Re: [Evolution] xml configuration files

[Eric Lambart <ximian nomeaning net>]

On Thu, 2002-11-14 at 07:37, Mertens Bram wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I would like to change the keybindings for moving to the next and
> previous unread message...
>
> I read Eric Lambart's message (subject Re: [Evolution] Two things that I
> would like to change) on how to edit the file
> 'evolution-mail-message.xml' in '/usr/share/gnome/ui/'.
>
> However here's the relevant part of
> /usr/share/gnome/ui/evolution-mail-message.xml on my systsem (RH7.3 Evo
> 1.2)
>     <cmd name="MailNextUnread"
>      _tip="Display the next unread message"
>      accel="bracketright"/>
>             ^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Shouldn't that last line line be 'accel="."/>'?
>
> Nowhere in that file can I find 'accel="."/>' or 'accel=","/>'
>
> So will the suggestion of Eric still work in Evo 1.2 (he was using Evo
> 1.1.2 beta 2 at the time)? Or do I have to edit another section of this
> file as well and/or a different file?

I am still running 1.1.2.99 (a snapshot), so I haven't seen the latest
files, but bracket right is probably either "}" or "]"--you could try
that and confirm that it performs the specified action.  I think "}"
would be "braceright", actually.

I'm sure you can still follow my instructions with no problem (I hope!),
but to be safe why not back up your evolution directory ('cp -a
evolution evolution.141204' or somesuch) and the .xml file before making
the change?

> The file also contains a section called '<keybindings>' with entries
> like:
>     <accel name="*Shift*comma"        verb="MailPreviousUnread"/>
> the names 'comma', 'period', 'less', 'greater' and 'bracketleft' I can
> figure out but what are the keys 'braceleft' and 'braceright'?

Yes, that's where the "." and "," have gone (if it actually ever said
just "." or ",", I forget).  They've become "period" and "comma".  All
those are duplicate "accel" entries.  As you can see from the "verb"
field, they are defined as accelerator keys for "MailPreviousUnread" and
"MailNextUnread".

> Is there some document about the specifications of these files? (e.g. an
> xml-schema would be very useful)

I doubt it.  Just be glad it's plaintext XML and not too cryptic.

> e.g. can one '<cmd...>' entry contain more than one 'accel' attribute?

I doubt it, but that's surely the whole point of the <keybindings>
section.  If you want a second shortcut for some command, just mimic the
<accel> tags, changing the verb field to reflect the <cmd name> you want
to accelerate.  I believe the purpose of having all those alternate
keybindings is to accomodate international keyboards that make certain
keystrokes inconvenient.

But for what it's worth, the "accel" defined in the <cmd> tag is the one
that shows up as a accelerator shortcut within the menu system (i.e. [US
locale] Actions->Go To->Next Unread Message).

> or can one 'accel' attribute contain more than one value (separated
> by...?)

I don't think so.  Try it.  The _worst_ that should happen is that
nothing will work and you'll have to killev and restart.  Well, the
truly worst is that you'd have to restore your backup, but I doubt you
can screw things up that bad editing the XML.

> Also: what happens when you assign one key to multiple actions? will Evo
> perform both actions, none or will it segfault?

I think Evo will be very unhappy.  I can't imagine why you'd want to,
but if you really must satisfy your curiosity... hey, be bold!  Backup
your stuff and just try it! =)  That's how I figured this stuff out.

Eric

-- 
I have nothing against the American people... 
...but it is time for a regime change