2 .\" Copyright (C) 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
3 .\" 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 .\" This file is part of GNU Emacs.
7 .\" GNU Emacs is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
8 .\" it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
9 .\" the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
10 .\" (at your option) any later version.
12 .\" GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
13 .\" but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
14 .\" MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
15 .\" GNU General Public License for more details.
17 .\" You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
18 .\" along with GNU Emacs. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
21 .TH EMACS 1 "2007 April 13" "GNU Emacs 23.0.60"
25 emacs \- GNU project Emacs
31 .I command-line switches
41 written by the author of the original (PDP-10)
45 The primary documentation of GNU Emacs is in the GNU Emacs Manual,
46 which you can read using Info, either from Emacs or as a standalone
48 Please look there for complete and up-to-date documentation.
49 This man page is updated only when someone volunteers to do so; the
50 Emacs maintainers' priority goal is to minimize the amount of time
51 this man page takes away from other more useful projects.
53 The user functionality of GNU Emacs encompasses
56 editors do, and it is easily extensible since its
57 editing commands are written in Lisp.
60 has an extensive interactive help facility,
61 but the facility assumes that you know how to manipulate
64 CTRL-h or F1 enters the Help facility.
65 Help Tutorial (CTRL-h t) starts an interactive tutorial which can
66 teach beginners the fundamentals of
69 Help Apropos (CTRL-h a) helps you
70 find a command given its functionality, Help Character (CTRL-h c)
71 describes a given character's effect, and Help Function (CTRL-h f)
72 describes a given Lisp function specified by name.
75 Undo can undo several steps of modification to your buffers, so it is
76 easy to recover from editing mistakes.
79 many special packages handle mail reading (RMail) and sending (Mail),
80 outline editing (Outline), compiling (Compile), running subshells
83 windows (Shell), running a Lisp read-eval-print loop
84 (Lisp-Interaction-Mode), automated psychotherapy (Doctor), and much more.
86 There is an extensive reference manual, but
87 users of other Emacses
88 should have little trouble adapting even
93 to use basic features fairly rapidly by studying the tutorial and
94 using the self-documentation features.
97 The following options are of general interest:
104 .BI \-\-file " file\fR,\fP " \-\-find-file " file\fR,\fP " \-\-visit " file"
105 The same as specifying
107 directly as an argument.
110 Go to the line specified by
112 (do not insert a space between the "+" sign and
114 This applies only to the next file specified.
122 .BR \-q ", " \-\-no\-init\-file
123 Do not load an init file.
125 .B \-\-no\-site\-file
126 Do not load the site-wide startup file.
129 Do not load a saved desktop.
131 .BR \-nl ", " \-\-no\-shared\-memory
132 Do not use shared memory.
134 .BR \-Q ", " \-\-quick
135 Equivalent to "\-q \-\-no\-site\-file \-\-no\-splash".
138 Do not display a splash screen during start-up.
143 Lisp debugger during the processing of the user init file
145 This is useful for debugging problems in the init file.
147 .BI \-u " user\fR,\fP " \-\-user " user"
152 .BI \-t " file\fR,\fP " \-\-terminal " file"
155 as the terminal instead of using stdin/stdout.
156 This must be the first argument specified in the command line.
158 .BR \-\-multibyte ", " \-\-no-unibyte
159 Enable multibyte mode (enabled by default).
161 .BR \-\-unibyte ", " \-\-no-multibyte
167 version information and exit.
170 Display this help and exit.
173 The following options are lisp-oriented
174 (these options are processed in the order encountered):
177 .BI \-f " function\fR,\fP " \-\-funcall " function"
178 Execute the lisp function
181 .BI \-l " file\fR,\fP " \-\-load " file"
182 Load the lisp code in the file
185 .BI \-\-eval " expr\fR,\fP " \-\-execute " expr"
186 Evaluate the Lisp expression
190 The following options are useful when running
197 The editor will send messages to stderr.
198 This option must be the first in the argument list.
199 You must use \-l and \-f options to specify files to execute
200 and functions to call.
202 .BI \-\-script " file"
205 as an Emacs Lisp script.
207 .BI \-\-insert " file"
210 into the current buffer.
