bug#11656: 24.1.50; Info-\(next\|prev\)-reference: Add numeric prefix argument

[Christopher Schmidt]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org> writes:

>> From: Christopher Schmidt <christopher@ch.ristopher.com>
>> Date: Sat,  9 Jun 2012 04:41:16 +0100 (BST)
>>
>> this patch adds the optional numeric prefix argument COUNT to
>> Info-next-reference and Info-prev-reference.  This argument makes the
>> functions do The Right Thing, that is, repeat the functionality COUNT
>> times.
>
> Thanks.  Can you present a use case where this functionality is
> needed?  Specifically, I wonder how a user would know how many Next or
> Prev nodes she needs to go to get to whatever she is looking for.
       ^^^^^

Uhm, Info-next-reference and Info-prev-reference navigate within the
cross references in the current buffer.  I think you mistake
Info-next-reference (bound to <tab>) with Info-forward-node (bound to
]).

Pressing <tab> in combination with a prefix argument is just a lot
easier, faster and less intrusive than the use of any regular movement
commands or a repeated pressing of <tab>.  A prefix argument that
specifies the repeat count is also pretty consistent with most other
movement commands, especially forward-button.  To me, this is The Right
Thing.  At least this is what my subconscious, which takes over when I
navigate within the first three nodes after pressing C-h i, told me.

Here is an improved version of my patch that also handles negative
prefix arguments correctly.

Info-nextprev-reference-v2.diff
Description: Text Data

        Christopher