1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
3 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
7 @chapter Miscellaneous Commands
9 This chapter contains several brief topics that do not fit anywhere
10 else: viewing ``document files'', reading netnews, running shell
11 commands and shell subprocesses, using a single shared Emacs for
12 utilities that expect to run an editor as a subprocess, printing
13 hardcopy, sorting text, narrowing display to part of the buffer,
14 editing double-column files and binary files, saving an Emacs session
15 for later resumption, following hyperlinks, browsing images, emulating
16 other editors, and various diversions and amusements.
24 @node Document View, Gnus, Calendar/Diary, Top
25 @section Document Viewing
29 @cindex Postscript file
32 @cindex document viewer (DocView)
35 DocView mode (@code{doc-view-mode}) is a viewer for DVI, Postscript
36 (PS), and PDF documents. It provides features such as slicing,
37 zooming, and searching inside documents. It works by converting the
38 document to a set of images using the @command{gs} (GhostScript)
39 command, and displaying those images.
41 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
42 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
43 @cindex doc-view-minor-mode
44 When you visit a PDF or DVI file, Emacs automatically switches to
45 DocView mode. When you visit a Postscript file, Emacs switches to PS
46 mode, a major mode for editing Postscript files as text; however, it
47 also enables DocView minor mode, so you can type @kbd{C-c C-c} to view
48 the document with DocView. (PDF and DVI files, unlike Postscript
49 files, are not usually human-editable.) In either case, repeating
50 @kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{doc-view-toggle-display}) toggles between DocView
53 You can explicitly toggle DocView mode with the command @code{M-x
54 doc-view-mode}, and DocView minor mode with the command @code{M-x
57 When DocView mode starts, it displays a welcome screen and begins
58 formatting the file, page by page. It displays the first page once
59 that has been formatted.
61 @findex doc-view-enlarge
62 @findex doc-view-shrink
63 @vindex doc-view-resolution
64 When in DocView mode, you can enlarge or shrink the document with
65 @kbd{+} (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-}
66 (@code{doc-view-shrink}). To specify the default size for DocView,
67 set or customize the variable @code{doc-view-resolution}.
69 To kill the DocView buffer, type @kbd{k}
70 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}). To bury it, type @kbd{q}
74 * Navigation:: Navigation inside DocView buffers.
75 * Searching:: Searching inside documents.
76 * Slicing:: Specifying which part of pages should be displayed.
77 * Conversion:: Influencing and triggering conversion.
81 @subsection Navigation
83 When in DocView mode, you can scroll the current page using the usual
84 Emacs movement keys: @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, and
87 @vindex doc-view-continuous
88 By default, the line-motion keys @kbd{C-p} and @kbd{C-n} stop
89 scrolling at the beginning and end of the current page, respectively.
90 However, if you change the variable @code{doc-view-continuous} to a
91 non-@code{nil} value, then @kbd{C-p} displays the previous page if you
92 are already at the beginning of the current page, and @kbd{C-n}
93 displays the next page if you are at the end of the current page.
95 @findex doc-view-next-page
96 @findex doc-view-previous-page
97 You can also display the next page by typing @kbd{n}, @key{next} or
98 @kbd{C-x ]} (@code{doc-view-next-page}). To display the previous
99 page, type @kbd{p}, @key{prior} or @kbd{C-x [}
100 (@code{doc-view-previous-page}).
102 @findex doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page
103 @findex doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page
104 The @key{SPC} (@code{doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page}) key is a
105 convenient way to advance through the document. It scrolls within the
106 current page or advances to the next. @key{DEL} moves backwards in a
107 similar way (@code{doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page}).
109 @findex doc-view-first-page
110 @findex doc-view-last-page
111 @findex doc-view-goto-page
112 To go to the first page, type @kbd{M-<}
113 (@code{doc-view-first-page}); to go to the last one, type @kbd{M->}
114 (@code{doc-view-last-page}). To jump to a page by its number, type
115 @kbd{M-g M-g} or @kbd{M-g g} (@code{doc-view-goto-page}).
118 @subsection Searching
120 While in DocView mode, you can search the file's text for a regular
121 expression (@pxref{Regexps}). The interface for searching is inspired
122 by @code{isearch} (@pxref{Incremental Search}).
124 @findex doc-view-search
125 @findex doc-view-search-backward
126 @findex doc-view-show-tooltip
127 To begin a search, type @kbd{C-s} (@code{doc-view-search}) or
128 @kbd{C-r} (@code{doc-view-search-backward}). This reads a regular
129 expression using a minibuffer, then echoes the number of matches found
130 within the document. You can move forward and back among the matches
131 by typing @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r}. DocView mode has no way to show
132 the match inside the page image; instead, it displays a tooltip (at
133 the mouse position) listing all matching lines in the current page.
134 To force display of this tooltip, type @kbd{C-t}
135 (@code{doc-view-show-tooltip}).
137 To start a new search, use the search command with a prefix
138 argument; i.e., @kbd{C-u C-s} for a forward search or @kbd{C-u C-r}
139 for a backward search.
144 Documents often have wide margins for printing. They are annoying
145 when reading the document on the screen, because they use up screen
146 space and can cause inconvenient scrolling.
148 @findex doc-view-set-slice
149 @findex doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse
150 With DocView you can hide these margins by selecting a @dfn{slice}
151 of pages to display. A slice is a rectangle within the page area;
152 once you specify a slice in DocView, it applies to whichever page you
155 To specify the slice numerically, type @kbd{s s}
156 (@code{doc-view-set-slice}); then enter the top left pixel position
157 and the slice's width and height.
158 @c ??? how does this work?
160 A more convenient graphical way to specify the slice is with @kbd{s
161 m} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}), where you use the mouse to
163 @c ??? How does this work?
165 @findex doc-view-reset-slice
166 To cancel the selected slice, type @kbd{s r}
167 (@code{doc-view-reset-slice}). Then DocView shows the entire page
168 including its entire margins.
171 @subsection Conversion
173 @vindex doc-view-cache-directory
174 @findex doc-view-clear-cache
175 For efficiency, DocView caches the images produced by @command{gs}.
176 The name of this directory is given by the variable
177 @code{doc-view-cache-directory}. You can clear the cache directory by
178 typing @code{M-x doc-view-clear-cache}.
180 @findex doc-view-kill-proc
181 @findex doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer
182 To force a reconversion of the currently viewed document, type
183 @kbd{r} or @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). To kill the converter
184 process associated with the current buffer, type @kbd{K}
185 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc}). The command @kbd{k}
186 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}) kills the converter process and
189 The zoom commands @kbd{+} (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-}
190 (@code{doc-view-shrink}) need to reconvert the document at the new
191 size. The current page is converted first.
193 @node Gnus, Shell, Document View, Top
196 @cindex reading netnews
198 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
199 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from a
200 number of other sources---mail, remote directories, digests, and so on.
201 Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
203 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
206 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{C-h i} and then select the Gnus
211 To start Gnus, type @kbd{M-x gnus @key{RET}}.
214 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
215 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
216 * Summary of Gnus:: A short description of the basic Gnus commands.
219 @node Buffers of Gnus
220 @subsection Gnus Buffers
222 Unlike most Emacs packages, Gnus uses several buffers to display
223 information and to receive commands. The three Gnus buffers users use
224 most are the @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the
225 @dfn{article buffer}.
227 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of newsgroups. This is the
228 first buffer Gnus displays when it starts up. It normally displays
229 only the groups to which you subscribe and that contain unread
230 articles. Use this buffer to select a specific group.
232 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists one line for each article in a single
233 group. By default, the author, the subject and the line number are
234 displayed for each article, but this is customizable, like most aspects
235 of Gnus display. The summary buffer is created when you select a group
236 in the group buffer, and is killed when you exit the group. Use this
237 buffer to select an article.
239 The @dfn{article buffer} displays the article. In normal Gnus usage,
240 you see this buffer but you don't select it---all useful
241 article-oriented commands work in the summary buffer. But you can
242 select the article buffer, and execute all Gnus commands from that
243 buffer, if you want to.
246 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
248 At startup, Gnus reads your @file{.newsrc} news initialization file
249 and attempts to communicate with the local news server, which is a
250 repository of news articles. The news server need not be the same
251 computer you are logged in on.
253 If you start Gnus and connect to the server, but do not see any
254 newsgroups listed in the group buffer, type @kbd{L} or @kbd{A k} to get
255 a listing of all the groups. Then type @kbd{u} to toggle
256 subscription to groups.
258 The first time you start Gnus, Gnus subscribes you to a few selected
259 groups. All other groups start out as @dfn{killed groups} for you; you
260 can list them with @kbd{A k}. All new groups that subsequently come to
261 exist at the news server become @dfn{zombie groups} for you; type @kbd{A
262 z} to list them. You can subscribe to a group shown in these lists
263 using the @kbd{u} command.
