1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2015 Free Software
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
6 @chapter Miscellaneous Commands
8 This chapter contains several brief topics that do not fit anywhere
9 else: reading Usenet news, viewing PDFs and other such documents, web
10 browsing, running shell commands and shell subprocesses, using a
11 single shared Emacs for utilities that expect to run an editor as a
12 subprocess, printing, sorting text, editing binary files, saving an
13 Emacs session for later resumption, recursive editing level, following
14 hyperlinks, and various diversions and amusements.
28 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
29 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from
30 a number of other sources---email, remote directories, digests, and so
31 on. Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
33 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
36 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{C-h i} and then select the Gnus
41 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
42 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
43 * Gnus Group Buffer:: A short description of Gnus group commands.
44 * Gnus Summary Buffer:: A short description of Gnus summary commands.
48 @subsection Gnus Buffers
50 Gnus uses several buffers to display information and to receive
51 commands. The three most commonly-used Gnus buffers are the
52 @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the @dfn{article
55 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of article sources (e.g.,
56 newsgroups and email inboxes), which are collectively referred to as
57 @dfn{groups}. This is the first buffer Gnus displays when it starts
58 up. It normally displays only the groups to which you subscribe and
59 that contain unread articles. From this buffer, you can select a
62 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists the articles in a single group,
63 showing one article per line. By default, it displays each article's
64 author, subject, and line
69 number, but this is customizable; @xref{Summary Buffer Format,,, gnus,
72 The summary buffer is created when you select a group in the group
73 buffer, and is killed when you exit the group.
75 From the summary buffer, you can choose an article to view. The
76 article is displayed in the @dfn{article buffer}. In normal Gnus
77 usage, you view this buffer but do not select it---all useful Gnus
78 commands can be invoked from the summary buffer. But you can select
79 the article buffer, and execute Gnus commands from it, if you wish.
82 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
85 @cindex @file{.newsrc} file
86 If your system has been set up for reading Usenet news, getting
87 started with Gnus is easy---just type @kbd{M-x gnus}.
89 On starting up, Gnus reads your @dfn{news initialization file}: a
90 file named @file{.newsrc} in your home directory which lists your
91 Usenet newsgroups and subscriptions (this file is not unique to Gnus;
92 it is used by many other newsreader programs). It then tries to
93 contact the system's default news server, which is typically specified
94 by the @env{NNTPSERVER} environment variable.
96 If your system does not have a default news server, or if you wish
97 to use Gnus for reading email, then before invoking @kbd{M-x gnus} you
98 need to tell Gnus where to get news and/or mail. To do this,
99 customize the variables @code{gnus-select-method} and/or
100 @code{gnus-secondary-select-methods}.
102 See the Gnus manual for details.
105 @xref{Finding the News,,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
108 Once Gnus has started up, it displays the group buffer. By default,
109 the group buffer shows only a small number of @dfn{subscribed groups}.
110 Groups with other statuses---@dfn{unsubscribed}, @dfn{killed}, or
111 @dfn{zombie}---are hidden. The first time you start Gnus, any group
112 to which you are not subscribed is made into a killed group; any group
113 that subsequently appears on the news server becomes a zombie group.
115 To proceed, you must select a group in the group buffer to open the
116 summary buffer for that group; then, select an article in the summary
117 buffer to view its article buffer in a separate window. The following
118 sections explain how to use the group and summary buffers to do this.
120 To quit Gnus, type @kbd{q} in the group buffer. This automatically
121 records your group statuses in the files @file{.newsrc} and
122 @file{.newsrc.eld}, so that they take effect in subsequent Gnus
125 @node Gnus Group Buffer
126 @subsection Using the Gnus Group Buffer
128 The following commands are available in the Gnus group buffer:
131 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
132 @findex gnus-group-read-group
134 Switch to the summary buffer for the group on the current line.
136 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
137 @kindex A s @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
138 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
141 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
142 which contain unread articles (this is the default listing).
144 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
145 @kindex A u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
146 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
149 List all subscribed and unsubscribed groups, but not killed or zombie
152 @kindex A k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
153 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
157 @kindex A z @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
158 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
162 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
163 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
164 @cindex subscribe groups
165 @cindex unsubscribe groups
167 Toggle the subscription status of the group on the current line
168 (i.e., turn a subscribed group into an unsubscribed group, or vice
169 versa). Invoking this on a killed or zombie group turns it into an
172 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
173 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
175 Kill the group on the current line. Killed groups are not recorded in
176 the @file{.newsrc} file, and they are not shown in the @kbd{l} or
179 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
181 Move point to the previous group containing unread articles.
183 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
184 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
185 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
187 Move point to the next unread group.
189 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
190 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
191 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
193 Move point to the previous unread group.
195 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
196 @findex gnus-group-exit
198 Update your Gnus settings, and quit Gnus.
201 @node Gnus Summary Buffer
202 @subsection Using the Gnus Summary Buffer
204 The following commands are available in the Gnus summary buffer:
207 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
208 @findex gnus-group-read-group
210 If there is no article selected, select the article on the current
211 line and display its article buffer. Otherwise, try scrolling the
212 selected article buffer in its window; on reaching the end of the
213 buffer, select the next unread article.
215 Thus, you can read through all articles by repeatedly typing
218 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
219 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
221 Scroll the text of the article backwards.
223 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
224 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
225 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
227 Select the next unread article.
229 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
230 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
231 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
233 Select the previous unread article.
235 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
236 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
238 Do an incremental search on the selected article buffer, as if you
239 switched to the buffer and typed @kbd{C-s} (@pxref{Incremental
242 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
243 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
244 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
245 Search forward for articles containing a match for @var{regexp}.
247 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
249 Exit the summary buffer and return to the group buffer.
253 @node Network Security
254 @section Network Security
255 @cindex network security manager
262 Whenever Emacs establishes any network connection, it passes the
263 established connection to the @dfn{Network Security Manager}
264 (@acronym{NSM}). @acronym{NSM} is responsible for enforcing the
265 network security under your control.
267 @vindex network-security-level
268 The @code{network-security-level} variable determines the security
269 level that @acronym{NSM} enforces. If its value is @code{low}, no
270 security checks are performed.
272 If this variable is @code{medium} (which is the default), a number of
273 checks will be performed. If as result @acronym{NSM} determines that
274 the network connection might not be trustworthy, it will make you
275 aware of that, and will ask you what to do about the network
278 You can decide to register a permanent security exception for an
279 unverified connection, a temporary exception, or refuse the connection
282 Below is a list of the checks done on the @code{medium} level.
286 @item unable to verify a @acronym{TLS} certificate
287 If the connection is a @acronym{TLS}, @acronym{SSL} or
288 @acronym{STARTTLS} connection, @acronym{NSM} will check whether
289 the certificate used to establish the identity of the server we're
290 connecting to can be verified.
292 While an invalid certificate is often the cause for concern (there
293 could be a Man-in-the-Middle hijacking your network connection and
294 stealing your password), there may be valid reasons for going ahead
295 with the connection anyway. For instance, the server may be using a
296 self-signed certificate, or the certificate may have expired. It's up
297 to you to determine whether it's acceptable to continue with the
300 @item a self-signed certificate has changed
301 If you've previously accepted a self-signed certificate, but it has
302 now changed, that could mean that the server has just changed the
303 certificate, but it might also mean that the network connection has
306 @item previously encrypted connection now unencrypted
307 If the connection is unencrypted, but it was encrypted in previous
308 sessions, this might mean that there is a proxy between you and the
309 server that strips away @acronym{STARTTLS} announcements, leaving the
310 connection unencrypted. This is usually very suspicious.
312 @item talking to an unencrypted service when sending a password
313 When connecting to an @acronym{IMAP} or @acronym{POP3} server, these
314 should usually be encrypted, because it's common to send passwords
315 over these connections. Similarly, if you're sending email via
316 @acronym{SMTP} that requires a password, you usually want that
317 connection to be encrypted. If the connection isn't encrypted,
318 @acronym{NSM} will warn you.
322 If @code{network-security-level} is @code{high}, the following checks
323 will be made, in addition to the above:
326 @item a validated certificate changes the public key
327 Servers change their keys occasionally, and that is normally nothing
328 to be concerned about. However, if you are worried that your network
329 connections are being hijacked by agencies who have access to pliable
330 Certificate Authorities which issue new certificates for third-party
331 services, you may want to keep track of these changes.
