Re: say where attempt to write backup file was

[Richard Stallman]

    If the echo area automatically accomodates long messages, couldn't the
    absolute file name for both the original backup and the fallback be
    displayed?

Yes, nowadays that will work.  I will make that change.

                         (message "Cannot write backup file %s; backing up in 
%s"
                                  backupname
                                  (setq backupname (expand-file-name
                                                    (convert-standard-filename
                                                     "~/%backup%~"))))

To bury a setq inside a function call is potentially confusing;
better to keep it at top level where it is.

Thanks.