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author | Gerd Moellmann <gerd@gnu.org> |
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date | Mon, 07 May 2001 10:05:41 +0000 |
parents | f9bd7ef13ddb |
children | 9b4454d43e72 |
rev | line source |
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25829 | 1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual. |
31311 | 2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000 |
3 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
25829 | 4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. |
5 @node Buffers, Windows, Files, Top | |
6 @chapter Using Multiple Buffers | |
7 | |
8 @cindex buffers | |
9 The text you are editing in Emacs resides in an object called a | |
10 @dfn{buffer}. Each time you visit a file, a buffer is created to hold the | |
11 file's text. Each time you invoke Dired, a buffer is created to hold the | |
12 directory listing. If you send a message with @kbd{C-x m}, a buffer named | |
13 @samp{*mail*} is used to hold the text of the message. When you ask for a | |
14 command's documentation, that appears in a buffer called @samp{*Help*}. | |
15 | |
16 @cindex selected buffer | |
17 @cindex current buffer | |
18 At any time, one and only one buffer is @dfn{selected}. It is also | |
19 called the @dfn{current buffer}. Often we say that a command operates on | |
20 ``the buffer'' as if there were only one; but really this means that the | |
21 command operates on the selected buffer (most commands do). | |
22 | |
37121 | 23 When Emacs has multiple windows, each window has its own chosen |
24 buffer and displays it; at any time, only one of the windows is | |
25 selected, and its chosen buffer is the selected buffer. Each window's | |
26 mode line normally displays the name of the window's chosen buffer | |
27 (@pxref{Windows}). | |
25829 | 28 |
29 Each buffer has a name, which can be of any length, and you can select | |
30 any buffer by giving its name. Most buffers are made by visiting files, | |
31 and their names are derived from the files' names. But you can also create | |
32 an empty buffer with any name you want. A newly started Emacs has a buffer | |
33 named @samp{*scratch*} which can be used for evaluating Lisp expressions in | |
34 Emacs. The distinction between upper and lower case matters in buffer | |
35 names. | |
36 | |
37 Each buffer records individually what file it is visiting, whether it is | |
38 modified, and what major mode and minor modes are in effect in it | |
39 (@pxref{Major Modes}). Any Emacs variable can be made @dfn{local to} a | |
40 particular buffer, meaning its value in that buffer can be different from | |
41 the value in other buffers. @xref{Locals}. | |
42 | |
43 @menu | |
44 * Select Buffer:: Creating a new buffer or reselecting an old one. | |
45 * List Buffers:: Getting a list of buffers that exist. | |
46 * Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-onlyness; copying text. | |
47 * Kill Buffer:: Killing buffers you no longer need. | |
48 * Several Buffers:: How to go through the list of all buffers | |
49 and operate variously on several of them. | |
50 * Indirect Buffers:: An indirect buffer shares the text of another buffer. | |
30869 | 51 * Buffer Convenience:: Convenience and customization features for |
52 buffer handling. | |
25829 | 53 @end menu |
54 | |
55 @node Select Buffer | |
56 @section Creating and Selecting Buffers | |
57 @cindex change buffers | |
58 @cindex switch buffers | |
59 | |
60 @table @kbd | |
61 @item C-x b @var{buffer} @key{RET} | |
62 Select or create a buffer named @var{buffer} (@code{switch-to-buffer}). | |
63 @item C-x 4 b @var{buffer} @key{RET} | |
64 Similar, but select @var{buffer} in another window | |
65 (@code{switch-to-buffer-other-window}). | |
66 @item C-x 5 b @var{buffer} @key{RET} | |
67 Similar, but select @var{buffer} in a separate frame | |
68 (@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}). | |
69 @end table | |
70 | |
71 @kindex C-x 4 b | |
72 @findex switch-to-buffer-other-window | |
73 @kindex C-x 5 b | |
74 @findex switch-to-buffer-other-frame | |
75 @kindex C-x b | |
76 @findex switch-to-buffer | |
77 To select the buffer named @var{bufname}, type @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname} | |
78 @key{RET}}. This runs the command @code{switch-to-buffer} with argument | |
79 @var{bufname}. You can use completion on an abbreviation for the buffer | |
80 name you want (@pxref{Completion}). An empty argument to @kbd{C-x b} | |
81 specifies the most recently selected buffer that is not displayed in any | |
82 window.@refill | |
83 | |
84 Most buffers are created by visiting files, or by Emacs commands that | |
85 want to display some text, but you can also create a buffer explicitly | |
86 by typing @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This makes a new, empty | |
