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diff --git a/doc/misc/vhdl-mode.texi b/doc/misc/vhdl-mode.texi new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..524a534c38d --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/misc/vhdl-mode.texi @@ -0,0 +1,1022 @@ +\input texinfo @c -*- texinfo -*- + +@setfilename ../../info/vhdl-mode.info +@settitle VHDL Mode, an Emacs mode for editing VHDL code +@documentencoding UTF-8 + +@c Adapted from the VHDL Mode texinfo manual version 2 by Rodney J. Whitby. +@c Adapted from the CC Mode texinfo manual by Barry A. Warsaw. + +@copying +This file documents VHDL Mode, an Emacs mode for editing VHDL code. + +Copyright @copyright{} 1995--2008, 2010, 2012, 2015 Free Software +Foundation, Inc. + +@quotation +Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document +under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or +any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no +Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,'' +and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license +is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License.'' + +(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and +modify this GNU manual.'' +@end quotation +@end copying + +@dircategory Emacs editing modes +@direntry +* VHDL Mode: (vhdl-mode). Emacs mode for editing VHDL code. +@end direntry + +@finalout + +@titlepage +@title VHDL Mode +@sp 2 +@subtitle A GNU Emacs mode for editing VHDL code. +@sp 2 +@author Reto Zimmermann +@author @email{reto@@gnu.org} +@author Rod Whitby +@author @email{software.vhdl-mode@@rwhitby.net} + +@page +@vskip 0pt plus 1filll +@insertcopying +@end titlepage + +@contents + +@ifnottex +@node Top +@top VHDL Mode, an Emacs mode for editing VHDL code + +@insertcopying +@end ifnottex + +@menu +* Introduction:: +* Getting Connected:: +* New Indentation Engine:: +* Customizing Indentation:: +* Syntactic Symbols:: +* Frequently Asked Questions:: +* Getting the latest VHDL Mode release:: +* Sample .emacs File:: +* Limitations and Known Bugs:: +* Mailing Lists and Submitting Bug Reports:: +* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation. +* Concept Index:: +* Command Index:: Command Index +* Key Index:: Key Index +* Variable Index:: Variable Index +@end menu + +@node Introduction +@chapter Introduction +@cindex Introduction + +Welcome to VHDL Mode. This is a GNU Emacs mode for editing files +containing VHDL code. + +This manual will describe the following: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +How to get started using VHDL Mode. + +@item +How the indentation engine works. + +@item +How to customize the indentation engine. + +@end itemize + +@findex vhdl-version +The major version number was incremented to 3 with the addition of +many new features for editing VHDL code to the new indentation engine, +which was introduced in major version 2. To find the minor revision +number of this release, use @kbd{M-x vhdl-version RET}. + +A special word of thanks goes to Rod Whitby, who wrote the +VHDL Mode indentation engine, and to Barry Warsaw, who wrote +the CC Mode indentation engine that formed the basis +thereof. Their manuals were also the basis for this manual. + +This manual is not very up-to-date. It basically contains the +indentation machine documentation by Rod Whitby with only minor +adaptions. A short documentation of the entire VHDL Mode is available +within the mode itself by typing @kbd{C-c C-h}. Also, all commands and +customization of most variables are available through the menu, which +makes everything highly self-explaining. + +@node Getting Connected +@chapter Getting Connected +@cindex Getting Connected + +To get started, simply visit a @file{.vhd} file in Emacs; or type +@kbd{M-x vhdl-mode RET}. + +@node New Indentation Engine +@chapter New Indentation Engine +@cindex New Indentation Engine + +VHDL Mode has a new indentation engine, providing a simplified, yet +flexible and general mechanism for customizing indentation. It breaks +indentation calculation into two steps. First for the line of code being +indented, VHDL Mode analyzes what kind of language construct it's +looking at, then it applies user defined offsets to the current line +based on this analysis. + +This section will