Daniel Engeler <engeler at gmail.com>

emacs.texi, misc.texi: Add documentation about serial port access.

3 files changed, 37 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
index 33100492ef5..941d6b98e53 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2008-06-13  Daniel Engeler  <engeler@gmail.com>
+
+        * emacs.texi, misc.texi: Add documentation about serial port access.
+
 2008-06-13  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
 
         * emacs-xtra.texi, emacs.texi: Update Back-Cover text per maintain.info.
diff --git a/doc/emacs/emacs.texi b/doc/emacs/emacs.texi
index be3635b47e9..13e6cd798c1 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/emacs.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/emacs.texi
@@ -864,6 +864,7 @@ Running Shell Commands from Emacs
 * Term Mode::           Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
 * Paging in Term::      Paging in the terminal emulator.
 * Remote Host::         Connecting to another computer.
+* Serial Terminal::     Connecting to a serial port.
 
 Using Emacs as a Server
 
diff --git a/doc/emacs/misc.texi b/doc/emacs/misc.texi
index 1c0a38709de..97b1d96e970 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/misc.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/misc.texi
@@ -350,6 +350,7 @@ Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
 * Term Mode::              Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
 * Paging in Term::         Paging in the terminal emulator.
 * Remote Host::            Connecting to another computer.
+* Serial Terminal::        Connecting to a serial port.
 @end menu
 
 @node Single Shell
@@ -1076,7 +1077,10 @@ handles each one appropriately, changing the buffer so that the
 appearance of the window matches what it would be on a real terminal.
 You can actually run Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.
 
-   The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
+  You can use Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
+serial port of your computer, see @ref{Serial Terminal}.
+
+  The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
 as for Shell mode.  To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
 buffer @samp{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
@@ -1232,6 +1236,33 @@ off directory tracking.
 
 @end ignore
 
+@node Serial Terminal
+@subsection Serial Terminal
+@cindex terminal, serial
+@findex serial-term
+
+  If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
+you can use Emacs to communicate with it.  @kbd{M-x serial-term} will
+ask you for a serial port name and speed and will then open a new
+window in @ref{Term Mode}.
+
+  The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second.  The
+most common speed is 9600 bits per second.  You can change the speed
+interactively by clicking on the mode line.
+
+  A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on ``8N1'' in
+the mode line.  By default, a serial port is configured as ``8N1'',
+which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
+bit, and 1 stopbit.
+
+  When you have opened the serial port connection, you will see output
+from the device in the window.  Also, what you type in the window is
+sent to the device.
+
+  If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
+with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
+window.
+
 @node Emacs Server, Printing, Shell, Top
 @section Using Emacs as a Server
 @pindex emacsclient