RE: C-x C-q more useful as toggle-read-only

[Mickey Ferguson]

Eli Zaretskii <eliz@is.elta.co.il> wrote in message
news:Pine.SUN.3.91.1001023134243.13851I-100000@is...
>
> On 18 Oct 2000, Jari Aalto+mail.emacs wrote:
>
> > | > Please change C-x C-q back to doing toggle-read-only.
> >
> > Exactly. The C-x C-q should stay as toggle-read-only and people who
> > mean "version control" behavior, should use the appropriate
> > commands in the C-x v map.
>
> I don't have strong feelings about this myself, but I'd say it's too
> late: "C-x C-q" has a VC meaning since v19.29.  So it's probably well
> entrenched by now, as there are generations of users whose only
> interface with VC is "C-x C-q".

Eli, I know how long you've been involved in emacs, especially in giving
support, so I certainly value your opinion.  But I would claim that C-x C-q
has been set to toggle-read-only for far longer than since 19.29.  The VC
people stole it out from under the existing default definition.  If they VC
folks want their variation, they should redefine it in their .emacs files.
Precedent is important, as you've indicated.  We just have to recall where a
precedent was first set.

Disclaimer:  If I'm wrong in believing that C-x C-q was assigned to
toggle-read-only more recently than 19.29, my apologies.  By my memory
(which is all I'm going on) tells me that it's been in place since at least
18.x or earlier.

If someone truly knows (and can cite references), that should be the final
word.