briefly cover how indentation is calculated in +VHDL Mode. It is important to understand the indentation model +being used so that you will know how to customize VHDL Mode for +your personal coding style. + +@menu +* Syntactic Analysis:: Step 1 -- Syntactic Analysis +* Indentation Calculation:: Step 2 -- Indentation Calculation +@end menu + +@node Syntactic Analysis +@section Syntactic Analysis +@cindex Syntactic Analysis + +@vindex vhdl-offsets-alist +@vindex offsets-alist (vhdl-) +@cindex relative buffer position +@cindex syntactic symbol +@cindex syntactic component +@cindex syntactic component list +@cindex relative buffer position +The first thing VHDL Mode does when indenting a line of code, is +to analyze the line, determining the @dfn{syntactic component list} of +the construct on that line. A @dfn{syntactic component} consists of a +pair of information (in lisp parlance, a @emph{cons cell}), where the +first part is a @dfn{syntactic symbol}, and the second part is a +@dfn{relative buffer position}. Syntactic symbols describe elements of +VHDL code, e.g. @code{statement}, @code{comment}, @code{block-open}, +@code{block-close}, etc. @xref{Syntactic Symbols}, for a complete list +of currently recognized syntactic symbols and their semantics. Also, +the variable @code{vhdl-offsets-alist} contains the list of currently +supported syntactic symbols. + +Conceptually, a line of VHDL code is always indented relative to the +indentation of some line higher up in the buffer. This is represented +by the relative buffer position in the syntactic component. + +It might help to see an example. Suppose we had the following code as +the only thing in a VHDL Mode buffer @footnote{The line numbers +in this and future examples don't actually appear in the buffer.}: +@example +@group + + 1: inverter : process + 2: begin + 3: q <= not d; + 4: wait on d; + 5: end inverter; + +@end group +@end example + +@kindex C-c C-x +@findex vhdl-show-syntactic-information +@findex show-syntactic-information (vhdl-) +We can use the command @kbd{C-c C-x} +(@code{vhdl-show-syntactic-information}) to simply report what the +syntactic analysis is for the current line. Running this command on +line 4 of example 1, we'd see in the echo area: +@example + +((statement . 28)) + +@end example + +This tells us that the line is a statement and it is indented relative +to buffer position 28, which happens to be the @samp{q} on line 3. If +you were to move point to line 3 and hit @kbd{C-c C-x}, you would see: +@example + +((statement-block-intro . 20)) + +@end example + +This indicates that line 3 is the first statement in a block, and is +indented relative to buffer position 20, which is the @samp{b} in the +@code{begin} keyword on line 2. + +@cindex comment only line +Syntactic component lists can contain more than one component, and +individual syntactic components need not have relative buffer positions. +The most common example of this is a line that contains a @dfn{comment +only line}. +@example +@group + +%%% TBD %%% + +@end group +@end example + +@noindent +Hitting @kbd{C-c C-x} on line 3 of the example gives us: +@example + +((comment-intro) (block-intro . 46)) + +@end example + +@noindent +so you can see that the syntactic component list contains two syntactic +components. Also notice that the first component, +@samp{(comment-intro)} has no relative buffer position. + +@node Indentation Calculation +@section Indentation Calculation +@cindex Indentation Calculation + +@vindex vhdl-offsets-alist +@vindex offsets-alist (vhdl-) +Indentation for the current line is calculated using the syntactic +component list derived in step 1 above (see @ref{Syntactic +Analysis}). Each component contributes to the final total indentation +of the line in two ways. + +First, the syntactic symbols are looked up in the @code{vhdl-offsets-alist} +variable, which is an association list of syntactic symbols and the +offsets to apply for those symbols. These offsets are added to the +running total. + +Second, if the component has a relative buffer position, VHDL Mode +adds the column number of that position to the running total. By adding +up the offsets and columns for every syntactic component on the list, +the final total indentation for the current line is computed. + +Let's use our code example above to see how this works. Here is our +example again. +@example +@group + + 1: inverter : process + 2: begin + 3: q <= not d; + 4: wait on d; + 5: end inverter; + +@end group +@end example + +@kindex TAB +Let's say point is on line 3 and we hit the @key{TAB} key to re-indent +the line. Remember that the syntactic component list for that +line is: +@example + +((statement-block-intro . 