1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000, 2001
3 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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 netnews, running shell commands and shell subprocesses,
10 using a single shared Emacs for utilities that expect to run an editor
11 as a subprocess, printing hardcopy, sorting text, narrowing display to
12 part of the buffer, editing double-column files and binary files, saving
13 an Emacs session for later resumption, emulating other editors, and
14 various diversions and amusements.
17 @node Gnus, Shell, Calendar/Diary, Top
20 @cindex reading netnews
22 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
23 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from a
24 number of other sources---mail, remote directories, digests, and so on.
26 Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
28 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
31 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{M-x info} and then select the Gnus
36 To start Gnus, type @kbd{M-x gnus @key{RET}}.
39 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
40 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
41 * Summary of Gnus:: A short description of the basic Gnus commands.
45 @subsection Gnus Buffers
47 As opposed to most normal Emacs packages, Gnus uses a number of
48 different buffers to display information and to receive commands. The
49 three buffers users spend most of their time in are the @dfn{group
50 buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the @dfn{article buffer}.
52 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of groups. This is the first
53 buffer Gnus displays when it starts up. It normally displays only the
54 groups to which you subscribe and that contain unread articles. Use
55 this buffer to select a specific group.
57 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists one line for each article in a single
58 group. By default, the author, the subject and the line number are
59 displayed for each article, but this is customizable, like most aspects
60 of Gnus display. The summary buffer is created when you select a group
61 in the group buffer, and is killed when you exit the group. Use this
62 buffer to select an article.
64 The @dfn{article buffer} displays the article. In normal Gnus usage,
65 you don't select this buffer---all useful article-oriented commands work
66 in the summary buffer. But you can select the article buffer, and
67 execute all Gnus commands from that buffer, if you want to.
70 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
72 At startup, Gnus reads your @file{.newsrc} news initialization file
73 and attempts to communicate with the local news server, which is a
74 repository of news articles. The news server need not be the same
75 computer you are logged in on.
77 If you start Gnus and connect to the server, but do not see any
78 newsgroups listed in the group buffer, type @kbd{L} or @kbd{A k} to get
79 a listing of all the groups. Then type @kbd{u} to toggle
80 subscription to groups.
82 The first time you start Gnus, Gnus subscribes you to a few selected
83 groups. All other groups start out as @dfn{killed groups} for you; you
84 can list them with @kbd{A k}. All new groups that subsequently come to
85 exist at the news server become @dfn{zombie groups} for you; type @kbd{A
86 z} to list them. You can subscribe to a group shown in these lists
87 using the @kbd{u} command.
89 When you quit Gnus with @kbd{q}, it automatically records in your
90 @file{.newsrc} and @file{.newsrc.eld} initialization files the
91 subscribed or unsubscribed status of all groups. You should normally
92 not edit these files manually, but you may if you know how.
95 @subsection Summary of Gnus Commands
97 Reading news is a two-step process:
101 Choose a group in the group buffer.
104 Select articles from the summary buffer. Each article selected is
105 displayed in the article buffer in a large window, below the summary
106 buffer in its small window.
109 Each Gnus buffer has its own special commands; however, the meanings
110 of any given key in the various Gnus buffers are usually analogous, even
111 if not identical. Here are commands for the group and summary buffers:
114 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
115 @findex gnus-group-exit
117 In the group buffer, update your @file{.newsrc} initialization file
120 In the summary buffer, exit the current group and return to the
121 group buffer. Thus, typing @kbd{q} twice quits Gnus.
123 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
124 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
126 In the group buffer, list all the groups available on your news
127 server (except those you have killed). This may be a long list!
129 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
130 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
132 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
133 which contain unread articles.
135 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
136 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
137 @cindex subscribe groups
138 @cindex unsubscribe groups
140 In the group buffer, unsubscribe from (or subscribe to) the group listed
141 in the line that point is on. When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q},
142 Gnus lists in your @file{.newsrc} file which groups you have subscribed
143 to. The next time you start Gnus, you won't see this group,
144 because Gnus normally displays only subscribed-to groups.
146 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus)}
147 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
149 In the group buffer, ``kill'' the current line's group---don't
150 even list it in @file{.newsrc} from now on. This affects future
151 Gnus sessions as well as the present session.
153 When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q}, Gnus writes information
154 in the file @file{.newsrc} describing all newsgroups except those you
157 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus)}
158 @findex gnus-group-read-group
160 In the group buffer, select the group on the line under the cursor
161 and display the first unread article in that group.
164 In the summary buffer,
168 Select the article on the line under the cursor if none is selected.
171 Scroll the text of the selected article (if there is one).
174 Select the next unread article if at the end of the current article.
177 Thus, you can move through all the articles by repeatedly typing @key{SPC}.
179 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus)}
181 In the group buffer, move point to the previous group containing
184 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
185 In the summary buffer, scroll the text of the article backwards.
188 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
189 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
191 Move point to the next unread group, or select the next unread article.
194 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
195 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
197 Move point to the previous unread group, or select the previous
200 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
201 @findex gnus-group-next-group
202 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
203 @findex gnus-group-prev-group
204 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
205 @findex gnus-summary-next-subject
206 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
207 @findex gnus-summary-prev-subject
210 Move point to the next or previous item, even if it is marked as read.
211 This does not select the article or group on that line.
213 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
214 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
216 In the summary buffer, do an incremental search of the current text in
217 the article buffer, just as if you switched to the article buffer and
220 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
221 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
222 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
223 In the summary buffer, search forward for articles containing a match
230 @subsection Where to Look Further
232 @c Too many references to the name of the manual if done with xref in TeX!
233 Gnus is powerful and customizable. Here are references to a few
239 additional topics in @cite{The Gnus Manual}:
243 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
244 See section ``Threading.''
247 Read digests. See section ``Document Groups.''
250 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
251 See section ``Finding the Parent.''
254 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
255 See section ``Article Keymap.''
258 Save articles. See section ``Saving Articles.''
261 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
262 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
263 See section ``Scoring.''
266 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
267 See section ``Composing Messages.''
273 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
274 @xref{Threading, , Reading Based on Conversation Threads,
275 gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
278 Read digests. @xref{Document Groups, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
281 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
282 @xref{Finding the Parent, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
285 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
286 @xref{Article Keymap, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
289 Save articles. @xref{Saving Articles, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
292 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
293 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
294 @xref{Scoring, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
297 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
298 @xref{Composing Messages, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
303 @node Shell, Emacs Server, Gnus, Top
304 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
306 @cindex shell commands
308 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to inferior shell
309 processes; it can also run a shell interactively with input and output
310 to an Emacs buffer named @samp{*shell*} or run a shell inside a terminal
313 There is a shell implemented entirely in Emacs, documented in a separate
314 manual. @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell, Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
317 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
318 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} and display the output
319 (@code{shell-command}).
320 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
321 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
322 optionally replace the region with the output
323 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
325 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
326 You can then give commands interactively.
328 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
329 You can then give commands interactively.
330 Full terminal emulation is available.
333 Start the Emacs shell.
337 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
338 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
339 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
340 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
341 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
342 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
343 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
344 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
345 * Paging in Term:: Paging in the terminal emulator.
346 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
350 @subsection Single Shell Commands
353 @findex shell-command
354 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
355 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command in a subshell made just
356 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
357 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
358 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
359 @samp{*Shell Command Output*}, which is displayed in another window
360 but not selected (if the output is long).
