4

If you ask for a function description, there is a line that starts:

It is bound to <...> <...> <...>

For example, for isearch it says: 

It is bound to <menu-bar> <search> <isearch-forward>

What does it mean? Isn't it supposed to show the keybindings associated with the function?

Drew
  • 75,699
  • 9
  • 109
  • 225
El Diego Efe
  • 1,601
  • 1
  • 19
  • 24
  • What do you get when you do `C-h k C-s`? – Kaushal Modi May 27 '15 at 15:33
  • I have ergoemacs enabled, so `C-s` is bound to some other function and isearch is bound to `C-f`. The message for `C-h k C-f` shows the keybinding (wrongly: it says `Alt-f` instead of `C-f`). But if I do `M-x describe-function isearch-forward` I get exactly what I typed in my question. wasamasa answer below, and @Drew comment answer my question! – El Diego Efe May 27 '15 at 17:55
  • This is unrelated to the question but you can do `C-h f` instead of `M-x describe-function`. – Kaushal Modi May 27 '15 at 17:57

2 Answers2

5

Menu bar items are represented as keybindings internally. So, this means that on the one hand keybinding-related actions will involve menu bar items and on the other one that clicking the "Search" item in the menu bar would yield a list where isearch-forward would be a valid action.

FWIW, the docs tell me something slightly different:

It is bound to C-s, <menu-bar> <edit> <search> <i-search> <isearch-forward>.
wasamasa
  • 21,803
  • 1
  • 65
  • 97
  • It's possible that the OP has bound `C-s` to something else. – Kaushal Modi May 27 '15 at 15:06
  • Oh sure, I'm just a bit more worried about them having a different menu bar sequence as these shouldn't change often. – wasamasa May 27 '15 at 15:20
  • 1
    Mine says the exact same as yours. Looks like the OP probably typed it out instead of copying the text verbatim from the \*Help\* buffer. – Kaushal Modi May 27 '15 at 15:32
  • 2
    It might help to add that the example you give shows **two** key bindings for `isearch-forward`, **separated by a comma**. The first is the key `C-s`. The second is the "key" ` `, which you described. The comma is maybe not obvious, and likewise for the fact that everything after the comma represents a single key binding. – Drew May 27 '15 at 15:58
  • ahhh, your comment (Drew) clarifies what I wanted to know! – El Diego Efe May 27 '15 at 16:05
  • It is bound to cause confusion! Can a function be bound and determined to a key sequence? ;-) – Colin Fraizer May 29 '15 at 10:37
0

The example you give shows two key bindings for isearch-forward, separated by a comma.

The first is the key C-s. The second is the "key" <menu-bar> <edit> <search> <i-search> <isearch-forward>, which you described.

The comma is maybe not obvious, and likewise for the fact that everything after a comma represents a single key binding.

Drew
  • 75,699
  • 9
  • 109
  • 225