20)) + +@end example + +@noindent +VHDL Mode looks up @code{statement-block-intro} in the +@code{vhdl-offsets-alist} variable. Let's say it finds the value @samp{2}; +it adds this to the running total (initialized to zero), yielding a +running total indentation of 2 spaces. + +Next VHDL Mode goes to buffer position 20 and asks for the +current column. Since the @code{begin} keyword at buffer position 20 is +in column zero, it adds @samp{0} to the running total. Since there is +only one syntactic component on the list for this line, indentation +calculation is complete, and the total indentation for the line is 2 +spaces. +Simple, huh? + +Actually, the mode usually just does The Right Thing without you having +to think about it in this much detail. But when customizing +indentation, it's helpful to understand the general indentation model +being used. + +@vindex vhdl-echo-syntactic-information-p +@vindex echo-syntactic-information-p (vhdl-) +@cindex TAB +To help you configure VHDL Mode, you can set the variable +@code{vhdl-echo-syntactic-information-p} to non-@code{nil} so that the +syntactic component list and calculated offset will always be echoed in +the minibuffer when you hit @kbd{TAB}. + + +@ignore +@node Indentation Commands +@chapter Indentation Commands +@cindex Indentation Commands + +@strong{<TBD>} +@end ignore + + +@node Customizing Indentation +@chapter Customizing Indentation +@cindex Customizing Indentation + +@cindex vhdl-set-offset +@cindex set-offset (vhdl-) +The @code{vhdl-offsets-alist} variable is where you customize all your +indentations. You simply need to decide what additional offset you want +to add for every syntactic symbol. You can use the command @kbd{C-c +O} (@code{vhdl-set-offset}) as the way to set offsets, both +interactively and from your mode hook. Also, you can set up +@emph{styles} of indentation. Most likely, you'll find one of the +pre-defined styles will suit your needs, but if not, this section will +describe how to set up basic editing configurations. @xref{Styles}, for +an explanation of how to set up named styles. + +@cindex vhdl-basic-offset +@cindex basic-offset (vhdl-) +As mentioned previously, the variable @code{vhdl-offsets-alist} is an +association list between syntactic symbols and the offsets to be applied +for those symbols. In fact, these offset values can be an integer, a +function or variable name, or one of the following symbols: @code{+}, +@code{-}, @code{++}, @code{--}, @code{*}, or @code{/}. The symbol +values have the following meanings: + +@itemize @bullet + +@item +@code{+} -- 1 x @code{vhdl-basic-offset} +@item +@code{-} -- -1 x @code{vhdl-basic-offset} +@item +@code{++} -- 2 x @code{vhdl-basic-offset} +@item +@code{--} -- -2 x @code{vhdl-basic-offset} +@item +@code{*} -- 0.5 x @code{vhdl-basic-offset} +@item +@code{/} -- -0.5 x @code{vhdl-basic-offset} + +@end itemize + +@noindent +So, for example, because most of the default offsets are defined in +terms of @code{+}, @code{-}, and @code{0}, if you like the general +indentation style, but you use 2 spaces instead of 4 spaces per level, +you can probably achieve your style just by changing +@code{vhdl-basic-offset} like so (in your @file{.emacs} file): +@example + +(setq vhdl-basic-offset 2) + +@end example + +To change indentation styles more radically, you will want to change the +value associated with the syntactic symbols in the +@code{vhdl-offsets-alist} variable. First, I'll show you how to do that +interactively, then I'll describe how to make changes to your +@file{.emacs} file so that your changes are more permanent. + +@menu +* Interactive Customization:: +* Permanent Customization:: +* Styles:: +* Advanced Customizations:: +@end menu + +@node Interactive Customization +@section Interactive Customization +@cindex Interactive Customization + +As an example of how to customize