362 For instance, one way to decompress a file @file{foo.gz} from Emacs
363 is to type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command
364 normally creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
366 A numeric argument, as in @kbd{M-1 M-!}, says to insert terminal
367 output into the current buffer instead of a separate buffer. It puts
368 point before the output, and sets the mark after the output. For
369 instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz @key{RET}} would insert the
370 uncompressed equivalent of @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
372 If the shell command line ends in @samp{&}, it runs asynchronously.
373 For a synchronous shell command, @code{shell-command} returns the
374 command's exit status (0 means success), when it is called from a Lisp
375 program. You do not get any status information for an asynchronous
376 command, since it hasn't finished yet.
379 @findex shell-command-on-region
380 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!} but
381 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
382 command, instead of no input. If a numeric argument is used, meaning
383 insert the output in the current buffer, then the old region is deleted
384 first and the output replaces it as the contents of the region. It
385 returns the command's exit status when it is called from a Lisp program.
387 One use for @kbd{M-|} is to run @code{uudecode}. For instance, if
388 the buffer contains uuencoded text, type @kbd{C-x h M-| uudecode
389 @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents to the @code{uudecode}
390 program. That program will ignore everything except the encoded text,
391 and will store the decoded output into the file whose name is
392 specified in the encoded text.
394 @vindex shell-file-name
395 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} use @code{shell-file-name} to specify the
396 shell to use. This variable is initialized based on your @env{SHELL}
397 environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file name does not
398 specify a directory, the directories in the list @code{exec-path} are
399 searched; this list is initialized based on the environment variable
400 @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your @file{.emacs} file can override
401 either or both of these default initializations.@refill
403 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} wait for the shell command to complete.
404 To stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit; that terminates the shell
405 command with the signal @code{SIGINT}---the same signal that @kbd{C-c}
406 normally generates in the shell. Emacs waits until the command actually
407 terminates. If the shell command doesn't stop (because it ignores the
408 @code{SIGINT} signal), type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends the command a
409 @code{SIGKILL} signal which is impossible to ignore.
411 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
412 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Specify Coding}.
414 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
415 Error output from the command is normally intermixed with the regular
416 output. If you set the variable
417 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} to a string, which is a buffer
418 name, error output is inserted before point in the buffer of that name.
420 @node Interactive Shell
421 @subsection Interactive Inferior Shell
424 To run a subshell interactively, putting its typescript in an Emacs
425 buffer, use @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates (or reuses) a buffer named
426 @samp{*shell*} and runs a subshell with input coming from and output going
427 to that buffer. That is to say, any ``terminal output'' from the subshell
428 goes into the buffer, advancing point, and any ``terminal input'' for
429 the subshell comes from text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell,
430 go to the end of the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
432 Emacs does not wait for the subshell to do anything. You can switch
433 windows or buffers and edit them while the shell is waiting, or while it is
434 running a command. Output from the subshell waits until Emacs has time to
435 process it; this happens whenever Emacs is waiting for keyboard input or
438 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
439 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
440 Input lines, once you submit them, are displayed using the face
441 @code{comint-highlight-input}, and prompts are displayed using the
442 face @code{comint-highlight-prompt}. This makes it easier to see
443 previous input lines in the buffer. @xref{Faces}.
445 To make multiple subshells, you can invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a
446 prefix argument (e.g. @kbd{C-u M-x shell}), which will read a buffer
447 name and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can also
448 rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely}, then
449 create a new @samp{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}. All the
450 subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
452 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
453 @cindex environment variables for subshells
454 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
455 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
456 The file name used to load the subshell is the value of the variable
457 @code{explicit-shell-file-name}, if that is non-@code{nil}. Otherwise,
458 the environment variable @env{ESHELL} is used, or the environment
459 variable @env{SHELL} if there is no @env{ESHELL}. If the file name
460 specified is relative, the directories in the list @code{exec-path} are
461 searched; this list is initialized based on the environment variable
462 @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your @file{.emacs} file can override
463 either or both of these default initializations.
465 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
466 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
467 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
468 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
469 @file{~/.emacs_bash}.
471 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
472 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can also
473 specify a coding system after starting the shell by using @kbd{C-x
474 @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Specify Coding}.
476 @cindex @env{EMACS} environment variable
477 Unless the environment variable @env{EMACS} is already defined,
478 Emacs defines it in the subshell, with value @code{t}. A shell script
479 can check this variable to determine whether it has been run from an
483 @subsection Shell Mode
487 Shell buffers use Shell mode, which defines several special keys
488 attached to the @kbd{C-c} prefix. They are chosen to resemble the usual
489 editing and job control characters present in shells that are not under
490 Emacs, except that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a complete list
491 of the special key bindings of Shell mode:
495 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
496 @findex comint-send-input
497 At end of buffer send line as input; otherwise, copy current line to
498 end of buffer and send it (@code{comint-send-input}). When a line is
499 copied, any prompt at the beginning of the line (text output by
500 programs preceding your input) is omitted. (See also the variable
501 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp-instead-of-fields}.)
504 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
505 @findex comint-dynamic-complete
506 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell buffer
507 (@code{comint-dynamic-complete}). @key{TAB} also completes history
508 references (@pxref{History References}) and environment variable names.
510 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
511 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
512 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
513 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
514 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
515 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
516 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
520 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
521 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
522 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file name
523 before point in the shell buffer
524 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
527 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
528 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
529 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
530 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
531 buffer, @kbd{C-d} sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
532 position in the buffer, @kbd{C-d} deletes a character as usual.
535 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
536 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
537 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
538 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
539 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
540 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
541 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
542 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
546 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
547 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
548 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
549 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
550 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
553 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
554 @findex comint-kill-input
555 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
556 (@code{comint-kill-input}).
559 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
560 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
563 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
564 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
565 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
566 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
567 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
570 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
571 @findex comint-stop-subjob
572 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
573 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
577 @findex comint-quit-subjob
578 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
579 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
580 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
581 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
584 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
585 @findex comint-delete-output
586 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
587 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
588 out lots of output that just gets in the way. This command used to be
589 called @code{comint-kill-output}.
592 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
593 @findex comint-write-output
594 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
595 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
596 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
601 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
602 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
603 @findex comint-show-output
604 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
605 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
608 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
609 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
610 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
611 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
614 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
615 @findex shell-forward-command
616 @vindex shell-command-regexp
617 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
618 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
619 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
622 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
623 @findex shell-backward-command
624 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
625 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
628 Ask the shell what its current directory is, so that Emacs can agree
631 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
632 @findex send-invisible
633 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
634 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
637 Alternatively, you can arrange for Emacs to notice password prompts
638 and turn off echoing for them, as follows:
641 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
642 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
645 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
646 @findex comint-continue-subjob
647 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
648 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
649 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
650 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
651 this command won't do it.}
653 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
654 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
655 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
656 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
657 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
658 evaluate this Lisp expression:
661 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
662 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
665 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
666 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
667 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
668 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
669 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
673 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
674 'comint-truncate-buffer)
678 Shell mode also customizes the paragraph commands so that only shell
679 prompts start new paragraphs. Thus, a paragraph consists of an input
680 command plus the output that follows it in the buffer.
