2.2 Using FreeLisp

2.2.2 The echo area

When you started FreeLisp from Windows, two windows opened. One was the listener. The second window -- called the echo area -- is shown below.

Figure 2.2 The echo area.

Notice that the echo area has no menus.

The echo area has a variety of uses. The environment uses it the most, to print messages of interest to you, and to ask questions when it requires more information about some subject.

For example, try the following:

1. Type )

An expression starting with a right parenthesis, no matter what follows, will always be an invalid Common Lisp expression. The environment notices, even before Return has been pressed, that a mistake has been made, and reports this by printing an error message in the echo area.

Note: Sometimes the echo area is used to allow you to supply information -- for example, the name of a file to be edited. If at any time you want to abort a request it makes, hold down the Ctrl key and press g.

Figure 2.3 The echo area showing an error message.


FreeLisp User's Guide - 5 FEB 1996

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