6.5 Make A Small Change Safely

Start by choosing the narrowest tool that matches your intention:

IntentionUseScope
Try an optional behavior supplied by Emacsvox or an integrationPresentation OptionsGlobal configuration
Change the voice or earcon for the object at pointRemap At PointPersonal, session, or current buffer
Review or remove an existing precise changePresentation OverridesIts recorded scope
Try rules only in the current work bufferCurrent Buffer RulesLife of that buffer
Switch a complete reading or working setupPresentation ProfilesSaved global configuration

6.5.1 Remap One Item At Point

  1. Move to a representative object and press C-e E so you know what currently controls it.
  2. Press C-e H. Use r to remap its voice or R to remap one exact earcon.
  3. Choose the scope deliberately:
    • a personal override persists across Emacs sessions;
    • a session override lasts until this Emacs exits; and
    • a buffer override affects only the remembered live buffer.
  4. Review the generated rule in the editor. It is initially unwritten. Use the editor’s ? help, preview when offered, and press w only when the target, scope, and change are correct.
  5. Return to the source, repeat the action, and use C-e E again to confirm which rule now wins.

Open Presentation Overrides to manage these changes together. There, P previews the complete current result, t temporarily disables or enables a rule, and d removes it. Disabling or deleting an override restores the next weaker behavior; it does not leave a copied default behind.

6.5.2 Try A Presentation Option

Presentation Options are maintained additions such as richer heading feedback or integration-specific cues. From Aural Home, open Presentation Options:

  1. Use TAB or RET on a collection to expand it.
  2. Move to an option and press P to preview it composed with the current configuration. Press C-u P to preview it in isolation.
  3. Press t to enable or disable it. Press a to hear enabled options in their exact weakest-to-strongest order.
  4. Return to the source and test the original task. Personal, session, and buffer overrides remain stronger than an enabled option.

Avoid reordering options merely to solve one exceptional object. A narrow override usually expresses that intention more clearly.