684 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
685 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
686 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
687 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
688 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
690 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
691 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
694 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
695 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
696 specializations of Shell mode.
699 @subsection Shell Command History
701 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
702 can use the same keys used in the minibuffer; these work much as they do
703 in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands while point
704 remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move through the
705 buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then resubmit them or
706 copy them to the end. Or you can use a @samp{!}-style history
710 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
711 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
712 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
716 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
719 @findex comint-previous-input
720 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
722 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
724 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
725 @findex comint-next-input
727 Fetch the next later old shell command.
729 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
730 @kindex M-s @r{(Shell mode)}
731 @findex comint-previous-matching-input
732 @findex comint-next-matching-input
733 @item M-r @var{regexp} @key{RET}
734 @itemx M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
735 Search backwards or forwards for old shell commands that match @var{regexp}.
738 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
739 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
740 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
743 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
744 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
745 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
748 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
749 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
750 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
751 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
754 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell commands. To
755 reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing commands @kbd{M-p},
756 @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work just like the minibuffer
757 history commands except that they operate on the text at the end of the
758 shell buffer, where you would normally insert text to send to the shell.
760 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell buffer.
761 Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier shell commands,
762 each replacing any text that was already present as potential shell input.
763 @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds successively more recent shell
764 commands from the buffer.
766 The history search commands @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s} read a regular
767 expression and search through the history for a matching command. Aside
768 from the choice of which command to fetch, they work just like @kbd{M-p}
769 and @kbd{M-n}. If you enter an empty regexp, these commands reuse the
770 same regexp used last time.
772 When you find the previous input you want, you can resubmit it by
773 typing @key{RET}, or you can edit it first and then resubmit it if you
776 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
777 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
778 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
779 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
780 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
781 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
782 @key{RET}} over and over.
784 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
785 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like @kbd{ESC
786 .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
787 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
788 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
789 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
790 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
793 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
794 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
795 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
796 that these commands access.
798 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
799 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
800 refer to previous commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
801 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
802 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
803 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
805 @node Shell History Copying
806 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
809 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
810 @findex comint-previous-prompt
812 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
814 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
815 @findex comint-next-prompt
817 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
819 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
820 @findex comint-insert-input
822 Copy the input command which point is in, inserting the copy at the end
823 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). This is useful if you
824 move point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you
825 can submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can
826 edit the copy before resubmitting it.
829 Copy the input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
833 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
834 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
835 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
836 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
837 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
838 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
839 buffer after it has been sent.
841 @node History References
842 @subsubsection Shell History References
843 @cindex history reference
845 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
846 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
847 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
850 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
851 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
852 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
853 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
854 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
855 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
858 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
859 @findex comint-magic-space
860 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
861 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
862 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
863 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
864 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
866 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
867 @vindex comint-prompt-regexp
868 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp-instead-of-fields
869 @cindex prompt, shell
870 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
871 Normally, any text output by a program at the beginning of an input
872 line is considered a prompt. However, if the variable
873 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp-instead-of-fields} is non-@code{nil},
874 then Comint mode uses a regular expression to recognize prompts. In
875 general, the variable @code{comint-prompt-regexp} specifies the
876 regular expression; Shell mode uses the variable
877 @code{shell-prompt-pattern} to set up @code{comint-prompt-regexp} in
880 @node Directory Tracking
881 @subsection Directory Tracking
882 @cindex directory tracking
884 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
885 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
886 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
887 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
888 commands given to the inferior shell, so it can keep the
889 @samp{*shell*} buffer's default directory the same as the shell's
890 working directory. It recognizes these commands syntactically, by
891 examining lines of input that are sent.
893 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
894 recognize them also. For example, if the value of the variable
895 @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches the beginning of a shell command
896 line, that line is regarded as a @code{pushd} command. Change this
897 variable when you add aliases for @samp{pushd}. Likewise,
898 @code{shell-popd-regexp} and @code{shell-cd-regexp} are used to
899 recognize commands with the meaning of @samp{popd} and @samp{cd}.
900 These commands are recognized only at the beginning of a shell command
903 @ignore @c This seems to have been deleted long ago.
904 @vindex shell-set-directory-error-hook
905 If Emacs gets an error while trying to handle what it believes is a
906 @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} or @samp{popd} command, it runs the hook
907 @code{shell-set-directory-error-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
911 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the current directory of the
912 subshell, use the command @kbd{M-x dirs} to ask the shell what its
913 current directory is. This command works for shells that support the
914 most common command syntax; it may not work for unusual shells.
916 @findex dirtrack-mode
917 You can also use @kbd{M-x dirtrack-mode} to enable (or disable) an
918 alternative and more aggressive method of tracking changes in the
922 @subsection Shell Mode Options
924 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
925 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
926 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
927 to the bottom before inserting.
929 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
930 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
931 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to place the last line of
932 text at the bottom line of the window, so as to show as much useful
933 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of many
934 terminals.) The default is @code{nil}.
936 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
937 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
938 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
939 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
940 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
941 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
942 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
943 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
944 point does not jump to the end.
946 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
947 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
948 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
949 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
950 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
951 equal to the previous input.
953 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
954 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
955 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
956 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
957 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
958 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
959 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
960 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
961 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
962 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
963 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
964 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
966 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
967 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
968 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
969 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
971 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
972 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
973 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
974 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
975 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
976 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
977 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
978 directory stack if they are not already on it
979 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
980 underlying shell, of course.
982 If you want Shell mode to handle color output from shell commands,
983 you can enable ANSI Color mode. Here is how to do this:
986 (add-hook 'shell-mode-hook 'ansi-color-for-comint-mode-on)
989 @node Terminal emulator
990 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
993 To run a subshell in a terminal emulator, putting its typescript in
994 an Emacs buffer, use @kbd{M-x term}. This creates (or reuses) a
995 buffer named @samp{*terminal*}, and runs a subshell with input coming
996 from your keyboard, and output going to that buffer.
998 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
999 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1001 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1002 subshell, as ``terminal input.'' Any ``echoing'' of your input is the
1003 responsibility of the subshell. The sole exception is the terminal
1004 escape character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}).
1005 Any ``terminal output'' from the subshell goes into the buffer,
1008 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1009 on the terminal screen in detail. They do this by sending special
1010 control codes. The exact control codes needed vary from terminal to
1011 terminal, but nowadays most terminals and terminal emulators
1012 (including @code{xterm}) understand the ANSI-standard (VT100-style)
1013 escape sequences. Term mode recognizes these escape sequences, and
1014 handles each one appropriately, changing the buffer so that the
1015 appearance of the window matches what it would be on a real terminal.
1016 You can actually run Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.
1018 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1019 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1020 buffer @samp{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1021 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1023 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1024 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1025 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1029 @subsection Term Mode
1033 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1034 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1035 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1036 subshell, except for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1038 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1041 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1042 @findex term-char-mode
1044 Switch to line mode. Do nothing if already in line mode.
1046 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1047 @findex term-line-mode
1049 Switch to char mode. Do nothing if already in char mode.
1052 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1056 Send a literal @key{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1059 A prefix command to access the global @key{C-x} commands conveniently.
1060 For example, @kbd{C-c C-x o} invokes the global binding of
1061 @kbd{C-x o}, which is normally @samp{other-window}.
