Richard Stallman wrote: "Specify new file's name, to edit the file"
would make more sense than the current help-echo. Just because this command CAN access an existing file is no reason we must design the help-echo to mention that. Explaining the strange stuff that happens if the user tries to type in a file name containing question marks or spaces (as newbies often do) is a good reason however. Also, the user is probably going to worry about what happens if he inadvertently enters the name of an existing file. Another good reason to tell him. Also, people often use the menu bar just to remember key sequences. "Visit New File" is not the correct description of `C-x C-f' which appears right next to it. Of course, there is another way to solve these three problems. Why not bind that menu bar item to a command that is like find-file, but disables file name completion (eliminating the nasty ?-space surprises). Ideally, if the user specifies the name of an existing file (which was probably unintentional or he would have selected "Open File", not "Visit New File"), tell him that the file already exists and ask him whether he really wants to open it or whether he wants to edit the name. With these changes the name "Visit New File" and the new help echo you propose above would actually be accurate. Sincerely, Luc. _______________________________________________ Emacs-devel mailing list Emacs-devel@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/emacs-devel