Creating Frames
===============
The prefix key `C-x 5' is analogous to `C-x 4', with parallel
subcommands. The difference is that `C-x 5' commands create a new
frame rather than just a new window in the selected frame (Note:Pop Up
Window). If an existing visible or iconified frame already displays
the requested material, these commands use the existing frame, after
raising or deiconifying as necessary.
The various `C-x 5' commands differ in how they find or create the
buffer to select:
`C-x 5 2'
Create a new frame (`make-frame-command').
`C-x 5 b BUFNAME <RET>'
Select buffer BUFNAME in another frame. This runs
`switch-to-buffer-other-frame'.
`C-x 5 f FILENAME <RET>'
Visit file FILENAME and select its buffer in another frame. This
runs `find-file-other-frame'. Note:Visiting.
`C-x 5 d DIRECTORY <RET>'
Select a Dired buffer for directory DIRECTORY in another frame.
This runs `dired-other-frame'. Note:Dired.
`C-x 5 m'
Start composing a mail message in another frame. This runs
`mail-other-frame'. It is the other-frame variant of `C-x m'.
Note:Sending Mail.
`C-x 5 .'
Find a tag in the current tag table in another frame. This runs
`find-tag-other-frame', the multiple-frame variant of `M-.'.
Note:Tags.
`C-x 5 r FILENAME <RET>'
Visit file FILENAME read-only, and select its buffer in another
frame. This runs `find-file-read-only-other-frame'. Note:Visiting.
You can control the appearance of new frames you create by setting
the frame parameters in `default-frame-alist'. You can use the
variable `initial-frame-alist' to specify parameters that affect only
the initial frame. Note:Initial Parameters,
for more information.
The easiest way to specify the principal font for all your Emacs
frames is with an X resource (Note:Font X), but you can also do it by
modifying `default-frame-alist' to specify the `font' parameter, as
shown here:
(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(font . "10x20"))
Here's a similar example for specifying a foreground color:
(add-to-list 'default-frame-alist '(background-color . "blue"))