265 When you quit Gnus with @kbd{q}, it automatically records in your
266 @file{.newsrc} and @file{.newsrc.eld} initialization files the
267 subscribed or unsubscribed status of all groups. You should normally
268 not edit these files manually, but you may if you know how.
270 @node Summary of Gnus
271 @subsection Summary of Gnus Commands
273 Reading news is a two-step process:
277 Choose a group in the group buffer.
280 Select articles from the summary buffer. Each article selected is
281 displayed in the article buffer in a large window, below the summary
282 buffer in its small window.
285 Each Gnus buffer has its own special commands; the meanings of any
286 given key in the various Gnus buffers are usually analogous, even if
287 not identical. Here are commands for the group and summary buffers:
290 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
291 @findex gnus-group-exit
293 In the group buffer, update your @file{.newsrc} initialization file
296 In the summary buffer, exit the current group and return to the
297 group buffer. Thus, typing @kbd{q} twice quits Gnus.
299 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
300 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
302 In the group buffer, list all the groups available on your news
303 server (except those you have killed). This may be a long list!
305 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
306 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
308 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
309 which contain unread articles.
311 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
312 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
313 @cindex subscribe groups
314 @cindex unsubscribe groups
316 In the group buffer, unsubscribe from (or subscribe to) the group listed
317 in the line that point is on. When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q},
318 Gnus lists in your @file{.newsrc} file which groups you have subscribed
319 to. The next time you start Gnus, you won't see this group,
320 because Gnus normally displays only subscribed-to groups.
322 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus)}
323 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
325 In the group buffer, ``kill'' the current line's group---don't
326 even list it in @file{.newsrc} from now on. This affects future
327 Gnus sessions as well as the present session.
329 When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q}, Gnus writes information
330 in the file @file{.newsrc} describing all newsgroups except those you
333 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus)}
334 @findex gnus-group-read-group
336 In the group buffer, select the group on the line under the cursor
337 and display the first unread article in that group.
340 In the summary buffer,
344 Select the article on the line under the cursor if none is selected.
347 Scroll the text of the selected article (if there is one).
350 Select the next unread article if at the end of the current article.
353 Thus, you can move through all the articles by repeatedly typing @key{SPC}.
355 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus)}
357 In the group buffer, move point to the previous group containing
360 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
361 In the summary buffer, scroll the text of the article backwards.
364 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
365 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
367 Move point to the next unread group, or select the next unread article.
370 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
371 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
373 Move point to the previous unread group, or select the previous
376 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
377 @findex gnus-group-next-group
378 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
379 @findex gnus-group-prev-group
380 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
381 @findex gnus-summary-next-subject
382 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
383 @findex gnus-summary-prev-subject
386 Move point to the next or previous item, even if it is marked as read.
387 This does not select the article or group on that line.
389 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
390 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
392 In the summary buffer, do an incremental search of the current text in
393 the article buffer, just as if you switched to the article buffer and
396 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
397 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
398 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
399 In the summary buffer, search forward for articles containing a match
406 @subsection Where to Look Further
408 @c Too many references to the name of the manual if done with xref in TeX!
409 Gnus is powerful and customizable. Here are references to a few
415 additional topics in @cite{The Gnus Manual}:
419 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
420 See section ``Threading.''
423 Read digests. See section ``Document Groups.''
426 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
427 See section ``Finding the Parent.''
430 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
431 See section ``Article Keymap.''
434 Save articles. See section ``Saving Articles.''
437 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
438 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
439 See section ``Scoring.''
442 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
443 See section ``Composing Messages.''
449 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
450 @xref{Threading, , Reading Based on Conversation Threads,
451 gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
454 Read digests. @xref{Document Groups, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
457 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
458 @xref{Finding the Parent, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
461 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
462 @xref{Article Keymap, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
465 Save articles. @xref{Saving Articles, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
468 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
469 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
470 @xref{Scoring, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
473 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
474 @xref{Composing Messages, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
479 @node Shell, Emacs Server, Gnus, Top
480 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
482 @cindex shell commands
484 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to inferior shell
485 processes; it can also run a shell interactively with input and output
486 to an Emacs buffer named @samp{*shell*} or run a shell inside a terminal
490 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
491 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} and display the output
492 (@code{shell-command}).
493 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
494 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
495 optionally replace the region with the output
496 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
497 @item M-& @var{cmd} @key{RET}
498 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} asynchronously, and display the
499 output (@code{async-shell-command}).
501 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
502 You can then give commands interactively.
504 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
505 You can then give commands interactively.
506 Full terminal emulation is available.
509 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
510 is documented in a separate manual. @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell,
511 Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
514 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
515 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
516 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
517 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
518 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
519 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
520 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
521 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
522 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
523 * Paging in Term:: Paging in the terminal emulator.
524 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
525 * Serial Terminal:: Connecting to a serial port.
529 @subsection Single Shell Commands
532 @findex shell-command
533 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
534 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command in a subshell made just
535 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
536 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
537 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
538 @samp{*Shell Command Output*}, which is displayed in another window
539 but not selected (if the output is long).
541 For instance, one way to decompress a file @file{foo.gz} from Emacs
542 is to type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command
543 normally creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
545 A numeric argument, as in @kbd{M-1 M-!}, says to insert terminal
546 output into the current buffer instead of a separate buffer. It puts
547 point before the output, and sets the mark after the output. For
548 instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz @key{RET}} would insert the
549 uncompressed equivalent of @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
551 If the shell command line ends in @samp{&}, it runs asynchronously.
552 For a synchronous shell command, @code{shell-command} returns the
553 command's exit status (0 means success), when it is called from a Lisp
554 program. You do not get any status information for an asynchronous
555 command, since it hasn't finished yet when @code{shell-command} returns.
557 You can also type @kbd{M-&} (@code{async-shell-command}) to execute
558 a shell command asynchronously. This behaves exactly like calling
559 @code{shell-command} with @samp{&}, except that you do not need to add
560 the @samp{&} to the shell command line.
563 @findex shell-command-on-region
564 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!} but
565 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
566 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, meaning insert
567 the output in the current buffer, it deletes the old region and the
568 output replaces it as the contents of the region. It returns the
569 command's exit status, like @kbd{M-!}.
571 One use for @kbd{M-|} is to run @code{gpg} to see what keys are in
572 the buffer. For instance, if the buffer contains a GPG key, type
573 @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents to
574 the @code{gpg} program. That program will ignore everything except
575 the encoded keys, and will output a list of the keys the buffer
578 @vindex shell-file-name
579 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} use @code{shell-file-name} to specify
580 the shell to use. This variable is initialized based on your
581 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
582 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories in the list
583 @code{exec-path}; this list is initialized based on the environment
584 variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your init file can
585 override either or both of these default initializations (@pxref{Init
588 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} wait for the shell command to complete,
589 unless you end the command with @samp{&} to make it asynchronous. To
590 stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit; that terminates the shell
591 command with the signal @code{SIGINT}---the same signal that @kbd{C-c}
592 normally generates in the shell. Emacs then waits until the command
593 actually terminates. If the shell command doesn't stop (because it
594 ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal), type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends
595 the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal which is impossible to ignore.
597 Asynchronous commands ending in @samp{&} feed their output into
598 the buffer @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Output arrives in that
599 buffer regardless of whether it is visible in a window.
601 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
602 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
604 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
605 Error output from these commands is normally intermixed with the
606 regular output. But if the variable
607 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} has a string as value, and
608 it's the name of a buffer, @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} insert error output
609 before point in that buffer.
611 @node Interactive Shell
612 @subsection Interactive Inferior Shell
615 To run a subshell interactively, use @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates
616 (or reuses) a buffer named @samp{*shell*} and runs a subshell with
617 input coming from and output going to that buffer. That is to say,
618 any ``terminal output'' from the subshell goes into the buffer,
619 advancing point, and any ``terminal input'' for the subshell comes
620 from text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell, go to the end
621 of the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
623 Emacs does not wait for the subshell to do anything. You can switch
624 windows or buffers and edit them while the shell is waiting, or while it is
625 running a command. Output from the subshell waits until Emacs has time to
626 process it; this happens whenever Emacs is waiting for keyboard input or
629 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
630 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
631 Input lines, once you submit them, are displayed using the face
632 @code{comint-highlight-input}, and prompts are displayed using the
633 face @code{comint-highlight-prompt}. This makes it easier to see
634 previous input lines in the buffer. @xref{Faces}.