1064 @node Paging in Term
1065 @subsection Page-At-A-Time Output
1066 @cindex page-at-a-time
1068 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled it makes
1069 output pause at the end of each screenful.
1072 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1073 @findex term-pager-toggle
1075 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1076 and char modes. When page-at-a-time is enabled, the mode-line
1077 displays the word @samp{page}.
1080 With page-at-a-time enabled, whenever Term receives more than a
1081 screenful of output since your last input, it pauses, displaying
1082 @samp{**MORE**} in the mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next
1083 screenful of output. Type @kbd{?} to see your other options. The
1084 interface is similar to the @code{more} program.
1087 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1089 @cindex connecting to remote host
1093 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1094 would from a regular terminal (e.g.@: using the @code{telnet} or
1095 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1097 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1098 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1099 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1100 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1101 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1102 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1104 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1105 of terminal you're using. Terminal types @samp{ansi} or @samp{vt100}
1106 will work on most systems.
1108 @c If you are talking to a Bourne-compatible
1109 @c shell, and your system understands the @env{TERMCAP} variable,
1110 @c you can use the command @kbd{M-x shell-send-termcap}, which
1111 @c sends a string specifying the terminal type and size.
1112 @c (This command is also useful after the window has changed size.)
1114 @c You can of course run @samp{gdb} on that remote computer. One useful
1115 @c trick: If you invoke gdb with the @code{--fullname} option,
1116 @c it will send special commands to Emacs that will cause Emacs to
1117 @c pop up the source files you're debugging. This will work
1118 @c whether or not gdb is running on a different computer than Emacs,
1119 @c as long as Emacs can access the source files specified by gdb.
1122 You cannot log in to a remote computer using the Shell mode.
1123 @c (This will change when Shell is re-written to use Term.)
1124 Instead, Emacs provides two commands for logging in to another computer
1125 and communicating with it through an Emacs buffer using Comint mode:
1128 @item M-x telnet @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1129 Set up a Telnet connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1130 @item M-x rlogin @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1131 Set up an Rlogin connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1135 Use @kbd{M-x telnet} to set up a Telnet connection to another
1136 computer. (Telnet is the standard Internet protocol for remote login.)
1137 It reads the host name of the other computer as an argument with the
1138 minibuffer. Once the connection is established, talking to the other
1139 computer works like talking to a subshell: you can edit input with the
1140 usual Emacs commands, and send it a line at a time by typing @key{RET}.
1141 The output is inserted in the Telnet buffer interspersed with the input.
1144 @vindex rlogin-explicit-args
1145 Use @kbd{M-x rlogin} to set up an Rlogin connection. Rlogin is
1146 another remote login communication protocol, essentially much like the
1147 Telnet protocol but incompatible with it, and supported only by certain
1148 systems. Rlogin's advantages are that you can arrange not to have to
1149 give your user name and password when communicating between two machines
1150 you frequently use, and that you can make an 8-bit-clean connection.
1151 (To do that in Emacs, set @code{rlogin-explicit-args} to @code{("-8")}
1152 before you run Rlogin.)
1154 @kbd{M-x rlogin} sets up the default file directory of the Emacs
1155 buffer to access the remote host via FTP (@pxref{File Names}), and it
1156 tracks the shell commands that change the current directory, just like
1159 @findex rlogin-directory-tracking-mode
1160 There are two ways of doing directory tracking in an Rlogin
1161 buffer---either with remote directory names
1162 @file{/@var{host}:@var{dir}/} or with local names (that works if the
1163 ``remote'' machine shares file systems with your machine of origin).
1164 You can use the command @code{rlogin-directory-tracking-mode} to switch
1165 modes. No argument means use remote directory names, a positive
1166 argument means use local names, and a negative argument means turn
1167 off directory tracking.
1171 @node Emacs Server, Hardcopy, Shell, Top
1172 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1174 @cindex Emacs as a server
1175 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1176 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1178 Various programs such as @code{mail} can invoke your choice of editor
1179 to edit a particular piece of text, such as a message that you are
1180 sending. By convention, most of these programs use the environment
1181 variable @env{EDITOR} to specify which editor to run. If you set
1182 @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, they invoke Emacs---but in an
1183 inconvenient fashion, by starting a new, separate Emacs process. This
1184 is inconvenient because it takes time and because the new Emacs process
1185 doesn't share the buffers in any existing Emacs process.
1187 You can arrange to use your existing Emacs process as the editor for
1188 programs like @code{mail} by using the Emacs client and Emacs server
1189 programs. Here is how.
1191 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1192 First, the preparation. Within Emacs, call the function
1193 @code{server-start}. (Your @file{.emacs} file can do this automatically
1194 if you add the expression @code{(server-start)} to it.) Then, outside
1195 Emacs, set the @env{EDITOR} environment variable to @samp{emacsclient}.
1196 (Note that some programs use a different environment variable; for
1197 example, to make @TeX{} use @samp{emacsclient}, you should set the
1198 @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable to @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.)
1202 Then, whenever any program invokes your specified @env{EDITOR}
1203 program, the effect is to send a message to your principal Emacs telling
1204 it to visit a file. (That's what the program @code{emacsclient} does.)
1205 Emacs displays the buffer immediately and you can immediately begin
1208 When you've finished editing that buffer, type @kbd{C-x #}
1209 (@code{server-edit}). This saves the file and sends a message back to
1210 the @code{emacsclient} program telling it to exit. The programs that
1211 use @env{EDITOR} wait for the ``editor'' (actually, @code{emacsclient})
1212 to exit. @kbd{C-x #} also checks for other pending external requests
1213 to edit various files, and selects the next such file.
1215 You can switch to a server buffer manually if you wish; you don't
1216 have to arrive at it with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to
1217 say that you are finished with one.
1219 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1220 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1221 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1222 already existed in the Emacs session before the server asked to create
1223 it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to @code{nil},
1224 then a different criterion is used: finishing with a server buffer
1225 kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1226 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1227 ``temporary'' files.
1229 @vindex server-window
1230 If you set the variable @code{server-window} to a window or a frame,
1231 @kbd{C-x #} displays the server buffer in that window or in that frame.
1233 While @code{mail} or another application is waiting for
1234 @code{emacsclient} to finish, @code{emacsclient} does not read terminal
1235 input. So the terminal that @code{mail} was using is effectively
1236 blocked for the duration. In order to edit with your principal Emacs,
1237 you need to be able to use it without using that terminal. There are
1238 three ways to do this:
1242 Using a window system, run @code{mail} and the principal Emacs in two
1243 separate windows. While @code{mail} is waiting for @code{emacsclient},
1244 the window where it was running is blocked, but you can use Emacs by
1248 Using virtual terminals, run @code{mail} in one virtual terminal
1249 and run Emacs in another.
1252 Use Shell mode or Term mode in Emacs to run the other program such as
1253 @code{mail}; then, @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under
1254 Emacs, and you can still use Emacs to edit the file.
1257 If you run @code{emacsclient} with the option @samp{--no-wait}, it
1258 returns immediately without waiting for you to ``finish'' the buffer
1259 in Emacs. Note that server buffers created in this way are not killed
1260 automatically when you finish with them.