217 .BI \-L " dir\fR,\fP " \-\-directory " dir"
220 to the list of directories
222 searches for Lisp files.
225 .\" START DELETING HERE IF YOU'RE NOT USING X
226 .SS Using Emacs with X
228 has been tailored to work well with the X window system.
231 from under X windows, it will create its own X window to
233 You will probably want to start the editor as a background
234 process so that you can continue using your original window.
237 can be started with the following X switches:
241 Specify the name which should be assigned to the initial
244 This controls looking up X resources as well as the window title.
246 .BI \-T " name\fR,\fP " \-\-title " name"
247 Specify the title for the initial X window.
249 .BR \-r ", " \-rv ", " \-\-reverse\-video
252 window in reverse video.
254 .BI \-fn " font\fR,\fP " \-\-font " font"
257 window's font to that specified by
259 You will find the various
262 .I /usr/lib/X11/fonts
266 will only accept fixed width fonts.
267 Under the X11 Release 4 font-naming conventions, any font with the
268 value "m" or "c" in the eleventh field of the font name is a fixed
270 Furthermore, fonts whose name are of the form
272 are generally fixed width, as is the font
276 for more information.
278 When you specify a font, be sure to put a space between the
279 switch and the font name.
281 .BI \-\-xrm " resources"
282 Set additional X resources.
284 .BI "\-\-color\fR,\fP \-\-color=" mode
285 Override color mode for character terminals;
287 defaults to `auto', and can also be `never', `auto', `always',
288 or a mode name like `ansi8'.
290 .BI \-bw " pixels\fR,\fP " \-\-border\-width " pixels"
293 window's border width to the number of pixels specified by
295 Defaults to one pixel on each side of the window.
297 .BI \-ib " pixels\fR,\fP " \-\-internal\-border " pixels"
298 Set the window's internal border width to the number of pixels specified
301 Defaults to one pixel of padding on each side of the window.
303 .BI \-g " geometry\fR,\fP " \-\-geometry " geometry"
306 window's width, height, and position as specified.
307 The geometry specification is in the standard X format; see
309 for more information.
310 The width and height are specified in characters; the default is
312 See the Emacs manual, section "Options for Window Size and Position",
313 for information on how window sizes interact
314 with selecting or deselecting the tool bar and menu bar.
316 .BI \-lsp " pixels\fR,\fP " \-\-line\-spacing " pixels"
317 Additional space to put between lines.
319 .BR \-vb ", " \-\-vertical\-scroll\-bars
320 Enable vertical scrollbars.
322 .BR \-fh ", " \-\-fullheight
323 Make the first frame as high as the screen.
325 .BR \-fs ", " \-\-fullscreen
326 Make the first frame fullscreen.
328 .BR \-fw ", " \-\-fullwidth
329 Make the first frame as wide as the screen.
331 .BI \-fg " color\fR,\fP " \-\-foreground\-color " color"
332 On color displays, set the color of the text.
335 .I M\-x list\-colors\-display
336 for a list of valid color names.
338 .BI \-bg " color\fR,\fP " \-\-background\-color " color"
339 On color displays, set the color of the window's background.
341 .BI \-bd " color\fR,\fP " \-\-border\-color " color"
342 On color displays, set the color of the window's border.
344 .BI \-cr " color\fR,\fP " \-\-cursor\-color " color"
345 On color displays, set the color of the window's text cursor.
347 .BI \-ms " color\fR,\fP " \-\-mouse\-color " color"
348 On color displays, set the color of the window's mouse cursor.
350 .BI \-d " displayname\fR,\fP " \-\-display " displayname"
353 window on the display specified by
355 Must be the first option specified in the command line.
357 .BR \-nbi ", " \-\-no\-bitmap\-icon
358 Do not use picture of gnu for Emacs icon.
365 .BR \-nbc ", " \-\-no\-blinking\-cursor
366 Disable blinking cursor.
368 .BR \-nw ", " \-\-no\-window\-system
371 not to use its special interface to X.
372 If you use this switch when invoking
376 window, display is done in that window.
