Improve docs for global-mode-string / %M construct

* src/xdisp.c (global-mode-string): Update docstring.
* doc/lispref/modes.texi: Update manual.

2 files changed, 16 insertions, 11 deletions

diff --git a/doc/lispref/modes.texi b/doc/lispref/modes.texi
index fff1ea65b07..30baa7f4d80 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/modes.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/modes.texi
@@ -2349,18 +2349,19 @@ enabled separately in each buffer.
 
 @defvar global-mode-string
 This variable holds a mode line construct that, by default, appears in
-the mode line just after the @code{which-function-mode} minor mode if
-set, else after @code{mode-line-modes}.  Elements that are added to
-this construct should normally end in a space (to ensure that
-consecutive @code{global-mode-string} elements display properly).  For
-instance, the command @code{display-time} sets
-@code{global-mode-string} to refer to the variable
-@code{display-time-string}, which holds a string containing the time
-and load information.
+the mode line as part of @code{mode-line-misc-info}, just after the
+@code{which-function-mode} information if that minor mode is enabled,
+else after @code{mode-line-modes}.  Elements that are added to this
+construct should normally end in a space (to ensure that consecutive
+@code{global-mode-string} elements display properly).  For instance,
+the command @code{display-time} sets @code{global-mode-string} to
+refer to the variable @code{display-time-string}, which holds a string
+containing the time and load information.
 
 The @samp{%M} construct substitutes the value of
-@code{global-mode-string}, but that is obsolete, since the variable is
-included in the mode line from @code{mode-line-format}.
+@code{global-mode-string}.  This construct is not used by the default
+mode line, as the variable itself is used in
+@code{mode-line-misc-info}.
 @end defvar
 
 Here is a simplified version of the default value of
@@ -2440,6 +2441,10 @@ abbreviate.
 The current line number of point, counting within the accessible portion
 of the buffer.
 
+@item %M
+The value of @code{global-mode-string} (which is part of
+@code{mode-line-misc-info} by default).
+
 @item %n
 @samp{Narrow} when narrowing is in effect; nothing otherwise (see
 @code{narrow-to-region} in @ref{Narrowing}).
diff --git a/src/xdisp.c b/src/xdisp.c
index 7a4f683c973..754a7c16c76 100644
--- a/src/xdisp.c
+++ b/src/xdisp.c
@@ -36517,7 +36517,7 @@ This is used for internal purposes.  */);
   Vinhibit_redisplay = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("global-mode-string", Vglobal_mode_string,
-    doc: /* String (or mode line construct) included (normally) in `mode-line-format'.  */);
+    doc: /* String (or mode line construct) included (normally) in `mode-line-misc-info'.  */);
   Vglobal_mode_string = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("overlay-arrow-position", Voverlay_arrow_position,