1263 * Invoking emacsclient::
1266 @node Invoking emacsclient,, Emacs Server, Emacs Server
1267 @section Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1269 To run the @code{emacsclient} program, specify file names as arguments,
1270 and optionally line numbers as well. Do it like this:
1273 emacsclient @r{@{}@r{[}+@var{line}@r{[}@var{column}@r{]}@r{]} @var{filename}@r{@}}@dots{}
1277 This tells Emacs to visit each of the specified files; if you specify a
1278 line number for a certain file, Emacs moves to that line in the file.
1279 If you specify a column number as well, Emacs puts point on that column
1282 Ordinarily, @code{emacsclient} does not return until you use the
1283 @kbd{C-x #} command on each of these buffers. When that happens,
1284 Emacs sends a message to the @code{emacsclient} program telling it to
1287 But if you use the option @samp{-n} or @samp{--no-wait} when running
1288 @code{emacsclient}, then it returns immediately. (You can take as
1289 long as you like to edit the files in Emacs.)
1291 The option @samp{--alternate-editor=@var{command}} is useful when
1292 running @code{emacsclient} in a script. It specifies a command to run
1293 if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs. For example, the
1294 following setting for the @var{EDITOR} environment variable will
1295 always give an editor, even if Emacs is not running:
1298 EDITOR="emacsclient --alternate-editor vi +%d %s"
1302 The environment variable @var{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect, but
1303 the value of the @samp{--alternate-editor} takes precedence.
1306 Alternatively, the file @file{etc/emacs.bash} defines a bash
1307 function which will communicate with a running Emacs server, or start
1310 If you use several displays, you can tell Emacs on which display to
1311 open the given files with the option @samp{--display=@var{DISPLAY}}.
1312 This can be used typically when connecting from home to an Emacs
1313 server running on your machine at your workplace.
1315 You can also use @code{emacsclient} to execute any piece of Emacs Lisp
1316 code, using the option @samp{--eval}. When this option is given, the
1317 rest of the arguments is not taken as a list of files to visit but as
1318 a list of expressions to evaluate.
1320 @node Hardcopy, PostScript, Emacs Server, Top
1321 @section Hardcopy Output
1324 The Emacs commands for making hardcopy let you print either an entire
1325 buffer or just part of one, either with or without page headers.
1326 See also the hardcopy commands of Dired (@pxref{Misc File Ops})
1327 and the diary (@pxref{Diary Commands}).
1330 @item M-x print-buffer
1331 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the file
1332 name and page number.
1333 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1334 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1335 @item M-x print-region
1336 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1337 @item M-x lpr-region
1338 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1341 @findex print-buffer
1342 @findex print-region
1345 @vindex lpr-switches
1346 The hardcopy commands (aside from the Postscript commands) pass extra
1347 switches to the @code{lpr} program based on the value of the variable
1348 @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of strings, each string
1349 an option starting with @samp{-}. For example, to specify a line width
1350 of 80 columns for all the printing you do in Emacs, set
1351 @code{lpr-switches} like this:
1354 (setq lpr-switches '("-w80"))
1357 @vindex printer-name
1358 You can specify the printer to use by setting the variable
1359 @code{printer-name}.
1361 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1362 @vindex lpr-commands
1363 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1364 The variable @code{lpr-command} specifies the name of the printer
1365 program to run; the default value depends on your operating system type.
1366 On most systems, the default is @code{"lpr"}. The variable
1367 @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the extra switches to
1368 use to make page headers. The variable @code{lpr-add-switches} controls
1369 whether to supply @samp{-T} and @samp{-J} options (suitable for
1370 @code{lpr}) to the printer program: @code{nil} means don't add them.
1371 @code{lpr-add-switches} should be @code{nil} if your printer program is
1372 not compatible with @code{lpr}.
1374 @node PostScript, PostScript Variables, Hardcopy, Top
1375 @section PostScript Hardcopy
1377 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1378 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1381 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1382 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1383 @item M-x ps-print-region
1384 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1385 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1386 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1387 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1388 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1389 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1390 faces used in the text.
1391 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1392 Generate PostScript for the current buffer text.
1393 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1394 Generate PostScript for the current region.
1395 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1396 Generate PostScript for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1397 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1398 Generate PostScript for the current region, showing the faces used.
1400 Generates/prints PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1403 @findex ps-print-region
1404 @findex ps-print-buffer
1405 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1406 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1407 The PostScript commands, @code{ps-print-buffer} and
1408 @code{ps-print-region}, print buffer contents in PostScript form. One
1409 command prints the entire buffer; the other, just the region. The
1410 corresponding @samp{-with-faces} commands,
1411 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and @code{ps-print-region-with-faces},
1412 use PostScript features to show the faces (fonts and colors) in the text
1413 properties of the text being printed.
1415 If you are using a color display, you can print a buffer of program
1416 code with color highlighting by turning on Font-Lock mode in that
1417 buffer, and using @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces}.
1419 @findex ps-spool-region
1420 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1421 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1422 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1423 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print}
1424 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1429 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1430 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1431 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1432 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1435 The following section describes variables for customizing these commands.
1438 @node PostScript Variables, Sorting, PostScript, Top
1439 @section Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1441 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1442 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1443 @vindex ps-printer-name
1444 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1445 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1446 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1447 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1448 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1449 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1450 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1451 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1453 @vindex ps-print-header
1454 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1455 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1458 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1459 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1460 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1461 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1462 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1463 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1464 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1465 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1467 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1468 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1469 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1470 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1471 stripes and background image/text.
1473 @vindex ps-paper-type
1474 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
1475 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
1476 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
1477 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
1478 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
1479 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
1480 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
1481 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
1483 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
1484 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
1485 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
1486 ``portrait'' mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies ``landscape''
1489 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
1490 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
1491 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
1494 @vindex ps-font-family
1495 @vindex ps-font-size
1496 @vindex ps-font-info-database
1497 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
1498 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
1499 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
1500 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
1501 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
1503 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
1504 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
1505 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
1506 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
1507 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
1508 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
1509 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
1510 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
1511 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
1512 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1513 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
1514 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
1515 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
1516 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
1517 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
1518 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1519 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
1521 @vindex bdf-directory-list
1522 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
1523 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
1524 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
1525 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
1527 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
1528 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
1530 @node Sorting, Narrowing, PostScript Variables, Top
1531 @section Sorting Text
1534 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
1535 operate on the contents of the region (the text between point and the
1536 mark). They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
1537 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
1538 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
1539 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
1540 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters `A' through
1541 `Z' come before lower-case `a', in accord with the @acronym{ASCII} character
1544 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
1545 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
1546 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
1547 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
1548 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
1549 record as the sort key.
1552 @findex sort-paragraphs
1555 @findex sort-numeric-fields
1556 @vindex sort-numeric-base
1558 @item M-x sort-lines
1559 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
1560 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
1562 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
1563 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
1564 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
1565 argument means sort into descending order.
1567 @item M-x sort-pages
1568 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
1569 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
1570 argument means sort into descending order.
1572 @item M-x sort-fields
1573 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
1574 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
1575 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
1576 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
1579 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
1580 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
1581 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
1582 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
1583 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
1585 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
1586 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
1587 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
1588 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
1589 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
1590 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
1591 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
1593 @item M-x sort-columns
1594 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
1595 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. See below
1598 @item M-x reverse-region
1599 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
1600 sorting into descending order by fields or columns, since those sort
1601 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
1604 For example, if the buffer contains this:
1607 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
1608 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
1609 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
1610 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
1615 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
1618 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
1619 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
1620 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
1622 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
1626 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
1627 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
1630 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
1631 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
1633 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
1634 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
1638 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
1639 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
1641 @findex sort-columns
1642 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
1643 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
1644 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
1645 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
1646 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
1647 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
1648 as well as all the lines in between.