378 .BR \-D ", " \-\-basic\-display
379 This option disables many display features; use it for
385 default values for your
391 Use the following format:
393 .RI emacs. keyword : value
397 specifies the default value of
400 lets you set default values for the following keywords:
403 .BR background " (class " Background )
405 sets the window's background color.
407 .BR bitmapIcon " (class " BitmapIcon )
412 the window will iconify into the "kitchen sink."
414 .BR borderColor " (class " BorderColor )
416 sets the color of the window's border.
418 .BR borderWidth " (class " BorderWidth )
419 Sets the window's border width in pixels.
421 .BR cursorColor " (class " Foreground )
423 sets the color of the window's text cursor.
425 .BR cursorBlink " (class " CursorBlink )
426 Specifies whether to make the cursor blink.
433 to turn cursor blinking off.
435 .BR font " (class " Font )
436 Sets the window's text font.
438 .BR foreground " (class " Foreground )
440 sets the window's text color.
442 .BR fullscreen " (class " Fullscreen )
443 The desired fullscreen size.
444 The value can be one of
449 which correspond to the command-line options `\-fs', `\-fw', and
450 `\-fh', respectively.
451 Note that this applies to the initial frame only.
453 .BR geometry " (class " Geometry )
454 Sets the geometry of the
456 window (as described above).
458 .BR iconName " (class " Title )
459 Sets the icon name for the
463 .BR internalBorder " (class " BorderWidth )
464 Sets the window's internal border width in pixels.
466 .BR lineSpacing " (class " LineSpacing )
467 Additional space ("leading") between lines, in pixels.
469 .BR menuBar " (class " MenuBar )
470 Gives frames menu bars if
472 don't have menu bars if
474 See the Emacs manual, sections "Lucid Resources" and "LessTif
475 Resources", for how to control the appearance of the menu bar
478 .BR minibuffer " (class " Minibuffer )
481 don't make a minibuffer in this frame.
482 It will use a separate minibuffer frame instead.
484 .BR paneFont " (class " Font )
485 Font name for menu pane titles, in non-toolkit versions of
488 .BR pointerColor " (class " Foreground )
490 sets the color of the window's mouse cursor.
492 .BR privateColormap " (class " PrivateColormap )
495 use a private color map, in the case where the "default
502 .BR reverseVideo " (class " ReverseVideo )
507 the window will be displayed in reverse video.
509 .BR screenGamma " (class "ScreenGamma )
510 Gamma correction for colors, equivalent to the frame parameter
513 .BR scrollBarWidth " (class "ScrollBarWidth )
514 The scroll bar width in pixels, equivalent to the frame parameter
515 `scroll\-bar\-width'.
517 .BR selectionFont " (class " SelectionFont )
518 Font name for pop-up menu items, in non-toolkit versions of
520 (For toolkit versions, see the Emacs manual, sections
521 "Lucid Resources" and "LessTif Resources".)
523 .BR selectionTimeout " (class " SelectionTimeout )
524 Number of milliseconds to wait for a selection reply.
525 A value of 0 means wait as long as necessary.
527 .BR synchronous " (class " Synchronous )
528 Run Emacs in synchronous mode if
530 Synchronous mode is useful for debugging X problems.
532 .BR title " (class " Title )
533 Sets the title of the
537 .BR toolBar " (class " ToolBar )
538 Number of lines to reserve for the tool bar.
540 .BR useXIM " (class " UseXIM )
541 Turns off use of X input methods (XIM) if
546 .BR verticalScrollBars " (class " ScrollBars )
547 Gives frames scroll bars if
549 suppresses scroll bars if
552 .BR visualClass " (class " VisualClass )
553 Specify the "visual" that X should use.
554 This tells X how to handle colors.
555 The value should start with one of
567 is the number of color planes.
570 If you try to set color values while using a black and white display,
571 the window's characteristics will default as follows:
572 the foreground color will be set to black,
573 the background color will be set to white,
574 the border color will be set to grey,
575 and the text and mouse cursors will be set to black.
579 The following lists some of the mouse button bindings for the
588 MOUSE BUTTON FUNCTION
591 right Cut text into X cut buffer.