333 @item Diffie-Hellman low prime bits
334 When doing the public key exchange, the number of ``prime bits''
335 should be high to ensure that the channel can't be eavesdropped on by
336 third parties. If this number is too low, you will be warned.
338 @item @acronym{RC4} stream cipher
339 The @acronym{RC4} stream cipher is believed to be of low quality and
340 may allow eavesdropping by third parties.
342 @item @acronym{SSL1}, @acronym{SSL2} and @acronym{SSL3}
343 The protocols older than @acronym{TLS1.0} are believed to be
344 vulnerable to a variety of attacks, and you may want to avoid using
345 these if what you're doing requires higher security.
348 Finally, if @code{network-security-level} is @code{paranoid}, you will
349 also be notified the first time @acronym{NSM} sees any new
350 certificate. This will allow you to inspect all the certificates from
351 all the connections that Emacs makes.
353 The following additional variables can be used to control details of
354 @acronym{NSM} operation:
357 @item nsm-settings-file
358 @vindex nsm-settings-file
359 This is the file where @acronym{NSM} stores details about connections.
360 It defaults to @file{~/.emacs.d/network-security.data}.
362 @item nsm-save-host-names
363 @vindex nsm-save-host-names
364 By default, host names will not be saved for non-@code{STARTTLS}
365 connections. Instead a host/port hash is used to identify connections.
366 This means that one can't casually read the settings file to see what
367 servers the user has connected to. If this variable is @code{t},
368 @acronym{NSM} will also save host names in the nsm-settings-file.
373 @section Document Viewing
377 @cindex PostScript file
378 @cindex OpenDocument file
379 @cindex Microsoft Office file
381 @cindex mode, DocView
382 @cindex document viewer (DocView)
383 @findex doc-view-mode
385 DocView mode is a major mode for viewing DVI, PostScript (PS), PDF,
386 OpenDocument, and Microsoft Office documents. It provides features
387 such as slicing, zooming, and searching inside documents. It works by
388 converting the document to a set of images using the @command{gs}
389 (GhostScript) or @command{mudraw}/@command{pdfdraw} (MuPDF) commands
390 and other external tools @footnote{For PostScript files, GhostScript
391 is a hard requirement. For DVI files, @code{dvipdf} or @code{dvipdfm}
392 is needed. For OpenDocument and Microsoft Office documents, the
393 @code{unoconv} tool is needed.}, and displaying those images.
395 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
396 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
397 @cindex doc-view-minor-mode
398 When you visit a document file that can be displayed with DocView
399 mode, Emacs automatically uses DocView mode @footnote{The needed
400 external tools for the document type must be available, and Emacs must
401 be running in a graphical frame and have PNG image support. If any of
402 these requirements is not fulfilled, Emacs falls back to another major
403 mode.}. As an exception, when you visit a PostScript file, Emacs
404 switches to PS mode, a major mode for editing PostScript files as
405 text; however, it also enables DocView minor mode, so you can type
406 @kbd{C-c C-c} to view the document with DocView. In either DocView
407 mode or DocView minor mode, repeating @kbd{C-c C-c}
408 (@code{doc-view-toggle-display}) toggles between DocView and the
409 underlying file contents.
411 @findex doc-view-open-text
412 When you visit a file which would normally be handled by DocView
413 mode but some requirement is not met (e.g., you operate in a terminal
414 frame or emacs has no PNG support), you are queried if you want to
415 view the document's contents as plain text. If you confirm, the
416 buffer is put in text mode and DocView minor mode is activated. Thus,
417 by typing @kbd{C-c C-c} you switch to the fallback mode. With another
418 @kbd{C-c C-c} you return to DocView mode. The plain text contents can
419 also be displayed from within DocView mode by typing @kbd{C-c C-t}
420 (@code{doc-view-open-text}).
422 You can explicitly enable DocView mode with the command @code{M-x
423 doc-view-mode}. You can toggle DocView minor mode with @code{M-x
424 doc-view-minor-mode}.
426 When DocView mode starts, it displays a welcome screen and begins
427 formatting the file, page by page. It displays the first page once
428 that has been formatted.
430 To kill the DocView buffer, type @kbd{k}
431 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}). To bury it, type @kbd{q}
432 (@code{quit-window}).
435 * Navigation: DocView Navigation. Navigating DocView buffers.
436 * Searching: DocView Searching. Searching inside documents.
437 * Slicing: DocView Slicing. Specifying which part of a page is displayed.
438 * Conversion: DocView Conversion. Influencing and triggering conversion.
441 @node DocView Navigation
442 @subsection DocView Navigation
444 In DocView mode, you can scroll the current page using the usual
445 Emacs movement keys: @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, and
448 @vindex doc-view-continuous
449 By default, the line-motion keys @kbd{C-p} and @kbd{C-n} stop
450 scrolling at the beginning and end of the current page, respectively.
451 However, if you change the variable @code{doc-view-continuous} to a
452 non-@code{nil} value, then @kbd{C-p} displays the previous page if you
453 are already at the beginning of the current page, and @kbd{C-n}
454 displays the next page if you are at the end of the current page.
456 @findex doc-view-next-page
457 @findex doc-view-previous-page
458 @kindex n @r{(DocView mode)}
459 @kindex p @r{(DocView mode)}
460 @kindex C-x ] @r{(DocView mode)}
461 @kindex C-x [ @r{(DocView mode)}
462 You can also display the next page by typing @kbd{n}, @key{next} or
463 @kbd{C-x ]} (@code{doc-view-next-page}). To display the previous
464 page, type @kbd{p}, @key{prior} or @kbd{C-x [}
465 (@code{doc-view-previous-page}).
467 @findex doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page
468 @findex doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page
469 @kindex SPC @r{(DocView mode)}
470 @kindex DEL @r{(DocView mode)}
471 @key{SPC} (@code{doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page}) is a convenient
472 way to advance through the document. It scrolls within the current
473 page or advances to the next. @key{DEL} moves backwards in a similar
474 way (@code{doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page}).
476 @findex doc-view-first-page
477 @findex doc-view-last-page
478 @findex doc-view-goto-page
479 @kindex M-< @r{(DocView mode)}
480 @kindex M-> @r{(DocView mode)}
481 To go to the first page, type @kbd{M-<}
482 (@code{doc-view-first-page}); to go to the last one, type @kbd{M->}
483 (@code{doc-view-last-page}). To jump to a page by its number, type
484 @kbd{M-g M-g} or @kbd{M-g g} (@code{doc-view-goto-page}).
486 @findex doc-view-enlarge
487 @findex doc-view-shrink
488 @vindex doc-view-resolution
489 @kindex + @r{(DocView mode)}
490 @kindex - @r{(DocView mode)}
491 You can enlarge or shrink the document with @kbd{+}
492 (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-} (@code{doc-view-shrink}). These
493 commands work by reconverting the document at the new size. To
494 specify the default size for DocView, customize the variable
495 @code{doc-view-resolution}.
497 @node DocView Searching
498 @subsection DocView Searching
500 In DocView mode, you can search the file's text for a regular
501 expression (@pxref{Regexps}). The interface for searching is inspired
502 by @code{isearch} (@pxref{Incremental Search}).
504 @findex doc-view-search
505 @findex doc-view-search-backward
506 @findex doc-view-show-tooltip
507 To begin a search, type @kbd{C-s} (@code{doc-view-search}) or
508 @kbd{C-r} (@code{doc-view-search-backward}). This reads a regular
509 expression using a minibuffer, then echoes the number of matches found
510 within the document. You can move forward and back among the matches
511 by typing @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r}. DocView mode has no way to show
512 the match inside the page image; instead, it displays a tooltip (at
513 the mouse position) listing all matching lines in the current page.
514 To force display of this tooltip, type @kbd{C-t}
515 (@code{doc-view-show-tooltip}).
517 To start a new search, use the search command with a prefix
518 argument; i.e., @kbd{C-u C-s} for a forward search or @kbd{C-u C-r}
519 for a backward search.
521 @node DocView Slicing
522 @subsection DocView Slicing
524 Documents often have wide margins for printing. They are annoying
525 when reading the document on the screen, because they use up screen
526 space and can cause inconvenient scrolling.