1650 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
1651 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
1652 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
1653 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
1654 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
1656 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
1657 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
1658 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
1661 @vindex sort-fold-case
1662 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
1663 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
1665 @node Narrowing, Two-Column, Sorting, Top
1670 @cindex accessible portion
1672 @dfn{Narrowing} means focusing in on some portion of the buffer,
1673 making the rest temporarily inaccessible. The portion which you can
1674 still get to is called the @dfn{accessible portion}. Canceling the
1675 narrowing, which makes the entire buffer once again accessible, is
1676 called @dfn{widening}. The amount of narrowing in effect in a buffer at
1677 any time is called the buffer's @dfn{restriction}.
1679 Narrowing can make it easier to concentrate on a single subroutine or
1680 paragraph by eliminating clutter. It can also be used to restrict the
1681 range of operation of a replace command or repeating keyboard macro.
1685 Narrow down to between point and mark (@code{narrow-to-region}).
1687 Widen to make the entire buffer accessible again (@code{widen}).
1689 Narrow down to the current page (@code{narrow-to-page}).
1691 Narrow down to the current defun (@code{narrow-to-defun}).
1694 When you have narrowed down to a part of the buffer, that part appears
1695 to be all there is. You can't see the rest, you can't move into it
1696 (motion commands won't go outside the accessible part), you can't change
1697 it in any way. However, it is not gone, and if you save the file all
1698 the inaccessible text will be saved. The word @samp{Narrow} appears in
1699 the mode line whenever narrowing is in effect.
1702 @findex narrow-to-region
1703 The primary narrowing command is @kbd{C-x n n} (@code{narrow-to-region}).
1704 It sets the current buffer's restrictions so that the text in the current
1705 region remains accessible, but all text before the region or after the
1706 region is inaccessible. Point and mark do not change.
1709 @findex narrow-to-page
1711 @findex narrow-to-defun
1712 Alternatively, use @kbd{C-x n p} (@code{narrow-to-page}) to narrow
1713 down to the current page. @xref{Pages}, for the definition of a page.
1714 @kbd{C-x n d} (@code{narrow-to-defun}) narrows down to the defun
1715 containing point (@pxref{Defuns}).
1719 The way to cancel narrowing is to widen with @kbd{C-x n w}
1720 (@code{widen}). This makes all text in the buffer accessible again.
1722 You can get information on what part of the buffer you are narrowed down
1723 to using the @kbd{C-x =} command. @xref{Position Info}.
1725 Because narrowing can easily confuse users who do not understand it,
1726 @code{narrow-to-region} is normally a disabled command. Attempting to use
1727 this command asks for confirmation and gives you the option of enabling it;
1728 if you enable the command, confirmation will no longer be required for
1729 it. @xref{Disabling}.
1731 @node Two-Column, Editing Binary Files, Narrowing, Top
1732 @section Two-Column Editing
1733 @cindex two-column editing
1734 @cindex splitting columns
1735 @cindex columns, splitting
1737 Two-column mode lets you conveniently edit two side-by-side columns of
1738 text. It uses two side-by-side windows, each showing its own
1741 There are three ways to enter two-column mode:
1744 @item @kbd{@key{F2} 2} or @kbd{C-x 6 2}
1747 @findex 2C-two-columns
1748 Enter two-column mode with the current buffer on the left, and on the
1749 right, a buffer whose name is based on the current buffer's name
1750 (@code{2C-two-columns}). If the right-hand buffer doesn't already
1751 exist, it starts out empty; the current buffer's contents are not
1754 This command is appropriate when the current buffer is empty or contains
1755 just one column and you want to add another column.
1757 @item @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s}
1761 Split the current buffer, which contains two-column text, into two
1762 buffers, and display them side by side (@code{2C-split}). The current
1763 buffer becomes the left-hand buffer, but the text in the right-hand
1764 column is moved into the right-hand buffer. The current column
1765 specifies the split point. Splitting starts with the current line and
1766 continues to the end of the buffer.
1768 This command is appropriate when you have a buffer that already contains
1769 two-column text, and you wish to separate the columns temporarily.
1771 @item @kbd{@key{F2} b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
1772 @itemx @kbd{C-x 6 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
1775 @findex 2C-associate-buffer
1776 Enter two-column mode using the current buffer as the left-hand buffer,
1777 and using buffer @var{buffer} as the right-hand buffer
1778 (@code{2C-associate-buffer}).
1781 @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s} looks for a column separator, which
1782 is a string that appears on each line between the two columns. You can
1783 specify the width of the separator with a numeric argument to
1784 @kbd{@key{F2} s}; that many characters, before point, constitute the
1785 separator string. By default, the width is 1, so the column separator
1786 is the character before point.
1788 When a line has the separator at the proper place, @kbd{@key{F2} s}
1789 puts the text after the separator into the right-hand buffer, and
1790 deletes the separator. Lines that don't have the column separator at
1791 the proper place remain unsplit; they stay in the left-hand buffer, and
1792 the right-hand buffer gets an empty line to correspond. (This is the
1793 way to write a line that ``spans both columns while in two-column
1794 mode'': write it in the left-hand buffer, and put an empty line in the
1800 The command @kbd{C-x 6 @key{RET}} or @kbd{@key{F2} @key{RET}}
1801 (@code{2C-newline}) inserts a newline in each of the two buffers at
1802 corresponding positions. This is the easiest way to add a new line to
1803 the two-column text while editing it in split buffers.
1808 When you have edited both buffers as you wish, merge them with
1809 @kbd{@key{F2} 1} or @kbd{C-x 6 1} (@code{2C-merge}). This copies the
1810 text from the right-hand buffer as a second column in the other buffer.
1811 To go back to two-column editing, use @kbd{@key{F2} s}.
1815 @findex 2C-dissociate
1816 Use @kbd{@key{F2} d} or @kbd{C-x 6 d} to dissociate the two buffers,
1817 leaving each as it stands (@code{2C-dissociate}). If the other buffer,
1818 the one not current when you type @kbd{@key{F2} d}, is empty,
1819 @kbd{@key{F2} d} kills it.
1821 @node Editing Binary Files, Saving Emacs Sessions, Two-Column, Top
1822 @section Editing Binary Files
1826 @cindex editing binary files
1828 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
1829 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
1830 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
1831 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
1832 automatically back to binary.
1834 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
1835 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
1836 it is a binary file.
1838 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
1839 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
1840 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
1841 commands of Hexl mode:
1843 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
1846 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
1849 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
1852 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
1855 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte ``page.''
1858 Move to the end of a 1k-byte ``page.''
1861 Move to an address specified in hex.
1864 Move to an address specified in decimal.
1867 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
1868 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
1872 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
1873 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
1874 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
1877 @node Saving Emacs Sessions, Recursive Edit, Editing Binary Files, Top
1878 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
1879 @cindex saving sessions
1880 @cindex restore session
1881 @cindex remember editing session
1882 @cindex reload files
1885 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
1886 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
1887 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
1888 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop.
