annotate man/basic.texi @ 72091:15c6c0e92130

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author Mathias Dahl <mathias.dahl@gmail.com>
date Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:20:54 +0000
parents 542cd4440e5f
children c7e4f78b81a6 a8190f7e546e
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1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
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2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
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3 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
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5 @node Basic, Minibuffer, Exiting, Top
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6 @chapter Basic Editing Commands
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7
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8 @kindex C-h t
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9 @findex help-with-tutorial
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10 Here we explain the basics of how to enter text, make corrections,
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11 and save the text in a file. If this material is new to you, we
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12 suggest you first run the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial, by typing
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13 @kbd{Control-h t} inside Emacs. (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
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14
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15 To clear and redisplay the screen, type @kbd{C-l} (@code{recenter}).
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16
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17 @menu
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18
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19 * Inserting Text:: Inserting text by simply typing it.
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20 * Moving Point:: Moving the cursor to the place where you want to
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21 change something.
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22 * Erasing:: Deleting and killing text.
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23 * Basic Undo:: Undoing recent changes in the text.
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24 * Files: Basic Files. Visiting, creating, and saving files.
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25 * Help: Basic Help. Asking what a character does.
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26 * Blank Lines:: Making and deleting blank lines.
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27 * Continuation Lines:: How Emacs displays lines too wide for the screen.
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28 * Position Info:: What page, line, row, or column is point on?
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29 * Arguments:: Numeric arguments for repeating a command N times.
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30 * Repeating:: Repeating the previous command quickly.
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31 @end menu
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32
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33 @node Inserting Text
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34 @section Inserting Text
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35
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36 @cindex insertion
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37 @cindex graphic characters
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38 Typing printing characters inserts them into the text you are
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39 editing. It inserts them into the buffer at the cursor; more
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40 precisely, it inserts them at @dfn{point}, but the cursor normally
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41 shows where point is. @xref{Point}.
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42
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43 Insertion moves the cursor forward, and the following text moves
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44 forward with the cursor. If the text in the buffer is @samp{FOOBAR},
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45 with the cursor before the @samp{B}, and you type @kbd{XX}, you get
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46 @samp{FOOXXBAR}, with the cursor still before the @samp{B}.
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47
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48 To @dfn{delete} text you have just inserted, use the large key
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49 labeled @key{DEL}, @key{BACKSPACE} or @key{DELETE} which is a short
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50 distance above the @key{RET} or @key{ENTER} key. Regardless of the
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51 label on that key, Emacs thinks of it as @key{DEL}, and that's what we
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52 call it in this manual. @key{DEL} is the key you normally use outside
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53 Emacs to erase the last character that you typed.
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54
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55 The @key{DEL} key deletes the character @emph{before} the cursor.
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56 As a consequence, the cursor and all the characters after it move
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57 backwards. If you type a printing character and then type @key{DEL},
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58 they cancel out.
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59
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60 On most computers, Emacs sets up @key{DEL} automatically. In some
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61 cases, especially with text-only terminals, Emacs may guess wrong. If
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62 the key that ought to erase the last character doesn't do it in Emacs,
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63 see @ref{DEL Does Not Delete}.
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64
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65 Most PC keyboards have both a @key{BACKSPACE} key a little ways
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66 above @key{RET} or @key{ENTER}, and a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere. On
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67 these keyboards, Emacs tries to set up @key{BACKSPACE} as @key{DEL}.
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68 The @key{DELETE} key deletes ``forwards'' like @kbd{C-d} (see below),
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69 which means it deletes the character underneath the cursor (after
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70 point).
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71
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72 @kindex RET
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73 @cindex newline
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74 To end a line and start typing a new one, type @key{RET}. (This
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75 key may be labeled @key{RETURN} or @key{ENTER}, but in Emacs we call
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76 it @key{RET}.) This inserts a newline character in the buffer. If
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77 point is at the end of the line, this creates a new blank line after
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78 it. If point is in the middle of a line, the effect is to split that
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79 line. Typing @key{DEL} when the cursor is at the beginning of a line
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80 deletes the preceding newline character, thus joining the line with
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81 the one before it.
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82
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83 Emacs can split lines automatically when they become too long, if
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84 you turn on a special minor mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode.
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85 @xref{Filling}, for Auto Fill mode and other methods of @dfn{filling}
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86 text.
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87
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88 If you prefer printing characters to replace (overwrite) existing
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89 text, rather than shove it to the right, you should enable Overwrite
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90 mode, a minor mode. @xref{Minor Modes}.
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91
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92 @cindex quoting
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93 @kindex C-q
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94 @findex quoted-insert
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95 Only printing characters and @key{SPC} insert themselves in Emacs.
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96 Other characters act as editing commands and do not insert themselves.
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97 These include control characters, and characters with codes above 200
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98 octal. If you need to insert one of these characters in the buffer,
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99 you must @dfn{quote} it by typing the character @kbd{Control-q}
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100 (@code{quoted-insert}) first. (This character's name is normally
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101 written @kbd{C-q} for short.) There are two ways to use
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102 @kbd{C-q}:
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103
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104 @itemize @bullet
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105 @item
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106 @kbd{C-q} followed by any non-graphic character (even @kbd{C-g})
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107 inserts that character.