528 @findex doc-view-set-slice
529 @findex doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse
530 With DocView you can hide these margins by selecting a @dfn{slice}
531 of pages to display. A slice is a rectangle within the page area;
532 once you specify a slice in DocView, it applies to whichever page you
535 To specify the slice numerically, type @kbd{s s}
536 (@code{doc-view-set-slice}); then enter the top left pixel position
537 and the slice's width and height.
538 @c ??? how does this work?
540 A more convenient graphical way to specify the slice is with @kbd{s
541 m} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}), where you use the mouse to
542 select the slice. Simply press and hold the left mouse button at the
543 upper-left corner of the region you want to have in the slice, then
544 move the mouse pointer to the lower-right corner and release the
547 The most convenient way is to set the optimal slice by using
548 BoundingBox information automatically determined from the document by
549 typing @kbd{s b} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-from-bounding-box}).
551 @findex doc-view-reset-slice
552 To cancel the selected slice, type @kbd{s r}
553 (@code{doc-view-reset-slice}). Then DocView shows the entire page
554 including its entire margins.
556 @node DocView Conversion
557 @subsection DocView Conversion
559 @vindex doc-view-cache-directory
560 @findex doc-view-clear-cache
561 For efficiency, DocView caches the images produced by @command{gs}.
562 The name of this directory is given by the variable
563 @code{doc-view-cache-directory}. You can clear the cache directory by
564 typing @code{M-x doc-view-clear-cache}.
566 @findex doc-view-kill-proc
567 @findex doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer
568 To force reconversion of the currently viewed document, type @kbd{r}
569 or @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). To kill the converter process
570 associated with the current buffer, type @kbd{K}
571 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc}). The command @kbd{k}
572 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}) kills the converter process and
576 @section Web Browsing with EWW
579 @findex eww-open-file
580 @dfn{EWW}, the Emacs Web Wowser, is a web browser package for Emacs.
581 It allows browsing URLs within an Emacs buffer. The command @kbd{M-x
582 eww} will open a URL or search the web. You can open a file
583 using the command @kbd{M-x eww-open-file}. You can use EWW as the
584 web browser for @code{browse-url}, @pxref{Browse-URL}. For full
585 details, @pxref{Top, EWW,, eww, The Emacs Web Wowser Manual}.
588 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
590 @cindex shell commands
592 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to shell
593 subprocesses, and for running a shell interactively with input and
594 output to an Emacs buffer, and for running a shell in a terminal
598 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
599 Run the shell command @var{cmd} and display the output
600 (@code{shell-command}).
601 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
602 Run the shell command @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
603 optionally replace the region with the output
604 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
605 @item M-& @var{cmd} @key{RET}
606 Run the shell command @var{cmd} asynchronously, and display the output
607 (@code{async-shell-command}).
609 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
610 then give commands interactively.
612 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
613 then give commands interactively. Full terminal emulation is
618 Whenever you specify a relative file name for an executable program
619 (either in the @var{cmd} argument to one of the above commands, or in
620 other contexts), Emacs searches for the program in the directories
621 specified by the variable @code{exec-path}. The value of this
622 variable must be a list of directory names; the default value is
623 initialized from the environment variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is
624 started (@pxref{General Variables}).
626 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
627 is documented in its own manual.
629 @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell, Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
632 See the Eshell Info manual, which is distributed with Emacs.
636 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
637 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
638 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
639 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
640 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
641 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
642 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
643 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
644 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
645 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
646 * Serial Terminal:: Connecting to a serial port.
650 @subsection Single Shell Commands
653 @findex shell-command
654 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
655 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command, in a subshell made just
656 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
657 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
658 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
659 @file{*Shell Command Output*}, displayed in another window (if the
662 For instance, one way to decompress a file named @file{foo.gz} is to
663 type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command normally
664 creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
666 A numeric argument to @code{shell-command}, e.g., @kbd{M-1 M-!},
667 causes it to insert terminal output into the current buffer instead of
668 a separate buffer. It puts point before the output, and sets the mark
669 after the output. For instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz
670 @key{RET}} would insert the uncompressed form of the file
671 @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
673 Provided the specified shell command does not end with @samp{&}, it
674 runs @dfn{synchronously}, and you must wait for it to exit before
675 continuing to use Emacs. To stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit;
676 this sends a @code{SIGINT} signal to terminate the shell command (this
677 is the same signal that @kbd{C-c} normally generates in the shell).
678 Emacs then waits until the command actually terminates. If the shell
679 command doesn't stop (because it ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal),
680 type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal,
681 which is impossible to ignore.
684 @findex async-shell-command
685 A shell command that ends in @samp{&} is executed
686 @dfn{asynchronously}, and you can continue to use Emacs as it runs.
687 You can also type @kbd{M-&} (@code{async-shell-command}) to execute a
688 shell command asynchronously; this is exactly like calling @kbd{M-!}
689 with a trailing @samp{&}, except that you do not need the @samp{&}.
690 The default output buffer for asynchronous shell commands is named
691 @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Emacs inserts the output into this
692 buffer as it comes in, whether or not the buffer is visible in a
695 @vindex async-shell-command-buffer
696 If you want to run more than one asynchronous shell command at the
697 same time, they could end up competing for the output buffer. The
698 option @code{async-shell-command-buffer} specifies what to do about
699 this; e.g., whether to rename the pre-existing output buffer, or to
700 use a different buffer for the new command. Consult the variable's
701 documentation for more possibilities.
704 @findex shell-command-on-region
705 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!}, but
706 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
707 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, it deletes the
708 old region and replaces it with the output from the shell command.
710 For example, you can use @kbd{M-|} with the @command{gpg} program to
711 see what keys are in the buffer. If the buffer contains a GnuPG key,
712 type @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents
713 to @command{gpg}. This will output the list of keys to the
714 @file{*Shell Command Output*} buffer.
716 @vindex shell-file-name
717 The above commands use the shell specified by the variable
718 @code{shell-file-name}. Its default value is determined by the
719 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
720 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories listed in
721 @code{exec-path} (@pxref{Shell}).
723 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
724 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
726 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
727 By default, error output is intermixed with the regular output in
728 the output buffer. But if you change the value of the variable
729 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} to a string, error output is
730 inserted into a buffer of that name.
732 @node Interactive Shell
733 @subsection Interactive Subshell
736 To run a subshell interactively, type @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates
737 (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*shell*}, and runs a shell subprocess
738 with input coming from and output going to that buffer. That is to
739 say, any terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer,
740 advancing point, and any terminal input for the subshell comes from
741 text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell, go to the end of
742 the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
744 While the subshell is waiting or running a command, you can switch
745 windows or buffers and perform other editing in Emacs. Emacs inserts
746 the output from the subshell into the Shell buffer whenever it has
747 time to process it (e.g., while waiting for keyboard input).
749 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
750 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
751 In the Shell buffer, prompts are displayed with the face
752 @code{comint-highlight-prompt}, and submitted input lines are
753 displayed with the face @code{comint-highlight-input}. This makes it
754 easier to distinguish input lines from the shell output.
757 To make multiple subshells, invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a prefix
758 argument (e.g., @kbd{C-u M-x shell}). Then the command will read a
759 buffer name, and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can
760 also rename the @file{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely},
761 then create a new @file{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
762 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
764 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
765 @cindex environment variables for subshells
766 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
767 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
768 To specify the shell file name used by @kbd{M-x shell}, customize
769 the variable @code{explicit-shell-file-name}. If this is @code{nil}
770 (the default), Emacs uses the environment variable @env{ESHELL} if it
771 exists. Otherwise, it usually uses the variable
772 @code{shell-file-name} (@pxref{Single Shell}); but if the default
773 directory is remote (@pxref{Remote Files}), it prompts you for the
776 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
777 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
778 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
779 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
780 @file{~/.emacs_bash}. If this file is not found, Emacs tries with
781 @file{~/.emacs.d/init_@var{shellname}.sh}.
783 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
784 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
785 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
786 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
789 @cindex @env{INSIDE_EMACS} environment variable
790 Emacs sets the environment variable @env{INSIDE_EMACS} in the
791 subshell to @samp{@var{version},comint}, where @var{version} is the
792 Emacs version (e.g., @samp{24.1}). Programs can check this variable
793 to determine whether they are running inside an Emacs subshell.