636 To make multiple subshells, you can invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a
637 prefix argument (e.g. @kbd{C-u M-x shell}), which will read a buffer
638 name and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can also
639 rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely}, then
640 create a new @samp{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
641 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
643 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
644 @cindex environment variables for subshells
645 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
646 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
647 The file name used to load the subshell is the value of the variable
648 @code{explicit-shell-file-name}, if that is non-@code{nil}.
649 Otherwise, the environment variable @env{ESHELL} is used, or the
650 environment variable @env{SHELL} if there is no @env{ESHELL}. If the
651 file name specified is relative, the directories in the list
652 @code{exec-path} are searched; this list is initialized based on the
653 environment variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your init file
654 can override either or both of these default initializations.
657 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
658 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
659 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
660 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
661 @file{~/.emacs_bash}. If this file is not found, Emacs tries to fallback
662 on @file{~/.emacs.d/init_@var{shellname}.sh}.
664 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
665 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
666 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
667 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
670 @cindex @env{INSIDE_EMACS} environment variable
671 Emacs sets the environment variable @env{INSIDE_EMACS} in the
672 subshell to a comma-separated list including the Emacs version.
673 Programs can check this variable to determine whether they are running
674 inside an Emacs subshell.
676 @cindex @env{EMACS} environment variable
677 Emacs also sets the @env{EMACS} environment variable (to @code{t}) if
678 it is not already defined. @strong{Warning:} This environment
679 variable is deprecated. Programs that check this variable should be
680 changed to check @env{INSIDE_EMACS} instead.
683 @subsection Shell Mode
687 Shell buffers use Shell mode, which defines several special keys
688 attached to the @kbd{C-c} prefix. They are chosen to resemble the usual
689 editing and job control characters present in shells that are not under
690 Emacs, except that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a complete list
691 of the special key bindings of Shell mode:
695 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
696 @findex comint-send-input
697 At end of buffer send line as input; otherwise, copy current line to
698 end of buffer and send it (@code{comint-send-input}). Copying a line
699 in this way omits any prompt at the beginning of the line (text output
700 by programs preceding your input). @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how
701 Shell mode recognizes prompts.
704 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
705 @findex comint-dynamic-complete
706 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell buffer
707 (@code{comint-dynamic-complete}). @key{TAB} also completes history
708 references (@pxref{History References}) and environment variable names.
710 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
711 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
712 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
713 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
714 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
715 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
716 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
720 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
721 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
722 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file name
723 before point in the shell buffer
724 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
727 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
728 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
729 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
730 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
731 buffer, @kbd{C-d} sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
732 position in the buffer, @kbd{C-d} deletes a character as usual.
735 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
736 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
737 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
738 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
739 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
740 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
741 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
742 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
746 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
747 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
748 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
749 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
750 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
753 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
754 @findex comint-kill-input
755 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
756 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
757 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
760 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
761 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
764 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
765 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
766 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
767 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
768 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
771 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
772 @findex comint-stop-subjob
773 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
774 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
778 @findex comint-quit-subjob
779 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
780 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
781 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
782 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
785 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
786 @findex comint-delete-output
787 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
788 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
789 out lots of output that just gets in the way. This command used to be
790 called @code{comint-kill-output}.
793 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
794 @findex comint-write-output
795 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
796 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
797 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
802 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
803 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
804 @findex comint-show-output
805 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
806 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
809 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
810 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
811 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
812 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
815 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
816 @findex shell-forward-command
817 @vindex shell-command-regexp
818 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
819 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
820 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
823 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
824 @findex shell-backward-command
825 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
826 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
829 Ask the shell what its current directory is, so that Emacs can agree
832 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
833 @findex send-invisible
834 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
835 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
838 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
839 really want them to be echoed, evaluate the following Lisp
843 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
844 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
847 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
848 @findex comint-continue-subjob
849 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
850 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
851 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
852 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
853 this command won't do it.}
855 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
856 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
857 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
858 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
859 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
860 evaluate this Lisp expression:
863 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
864 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
867 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
868 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
869 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
870 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
871 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
875 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
876 'comint-truncate-buffer)
882 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
883 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
884 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
885 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
886 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
888 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
889 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
892 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
893 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
894 specializations of Shell mode.
897 @subsection Shell Prompts
899 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
900 @vindex comint-prompt-regexp
901 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
902 @cindex prompt, shell
903 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
904 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
905 considers the prompt to be any text output by a program at the
906 beginning of an input line. However, if the variable
907 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, then Comint mode
908 uses a regular expression to recognize prompts. In Shell mode,
909 @code{shell-prompt-pattern} specifies the regular expression.
911 The value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} also affects many
912 motion and paragraph commands. If the value is non-@code{nil}, the
913 general Emacs motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers
914 without special text properties. However, if the value is @code{nil},
915 the default, then Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of
916 ``fields'' (ranges of consecutive characters having the same
917 @code{field} text property): input and output. Prompts are part of
918 the output. Most Emacs motion commands do not cross field boundaries,
919 unless they move over multiple lines. For instance, when point is in
920 input on the same line as a prompt, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the
921 beginning of the input if @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is
922 @code{nil} and at the beginning of the line otherwise.
924 In Shell mode, only shell prompts start new paragraphs. Thus, a
925 paragraph consists of a prompt and the input and output that follow
926 it. However, if @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil}, the
927 default, most paragraph commands do not cross field boundaries. This
928 means that prompts, ranges of input, and ranges of non-prompt output
929 behave mostly like separate paragraphs; with this setting, numeric
930 arguments to most paragraph commands yield essentially undefined
931 behavior. For the purpose of finding paragraph boundaries, Shell mode
932 uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern}, regardless of
933 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp}.
936 @subsection Shell Command History
938 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
939 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
940 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
941 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
942 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
943 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
944 @samp{!}-style history reference.
947 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
948 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
949 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
953 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
956 @findex comint-previous-input
957 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
960 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
962 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
963 @findex comint-next-input
966 Fetch the next later old shell command.
968 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
969 @findex comint-history-isearch-backward-regexp
971 Begin an incremental regexp search of old shell commands.
974 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
975 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
976 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
979 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
980 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
981 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
984 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
985 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
986 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
987 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
990 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell commands. To
991 reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing commands @kbd{M-p},
992 @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work just like the minibuffer
993 history commands except that they operate on the text at the end of the
994 shell buffer, where you would normally insert text to send to the shell.
996 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
997 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
998 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
999 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
1000 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
1001 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
1004 The history search command @kbd{M-r} begins an incremental regular
1005 expression search of previous shell commands. After typing @kbd{M-r},
1006 start typing the desired string or regular expression; the last
1007 matching shell command will be displayed in the current line.
1008 Incremental search commands have their usual effects---for instance,
1009 @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r} search forward and backward for the next match
1010 (@pxref{Incremental Search}). When you find the desired input, type
1011 @key{RET} to terminate the search. This puts the input in the command
1012 line. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
1013 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
1016 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
1017 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
1018 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
1019 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
1020 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
1021 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
1022 @key{RET}} over and over.
1024 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
1025 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like @kbd{ESC
1026 .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
1027 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
1028 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
1029 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
1030 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
1033 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
1034 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
1035 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
1036 that these commands access.
1038 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
1039 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
1040 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
1041 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
1042 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
1043 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
1045 @node Shell History Copying
1046 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
1049 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1050 @findex comint-previous-prompt
1052 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
1054 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1055 @findex comint-next-prompt
1057 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
1059 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
1060 @findex comint-copy-old-input
1062 Copy the input command at point, inserting the copy at the end of the
1063 buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you move
1064 point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you can
1065 submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can edit
1066 the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an output
1067 line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
1070 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
1071 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
1072 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
1073 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
1074 not over old input, just yank as usual.
1077 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
1078 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
1079 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
1080 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
1081 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
1082 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
1083 buffer after it has been sent.
1085 @node History References
1086 @subsubsection Shell History References
1087 @cindex history reference
1089 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
1090 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
1091 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
1094 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
1095 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
1096 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
1097 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
1098 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
1099 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
1102 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
1103 @findex comint-magic-space
1104 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
1105 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
1106 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
1107 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
1108 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
1110 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
1111 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
1113 @node Directory Tracking
1114 @subsection Directory Tracking
1115 @cindex directory tracking
1117 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
1118 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
1119 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
1120 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
1121 commands given to the inferior shell, so it can keep the
1122 @samp{*shell*} buffer's default directory the same as the shell's
1123 working directory. It recognizes these commands syntactically, by
1124 examining lines of input that are sent.
