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bug#24897: 24.5; doc for `M' in Dired
From: |
Drew Adams |
Subject: |
bug#24897: 24.5; doc for `M' in Dired |
Date: |
Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:21:51 +0000 (UTC) |
> Are you suggesting that we fully document how both symbolic and octal
> modes work on Unix-like systems here?
How they work? No.
Everything about them ("fully")? No.
Something about them - a simple example? Why not?
I suggest something like this: Instead of
"symbolic modes like `g+w'" we say
"symbolic modes like `a+w' and `a-w'".
`a+w' and `a-w'o are likely the most useful for users on
MS Windows. And I think it helps to show both + and -.
(I wouldn't mind if we even indicated that +w adds write
permission and -w takes it away. But I don't push for that.)
> If so, I think it's outside the
> scope of this doc string. Linking to separate documentation seems
> more sensible, and the new patch I suggested does that.
Linking to complete doc (which is necessarily outside
Emacs, as you say), is helpful, of course. It's even
necessary.
But the Emacs doc can provide at least a little help -
something simple that even an MS Windows user can use.
A simple example can go a long way.
> +Note that on MS-Windows only the `w' (write) bit is meaningful:
> +resetting it makes the file read-only. Changing any other bit
> +has no effect on MS-Windows
I'm not sure "resetting" is as clear as this can be.
How about something like this?
Note that on MS-Windows only the `w' (write) bit is
meaningful. Adding it (`a+w') makes a file writable.
Removing it (`a-w') makes a file read-only. Changing
any other bit has no effect on MS-Windows.
(I also think, but Eli will correct me - and this might
depend on one's setup, that the use of `g',`u', and `o'
is useless on MS Windows. At least in my case there's
no distinction between `g', `u', `o', and `a'. But I
think I recall Eli saying that it is possible on Windows
for these to make a difference.)
Anyway, what you have already is an improvement. Thx.
bug#24897: 24.5; doc for `M' in Dired, Drew Adams, 2019/10/11