796 @subsection Shell Mode
800 The major mode for Shell buffers is Shell mode. Many of its special
801 commands are bound to the @kbd{C-c} prefix, and resemble the usual
802 editing and job control characters present in ordinary shells, except
803 that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a list of Shell mode
808 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
809 @findex comint-send-input
810 Send the current line as input to the subshell
811 (@code{comint-send-input}). Any shell prompt at the beginning of the
812 line is omitted (@pxref{Shell Prompts}). If point is at the end of
813 buffer, this is like submitting the command line in an ordinary
814 interactive shell. However, you can also invoke @key{RET} elsewhere
815 in the shell buffer to submit the current line as input.
818 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
819 @findex completion-at-point
820 @cindex shell completion
821 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell
822 buffer (@code{completion-at-point}). This uses the usual Emacs
823 completion rules (@pxref{Completion}), with the completion
824 alternatives being file names, environment variable names, the shell
825 command history, and history references (@pxref{History References}).
826 For options controlling the completion, @pxref{Shell Options}.
829 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
830 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
831 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file
832 name before point (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
835 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
836 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
837 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
838 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
839 buffer, this sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
840 position in the buffer, this deletes a character as usual.
843 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
844 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
845 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
846 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
847 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
848 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
849 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
850 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
854 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
855 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
856 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
857 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
858 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
861 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
862 @findex comint-kill-input
863 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
864 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
865 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
868 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
869 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
872 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
873 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
874 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
875 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
876 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
879 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
880 @findex comint-stop-subjob
881 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
882 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
886 @findex comint-quit-subjob
887 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
888 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
889 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
890 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
893 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
894 @findex comint-delete-output
895 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
896 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
897 out lots of output that just gets in the way.
900 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
901 @findex comint-write-output
902 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
903 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
904 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
909 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
910 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
911 @findex comint-show-output
912 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
913 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
916 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
917 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
918 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
919 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
922 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
923 @findex shell-forward-command
924 @vindex shell-command-regexp
925 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
926 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
927 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
930 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
931 @findex shell-backward-command
932 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
933 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
936 Ask the shell for its working directory, and update the Shell buffer's
937 default directory. @xref{Directory Tracking}.
939 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
940 @findex send-invisible
941 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
942 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
945 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
946 really want them to be echoed, evaluate (@pxref{Lisp Eval}) the
947 following Lisp expression:
950 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
951 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
954 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
955 @findex comint-continue-subjob
956 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
957 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
958 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
959 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
960 this command won't do it.}
962 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
963 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
964 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
965 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
966 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
967 evaluate this Lisp expression:
970 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
971 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
974 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
975 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
976 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
977 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
978 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
982 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
983 'comint-truncate-buffer)
989 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
990 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
991 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
992 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
993 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
995 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
996 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
999 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
1000 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
1001 specializations of Shell mode.
1004 @subsection Shell Prompts
1006 @cindex prompt, shell
1007 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
1008 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
1009 automatically figures out part of the buffer is a prompt, based on the
1010 output of the subprocess. (Specifically, it assumes that any received
1011 output line which doesn't end with a newline is a prompt.)
1013 Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of @dfn{fields}: input
1014 fields (where user input is typed) and output fields (everywhere
1015 else). Prompts are part of the output fields. Most Emacs motion
1016 commands do not cross field boundaries, unless they move over multiple
1017 lines. For instance, when point is in the input field on a shell
1018 command line, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the beginning of the input
1019 field, after the prompt. Internally, the fields are implemented using
1020 the @code{field} text property (@pxref{Text Properties,,, elisp, the
1021 Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1023 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
1024 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
1025 If you change the variable @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} to a
1026 non-@code{nil} value, then Comint mode recognize prompts using a
1027 regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). In Shell mode, the regular
1028 expression is specified by the variable @code{shell-prompt-pattern}.
1029 The default value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil},
1030 because this method for recognizing prompts is unreliable, but you may
1031 want to set it to a non-@code{nil} value in unusual circumstances. In
1032 that case, Emacs does not divide the Comint buffer into fields, so the
1033 general motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers without
1034 special text properties. However, you can use the paragraph motion
1035 commands to conveniently navigate the buffer (@pxref{Paragraphs}); in
1036 Shell mode, Emacs uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern} as paragraph
1040 @subsection Shell Command History
1042 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
1043 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
1044 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
1045 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
1046 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
1047 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
1048 @samp{!}-style history reference.
1051 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
1052 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
1053 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
1057 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
1060 @findex comint-previous-input
1061 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1064 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
1066 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1067 @findex comint-next-input
1070 Fetch the next later old shell command.
1072 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
1073 @findex comint-history-isearch-backward-regexp
1075 Begin an incremental regexp search of old shell commands.
1078 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
1079 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
1080 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
1083 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
1084 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
1085 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
1088 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
1089 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
1090 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
1091 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
1094 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell
1095 commands. To reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing
1096 commands @kbd{M-p}, @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work
1097 just like the minibuffer history commands (@pxref{Minibuffer
1098 History}), except that they operate within the Shell buffer rather
1099 than the minibuffer.
1101 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
1102 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
1103 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
1104 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
1105 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
1106 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
1109 The history search command @kbd{M-r} begins an incremental regular
1110 expression search of previous shell commands. After typing @kbd{M-r},
1111 start typing the desired string or regular expression; the last
1112 matching shell command will be displayed in the current line.
1113 Incremental search commands have their usual effects---for instance,
1114 @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r} search forward and backward for the next match
1115 (@pxref{Incremental Search}). When you find the desired input, type
1116 @key{RET} to terminate the search. This puts the input in the command
1117 line. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
1118 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
1121 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
1122 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
1123 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
1124 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
1125 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
1126 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
1127 @key{RET}} over and over.
1129 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
1130 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like
1131 @kbd{@key{ESC} .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
1132 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
1133 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
1134 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
1135 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
1138 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
1139 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
1140 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
1141 that these commands access.
1143 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
1144 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
1145 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
1146 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
1147 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
1148 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
1150 @node Shell History Copying
1151 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
1154 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1155 @findex comint-previous-prompt
1157 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
1159 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1160 @findex comint-next-prompt
1162 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
1164 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
1165 @findex comint-copy-old-input
1167 Copy the input command at point, inserting the copy at the end of the
1168 buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you move
1169 point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you can
1170 submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can edit
1171 the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an output
1172 line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
1175 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
1176 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
1177 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
1178 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
1179 not over old input, just yank as usual.
1182 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
1183 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
1184 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
1185 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
1186 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
1187 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
1188 buffer after it has been sent.
1190 @node History References
1191 @subsubsection Shell History References
1192 @cindex history reference
1194 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
1195 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
1196 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
1199 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
1200 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
1201 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
1202 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
1203 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
1204 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
1207 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
1208 @findex comint-magic-space
1209 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
1210 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
1211 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
1212 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
1213 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
1215 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
1216 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
1218 @node Directory Tracking
1219 @subsection Directory Tracking
1220 @cindex directory tracking
1222 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
1223 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
1224 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
1225 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
1226 commands given to the subshell, in order to keep the Shell buffer's
1227 default directory (@pxref{File Names}) the same as the shell's working
1228 directory. It recognizes these commands by examining lines of input
1231 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
1232 recognize them also, by setting the variables
1233 @code{shell-pushd-regexp}, @code{shell-popd-regexp}, and
1234 @code{shell-cd-regexp} to the appropriate regular expressions
1235 (@pxref{Regexps}). For example, if @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches
1236 the beginning of a shell command line, that line is regarded as a
1237 @code{pushd} command. These commands are recognized only at the
1238 beginning of a shell command line.
1241 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the working directory of the
1242 subshell, type @kbd{M-x dirs}. This command asks the shell for its
1243 working directory and updates the default directory accordingly. It
1244 works for shells that support the most common command syntax, but may
1245 not work for unusual shells.
1247 @findex dirtrack-mode
1248 @cindex Dirtrack mode
1249 @cindex mode, Dirtrack
1250 @vindex dirtrack-list
1251 You can also use Dirtrack mode, a buffer-local minor mode that
1252 implements an alternative method of tracking the shell's working
1253 directory. To use this method, your shell prompt must contain the
1254 working directory at all times, and you must supply a regular
1255 expression for recognizing which part of the prompt contains the
1256 working directory; see the documentation of the variable
1257 @code{dirtrack-list} for details. To use Dirtrack mode, type @kbd{M-x
1258 dirtrack-mode} in the Shell buffer, or add @code{dirtrack-mode} to
1259 @code{shell-mode-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
1262 @subsection Shell Mode Options
1264 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
1265 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
1266 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
1267 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
1269 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
1270 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
1271 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to scroll the last
1272 line of text to the bottom line of the window, showing as much useful
1273 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
1274 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
1276 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
1277 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
1278 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
1279 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
1280 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
1281 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
1282 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
1283 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
1284 point does not jump to the end.