1126 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
1127 recognize them also. For example, if the value of the variable
1128 @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches the beginning of a shell command
1129 line, that line is regarded as a @code{pushd} command. Change this
1130 variable when you add aliases for @samp{pushd}. Likewise,
1131 @code{shell-popd-regexp} and @code{shell-cd-regexp} are used to
1132 recognize commands with the meaning of @samp{popd} and @samp{cd}.
1133 These commands are recognized only at the beginning of a shell command
1136 @ignore @c This seems to have been deleted long ago.
1137 @vindex shell-set-directory-error-hook
1138 If Emacs gets an error while trying to handle what it believes is a
1139 @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} or @samp{popd} command, it runs the hook
1140 @code{shell-set-directory-error-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
1144 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the current directory of the
1145 subshell, use the command @kbd{M-x dirs} to ask the shell what its
1146 current directory is. This command works for shells that support the
1147 most common command syntax; it may not work for unusual shells.
1149 @findex dirtrack-mode
1150 You can also use @kbd{M-x dirtrack-mode} to enable (or disable) an
1151 alternative method of tracking changes in the current directory. This
1152 method relies on your shell prompt containing the full current working
1153 directory at all times.
1156 @subsection Shell Mode Options
1158 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
1159 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
1160 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
1161 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
1163 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
1164 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
1165 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to scroll the last
1166 line of text to the bottom line of the window, showing as much useful
1167 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
1168 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
1170 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
1171 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
1172 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
1173 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
1174 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
1175 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
1176 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
1177 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
1178 point does not jump to the end.
1180 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
1181 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
1182 buffer are read-only.
1184 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1185 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1186 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1187 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1188 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1189 equal to the previous input.
1191 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1192 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1193 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1194 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1195 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1196 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1197 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1198 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1199 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1200 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1201 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1202 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1204 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1205 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1206 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1207 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1209 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1210 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1211 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1212 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1213 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1214 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1215 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1216 directory stack if they are not already on it
1217 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1218 underlying shell, of course.
1220 @node Terminal emulator
1221 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1224 To run a subshell in a terminal emulator, use @kbd{M-x term}. This
1225 creates (or reuses) a buffer named @samp{*terminal*}, and runs a
1226 subshell with input coming from your keyboard, and output going to
1229 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1230 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1232 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1233 subshell, as ``terminal input.'' Any ``echoing'' of your input is the
1234 responsibility of the subshell. The sole exception is the terminal
1235 escape character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}).
1236 Any ``terminal output'' from the subshell goes into the buffer,
1239 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1240 on the terminal screen in detail. They do this by sending special
1241 control codes. The exact control codes needed vary from terminal to
1242 terminal, but nowadays most terminals and terminal emulators
1243 (including @code{xterm}) understand the ANSI-standard (VT100-style)
1244 escape sequences. Term mode recognizes these escape sequences, and
1245 handles each one appropriately, changing the buffer so that the
1246 appearance of the window matches what it would be on a real terminal.
1247 You can actually run Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.
1249 You can use Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
1250 serial port of your computer. @xref{Serial Terminal}.
1252 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1253 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1254 buffer @samp{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1255 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1257 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1258 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1259 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1263 @subsection Term Mode
1267 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1268 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1269 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1270 subshell, except for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1272 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1275 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1276 @findex term-char-mode
1278 Switch to line mode. Do nothing if already in line mode.
1280 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1281 @findex term-line-mode
1283 Switch to char mode. Do nothing if already in char mode.
1286 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1290 Send a literal @key{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1292 @item C-c @var{char}
1293 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1294 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1295 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1298 @node Paging in Term
1299 @subsection Page-At-A-Time Output
1300 @cindex page-at-a-time
1302 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled it makes
1303 output pause at the end of each screenful.
1306 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1307 @findex term-pager-toggle
1309 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1310 and char modes. When page-at-a-time is enabled, the mode-line
1311 displays the word @samp{page}.
1314 With page-at-a-time enabled, whenever Term receives more than a
1315 screenful of output since your last input, it pauses, displaying
1316 @samp{**MORE**} in the mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next
1317 screenful of output. Type @kbd{?} to see your other options. The
1318 interface is similar to the @code{more} program.
1321 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1323 @cindex connecting to remote host
1327 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1328 would from a regular terminal (e.g.@: using the @code{telnet} or
1329 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1331 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1332 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1333 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1334 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1335 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1336 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1338 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1339 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1340 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1341 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1342 login command, without separating comma.) Terminal types @samp{ansi}
1343 or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1345 @c If you are talking to a Bourne-compatible
1346 @c shell, and your system understands the @env{TERMCAP} variable,
1347 @c you can use the command @kbd{M-x shell-send-termcap}, which
1348 @c sends a string specifying the terminal type and size.
1349 @c (This command is also useful after the window has changed size.)
1351 @c You can of course run @samp{gdb} on that remote computer. One useful
1352 @c trick: If you invoke gdb with the @code{--fullname} option,
1353 @c it will send special commands to Emacs that will cause Emacs to
1354 @c pop up the source files you're debugging. This will work
1355 @c whether or not gdb is running on a different computer than Emacs,
1356 @c as long as Emacs can access the source files specified by gdb.
1359 You cannot log in to a remote computer using the Shell mode.
1360 @c (This will change when Shell is re-written to use Term.)
1361 Instead, Emacs provides two commands for logging in to another computer
1362 and communicating with it through an Emacs buffer using Comint mode:
1365 @item M-x telnet @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1366 Set up a Telnet connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1367 @item M-x rlogin @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1368 Set up an Rlogin connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1372 Use @kbd{M-x telnet} to set up a Telnet connection to another
1373 computer. (Telnet is the standard Internet protocol for remote login.)
1374 It reads the host name of the other computer as an argument with the
1375 minibuffer. Once the connection is established, talking to the other
1376 computer works like talking to a subshell: you can edit input with the
1377 usual Emacs commands, and send it a line at a time by typing @key{RET}.
1378 The output is inserted in the Telnet buffer interspersed with the input.
1381 @vindex rlogin-explicit-args
1382 Use @kbd{M-x rlogin} to set up an Rlogin connection. Rlogin is
1383 another remote login communication protocol, essentially much like the
1384 Telnet protocol but incompatible with it, and supported only by certain
1385 systems. Rlogin's advantages are that you can arrange not to have to
1386 give your user name and password when communicating between two machines
1387 you frequently use, and that you can make an 8-bit-clean connection.
1388 (To do that in Emacs, set @code{rlogin-explicit-args} to @code{("-8")}
1389 before you run Rlogin.)
1391 @kbd{M-x rlogin} sets up the default file directory of the Emacs
1392 buffer to access the remote host via FTP (@pxref{File Names}), and it
1393 tracks the shell commands that change the current directory, just like
1396 @findex rlogin-directory-tracking-mode
1397 There are two ways of doing directory tracking in an Rlogin
1398 buffer---either with remote directory names
1399 @file{/@var{host}:@var{dir}/} or with local names (that works if the
1400 ``remote'' machine shares file systems with your machine of origin).
1401 You can use the command @code{rlogin-directory-tracking-mode} to switch
1402 modes. No argument means use remote directory names, a positive
1403 argument means use local names, and a negative argument means turn
1404 off directory tracking.
1408 @node Serial Terminal
1409 @subsection Serial Terminal
1410 @cindex terminal, serial
1413 If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
1414 you can use Emacs to communicate with it. @kbd{M-x serial-term} will
1415 ask you for a serial port name and speed and will then open a new
1416 window in @ref{Term Mode}.
1418 The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second. The
1419 most common speed is 9600 bits per second. You can change the speed
1420 interactively by clicking on the mode line.
1422 A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on ``8N1'' in
1423 the mode line. By default, a serial port is configured as ``8N1'',
1424 which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
1427 When you have opened the serial port connection, you will see output
1428 from the device in the window. Also, what you type in the window is
1431 If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
1432 with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
1435 @node Emacs Server, Printing, Shell, Top
1436 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1438 @cindex Emacs as a server
1439 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1440 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1442 Various programs such as @command{mail} can invoke your choice of
1443 editor to edit a particular piece of text, such as a message that you
1444 are sending. By convention, most of these programs use the
1445 environment variable @env{EDITOR} to specify which editor to run. If
1446 you set @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, they invoke Emacs---but in an
1447 inconvenient way, by starting a new Emacs process. This is
1448 inconvenient because the new Emacs process doesn't share buffers, a
1449 command history, or other kinds of information with any existing Emacs
1452 You can solve this problem by setting up Emacs as an @dfn{edit
1453 server}, so that it ``listens'' for external edit requests and acts
1454 accordingly. There are two ways to start an Emacs server:
1456 @findex server-start
1457 The first is to run the command @code{server-start} in an existing
1458 Emacs process: either type @kbd{M-x server-start}, or put the
1459 expression @code{(server-start)} in your initialization file
1460 (@pxref{Init File}). The existing Emacs process is the server; when
1461 you exit Emacs, the server dies with the Emacs process.