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108
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109 @item
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110 @kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits inserts the character
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111 with the specified octal character code. You can use any number of
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112 octal digits; any non-digit terminates the sequence. If the
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113 terminating character is @key{RET}, it serves only to terminate the
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114 sequence. Any other non-digit terminates the sequence and then acts
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115 as normal input---thus, @kbd{C-q 1 0 1 B} inserts @samp{AB}.
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116
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117 The use of octal sequences is disabled in ordinary non-binary
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118 Overwrite mode, to give you a convenient way to insert a digit instead
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119 of overwriting with it.
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120 @end itemize
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121
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122 @cindex 8-bit character codes
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123 @noindent
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124 When multibyte characters are enabled, if you specify a code in the
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125 range 0200 through 0377 octal, @kbd{C-q} assumes that you intend to
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126 use some ISO 8859-@var{n} character set, and converts the specified
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127 code to the corresponding Emacs character code. @xref{Enabling
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128 Multibyte}. You select @emph{which} of the ISO 8859 character sets to
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129 use through your choice of language environment (@pxref{Language
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130 Environments}).
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131
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132 @vindex read-quoted-char-radix
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133 To use decimal or hexadecimal instead of octal, set the variable
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134 @code{read-quoted-char-radix} to 10 or 16. If the radix is greater than
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135 10, some letters starting with @kbd{a} serve as part of a character
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136 code, just like digits.
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137
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138 A numeric argument tells @kbd{C-q} how many copies of the quoted
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139 character to insert (@pxref{Arguments}).
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140
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141 @findex newline
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142 @findex self-insert
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143 Customization information: @key{DEL} in most modes runs the command
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144 @code{delete-backward-char}; @key{RET} runs the command
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145 @code{newline}, and self-inserting printing characters run the command
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146 @code{self-insert}, which inserts whatever character you typed. Some
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147 major modes rebind @key{DEL} to other commands.
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148
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149 @node Moving Point
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150 @section Changing the Location of Point
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151
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152 @cindex arrow keys
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153 @cindex moving point
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154 @cindex movement
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155 @cindex cursor motion
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156 @cindex moving the cursor
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157 To do more than insert characters, you have to know how to move point
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158 (@pxref{Point}). The simplest way to do this is with arrow keys, or by
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159 clicking the left mouse button where you want to move to.
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160
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161 There are also control and meta characters for cursor motion. Some
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162 are equivalent to the arrow keys (it is faster to use these control
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163 keys than move your hand over to the arrow keys). Others do more
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164 sophisticated things.
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165
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166 @kindex C-a
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167 @kindex C-e
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168 @kindex C-f
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169 @kindex C-b
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170 @kindex C-n
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171 @kindex C-p
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172 @kindex M->
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173 @kindex M-<
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174 @kindex M-r
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175 @kindex LEFT
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176 @kindex RIGHT
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177 @kindex UP
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178 @kindex DOWN
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179 @findex move-beginning-of-line
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180 @findex move-end-of-line
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181 @findex forward-char
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182 @findex backward-char
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183 @findex next-line
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184 @findex previous-line
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185 @findex beginning-of-buffer
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186 @findex end-of-buffer
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187 @findex goto-char
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188 @findex goto-line
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189 @findex move-to-window-line
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190 @table @kbd
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191 @item C-a
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192 Move to the beginning of the line (@code{move-beginning-of-line}).
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193 @item C-e
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194 Move to the end of the line (@code{move-end-of-line}).
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195 @item C-f
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196 Move forward one character (@code{forward-char}). The right-arrow key
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197 does the same thing.
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198 @item C-b
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199 Move backward one character (@code{backward-char}). The left-arrow
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200 key has the same effect.
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201 @item M-f
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202 Move forward one word (@code{forward-word}).
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203 @item M-b
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204 Move backward one word (@code{backward-word}).
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205 @item C-n
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206 Move down one line vertically (@code{next-line}). This command
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207 attempts to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in
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208 the middle of one line, you move to the middle of the next. The
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209 down-arrow key does the same thing.
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210 @item C-p
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211 Move up one line, vertically (@code{previous-line}). The up-arrow key
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212 has the same effect. This command preserves position within the line,
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213 like @kbd{C-n}.
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214 @item M-r
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215 Move point to left margin, vertically centered in the window
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216 (@code{move-to-window-line}). Text does not move on the screen.
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217 A numeric argument says which screen line to place point on, counting
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218 downward from the top of the window (zero means the top line). A
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219 negative argument counts lines up from the bottom (@minus{}1 means the
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220 bottom line).
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221 @item M-<
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222 Move to the top of the buffer (@code{beginning-of-buffer}). With
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223 numeric argument @var{n}, move to @var{n}/10 of the way from the top.