87 buffer that is not visiting any file, and selects it for editing. Such | |
88 buffers are used for making notes to yourself. If you try to save one, | |
89 you are asked for the file name to use. The new buffer's major mode is | |
90 determined by the value of @code{default-major-mode} (@pxref{Major | |
91 Modes}). | |
92 | |
93 Note that @kbd{C-x C-f}, and any other command for visiting a file, | |
94 can also be used to switch to an existing file-visiting buffer. | |
95 @xref{Visiting}. | |
96 | |
97 Emacs uses buffer names that start with a space for internal purposes. | |
98 It treats these buffers specially in minor ways---for example, by | |
99 default they do not record undo information. It is best to avoid using | |
100 such buffer names yourself. | |
101 | |
102 @node List Buffers | |
103 @section Listing Existing Buffers | |
104 | |
105 @table @kbd | |
106 @item C-x C-b | |
107 List the existing buffers (@code{list-buffers}). | |
108 @end table | |
109 | |
110 @cindex listing current buffers | |
111 @kindex C-x C-b | |
112 @findex list-buffers | |
113 To display a list of all the buffers that exist, type @kbd{C-x C-b}. | |
114 Each line in the list shows one buffer's name, major mode and visited | |
115 file. The buffers are listed in the order that they were current; the | |
116 buffers that were current most recently come first. | |
117 | |
118 @samp{*} at the beginning of a line indicates the buffer is ``modified.'' | |
119 If several buffers are modified, it may be time to save some with @kbd{C-x s} | |
120 (@pxref{Saving}). @samp{%} indicates a read-only buffer. @samp{.} marks the | |
121 selected buffer. Here is an example of a buffer list:@refill | |
122 | |
123 @smallexample | |
124 MR Buffer Size Mode File | |
125 -- ------ ---- ---- ---- | |
126 .* emacs.tex 383402 Texinfo /u2/emacs/man/emacs.tex | |
127 *Help* 1287 Fundamental | |
128 files.el 23076 Emacs-Lisp /u2/emacs/lisp/files.el | |
129 % RMAIL 64042 RMAIL /u/rms/RMAIL | |
130 *% man 747 Dired /u2/emacs/man/ | |
131 net.emacs 343885 Fundamental /u/rms/net.emacs | |
132 fileio.c 27691 C /u2/emacs/src/fileio.c | |
133 NEWS 67340 Text /u2/emacs/etc/NEWS | |
134 *scratch* 0 Lisp Interaction | |
135 @end smallexample | |
136 | |
137 @noindent | |
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138 Note that the buffer @samp{*Help*} was made by a help request; it is |
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139 not visiting any file. The buffer @code{man} was made by Dired on the |
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140 directory @file{/u2/emacs/man/}. You can list only buffers that are |
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141 visiting files by giving the command a prefix; for instance, by typing |
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142 @kbd{C-u C-x C-b}. |
25829 | 143 |
144 @need 2000 | |
145 @node Misc Buffer | |
146 @section Miscellaneous Buffer Operations | |
147 | |
148 @table @kbd | |
149 @item C-x C-q | |
150 Toggle read-only status of buffer (@code{vc-toggle-read-only}). | |
151 @item M-x rename-buffer @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET} | |
152 Change the name of the current buffer. | |
153 @item M-x rename-uniquely | |
154 Rename the current buffer by adding @samp{<@var{number}>} to the end. | |
155 @item M-x view-buffer @key{RET} @var{buffer} @key{RET} | |
156 Scroll through buffer @var{buffer}. | |
157 @end table | |
158 | |
159 @kindex C-x C-q | |
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160 @c Don't index vc-toggle-read-only here, it is indexed in files.texi, |
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161 @c in the node "Basic VC Editing". |
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162 @c @findex vc-toggle-read-only |
25829 | 163 @vindex buffer-read-only |
164 @cindex read-only buffer | |
165 A buffer can be @dfn{read-only}, which means that commands to change | |
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166 its contents are not allowed. The mode line indicates read-only |
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167 buffers with @samp{%%} or @samp{%*} near the left margin. Read-only |
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168 buffers are usually made by subsystems such as Dired and Rmail that |
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169 have special commands to operate on the text; also by visiting a file |
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170 whose access control says you cannot write it. |
25829 | 171 |
172 If you wish to make changes in a read-only buffer, use the command | |
173 @kbd{C-x C-q} (@code{vc-toggle-read-only}). It makes a read-only buffer | |
174 writable, and makes a writable buffer read-only. In most cases, this | |
175 works by setting the variable @code{buffer-read-only}, which has a local | |
