4.3.6 Miscellaneous

Buffer Changed Definitions

Editor Command

Argument: None
Key sequence: None

Calcuates which definitions that have been changed in the current buffer during the current LispWorks session, and displays these in the Changed Definitions tab of the Editor tool.

By default the reference point against which changes are calculated is the time when the file was last read into the buffer. A prefix argument equal to the value of the editor variable prefix-argument-default means the reference point is the last evaluation. A prefix argument of 1 means the reference point is the time the buffer was last saved to file.

Note: the most convenient to use this command is via the Editor tool. Switch it to the Changed Definitions tab, where you can specify the reference point for calculating the changes.

Function Arglist

Editor Command

Argument: function
Key sequence: Alt+= function

Prints the arguments expected by function in the Echo Area. The symbol under the current point is offered as a default value for function . A prefix argument automatically causes this default value to be used.

Note: example code showing how to use this command to display argument lists automatically is supplied with LispWorks, in the file

Function Arglist Displayer

Editor Command

Argument: None
Key sequence: Ctrl+`

Shows or hides information about the operator in the current form. The command controls display of a special window (displayer) on top of the editor. The displayer shows the operator and its arguments, and tries to highlight the current argument (that is, the argument at the cursor position). If it does not recognize the operator of the current form, it tries the surrounding form, and if that fails it tries a third level of surrounding form.

Additionally, while the displayer is visible:

Ctrl+/

Controls whether the documentation string of the operator is also shown.

Ctrl++

Moves the displayer up.

Ctrl+-

Moves the displayer down.

You can dismiss the displayer by invoking the command again, or by entering Ctrl+G . On Cocoa and Windows it is dismissed automatically when the underlying pane loses the focus.

In the LispWorks IDE you can change the style of the highlighting by Preferences... > Environment > Styles > Colors and Attributes > Arglist Highlight .

If passed a prefix argument, for example:

it does not raise a displayer window, but instead displays the operator and its arguments, with highlight, in the Echo Area. This display is interface-specific, and implemented only for the Editor and other tools based on the editor.

Function Argument List

Editor Command

Argument: function
Key sequence: Ctrl+Shift+A function

This command is similar to Function Arglist, except that the symbol at the head of the current form is offered as a default value for function , unless that symbol is a member of the list editor:*find-likely-function-ignores* in which case the second symbol in the form is offered as the default. A prefix argument automatically causes this default value to be used.

Describe Class

Editor Command

Argument: class
Key sequence: None

Displays a description of the class named by class in a Class Browser tool. The symbol under the current point is offered as a default value for class . A prefix argument automatically causes this default value to be used.

Describe Generic Function

Editor Command

Argument: function
Key sequence: None

Displays a description of function in a Generic Function Browser tool. The symbol under the current point is offered as a default value for function . A prefix argument automatically causes this default value to be used.

Describe Method Call

Editor Command

Argument: None
Key sequence: None

Displays a Generic Function Browser tool, with a specific method combination shown.

When invoked with a prefix argument p while the cursor is in a defmethod form, it uses the generic function and specializers of the method to choose the method combination.

Otherwise, it prompts for the generic function name and the list of specializers, which can be class names or lists of the form (eql object ) where object is not evaluated.

Describe System

Editor Command

Argument: system
Key sequence: None

Displays a description of the defsystem -defined system named by system . The symbol under the current point is offered as a default value for system . A prefix argument automatically causes this default value to be used.