Matt Tucker <tuck(a)whistlingfish.net&gt; writes: 1. Start up xemacs -vanilla 2. Add the following text (comment included) into the *scratch* buffer: ;; This buffer is for notes you don't want to save, and for Lisp evaluation. ;; If you want to create a file, first visit that file with C-x C-f, ;; then enter the text in that file's own buffer. (C-x is the standard ;; XEmacs abbreviation for `Control+x', i.e. hold down the Control key ;; while hitting the x key.) ;; ;; For Lisp evaluation, type an expression, move to the end and hit C-j. (when (or (featurep 'xemacs) window-system) (require 'mic-paren) (setq paren-sexp-mode t) (set (if (boundp 'paren-face) 'paren-face 'paren-match-face) 'bold) (and (fboundp 'paren-activate) (paren-activate))) 3. Evaluate the buffer. 4. Put the cursor after the closing paren in 'the x key.)' You will notice that, even though the parens are balanced and in a comment, the closing paren turns yellow, indicating a matching open paren can not be found. Thanks, Matt. HTH, vin