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224 @xref{Arguments}, for more information on numeric arguments.@refill
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225 @item M->
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226 Move to the end of the buffer (@code{end-of-buffer}).
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227 @item C-v
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228 @itemx @key{PAGEDOWN}
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229 @itemx @key{PRIOR}
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230 Scroll the display one screen forward, and move point if necessary to
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231 put it on the screen (@code{scroll-up}). This doesn't always move
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232 point, but it is commonly used to do so. If your keyboard has a
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233 @key{PAGEDOWN} or @key{PRIOR} key, it does the same thing.
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234
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235 Scrolling commands are described further in @ref{Scrolling}.
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236 @item M-v
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237 @itemx @key{PAGEUP}
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238 @itemx @key{NEXT}
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239 Scroll one screen backward, and move point if necessary to put it on
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240 the screen (@code{scroll-down}). This doesn't always move point, but
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241 it is commonly used to do so. If your keyboard has a @key{PAGEUP} or
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242 @key{NEXT} key, it does the same thing.
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243 @item M-x goto-char
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244 Read a number @var{n} and move point to buffer position @var{n}.
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245 Position 1 is the beginning of the buffer.
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246 @item M-g M-g
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247 @itemx M-g g
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248 @itemx M-x goto-line
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249 Read a number @var{n} and move point to the beginning of line number
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250 @var{n}. Line 1 is the beginning of the buffer. If point is on or
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251 just after a number in the buffer, and you type @key{RET} with the
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252 minibuffer empty, that number is used for @var{n}.
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253 @item C-x C-n
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254 @findex set-goal-column
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255 @kindex C-x C-n
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256 Use the current column of point as the @dfn{semipermanent goal column}
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257 for @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} (@code{set-goal-column}). When a
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258 semipermanent goal column is in effect, those commands always try to
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259 move to this column, or as close as possible to it, after moving
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260 vertically. The goal column remains in effect until canceled.
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261 @item C-u C-x C-n
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262 Cancel the goal column. Henceforth, @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} try to
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263 preserve the horizontal position, as usual.
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264 @end table
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265
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266 @vindex track-eol
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267 If you set the variable @code{track-eol} to a non-@code{nil} value,
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268 then @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}, when starting at the end of the line, move
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269 to the end of another line. Normally, @code{track-eol} is @code{nil}.
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270 @xref{Variables}, for how to set variables such as @code{track-eol}.
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271
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272 @vindex next-line-add-newlines
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273 @kbd{C-n} normally stops at the end of the buffer when you use it on
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274 the last line of the buffer. However, if you set the variable
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275 @code{next-line-add-newlines} to a non-@code{nil} value, @kbd{C-n} on
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276 the last line of a buffer creates an additional line at the end and
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277 moves down into it.
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278
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279 @node Erasing
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280 @section Erasing Text
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281
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282 @table @kbd
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283 @item @key{DEL}
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284 Delete the character before point (@code{delete-backward-char}).
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285 @item C-d
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286 Delete the character after point (@code{delete-char}).
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287 @item @key{DELETE}
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288 @itemx @key{BACKSPACE}
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289 One of these keys, whichever is the large key above the @key{RET} or
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290 @key{ENTER} key, deletes the character before point---it is @key{DEL}.
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291 If @key{BACKSPACE} is @key{DEL}, and your keyboard also has @key{DELETE},
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292 then @key{DELETE} deletes forwards, like @kbd{C-d}.
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293 @item C-k
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294 Kill to the end of the line (@code{kill-line}).
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295 @item M-d
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296 Kill forward to the end of the next word (@code{kill-word}).
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297 @item M-@key{DEL}
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298 Kill back to the beginning of the previous word
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299 (@code{backward-kill-word}).
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300 @end table
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301
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302 @cindex killing characters and lines
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303 @cindex deleting characters and lines
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304 @cindex erasing characters and lines
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305 You already know about the @key{DEL} key which deletes the character
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306 before point (that is, before the cursor). Another key, @kbd{Control-d}
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307 (@kbd{C-d} for short), deletes the character after point (that is, the
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308 character that the cursor is on). This shifts the rest of the text on
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309 the line to the left. If you type @kbd{C-d} at the end of a line, it
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310 joins that line with the following line.
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311
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312 To erase a larger amount of text, use the @kbd{C-k} key, which
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313 erases (kills) a line at a time. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the
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314 beginning or middle of a line, it kills all the text up to the end of
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315 the line. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the end of a line, it joins that
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316 line with the following line.
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317
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318 @xref{Killing}, for more flexible ways of killing text.
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319
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320 @node Basic Undo
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321 @section Undoing Changes
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322
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323 Emacs records a list of changes made in the buffer text, so you can
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324 you can undo recent changes, as far as the records go.
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325 Usually each editing command makes a separate entry in the undo
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326 records, but sometimes an entry covers just part of a command, and
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327 very simple commands may be grouped.
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328
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329 @table @kbd
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330 @item C-x u
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331 Undo one entry of the undo records---usually, one command worth
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332 (@code{undo}).
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333 @item C-_
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334 @itemx C-/
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335 The same.
