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author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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date | Sun, 20 Jan 2002 23:17:16 +0000 |
parents | d18a841a4a5a |
children | 695cf19ef79e d7ddb3e565de |
rev | line source |
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25829 | 1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual. |
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
3 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. | |
4 @node M-x, Help, Minibuffer, Top | |
5 @chapter Running Commands by Name | |
6 | |
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7 Every Emacs command has a name that you can use to run it. Commands |
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Clarify key bindings vs running a command by name.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
36658
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changeset
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8 that are used often, or that must be quick to type, are also bound to |
d18a841a4a5a
Clarify key bindings vs running a command by name.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
36658
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9 keys---short sequences of characters---for convenient use. You can |
d18a841a4a5a
Clarify key bindings vs running a command by name.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
36658
diff
changeset
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10 run them by name if you don't remember the keys. Other Emacs commands |
d18a841a4a5a
Clarify key bindings vs running a command by name.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
36658
diff
changeset
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11 that do not need to be quick are not bound to keys; the only way to |
d18a841a4a5a
Clarify key bindings vs running a command by name.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents:
36658
diff
changeset
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12 run them is by name. @xref{Key Bindings}, for the description of |
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13 how to bind commands to keys. |
25829 | 14 |
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parents:
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15 By convention, a command name consists of one or more words, |
25829 | 16 separated by hyphens; for example, @code{auto-fill-mode} or |
17 @code{manual-entry}. The use of English words makes the command name | |
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parents:
36658
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18 easier to remember than a key made up of obscure characters, even |
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parents:
36658
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changeset
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19 though it is more characters to type. |
25829 | 20 |
21 @kindex M-x | |
22 The way to run a command by name is to start with @kbd{M-x}, type the | |
23 command name, and finish it with @key{RET}. @kbd{M-x} uses the | |
24 minibuffer to read the command name. @key{RET} exits the minibuffer and | |
25 runs the command. The string @samp{M-x} appears at the beginning of the | |
26 minibuffer as a @dfn{prompt} to remind you to enter the name of a | |
27 command to be run. @xref{Minibuffer}, for full information on the | |
28 features of the minibuffer. | |
29 | |
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30 You can use completion to enter the command name. For example, you |
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Clarify key bindings vs running a command by name.
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parents:
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31 can invoke the command @code{forward-char} by name by typing either |
25829 | 32 |
33 @example | |
34 M-x forward-char @key{RET} | |
35 @end example | |
36 | |
37 @noindent | |
38 or | |
39 | |
40 @example | |
41 M-x forw @key{TAB} c @key{RET} | |
42 @end example | |
43 | |
44 @noindent | |
45 Note that @code{forward-char} is the same command that you invoke with | |
46 the key @kbd{C-f}. You can run any Emacs command by name using | |
47 @kbd{M-x}, whether or not any keys are bound to it. | |
48 | |
49 If you type @kbd{C-g} while the command name is being read, you cancel | |
50 the @kbd{M-x} command and get out of the minibuffer, ending up at top level. | |
51 | |
52 To pass a numeric argument to the command you are invoking with | |
53 @kbd{M-x}, specify the numeric argument before the @kbd{M-x}. @kbd{M-x} | |
54 passes the argument along to the command it runs. The argument value | |
55 appears in the prompt while the command name is being read. | |
56 | |
57 @vindex suggest-key-bindings | |
58 If the command you type has a key binding of its own, Emacs mentions | |
59 this in the echo area, two seconds after the command finishes (if you | |
60 don't type anything else first). For example, if you type @kbd{M-x | |
61 forward-word}, the message says that you can run the same command more | |
62 easily by typing @kbd{M-f}. You can turn off these messages by setting | |
63 @code{suggest-key-bindings} to @code{nil}. | |
64 | |
65 Normally, when describing in this manual a command that is run by | |
66 name, we omit the @key{RET} that is needed to terminate the name. Thus | |
67 we might speak of @kbd{M-x auto-fill-mode} rather than @kbd{M-x | |
68 auto-fill-mode @key{RET}}. We mention the @key{RET} only when there is | |
69 a need to emphasize its presence, such as when we show the command | |
70 together with following arguments. | |
71 | |
72 @findex execute-extended-command | |
73 @kbd{M-x} works by running the command | |
74 @code{execute-extended-command}, which is responsible for reading the | |
75 name of another command and invoking it. |