currently on disk). However, when specifying a string to search for, tab completion is not appropriate (you could specify practically any string).


FreeLisp User's Guide - 5 FEB 1996

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