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336 @end table
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337
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338 The command @kbd{C-x u} (or @kbd{C-_} or @kbd{C-/}) is how you undo.
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339 Normally this command undoes the last change, and moves point back to
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340 where it was before the change.
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341
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342 If you repeat @kbd{C-x u} (or its aliases), each repetition undoes
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343 another, earlier change, back to the limit of the undo information
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344 available. If all recorded changes have already been undone, the undo
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345 command displays an error message and does nothing.
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346
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347 The undo command applies only to changes in the buffer; you can't
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348 use it to undo mere cursor motion. However, some cursor motion
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349 commands set the mark, so if you use these commands from time to time,
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350 you can move back to the neighborhoods you have moved through by
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351 popping the mark ring (@pxref{Mark Ring}).
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352
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353 @node Basic Files
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354 @section Files
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355
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356 Text that you insert in an Emacs buffer lasts only as long as the
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357 Emacs session. To keep any text permanently you must put it in a
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358 @dfn{file}. Files are named units of text which are stored by the
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359 operating system for you to retrieve later by name. To use the
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360 contents of a file in any way, you must specify the file name. That
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361 includes editing the file with Emacs.
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362
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363 Suppose there is a file named @file{test.emacs} in your home
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364 directory. To begin editing this file in Emacs, type
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365
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366 @example
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367 C-x C-f test.emacs @key{RET}
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368 @end example
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369
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370 @noindent
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371 Here the file name is given as an @dfn{argument} to the command @kbd{C-x
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372 C-f} (@code{find-file}). That command uses the @dfn{minibuffer} to
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373 read the argument, and you type @key{RET} to terminate the argument
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374 (@pxref{Minibuffer}).
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375
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376 Emacs obeys this command by @dfn{visiting} the file: it creates a
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377 buffer, it copies the contents of the file into the buffer, and then
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378 displays the buffer for editing. If you alter the text, you can
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379 @dfn{save} the new text in the file by typing @kbd{C-x C-s}
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380 (@code{save-buffer}). This copies the altered buffer contents back
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381 into the file @file{test.emacs}, making them permanent. Until you
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382 save, the changed text exists only inside Emacs, and the file
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383 @file{test.emacs} is unaltered.
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384
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385 To create a file, just visit it with @kbd{C-x C-f} as if it already
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386 existed. This creates an empty buffer, in which you can insert the
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387 text you want to put in the file. Emacs actually creates the file the
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388 first time you save this buffer with @kbd{C-x C-s}.
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389
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390 To learn more about using files in Emacs, see @ref{Files}.
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391
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392 @node Basic Help
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393 @section Help
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394
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395 @cindex getting help with keys
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396 If you forget what a key does, you can find out with the Help
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397 character, which is @kbd{C-h} (or @key{F1}, which is an alias for
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398 @kbd{C-h}). Type @kbd{C-h k} followed by the key of interest; for
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399 example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you what @kbd{C-n} does. @kbd{C-h} is
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400 a prefix key; @kbd{C-h k} is just one of its subcommands (the command
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401 @code{describe-key}). The other subcommands of @kbd{C-h} provide
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402 different kinds of help. Type @kbd{C-h} twice to get a description of
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403 all the help facilities. @xref{Help}.
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404
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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405 @node Blank Lines
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406 @section Blank Lines
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407
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408 @cindex inserting blank lines
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409 @cindex deleting blank lines
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410 Here are special commands and techniques for inserting and deleting
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411 blank lines.
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412
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413 @table @kbd
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414 @item C-o
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415 Insert one or more blank lines after the cursor (@code{open-line}).
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416 @item C-x C-o
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417 Delete all but one of many consecutive blank lines
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418 (@code{delete-blank-lines}).
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419 @end table
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420
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421 @kindex C-o
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422 @kindex C-x C-o
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423 @cindex blank lines
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424 @findex open-line
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425 @findex delete-blank-lines
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426 To insert a new line of text before an existing line,
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427 type the new line of text, followed by @key{RET}.
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428 However, it may be easier to see what you are doing if you first make a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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429 blank line and then insert the desired text into it. This is easy to do
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
430 using the key @kbd{C-o} (@code{open-line}), which inserts a newline
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
431 after point but leaves point in front of the newline. After @kbd{C-o},
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diff changeset
432 type the text for the new line. @kbd{C-o F O O} has the same effect as
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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433 @w{@kbd{F O O @key{RET}}}, except for the final location of point.
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434
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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435 You can make several blank lines by typing @kbd{C-o} several times, or
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436 by giving it a numeric argument specifying how many blank lines to make.
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598f5ebd4f94 Various typo and grammar fixes.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 61100
diff changeset
437 @xref{Arguments}, for how. If you have a fill prefix, the @kbd{C-o}
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diff changeset
438 command inserts the fill prefix on the new line, if typed at the
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diff changeset
439 beginning of a line. @xref{Fill Prefix}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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440
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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441 The easy way to get rid of extra blank lines is with the command
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
442 @kbd{C-x C-o} (@code{delete-blank-lines}). @kbd{C-x C-o} in a run of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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443 several blank lines deletes all but one of them. @kbd{C-x C-o} on a
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444 lone blank line deletes that one. When point is on a nonblank line,
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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445 @kbd{C-x C-o} deletes all following blank lines (if any).
