Switch between frames by number or letter - emacs

Question

I'd like to create a function that offers me numbered or lettered choices (1, 2, 3, or a, b, c) of available frames to switch to, instead of manually typing the name. Aspell would be the closest example I can think of.
Could someone please share an example of how this might be done? Lines 6 to 14 of the following function creates a list of all available frame names on the fly. Additional functions related to frame switching can be found here
(defun switch-frame (frame-to)
(interactive (list (read-string (format "From: (%s) => To: %s. Select: "
;; From:
(frame-parameter nil 'name)
;; To:
(mapcar
(lambda (frame) "print frame"
(reduce 'concat
(mapcar (lambda (s) (format "%s" s))
(list "|" (frame-parameter frame 'name) "|" )
)
)
)
(frame-list) )
)))) ;; end of interactive statement
(setq frame-from (frame-parameter nil 'name))
(let ((frames (frame-list)))
(catch 'break
(while frames
(let ((frame (car frames)))
(if (equal (frame-parameter frame 'name) frame-to)
(throw 'break (select-frame-set-input-focus frame))
(setq frames (cdr frames)))))) )
(message "Switched -- From: \"%s\" To: \"%s\"." frame-from frame-to) )
EDIT (November 13, 2014):  Here is a revised function using ido-completing-read:
(defun ido-switch-frame ()
(interactive)
(when (not (minibufferp))
(let* (
(frames (frame-list))
(frame-to (ido-completing-read "Select Frame: "
(mapcar (lambda (frame) (frame-parameter frame 'name)) frames))))
(catch 'break
(while frames
(let ((frame (car frames)))
(if (equal (frame-parameter frame 'name) frame-to)
(throw 'break (select-frame-set-input-focus frame))
(setq frames (cdr frames)))))))))

Answer 1

I see what you're trying to do. Here's how I've solved this problem:
Part 1
The files that you use every day should be bookmarked.
The reason is that you loose focus when you're reading any sort of menu,
even as short as you describe. After some time with bookmarks,
it becomes like touch-typing: you select the buffer without thinking about it.
You can check out this question
to see my system.
I've got about 20 important files and buffers bookmarked and reachable
in two keystrokes, e.g. μ k for keys.el and μ h for hooks.el.
A nice bonus is that bookmark-bmenu-list shows all this stuff, so I can
add/remove bookmarks easily
rename bookmarks (renaming changes binding)
it's clickable with mouse (sometimes useful)
bookmark+ allows function bookmarks, so I've got org-agenda on μ a
and magit on μ m.
And of course the dired bookmarks: source is on μ s and
org-files are on μ g.
Part 2
For the files that can't be bookmarked, I'm using:
(ido-mode)
(setq ido-enable-flex-matching t)
(global-set-key "η" 'ido-switch-buffer)
This is fast as well: you need one keystroke to call ido-switch-buffer
and around 2-3 letters to find the buffer you need, and RET to select.
I've also recently added this hack:
(add-hook 'ido-setup-hook
(lambda()
(define-key ido-buffer-completion-map "η" 'ido-next-match)))
With this you can use the same key to call ido-switch-buffer and cycle the selection.
Part 3
The actual function with lettered choices has been on my todo list for a while
now. I'll post back here when I get around to implementing it,
or maybe just copy the solution from a different answer:)

Answer 2

This answer describes Icicles command icicle-select-frame, which lets you choose frames by name using completion.
There is also Icicles command icicle-other-window-or-frame (C-x o), which combines commands icicle-select-frame, other-frame, and other-window. It lets you select a window or a frame, by its name or by order.
With no prefix arg or a non-zero numeric prefix arg:
If the selected frame has multiple windows then this is
other-window. Otherwise, it is other-frame.
With a zero prefix arg (e.g. C-0):
If the selected frame has multiple windows then this is
icicle-select-window with windows in the frame as candidates.
Otherwise (single-window frame), this is icicle-select-frame.
With plain C-u:
If the selected frame has multiple windows then this is
icicle-select-window with windows from all visible frames as
candidates. Otherwise, this is icicle-select-frame.

Answer 3

Depending upon the operating system, it may be necessary to use (select-frame-set-input-focus chosen-frame) instead of select-frame / raise-frame towards the end of the function.
(defface frame-number-face
'((t (:background "black" :foreground "red" )))
"Face for `frame-number-face`."
:group 'frame-fn)
(defface frame-name-face
'((t ( :background "black" :foreground "ForestGreen")))
"Face for `frame-name-face`."
:group 'frame-fn)
(defun select-frame-number ()
"Select a frame by number -- a maximum of 9 frames are supported."
(interactive)
(let* (
choice
chosen-frame
(n 0)
(frame-list (frame-list))
(total-frames (safe-length frame-list))
(frame-name-list
(mapcar
(lambda (frame) (cons frame (frame-parameter frame 'name)))
frame-list))
(frame-name-list-sorted
(sort
frame-name-list
#'(lambda (x y) (string< (cdr x) (cdr y)))))
(frame-number-list
(mapcar
(lambda (frame)
(setq n (1+ n))
(cons n (cdr frame)))
frame-name-list-sorted))
(pretty-list
(mapconcat 'identity
(mapcar
(lambda (x) (concat
"["
(propertize (format "%s" (car x)) 'face 'frame-number-face)
"] "
(propertize (format "%s" (cdr x)) 'face 'frame-name-face)))
frame-number-list)
" | ")) )
(message "%s" pretty-list)
(setq choice (read-char-exclusive))
(cond
((eq choice ?1)
(setq choice 1))
((eq choice ?2)
(setq choice 2))
((eq choice ?3)
(setq choice 3))
((eq choice ?4)
(setq choice 4))
((eq choice ?5)
(setq choice 5))
((eq choice ?6)
(setq choice 6))
((eq choice ?7)
(setq choice 7))
((eq choice ?8)
(setq choice 8))
((eq choice ?9)
(setq choice 9))
(t
(setq choice 10)))
(setq chosen-frame (car (nth (1- choice) frame-name-list-sorted)))
(when (> choice total-frames)
(let* (
(debug-on-quit nil)
(quit-message
(format "You must select a number between 1 and %s." total-frames)))
(signal 'quit `(,quit-message ))))
(select-frame chosen-frame)
(raise-frame chosen-frame)
chosen-frame))