Next: Multiple Terminals, Up: Frames [Contents][Index]

### 28.1 Creating Frames

To create a new frame, call the function `make-frame`.

Command: make-frame &optional alist

  This function creates and returns a new frame, displaying the current buffer.

  The alist argument is an alist that specifies frame parameters for the new frame. See Frame Parameters. If you specify the `terminal` parameter in alist, the new frame is created on that terminal. Otherwise, if you specify the `window-system` frame parameter in alist, that determines whether the frame should be displayed on a text terminal or a graphical terminal. See Window Systems. If neither is specified, the new frame is created in the same terminal as the selected frame.

  Any parameters not mentioned in alist default to the values in the alist `default-frame-alist` (see Initial Parameters); parameters not specified there default from the X resources or its equivalent on your operating system (see X Resources in The GNU Emacs Manual). After the frame is created, Emacs applies any parameters listed in `frame-inherited-parameters` (see below) and not present in the argument, taking the values from the frame that was selected when `make-frame` was called.

  Note that on multi-monitor displays (see Multiple Terminals), the window manager might position the frame differently than specified by the positional parameters in alist (see Position Parameters). For example, some window managers have a policy of displaying the frame on the monitor that contains the largest part of the window (a.k.a. the dominating monitor).

  This function itself does not make the new frame the selected frame. See Input Focus. The previously selected frame remains selected. On graphical terminals, however, the windowing system may select the new frame for its own reasons.

Variable: before-make-frame-hook

  A normal hook run by `make-frame` before it creates the frame.

Variable: after-make-frame-functions

  An abnormal hook run by `make-frame` after it creates the frame. Each function in `after-make-frame-functions` receives one argument, the frame just created.

Variable: frame-inherited-parameters

  This variable specifies the list of frame parameters that a newly created frame inherits from the currently selected frame. For each parameter (a symbol) that is an element in the list and is not present in the argument to `make-frame`, the function sets the value of that parameter in the created frame to its value in the selected frame.

Next: Multiple Terminals, Up: Frames [Contents][Index]