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446
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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447 @node Continuation Lines
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448 @section Continuation Lines
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449
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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450 @cindex continuation line
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451 @cindex wrapping
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
452 @cindex line wrapping
42902
f83cc0d82951 (Continuation Lines): Add index entries for the fringe usage.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
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453 @cindex fringes, and continuation lines
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diff changeset
454 When a text line is too long to fit in one screen line, Emacs
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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diff changeset
455 displays it on two or more screen lines. This is called
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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456 @dfn{continuation} or @dfn{line wrapping}. On graphical displays,
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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diff changeset
457 Emacs indicates line wrapping with small bent arrows in the left and
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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diff changeset
458 right window fringes. On text-only terminals, Emacs displays a
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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parents: 68685
diff changeset
459 @samp{\} character at the right margin of a screen line if it is not
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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parents: 68685
diff changeset
460 the last in its text line. This @samp{\} character says that the
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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parents: 68685
diff changeset
461 following screen line is not really a new text line.
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
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parents: 35923
diff changeset
462
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diff changeset
463 When line wrapping occurs just before a character that is wider than one
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
464 column, some columns at the end of the previous screen line may be
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
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parents: 35923
diff changeset
465 ``empty.'' In this case, Emacs displays additional @samp{\}
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diff changeset
466 characters in the ``empty'' columns before the @samp{\}
36140
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Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
467 character that indicates continuation.
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468
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469 Continued lines can be difficult to read, since lines can break in
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
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diff changeset
470 the middle of a word. If you prefer, you can make Emacs insert a
68464
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
471 newline automatically when a line gets too long, by using Auto Fill
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diff changeset
472 mode. Or enable Long Lines mode, which ensures that wrapping only
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diff changeset
473 occurs between words. @xref{Filling}.
25829
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474
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
475 @cindex truncation
42902
f83cc0d82951 (Continuation Lines): Add index entries for the fringe usage.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 42364
diff changeset
476 @cindex line truncation, and fringes
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diff changeset
477 Emacs can optionally @dfn{truncate} long lines---this means
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diff changeset
478 displaying just one screen line worth, and the rest of the long line
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479 does not appear at all. @samp{$} in the last column or a small
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parents: 68685
diff changeset
480 straight arrow in the window's right fringe indicates a truncated
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diff changeset
481 line.
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482
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diff changeset
483 @xref{Display Custom}, for more about line truncation,
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diff changeset
484 and other variables that control how text is displayed.
25829
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485
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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486 @node Position Info
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
487 @section Cursor Position Information
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
488
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
489 Here are commands to get information about the size and position of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
490 parts of the buffer, and to count lines.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
491
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
492 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
493 @item M-x what-page
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
494 Display the page number of point, and the line number within that page.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
495 @item M-x what-line
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
496 Display the line number of point in the whole buffer.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
497 @item M-x line-number-mode
27220
dddb1bca9704 Reference column-number-mode, hl-line-mode, blink-cursor-mode.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 25829
diff changeset
498 @itemx M-x column-number-mode
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
499 Toggle automatic display of the current line number or column number.
27220
dddb1bca9704 Reference column-number-mode, hl-line-mode, blink-cursor-mode.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 25829
diff changeset
500 @xref{Optional Mode Line}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
501 @item M-=
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
502 Display the number of lines in the current region (@code{count-lines-region}).
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
503 @xref{Mark}, for information about the region.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
504 @item C-x =
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
505 Display the character code of character after point, character position of
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
506 point, and column of point (@code{what-cursor-position}).
27220
dddb1bca9704 Reference column-number-mode, hl-line-mode, blink-cursor-mode.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 25829
diff changeset
507 @item M-x hl-line-mode
38660
65fd4c8a6447 (Position Info): Add a cross-reference to where hl-line-mode is described.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38541
diff changeset
508 Enable or disable highlighting of the current line. @xref{Cursor
65fd4c8a6447 (Position Info): Add a cross-reference to where hl-line-mode is described.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38541
diff changeset
509 Display}.
52462
b118cda42fa3 (Position Info): Mention `size-indication-mode'.
Lute Kamstra <lute@gnu.org>
parents: 52401
diff changeset
510 @item M-x size-indication-mode
b118cda42fa3 (Position Info): Mention `size-indication-mode'.
Lute Kamstra <lute@gnu.org>
parents: 52401
diff changeset
511 Toggle automatic display of the size of the buffer.
b118cda42fa3 (Position Info): Mention `size-indication-mode'.
