Show variable name in helpful-variable

[diamond-lizard]

The helpful-variable function should show the name of the variable it's describing.

[Wilfred]

It's already mentioned in the mode line -- do you think it would be useful in the buffer too? If so, where?

[diamond-lizard]

Oh, I didn't even notice that. I had gotten too used to seeing it displayed in the buffer when using describe-variable.

I think it would be useful, and the best place for it would be at the top of the buffer, just as describe-variable does it. That's where my eyes most naturally go first, and usually it's the name and value of the variable which I most want to see. The documentation and other info can come later.

By the way, maybe I should open a new issue for this, as this issue is just for the name of the variable, but it would be nice to see the value as well.

[Wilfred]

The value is now shown, see #15.

[diamond-lizard]

I see. I think I must have had an older version of helpful which didn't show it. Now that I updated to the newest version, I see the value. Thank you.

I still think it would be most helpful at the top of the buffer, though, rather than buried somewhere down below. The name and value are the most important things I look for when getting help on a variable.

[diamond-lizard]

Today I happened to look at the value of auto-mode-alist and saw that it was a gigantic list. In this case, describe-variable prints the top of the help screen:

auto-mode-alist is a variable defined in `files.el'.
Its value is shown below.

I think that's a good approach for when the value of a variable can't be fit in to a line or two. As a user, I'd still be looking at the top of the screen for the value, but then be redirected lower down the screen by what I read in the expected place.

[Wilfred]

I'm persuaded :). Fixed.