1286 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
1287 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
1288 buffer are read-only.
1290 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1291 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1292 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1293 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1294 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1295 equal to the previous input.
1297 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1298 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1299 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1300 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1301 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1302 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1303 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1304 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1305 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1306 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1307 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1308 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1310 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1311 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1312 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1313 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1315 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
1316 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
1317 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
1318 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
1319 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
1320 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
1321 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
1324 @findex shell-dynamic-complete-command
1325 Some implementation details of the shell command completion may also be found
1326 in the lisp documentation of the @code{shell-dynamic-complete-command}
1329 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1330 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1331 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1332 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1333 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1334 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1335 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1336 directory stack if they are not already on it
1337 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1338 underlying shell, of course.
1340 @node Terminal emulator
1341 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1344 To run a subshell in a text terminal emulator, use @kbd{M-x term}.
1345 This creates (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*terminal*}, and runs a
1346 subshell with input coming from your keyboard, and output going to
1349 @cindex line mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1350 @cindex char mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1351 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1352 @dfn{line mode}, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell
1353 Mode}). In @dfn{char mode}, each character is sent directly to the
1354 subshell, as terminal input; the sole exception is the terminal escape
1355 character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}). Any
1356 echoing of your input is the responsibility of the subshell; any
1357 terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer, advancing
1360 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1361 of the terminal screen in detail. They do this by emitting special
1362 control codes. Term mode recognizes and handles ANSI-standard
1363 VT100-style escape sequences, which are accepted by most modern
1364 terminals, including @command{xterm}. (Hence, you can actually run
1365 Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.)
1367 The @code{term} face specifies the default appearance of text
1368 in the terminal emulator (the default is the same appearance as the
1369 @code{default} face). When terminal control codes are used to change
1370 the appearance of text, these are represented in the terminal emulator
1371 by the faces @code{term-color-black}, @code{term-color-red},
1372 @code{term-color-green}, @code{term-color-yellow}
1373 @code{term-color-blue}, @code{term-color-magenta},
1374 @code{term-color-cyan}, @code{term-color-white},
1375 @code{term-color-underline}, and @code{term-color-bold}.
1378 You can also Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
1379 serial port. @xref{Serial Terminal}.
1381 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1382 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1383 buffer @file{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1384 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1386 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1387 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1388 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1395 @subsection Term Mode
1399 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1400 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}).
1401 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the subshell, except
1402 for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1404 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1407 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1408 @findex term-line-mode
1410 Switch to line mode (@code{term-line-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1413 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1414 @findex term-char-mode
1416 Switch to char mode (@code{term-char-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1420 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1424 Send a literal @kbd{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1426 @item C-c @var{char}
1427 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1428 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1429 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1432 @cindex paging in Term mode
1433 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled, it makes
1434 output pause at the end of each screenful:
1437 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1438 @findex term-pager-toggle
1440 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1441 and char modes. When the feature is enabled, the mode-line displays
1442 the word @samp{page}, and each time Term receives more than a
1443 screenful of output, it pauses and displays @samp{**MORE**} in the
1444 mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next screenful of output, or
1445 @kbd{?} to see your other options. The interface is similar to the
1446 @code{more} program.
1450 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1452 @cindex connecting to remote host
1456 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1457 would from a regular terminal (e.g., using the @code{telnet} or
1458 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1460 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1461 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1462 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1463 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1464 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1465 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1467 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1468 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1469 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1470 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1471 login command, without a separating comma.) Terminal types
1472 @samp{ansi} or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1474 @node Serial Terminal
1475 @subsection Serial Terminal
1476 @cindex terminal, serial
1479 If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
1480 you can communicate with it by typing @kbd{M-x serial-term}. This
1481 command asks for a serial port name and speed, and switches to a new
1482 Term mode buffer. Emacs communicates with the serial device through
1483 this buffer just like it does with a terminal in ordinary Term mode.
1485 The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second. The
1486 most common speed is 9600 bits per second. You can change the speed
1487 interactively by clicking on the mode line.
1489 A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on ``8N1'' in
1490 the mode line. By default, a serial port is configured as ``8N1'',
1491 which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
1494 If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
1495 with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
1499 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1501 @cindex Emacs as a server
1502 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1503 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1505 Various programs can invoke your choice of editor to edit a
1506 particular piece of text. For instance, version control programs
1507 invoke an editor to enter version control logs (@pxref{Version
1508 Control}), and the Unix @command{mail} utility invokes an editor to
1509 enter a message to send. By convention, your choice of editor is
1510 specified by the environment variable @env{EDITOR}. If you set
1511 @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, Emacs would be invoked, but in an
1512 inconvenient way---by starting a new Emacs process. This is
1513 inconvenient because the new Emacs process doesn't share buffers, a
1514 command history, or other kinds of information with any existing Emacs
1517 You can solve this problem by setting up Emacs as an @dfn{edit
1518 server}, so that it ``listens'' for external edit requests and acts
1519 accordingly. There are two ways to start an Emacs server:
1522 @findex server-start
1524 Run the command @code{server-start} in an existing Emacs process:
1525 either type @kbd{M-x server-start}, or put the expression
1526 @code{(server-start)} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}). The
1527 existing Emacs process is the server; when you exit Emacs, the server
1528 dies with the Emacs process.
1530 @cindex daemon, Emacs
1532 Run Emacs as a @dfn{daemon}, using the @samp{--daemon} command-line
1533 option. @xref{Initial Options}. When Emacs is started this way, it
1534 calls @code{server-start} after initialization, and returns control to
1535 the calling terminal instead of opening an initial frame; it then
1536 waits in the background, listening for edit requests.
1539 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1540 Either way, once an Emacs server is started, you can use a shell
1541 command called @command{emacsclient} to connect to the Emacs process
1542 and tell it to visit a file. You can then set the @env{EDITOR}
1543 environment variable to @samp{emacsclient}, so that external programs
1544 will use the existing Emacs process for editing.@footnote{Some
1545 programs use a different environment variable; for example, to make
1546 @TeX{} use @samp{emacsclient}, set the @env{TEXEDIT} environment
1547 variable to @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.}
1550 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1551 each one a unique ``server name'', using the variable
1552 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1553 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1554 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can specify a server by
1555 name, using the @samp{-s} option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1557 @findex server-eval-at
1558 If you have defined a server by a unique server name, it is possible
1559 to connect to the server from another Emacs instance and evaluate Lisp
1560 expressions on the server, using the @code{server-eval-at} function.
1561 For instance, @code{(server-eval-at "foo" '(+ 1 2))} evaluates the
1562 expression @code{(+ 1 2)} on the @samp{foo} server, and returns
1563 @code{3}. (If there is no server with that name, an error is
1564 signaled.) Currently, this feature is mainly useful for developers.
1567 * Invoking emacsclient:: Connecting to the Emacs server.
1568 * emacsclient Options:: Emacs client startup options.
1571 @node Invoking emacsclient
1572 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1573 @cindex @code{emacsclient} invocation
1575 The simplest way to use the @command{emacsclient} program is to run
1576 the shell command @samp{emacsclient @var{file}}, where @var{file} is a
1577 file name. This connects to an Emacs server, and tells that Emacs
1578 process to visit @var{file} in one of its existing frames---either a
1579 graphical frame, or one in a text terminal (@pxref{Frames}). You
1580 can then select that frame to begin editing.
1582 If there is no Emacs server, the @command{emacsclient} program halts
1583 with an error message. If the Emacs process has no existing
1584 frame---which can happen if it was started as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
1585 Server})---then Emacs opens a frame on the terminal in which you
1586 called @command{emacsclient}.
1588 You can also force @command{emacsclient} to open a new frame on a
1589 graphical display, or on a text terminal, using the @samp{-c} and
1590 @samp{-t} options. @xref{emacsclient Options}.
