emacs - show help and message buffer in current window or in separate frame?

Question

Hi, I have been working with emacs in a semi-full-screen configuration where my frame is 160 chars wide and as tall as the screen. In this layout I have my windows split in a certain way that I like. I wonder if there is a way to make help files and messages (e.g., the output when I run an asynchronous shell) pop up either in the same window where my (point) is located when I invoke help or the shell command, or in a separate frame so as not to disturb my window layout and the buffers contained in them? I have tried elscreen and winner-mode; the latter does restore my window layout but requires me to cycle through windows to close the help or message buffer (rather than C-x k on the spot, it if was in the same buffer)...

Thanks, Stephen

Answer 1

You'll have to roll your own (sounds like you have some pretty specific ideas on what you want). All the information you need to get started can be found on the "Choosing Windows" section of the elisp manual. It sounds like same-window-buffer-names and/or same-window-regexps and same-window-p will give you what you want, though these others might fit the bill: special-display-buffer-names, speical-display-regexps, special-display-function, display-buffer-function.