1463 @cindex daemon, Emacs
1464 The second way to start an Emacs server is to run Emacs as a
1465 @dfn{daemon}, using the @samp{--daemon} command-line option.
1466 @xref{Initial Options}. When Emacs is started this way, it calls
1467 @code{server-start} after initialization, and returns control to the
1468 calling terminal instead of opening an initial frame; it then waits in
1469 the background, listening for edit requests.
1471 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1472 Once an Emacs server is set up, you can use a shell command called
1473 @command{emacsclient} to connect to the existing Emacs process and
1474 tell it to visit a file. If you set the @env{EDITOR} environment
1475 variable to @samp{emacsclient}, programs such as @command{mail} will
1476 use the existing Emacs process for editing.@footnote{Some programs use
1477 a different environment variable; for example, to make @TeX{} use
1478 @samp{emacsclient}, set the @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable to
1479 @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.}
1482 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1483 each one a unique ``server name'', using the variable
1484 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1485 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1486 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can specify a server by
1487 name, using the @samp{-s} option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1490 * Invoking emacsclient:: Connecting to the Emacs server.
1491 * emacsclient Options:: Emacs client startup options.
1494 @node Invoking emacsclient
1495 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1496 @cindex @code{emacsclient} invocation
1498 The simplest way to use the @command{emacsclient} program is to run
1499 the shell command @samp{emacsclient @var{file}}, where @var{file} is a
1500 file name. This connects to an Emacs server, and tells that Emacs
1501 process to visit @var{file} in one of its existing frames---either a
1502 graphical frame, or one in a text-only terminal (@pxref{Frames}). You
1503 can then select that frame to begin editing.
1505 If there is no Emacs server, the @command{emacsclient} program halts
1506 with an error message. If the Emacs process has no existing
1507 frame---which can happen if it was started as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
1508 Server})---then Emacs opens a frame on the terminal in which you
1509 called @command{emacsclient}.
1511 You can also force @command{emacsclient} to open a new frame on a
1512 graphical display, or on a text-only terminal, using the @samp{-c} and
1513 @samp{-t} options. @xref{emacsclient Options}.
1515 If you are running on a single text-only terminal, you can switch
1516 between @command{emacsclient}'s shell and the Emacs server using one
1517 of two methods: (i) run the Emacs server and @command{emacsclient} on
1518 different virtual terminals, and switch to the Emacs server's virtual
1519 terminal after calling @command{emacsclient}; or (ii) call
1520 @command{emacsclient} from within the Emacs server itself, using Shell
1521 mode (@pxref{Interactive Shell}) or Term mode (@pxref{Term Mode});
1522 @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under Emacs, and you can
1523 still use Emacs to edit the file.
1527 When you finish editing @var{file} in the Emacs server, type
1528 @kbd{C-x #} (@code{server-edit}) in its buffer. This saves the file
1529 and sends a message back to the @command{emacsclient} program, telling
1530 it to exit. Programs that use @env{EDITOR} usually wait for the
1531 ``editor''---in this case @command{emacsclient}---to exit before doing
1534 You can also call @command{emacsclient} with multiple file name
1535 arguments: @samp{emacsclient @var{file1} @var{file2} ...} tells the
1536 Emacs server to visit @var{file1}, @var{file2}, and so forth. Emacs
1537 selects the buffer visiting @var{file1}, and buries the other buffers
1538 at the bottom of the buffer list (@pxref{Buffers}). The
1539 @command{emacsclient} program exits once all the specified files are
1540 finished (i.e., once you have typed @kbd{C-x #} in each server
1543 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1544 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1545 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1546 already existed in the Emacs session before the server was asked to
1547 create it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to
1548 @code{nil}, then a different criterion is used: finishing with a
1549 server buffer kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1550 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1551 ``temporary'' files.
1553 Each @kbd{C-x #} checks for other pending external requests to edit
1554 various files, and selects the next such file. You can switch to a
1555 server buffer manually if you wish; you don't have to arrive at it
1556 with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to tell
1557 @command{emacsclient} that you are finished.
1559 @vindex server-window
1560 If you set the value of the variable @code{server-window} to a
1561 window or a frame, @kbd{C-x #} always displays the next server buffer
1562 in that window or in that frame.
1564 @node emacsclient Options
1565 @subsection @code{emacsclient} Options
1566 @cindex @code{emacsclient} options
1568 You can pass some optional arguments to the @command{emacsclient}
1572 emacsclient -c +12 @var{file1} +4:3 @var{file2}
1576 The @samp{+@var{line}} or @samp{+@var{line}:@var{column}} arguments
1577 specify line numbers, or line and column numbers, for the next file
1578 argument. These behave like the command line arguments for Emacs
1579 itself. @xref{Action Arguments}.
1581 The other optional arguments recognized by @command{emacsclient} are
1585 @item -a @var{command}
1586 @itemx --alternate-editor=@var{command}
1587 Specify a command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs.
1588 This is useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script. For
1589 example, the following setting for the @env{EDITOR} environment
1590 variable will always give you an editor, even if no Emacs server is
1594 EDITOR="emacsclient --alternate-editor emacs +%d %s"
1598 As a special exception, if @var{command} is the empty string, then
1599 @code{emacsclient} starts Emacs in daemon mode and then tries
1602 @cindex @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} environment variable
1603 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect as
1604 the @samp{-a} option. If both are present, the latter takes
1608 Create a new graphical frame, instead of using an existing Emacs
1609 frame. Emacs 23 can create a graphical frame even if it was started
1610 in a text-only terminal, provided it is able to connect to a graphical
1611 display. If no graphical display is available, Emacs creates a new
1612 text-only terminal frame (@pxref{Frames}). If you omit a filename
1613 argument while supplying the @samp{-c} option, the new frame displays
1614 the @samp{*scratch*} buffer (@pxref{Buffers}).
1616 @item -d @var{display}
1617 @itemx --display=@var{display}
1618 Tell Emacs to open the given files on the X display @var{display}
1619 (assuming there is more than one X display available).
1623 Tell Emacs to evaluate some Emacs Lisp code, instead of visiting some
1624 files. When this option is given, the arguments to
1625 @command{emacsclient} are interpreted as a list of expressions to
1626 evaluate, @emph{not} as a list of files to visit.
1628 @item -f @var{server-file}
1629 @itemx --server-file=@var{server-file}
1630 @cindex @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable
1632 @vindex server-use-tcp
1634 Specify a @dfn{server file} for connecting to an Emacs server via TCP.
1636 An Emacs server usually uses an operating system feature called a
1637 ``local socket'' to listen for connections. Some operating systems,
1638 such as Microsoft Windows, do not support local sockets; in that case,
1639 Emacs uses TCP instead. When you start the Emacs server, Emacs
1640 creates a server file containing some TCP information that
1641 @command{emacsclient} needs for making the connection. By default,
1642 the server file is in @file{~/.emacs.d/server/}. On Microsoft
1643 Windows, if @command{emacsclient} does not find the server file there,
1644 it looks in the @file{.emacs.d/server/} subdirectory of the directory
1645 pointed to by the @env{APPDATA} environment variable. You can tell
1646 @command{emacsclient} to use a specific server file with the @samp{-f}
1647 or @samp{--server-file} option, or by setting the
1648 @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable.
1650 Even if local sockets are available, you can tell Emacs to use TCP by
1651 setting the variable @code{server-use-tcp} to @code{t}. One advantage
1652 of TCP is that the server can accept connections from remote machines.
1653 For this to work, you must (i) set the variable @code{server-host} to
1654 the hostname or IP address of the machine on which the Emacs server
1655 runs, and (ii) provide @command{emacsclient} with the server file.
1656 (One convenient way to do the latter is to put the server file on a
1657 networked file system such as NFS.)
1661 Let @command{emacsclient} exit immediately, instead of waiting until
1662 all server buffers are finished. You can take as long as you like to
1663 edit the server buffers within Emacs, and they are @emph{not} killed
1664 when you type @kbd{C-x #} in them.
1666 @item -s @var{server-name}
1667 @itemx --socket-name=@var{server-name}
1668 Connect to the Emacs server named @var{server-name}. The server name
1669 is given by the variable @code{server-name} on the Emacs server. If
1670 this option is omitted, @command{emacsclient} connects to the first
1671 server it finds. (This option is not supported on MS-Windows.)
1676 Create a new Emacs frame on the current text-only terminal, instead of
1677 using an existing Emacs frame. Emacs 23 can open a text-only terminal
1678 even if it was started in another text-only terminal, or on a
1679 graphical display. If you omit a filename argument while supplying
1680 this option, the new frame displays the @samp{*scratch*} buffer.