1592 If you are running on a single text terminal, you can switch between
1593 @command{emacsclient}'s shell and the Emacs server using one of two
1594 methods: (i) run the Emacs server and @command{emacsclient} on
1595 different virtual terminals, and switch to the Emacs server's virtual
1596 terminal after calling @command{emacsclient}; or (ii) call
1597 @command{emacsclient} from within the Emacs server itself, using Shell
1598 mode (@pxref{Interactive Shell}) or Term mode (@pxref{Term Mode});
1599 @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under Emacs, and you can
1600 still use Emacs to edit the file.
1604 When you finish editing @var{file} in the Emacs server, type
1605 @kbd{C-x #} (@code{server-edit}) in its buffer. This saves the file
1606 and sends a message back to the @command{emacsclient} program, telling
1607 it to exit. Programs that use @env{EDITOR} usually wait for the
1608 ``editor''---in this case @command{emacsclient}---to exit before doing
1611 You can also call @command{emacsclient} with multiple file name
1612 arguments: @samp{emacsclient @var{file1} @var{file2} ...} tells the
1613 Emacs server to visit @var{file1}, @var{file2}, and so forth. Emacs
1614 selects the buffer visiting @var{file1}, and buries the other buffers
1615 at the bottom of the buffer list (@pxref{Buffers}). The
1616 @command{emacsclient} program exits once all the specified files are
1617 finished (i.e., once you have typed @kbd{C-x #} in each server
1620 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1621 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1622 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1623 already existed in the Emacs session before the server was asked to
1624 create it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to
1625 @code{nil}, then a different criterion is used: finishing with a
1626 server buffer kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1627 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1628 ``temporary'' files.
1630 Each @kbd{C-x #} checks for other pending external requests to edit
1631 various files, and selects the next such file. You can switch to a
1632 server buffer manually if you wish; you don't have to arrive at it
1633 with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to tell
1634 @command{emacsclient} that you are finished.
1636 @vindex server-window
1637 If you set the value of the variable @code{server-window} to a
1638 window or a frame, @kbd{C-x #} always displays the next server buffer
1639 in that window or in that frame.
1641 @node emacsclient Options
1642 @subsection @code{emacsclient} Options
1643 @cindex @code{emacsclient} options
1645 You can pass some optional arguments to the @command{emacsclient}
1649 emacsclient -c +12 @var{file1} +4:3 @var{file2}
1653 The @samp{+@var{line}} or @samp{+@var{line}:@var{column}} arguments
1654 specify line numbers, or line and column numbers, for the next file
1655 argument. These behave like the command line arguments for Emacs
1656 itself. @xref{Action Arguments}.
1658 The other optional arguments recognized by @command{emacsclient} are
1662 @item -a @var{command}
1663 @itemx --alternate-editor=@var{command}
1664 Specify a command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs.
1665 This is useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script.
1667 As a special exception, if @var{command} is the empty string, then
1668 @code{emacsclient} starts Emacs in daemon mode (as @command{emacs
1669 --daemon}) and then tries connecting again.
1671 @cindex @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} environment variable
1672 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect as
1673 the @samp{-a} option. If both are present, the latter takes
1676 @cindex client frame
1678 Create a new graphical @dfn{client frame}, instead of using an
1679 existing Emacs frame. See below for the special behavior of @kbd{C-x
1680 C-c} in a client frame. If Emacs cannot create a new graphical frame
1681 (e.g., if it cannot connect to the X server), it tries to create a
1682 text terminal client frame, as though you had supplied the @samp{-t}
1685 On MS-Windows, a single Emacs session cannot display frames on both
1686 graphical and text terminals, nor on multiple text terminals. Thus,
1687 if the Emacs server is running on a text terminal, the @samp{-c}
1688 option, like the @samp{-t} option, creates a new frame in the server's
1689 current text terminal. @xref{Windows Startup}.
1691 If you omit a filename argument while supplying the @samp{-c} option,
1692 the new frame displays the @file{*scratch*} buffer by default. You
1693 can customize this behavior with the variable @code{initial-buffer-choice}
1694 (@pxref{Entering Emacs}).
1696 @item -F @var{alist}
1697 @itemx --frame-parameters=@var{alist}
1698 Set the parameters for a newly-created graphical frame
1699 (@pxref{Frame Parameters}).
1701 @item -d @var{display}
1702 @itemx --display=@var{display}
1703 Tell Emacs to open the given files on the X display @var{display}
1704 (assuming there is more than one X display available).
1708 Tell Emacs to evaluate some Emacs Lisp code, instead of visiting some
1709 files. When this option is given, the arguments to
1710 @command{emacsclient} are interpreted as a list of expressions to
1711 evaluate, @emph{not} as a list of files to visit.
1713 @item -f @var{server-file}
1714 @itemx --server-file=@var{server-file}
1715 @cindex @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable
1716 Specify a @dfn{server file} for connecting to an Emacs server via TCP.
1718 An Emacs server usually uses an operating system feature called a
1719 ``local socket'' to listen for connections. Some operating systems,
1720 such as Microsoft Windows, do not support local sockets; in that case,
1721 the server communicates with @command{emacsclient} via TCP.
1723 @vindex server-auth-dir
1726 When you start a TCP Emacs server, Emacs creates a @dfn{server file}
1727 containing the TCP information to be used by @command{emacsclient} to
1728 connect to the server. The variable @code{server-auth-dir} specifies
1729 the directory containing the server file; by default, this is
1730 @file{~/.emacs.d/server/}. To tell @command{emacsclient} to connect
1731 to the server over TCP with a specific server file, use the @samp{-f}
1732 or @samp{--server-file} option, or set the @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE}
1733 environment variable.
1737 Let @command{emacsclient} exit immediately, instead of waiting until
1738 all server buffers are finished. You can take as long as you like to
1739 edit the server buffers within Emacs, and they are @emph{not} killed
1740 when you type @kbd{C-x #} in them.
1742 @item --parent-id @var{id}
1743 Open an @command{emacsclient} frame as a client frame in the parent X
1744 window with id @var{id}, via the XEmbed protocol. Currently, this
1745 option is mainly useful for developers.
1749 Do not let @command{emacsclient} display messages about waiting for
1750 Emacs or connecting to remote server sockets.
1752 @item -s @var{server-name}
1753 @itemx --socket-name=@var{server-name}
1754 Connect to the Emacs server named @var{server-name}. The server name
1755 is given by the variable @code{server-name} on the Emacs server. If
1756 this option is omitted, @command{emacsclient} connects to the first
1757 server it finds. (This option is not supported on MS-Windows.)
1762 Create a new client frame on the current text terminal, instead of
1763 using an existing Emacs frame. This behaves just like the @samp{-c}
1764 option, described above, except that it creates a text terminal frame
1765 (@pxref{Non-Window Terminals}).
1767 On MS-Windows, @samp{-t} behaves just like @samp{-c} if the Emacs
1768 server is using the graphical display, but if the Emacs server is
1769 running on a text terminal, it creates a new frame in the current text
1773 The new graphical or text terminal frames created by the @samp{-c}
1774 or @samp{-t} options are considered @dfn{client frames}. Any new
1775 frame that you create from a client frame is also considered a client
1776 frame. If you type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal})
1777 in a client frame, that command does not kill the Emacs session as it
1778 normally does (@pxref{Exiting}). Instead, Emacs deletes the client
1779 frame; furthermore, if the client frame has an @command{emacsclient}
1780 waiting to regain control (i.e., if you did not supply the @samp{-n}
1781 option), Emacs deletes all other frames of the same client, and marks
1782 the client's server buffers as finished, as though you had typed
1783 @kbd{C-x #} in all of them. If it so happens that there are no
1784 remaining frames after the client frame(s) are deleted, the Emacs
1787 As an exception, when Emacs is started as a daemon, all frames are
1788 considered client frames, and @kbd{C-x C-c} never kills Emacs. To
1789 kill a daemon session, type @kbd{M-x kill-emacs}.
1791 Note that the @samp{-t} and @samp{-n} options are contradictory:
1792 @samp{-t} says to take control of the current text terminal to create
1793 a new client frame, while @samp{-n} says not to take control of the
1794 text terminal. If you supply both options, Emacs visits the specified
1795 files(s) in an existing frame rather than a new client frame, negating
1796 the effect of @samp{-t}.
1799 @section Printing Hard Copies
1803 Emacs provides commands for printing hardcopies of either an entire
1804 buffer or part of one. You can invoke the printing commands directly,
1805 as detailed below, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar.
