Re: eval-last-sexp -> syntax error -> deletes rest of buffer!

[David Reitter]

On 3 Jun 2005, at 09:01, Richard Stallman wrote:

>     Set the point right after the (malformed) expression and hit C- 
> x C-e.
>     You will find that an error is correctly reported (invalid-read-
>     syntax ")"), but that the complete rest of the buffer (after the
>     point) IS DELETED.
>
>     Annoyingly, undo doesn't bring it back, nor is the deleted part of
>     the buffer  properly killed and put into the killring.
>
> The text has not been killed.
> The buffer is only narrowed temporarily.

Seems to me like half of my buffer has gone to Nirvana. How do I get  
it back? That's not obvious from the info description of eval-last- 
sexp, and I don't understand why it would go away like that. I found  
out thanks to your tip and a search in the manual: C-x n w.

But why is the buffer narrowed "temporarily" just when I have this  
kind of syntax error, but not when there's other kinds? I've been  
doing thousands of C-x C-e over last last couple of months, and the  
buffer is just "narrowed temporarily" in this particular situation.

At least the manual should document it (in eval-last-sexp and  
wherever it's done) and explain when exactly the buffer is narrowed.