Re: Increase text size of the minibuffer

On Friday, March 27th, 2026 at 10:37 PM, Jean Louis <[email protected]> wrote:

> * Heime <[email protected]> [2026-03-24 05:17]:
> > How can I increase the size of text in the minibuffer, because I am
> > finding it too small for me.
> 
> Me too, though I have made it this way:
> 
> (defcustom rcd-minibuffer-text-scale-adjust 1.5
>   "The RCD Notes text scale adjustment for minibuffer."
>   :group 'rcd
>   :type 'number)
> 
> (defun rcd-minibuffer-text-scale-adjust ()
>   "Adjust text scale."
>   (text-scale-increase rcd-minibuffer-text-scale-adjust))

You use `text-scale`.  I knew about this, but net how to change it for
the minibuffer. 
 
Is there a way to change the actual size for the minibuffer only?  
Is it still with minibuffer-with-setup-hook ?

> This Emacs Lisp code defines a custom variable and function to
> permanently increase the text size by a factor of 1.5 when editing
> within the minibuffer (pop-up input line).
> 
> Then I am using it this way:
> 
> (defun rcd-ask (&optional prompt initial-input default-value auto-initial-input)
>   "Modified function `read-string'.
> 
> This is shorter, simpler function that generates the prompt
> automatically, generates history variable automatically and
> inherits the input method. The input will be returned trimmed."
>   (let* ((prompt (or prompt "Input data: "))
> 	 (history (rcd-ask-history-variable prompt))
> 	 (initial-input (cond (auto-initial-input (car (symbol-value history)))
> 			(initial-input initial-input)))
> 	 (input (minibuffer-with-setup-hook 'rcd-minibuffer-text-scale-adjust (read-string prompt initial-input history default-value t)))
> 	 (input (string-trim input)))
>     input))
> 
> Here is the simplest example of how to use `minibuffer-with-setup-hook` with `read-string`:
> 
> (defun example-with-scale-adjust ()
>   "Example showing minibuffer text scale adjustment."
>   (interactive)
>   (let ((input (minibuffer-with-setup-hook
>                  'example-scale-adjust
>                  (read-string "Enter text: " "default" nil t))))
>     input))
> 
> (defun example-scale-adjust ()
>   "Adjust text scale in this minibuffer."
>   (text-scale-increase 3))
> 
> Run this command to see:
> (example-with-scale-adjust)
> 
> Key points:
> 
> - `minibuffer-with-setup-hook` takes two arguments:
> 
>   1. A function to call when the minibuffer is set up (your hook function)
>   2. The actual call to `read-string` (wrapped in a function call)
> 
> - The hook function runs once when the minibuffer opens
> - The hook runs before `read-string` is called, so it affects the initial display
> 
> Minimal version (just your use case):
> 
> (defun rcd-ask ()
>   (let ((input (minibuffer-with-setup-hook
>                  'rcd-minibuffer-text-scale-adjust
>                  (read-string "Input data: " "default" nil t))))
>     (string-trim input)))
> 
> This is all you need - the hook adjusts text scale every time you use
> this function, and your `rcd-minibuffer-text-scale-adjust` function
> runs in that hook context.
> 
> Or this way:
> 
> (defun rcd-ask ()
>   "Ask with scaled minibuffer text."
>   (let ((input (minibuffer-with-setup-hook
>                  (lambda () (text-scale-increase 5))
>                  (read-string "Input data: " nil nil t))))
>     (string-trim input)))
> 
> (rcd-ask) then shows large minibuffer text.
> 
> --
> Jean Louis
> 
>