176 value in each buffer and makes the buffer read-only if its value is | |
177 non-@code{nil}. If the file is maintained with version control, | |
178 @kbd{C-x C-q} works through the version control system to change the | |
179 read-only status of the file as well as the buffer. @xref{Version | |
180 Control}. | |
181 | |
182 @findex rename-buffer | |
183 @kbd{M-x rename-buffer} changes the name of the current buffer. Specify | |
184 the new name as a minibuffer argument. There is no default. If you | |
185 specify a name that is in use for some other buffer, an error happens and | |
186 no renaming is done. | |
187 | |
188 @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} renames the current buffer to a similar name | |
189 with a numeric suffix added to make it both different and unique. This | |
190 command does not need an argument. It is useful for creating multiple | |
191 shell buffers: if you rename the @samp{*Shell*} buffer, then do @kbd{M-x | |
192 shell} again, it makes a new shell buffer named @samp{*Shell*}; | |
193 meanwhile, the old shell buffer continues to exist under its new name. | |
194 This method is also good for mail buffers, compilation buffers, and most | |
195 Emacs features that create special buffers with particular names. | |
196 | |
197 @findex view-buffer | |
198 @kbd{M-x view-buffer} is much like @kbd{M-x view-file} (@pxref{Misc | |
199 File Ops}) except that it examines an already existing Emacs buffer. | |
200 View mode provides commands for scrolling through the buffer | |
201 conveniently but not for changing it. When you exit View mode with | |
202 @kbd{q}, that switches back to the buffer (and the position) which was | |
203 previously displayed in the window. Alternatively, if you exit View | |
204 mode with @kbd{e}, the buffer and the value of point that resulted from | |
205 your perusal remain in effect. | |
206 | |
207 The commands @kbd{M-x append-to-buffer} and @kbd{M-x insert-buffer} | |
208 can be used to copy text from one buffer to another. @xref{Accumulating | |
209 Text}.@refill | |
210 | |
211 @node Kill Buffer | |
212 @section Killing Buffers | |
213 | |
214 @cindex killing buffers | |
215 If you continue an Emacs session for a while, you may accumulate a | |
216 large number of buffers. You may then find it convenient to @dfn{kill} | |
217 the buffers you no longer need. On most operating systems, killing a | |
218 buffer releases its space back to the operating system so that other | |
219 programs can use it. Here are some commands for killing buffers: | |
220 | |
221 @c WideCommands | |
222 @table @kbd | |
223 @item C-x k @var{bufname} @key{RET} | |
224 Kill buffer @var{bufname} (@code{kill-buffer}). | |
225 @item M-x kill-some-buffers | |
226 Offer to kill each buffer, one by one. | |
227 @end table | |
228 | |
229 @findex kill-buffer | |
230 @findex kill-some-buffers | |
231 @kindex C-x k | |
232 | |
233 @kbd{C-x k} (@code{kill-buffer}) kills one buffer, whose name you | |
234 specify in the minibuffer. The default, used if you type just @key{RET} | |
235 in the minibuffer, is to kill the current buffer. If you kill the | |
236 current buffer, another buffer is selected; one that has been selected | |
237 recently but does not appear in any window now. If you ask to kill a | |
238 file-visiting buffer that is modified (has unsaved editing), then you | |
239 must confirm with @kbd{yes} before the buffer is killed. | |
240 | |
241 The command @kbd{M-x kill-some-buffers} asks about each buffer, one by | |
242 one. An answer of @kbd{y} means to kill the buffer. Killing the current | |
243 buffer or a buffer containing unsaved changes selects a new buffer or asks | |
244 for confirmation just like @code{kill-buffer}. | |
245 | |
246 The buffer menu feature (@pxref{Several Buffers}) is also convenient | |
247 for killing various buffers. | |
248 | |
249 @vindex kill-buffer-hook | |
250 If you want to do something special every time a buffer is killed, you | |
251 can add hook functions to the hook @code{kill-buffer-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}). | |
252 | |
253 @findex clean-buffer-list | |
254 If you run one Emacs session for a period of days, as many people do, | |
255 it can fill up with buffers that you used several days ago. The command | |
256 @kbd{M-x clean-buffer-list} is a convenient way to purge them; it kills | |
257 all the unmodified buffers that you have not used for a long time. An | |
258 ordinary buffer is killed if it has not been displayed for three days; | |
259 however, you can specify certain buffers that should never be killed | |
260 automatically, and others that should be killed if they have been unused | |
261 for a mere hour. | |
262 | |
263 @cindex Midnight mode | |
264 @vindex midnight-mode | |
265 @vindex midnight-hook | |
266 You can also have this buffer purging done for you, every day at | |