Lute Kamstra <lute@gnu.org>
parents: 52401
diff changeset
512 @xref{Optional Mode Line}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
513 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
514
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
515 @findex what-page
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
516 @findex what-line
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
517 @cindex line number commands
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
518 @cindex location of point
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
519 @cindex cursor location
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
520 @cindex point location
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
521 @kbd{M-x what-line} displays the current line number
62338
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
522 in the echo area. You can also see the current line number in the
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
523 mode line; see @ref{Mode Line}; but if you narrow the buffer, the
62338
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
524 line number in the mode line is relative to the accessible portion
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
525 (@pxref{Narrowing}). By contrast, @code{what-line} shows both the
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
526 line number relative to the narrowed region and the line number
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
527 relative to the whole buffer.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
528
37152
693e61ce18ff Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 37120
diff changeset
529 @kbd{M-x what-page} counts pages from the beginning of the file, and
38870
d44abb4e68b2 Don't use "print" for displaying a message.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38767
diff changeset
530 counts lines within the page, showing both numbers in the echo area.
d44abb4e68b2 Don't use "print" for displaying a message.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38767
diff changeset
531 @xref{Pages}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
532
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
533 @kindex M-=
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
534 @findex count-lines-region
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
535 Use @kbd{M-=} (@code{count-lines-region}) to displays the number of
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
536 lines in the region (@pxref{Mark}). @xref{Pages}, for the command
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
537 @kbd{C-x l} which counts the lines in the current page.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
538
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
539 @kindex C-x =
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
540 @findex what-cursor-position
46040
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
541 The command @kbd{C-x =} (@code{what-cursor-position}) shows what
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
542 cursor's column position, and other information about point and the
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
543 character after it. It displays a line in the echo area that looks
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
544 like this:
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
545
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
546 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
547 Char: c (99, #o143, #x63) point=28062 of 36168 (78%) column=53
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
548 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
549
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
550 The four values after @samp{Char:} describe the character that follows
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
551 point, first by showing it and then by giving its character code in
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
552 decimal, octal and hex. For a non-@acronym{ASCII} multibyte character, these are
66051
ef089f655621 (Position Info): Describe the case that Emacs shows
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 64890
diff changeset
553 followed by @samp{file} and the character's representation, in hex, in
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
554 the buffer's coding system, if that coding system encodes the character
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
555 safely and with a single byte (@pxref{Coding Systems}). If the
66051
ef089f655621 (Position Info): Describe the case that Emacs shows
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 64890
diff changeset
556 character's encoding is longer than one byte, Emacs shows @samp{file ...}.
ef089f655621 (Position Info): Describe the case that Emacs shows
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 64890
diff changeset
557
ef089f655621 (Position Info): Describe the case that Emacs shows
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 64890
diff changeset
558 However, if the character displayed is in the range 0200 through
66061
7fb814227358 (Position Info): Fix previous change.
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 66051
diff changeset
559 0377 octal, it may actually stand for an invalid UTF-8 byte read from
7fb814227358 (Position Info): Fix previous change.
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 66051
diff changeset
560 a file. In Emacs, that byte is represented as a sequence of 8-bit
7fb814227358 (Position Info): Fix previous change.
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 66051
diff changeset
561 characters, but all of them together display as the original invalid
7fb814227358 (Position Info): Fix previous change.
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 66051
diff changeset
562 byte, in octal code. In this case, @kbd{C-x =} shows @samp{part of
7fb814227358 (Position Info): Fix previous change.
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 66051
diff changeset
563 display ...} instead of @samp{file}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
564
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
565 @samp{point=} is followed by the position of point expressed as a
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
566 character count. The start of the buffer is position 1, one character
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
567 later is position 2, and so on. The next, larger, number is the total
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
568 number of characters in the buffer. Afterward in parentheses comes
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
569 the position expressed as a percentage of the total size.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
570
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
571 @samp{column=} is followed by the horizontal position of point, in
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
572 columns from the left edge of the window.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
573
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
574 If the buffer has been narrowed, making some of the text at the
38870
d44abb4e68b2 Don't use "print" for displaying a message.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38767
diff changeset
575 beginning and the end temporarily inaccessible, @kbd{C-x =} displays
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
576 additional text describing the currently accessible range. For example, it
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
577 might display this:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
578
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
579 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
580 Char: C (67, #o103, #x43) point=252 of 889 (28%) <231-599> column=0
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
581 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
582
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
583 @noindent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
584 where the two extra numbers give the smallest and largest character
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
585 position that point is allowed to assume. The characters between those
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
586 two positions are the accessible ones. @xref{Narrowing}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
587
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
588 If point is at the end of the buffer (or the end of the accessible
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
589 part), the @w{@kbd{C-x =}} output does not describe a character after
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
590 point. The output might look like this:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
591
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
592 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
593 point=36169 of 36168 (EOB) column=0
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
594 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
595
44875
cc99f1248f49 (Position Info): Add text properties to the example. Add index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 43468
diff changeset
596 @cindex character set of character at point
45313
39adae4ad3df (Position Info): Add an index entry for font at point.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 44875
diff changeset
597 @cindex font of character at point
44875
cc99f1248f49 (Position Info): Add text properties to the example. Add index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 43468
diff changeset
598 @cindex text properties at point
62193
598f5ebd4f94 Various typo and grammar fixes.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 61100
diff changeset
599 @w{@kbd{C-u C-x =}} displays the following additional information about a
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
600 character.
