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(emacs)Special Buffer Frames

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Special Buffer Frames
=====================

   You can make certain chosen buffers, for which Emacs normally creates
a second window when you have just one window, appear in special frames
of their own.  To do this, set the variable
`special-display-buffer-names' to a list of buffer names; any buffer
whose name is in that list automatically gets a special frame, when an
Emacs command wants to display it "in another window."

   For example, if you set the variable this way,

     (setq special-display-buffer-names
           '("*Completions*" "*grep*" "*tex-shell*"))

then completion lists, `grep' output and the TeX mode shell buffer get
individual frames of their own.  These frames, and the windows in them,
are never automatically split or reused for any other buffers.  They
continue to show the buffers they were created for, unless you alter
them by hand.  Killing the special buffer deletes its frame
automatically.

   More generally, you can set `special-display-regexps' to a list of
regular expressions; then a buffer gets its own frame if its name
matches any of those regular expressions.  (Once again, this applies
only to buffers that normally get displayed for you in a separate
window.)

   The variable `special-display-frame-alist' specifies the frame
parameters for these frames.  It has a default value, so you don't need
to set it.

   For those who know Lisp, an element of
`special-display-buffer-names' or `special-display-regexps' can also be
a list.  Then the first element is the buffer name or regular
expression; the rest of the list specifies how to create the frame.  It
can be an association list specifying frame parameter values; these
values take precedence over parameter values specified in
`special-display-frame-alist'.  Alternatively, it can have this form:

     (FUNCTION ARGS...)

where FUNCTION is a symbol.  Then the frame is constructed by calling
FUNCTION; its first argument is the buffer, and its remaining arguments
are ARGS.

   An analogous feature lets you specify buffers which should be
displayed in the selected window.  Note: Force Same Window.  The
same-window feature takes precedence over the special-frame feature;
therefore, if you add a buffer name to `special-display-buffer-names'
and it has no effect, check to see whether that feature is also in use
for the same buffer name.