indentation, let's change the +style of the example above from: +@example +@group + + 1: inverter : process + 2: begin + 3: q <= not d; + 4: wait on d; + 5: end inverter; + +@end group +@end example +@noindent +to: +@example +@group + + 1: inverter : process + 2: begin + 3: q <= not d; + 4: wait on d; + 5: end inverter; + +@end group +@end example + +In other words, we want to change the indentation of the statements +inside the inverter process. Notice that the construct we want to +change starts on line 3. To change the indentation of a line, we need +to see which syntactic component affect the offset calculations for that +line. Hitting @kbd{C-c C-x} on line 3 yields: +@example + +((statement-block-intro . 20)) + +@end example + +@findex vhdl-set-offset +@findex set-offset (vhdl-) +@kindex C-c O +@noindent +So we know that to change the offset of the first signal assignment, we need to +change the indentation for the @code{statement-block-intro} syntactic +symbol. To do this interactively, just hit @kbd{C-c O} +(@code{vhdl-set-offset}). This prompts you for the syntactic symbol to +change, providing a reasonable default. In this case, the default is +@code{statement-block-intro}, which is just the syntactic symbol we want to +change! + +After you hit return, VHDL Mode will then prompt you for the new +offset value, with the old value as the default. The default in this +case is @samp{+}, so hit backspace to delete the @samp{+}, then hit +@samp{++} and @kbd{RET}. This will associate an offset of twice the +basic indent with the syntactic symbol @code{statement-block-intro} in +the @code{vhdl-offsets-alist} variable. + +@findex vhdl-indent-defun +@findex indent-defun (vhdl-) +To check your changes quickly, just enter @kbd{M-x vhdl-indent-defun} to +reindent the entire function. The example should now look like: +@example +@group + + 1: inverter : process + 2: begin + 3: q <= not d; + 4: wait on d; + 5: end inverter; + +@end group +@end example + +Notice how just changing the offset on line 3 is all we needed to do. +Since the other affected lines are indented relative to line 3, they are +automatically indented the way you'd expect. For more complicated +examples, this may not always work. The general approach to take is to +always start adjusting offsets for lines higher up in the file, then +re-indent and see if any following lines need further adjustments. + +@node Permanent Customization +@section Permanent Indentation +@cindex Permanent Indentation + +@vindex vhdl-mode-hook +@cindex hooks +To make this change permanent, you need to add some lisp code to your +@file{.emacs} file. VHDL Mode provides a @code{vhdl-mode-hook} +that you can use to customize your language editing styles. This hook +gets run as the last thing when you enter VHDL Mode. + +Here's a simplified example of what you can add to your @file{.emacs} +file to make the changes described in the previous section +(@ref{Interactive Customization}) more permanent. See the Emacs +manuals for more information on customizing Emacs via hooks. +@xref{Sample .emacs File}, for a more complete sample @file{.emacs} file. + +@example +@group + +(defun my-vhdl-mode-hook () + ;; my customizations for all of vhdl-mode + (vhdl-set-offset 'statement-block-intro '++) + ;; other customizations can go here + ) +(add-hook 'vhdl-mode-hook 'my-vhdl-mode-hook) + +@end group +@end example + +For complex customizations, you will probably want to set up a +@emph{style} that groups all your customizations under a single +name. @xref{Styles}. + +The offset value can also be a function, and this is how power users +gain enormous flexibility in customizing indentation. @xref{Advanced +Customizations}. + +@node Styles +@section Styles +@cindex Styles + +Most people only need to edit code formatted in just a few well-defined +and consistent styles. For example, their organization might impose a +``blessed'' style that all its programmers must conform to. Similarly, +people who work on GNU software will have to use the GNU coding style on +C code. Some shops are more lenient, allowing some variety of coding +styles, and as programmers come and go, there could be a number of +styles in use. For this reason, VHDL Mode makes it convenient for +you to set up logical groupings of