[Bug-gnu-emacs] Polishing help modes

[deja8501]

Hi,

I've just found the ehelp package which is just the thing I need,
however I have several problems with it:

1. It shrinks the help window to the smallest possible size and it
   seems there is no user option to change that behavior. I find it
   really annoying when electric-describe-function displays a help
   window of 3 lines if the function is undocumented. I like the
   normal help behavior which splits the current window into half (if
   there is only one window in the frame). I don't want electric-help
   to optimize the window height for me.

2. Following a link in the help (help-follow) is not possible, since
   pressing RET on a link results in a warning (Buffer is read only).
   What's more, pressing `r' to retain the help buffer doesn't help,
   since electric-help leaves the buffer in Fundamental mode, which is
   quite rude to say the least. It should restore help-mode settings I
   think.

3. Finally, I realized that the normal help-mode could be used like
   electric-help if the help window would be the selected window after
   invoking help. In that case pressing `q' in the *Help* buffer
   buries the buffer (in XEmacs this is the default behavior).
   Unfortunately, I could not configure emacs to do this. I tried to
   add the following lines to help-mode-finish (I simply redefined the
   function, no advicing and stuff):

          (when (eq major-mode 'help-mode)
               (select-window (get-buffer-window "*Help*")))

   but it didn't work. Any idea why? Anyway, this behavior should be
   added as an option the standard help-mode I think. And a hook in
   help-mode-finish would be useful too.


Tom


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