1890 @findex desktop-save
1891 @vindex desktop-save-mode
1892 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
1893 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatical desktop saving when
1894 you exit Emacs: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
1895 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
1896 sessions, or add this line in your @file{~/.emacs} file:
1899 (desktop-save-mode 1)
1902 @findex desktop-change-dir
1903 @findex desktop-revert
1904 When Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current
1905 directory. Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different
1906 directories, and the starting directory determines which one Emacs
1907 reloads. You can save the current desktop and reload one saved in
1908 another directory by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing
1909 @kbd{M-x desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
1911 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
1912 don't want it to reload any saved desktop.
1914 @findex desktop-clear
1915 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
1916 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
1917 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
1918 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
1919 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
1920 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
1921 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
1922 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
1924 @node Recursive Edit, Emulation, Saving Emacs Sessions, Top
1925 @section Recursive Editing Levels
1926 @cindex recursive editing level
1927 @cindex editing level, recursive
1929 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
1930 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
1931 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
1932 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
1933 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
1934 the @code{query-replace}.
1937 @findex exit-recursive-edit
1938 @cindex exiting recursive edit
1939 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
1940 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
1941 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
1943 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
1944 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
1945 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
1947 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
1948 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
1949 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
1950 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
1951 any particular window or buffer.
1953 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
1954 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
1955 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
1956 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
1957 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
1958 level currently in progress.
1960 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as, with the debugger @kbd{c}
1961 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
1962 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
1963 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
1964 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
1965 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
1966 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
1968 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
1969 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command reader.
1971 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
1972 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
1973 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
1974 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
1975 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
1976 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
1977 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
1978 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
1979 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
1980 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
1982 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
1983 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to ``go back'' in a
1984 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
1985 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
1986 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
1987 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
1988 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
1989 the order you choose.
1991 @node Emulation, Hyperlinking, Recursive Edit, Top
1993 @cindex emulating other editors
1994 @cindex other editors
1997 @cindex PC key bindings
1998 @cindex scrolling all windows
1999 @cindex PC selection
2000 @cindex Motif key bindings
2001 @cindex Macintosh key bindings
2004 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2005 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2008 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2010 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2011 @findex scroll-all-mode
2013 @cindex Brief emulation
2014 @cindex emulation of Brief
2016 You can turn on key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief editor with
2017 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode}. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs
2018 unless you change the user option @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can
2019 also use the command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the user option
2020 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2021 (scrolling all windows together).
2023 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2024 @findex edt-emulation-on
2025 @findex edt-emulation-off
2026 Turn on EDT emulation with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on}. @kbd{M-x
2027 edt-emulation-off} restores normal Emacs command bindings.
2029 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2030 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2031 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2032 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2034 @item ``PC'' bindings
2035 @findex pc-bindings-mode
2036 @cindex ``PC'' key bindings
2037 The command @kbd{M-x pc-bindings-mode} sets up certain key bindings
2038 for ``PC compatibility''---what people are often used to on PCs---as
2039 follows: @kbd{Delete} and its variants delete forward instead of
2040 backward, @kbd{C-Backspace} kills backward a word (as @kbd{C-Delete}
2041 normally would), @kbd{M-Backspace} does undo, @kbd{Home} and @kbd{End}
2042 move to beginning and end of line, @kbd{C-Home} and @kbd{C-End} move
2043 to beginning and end of buffer and @kbd{C-Escape} does
2044 @code{list-buffers}.
2046 @item PC Selection mode
2047 @findex pc-selection-mode
2048 @cindex PC Selection minor mode
2049 @cindex mode, PC selection
2050 @cindex selection, PC
2051 The command @kbd{M-x pc-selection-mode} toggles a global minor mode
2052 that emulates the mark, copy, cut and paste commands of various other
2053 systems---an interface known as CUA. It establishes the key bindings
2054 of PC mode, and also modifies the bindings of the cursor keys and the
2055 @kbd{next}, @kbd{prior}, @kbd{home} and @kbd{end} keys. It does not
2056 provide the full set of CUA key bindings---the fundamental Emacs keys
2057 @kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-v} and @kbd{C-x} are not changed.
2059 The standard keys for moving around (@kbd{right}, @kbd{left},
2060 @kbd{up}, @kbd{down}, @kbd{home}, @kbd{end}, @kbd{prior}, @kbd{next},
2061 called ``move-keys'') deactivate the mark in PC selection mode.
2062 However, using @kbd{Shift} together with the ``move keys'' activates
2063 the region over which they move. The copy, cut and paste functions
2064 are available on @kbd{C-insert}, @kbd{S-delete} and @kbd{S-insert}
2067 Turning @code{pc-selection-mode} off restores the old key bindings of
2070 @cindex s-region package
2071 The @code{s-region} package provides similar, but less complete,
2074 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2077 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2079 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2081 Viper is the newest emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2082 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2083 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2084 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2085 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2088 @item vi (another emulator)
2090 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2091 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2092 ``input'' mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2093 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's ``input'' mode.
2095 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2096 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2098 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2099 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2101 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2103 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2104 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. ``Input'' mode in this emulator
2105 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2106 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2107 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2109 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2110 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2111 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2112 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2115 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2117 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2118 @findex wordstar-mode
2119 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2123 @node Hyperlinking, Dissociated Press, Emulation, Top
2124 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2126 @cindex hyperlinking
2128 Various modes documented elsewhere have hypertext features so that
2129 you can follow links, usually by clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} on the link or
2130 typing @key{RET} while point is on the link. Info mode, Help mode and
2131 the Dired-like modes are examples. The Tags facility links between
2132 uses and definitions in source files, see @ref{Tags}. Imenu provides
2133 navigation amongst items indexed in the current buffer, see
2134 @ref{Imenu}. Info-lookup provides mode-specific lookup of definitions
2135 in Info indexes, see @ref{Documentation}. Speedbar maintains a frame
2136 in which links to files, and locations in files are displayed, see
2139 Other non-mode-specific facilities described in this section enable
2140 following links from the current buffer in a context-sensitive
2144 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2145 * Goto-address:: Activating URLs.
2146 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2147 * Find-func:: Finding function and variable definitions.
2151 @subsection Following URLs
2152 @cindex World Wide Web
2155 @findex browse-url-at-point
2156 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2161 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2162 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2165 The Browse-URL package provides facilities for following URLs specifying
2166 links on the World Wide Web. Usually this works by invoking a web
2167 browser, but you can, for instance, arrange to invoke @code{compose-mail}
2168 from @samp{mailto:} URLs.
2170 The general way to use this feature is to type @kbd{M-x browse-url},
2171 which displays a specified URL. If point is located near a plausible
2172 URL, that URL is used as the default. Other commands are available
2173 which you might like to bind to keys, such as
2174 @code{browse-url-at-point} and @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2176 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2177 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2178 @code{browse-url} Customize group, particularly
2179 @code{browse-url-browser-function}. You can invoke actions dependent
2180 on the type of URL by defining @code{browse-url-browser-function} as
2181 an association list. The package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h
2182 p} under the @samp{hypermedia} keyword provides more information.
2183 Packages with facilities for following URLs should always go through
2184 Browse-URL, so that the customization options for Browse-URL will
2185 affect all browsing in Emacs.