267 midnight, by enabling Midnight mode. Midnight mode operates each day at | |
268 midnight; at that time, it runs @code{clean-buffer-list}, or whichever | |
269 functions you have placed in the normal hook @code{midnight-hook} | |
270 (@pxref{Hooks}). | |
271 | |
272 To enable Midnight mode, use the Customization buffer to set the | |
273 variable @code{midnight-mode} to @code{t}. @xref{Easy Customization}. | |
274 | |
275 @node Several Buffers | |
276 @section Operating on Several Buffers | |
277 @cindex buffer menu | |
278 | |
279 The @dfn{buffer-menu} facility is like a ``Dired for buffers''; it allows | |
280 you to request operations on various Emacs buffers by editing an Emacs | |
281 buffer containing a list of them. You can save buffers, kill them | |
282 (here called @dfn{deleting} them, for consistency with Dired), or display | |
283 them. | |
284 | |
285 @table @kbd | |
286 @item M-x buffer-menu | |
287 Begin editing a buffer listing all Emacs buffers. | |
288 @end table | |
289 | |
290 @findex buffer-menu | |
291 The command @code{buffer-menu} writes a list of all Emacs buffers into | |
292 the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*}, and selects that buffer in Buffer Menu | |
293 mode. The buffer is read-only, and can be changed only through the | |
294 special commands described in this section. The usual Emacs cursor | |
295 motion commands can be used in the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer. The | |
296 following commands apply to the buffer described on the current line. | |
297 | |
298 @table @kbd | |
299 @item d | |
300 Request to delete (kill) the buffer, then move down. The request | |
301 shows as a @samp{D} on the line, before the buffer name. Requested | |
302 deletions take place when you type the @kbd{x} command. | |
303 @item C-d | |
304 Like @kbd{d} but move up afterwards instead of down. | |
305 @item s | |
306 Request to save the buffer. The request shows as an @samp{S} on the | |
307 line. Requested saves take place when you type the @kbd{x} command. | |
308 You may request both saving and deletion for the same buffer. | |
309 @item x | |
310 Perform previously requested deletions and saves. | |
311 @item u | |
312 Remove any request made for the current line, and move down. | |
313 @item @key{DEL} | |
314 Move to previous line and remove any request made for that line. | |
315 @end table | |
316 | |
317 The @kbd{d}, @kbd{C-d}, @kbd{s} and @kbd{u} commands to add or remove | |
318 flags also move down (or up) one line. They accept a numeric argument | |
319 as a repeat count. | |
320 | |
321 These commands operate immediately on the buffer listed on the current | |
322 line: | |
323 | |
324 @table @kbd | |
325 @item ~ | |
326 Mark the buffer ``unmodified.'' The command @kbd{~} does this | |
327 immediately when you type it. | |
328 @item % | |
329 Toggle the buffer's read-only flag. The command @kbd{%} does | |
330 this immediately when you type it. | |
331 @item t | |
332 Visit the buffer as a tags table. @xref{Select Tags Table}. | |
333 @end table | |
334 | |
335 There are also commands to select another buffer or buffers: | |
336 | |
337 @table @kbd | |
338 @item q | |
339 Quit the buffer menu---immediately display the most recent formerly | |
340 visible buffer in its place. | |
341 @item @key{RET} | |
342 @itemx f | |
343 Immediately select this line's buffer in place of the @samp{*Buffer | |
344 List*} buffer. | |
345 @item o | |
346 Immediately select this line's buffer in another window as if by | |
347 @kbd{C-x 4 b}, leaving @samp{*Buffer List*} visible. | |
348 @item C-o | |
349 Immediately display this line's buffer in another window, but don't | |
350 select the window. | |
351 @item 1 | |
352 Immediately select this line's buffer in a full-screen window. | |
353 @item 2 | |
354 Immediately set up two windows, with this line's buffer in one, and the | |
355 previously selected buffer (aside from the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*}) | |
356 in the other. | |
357 @item b | |
358 Bury the buffer listed on this line. | |
359 @item m | |
360 Mark this line's buffer to be displayed in another window if you exit | |
361 with the @kbd{v} command. The request shows as a @samp{>} at the | |
362 beginning of the line. (A single buffer may not have both a delete | |
363 request and a display request.) | |
364 @item v | |
365 Immediately select this line's buffer, and also display in other windows | |
366 any buffers previously marked with the @kbd{m} command. If you have not | |
367 marked any buffers, this command is equivalent to @kbd{1}. | |
368 @end table | |
369 | |
370 All that @code{buffer-menu} does directly is create and switch to a | |
371 suitable buffer, and turn on Buffer Menu mode. Everything else | |
372 described above is implemented by the special commands provided in | |