1684 If you type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal}) in an
1685 Emacs frame created with @command{emacsclient}, via the @samp{-c} or
1686 @samp{-t} options, Emacs deletes the frame instead of killing the
1687 Emacs process itself. On a text-only terminal frame created with the
1688 @samp{-t} option, this returns control to the terminal. Emacs also
1689 marks all the server buffers for the client as finished, as though you
1690 had typed @kbd{C-x #} in all of them.
1692 When Emacs is started as a daemon, all frames are considered client
1693 frames, so @kbd{C-x C-c} will never kill Emacs. To kill the Emacs
1694 process, type @kbd{M-x kill-emacs}.
1696 @node Printing, Sorting, Emacs Server, Top
1697 @section Printing Hard Copies
1701 Emacs provides commands for printing hard copies of either an entire
1702 buffer or just part of one, with or without page headers. You can
1703 invoke the printing commands directly, as detailed in the following
1704 section, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar.
1706 @findex htmlfontify-buffer
1707 Aside from the commands described in this section, you can also
1708 ``print'' an Emacs buffer to HTML with @kbd{M-x htmlfontify-buffer}.
1709 This command converts the current buffer to a HTML file, replacing
1710 Emacs faces with CSS-based markup. In addition, see the hardcopy
1711 commands of Dired (@pxref{Misc File Ops}) and the diary
1712 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}).
1715 @item M-x print-buffer
1716 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the file
1717 name and page number.
1718 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1719 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1720 @item M-x print-region
1721 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1722 @item M-x lpr-region
1723 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1726 @findex print-buffer
1727 @findex print-region
1730 @vindex lpr-switches
1731 The hardcopy commands (aside from the PostScript commands) pass extra
1732 switches to the @code{lpr} program based on the value of the variable
1733 @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of strings, each string
1734 an option starting with @samp{-}. For example, to specify a line width
1735 of 80 columns for all the printing you do in Emacs, set
1736 @code{lpr-switches} like this:
1739 (setq lpr-switches '("-w80"))
1742 @vindex printer-name
1743 You can specify the printer to use by setting the variable
1744 @code{printer-name}.
1746 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1747 @vindex lpr-commands
1748 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1749 The variable @code{lpr-command} specifies the name of the printer
1750 program to run; the default value depends on your operating system type.
1751 On most systems, the default is @code{"lpr"}. The variable
1752 @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the extra switches to
1753 use to make page headers. The variable @code{lpr-add-switches} controls
1754 whether to supply @samp{-T} and @samp{-J} options (suitable for
1755 @code{lpr}) to the printer program: @code{nil} means don't add them.
1756 @code{lpr-add-switches} should be @code{nil} if your printer program is
1757 not compatible with @code{lpr}.
1760 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1761 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1762 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1765 @node PostScript, PostScript Variables,, Printing
1766 @section PostScript Hardcopy
1768 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1769 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1772 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1773 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1774 @item M-x ps-print-region
1775 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1776 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1777 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1778 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1779 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1780 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1781 faces used in the text.
1782 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1783 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer text.
1784 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1785 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region.
1786 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1787 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1788 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1789 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region, showing the faces used.
1790 @item M-x ps-despool
1791 Send the spooled PostScript to the printer.
1793 Generate/print PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1796 @findex ps-print-region
1797 @findex ps-print-buffer
1798 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1799 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1800 The PostScript commands, @code{ps-print-buffer} and
1801 @code{ps-print-region}, print buffer contents in PostScript form. One
1802 command prints the entire buffer; the other, just the region. The
1803 corresponding @samp{-with-faces} commands,
1804 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and @code{ps-print-region-with-faces},
1805 use PostScript features to show the faces (fonts and colors) in the text
1806 properties of the text being printed. The @samp{-with-faces} commands only
1807 work if they are used in a window system, so it has a way to determine color
1810 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1811 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the PostScript image in that file
1812 instead of sending it to the printer.
1814 Noninteractively, the argument @var{filename} is treated as follows: if it is
1815 @code{nil}, send the image to the printer. If @var{filename} is a string, save
1816 the PostScript image in a file with that name.
1818 If you are using a color display, you can print a buffer of program
1819 code with color highlighting by turning on Font-Lock mode in that
1820 buffer, and using @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces}.
1822 @findex ps-spool-region
1823 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1824 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1825 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1826 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print},
1827 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1830 Use the command @code{ps-despool} to send the spooled images to the printer.
1833 This command sends the PostScript generated by @samp{-spool-} commands (see
1834 commands above) to the printer.
1836 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1837 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the spooled PostScript image in
1838 that file instead of sending it to the printer.
1840 Noninteractively, the argument @var{filename} is treated as follows: if it is
1841 @code{nil}, send the image to the printer. If @var{filename} is a string, save
1842 the PostScript image in a file with that name.
1846 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1847 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1848 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1849 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1852 The following section describes variables for customizing these commands.
1855 @node PostScript Variables, Printing Package, PostScript, Printing
1856 @section Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1858 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1859 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1860 @vindex ps-printer-name
1861 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1862 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1863 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1864 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1865 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1866 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1867 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1868 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1870 @vindex ps-print-header
1871 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1872 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1875 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1876 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1877 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1878 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1879 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1880 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1881 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1882 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1884 Alternatively, you can set @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{black-white} to
1885 print colors on black/white printers.
1887 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1888 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1889 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1890 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1891 stripes and background image/text.
1893 @vindex ps-paper-type
1894 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
1895 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
1896 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
1897 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
1898 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
1899 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
1900 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
1901 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
1903 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
1904 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
1905 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
1906 ``portrait'' mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies ``landscape''
1909 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
1910 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
1911 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
1914 @vindex ps-font-family
1915 @vindex ps-font-size
1916 @vindex ps-font-info-database
1917 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
1918 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
1919 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
1920 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
1921 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
1923 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
1924 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
1925 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
1926 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
1927 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
1928 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
1929 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
1930 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
1931 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
1932 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1933 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
1934 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
1935 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
1936 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
1937 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
1938 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1939 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
1941 @vindex bdf-directory-list
1942 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
1943 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
1944 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
1945 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
1947 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
1948 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
1950 @node Printing Package,, PostScript Variables, Printing
1951 @section Printing Package
1952 @cindex Printing package
1954 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
1955 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
1956 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
1957 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
1958 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
1959 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
1960 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
1961 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
1964 @findex pr-interface
1965 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
1966 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
1967 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
1968 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
1969 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface RET}; this creates a
1970 @samp{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
1971 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
1972 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
1973 @kbd{mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @kbd{RET}). For
1974 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
1977 @node Sorting, Narrowing, Printing, Top
1978 @section Sorting Text
1981 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
1982 operate on the contents of the region.
1983 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
1984 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
1985 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
1986 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
1987 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters `A' through
1988 `Z' come before lower-case `a', in accord with the @acronym{ASCII} character
1991 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
1992 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
1993 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
1994 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
1995 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
1996 record as the sort key.
1999 @findex sort-paragraphs
2002 @findex sort-numeric-fields
2003 @vindex sort-numeric-base
2005 @item M-x sort-lines
2006 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
2007 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
2009 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
2010 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
2011 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2012 argument means sort into descending order.
2014 @item M-x sort-pages
2015 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
2016 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2017 argument means sort into descending order.
2019 @item M-x sort-fields
2020 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
2021 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
2022 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
2023 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
2026 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
2027 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
2028 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
2029 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
2030 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
2032 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
2033 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
2034 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
2035 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
2036 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
2037 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
2038 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
2040 @item M-x sort-columns
2041 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
2042 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. See below
2045 @item M-x reverse-region
2046 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
2047 sorting into descending order by fields or columns, since those sort
2048 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
2051 For example, if the buffer contains this:
2054 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2055 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2056 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2057 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2062 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
2065 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2066 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2067 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2069 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2073 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
2074 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
2077 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2078 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2080 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2081 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2085 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
2086 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
2088 @findex sort-columns
2089 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
2090 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
2091 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
2092 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
2093 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
2094 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
2095 as well as all the lines in between.
2097 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
2098 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
2099 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
2100 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
2101 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
2103 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
2104 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
2105 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
2108 @vindex sort-fold-case
2109 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
2110 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
2112 @node Narrowing, Two-Column, Sorting, Top
2117 @cindex accessible portion
2119 @dfn{Narrowing} means focusing in on some portion of the buffer,
2120 making the rest temporarily inaccessible. The portion which you can
2121 still get to is called the @dfn{accessible portion}. Canceling the
2122 narrowing, which makes the entire buffer once again accessible, is
2123 called @dfn{widening}. The bounds of narrowing in effect in a buffer
2124 are called the buffer's @dfn{restriction}.