2188 @subsection Activating URLs
2189 @findex goto-address
2190 @cindex Goto-address
2191 @cindex URLs, activating
2194 @item M-x goto-address
2195 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2198 You can make URLs in the current buffer active with @kbd{M-x
2199 goto-address}. This finds all the URLs in the buffer, and establishes
2200 bindings for @kbd{Mouse-2} and @kbd{C-c @key{RET}} on them. After
2201 activation, if you click on a URL with @kbd{Mouse-2}, or move to a URL
2202 and type @kbd{C-c @key{RET}}, that will display the web page that the URL
2203 specifies. For a @samp{mailto} URL, it sends mail instead, using your
2204 selected mail-composition method (@pxref{Mail Methods}).
2206 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address} to mode hooks and the
2207 hooks used to display an incoming message.
2208 @code{rmail-show-message-hook} is the appropriate hook for Rmail, and
2209 @code{mh-show-mode-hook} for MH-E. This is not needed for Gnus,
2210 which has a similar feature of its own.
2214 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2215 @findex find-file-at-point
2217 @findex ffap-dired-at-point
2220 @cindex finding file at point
2222 FFAP mode replaces certain key bindings for finding files, including
2223 @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive defaults.
2224 These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a prefix
2225 argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL from the
2226 text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the form of a
2227 URL rather than a file name, the commands use @code{browse-url} to
2230 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2231 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. The
2232 @samp{ffap} package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h p} under the
2233 @samp{files} keyword and the @code{ffap} Custom group provide details.
2235 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2237 You can turn on FFAP minor mode by calling @code{ffap-bindings} to
2238 make the following key bindings and to install hooks for using
2239 @code{ffap} in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2242 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2243 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2244 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2245 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2247 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2248 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2250 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2251 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2253 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2254 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2255 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2256 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2257 point (@code{ffap-dired-at-point}).
2259 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2260 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2263 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2264 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2265 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2269 @subsection Finding Function and Variable Definitions
2270 @cindex definitions, finding in Lisp sources
2271 @cindex Lisp definitions, finding in sources
2274 @item M-x find-function @key{RET} @var{function} @key{RET}
2275 Find the definition of @var{function} in its source file.
2276 @item M-x find-variable @key{RET} @var{variable} @key{RET}
2277 Find the definition of @var{variable} in its source file.
2278 @item M-x find-function-on-key @key{RET} @var{key}
2279 Find the definition of the function that @var{key} invokes.
2282 These commands provide an easy way to find the definitions of Emacs
2283 Lisp functions and variables. They are similar in purpose to the Tags
2284 facility (@pxref{Tags}), but don't require a tags table; on the other
2285 hand, they only work for function and variable definitions that are
2286 already loaded in the Emacs session.
2288 @findex find-function
2289 @findex find-function-on-key
2290 @findex find-variable
2291 To find the definition of a function, use @kbd{M-x find-function}.
2292 @kbd{M-x find-variable} finds the definition of a specified variable.
2293 @kbd{M-x find-function-on-key} finds the definition of the function
2294 bound to a specified key.
2296 To use these commands, you must have the Lisp source (@samp{.el})
2297 files available along with the compiled (@samp{.elc}) files, in
2298 directories in @code{load-path}. You can use compressed source files
2299 if you enable Auto Compression mode. These commands only handle
2300 definitions written in Lisp, not primitive functions or variables
2301 defined in the C code of Emacs.
2303 @node Dissociated Press, Amusements, Hyperlinking, Top
2304 @section Dissociated Press
2306 @findex dissociated-press
2307 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} is a command for scrambling a file of text
2308 either word by word or character by character. Starting from a buffer of
2309 straight English, it produces extremely amusing output. The input comes
2310 from the current Emacs buffer. Dissociated Press writes its output in a
2311 buffer named @samp{*Dissociation*}, and redisplays that buffer after every
2312 couple of lines (approximately) so you can read the output as it comes out.
2314 Dissociated Press asks every so often whether to continue generating
2315 output. Answer @kbd{n} to stop it. You can also stop at any time by
2316 typing @kbd{C-g}. The dissociation output remains in the
2317 @samp{*Dissociation*} buffer for you to copy elsewhere if you wish.
2319 @cindex presidentagon
2320 Dissociated Press operates by jumping at random from one point in the
2321 buffer to another. In order to produce plausible output rather than
2322 gibberish, it insists on a certain amount of overlap between the end of
2323 one run of consecutive words or characters and the start of the next.
2324 That is, if it has just output `president' and then decides to jump
2325 to a different point in the file, it might spot the `ent' in `pentagon'
2326 and continue from there, producing `presidentagon'.@footnote{This
2327 dissociword actually appeared during the Vietnam War, when it was very
2328 appropriate.} Long sample texts produce the best results.
2330 @cindex againformation
2331 A positive argument to @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} tells it to operate
2332 character by character, and specifies the number of overlap characters. A
2333 negative argument tells it to operate word by word and specifies the number
2334 of overlap words. In this mode, whole words are treated as the elements to
2335 be permuted, rather than characters. No argument is equivalent to an
2336 argument of two. For your againformation, the output goes only into the
2337 buffer @samp{*Dissociation*}. The buffer you start with is not changed.
2339 @cindex Markov chain
2341 @cindex techniquitous
2342 Dissociated Press produces nearly the same results as a Markov chain
2343 based on a frequency table constructed from the sample text. It is,
2344 however, an independent, ignoriginal invention. Dissociated Press
2345 techniquitously copies several consecutive characters from the sample
2346 between random choices, whereas a Markov chain would choose randomly for
2347 each word or character. This makes for more plausible sounding results,
2354 @cindex developediment
2356 It is a mustatement that too much use of Dissociated Press can be a
2357 developediment to your real work. Sometimes to the point of outragedy.
2358 And keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want it to be well
2359 userenced and properbose. Have fun. Your buggestions are welcome.
2361 @node Amusements, Customization, Dissociated Press, Top
2362 @section Other Amusements
2367 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2369 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2370 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2371 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2374 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2375 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2381 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are kinds of puzzles.
2382 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2383 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2384 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2385 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2386 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2390 @cindex cryptanalysis
2391 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is encrypted
2392 in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2395 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs an adventure-style exploration game, which is
2396 a bigger sort of puzzle.
2399 @cindex landmark game
2400 @kbd{M-x lm} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which a robot
2401 attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the window based on
2402 unique olfactory cues from each of the four directions.
2406 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's ``Life'' cellular automaton.
2408 @findex morse-region
2409 @findex unmorse-region
2411 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2412 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts text in a region to Morse code and
2413 @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. No cause for remorse.
2417 @kbd{M-x pong} plays a Pong-like game, bouncing the ball off opposing
2422 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2425 @findex studlify-region
2427 @kbd{M-x studlify-region} studlify-cases the region, producing
2431 M-x stUdlIfY-RegioN stUdlIfY-CaSeS thE region.
2438 @kbd{M-x tetris} runs an implementation of the well-known Tetris game.
2439 Likewise, @kbd{M-x snake} provides an implementation of Snake.
2441 When you are frustrated, try the famous Eliza program. Just do
2442 @kbd{M-x doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2445 When you are feeling strange, type @kbd{M-x yow}.
2448 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs is
2452 arch-tag: 8f094220-c0d5-4e9e-af7d-3e0da8187474