373 Buffer Menu mode. One consequence of this is that you can switch from | |
374 the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer to another Emacs buffer, and edit there. | |
375 You can reselect the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer later, to perform the | |
376 operations already requested, or you can kill it, or pay no further | |
377 attention to it. | |
378 | |
379 The only difference between @code{buffer-menu} and @code{list-buffers} | |
380 is that @code{buffer-menu} switches to the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer | |
381 in the selected window; @code{list-buffers} displays it in another | |
382 window. If you run @code{list-buffers} (that is, type @kbd{C-x C-b}) | |
383 and select the buffer list manually, you can use all of the commands | |
384 described here. | |
385 | |
386 The buffer @samp{*Buffer List*} is not updated automatically when | |
387 buffers are created and killed; its contents are just text. If you have | |
388 created, deleted or renamed buffers, the way to update @samp{*Buffer | |
389 List*} to show what you have done is to type @kbd{g} | |
390 (@code{revert-buffer}) or repeat the @code{buffer-menu} command. | |
391 | |
392 @node Indirect Buffers | |
393 @section Indirect Buffers | |
394 @cindex indirect buffer | |
395 @cindex base buffer | |
396 | |
397 An @dfn{indirect buffer} shares the text of some other buffer, which | |
398 is called the @dfn{base buffer} of the indirect buffer. In some ways it | |
399 is the analogue, for buffers, of a symbolic link between files. | |
400 | |
401 @table @kbd | |
402 @findex make-indirect-buffer | |
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403 @item M-x make-indirect-buffer @key{RET} @var{base-buffer} @key{RET} @var{indirect-name} @key{RET} |
25829 | 404 Create an indirect buffer named @var{indirect-name} whose base buffer |
405 is @var{base-buffer}. | |
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406 @findex clone-indirect-buffer |
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407 @item M-x clone-indirect-buffer @key{RET} |
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408 Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer. |
36884 | 409 @item C-x 4 c |
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410 @kindex C-x 4 c |
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411 @findex clone-indirect-buffer-other-window |
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412 Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer, and |
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413 select it in another window (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window}). |
25829 | 414 @end table |
415 | |
416 The text of the indirect buffer is always identical to the text of its | |
417 base buffer; changes made by editing either one are visible immediately | |
418 in the other. But in all other respects, the indirect buffer and its | |
419 base buffer are completely separate. They have different names, | |
420 different values of point, different narrowing, different markers, | |
421 different major modes, and different local variables. | |
422 | |
423 An indirect buffer cannot visit a file, but its base buffer can. If | |
424 you try to save the indirect buffer, that actually works by saving the | |
425 base buffer. Killing the base buffer effectively kills the indirect | |
426 buffer, but killing an indirect buffer has no effect on its base buffer. | |
427 | |
428 One way to use indirect buffers is to display multiple views of an | |
429 outline. @xref{Outline Views}. | |
30869 | 430 |
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431 @cindex multiple @samp{*info*} and @samp{*Help*} buffers |
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432 A quick and handy way to make an indirect buffer is with the command |
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433 @kbd{M-x clone-indirect-buffer}. It creates and selects an indirect |
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434 buffer whose base buffer is the current buffer. With a numeric |
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435 argument, it prompts for the name of the indirect buffer; otherwise it |
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436 defaults to the name of the current buffer, modifying it by adding a |
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437 @samp{<@var{n}>} prefix if required. @kbd{C-x 4 c} |
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438 (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window}) works like @kbd{M-x |
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439 clone-indirect-buffer}, but it selects the cloned buffer in another |
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440 window. These commands come in handy if you want to create new |