2126 Narrowing can make it easier to concentrate on a single subroutine or
2127 paragraph by eliminating clutter. It can also be used to limit the
2128 range of operation of a replace command or repeating keyboard macro.
2132 Narrow down to between point and mark (@code{narrow-to-region}).
2134 Widen to make the entire buffer accessible again (@code{widen}).
2136 Narrow down to the current page (@code{narrow-to-page}).
2138 Narrow down to the current defun (@code{narrow-to-defun}).
2141 When you have narrowed down to a part of the buffer, that part appears
2142 to be all there is. You can't see the rest, you can't move into it
2143 (motion commands won't go outside the accessible part), you can't change
2144 it in any way. However, it is not gone, and if you save the file all
2145 the inaccessible text will be saved. The word @samp{Narrow} appears in
2146 the mode line whenever narrowing is in effect.
2149 @findex narrow-to-region
2150 The primary narrowing command is @kbd{C-x n n} (@code{narrow-to-region}).
2151 It sets the current buffer's restrictions so that the text in the current
2152 region remains accessible, but all text before the region or after the
2153 region is inaccessible. Point and mark do not change.
2156 @findex narrow-to-page
2158 @findex narrow-to-defun
2159 Alternatively, use @kbd{C-x n p} (@code{narrow-to-page}) to narrow
2160 down to the current page. @xref{Pages}, for the definition of a page.
2161 @kbd{C-x n d} (@code{narrow-to-defun}) narrows down to the defun
2162 containing point (@pxref{Defuns}).
2166 The way to cancel narrowing is to widen with @kbd{C-x n w}
2167 (@code{widen}). This makes all text in the buffer accessible again.
2169 You can get information on what part of the buffer you are narrowed down
2170 to using the @kbd{C-x =} command. @xref{Position Info}.
2172 Because narrowing can easily confuse users who do not understand it,
2173 @code{narrow-to-region} is normally a disabled command. Attempting to use
2174 this command asks for confirmation and gives you the option of enabling it;
2175 if you enable the command, confirmation will no longer be required for
2176 it. @xref{Disabling}.
2178 @node Two-Column, Editing Binary Files, Narrowing, Top
2179 @section Two-Column Editing
2180 @cindex two-column editing
2181 @cindex splitting columns
2182 @cindex columns, splitting
2184 Two-column mode lets you conveniently edit two side-by-side columns of
2185 text. It uses two side-by-side windows, each showing its own
2188 There are three ways to enter two-column mode:
2191 @item @kbd{@key{F2} 2} or @kbd{C-x 6 2}
2194 @findex 2C-two-columns
2195 Enter two-column mode with the current buffer on the left, and on the
2196 right, a buffer whose name is based on the current buffer's name
2197 (@code{2C-two-columns}). If the right-hand buffer doesn't already
2198 exist, it starts out empty; the current buffer's contents are not
2201 This command is appropriate when the current buffer is empty or contains
2202 just one column and you want to add another column.
2204 @item @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s}
2208 Split the current buffer, which contains two-column text, into two
2209 buffers, and display them side by side (@code{2C-split}). The current
2210 buffer becomes the left-hand buffer, but the text in the right-hand
2211 column is moved into the right-hand buffer. The current column
2212 specifies the split point. Splitting starts with the current line and
2213 continues to the end of the buffer.
2215 This command is appropriate when you have a buffer that already contains
2216 two-column text, and you wish to separate the columns temporarily.
2218 @item @kbd{@key{F2} b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
2219 @itemx @kbd{C-x 6 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
2222 @findex 2C-associate-buffer
2223 Enter two-column mode using the current buffer as the left-hand buffer,
2224 and using buffer @var{buffer} as the right-hand buffer
2225 (@code{2C-associate-buffer}).
2228 @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s} looks for a column separator, which
2229 is a string that appears on each line between the two columns. You can
2230 specify the width of the separator with a numeric argument to
2231 @kbd{@key{F2} s}; that many characters, before point, constitute the
2232 separator string. By default, the width is 1, so the column separator
2233 is the character before point.
2235 When a line has the separator at the proper place, @kbd{@key{F2} s}
2236 puts the text after the separator into the right-hand buffer, and
2237 deletes the separator. Lines that don't have the column separator at
2238 the proper place remain unsplit; they stay in the left-hand buffer, and
2239 the right-hand buffer gets an empty line to correspond. (This is the
2240 way to write a line that ``spans both columns while in two-column
2241 mode'': write it in the left-hand buffer, and put an empty line in the
2247 The command @kbd{C-x 6 @key{RET}} or @kbd{@key{F2} @key{RET}}
2248 (@code{2C-newline}) inserts a newline in each of the two buffers at
2249 corresponding positions. This is the easiest way to add a new line to
2250 the two-column text while editing it in split buffers.
2255 When you have edited both buffers as you wish, merge them with
2256 @kbd{@key{F2} 1} or @kbd{C-x 6 1} (@code{2C-merge}). This copies the
2257 text from the right-hand buffer as a second column in the other buffer.
2258 To go back to two-column editing, use @kbd{@key{F2} s}.
2262 @findex 2C-dissociate
2263 Use @kbd{@key{F2} d} or @kbd{C-x 6 d} to dissociate the two buffers,
2264 leaving each as it stands (@code{2C-dissociate}). If the other buffer,
2265 the one not current when you type @kbd{@key{F2} d}, is empty,
2266 @kbd{@key{F2} d} kills it.
2268 @node Editing Binary Files, Saving Emacs Sessions, Two-Column, Top
2269 @section Editing Binary Files
2273 @cindex editing binary files
2275 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
2276 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
2277 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
2278 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
2279 automatically back to binary.
2281 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
2282 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
2283 it is a binary file.
2285 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
2286 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
2287 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
2288 commands of Hexl mode:
2290 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
2293 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
2296 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
2299 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
2302 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte ``page.''
2305 Move to the end of a 1k-byte ``page.''
2308 Move to an address specified in hex.
2311 Move to an address specified in decimal.
2314 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
2315 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
2319 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
2320 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
2321 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
2324 @node Saving Emacs Sessions, Recursive Edit, Editing Binary Files, Top
2325 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
2326 @cindex saving sessions
2327 @cindex restore session
2328 @cindex remember editing session
2329 @cindex reload files
2332 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
2333 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
2334 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
2335 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop.
2337 @findex desktop-save
2338 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2339 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2340 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2341 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2342 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2343 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2344 sessions, or add this line in your init file (@pxref{Init File}):
2347 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2350 @findex desktop-change-dir
2351 @findex desktop-revert
2352 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your init file, then when
2353 Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current directory.
2354 Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different directories,
2355 and the starting directory determines which one Emacs reloads. You
2356 can save the current desktop and reload one saved in another directory
2357 by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing @kbd{M-x
2358 desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2360 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2361 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2362 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2363 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2364 since it bypasses the init file, where @code{desktop-save-mode} is
2367 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2368 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2369 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2370 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2371 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2372 remaining buffers are restored ``lazily,'' when Emacs is idle.
2374 @findex desktop-clear
2375 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2376 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2377 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2378 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2379 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2380 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2381 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2382 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2384 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2385 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2387 @node Recursive Edit, Emulation, Saving Emacs Sessions, Top
2388 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2389 @cindex recursive editing level
2390 @cindex editing level, recursive
2392 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2393 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2394 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2395 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2396 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2397 the @code{query-replace}.
2400 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2401 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2402 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2403 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2404 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2406 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2407 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2408 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2410 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2411 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2412 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2413 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2414 any particular window or buffer.
2416 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2417 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2418 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2419 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2420 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2421 level currently in progress.
2423 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2424 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2425 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2426 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2427 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2428 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2429 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2431 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2432 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command
2433 reader. It also exits the minibuffer, if it is active.
2435 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2436 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2437 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2438 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2439 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2440 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2441 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2442 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2443 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2444 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2446 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2447 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to ``go back'' in a
2448 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2449 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2450 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2451 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2452 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2453 the order you choose.
2455 @node Emulation, Hyperlinking, Recursive Edit, Top
2457 @cindex emulating other editors
2458 @cindex other editors
2461 @cindex PC key bindings
2462 @cindex scrolling all windows
2463 @cindex PC selection
2464 @cindex Motif key bindings
2465 @cindex Macintosh key bindings
2468 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2469 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2472 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2474 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2475 @findex scroll-all-mode
2477 @cindex Brief emulation
2478 @cindex emulation of Brief
2480 You can turn on key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief editor with
2481 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode}. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs
2482 unless you set the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can
2483 also use the command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2484 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2485 (scrolling all windows together).
