Explain how C-x RET f and C-x RET c affect saving.

1 files changed, 20 insertions, 16 deletions

diff --git a/man/mule.texi b/man/mule.texi
index 06bb9617166..6c401417703 100644
--- a/man/mule.texi
+++ b/man/mule.texi
@@ -896,8 +896,8 @@ system, you can use these commands to specify one:
 
 @table @kbd
 @item C-x @key{RET} f @var{coding} @key{RET}
-Use coding system @var{coding} for the visited file
-in the current buffer.
+Use coding system @var{coding} for saving or revisiting the visited
+file in the current buffer.
 
 @item C-x @key{RET} c @var{coding} @key{RET}
 Specify coding system @var{coding} for the immediately following
@@ -924,12 +924,14 @@ selection---the next one---to or from the window system.
 
 @kindex C-x RET f
 @findex set-buffer-file-coding-system
-  The command @kbd{C-x @key{RET} f} (@code{set-buffer-file-coding-system})
-specifies the file coding system for the current buffer---in other
-words, which coding system to use when saving or rereading the visited
-file.  You specify which coding system using the minibuffer.  Since this
-command applies to a file you have already visited, it affects only the
-way the file is saved.
+  The command @kbd{C-x @key{RET} f}
+(@code{set-buffer-file-coding-system}) sets the file coding system for
+the current buffer---in other words, it says which coding system to
+use when saving or reverting the visited file.  You specify which
+coding system using the minibuffer.  If you specify a coding system
+that cannot handle all of the characters in the buffer, Emacs warns
+you about the troublesome characters when you actually save the
+buffer.
 
 @kindex C-x RET c
 @findex universal-coding-system-argument
@@ -942,17 +944,19 @@ command}.
 
   So if the immediately following command is @kbd{C-x C-f}, for example,
 it reads the file using that coding system (and records the coding
-system for when the file is saved).  Or if the immediately following
+system for when you later save the file).  Or if the immediately following
 command is @kbd{C-x C-w}, it writes the file using that coding system.
-Other file commands affected by a specified coding system include
-@kbd{C-x C-i} and @kbd{C-x C-v}, as well as the other-window variants of
-@kbd{C-x C-f}.
+When you specify the coding system for saving in this way, instead
+of with @kbd{C-x @key{RET} f}, there is no warning if the buffer
+contains characters that the coding system cannot handle.
 
-  @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} also affects commands that start subprocesses,
-including @kbd{M-x shell} (@pxref{Shell}).
+  Other file commands affected by a specified coding system include
+@kbd{C-x C-i} and @kbd{C-x C-v}, as well as the other-window variants
+of @kbd{C-x C-f}.  @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} also affects commands that
+start subprocesses, including @kbd{M-x shell} (@pxref{Shell}).
 
-  However, if the immediately following command does not use the coding
-system, then @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} ultimately has no effect.
+  If the immediately following command does not use the coding system,
+then @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} ultimately has no effect.
 
   An easy way to visit a file with no conversion is with the @kbd{M-x
 find-file-literally} command.  @xref{Visiting}.