customizations called @dfn{styles}, +associate a single name for any particular style, and pretty easily +start editing new or existing code using these styles. This chapter +describes how to set up styles and how to edit your C code using styles. + +@menu +* Built-in Styles:: +* Adding Styles:: +* File Styles:: +@end menu + + +@node Built-in Styles +@subsection Built-in Styles +@cindex Built-in Styles + +If you're lucky, one of VHDL Mode's built-in styles might be just +what you're looking for. Some of the most common VHDL styles are +already built-in. These include: + +@itemize @bullet +@item +@cindex IEEE style +@code{GNU} -- the coding style in the IEEE Language Reference Manual. + +@end itemize + +@findex vhdl-set-style +@findex set-style (vhdl-) +If you'd like to experiment with these built-in styles you can simply +type @kbd{M-x vhdl-set-style RET} in a VHDL Mode buffer. + +You will be prompted for one of the above styles (with completion). +Enter one of the styles and hit @kbd{RET}. Note however that setting a +style in this way does @emph{not} automatically re-indent your file. +@ignore +For commands that you can use to view the effect of your changes, see +@ref{Indentation Commands}. +@end ignore + +Once you find a built-in style you like, you can make the change +permanent by adding a call to your @file{.emacs} file. Let's say for +example that you want to use the @code{IEEE} style in all your +files. You would add this: +@example +@group + +(defun my-vhdl-mode-hook () + ;; use IEEE style for all VHDL code + (vhdl-set-style "IEEE") + ;; other customizations can go here + ) +(add-hook 'vhdl-mode-hook 'my-vhdl-mode-hook) + +@end group +@end example + +@noindent +@xref{Permanent Customization}. + +@node Adding Styles +@subsection Adding Styles +@cindex Adding Styles + +@vindex vhdl-style-alist +@vindex style-alist (vhdl-) +@findex vhdl-add-style +@findex add-style (vhdl-) +If none of the built-in styles is appropriate, you'll probably want to +add a new style definition. Styles are kept in the @code{vhdl-style-alist} +variable, but you probably won't want to modify this variable directly. +VHDL Mode provides a function, called @code{vhdl-add-style}, that you +can use to easily add new styles or update existing styles. This +function takes two arguments, a @var{stylename} string, and an +association list @var{description} of style customizations. If +@var{stylename} is not already in @code{vhdl-style-alist}, the new style is +added, otherwise the style already associated with @var{stylename} is +changed to the new @var{description}. This function also takes an +optional third argument, which if non-@code{nil}, automatically +institutes the new style in the current buffer. + +The sample @file{.emacs} file provides a concrete example of how a new +style can be added and automatically set. @xref{Sample .emacs File}. + +@node File Styles +@subsection File Styles +@cindex File Styles + +@cindex local variables +The Emacs manual describes how you can customize certain variables on a +per-file basis by including a @dfn{Local Variable} block at the end of +the file. So far, you've only seen a functional interface to +VHDL Mode, which is highly inconvenient for use in a Local Variable +block. VHDL Mode provides two variables that make it easier for +you to customize your style on a per-file basis. + +@vindex vhdl-file-style +@vindex file-style (vhdl-) +@vindex vhdl-file-offsets +@vindex file-offsets (vhdl-) + +The variable @code{vhdl-file-style} can be set to a style name string as +described in @ref{Built-in Styles}. When the file is visited, +VHDL Mode will automatically set the file's style to this style +using @code{vhdl-set-style}. + +@vindex vhdl-offsets-alist +@vindex offsets-alist (vhdl-) +@findex vhdl-set-offset +@findex set-offset (vhdl-) +Another variable, @code{vhdl-file-offsets}, takes an association list +similar to what is allowed in @code{vhdl-offsets-alist}. When the file is +visited, VHDL Mode will automatically institute these offsets using +@code{vhdl-set-offset}. @xref{Customizing Indentation}. + +Note that file style settings (i.e. @code{vhdl-file-style}) are applied +before file offset settings (i.e. @code{vhdl-file-offsets}). + + +@node Advanced Customizations +@section Advanced Customizations +@cindex Advanced Customizations + +@vindex vhdl-style-alist +@vindex style-alist (vhdl-) +@vindex vhdl-basic-offset +@vindex basic-offset (vhdl-) +For most users, VHDL Mode will support their coding styles with +very little need for customizations. Usually, one of the standard +styles defined in @code{vhdl-style-alist} will do the trick. Sometimes, +one of the syntactic symbol offsets will need to be tweaked slightly, or +perhaps @code{vhdl-basic-offset} will need to be changed. However, some +styles require a more advanced ability for customization, and one of the +real strengths of VHDL Mode is that the syntactic analysis model +provides a very flexible framework for customizing indentation. This +allows you to perform special indentation calculations for situations +not handled by the mode directly. + +@menu +* Custom Indentation Functions:: +* Other Special Indentations:: +@end menu + +@node Custom Indentation Functions +@subsection Custom Indentation Functions +@cindex Custom Indentation Functions + +@cindex custom indentation functions +One of the most common ways to customize VHDL Mode is by writing +@dfn{custom indentation functions} and associating them with specific +syntactic symbols (see @ref{Syntactic Symbols}). VHDL Mode itself +uses custom indentation functions to provide more sophisticated +indentation, for example when lining up selected signal assignments: +@example +@group + +%%% TBD %%% + +@end group +@end example + +In this example, the @code{statement-cont} syntactic symbol has an +offset of @code{+}, and @code{vhdl-basic-offset} is 2, so lines 4 +through 6 are simply indented two spaces to the right of line 3. But +perhaps we'd like VHDL Mode to be a little more intelligent so +that it offsets the waveform descriptions relative to the signal +assignment operator in line 3. To do this, we have to write a custom +indentation function which finds the column of signal assignment +operator on the first line of the statement. Here is the lisp code +(from the @file{vhdl-mode.el} source file) that implements this: +@example +@group + +(defun vhdl-lineup-statement-cont (langelem) + ;; line up statement-cont after the assignment operator + (save-excursion + (let* ((relpos (cdr langelem)) + (assignp (save-excursion + (goto-char (vhdl-point 'boi)) + (and (re-search-forward "\\(<\\|:\\)=" + (vhdl-point 'eol) t) + (- (point) (vhdl-point 'boi))))) + (curcol (progn + (goto-char relpos) + (current-column))) + foundp) + (while (and (not foundp) + (< (point) (vhdl-point 'eol))) + (re-search-forward "\\(<\\|:\\)=\\|(" (vhdl-point 'eol) 'move) + (if (vhdl-in-literal (cdr langelem)) + (forward-char) + (if (= (preceding-char) ?\() + ;; skip over any parenthesized expressions + (goto-char (min (vhdl-point 'eol) + (scan-lists (point) 1 1))) + ;; found an assignment operator (not at eol) + (setq foundp (not (looking-at "\\s-*$")))))) + (if (not foundp) + ;; there's no assignment operator on the line + vhdl-basic-offset + ;; calculate indentation column after assign and ws, unless + ;; our line contains an assignment operator + (if (not assignp) + (progn + (forward-char) + (skip-chars-forward " \t") + (setq assignp 0))) + (- (current-column) assignp curcol)) + ))) + +@end group +@end example +@noindent +Custom indent functions take a single argument, which is a syntactic +component cons cell (see @ref{Syntactic Analysis}). The +function returns an integer offset value that will be added to the +running total indentation for the lne. Note that what actually gets +returned is the difference between the column that the signal assignment +operator is on, and the column of the buffer relative position passed in +the function's argument. Remember that VHDL Mode automatically +adds in the column of the component's relative buffer position and we +don't want that value added into the final total twice. + +@cindex statement-cont syntactic symbol +@findex vhdl-lineup-statement-cont +@findex lineup-statement-cont (vhdl-) +Now, to associate the function @code{vhdl-lineup-statement-cont} with the +@code{statement-cont} syntactic symbol, we can add something like the +following to our @code{vhdl-mode-hook}: +@example + +(vhdl-set-offset 'statement-cont 'vhdl-lineup-statement-cont) + +@end example + +@findex vhdl-indent-defun +Now the function looks like this after re-indenting (using @kbd{M-x +vhdl-indent-defun}): +@example +@group + +%%% TBD %%% + +@end group +@end example + +@vindex vhdl-offsets-alist +@vindex offsets-alist (vhdl-) +Custom indentation functions can be as simple or as complex as you like, +and any syntactic symbol that appears in @code{vhdl-offsets-alist} can have +a custom indentation function associated with it. Note however that +using many custom indentation functions may have a performance impact on +VHDL Mode. + +@node Other Special Indentations +@subsection Other Special Indentations +@cindex Other Special Indentations + +@vindex vhdl-special-indent-hook +@vindex special-indent-hook (vhdl-) +One other variable is available for you to customize VHDL Mode: +@code{vhdl-special-indent-hook}. This is a standard hook variable that +is called after every line is indented by VHDL Mode. You can use +it to do any special indentation or line adjustments your style +dictates, such as adding extra indentation to the port map clause in a +component instantiation, etc. Note however, that you should not change +@code{point} or @code{mark} inside your @code{vhdl-special-indent-hook} +functions. + + +@node Syntactic Symbols +@chapter Syntactic Symbols +@cindex Syntactic Symbols + +@vindex vhdl-offsets-alist +The complete list of recognized syntactic symbols is described in the +@code{vhdl-offsets-alist} variable. This chapter will provide some +examples to help clarify these symbols. + +@cindex -open syntactic symbols +@cindex -close syntactic symbols +Most syntactic symbol names follow a general naming convention. When a +line begins with a @code{begin} or @code{end} keyword, the syntactic +symbol will contain the suffix @code{-open} or @code{-close} +respectively. + +@cindex -intro syntactic symbols +@cindex -cont syntactic symbols +@cindex -block-intro syntactic symbols +Usually, a distinction is made between the first line that introduces a +construct and lines that continue a construct, and the syntactic symbols +that represent these lines will contain the suffix @code{-intro} or +@code{-cont} respectively. As a sub-classification of this scheme, a +line which is the first of a particular block construct will contain the +suffix @code{-block-intro}. + +@strong{<TBD> include the name and a brief example of every syntactic +symbol currently recognized} + +@node Frequently Asked Questions +@chapter Frequently Asked Questions +@cindex Frequently Asked Questions + +@kindex C-x h +@kindex ESC C-\ +@kindex ESC C-q +@kindex ESC C-u +@kindex RET +@kindex LFD +@findex newline-and-indent +@quotation + +@strong{Q.} @emph{How do I re-indent the whole file?} + +@strong{A.} Visit the file and hit @kbd{C-x h} to mark the whole +buffer. Then hit @kbd{@key{ESC} C-\} to re-indent the entire region +which you've just marked. Or just enter @kbd{M-x vhdl-indent-buffer}. +@sp 2 + +@strong{Q.} @emph{How do I re-indent the entire function?} + +@strong{A.} Hit @kbd{@key{ESC} C-h} to mark the entire function. Then +hit @kbd{@key{ESC} C-\} to re-indent the entire region which you've just +marked. +@sp 2 + +@strong{Q.} @emph{How do I re-indent the current block?} + +@strong{A.} First move to the brace which opens the block with +@kbd{@key{ESC} C-u}, then re-indent that expression with +@kbd{@key{ESC} C-q}. +@sp 2 + +@strong{Q.} @emph{How do I re-indent the current statement?} + +@strong{A.} First move to the beginning of the statement with +@kbd{@key{ESC} a}, then re-indent that expression with @kbd{@key{ESC} +C-q}. +@sp 2 + +@strong{Q.} @emph{I put @code{(vhdl-set-offset 'statement-cont 0)} +in my @file{.emacs} file but I get an error saying that +@code{vhdl-set-offset}'s function definition is void.} + +@strong{A.