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441 @samp{*info*} or @samp{*Help*} buffers, for example. |
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442 |
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443 The more general way is with the command @kbd{M-x |
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444 make-indirect-buffer}. It creates an indirect buffer from buffer |
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445 @var{base-buffer}, under the name @var{indirect-name}. It prompts for |
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446 both @var{base-buffer} and @var{indirect-name} using the minibuffer. |
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447 |
30869 | 448 @node Buffer Convenience |
449 @section Convenience Features and Customization of Buffer Handling | |
450 | |
37121 | 451 This section describes several modes and features that make it more |
452 convenient to switch between buffers. | |
453 | |
30869 | 454 @menu |
31311 | 455 * Uniquify:: Buffer names can contain directory parts. |
31815 | 456 * Iswitchb:: Switching between buffers with substrings. |
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457 * Buffer Menus:: Configurable buffer menu. |
30869 | 458 @end menu |
459 | |
460 @node Uniquify | |
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461 @subsection Making Buffer Names Unique |
30869 | 462 |
463 @cindex unique buffer names | |
464 @cindex directories in buffer names | |
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465 When several buffers visit identically-named files, Emacs must give |
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466 the buffers distinct names. The usual method for making buffer names |
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467 unique adds @samp{<2>}, @samp{<3>}, etc. to the end of the buffer |
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468 names (all but one of them). |
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469 |
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470 @vindex uniquify-buffer-name-style |
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471 Other methods work by adding parts of each file's directory to the |
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472 buffer name. To select one, customize the variable |
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473 @code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} (@pxref{Easy Customization}). |
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474 |
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475 For instance, the @code{forward} naming method puts part of the |
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476 directory name at the beginning of the buffer name; using this method, |
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477 buffers visiting @file{/u/mernst/tmp/Makefile} and |
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478 @file{/usr/projects/zaphod/Makefile} would be named |
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479 @samp{tmp/Makefile} and @samp{zaphod/Makefile}, respectively (instead |
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480 of @samp{Makefile} and @samp{Makefile<2>}). |
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481 |
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482 By contrast, the @code{post-forward} naming method would call the |
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483 buffers @samp{Makefile|tmp} and @samp{Makefile|zaphod}, and the |
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484 @code{reverse} naming method would call them @samp{Makefile\tmp} and |
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485 @samp{Makefile\zaphod}. The nontrivial difference between |
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486 @code{post-forward} and @code{reverse} occurs when just one directory |
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487 name is not enough to distinguish two files; then @code{reverse} puts |
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488 the directory names in reverse order, so that @file{/top/middle/file} |
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489 becomes @samp{file\middle\top}, while @code{post-forward} puts them in |
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490 forward order after the file name, as in @samp{file|top/middle}. |
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491 |
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492 Which rule to follow for putting the directory names in the buffer |
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493 name is not very important if you are going to @emph{look} at the |
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494 buffer names before you type one. But as an experienced user, if you |