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
601
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
602 @itemize @bullet
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
603 @item
61100
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
604 The character set name, and the codes that identify the character
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
605 within that character set; @acronym{ASCII} characters are identified
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
606 as belonging to the @code{ascii} character set.
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
607
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
608 @item
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
609 The character's syntax and categories.
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
610
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
611 @item
61100
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
612 The character's encodings, both internally in the buffer, and externally
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
613 if you were to save the file.
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
614
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
615 @item
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
616 What keys to type to input the character in the current input method
61100
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
617 (if it supports the character).
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
618
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
619 @item
68685
4bb94c09a47d (Position Info): "Graphical displays", rather than window systems.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68639
diff changeset
620 If you are running Emacs on a graphical display, the font name and
4bb94c09a47d (Position Info): "Graphical displays", rather than window systems.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68639
diff changeset
621 glyph code for the character. If you are running Emacs on a text-only
4bb94c09a47d (Position Info): "Graphical displays", rather than window systems.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68639
diff changeset
622 terminal, the code(s) sent to the terminal.
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
623
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
624 @item
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
625 The character's text properties (@pxref{Text Properties,,,
46040
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
626 elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}), and any overlays containing it
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
627 (@pxref{Overlays,,, elisp, the same manual}).
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
628 @end itemize
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
629
42364
c66f34e7d2cd Update C-u C-x = output format.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 39287
diff changeset
630 Here's an example showing the Latin-1 character A with grave accent,
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
631 in a buffer whose coding system is @code{iso-latin-1}, whose
42364
c66f34e7d2cd Update C-u C-x = output format.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 39287
diff changeset
632 terminal coding system is @code{iso-latin-1} (so the terminal actually
44875
cc99f1248f49 (Position Info): Add text properties to the example. Add index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 43468
diff changeset
633 displays the character as @samp{@`A}), and which has font-lock-mode
cc99f1248f49 (Position Info): Add text properties to the example. Add index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 43468
diff changeset
634 (@pxref{Font Lock}) enabled:
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
635
37152
693e61ce18ff Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 37120
diff changeset
636 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
637 character: @`A (2240, #o4300, #x8c0, U+00C0)
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
638 charset: latin-iso8859-1
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
639 (Right-Hand Part of Latin Alphabet 1@dots{}
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
640 code point: #x40
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
641 syntax: w which means: word
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
642 category: l:Latin
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
643 to input: type "`A" with latin-1-prefix
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
644 buffer code: #x81 #xC0
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
645 file code: #xC0 (encoded by coding system iso-latin-1)
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
646 display: terminal code #xC0
44875
cc99f1248f49 (Position Info): Add text properties to the example. Add index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 43468
diff changeset
647
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
648 There are text properties here:
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
649 fontified t
37152
693e61ce18ff Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 37120
diff changeset
650 @end smallexample
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
651
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
652 @node Arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
653 @section Numeric Arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
654 @cindex numeric arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
655 @cindex prefix arguments
36263
11db0318031d Remove redundant index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 36209
diff changeset
656 @cindex arguments to commands
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
657
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
658 In mathematics and computer usage, @dfn{argument} means
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
659 ``data provided to a function or operation.'' You can give any Emacs
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
660 command a @dfn{numeric argument} (also called a @dfn{prefix argument}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
661 Some commands interpret the argument as a repetition count. For
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
662 example, @kbd{C-f} with an argument of ten moves forward ten characters
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
663 instead of one. With these commands, no argument is equivalent to an
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
664 argument of one. Negative arguments tell most such commands to move or
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
665 act in the opposite direction.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
666
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
667 @kindex M-1
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
668 @kindex M-@t{-}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
669 @findex digit-argument
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
670 @findex negative-argument
59947
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
671 If your terminal keyboard has a @key{META} key (labeled @key{ALT} on
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
672 PC keyboards), the easiest way to specify a numeric argument is to
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
673 type digits and/or a minus sign while holding down the @key{META} key.
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
674 For example,
38729
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
675
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
676 @example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
677 M-5 C-n
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
678 @end example
38729
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
679
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
680 @noindent
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
681 moves down five lines. The characters @kbd{Meta-1}, @kbd{Meta-2},
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
682 and so on, as well as @kbd{Meta--}, do this because they are keys bound
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
683 to commands (@code{digit-argument} and @code{negative-argument}) that
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
684 are defined to set up an argument for the next command.
