: [[image:iciclesimage]]

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== Completion On Demand ==

When the [[minibuffer]] is active for your input, [[completion]] is not
always available.  Functions such as `completing-read' and
`read-file-name' provide completion, but other functions that read
input in the minibuffer, such as `read-from-minibuffer' and
`read-string', do not provide completion.
(See [[Icicles - Nutshell View#CompletionStatusIndicators|Completion Status Indicators]], for how to tell when
completion is available in '''Icicles'''.)

But in '''Icicles''' you can always ''invoke'' ([[lax]])  completion to insert
some completed text in the minibuffer -- this is
'''[::completion on demand]'''.

[:icicle-read+insert-file-name]
On-demand completion is always available to insert a ''file name''.
You invoke this using '''`C-M-F'''', that is, `C-M-S-f' 
('''`##icicle-read+insert-file-name##'''').  A recursive minibuffer is used
to perform the completion.  The result of completing is inserted
at [[point]] in the parent minibuffer, without replacing any other
text that might already be there.

You can use this feature to add multiple file or directory names
to the same minibuffer input.  In this way, for instance, you can
use it to add particular file or directory names as arguments to a
shell command that you input in the minibuffer.  By default, a
relative name is inserted, but if you use a [[prefix argument]] then
the directory component is included.

[:icicle-completing-read+insert]
Similarly, you can use '''`C-M-C'''', that is, `C-M-S-c'
('''`##icicle-completing-read+insert##''''), to invoke non file-name
completion.  This, however, is available only if the command
reading from the minibuffer allows it, by defining a set of
possible completions.

The actual keys used for on-demand completion are customizable,
using [[option]]s '''`<tt>[[Icicles - Customization and General Tips#icicle-read+insert-file-name-keys|icicle-read+insert-file-name-keys]]</tt>'''' and '''`<tt>[[Icicles - Customization and General Tips#icicle-completing-read+insert-keys|icicle-completing-read+insert-keys]]</tt>''''.  The default values are `C-M-S-f' and `C-M-S-c'.

[:icicle-insert-history-element]
Another kind of on-demand completion is provided by minibuffer [[multi-command]] `icicle-insert-history-element' ('''`M-o'''').  This is always
available in the minibuffer, regardless of whether input is being
read with [[completion]].  It lets you use completion to insert any number of entries from the current minibuffer history into the minibuffer at [[point]].  See [[Icicles - History Enhancements#InsertPreviousInputs|Using Completion to Insert Previous Inputs: `M-o']].










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DrewsElispLibraries referenced here: Lisp:icicles.el


CategoryCommands 
CategoryBufferSwitching
CategoryCompletion