592 SHIFT-middle Cut text into X cut buffer.
593 SHIFT-right Paste text.
594 CTRL-middle Cut text into X cut buffer and kill it.
596 Select this window, then split it into two windows.
597 Same as typing CTRL\-x 2.
599 .\" START DELETING HERE IF YOU'RE NOT USING X MENUS
601 X buffer menu \(em hold the buttons and keys
602 down, wait for menu to appear, select buffer, and release.
603 Move mouse out of menu and release to cancel.
606 X help menu \(em pop up index card menu for Emacs help.
608 .\" STOP DELETING HERE IF YOU'RE NOT USING X MENUS
610 Select window with mouse, and delete all other windows.
611 Same as typing CTRL\-x 1.
613 .\" STOP DELETING HERE IF YOU'RE NOT USING X
619 You can order printed copies of the GNU Emacs Manual from the Free
620 Software Foundation, which develops GNU software.
621 See the file ORDERS for ordering information.
623 Your local Emacs maintainer might also have copies available.
624 As with all software and publications from FSF, everyone is permitted
625 to make and distribute copies of the Emacs manual.
626 The TeX source to the manual is also included in the Emacs source
631 /usr/local/share/info \(em files for the Info documentation browser.
632 The complete text of the Emacs reference manual is included in a
633 convenient tree structured form.
634 Also includes the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual, useful to anyone
635 wishing to write programs in the Emacs Lisp extension language.
637 /usr/local/share/emacs/$VERSION/lisp \(em Lisp source files and
638 compiled files that define most editing commands.
639 Some are preloaded; others are autoloaded from this directory when
642 /usr/local/libexec/emacs/$VERSION/$ARCH \(em various programs that are
645 /usr/local/share/emacs/$VERSION/etc \(em various files of information.
647 /usr/local/share/emacs/$VERSION/etc/DOC.* \(em contains the documentation
648 strings for the Lisp primitives and preloaded Lisp functions
650 They are stored here to reduce the size of Emacs proper.
652 /usr/local/share/emacs/$VERSION/etc/SERVICE lists people offering
653 various services to assist users of GNU Emacs, including education,
654 troubleshooting, porting and customization.
658 There is a mailing list, bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org, for reporting Emacs
660 But before reporting something as a bug, please try to be sure that
661 it really is a bug, not a misunderstanding or a deliberate feature.
662 We ask you to read the section ``Reporting Emacs Bugs'' near the
663 end of the reference manual (or Info system) for hints on how and
665 Also, include the version number of the Emacs you are running in
666 \fIevery\fR bug report that you send in.
668 Do not expect a personal answer to a bug report.
669 The purpose of reporting bugs is to get them fixed for everyone
670 in the next release, if possible.
671 For personal assistance, look in the SERVICE file (see above) for
672 a list of people who offer it.
674 Please do not send anything but bug reports to this mailing list.
675 For more information about Emacs mailing lists, see the
676 file /usr/local/emacs/etc/MAILINGLISTS.
677 Bugs tend actually to be fixed if they can be isolated, so it is
678 in your interest to report them in such a way that they can be
684 is free; anyone may redistribute copies of
687 anyone under the terms stated in the
689 General Public License,
690 a copy of which accompanies each copy of
693 appears in the reference manual.
697 may sometimes be received packaged with distributions of Unix systems,
698 but it is never included in the scope of any license covering those
700 Such inclusion violates the terms on which distribution is permitted.
701 In fact, the primary purpose of the General Public License is to
702 prohibit anyone from attaching any other restrictions to
706 Richard Stallman encourages you to improve and extend
709 you contribute your extensions to the GNU library.
710 Eventually GNU (Gnu's Not Unix) will be a complete replacement
712 Everyone will be free to use, copy, study and change the GNU system.
726 was written by Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation.
727 Joachim Martillo and Robert Krawitz added the X features.
734 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
735 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
737 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
738 document provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
739 preserved on all copies.
741 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of
742 this document under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that
743 the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of
744 a permission notice identical to this one.
746 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this
747 document into another language, under the above conditions for
748 modified versions, except that this permission notice may be stated
749 in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation.
751 .\" arch-tag: 04dfd376-b46e-4924-919a-cecc3b257eaa