2487 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2488 @findex edt-emulation-on
2489 @findex edt-emulation-off
2490 Turn on EDT emulation with the command @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on},
2491 while @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-off} restores normal Emacs command
2494 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2495 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2496 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2497 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2499 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2502 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2504 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2506 Viper is the newest emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2507 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2508 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2509 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2510 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2513 @item vi (another emulator)
2515 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2516 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2517 ``input'' mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2518 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's ``input'' mode.
2520 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2521 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2523 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2524 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2526 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2528 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2529 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. ``Input'' mode in this emulator
2530 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2531 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2532 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2534 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2535 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2536 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2537 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2540 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2542 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2543 @findex wordstar-mode
2544 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2548 @node Hyperlinking, Dissociated Press, Emulation, Top
2549 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2551 @cindex hyperlinking
2553 Various modes documented elsewhere have hypertext features so that
2554 you can follow links, usually by clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} on the link or
2555 typing @key{RET} while point is on the link. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
2556 quickly on the link also follows it. (Hold @kbd{Mouse-1} for longer
2557 if you want to set point instead.)
2559 Info mode, Help mode and the Dired-like modes are examples of modes
2560 that have links in the buffer. The Tags facility links between uses
2561 and definitions in source files, see @ref{Tags}. Imenu provides
2562 navigation amongst items indexed in the current buffer, see
2563 @ref{Imenu}. Info-lookup provides mode-specific lookup of definitions
2564 in Info indexes, see @ref{Documentation}. Speedbar maintains a frame
2565 in which links to files, and locations in files are displayed, see
2568 Other non-mode-specific facilities described in this section enable
2569 following links from the current buffer in a context-sensitive
2573 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2574 * Goto Address mode:: Activating URLs.
2575 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2579 @subsection Following URLs
2580 @cindex World Wide Web
2583 @findex browse-url-at-point
2584 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2589 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2590 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2593 The Browse-URL package provides facilities for following URLs specifying
2594 links on the World Wide Web. Usually this works by invoking a web
2595 browser, but you can, for instance, arrange to invoke @code{compose-mail}
2596 from @samp{mailto:} URLs.
2598 The general way to use this feature is to type @kbd{M-x browse-url},
2599 which displays a specified URL. If point is located near a plausible
2600 URL, that URL is used as the default. Other commands are available
2601 which you might like to bind to keys, such as
2602 @code{browse-url-at-point} and @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2604 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2605 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2606 @code{browse-url} Customize group, particularly
2607 @code{browse-url-browser-function}. You can invoke actions dependent
2608 on the type of URL by defining @code{browse-url-browser-function} as
2609 an association list. The package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h
2610 p} under the @samp{hypermedia} keyword provides more information.
2611 Packages with facilities for following URLs should always go through
2612 Browse-URL, so that the customization options for Browse-URL will
2613 affect all browsing in Emacs.
2615 @node Goto Address mode
2616 @subsection Activating URLs
2617 @findex goto-address-mode
2618 @cindex Goto Address mode
2619 @cindex URLs, activating
2622 @item M-x goto-address-mode
2623 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2626 You can make URLs in the current buffer active with @kbd{M-x
2627 goto-address-mode}. This minor mode finds all the URLs in the buffer,
2628 highlights them, and turns them into @dfn{buttons}: if you click on a
2629 URL with @kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2} (@pxref{Mouse References}), or
2630 move to the URL and type @kbd{C-c @key{RET}}, that displays the web
2631 page that the URL specifies. For a @samp{mailto} URL, it sends mail
2632 instead, using your selected mail-composition method (@pxref{Mail
2635 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address-mode} to mode hooks and
2636 the hooks used to display an incoming message (e.g.,
2637 @code{rmail-show-message-hook} for Rmail, and @code{mh-show-mode-hook}
2638 for MH-E). This is not needed for Gnus, which has a similar feature
2642 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2643 @findex find-file-at-point
2645 @findex dired-at-point
2648 @cindex finding file at point
2650 FFAP mode replaces certain key bindings for finding files, including
2651 @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive defaults.
2652 These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a prefix
2653 argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL from the
2654 text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the form of a
2655 URL rather than a file name, the commands use @code{browse-url} to
2658 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2659 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. The
2660 @samp{ffap} package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h p} under the
2661 @samp{files} keyword and the @code{ffap} Custom group provide details.
2663 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2665 You can turn on FFAP minor mode by calling @code{ffap-bindings} to
2666 make the following key bindings and to install hooks for using
2667 @code{ffap} in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2670 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2671 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2672 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2673 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2675 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2676 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2678 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2679 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2680 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2681 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2682 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2683 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2685 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2687 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2688 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2690 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2691 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2693 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, analogous to @code{dired-other-window}.
2695 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2696 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2698 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2699 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2701 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2703 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2705 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2706 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2709 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2710 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2711 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2714 @node Dissociated Press, Amusements, Hyperlinking, Top
2715 @section Dissociated Press
2717 @findex dissociated-press
2718 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} is a command for scrambling a file of text
2719 either word by word or character by character. Starting from a buffer of
2720 straight English, it produces extremely amusing output. The input comes
2721 from the current Emacs buffer. Dissociated Press writes its output in a
2722 buffer named @samp{*Dissociation*}, and redisplays that buffer after every
2723 couple of lines (approximately) so you can read the output as it comes out.
2725 Dissociated Press asks every so often whether to continue generating
2726 output. Answer @kbd{n} to stop it. You can also stop at any time by
2727 typing @kbd{C-g}. The dissociation output remains in the
2728 @samp{*Dissociation*} buffer for you to copy elsewhere if you wish.
2730 @cindex presidentagon
2731 Dissociated Press operates by jumping at random from one point in
2732 the buffer to another. In order to produce plausible output rather
2733 than gibberish, it insists on a certain amount of overlap between the
2734 end of one run of consecutive words or characters and the start of the
2735 next. That is, if it has just output `president' and then decides to
2736 jump to a different point in the buffer, it might spot the `ent' in
2737 `pentagon' and continue from there, producing `presidentagon'. Long
2738 sample texts produce the best results.
2740 @cindex againformation
2741 A positive argument to @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} tells it to operate
2742 character by character, and specifies the number of overlap characters. A
2743 negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and specifies the number
2744 of overlap words. In this mode, whole words are treated as the elements to
2745 be permuted, rather than characters. No argument is equivalent to an
2746 argument of two. For your againformation, the output goes only into the
2747 buffer @samp{*Dissociation*}. The buffer you start with is not changed.
2749 @cindex Markov chain
2751 @cindex techniquitous
2752 Dissociated Press produces results fairly like those of a Markov
2753 chain based on a frequency table constructed from the sample text. It
2754 is, however, an independent, ignoriginal invention. Dissociated Press
2755 techniquitously copies several consecutive characters from the sample
2756 text between random jumps, unlike a Markov chain which would jump
2757 randomly after each word or character. This makes for more plausible
2758 sounding results, and runs faster.
2764 @cindex developediment
2766 It is a mustatement that too much use of Dissociated Press can be a
2767 developediment to your real work, sometimes to the point of outragedy.
2768 And keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want it to be well
2769 userenced and properbose. Have fun. Your buggestions are welcome.
2771 @node Amusements, Customization, Dissociated Press, Top
2772 @section Other Amusements
2777 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2779 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2780 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2781 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2784 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2785 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2791 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2792 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2793 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2794 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2795 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2796 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2800 @cindex cryptanalysis
2801 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is encrypted
2802 in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2805 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs an adventure-style exploration game, which is
2806 a bigger sort of puzzle.
2809 @cindex landmark game
2810 @kbd{M-x lm} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which a robot
2811 attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the window based on
2812 unique olfactory cues from each of the four directions.
2816 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's ``Life'' cellular automaton.
2818 @findex morse-region
2819 @findex unmorse-region
2821 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2822 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts text in a region to Morse code and
2823 @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. No cause for remorse.
2827 @kbd{M-x pong} plays a Pong-like game, bouncing the ball off opposing
2832 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2835 @findex studlify-region
2837 @kbd{M-x studlify-region} studlify-cases the region, producing
2841 M-x stUdlIfY-RegioN stUdlIfY-CaSeS thE region.
2848 @kbd{M-x tetris} runs an implementation of the well-known Tetris game.
2849 Likewise, @kbd{M-x snake} provides an implementation of Snake.
2851 When you are frustrated, try the famous Eliza program. Just do
2852 @kbd{M-x doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2855 When you are feeling strange, type @kbd{M-x yow}.
2858 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs is
2866 arch-tag: 8f094220-c0d5-4e9e-af7d-3e0da8187474