[ESS] ... when editing R documents, 'delete' key behaves as 'backspace'
Rodney Sparapani
rsparapa at mcw.edu
Mon Sep 8 23:27:26 CEST 2008
Martin Maechler wrote:
> >> I have found a solution to this problem: All I need to do
> >> is to comment out line 173 of ess-mode.el, which says:
> >> (define-key ess-mode-map "\177"
> >> 'backward-delete-char-untabify) After this line is
> >> commented out, DEL key deletes forward, the same as in
> >> all other modes. Does that mean that it was an intended
> >> behavior in ESS?
>
> StEgl> great, thanks for reporting this. That code has
> StEgl> probably been there a long time, so I'd imagine that
> StEgl> yes, its intended. Stephen
>
> It definitely was back then 15-20 years ago.
> But in those times, I don't think that the concept
> of <forward deletion> via the delete key as opposed
> to <backward deletion> via the backspace key
> was as (almost?) universal as now.
>
>
> I've not used the <delete> key in ESS (or Emacs at that)
> at all in the last 10 years or so,
> but because of the changed "universal" behavior,
> I propose that we *drop* this behavior from ess-mode {the one
> for editing *.R, *.S, *.q, *.SAS, ... files) in ESS.
>
> Of course we need to hear further opinions.
> For that reason, I'm forwarding this communication to ESS-help
> hoping to get feedback.
>
> Martin Maechler
There may be considerable bit-rot in that file. For example, the
two previous lines, 171-172, no longer appear to be necessary either.
But, unless there is some breakage, I think we should leave 171-172
alone. However, I agree that 173 should be changed as proposed.
I'd only add that there is no backspace key on Mac keyboards. It
is actually labeled the delete key, but I think you have a choice
in Settings as to whether it deletes forward or backward and I think
backward is the default.
Rodney
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