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495 know the rule, you won't have to look. And then you may find that one |
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496 rule or another is easier for you to remember and utilize fast. |
30869 | 497 |
31815 | 498 @node Iswitchb |
499 @subsection Switching Between Buffers using Substrings | |
500 | |
501 @findex iswitchb-mode | |
502 @cindex Iswitchb mode | |
503 @cindex mode, Iswitchb | |
504 @kindex C-x b @r{(Iswitchb mode)} | |
505 @kindex C-x 4 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)} | |
506 @kindex C-x 5 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)} | |
507 @kindex C-x 4 C-o @r{(Iswitchb mode)} | |
508 | |
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509 Iswitchb global minor mode provides convenient switching between |
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510 buffers using substrings of their names. It replaces the normal |
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511 definitions of @kbd{C-x b}, @kbd{C-x 4 b}, @kbd{C-x 5 b}, and @kbd{C-x |
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512 4 C-o} with alternative commands that are somewhat ``smarter.'' |
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513 |
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514 When one of these commands prompts you for a buffer name, you can |
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515 type in just a substring of the name you want to choose. As you enter |
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516 the substring, Iswitchb mode continuously displays a list of buffers |
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517 that match the substring you have typed. |
31815 | 518 |
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519 At any time, you can type @key{RET} to select the first buffer in |
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520 the list. So the way to select a particular buffer is to make it the |
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521 first in the list. There are two ways to do this. You can type more |
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522 of the buffer name and thus narrow down the list, excluding unwanted |
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523 buffers above the desired one. Alternatively, you can use @kbd{C-s} |
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524 and @kbd{C-r} to rotate the list until the desired buffer is first. |
31815 | 525 |
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526 @key{TAB} while entering the buffer name performs completion on the |
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527 string you have entered, based on the displayed list of buffers. |
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528 |
37121 | 529 To enable Iswitchb mode, type @kbd{M-x iswitchb-mode}, or customize |
530 the variable @code{iswitchb-mode} to @code{t} (@pxref{Easy | |
531 Customization}). | |
532 | |
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533 @node Buffer Menus |
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534 @subsection Customizing Buffer Menus |
30869 | 535 |
31311 | 536 @findex bs-show |
537 @cindex buffer list, customizable | |
538 @table @kbd | |
539 @item M-x bs-show | |
540 Make a list of buffers similarly to @kbd{M-x list-buffers} but | |
541 customizable. | |
542 @end table | |
543 | |
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544 @kbd{M-x bs-show} pops up a buffer list similar to the one normally |
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545 displayed by @kbd{C-x C-b} but which you can customize. If you prefer |
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546 this to the usual buffer list, you can bind this command to @kbd{C-x |
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547 C-b}. To customize this buffer list, use the @code{bs} Custom group |
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548 (@pxref{Easy Customization}). |
30869 | 549 |
31815 | 550 @findex msb-mode |
551 @cindex mode, MSB | |
552 @cindex MSB mode | |
553 @cindex buffer menu | |
554 @findex mouse-buffer-menu | |
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555 @kindex C-Down-Mouse-1 |
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556 MSB global minor mode (``MSB'' stands for ``mouse select buffer'') |
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557 provides a different and customizable mouse buffer menu which you may |
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558 prefer. It replaces the bindings of @code{mouse-buffer-menu}, |
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559 normally on @kbd{C-Down-Mouse-1}, and the menu bar buffer menu. You |
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560 can customize the menu in the @code{msb} Custom group. |