Re: How to copy the text in the minibuffer

[Leo]

On 2009-01-15 19:11 +0000, Drew Adams wrote:
>> > Sometimes I have some text in the minibuffer that I would like to
>> > copy, to paste it somewhere else. Is this possible?
>> 
>> There may well be better answers but I often retrieve that sort of
>> stuff buy switching to *Messages* buffer where most stuff that appears
>> in minibuffer is also written and be copied normally.
>
> There is likely some confusion here between the minibuffer and the echo area.
> These two critters occupy the same space (but not at the same time). 
>
> The echo area is used only for output - messages to you from Emacs.
>
> The minibuffer is used for input. Sometimes Emacs also puts an informational
> message there to accompany your input - for example "[No match]" during input
> completion.
>
> You can copy text from the minibuffer in the normal way. (You can even copy 
> text
> from the minibuffer prompt, if you need to.)
>
> You cannot copy text (messages) from the echo area. There is really no way for
> you to "get into" the echo area - it is for output only. But, as Harry
> indicated, you can copy the same message from buffer *Messages*, where it is
> logged.

This is a precise description! Excellent.

-- 
.:  Leo  :.  [ sdl.web AT gmail.com ]  .: I use Emacs :.