1807 @findex htmlfontify-buffer
1808 Aside from the commands described in this section, you can also
1809 print hardcopies from Dired (@pxref{Operating on Files}) and the diary
1810 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}). You can also ``print'' an Emacs
1811 buffer to HTML with the command @kbd{M-x htmlfontify-buffer}, which
1812 converts the current buffer to a HTML file, replacing Emacs faces with
1813 CSS-based markup. Furthermore, Org mode allows you to ``print'' Org
1814 files to a variety of formats, such as PDF (@pxref{Org Mode}).
1817 @item M-x print-buffer
1818 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the
1819 file name and page number.
1820 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1821 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1822 @item M-x print-region
1823 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1824 @item M-x lpr-region
1825 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1828 @findex print-buffer
1829 @findex print-region
1832 @vindex lpr-switches
1833 @vindex lpr-commands
1834 On most operating system, the above hardcopy commands submit files
1835 for printing by calling the @command{lpr} program. To change the
1836 printer program, customize the variable @code{lpr-command}. To
1837 specify extra switches to give the printer program, customize the list
1838 variable @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of option
1839 strings, each of which should start with @samp{-} (e.g., the option
1840 string @code{"-w80"} specifies a line width of 80 columns). The
1841 default is the empty list, @code{nil}.
1843 @vindex printer-name
1844 @vindex lpr-printer-switch
1845 To specify the printer to use, set the variable @code{printer-name}.
1846 The default, @code{nil}, specifies the default printer. If you set it
1847 to a printer name (a string), that name is passed to @command{lpr}
1848 with the @samp{-P} switch; if you are not using @command{lpr}, you
1849 should specify the switch with @code{lpr-printer-switch}.
1851 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1852 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1853 The variable @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the
1854 extra switches to use to make page headers. The variable
1855 @code{lpr-add-switches} controls whether to supply @samp{-T} and
1856 @samp{-J} options (suitable for @command{lpr}) to the printer program:
1857 @code{nil} means don't add them (this should be the value if your
1858 printer program is not compatible with @command{lpr}).
1861 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1862 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1863 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1867 @subsection PostScript Hardcopy
1869 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1870 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1873 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1874 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1875 @item M-x ps-print-region
1876 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1877 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1878 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1879 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1880 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1881 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1882 faces used in the text.
1883 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1884 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer text.
1885 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1886 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region.
1887 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1888 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1889 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1890 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region, showing the faces used.
1891 @item M-x ps-despool
1892 Send the spooled PostScript to the printer.
1894 Generate/print PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1897 @findex ps-print-region
1898 @findex ps-print-buffer
1899 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1900 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1901 The @code{ps-print-buffer} and @code{ps-print-region} commands print
1902 buffer contents in PostScript form. One command prints the entire
1903 buffer; the other, just the region. The commands
1904 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and
1905 @code{ps-print-region-with-faces} behave similarly, but use PostScript
1906 features to show the faces (fonts and colors) of the buffer text.
1908 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1909 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the PostScript image in that file
1910 instead of sending it to the printer.
1912 @findex ps-spool-region
1913 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1914 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1915 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1916 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print},
1917 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1921 Use the command @code{ps-despool} to send the spooled images to the
1922 printer. This command sends the PostScript generated by
1923 @samp{-spool-} commands (see commands above) to the printer. With a
1924 prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), it prompts for a file name, and saves the
1925 spooled PostScript image in that file instead of sending it to the
1930 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1931 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1932 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1933 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1935 @node PostScript Variables
1936 @subsection Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1938 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1939 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1940 @vindex ps-printer-name
1941 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1942 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1943 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1944 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1945 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1946 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1947 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1948 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1950 @vindex ps-print-header
1951 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1952 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1955 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1956 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1957 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1958 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1959 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1960 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1961 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1962 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1964 Alternatively, you can set @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{black-white} to
1965 print colors on black/white printers.
1967 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1968 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1969 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1970 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1971 stripes and background image/text.
1973 @vindex ps-paper-type
1974 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
1975 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
1976 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
1977 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
1978 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
1979 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
1980 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
1981 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
1983 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
1984 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
1985 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
1986 ``portrait'' mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies ``landscape''
1989 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
1990 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
1991 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
1994 @vindex ps-font-family
1995 @vindex ps-font-size
1996 @vindex ps-font-info-database
1997 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
1998 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
1999 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
2000 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
2001 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
2003 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
2004 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
2005 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
2006 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
2007 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
2008 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
2009 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
2010 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
2011 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
2012 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2013 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
2014 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
2015 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
2016 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
2017 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
2018 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2019 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
2021 @vindex bdf-directory-list
2022 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
2023 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
2024 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
2025 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
2027 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
2028 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
2030 @node Printing Package
2031 @subsection Printing Package
2032 @cindex Printing package
2034 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
2035 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
2036 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
2037 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
2038 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
2039 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
2040 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
2041 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
2044 @findex pr-interface
2045 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
2046 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
2047 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
2048 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
2049 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface @key{RET}}; this creates a
2050 @file{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
2051 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
2052 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
2053 @kbd{Mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @key{RET}). For
2054 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
2058 @section Sorting Text
2061 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
2062 operate on the contents of the region.
2063 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
2064 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
2065 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
2066 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
2067 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters @samp{A}
2068 through @samp{Z} come before lower-case @samp{a}, in accordance with the
2069 @acronym{ASCII} character sequence.
2071 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
2072 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
2073 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
2074 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
2075 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
2076 record as the sort key.
2079 @findex sort-paragraphs
2082 @findex sort-numeric-fields
2083 @vindex sort-numeric-base
2085 @item M-x sort-lines
2086 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
2087 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
2089 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
2090 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
2091 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2092 argument means sort into descending order.
2094 @item M-x sort-pages
2095 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
2096 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2097 argument means sort into descending order.
2099 @item M-x sort-fields
2100 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
2101 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
2102 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
2103 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
2106 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
2107 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
2108 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
2109 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
2110 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
2112 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
2113 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
2114 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
2115 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
2116 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
2117 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
2118 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
2120 @item M-x sort-columns
2121 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
2122 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. See below
2125 @findex reverse-region
2126 @item M-x reverse-region
2127 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
2128 sorting into descending order by fields or columns, since those sort
2129 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
2132 For example, if the buffer contains this:
2135 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2136 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2137 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2138 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2143 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
2146 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2147 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2148 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2150 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2154 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
2155 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
2158 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2159 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2161 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2162 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2166 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
2167 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
2169 @findex sort-columns
2170 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
2171 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
2172 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
2173 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
2174 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
2175 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
2176 as well as all the lines in between.
2178 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
2179 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
2180 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
2181 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
2182 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
2184 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
2185 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
2186 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
2189 @vindex sort-fold-case
2190 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
2191 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
2193 @c Picture Mode documentation
2195 @include picture-xtra.texi
2199 @node Editing Binary Files
2200 @section Editing Binary Files
2204 @cindex editing binary files
2206 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
2207 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
2208 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
2209 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
2210 automatically back to binary.
2212 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
2213 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
2214 it is a binary file.
2216 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
2217 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
2218 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
2219 commands of Hexl mode:
2221 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
2224 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
2227 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
2230 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
2233 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte ``page''.
2236 Move to the end of a 1k-byte ``page''.
2239 Move to an address specified in hex.
2242 Move to an address specified in decimal.
2245 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
2246 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
2250 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
2251 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
2252 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
2255 @node Saving Emacs Sessions
2256 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
2257 @cindex saving sessions
2258 @cindex restore session
2259 @cindex remember editing session
2260 @cindex reload files
2263 @vindex desktop-restore-frames
2264 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
2265 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
2266 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
2267 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop. By default,
2268 the desktop also tries to save the frame and window configuration.
2269 To disable this, set @code{desktop-restore-frames} to @code{nil}.
2270 (See that variable's documentation for some related options
2271 that you can customize to fine-tune this behavior.)
2273 @findex desktop-save
2274 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2275 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2276 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2277 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2278 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2279 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2280 sessions, or add this line in your init file (@pxref{Init File}):
2283 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2286 @vindex desktop-auto-save-timeout
2288 When @code{desktop-save-mode} is active and the desktop file exists,
2289 Emacs auto-saves it every @code{desktop-auto-save-timeout}
2290 seconds, if that is non-@code{nil} and non-zero.
