Re: Start value in minibuffer [Was: opening /tmp//foo doesn't work.]

[Lars Hansen]

Robert J. Chassell wrote:

>I do not understand you.
>  
>
Ok, I try harder.

Assuming /usr/local exists on your system but contains no file named foo, do

   emacs -Q /usr/local/foo

Then do C-x C-f, and the minibuffer will contain the value "/usr/local/".

1. You can use the minibuffer contents as a default value: Hit RTN, and
you get a dired buffer listing /usr/local. That's fine.

2. You can use the minibuffer contents as a template: If you want a
listing of /usr/bin, you can edit the string "/usr/local/" so it becomes
"/usr/bin" and then hit RTN. That's fine too.

3. But if you want a listing of /etc, then you don't want to use the
minibuffer contents "/usr/local/" at all. To avoid forcing the user to
delete the minibuffer contents, Emacs allows you to just type "/etc".
This gives the string "/usr/local//etc". When you hit RTN, by magic, you
get a listing of /etc.

IMHO it is not intuitive and neither elegant that Emacs interprets
"/usr/local//etc" as "/etc". I think it would be better if the
minibuffer initial contents of "/usr/local/" had been deleted
automatically when the user starts to type.

One more thing: The approach of interpreting "/usr/local//etc" as "/etc"
works for file names because Emacs knows about file name syntax. But for
other commands with so special syntax, you can't do that. What I am
suggesting is something that works in all cases. Just as an option.