} This means that VHDL Mode wasn't loaded into your +Emacs session by the time the @code{vhdl-set-offset} call was reached, +mostly likely because VHDL Mode is being autoloaded. Instead +of putting the @code{vhdl-set-offset} line in your top-level +@file{.emacs} file, put it in your @code{vhdl-mode-hook}, or +simply add the following to the top of your @file{.emacs} file: +@example + +(require 'vhdl-mode) + +@end example + +See the sample @file{.emacs} file @ref{Sample .emacs File} for +details. + +@end quotation + + +@node Getting the latest VHDL Mode release +@chapter Getting the latest VHDL Mode release +@cindex Getting the latest VHDL Mode release + +The best way to be sure you always have the latest VHDL Mode release +is to join the @code{vhdl-mode-announce} mailing list. If you are a +brave soul, and wish to participate in beta testing of new releases of +VHDL Mode, you may also join the @code{vhdl-mode-victims} mailing +list. Send email to the maintainer @email{reto@@gnu.org} to join +either of these lists. + +The official Emacs VHDL Mode Home Page can be found at +@uref{http://www.iis.ee.ethz.ch/~zimmi/emacs/vhdl-mode.html}. + +@node Sample .emacs File +@chapter Sample @file{.emacs} file +@cindex Sample @file{.emacs} file + +Most customizations can be done using the `Customize' entry in the +VHDL Mode menu, which requires no editing of the .emacs file. +If you want to customize indentation, here you go: + +@example +;; Here's a sample .emacs file that might help you along the way. Just +;; copy this region and paste it into your .emacs file. You may want to +;; change some of the actual values. + +(defconst my-vhdl-style + '((vhdl-tab-always-indent . t) + (vhdl-comment-only-line-offset . 4) + (vhdl-offsets-alist . ((arglist-close . vhdl-lineup-arglist) + (statement-cont . 0) + (case-alternative . 4) + (block-open . 0))) + (vhdl-echo-syntactic-information-p . t) + ) + "My VHDL Programming Style") + +;; Customizations for vhdl-mode +(defun my-vhdl-mode-hook () + ;; add my personal style and set it for the current buffer + (vhdl-add-style "PERSONAL" my-vhdl-style t) + ;; offset customizations not in my-vhdl-style + (vhdl-set-offset 'statement-case-intro '++) + ;; other customizations + (setq tab-width 8 + ;; this will make sure spaces are used instead of tabs + indent-tabs-mode nil) + ;; keybindings for VHDL are put in vhdl-mode-map + (define-key vhdl-mode-map "\C-m" 'newline-and-indent) + ) + +(add-hook 'vhdl-mode-hook 'my-vhdl-mode-hook) +@end example + +@node Limitations and Known Bugs +@chapter Limitations and Known Bugs +@cindex Limitations and Known Bugs + +@itemize @bullet +@item +Re-indenting large regions or expressions can be slow. + +@ignore +@item +The index menu does not work on my XEmacs installation (don't know why). +@end ignore + +@end itemize + +@node Mailing Lists and Submitting Bug Reports +@chapter Mailing Lists and Submitting Bug Reports +@cindex Mailing Lists and Submitting Bug Reports + +@kindex C-c C-b +@findex vhdl-submit-bug-report +@findex submit-bug-report (vhdl-) +@cindex beta testers mailing list +@cindex announcement mailing list +To report bugs, use the @kbd{C-c C-b} (@code{vhdl-submit-bug-report}) +command. This provides vital information I need to reproduce your +problem. Make sure you include a concise, but complete code example. +Please try to boil your example down to just the essential code needed +to reproduce the problem, and include an exact recipe of steps needed to +expose the bug. Be especially sure to include any code that appears +@emph{before} your bug example. + +For other help or suggestions, send a message to @email{reto@@gnu.org}. + +Send an add message to @email{reto@@gnu.org} to get on the +@code{vhdl-mode-victims} beta testers list where beta releases of +VHDL Mode are posted. Note that you shouldn't expect beta +releases to be as stable as public releases. + +There is also an announce only list where the latest public releases +of VHDL Mode are posted. Send an add message to +@email{reto@@gnu.org} to be added to this list. + + +@node GNU Free Documentation License +@appendix GNU Free Documentation License +@include doclicense.texi + + +@node Concept Index +@unnumbered Concept Index + +@printindex cp + + +@node Command Index +@unnumbered Command Index + +Since all VHDL Mode commands are prepended with the string +@samp{vhdl-}, each appears under its @code{vhdl-<thing>} name and its +@code{<thing> (vhdl-)} name. +@iftex +@sp 2 +@end iftex +@printindex fn + + +@node Key Index +@unnumbered Key Index + +@printindex ky + + +@node Variable Index +@unnumbered Variable Index + +Since all VHDL Mode variables are prepended with the string +@samp{vhdl-}, each appears under its @code{vhdl-<thing>} name and its +@code{<thing> (vhdl-)} name. +@iftex +@sp 2 +@end iftex +@printindex vr + +@bye |