2292 @findex desktop-change-dir
2293 @findex desktop-revert
2294 @vindex desktop-path
2295 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your init file, then when
2296 Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current directory.
2297 (More precisely, it looks in the directories specified by
2298 @var{desktop-path}, and uses the first desktop it finds.)
2299 Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different directories,
2300 and the starting directory determines which one Emacs reloads. You
2301 can save the current desktop and reload one saved in another directory
2302 by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing @kbd{M-x
2303 desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2305 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2306 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2307 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2308 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2309 since it bypasses the init file, where @code{desktop-save-mode} is
2312 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2313 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2314 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2315 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2316 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2317 remaining buffers are restored ``lazily'', when Emacs is idle.
2319 @findex desktop-clear
2320 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2321 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2322 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2323 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2324 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2325 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2326 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2327 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2329 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2330 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2332 @node Recursive Edit
2333 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2334 @cindex recursive editing level
2335 @cindex editing level, recursive
2337 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2338 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2339 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2340 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2341 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2342 the @code{query-replace}. @xref{Query Replace}.
2345 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2346 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2347 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2348 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2349 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2351 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2352 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2353 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2355 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2356 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2357 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2358 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2359 any particular window or buffer.
2361 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2362 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2363 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2364 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2365 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2366 level currently in progress.
2368 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2369 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2370 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2371 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2372 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2373 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2374 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2376 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2377 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command
2378 reader. It also exits the minibuffer, if it is active.
2380 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2381 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2382 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2383 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2384 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2385 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2386 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2387 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2388 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2389 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2391 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2392 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to ``go back'' in a
2393 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2394 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2395 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2396 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2397 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2398 the order you choose.
2401 @c Apart from edt and viper, this is all obsolete.
2402 @c (Can't believe we were saying ``most other editors'' into 2014!)
2403 @c There seems no point having a node just for those, which both have
2404 @c their own manuals.
2407 @cindex emulating other editors
2408 @cindex other editors
2413 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2414 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2417 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2419 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2420 @findex scroll-all-mode
2422 @cindex Brief emulation
2423 @cindex emulation of Brief
2425 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode} enables key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief
2426 editor. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs unless you set
2427 the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can also use the
2428 command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2429 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2430 (scrolling all windows together).
2432 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2433 @findex edt-emulation-on
2434 @findex edt-emulation-off
2435 Turn on EDT emulation with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on}; restore normal
2436 command bindings with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-off}.
2438 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2439 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2440 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2441 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2443 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2446 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2448 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2450 Viper is an emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2451 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2452 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2453 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2454 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2457 @item vi (another emulator)
2459 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2460 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2461 ``input'' mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2462 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's ``input'' mode.
2464 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2465 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2467 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2468 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2470 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2472 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2473 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. ``Input'' mode in this emulator
2474 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2475 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2476 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2478 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2479 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2480 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2481 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2484 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2486 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2487 @findex wordstar-mode
2488 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2495 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2497 The following subsections describe convenience features for handling
2498 URLs and other types of links occurring in Emacs buffer text.
2501 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2502 * Goto Address mode:: Activating URLs.
2503 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2507 @subsection Following URLs
2508 @cindex World Wide Web
2511 @findex browse-url-at-point
2512 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2517 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2518 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2521 The Browse-URL package allows you to easily follow URLs from within
2522 Emacs. Most URLs are followed by invoking a web browser;
2523 @samp{mailto:} URLs are followed by invoking the @code{compose-mail}
2524 Emacs command to send mail to the specified address (@pxref{Sending
2527 The command @kbd{M-x browse-url} prompts for a URL, and follows it.
2528 If point is located near a plausible URL, that URL is offered as the
2529 default. The Browse-URL package also provides other commands which
2530 you might like to bind to keys, such as @code{browse-url-at-point} and
2531 @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2533 @vindex browse-url-mailto-function
2534 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2535 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2536 @code{browse-url} Customize group. In particular, the option
2537 @code{browse-url-mailto-function} lets you define how to follow
2538 @samp{mailto:} URLs, while @code{browse-url-browser-function} lets you
2539 define how to follow other types of URLs. For more information, view
2540 the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P browse-url @key{RET}}.
2542 @node Goto Address mode
2543 @subsection Activating URLs
2544 @findex goto-address-mode
2545 @cindex mode, Goto Address
2546 @cindex Goto Address mode
2547 @cindex URLs, activating
2550 @item M-x goto-address-mode
2551 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2554 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Goto Address mode)}
2555 @findex goto-address-at-point
2556 You can make Emacs mark out URLs specially in the current buffer, by
2557 typing @kbd{M-x goto-address-mode}. When this buffer-local minor mode
2558 is enabled, it finds all the URLs in the buffer, highlights them, and
2559 turns them into clickable buttons. You can follow the URL by typing
2560 @kbd{C-c @key{RET}} (@code{goto-address-at-point}) while point is on
2561 its text; or by clicking with @kbd{Mouse-2}, or by clicking
2562 @kbd{Mouse-1} quickly (@pxref{Mouse References}). Following a URL is
2563 done by calling @code{browse-url} as a subroutine
2564 (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2566 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address-mode} to mode hooks and
2567 hooks for displaying an incoming message
2568 (e.g., @code{rmail-show-message-hook} for Rmail, and
2569 @code{mh-show-mode-hook} for MH-E). This is not needed for Gnus,
2570 which has a similar feature of its own.
2573 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2574 @findex find-file-at-point
2576 @findex dired-at-point
2579 @cindex finding file at point
2581 The FFAP package replaces certain key bindings for finding files,
2582 such as @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive
2583 defaults. These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a
2584 prefix argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL
2585 from the text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the
2586 form of a URL rather than a file name, the commands use
2587 @code{browse-url} to view it (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2589 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2590 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. For
2591 more information, view the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P
2594 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2596 To enable FFAP, type @kbd{M-x ffap-bindings}. This makes the
2597 following key bindings, and also installs hooks for additional FFAP
2598 functionality in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2601 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2602 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2603 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2604 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2606 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2607 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2609 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2610 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2611 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2612 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2613 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2614 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2616 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2618 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2619 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2621 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2622 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2624 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, like @code{dired-other-window}.
2626 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2627 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2629 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2630 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2632 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2634 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2636 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2637 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2640 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2641 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2642 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2646 @section Other Amusements
2649 @findex animate-birthday-present
2651 The @code{animate} package makes text dance (e.g., @kbd{M-x
2652 animate-birthday-present}).
2658 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2659 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2660 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2661 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2662 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2663 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2666 @kbd{M-x bubbles} is a game in which the object is to remove as many
2667 bubbles as you can in the smallest number of moves.
2671 @cindex cryptanalysis
2672 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is
2673 encrypted in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2675 @findex dissociated-press
2676 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} scrambles the text in the current Emacs
2677 buffer, word by word or character by character, writing its output to
2678 a buffer named @file{*Dissociation*}. A positive argument tells it to
2679 operate character by character, and specifies the number of overlap
2680 characters. A negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and
2681 specifies the number of overlap words. Dissociated Press produces
2682 results fairly like those of a Markov chain, but is however, an
2683 independent, ignoriginal invention; it techniquitously copies several
2684 consecutive characters from the sample text between random jumps,
2685 unlike a Markov chain which would jump randomly after each word or
2686 character. Keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want
2687 it to be well userenced and properbose.
2690 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs an text-based adventure game.
2694 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2695 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2697 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2699 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2700 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2701 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2705 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's ``Life'' cellular automaton.
2708 @cindex landmark game
2709 @kbd{M-x landmark} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which
2710 a robot attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the
2711 window based on unique olfactory cues from each of the four
2714 @findex morse-region
2715 @findex unmorse-region
2718 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2719 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts the text in the region to Morse
2720 code; @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. @kbd{M-x
2721 nato-region} converts the text in the region to NATO phonetic
2722 alphabet; @kbd{M-x denato-region} converts it back.
2730 @kbd{M-x pong}, @kbd{M-x snake} and @kbd{M-x tetris} are
2731 implementations of the well-known Pong, Snake and Tetris games.
2735 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2739 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs
2744 Finally, if you find yourself frustrated, try describing your
2745 problems to the famous psychotherapist Eliza. Just do @kbd{M-x
2746 doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.