38729
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
685 @kbd{Meta--} without digits normally means @minus{}1. Digits and
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
686 @kbd{-} modified with Control, or Control and Meta, also specify numeric
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
687 arguments.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
688
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
689 @kindex C-u
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
690 @findex universal-argument
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
691 You can also specify a numeric argument by typing @kbd{C-u}
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
692 (@code{universal-argument}) followed by the digits. The advantage of
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
693 @kbd{C-u} is that you can type the digits without modifier keys; thus,
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
694 @kbd{C-u} works on all terminals. For a negative argument, type a
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
695 minus sign after @kbd{C-u}. A minus sign without digits normally
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
696 means @minus{}1.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
697
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
698 @kbd{C-u} alone has the special meaning of
68452
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
699 ``four times'': it multiplies the argument for the next command by
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
700 four. @kbd{C-u C-u} multiplies it by sixteen. Thus, @kbd{C-u C-u
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
701 C-f} moves forward sixteen characters. This is a good way to move
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
702 forward ``fast,'' since it moves about 1/5 of a line in the usual size
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
703 screen. Other useful combinations are @kbd{C-u C-n}, @kbd{C-u C-u
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
704 C-n} (move down a good fraction of a screen), @kbd{C-u C-u C-o} (make
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
705 ``a lot'' of blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four lines).
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
706
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
707 Some commands care whether there is an argument, but ignore its
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
708 value. For example, the command @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph})
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
709 fills text; with an argument, it justifies the text as well.
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
710 (@xref{Filling}, for more information on @kbd{M-q}.) Plain @kbd{C-u}
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
711 is a handy way of providing an argument for such commands.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
712
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
713 Some commands use the value of the argument as a repeat count, but do
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
714 something peculiar when there is no argument. For example, the command
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
715 @kbd{C-k} (@code{kill-line}) with argument @var{n} kills @var{n} lines,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
716 including their terminating newlines. But @kbd{C-k} with no argument is
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
717 special: it kills the text up to the next newline, or, if point is right at
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
718 the end of the line, it kills the newline itself. Thus, two @kbd{C-k}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
719 commands with no arguments can kill a nonblank line, just like @kbd{C-k}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
720 with an argument of one. (@xref{Killing}, for more information on
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
721 @kbd{C-k}.)
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
722
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
723 A few commands treat a plain @kbd{C-u} differently from an ordinary
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
724 argument. A few others may treat an argument of just a minus sign
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
725 differently from an argument of @minus{}1. These unusual cases are
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
726 described when they come up; they exist to make an individual command
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
727 more convenient, and they are documented in that command's
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
728 documentation string.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
729
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
730 You can use a numeric argument before a self-inserting character to
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
731 insert multiple copies of it. This is straightforward when the
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
732 character is not a digit; for example, @kbd{C-u 6 4 a} inserts 64
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
733 copies of the character @samp{a}. But this does not work for
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
734 inserting digits; @kbd{C-u 6 4 1} specifies an argument of 641. You
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
735 can separate the argument from the digit to insert with another
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
736 @kbd{C-u}; for example, @kbd{C-u 6 4 C-u 1} does insert 64 copies of
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
737 the character @samp{1}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
738
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
739 We use the term ``prefix argument'' as well as ``numeric argument'',
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
740 to emphasize that you type these argument before the command, and to
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
741 distinguish them from minibuffer arguments that come after the
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
742 command.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
743
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
744 @node Repeating
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
745 @section Repeating a Command
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
746 @cindex repeating a command
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
747
38738
bffa96512ce4 Minor changes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38729
diff changeset
748 Many simple commands, such as those invoked with a single key or
bffa96512ce4 Minor changes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38729
diff changeset
749 with @kbd{M-x @var{command-name} @key{RET}}, can be repeated by
bffa96512ce4 Minor changes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38729
diff changeset
750 invoking them with a numeric argument that serves as a repeat count
bffa96512ce4 Minor changes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38729
diff changeset
751 (@pxref{Arguments}). However, if the command you want to repeat
71045
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
752 prompts for input, or uses a numeric argument in another way, that
ddc3087f4c41 Many simplifications and improvements in wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68685
diff changeset
753 method won't work.
38541
2540b694650b (Repeating): Mention the numeric argument as another form of repetition,
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38172
diff changeset
754
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
755 @kindex C-x z
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
756 @findex repeat
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
757 The command @kbd{C-x z} (@code{repeat}) provides another way to repeat
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
758 an Emacs command many times. This command repeats the previous Emacs
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
759 command, whatever that was. Repeating a command uses the same arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
760 that were used before; it does not read new arguments each time.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
761
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
762 To repeat the command more than once, type additional @kbd{z}'s: each
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
763 @kbd{z} repeats the command one more time. Repetition ends when you
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
764 type a character other than @kbd{z}, or press a mouse button.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
765
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
766 For example, suppose you type @kbd{C-u 2 0 C-d} to delete 20
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
767 characters. You can repeat that command (including its argument) three
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
768 additional times, to delete a total of 80 characters, by typing @kbd{C-x
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
769 z z z}. The first @kbd{C-x z} repeats the command once, and each
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
770 subsequent @kbd{z} repeats it once again.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
771
52401
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 49600
diff changeset
772 @ignore
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 49600
diff changeset
773 arch-tag: cda8952a-c439-41c1-aecf-4bc0d6482956
695cf19ef79e Add arch taglines
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
parents: 49600
diff changeset
774 @end ignore