Re: M-x moves over prefix text in minibuffer

[Kim F. Storm]

eliz@is.elta.co.il (Eli Zaretskii) writes:

> On Tue, 8 Jan 2002, Jonathan Kamens wrote:
> 
> > Type M-x, then type M-x
> 
> I assume you meant M-b instead of the second M-x.
> 
> > and your cursor moves back over the 'x' in
> > "M-x" in the minibuffer.  Then when you try to type a command, you get
> > "Text is read-only".  You shouldn't be able to move the cursor back
> > onto the prefix or prompt text in the minibuffer.  In Emacs 20, you
> > can't.
> 
> It's a feature.  It lets you, for example, copy parts of the
> minibuffer prompt to the kill ring.  If you don't like the new
> behavior, customize the variable minibuffer-prompt-properties and turn
> on the Inviolable property.  (This is in NEWS, btw.)

I suggest to set the Inviolable property by default and make the
following simple modification to minibuffer-avoid-prompt:

(defun minibuffer-avoid-prompt (new old)
  "A point-motion hook for the minibuffer, that moves point out of the prompt."
  (if (= (point) (1- (minibuffer-prompt-end)))
      (constrain-to-field nil (point-max))))

This has the nice feature that backward-char does not move into the
prompt, but you can still `jump' into the prompt (e.g. using M-b) or
copy text from it using the mouse.

-- 
Kim F. Storm  http://www.cua.dk